Season Five
Season Five
The ratings from each
of us are next to each episode name and if you click on the episode name,
you can read a full summary and quotes from each episode. Summaries
on these pages came from the old Official
Buffy the Vampire Slayer site.
Buffy vs. Dracula
(8.5/10)-Anna
THE
LAST SEDUCTION - Still searching for a normal life, Buffy (Sarah Michelle
Gellar) is shaken by the awesome power - and more than a little star-struck
- when she and her friends come face to face with the greatest vampire
of all time, Dracula (guest star Rudolf Martin, "Bedazzled"). While Buffy
is powerless under Dracula's thrall, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becomes
the dark one's emissary and leads his friends into peril. Meanwhile, unbeknownst
to Buffy, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is seriously contemplating returning
to England as he feels she no longer needs his help. Alyson Hannigan, Marc
Blucas, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield and Michelle Trachtenberg
also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Real Me
(8/10)-Anna
SLAY,
SISTER, SLAY - While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Giles (Anthony Stewart
Head) heat up the training, Buffy and Dawn’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) sibling
rivalry gets them into trouble when a new gang of vampires target the slayer.
Across town, when the magic shop is ransacked and the owner killed, Giles
thinks he may have found a new hub for the Scooby gang. Nicholas Brendon,
Alyson Hannigan, Marc Blucas, Amber Benson, James Marsters and Emma Caulfield
also star. David Fury wrote the episode directed by David Grossman.
The Replacement
(8.5/10)-Anna
NICHOLAS BRENDON'S IDENTICAL TWIN BROTHER GUEST-STARS When a crafty demon out Buffy
(Sarah Michelle Gellar) hunting accidentally catches Xander (Nicholas Brendon) in his sights, a mysterious Xander double
(guest star Kelly Schultz) is born. Two Xanders aren't better than one as the evil double quickly takes over Xander's identity,
fooling everyone including Buffy, and starts living Xander's life with a flourish. Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, James
Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Jane Espenson wrote the episode directed by James A. Contner.
Out of My Mind
(6/10)-Anna
STAND BY YOUR MAN - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is in a race against time when the physical aftereffects of
Riley's (Marc Blucas) being used as a lab rat for months by The Initiative threatens his very life. When Riley stubbornly refuses
help and goes into hiding, Buffy reluctantly turns to Spike (James Marsters) for help, but he takes advantage of her situation for
his own plot to rid his life of the slayer once and for all. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma
Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Rebecca Rand Kirshner wrote the episode directed by David Grossman.
No Place Like Home
(9/10)-Anna
ALL IN THE FAMILY? An unseen evil comes to Sunnydale that helps Buffy
(Sarah Michelle Gellar) discover more about her newly arrived little sister
Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and the girls are distressed and confused when
their mom (Kristine Sutherland) suddenly becomes ill without any clear
explanation, medical or supernatural. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan,
Anthony Stewart Head, Marc Blucas, James Marsters and Emma Caulfield
also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Douglas Petrie.
Family
(9/10)-Anna
LOVE DOES CRAZY THINGS - Willow (Alyson Hannigan) feels betrayed when Tara's (Amber Benson) family
makes a surprise visit to Sunnydale for her birthday threatening to reveal a shocking secret that could endanger all of their lives.
Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) secretly try to learn more about the new evil that
is hunting her and her family. Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas, Kristine Sutherland and Michelle Trachtenberg
also star. Joss Whedon wrote and
directed the episode.
Fool for Love
(9.5/10)-Anna
(8.5/10)-Zinna
ANGEL, DRUSILLA AND DARLA HAUNT SPIKE'S MEMORY - In an effort to learn about slayers' final battles,
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) forces Spike (James Marsters) to recount how he was able to kill two slayers. His flashbacks
reveal his first meeting with his one true love, Drusilla (guest star Juliet Landau), and how lovers Angel (guest star David
Boreanaz) and Darla (guest star Julie Benz) joined them. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas,
Anthony Stewart Head, Kristine Sutherland and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Doug Petrie wrote the
episode directed by Nick Marck.
Shadow
(7.5/10)-Anna
BUFFY MAY HAVE MET HER MATCH -In order to protect her sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), Buffy
(Sarah Michelle Gellar) must face a horrible beast that has been conjured by the powerful demon Glory (guest star Clare
Kramer) to help seek out "The Key." Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Marc
Blucas, Kristine Sutherland and Emma Caulfield also star. Dan Attias directed the episode written by David Fury.
Listening to Fear
(8/10)-Anna
SOMETHING FROM ANOTHER PLANET TARGETS BUFFY'S MOM - As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and
Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) help their mother (Kristine Sutherland) prepare for brain surgery, a creepy extra-terrestrial
demon becomes fixated on an increasingly disoriented Joyce and infiltrates the Summers' home. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson
Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Marc Blucas and Emma Caulfield also star.
David Solomon directed the episode written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner.
Into the Woods
(4/10)-Anna
ONCE BITTEN - Spike (James Marsters) disrupts Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) one moment of peace after her mom's
(Kristine Sutherland) successful operation to expose Riley's (Marc Blucas) late nights spent in the arms of a vampire, sending an
upset and bewildered Buffy into a tailspin and putting their relationship in turmoil. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony
Stewart Head and Emma Caulfield also star. Marti Noxon wrote and directed the episode.
Triangle
(4.5/10)-Anna
XANDER IN THE MIDDLE - While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) recovers from losing Riley, emotions are charged
between Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) when they are left in charge of the magic shop and Willow
accidentally conjures an enormous troll (guest star Abraham Benrubi, "ER") that will force them to deal with their less than
perfect friendship and their feelings towards Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Kristine
Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star also star. Christopher Hibler directed the episode written by
Jane Espenson.
Checkpoint
(8.5/10)-Anna
BUFFY vs. WATCHER'S COUNCIL - The Watcher's Council arrives in Sunnydale demanding Buffy (Sarah Michelle
Gellar) pass an exhaustive review of her slaying skills or they will withhold critical information about Glory (guest star Clare
Kramer) and have Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) deported back to England. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James
Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Nick Marck directed the
episode written by Jane Espenson & Douglas Petrie.
Blood Ties
(8/10)-Anna
DAWN IS UNVEILED AS THE KEY - As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends celebrate her
20th birthday, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) is traumatized to learn she is the Key and runs
away but Buffy and the Scooby gang must find her before Glory (guest star Clare Kramer)
does. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma
Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland and Amber Benson also star. Michael Gershman directed the
episode written by Steven S. DeKnight.
Crush
(4/10)-Anna
SPIKE CONFESSES HIS LOVE TO THE SLAYER - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) confronts Spike
(James Marsters) about his suspected crush and is appalled by his admission of love, and her
brutal rejection sends him back into the clutches of Drusilla (guest star Juliet Landau) who
has returned to Sunnydale intent on returning Spike to his killer ways. Nicholas Brendon,
Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle
Trachtenberg also star. David Fury wrote the episode directed by Dan Attias.
I Was Made to Love You
(6/10)-Anna
THE PERFECT WOMAN - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must stop a
heartbroken young woman (guest star Shonda Farr) who was manufactured to
be the perfect girlfriend from destroying the city and then finds herself
comforting the creation over the loss of love in both of their lives. Nicholas
Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg, and
Amber Benson also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by
Jane Espenson.
The Body
(10/10)-Anna
(11/10)-Zinna
TRAGEDY SHATTERS BUFFY'S WORLD - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and
her friends are overwhelmed with grief and their lives are changed forever when
they must deal with the loss of someone close to all of them. Nicholas
Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma
Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Michelle Trachtenberg and Amber Benson also
star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
Forever
(9/10)-Anna
(8/10)-Zinna
ANGEL COMES BACK TO BUFFY - A grieving and confused Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls
into the loving arms of Angel (guest star David Boreanaz) who comes back to Sunnydale after
he gets word about the death of her mother. Meanwhile, a distraught Dawn (Michelle
Trachtenberg) takes it upon herself to perform a magic spell to bring her mom back to life.
Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield
and Amber Benson also star. Marti Noxon wrote and directed the episode.
Intervention
(9/10)-Anna
(9/10)-Zinna
FULL OF LOVE - Buffy travels to a sacred location on a solemn quest guided by the first
slayer with the hopes of uncovering why she has become emotionally paralyzed and to help
regain her focus towards slaying. Back in Sunnydale, unable to have the real thing, Spike
builds a Buffy robot, who is a picture-perfect replica and so devoted to the rogue that it
leaves the Scooby gang reeling and Glory's minions convinced he is the Key. Nicholas Brendon,
Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Michelle
Trachtenberg and Amber Benson also star. Michael Gershman directed the episode written by
Jane Espenson.
Tough Love
(7.5/10)-Anna
A MEMBER OF THE SCOOBY GANG IS SACRIFICED - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must step up as the authority
figure for Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) now that their mom is gone, all the while fearful that Glory (guest star Clare Kramer) is
closer to discovering the Key when a member of the Scooby gang is her latest victim. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan,
Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield, and Amber Benson also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Rebecca
Rand Kirshner.
Spiral
(7/10)-Anna
BUFFY AND THE GANG FLEE SUNNYDALE - Buffy explodes into action and takes the gang on the road once Glory
discovers that Dawn is the Key. While on the run, things happen fast as Giles and Spike are wounded, Dawn learns she has the
power to destroy the universe, and Willow stays close to an incoherent Tara. James A. Contner
directed the episode written by Steven S. DeKnight.
The Weight of the World
(7.5/10)-Anna
WILLOW GOES INTO THE MIND OF THE SLAYER TO BRING BUFFY BACK - Buffy slips into catatonia after
Glory kidnaps Dawn and prepares to bring about the end of the world, so Willow uses her wicca talents to reach Buffy deep
inside her innermost secrets and subconscious fears. David Solomon directed the episode written
by Doug Petrie.
The Gift
(10/10)-Anna
(9.5/10)-Zinna
FIFTH SEASON FINALE & 100TH EPISODE WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY JOSS WHEDON - Another imminent
apocalypse is at hand in Sunnydale. Buffy must square off against a true God when Glory prepares to use Dawn to break down
the walls between the dimensions and unleash all Hell on Earth. Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Anya, Tara and Spike go to
battle with the knowledge that they may not all survive. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.