Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 5x20 “Spiral” FULL REACTION
Added 2020-02-01 00:31:22 +0000 UTC
Enjoy!
Comments
See, I love the addition of the knights. I thought they were really cool, and though unusual, they worked here. Then again, I have a thing with knights. LOL That said, they could have easily given them more impact and made them feel more tied into the show by having Buffy affected by having to kill the knights, since they were human. it would have piled even more on her, and it would have added to her breakdown at the end. Kind of the way things started to go with Ted, until he turned out to be a robot, but on a smaller scale, with only a few extra lines and moments of regret or horror from Buffy, perhaps with Spike telling her it wasn't her fault, she didn't have a choice. Still, I love the episode as it is. It's one of my favorites of the season.
Raven Dark
2020-05-19 07:07:51 +0000 UTC
Great reaction. An intense season for sure. They do a great job really making you feel the stakes.
Angela Colon
2020-02-03 19:55:10 +0000 UTC
I don't remember it being that controversial. In the intervening years it has come up in cross-debate over the ethics of killing, but Buffy never did cause a human death at times or under circumstances she wouldn't have been justified doing even if she wasn't the Slayer. That's a critical distinction.
Dan H
2020-02-01 22:51:06 +0000 UTC
I'm sure you meant "spot on", but "spit on" is interestingly the exact opposite opinion. :)
Jarrod Wild
2020-02-01 22:30:40 +0000 UTC
Boy they just keep ratcheting up the tension eh Liam? Somehow you gotta go on even though Buffy herself seems to have reached her breaking point. :)
Jarrod Wild
2020-02-01 22:29:03 +0000 UTC
1) I love Willow going “Don’t hit the horsies!” and Buffy’s much more practical “Aim for the horsies!” 2). You didn’t mention Buffy probably killing that knight with an axe on top of the Winnebago. It drew a lot of angst from fans at the time (comparisons to Faith!). but I think Buffy was 100% justified. Just because the person trying to kill her isn’t a demon, doesn’t mean she has to let them kill her. It was certainly in self defense. 3) If forced to choose, I would probably pick Buffy season 5 as my favorite. But my favorite episode ever of television is still to come sometime in the future of the Buffyverse. And I think it might become yours too. What is your current favorite episode of television (Dr Who? SHIELD?) that it might be replacing?
Richard Lucas
2020-02-01 21:33:12 +0000 UTC
An homage to the 1939 film “Stagecoach” that was, IIRC, definitely not a fan favorite when the show aired. For some reason logic issues arose in many viewer's minds and created problems with Glory's appearance on campus, Knights of Byzantium in California and horses catching up with a Winnebago.
Character-wise, Buffy's decision to run away also put a lot of people off even though that was something she mentioned two episodes ago.
On top of everything else that's happened to her, there's the promise Buffy made to Joyce to keep Dawn safe.
I enjoy it a lot. Absurdity for the sake of absurdity, when done well, can be fun and this episode doesn't get absurd just because they can, IMO. As Liam pointed out it's about how absurdly brutal the last few months have been on Buffy. Near the beginning, Anya even tries to get us into the right frame of mind for the episode by comparing their situation to a cartoon.
It's just that crazy. And it can seem just that crazy when you are unexpectedly on your own with a minor sibling to raise, a house to look after and no idea what to do. Giles keeps telling Buffy that she can handle everything which is somewhat ironic since he was the one who used to insist she spend all of her free time learning to be a slayer rather than learning about 'real-world' things that a slayer didn't need to deal with.
Bruce Trogdon
2020-02-01 16:38:20 +0000 UTC
I had the same reaction during the conversation between Buffy and Giles after he was hurt. Don’t you dare kill Giles or I quit.
Fan of this show sometimes underestimate the emotional pain that she relentlessly have to endure because she is the “hero”. That’s why she will always be my favorite character.
Vicky N
2020-02-01 08:33:43 +0000 UTC
“S5 is fucking relentless” the entire season in a nutshell
Sarah McKinlay
2020-02-01 07:15:12 +0000 UTC
This episode is incredibly stressful. I never thought Buffy would run away from a fight, but when she listed all the people she's lost, you realize how scared she is.
Spike trying to comfort Tara like that makes me wonder if it stemmed from his love for Drusilla and his patience for her uncontrollable bouts. He shows contempt for all the scoobies (some to most of which is bluster), but his immediate tenderness with Tara was so genuine that it's one my lowkey favorite Spike moments. Same for Xander lighting Spike's cigarette. Those two are not my favorite characters, but I'll give them props when they deserve it.
Rachael
2020-02-01 07:12:24 +0000 UTC
I think the next episode in particular is even more stressful, emotionally, at least for me...
Stephen Mintac
2020-02-01 06:16:08 +0000 UTC
Holy crap 2 more episodes left of this season!!!!! I am so excited!!! Plus season 6 is my favourite so I am super pumped for that!!!
Mel Saville
2020-02-01 05:06:18 +0000 UTC
This episode is stressful from beginning to end. I found myself holding my breath pretty much the whole time despite having watched it dozens of times
Looking forward to the last two episodes of the season, Liam!
Ritchie
2020-02-01 02:11:46 +0000 UTC
Great reaction as always. Buffy just cant get a break. I cant even tell you how excited I am to watch you react to the final 2 episodes.
Mementovitae
2020-02-01 01:56:28 +0000 UTC
Excellent reaction as always Liam. This is definitely my favourite season. Like you said, the story arc and progression for everyone so far has just been spit on. No episode has felt like filler (to me) this season, because something important has happened, or moved the plot forward beyond the usual ‘kill demons’ thing. I’m so very, very excited for your reactions to the last 2 episodes of s5!!!
Holi117
2020-02-01 01:54:18 +0000 UTC
Yooooooooo I’m so hyped to finish this season with you!!
Ritchie
2020-02-01 00:55:56 +0000 UTC
Damn, you are churning these out!! 😁😁
Utterly brilliant!! 😁👏🔥 Coming up to my favourite finale!! 😍🤯😁💛❤🧡💜 cheers!!