Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 5x3 Full Reaction
Added 2024-06-13 19:47:11 +0000 UTC
Comments
Riley talks to Xander about how Buffy doesn't love him doesn't talk to Buffy. He never talks to Buffy about his problems. He just lets it fester and grow. I don't think he's being mature at all. On the contrary.
Nathan Conarroe
2025-01-30 08:19:33 +0000 UTCAnya is over 1,100 years old, she is not thousands of years old.
Morgan Williams
2024-06-21 02:02:39 +0000 UTCFun fact: Nicholas Brendan (Xander) has an identical twin that plays in this episode. Funner fact: This is not the first time we have seen him in the show.
Sam Monnett
2024-06-17 23:12:22 +0000 UTCThey never said the intend was to split between best and worst aspects, but between strong and weak. Toth wanted to have a weakened Buffy so he could kill her without having to fight the slayer at full strength.
Vicky N
2024-06-15 13:05:05 +0000 UTCBuffy has never told Riley that she loves him. Every time he's said it she's deflected or changed the subject. I think Buffy has strong feelings for Riley but the L-word seems to be something that gets stuck.
Bud Haven
2024-06-15 03:23:54 +0000 UTCNice spoiler. Not only. are you saying that Dawn’s presence will be explained but also when. Two spoilers in a single sentence. Impressive.
Bud Haven
2024-06-14 22:16:17 +0000 UTCthe riley-xander friendship is always so subtle, but you can tell riley really likes and trusts him. In the basement scene, he sits with his arm very close to him in a way you might with family. He's the only one concerned with Xander's embarrassment over the yelling. Buffy ignores Xander's joke question, but Riley laughs and softly chastises her for being present but absent in his defense. He noticed Xander felt insecure by Anya's reaction to his touch and stops rubbing Buffy in solidarity, and when Buffy asks him to keep going he complies but deflects. He coughs to help drown out the noise from upstairs when it begins again. Also, Riley's body language progresses toward Xander over the course of the scene as he (and only he) takes note of how vulnerable, anxious, and uncomfortable Xander becomes. It's a really fascinating scene for the two. I would argue Riley has always been written emotionally intelligent (but admittedly also flawed). Maybe Xander's vulnerability at the top of the episode is what led to Riley's at the end.
Jason Harrelson
2024-06-14 19:16:10 +0000 UTCFun fact: toff is a British insult, but Buffy got the definition of it very wrong. It's less one-size-fits-all moron and more a derogatory term for a posh rich person. Re Buffy and Riley - you're so right about there not being the same romantic intensity from Buffy. I feel like it makes total sense considering how badly burned she was with Angel and how traumatic that relationship was (not being anti-Bangel per se but you cannot deny that the whole Angelus thing fucked Buffy up). I'd probably be closed off after that too!
doctrfaustus
2024-06-14 19:14:28 +0000 UTCThis episode is always so much better than I remember it being 😂. I really appreciate that Xander's boost in confidence came from himself - his other self saying that he knows he's good at construction work. I think that was really sweet and meant more for his self-esteem than external validation. I felt so sorry for Riley in that final scene. Also, Anya's vintage flat and pyjamas were on point! Very appropriate for her character.
Rebecca
2024-06-14 09:31:29 +0000 UTCI feel that Anya accepted "suave Xander" because that's the way she legitimately sees him most of the time. She still has on the proverbial rose-colored glasses. She does see all of him, but she focuses on his strengths. At least, that's how I see it. As for Riley and Buffy...for me, it feels that the idea she doesn't love him occurred to Riley when he said, "There's not a single part of you I'm not in love with," and instead of replying with something about loving him, Buffy just smiled and changed the subject. If you watch that part again, you can see his expression as he's waiting for her to say something about loving him.
RavenLord
2024-06-14 05:45:10 +0000 UTCThis is one of the "love it or hate it" episodes, as it is all relationship and character development, and not much season arc. The outfit choices are, uh, unique to say the least. Buffy's neo-hippy mod squad just needed knee-high tan leather boots to be full woodstock -- Xander looked like a clown college dropout, (I realize they wanted a full contrast with his other half, and it payed off big time when the other half dressed like him at the end instead of the other way around ...) , Suave Xander & Lame Xander. The real estate lady dressed like she came off of a star trek spinoff show (did she?) Joyce with the Farah hair .. classy. Toth looked great tho, and his facial expressions and harsh toned voice were great. His angry death cry was Metal. Willow's red open cardigan was great -- she is really making an effort and Tara (not in this one -- boo!) has had a wonderful effect on her, I can even like her shorter hair. She also sports a green leather jacket with orange top later on. Spike is rocking all black, naturally, but with the 60s biker vibe -- black T, black jeans, black leather belt with big shiny square buckle, platinum blond hair, motorcycle boots -- F yeah ! I don't know but I am just really aware of the fashion choices this season -- some good, some ...
spikeysnack
2024-06-14 05:23:24 +0000 UTCThis episode could be a good example of when one needs to be told about their good attributes because (I think) we tend to focus on the bad, insecure, scary stuff about ourselves. We need somebody, at some point, to tell us that we are better than we think we are and to make us believe it. After all, it wasn't "super Xander" that did the work that earned him a shot a more permanent construction work. Perhaps Xander will come into his own now. I also recall Xander being ok with possibly being blown to pieces in the bomb-planted-by-zombie episode in season three. It connects with "weak Xander" thinking that his doppelganger should just have his life because he was doing a better job of it. As to Riley, that tension within himself has been clear all along but now the cause is in the wide open and he is aware and now truthful with himself about the chances of Buffy and him being long term. I actually forgot that it was this early that this bomb got dropped by Riley.
Michael Labs
2024-06-14 03:02:19 +0000 UTCDon't stress bout Dawn, not too much longer and it'll be explained.
Morgan Williams
2024-06-14 02:46:39 +0000 UTCIt's too hard for me to watch this with you with this new format so I'm also just reading subtitles. I'll also watch the YouTube reaction to it.
Morgan Williams
2024-06-14 02:39:15 +0000 UTCI rejoined the patreon as I can still watch the full reaction with just the subtitles 😅 I have seen Buffy enough times to picture what you're watching 🤣
CeNedra
2024-06-14 01:32:27 +0000 UTCSuch a great episode; the character writing in Season 5 is peak. I wonder if I get hit by the ferula gemina which part of me would get the seasonal allergies.
Raymond Simon
2024-06-14 00:25:04 +0000 UTCYes, I like how it suggests that she always sees Xander's strong and confident side where we mostly see Goofy Xander.
DanielOrme
2024-06-13 23:26:04 +0000 UTCI loved that Anya saw the stronger Xander as the "real" one but still recognized the weaker one as well shortly thereafter because she protected him too.
Jonathan Hall
2024-06-13 23:13:11 +0000 UTCwhat does PTB mean? Google didn’t help 😅
madfem
2024-06-13 22:30:05 +0000 UTCMisdirections and plot twists, BtVS did not invent the concepts but PTB does it use them well.
slypeartree
2024-06-13 22:25:43 +0000 UTCThey did a really good job having two Xanders in the same shot... by casting Nicholas Brendan's identical twin brother. Lucky he had one to spare!
jenny from montana
2024-06-13 20:49:11 +0000 UTCYou really spoil us with all those reactions drops
anticonstructivist55
2024-06-13 20:09:52 +0000 UTCI don't know why you're making such a big deal about Dawn this season. You seemed fine with her in previous seasons
Neill Shaughness
2024-06-13 20:08:03 +0000 UTCWoo!
Melissa Reynolds
2024-06-13 19:48:29 +0000 UTC
