Scoobie Gang Domain - Buffy Season Five Episode Guide

5.1	Buffy vs Dracula Written by: Marti Noxon
At the beach Willow tries to conjure fire and creates a downpour of rain. Meanwhile, movers are carrying a long crate when a hand reaches out and kills them. Next day, Giles confides in Willow that he will leave to England soon because the gang don't need him anymore despite her protests. During patrol she encounters a dark and deadly stranger- Dracula. When Buffy attacks he vanishes and reappears. The gang arrive and is amazed. He says he will return then turns into a bat. Riley and Tara are jealous as Buffy and Willow talk about Dracula's eyes. Dracula meets Xander alone and convinces him to his minion in exchange for immortality. At night, Buffy wakes to find Dracula in her room and she lets him bite her. The gang discover that Dracula has a thrall power over people and connects with his victims. Xander meanwhile cannot stop eating bugs. The gang discover Buffy's bite wound. Xander offers to guard Buffy from Dracula while Giles and Riley look for Dracula. Xander later then tells her that he will take her to his master and she goes. At the castle she takes out a stake but is under his thrall obeying his commands. Giles is 'captured' by Dracula's harem while Riley deals with Xander. Dracula offers Buffy his blood and she drinks. While drinking she has flashes and is broken from the spell. The two fight and she stakes him but he materializes again and she stakes him again. Giles and Riley come and Xander is no longer under his power. Buffy stands there with a stake as Dracula tries to materializes again but finally leaves. Next day Giles is about to tell Buffy about him leaving but is stopped when Buffy tells him she needs him to be her Watcher again because Dracula understood her power better than her. Joyce tells Buffy to take Dawn her sister along to the movies as they both yell 'mom!'...
5.2	Real Me Written by: David Fury
Dawn interrupts Buffy's training and writes in her diary about how know one understands what it's like to have a Slayer as a sister. Next morning Dawn takes the last milk and cereal as Joyce asks Buffy to help Dawn get her back-to-school stuff. They drive to the magic shop with the gang and find the shopkeeper dead and the shop ransacked. Dawn is shooed outside before she sees the body and meets a crazy old man who tells her that she doesn't belong here. The gang find books on Slayers missing along with a cheap unicorn statue. There are bite marks on the shopkeeper and Giles becomes distracted by how high the magic shop sales are. Meanwhile Harmony is pleased by her minion's work to help kill Buffy and also that someone brought her a unicorn. Joyce arranges for Xander to baby-sit Dawn who is smitten and gets dressed up to find Anya tagging along. Buffy tells Riley how annoying Dawn is on patrol. At home a brick sails through the window. Xander finds Harmony and her minions waiting outside to kill Buffy but are disappointed when they can't come in. Harmony yells at Xander until Dawn yells 'Why don't you come inside and then we'll see!' before realizing she invited them in. Harmony burst in fighting Xander who manages to get her out and close the door. Buffy is furious and complains about Dawn while Dawn hears outside the door. Crying she runs out and is caught by Harmony's minion. At their lair, Harmony complains that her minions don't respect her just as they start a mutiny. Buffy comes in dusting the vampires while Harmony escapes. Next day Giles decides to become the shop's new owner as he and Buffy go to train. She returns to tell Dawn not to break anything then not to touch anything and better not to do anything either. Dawn writes in her diary that Buffy thinks she's just her dumb little sister but she's in for a surprise...
5.3	The Replacement Written by: Jane Espenson
Xander decides to look for a place as a demon does a ritual to kill the Slayer. Next day the gang look for a apartment. Anya loves it and she and Xander get into a fight when he explains it's too expensive. Xander decides to take it. Giles runs into the same demon whom they find out is Toth who uses weapons. While searching for Toth in the city dump because of his odor they find Spike who looks for junk. Toth then shows firing his rod at them. Xander is hit saving Buffy. The gang help him up leaving behind without knowing another Xander who still lies on the trash. This Xander wakes and finds the imposter in his apartment. He follows the imposter who has now taken over his life. Xander tries to fight the imposter but is easily overpowered. Xander goes to find Buffy but sees that the imposter has already beaten him there. The imposter tells Buffy about this Xander being the imposter who they assume is Toth in disguise. The real Xander tells Willow about the imposter who has Buffy hypnotized and that it seems this Xander is better and smarter than him. Willow researches to help while Xander goes to stop the imposter from having Anya as well. Xander bursts in to find the imposter and Anya kissing. Willow tells the gang about talking to Xander when Giles discovers that they are both Xander split into a stronger and weaker personality by Toth who wanted to split Buffy. If one is destroyed the other dies as well so Toth wanted to destroy the weaker non-Slayer Buffy. Meanwhile the two Xanders fight and the weaker one pulls a gun out. Anya is unsure of which is real and they all struggle for the gun until Buffy comes in explaining. Toth comes in and is killed by Buffy. They put the both Xanders together again. Next day they help Xander move in to the apartment and Xander tells Riley how stable his relationship is compared to his and Anya's. Riley tells him that he's very lucky to have Buffy but she doesn't love him. Xander is stunned as Buffy walks in and kisses Riley.
5.4	Out of My Mind Written by: Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Buffy is fighting vampires when Riley rushes in on the fight. Confused at why Riley is here Spike jumps in as wells. She is annoyed at why they both keep interrupting her patrol when she is the Slayer. Giles and the gang surprise her with a training room behind the Magic Box. Harmony rushes into Spike's lair claiming that Buffy is after her and they're arch-nemesis. During breakfast Joyce suddenly looks at Dawn asking who she is before collapsing. At the hospital they say it was nothing serious as Dawn plays with the an intern Ben's stethoscope. When she tries it on Riley the heartbeat is frighteningly rapid. The doctor is worried about Riley's heart rate but he refuses saying he's fine. Buffy is worried and contacts the Initiative who may know about the drugs Prof. Walsh used on Riley. Meanwhile Riley is greeted with Graham who tells him they need to get him to a doctor quickly. Riley fights them and escapes saying he doesn't want the Initiative operating on him. Graham explains to Buffy that Riley can't feel anything but his heart is in great pain. They have a specialist doctor at the hospital waiting. Buffy looks for Riley. In the hospital the doctor waits but is taken by Spike and Harmony who plan to use him to take the chip out. Buffy find Riley punching angrily at the wall while his hand bleeds. He tells her that if they operate they'll take away his strength and Buffy won't be interested in a normal guy. She tells him that she loves him not because his strong and the two go to the hospital. At the hospital Spike is operated on by the doctor while Harmony watches. The doctor takes the chip out finally. Buffy and Riley come in. Riley fights Harmony while Buffy fights Spike. Spike tries to bite her but finds the chip still hurts. The doctor explains that he couldn't do it without the right equipment as Spike sees the doctor simply put a coin in the dish posing as the real chip. Riley suddenly has a heart attack as Spike and Harmony escape. After the operation Graham comments that he belongs with them and that there's nothing here for him besides Buffy. Meanwhile Buffy bursts into Spike's lair and is about to stake him. Suddenly the two kiss madly and he tells Buffy he loves her. Spike wakes up from the dream suddenly gasping and sweating in horror.
5.5	No Place Like Home Written by: Douglas Petrie
2mths ago- 3 monks are running from something and they perform a ritual to hide the Key. Now- Buffy patrols near a warehouse where she finds a glowing ball. Buffy makes Joyce a nice breakfast but Dawn quickly takes all the credit. Joyce seems to be having more headaches. Buffy and Dawn go to the Magic Box which has newly opened. Dawn unintentionally comments on how Buffy said the other day that she doesn't like Riley patrolling and plus he looks cute all weak. Buffy quickly drags Dawn out of there. When they return home Joyce is lying on the couch. Buffy goes to the hospital to get some medicine and meets Ben again. She recognizes the mental patient as the security guard she just saw yesterday near the warehouse. Suddenly the crazed guy grabs Buffy and says that they'll come to you through your family. Buffy gets an idea that something mystical is making her mom sick. In the Magic Box the place is packed with people and Giles begins to panic while the gang help out. Willow tries to wrap the gifts while Anya learns to say have a nice day. Anya then suggest to Buffy to do a spell that reveals spells. A monk in the warehouse is captured and tortured by a woman in a red dress who wants the Key. She starts to go crazy then sinks her fingers into a man's head. He falls to the ground and she rises feeling all better. You go in a trance and see if there is maybe a mist around your mom or a hand choking her. Buffy tries it and goes in her room with Riley. Riley insists that he's okay with not having superpowers and that instead of her looking out for him, they should agree to look after each other. In her trance Buffy goes downstairs. Her mum goes out and Buffy can't find anything around her mum. Then she notices something in the photo on the wall. In the picture Dawn fades and reappears. Confused she looks at all the other pictures and in all of them Dawn is fading. She goes into Dawn's room and it fades between Dawn's room and a empty computer room. She turns around to see Dawn standing there. And Dawn is fading like a hologram. Buffy grabs Dawn and demands to know what she's doing to her mom. Buffy calls Giles and finds that the glowing ball was a warding object for that which cannot be named. She tells him that the spell didn't work and goes out to the warehouse. She finds Spike outside her house and he makes an excuse that he was having a walk but she notices a pile of cigarettes where he was. At the warehouse she finds the monk and woman in red dress, who is surprisingly strong. Buffy and her fight but she is too strong and Buffy grabs the monk and runs out. The woman in the red dress stomps her foot angrily and the walls crack and cave in. The monk is to weak and tells Buffy that she has to protect the Key. They have sent it to her in the form of her sister. Buffy realizes it's Dawn. He tells her that Dawn doesn't know she is the Key and then dies. At the Magic Box the gang collapse and Giles decides to hire Anya. Buffy goes home and apologizes to Dawn for grabbing her before. The two make up and dawn then asks 'What's wrong with Mum?'
5.6	Family Written by: Joss Whedon
The gang help Buffy move back home. Tara feels left out when she makes a joke that the gang except Willow don't get. The gang forget about Willow's party for Tara's birthday until reminded. At the Magic Box the gang talk about presents and find they don't really know Tara but she's really nice. A guy comes in and reveals to be Tara's brother. Tara is surprised as her father and cousin walk in. She hugs them and makes plans with her father. Later she finds her father in her room. He scoffs at her magic books and tells her that she has to come back to live with them. He reveals that her mother was the same age when her demon side showing and soon Tara's would as well. Tara tries to stand up to him sure that she could keep it from her friends. Meanwhile Glory recruits a demon brethren to kill the Slayer. Tara blows off Willow who wants to do the demon location spell. Tara then secretly casts a spell on the gang researching in the Magic Box so they can't seem the demon in her. Tara meets with her cousin who assumes that Tara is coming back. Tara tells her no and her cousin becomes angry at how selfish Tara is, living out here instead of taking care of her family. Her cousin deduces that Tara did some spell on them and goes to tell Tara's father. At the Magic Box the gang can't see the demon brethren who are standing next to them until they attack Buffy. Confused the gang try to fight the invisible demons until Tara burst in quickly undoing the spell. The demons are killed as Tara's family come in. The gang demand to know what she did. Her family explains to the gang that the women in their family have a demon side and Tara must come back where they know how to control it. Tara is ashamed and goes until Willow stops her. Willow is heartbroken and asks if her if she wants to go and Tara shakes her head. Her father gets angry demanding that she come home as the whole gang decide to stand up for Tara not letting Tara's family take her away against her will. Anya then raises a question of what demon Tara is as some can become helpful members of society she says proudly. Tara's family are confused and put off the question until Spike realizes what's going on. He punches Tara in the nose and yells in pain. He tells them that there's no demon in her, just a family legend to keep the females in line. Tara's family goes angrily. The gang celebrate Tara's birthday. Dawn gives her a broom. Willow and Tara dance as they float up.
5.7	Fool for Love Written by: Douglas Petrie
Buffy fights a vampire and just when she is about to stake him, he twist his arm around staking herself instead. Shocked and bleeding she runs and is saved by Riley. Riley bandages her and asks her what did this and discovers it was just one normal vampire. She asks Giles about other Slayers and how they died, what was their final battle and what made it different. Buffy can't understand since she's been training harder than ever. They find nothing useful in the Watcher's diaries as few like to talk about when their Slayer died. Giles says that nobody could tell them either since many are not alive today. Buffy decides to ask Spike. Spike tells Buffy about how 'bad' he was before he was a vampire. 1880 London- William is composing another poem as Cecily comes down to the party. A 'friend' grabs his poem and starts mocking and reading it aloud as everyone laughs. They joke about his nickname William the Bloody because of his bloody awful poems. William grabs it back and goes after Cecily who walked off. He tells her that he loves her and the poems are about her. She tells his that she can't stand him and that he's beneath her. Crying in a alley William meets Drusilla who turns him into Spike. present- He goes on to tell Buffy how he got a gang together. Travelling with Darla and Angelus who threatens to kill him or the Slayer will. Confused he asks what's a Slayer. Now-Spike explains that after that he was obsessed with Slayers. He teaches her to have a weapon because he already has him and vamps out. 1900 China- Spike fights a Slayer during the Boxer Rebellion and feeds on her. Drusilla is impressed. Now- Spike tells Buffy that in the end technique or strength doesn't count. The two start fighting. 1977 New York- Spike fights against a punk Slayer on a subway. It flashes back to Buffy as the two use the same moves and Spike shows her how he fought against her with every move. The two continue to fight. 1977- The Slayer gets the upper hand pinning Spike down just as the lights flash out for a second when they come back on Spike has her pinned down. Now- demonstrating the same move he tells Buffy that it wasn't about moves. Every Slayer has a death wish, when they want to die, to stop. Even Buffy. He then says and when that time comes he'll be there. Buffy shoves him away and tells him 'You're beneath me.' and thrusts the money at him. He starts to cry as he desperately grabs around for his money. He goes back to the lair angry and finally decides to kill Buffy. Buffy is at home and finds her mother packing. She is going to the hospital for a cat scan. Buffy goes out on the porch and starts crying. Spike comes over with the gun and sees her crying. Instead he goes over to sit next to her and comforts her.
5.8	Shadow Written by: David Fury
The gang speculate that this new evil probably lives in a dank crypt. Meanwhile the new evil, Glory is lounging in her gorgeous apartment. A demon minion grovels then offers a spell that may help her find the Key. She accepts it goes looking for the ingredients for the spell, at the Magic Box. Riley arrives at Buffy's house and finds Spike sniffing Buffy's clothes. He tosses Spike out but then finds out that Buffy and her mum are in the hospital. Spike strikes a nerve when he asks why Buffy didn't tell Riley, but Spike's known all night. At the hospital, Buffy finds out from the doctor that they have found a shadow in the x ray scans of Joyce's head. Meanwhile the gang are researching when Glory walks in. However they don't know what she looks like and Giles proceeds to happily sell her the goods. Buffy is stunned to hear from the doctors that there is a tumor in her mother's head which is causing the headaches. Buffy decides to go find some spell that may help her mother while Riley takes Dawn to school. Meanwhile Anya checks the sales and is alarmed when she notices Glory's purchase. She tells Giles that they are never suppose to sell those items together. They involve dark magic dealing with transmographication. The gang soon figure out that the buyer is Glory. Buffy arrives to hear about this mistake and goes out to stop Glory. Meanwhile Riley and Dawn talks. Dawn comments that with Angel, Buffy was always sad and crying but with Riley she doesn't get that worked up. Unintentionally striking a nerve in Riley. He shows up at the Magic Box to find that Buffy has gone off again. Frustrated he leaves. Buffy finds Glory at the zoo doing the ritual involving a snake. However Buffy is quickly over powered and the spell works. The snake changes into a large reptilian creature. Glory then tells it to seek out the Key. Buffy warns Giles at the Magic Box just as the creature bursts in. It recognizes Dawn as the Key then slithers away to tell Glory. Buffy and Giles chase after it. Meanwhile Riley sits at Willy's and meets a vampire called Sandy. She bites him then he stakes her. Buffy catches up to the creature and pummels it to death. Glory waits impatiently for the creature to return but it never does. At the hospital Riley arrives and encourages Buffy to cry. But she refuses saying that if she starts she won't be able to stop. Riley reaches out to touch her. Just as he does so Buffy's mom calls her and Buffy goes and shuts the door behind her, closing Riley out.
5.9	Listening to Fear Written by: Jane Espenson
Buffy's family is nervous as Joyce's operation nears in two days. Meanwhile the gang are keeping the vampires at bay even when RIley fails to show. He is in fact sitting in a dump as a female vampire feeds on his arm. next day Willow visits Joyce in the hospital. During her visit, Joyce suddenly startles them by blabbering insanely then is normal the next moment. Buffy explains that the brain tumor sometimes makes Joyce say weird things. A they leave the hospital, a mental patient stares at Dawn, pointing and saying that she has no data, she isn't real. That night during star gazing, Tara and Willow spot a meteorite crashing into Sunnydale. They round up the gang plus Riley and minus Buffy since they don't want to bother her. Meanwhile the same mental patient from the hospital is wandering in that area when he is attacked by a monster. The gang arrive and find the dead mental patient. They deduce from inspecting the meteorite that it carried some monster that killed the man and is now loose in Sunnydale. They also find that the man was not killed by injury but by a mucus in his mouth that he choked on. The gang go for research while Riley stays behind to secretly call the commandos. Meanwhile, the monster is sneaking around the hospital. It goes into the mental hospital and behinds to kill the mental patients. Buffy convinces the doctor to let Joyce stay home until the operation. As they leave, the monster is watching them. When they get home Buffy puts Joyce to bed. Riley in the meantime works with the commandos to track the monster to the hospital. Researching the gang discover that it is a Quellor demon, summoned to quell the area of any insane people. In the past their have been regular intervals where there was an influx of mental patients. After the demon was summoned things would return to normal. They call Riley who reports that he knows, finding the bodies of the mental patients. Tracking the demon, the commandos report that it may have hitched a vehicle to some poor patient's home. Realizing what has happened Riley rushes to Buffy's house. At home, Joyce has another episode of her mental flashes. When they put her to bed again, Joyce stares at Dawn and says that she isn't real. Buffy reassures Dawn that what she said wasn't true. Dawn goes to sleep as Buffy washes the dishes. Joyce meanwhile stares up at the monster in the room and blabbers. Thinking her mom is just having another episode, Buffy continues to wash the dishes, turning on the radio. However the cheery music fails and she starts crying. The monster spits the mucus at Joyce who screams. Dawn rushes in and sees the monster. She locks Joyce and herself in a room and yells for Buffy. Buffy attacks the monster and they roll down the stairs. While she hunts the monster she bumps into Spike. He makes a lame excuse about stealing. Just as she notices him carrying pictures of her, they are attacked. She manages to kill the monster. Riley bursts to find the dead monster and Spike there. A minion approaches Ben asking why he summoned the demon. Ben replies that he's just doing what he's done his whole life, cleaning up Glory's mess. The next day, Joyce's operation is due. Joyce then confides to Buffy that during her episodes she had this strange knowledge that Dawn isn't hers. She belongs to them and is precious to the world. Buffy and Dawn watch as Joyce is carried into the operating room.
5.10	Into The Woods Written by: Marti Noxon
The gang wait anxiously as Joyce's operation continues. The doctor comes out to let them know that the operation was a success. That night Dawn hangs with Anya and Xander. Meanwhile Buffy and Riley spend some 'tender' time together. Unknown to them, Spike is stalking Buffy outside the house. Late in the night, Riley creeps out and Spike follows. The next night, Spike goes into Buffy house. He tells her that he needs to show her something. Reluctantly she follows. They arrive at a vampire filled house, but Spike warns that they're not here to slay. He leads her upstairs to a room. Inside Buffy is horrified to find Riley. With a vampire drinking from his arm. Buffy is shocked and runs out, Spike runs out as well while Riley tries to follow. Unable to catch her, Riley goes home to find Graham and a commando. They explain that the army is going out to a remote jungle to take out a clan of demons feeding on the missionaries in that area. They ask Riley to join them, explaining that this is not the Initiative, just military. They leave tomorrow as midnight if Riley wants to come. Next morning Buffy goes to Giles asking about people who pay vampire to feed on them. Giles explains that some people become addicted to the danger and rush they get from vampires. Buffy goes back to dust those vampires as the gang try to catch up and reason with her. Finding no vampires, Buffy gets frustrated and torches the place. Meanwhile Riley confronts Spike who confesses to loving Buffy. At first Riley is furious and stakes Spike, missing his heart. But soon the two are musing together over a beer about Buffy. Spike relates that he envies Riley but sometimes her thinks he got the better deal than him. To be that close to Buffy and not have her, not be able to reach her. At the Magic Box, Buffy is working off her anger in the training room. Riley arrives and tries to talk to Buffy. She yells at him for being stupid enough to endanger his life. Riley tries to show his point by saying that he wanted to know what it was about vampires that had so much control over Buffy. He tells Buffy that she wasn't letting him in, even when her mum was sick. He needs her to need him. When he was with the vampire, they would crave his blood, they needed it. Buffy becomes horrified and argues that this is who she is. She's given Riley her body, heart and soul. He argues that he doesn't' feel it. Buffy disgusted says that this is her and if Riley isn't satisfied... Riley then tells her that the military want him back. He says that he will leave at midnight if things don't work out between them. Furious that he's given her an ultimatum she storms out. He yells that he will leave if Buffy doesn't give him a reason to stay. She walks out. Outside she is confronted by the vampires from before and dusts them all. Xander shows up and tells her knows what's going on. It was really obvious. Buffy's been treating Riley like the rebound guy. Buffy cries that what does Riley want for her, to come begging? Xander replies that why shouldn't she. To keep him here. Buffy realizes that she does really love Riley and runs to the helicopter dock. Meanwhile Riley waits looking for Buffy at the dock. Not seeing her he gets on and doesn't look back. Buffy arrives screaming his name but her voice is shut out by the noise. The helicopter flies away and Buffy walks back home. Elsewhere Xander greets Anya and tells her that he loves her full heartedly.
5.11	Triangle Written by: Jane Espenson
Xander wonders how Buffy is dealing with Riley's absence. At a nunnery Buffy defends the nuns. After the fight, Buffy decides to learn about the nun lifestyle. Buffy is training with Giles as he fills her in. He tells her that he is going to England to see if any of the Watcher's Council have information on Glory. With him leaving Anya happily takes care of the job. When Giles is unsure Willow offers to help out. Anya is annoyed and tells Xander to stop Willow from talking as if she isn't there. The two soon start an argument with Xander caught in the middle. After Giles has left for England Anya is watching the store when Willow comes in to do a spell. However Anya is angry that Willow is using the merchandise without paying. Xander comes in and is again caught in the middle. Angry he storms out. Later at school Tara fills Buffy in on Anya and Xander's little fight. Buffy gets upset that Anya and Xander are fighting and begins to sob. Willow does a spell to create a ball of sunshine to help dust vampires. Anya watches annoyed. During the incantation Anya interrupts. Willow is distracted and yells at Anya. Meanwhile the ball of sunshine grows uncontrollably to form a huge troll. The two scream as the troll smashes its way out of the Magic Box. The two blame each other as they try to catch up with the troll so Willow can undo the spell. Meanwhile Buffy and Tara arrive and find the place trashed. At the Bronze Xander talks about Willow and Anya to Spike. Suddenly the troll comes in demanding ale and babies to eat. Willow and Anya arrive along with Buffy and Tara. The troll recognizes Anya. Anya explains that he was her boyfriend but he cheated on her so she turned him into a troll. That's how she got her vengeance demon job. Willow tries to do the spell but it fails. Buffy steps in to fight but the Bronze is damaged injuring some people. The troll leaves as Buffy tries to help the people. Spike steps in trying to get in Buffy's good graces. Anya and Willow go back to the Magic Box for other spells. The troll arrives angry at Anya for doing this to him. Xander arrives and boldly tries to fight. The troll admires his spirit and gives him the choice. Either Anya or Willow are allowed to live and he can choose. Xander refuses to choose between him best friend and girlfriend. Buffy arrives and fights but is overpowered by the troll's hammer. Anya distracts the troll while Willow does a spell to take the magic from his hammer. The two work together successfully. Buffy fights against the troll again but he still has troll strength. The troll points to Anya and Xander saying their love is doomed since Anya is intolerable and Xander is a weakling. Upset over the troll's taunting Buffy pummels the troll angrily. Willow then does a spell to send the troll to another dimension. Buffy is relieved that Anya and Xander are together and happy. She starts crying at the beauty of their love. Giles is back the next day saying the Council doesn't have much information. He tells Buffy that they didn't say anything about Dawn. Just as they are discussing Dawn, Dawn walks past and overhears their conversation.
5.12	Checkpoint Written by: Jane Espenson and Douglas Petrie
The gang are very worried when Giles announces that the Watcher's Council is coming. Glory thinks that Buffy knows where the Key is. Next day, Giles is shocked to find the Watcher's Council there. They inspect him shop then closes it down. Anya sneaks away worried that the Watcher's aren't very ex-demon compatible. Giles fills them in on Buffy's new focus in slaying. Buffy arrives later at the Magic Box and sees the Watchers. They explain that Buffy must pass their review or they won't give her the information on Glory. Giles is furious but Travers warns that if Buffy fails to cooperate they will shut down the Magic Box permanently and even deport Giles. Realizing she has no choice Buffy agrees. He tells her that her friends will be reviewed as well. Willow and Tara are interviewed, explaining they are witches and help Buffy. Not that she needs help. Anya and Xander are interviewed as well. The Watchers are worried about their lack of powers or fighting skills. When they interview Spike, he tells them that he is paid by Buffy. Meanwhile a minion approaches Ben asking to know about Buffy. Buffy gets ready for the physical test. She must blindfolded protect the training dummy from one of the Watchers who will attack it. Travers gives her instructions on how to fight in Japanese. Giles tries to translate but Buffy soon gives up, deciding to do it her way. She defeats the Watcher but at the same time accidentally axes the dummy. She goes home to find Glory there. Glory asks her where the Key is. Dawn comes in but Glory suspects nothing. Glory leaves warning that if Buffy doesn't tell her, she'll kill all her family and friends. Worried Buffy gets Dawn and Joyce to pack their things. All three show up at Spike's place. Joyce and Dawn are moving in. Buffy is late for her knowledge review. Just outside she is attacked by hooded figures. She fights them off and reveal that they are human. The soldier declares that they are enemies of Glory and must destroy the Key. If Buffy kills them, legions of armies will follow until the Key is destroyed. Buffy lets the soldier go. Inside the Magic Box, Buffy declares that she will not do their review. She muses that all day people are telling her how unimportant she is. Glory came to her home. But she didn't kill her. Why not. Because Buffy has power over her. The Watcher's Council didn't come to see whether Buffy was worthy, they came to beg Buffy back in. Because without Buffy, the Watcher's Council is nothing. A Watcher interrupts arguing that the gang are still civilians. Buffy points to the gang watching overhead that they are two very powerful witches, a ex-demon and Xander who has clocked more field time than all the Watcher's joined together. Travers is defeated and agrees to Buffy's terms. Buffy asks him what kind of demon Glory is. He replies that she isn't a demon. She's a god.
5.13	Blood Ties Written by: Steven DeKnight
The gang are discussing Glory and the conversation inevitably leads to the Key. Buffy decides to finally reveal that Dawn is the Key to the gang. The army soldiers from before are at their base when attacked by Glory. She grabs one and tries to get the location of the Key. Later she sucks him brain. Dawn arrives later but senses the gang is uncomfortable around her. They try to act normal, still reeling from the news. That night as Buffy's 20th birthday the gang are over for a party. Again the gang become all silent as she enters the room. Frustrated Dawn gets angry at everyone talking about her and storms upstairs. She sneaks out and bumps into Spike. She laughs seeing him lurking outside Buffy's house with a bent box of chocolates as a present. Dawn tells him that she is breaking into the Magic Box. Spike accompanies her. At the Magic Box, Dawn discovers Giles's diary and begins to flip through curious about what Buffy and the gang have all been talking about. She finds a passage about the Key, stating that only those beyond reality and sometimes reptilian animals can sense the Key. Dawn pales as she remembers the giant reptile and the crazy people who pointed at her. Spike takes the book and continues reading where it ends with saying that Dawn is the Key. At home the party is still on when Dawn appears with her arms slashed. The gang rush forward but Dawn is in shock. She asks them if this is blood, if she's the Key. Is she real, is she anything. The gang leave, so Buffy can deal with Dawn. Buffy and Joyce try to comfort Dawn by saying they still love her but it is still no use. Buffy learns that Spike was there when Dawn found out and blames him. Buffy and Joyce are talking about Dawn downstairs when she overhears. She hears Buffy say that Dawn isn't part of their family, they don't even know her. Upset Dawn slams the door to miss Buffy saying that is how Dawn probably feels right now. Relooking her diaries Dawn realizes that none of the things she wrote are true. She rips it up and burns them. Buffy rushes upstairs to stop the fire, Dawn is gone. The gang stretch out to look for Dawn. Whilst looking around with Spike, Buffy confesses that she should blame herself. Meanwhile Dawn goes to the hospital and finds the mental ward. The mental soldier tells her that they must destroy the Key. Dawn chats with Ben and reveals that she is the Key. Ben suddenly jumps up and tells her to go. However he soon morphs into Glory. Dawn is shocked but realizes that Glory doesn't remember anything that happened before. Dawn asks Glory about the Key. Buffy jumps in and fights against Glory with the help of her friends. Glory throws a crowbar at Dawn but Buffy jumps receiving the crowbar stab through her arm. Willow and Tara do a spell that teleports Glory away. At least for a while. Buffy shows Dawn her blood and mixes it with. She tells her that its Summers blood and she loves Dawn because she is her sister. Dawn cries and hugs Buffy. She then remembers Ben and starts to tell the gang. However she has forgotten and can't remember anything about Ben being Glory.
5.14	Crush Written by: David Fury
The gang hears about a massacre of train passengers. Spike practices chatting up Buffy and stands outside her house. Dawn visit Spike and wants to hang revealing she has a crush on him. By night he is telling her a scary story from when he was with Drusilla. Buffy goes to look for Dawn and finds her with Spike. Spike smitten immediately turns his horror story into a happy ending before Buffy drags Dawn out. Buffy asks Dawn why she was there and tells her that Spike is evil not cool. Dawn tells her that even if she had a crush on him he wouldn't notice not with Buffy around. Confused Buffy asks what she means as Dawn replies that Spike is utterly and completely in love with Buffy. Buffy and Xander investigate the train and Buffy asks Xander about Spike. He burst out into laughing fits. They leave without noticing a blind folded doll. Buffy goes home to find Spike, Joyce and Dawn sharing a good story like old friends. Spike tells her he's got a lead. Sitting in the car they wait while Buffy imagines everything Spike does is a come on. They bust into a lair of vampires when Buffy figures this was fake lead. She leaves and Spike opens the door for her. She asks if this is a date which he denies at first then asks if she wants it to be. Buffy is appalled as Spike tells her he loves her. Buffy runs off and tells the gang who are shocked. Worried they undo the invitation to Buffy's house while Buffy goes to nip this thing in the bud. Spike rejected returns to his lair to find Drusilla who wants him back. He kicks out Harmony and the two go out feeding. Drusilla kills them then Spike is able to feed. Buffy goes to his lair where she finds a secret shrine with pictures and her clothes. She comes out to see Spike with Drusilla who shocks her. Spike then shocks Drusilla. He ties up Drusilla and chains Buffy. He says he'll stake Drusilla to prove his love to Buffy. Harmony appears and shoots him while Drusilla escapes and pummels the chained Buffy. Spike rescues Buffy while Drusilla walks away knowing she has lost Spike. Harmony leaves Spike while Buffy walks off. Spike chases after Buffy telling her he's not going to go away because he's in her life. Buffy gets in her house as Spike tries to follow but is not invited. He laughs at first but realizes as Buffy shuts the door in his face.
5.15	I Was Made To Love You Written by: Jane Espenson
Buffy ponders at what could have brought on Spike's interest. Elsewhere a gorgeous girl is dropped off in Sunnydale. She announces that is looking for true love. She bumps into Anya and Tara, asking them if they know where Warren is then, asking the next person. Joyce is much better and gets ready for a date. That night at a party, Buffy hangs with Ben. Spike comes but is rejected again. Ben then offers his number to Buffy. The same girl from before arrives asking fro Warren. Jealous of Ben, Spike flirts with the girl. Offended, she throws him through a window easily as the gang watched amazed. Buffy tries to talk to the girl who shoves Buffy aside. The gang deduce that the girl is a robot who is looking for her maker, Warren. Willow tracks Warren down while Xander muses at the thought of creating a gorgeous girl robot who is at your every command. The gang sympathize that Warren must have been very lonely. As they talk, Buffy realizes how lonely she is and calls Ben. Buffy tracks down the most probable Warren. Meanwhile at his house Warren quickly packs his things hurrying his girlfriend Katrina who is confused at why they are going. Buffy arrives to tell Warren about his robot, April. Katrina leaves furious that he has hidden something from him. Meanwhile Spike bursts into the Magic Box but is thrown out by the gang. Warren explains that he created April to be the perfect match with interests, personality and love. But then he found that he didn't want her anymore and left her in his dorm room. Her batteries should have run out ages ago. Buffy is horrified that he just left her. Meanwhile, Spike packs up his Buffy shrine. Katrina storms off to bump into April who asks about Warren. Katrina announces that she is Warren's girlfriend and April grabs her and begins to choke her. Warren and Buffy arrive to find Katrina unconscious. Warren approaches April. Buffy tells him that he has to tell April. Warren tells April that he doesn't love her but loves Katrina. Furious April attacks Buffy. WHile the two fight, Katrina wakes up and learns that April was created by Warren. She runs off in disgust while Warren follows. April begins to choke Buffy but suddenly her arm lowers. Her batteries are dying. Buffy and April sit on a swing. They both talk about their guy problems wondering why they left them. Eventually April stops moving. Buffy laments to Xander that when Warren left April, she was left in no purpose in life. Buffy decides that she doesn't need a guy in her life to keep her happy and cancels her date with Ben. Glory overhears the message for Ben. Buffy goes home and finds flowers from Joyce's date. She calls out to her mom and sees her on the couch. As she nears she sees that her mother is not breathing, completely still.
5.16	The Body Written by: Joss Whedon
Buffy and the gang are having Christmas at her house then Buffy flashes back to reality. Buffy tries to wake her mum by yelling and shaking but it's no use. She rings the hospital shaking. They tell her to do CPR and sends paramedics. Stunned Buffy forgets CPR until they tell her what to do and she tries. Nothing happens and she manages to break something. She rings Giles simply telling him to come. She waits at her clutching the phone. Two paramedics come in and begin using a breathing device as Buffy looks on. Joyce suddenly coughs waking and is taken to the hospital where she thanks Buffy. Buffy flashes back to reality as her mum lays still on the ground with the paramedics. There is no pulse and she is cold. The paramedics stop and sadly explain to her that her mother is dead and the coroners will be sent over. In shock Buffy walks around then vomits. Giles walks in when she's cleaning up and finds Joyce. He tries to revive her and Buffy runs over yelling that he isn't suppose to move the body before realizing what the reality of the situation and cries. Later Anya and Xander drive to the campus to meet Willow and Tara sitting silently. Willow stares at her clothes wondering what she should wear that would be respectful but finds cartoons and smiley faces on her clothes. The four stand in silence. Tara goes to look for Willow's top in the laundry. Anya confused asks questions about what they should do but is answered by silence. She asks if they are going to cut open the body and Willow yells at her for being so insensitive. Anya breaks in to tears not understanding why Joyce died and why people are mortal and nobody will answer her. Xander punches the wall in anger breaking through the plaster. Tara returns to find Xander with his hand stuck and bleeding. He is bandaged and the four leave. Willow changes again. Dawn is crying in the school bathroom as her friend comforts her because people were teasing her. In art class Dawn talks with a cute guy who relates to her about people being shallow as Buffy come in. Dawn follow her outside as Buffy tries to break the new. The class watch in the classroom as Buffy breaks the new and Dawn crumbles crying to the ground. At the morgue the gang find that her mother died from a rupture which was a risk in the operation and Buffy probably couldn't have done anything. Buffy flashes to her mum waking and thanking Buffy for arriving home early. Tara and Buffy sit in silence as Tara reveals that her mother died when she was young as well. Dawn goes to the bathroom. Willow, Xander and Anya return with armfuls of snacks explaining they didn't know what to get. Dawn creeps into the morgue, wanting to see her mum's body just so she'll realize. Buffy goes to look for her. Dawn is about to lift the cover when a body rise behind her revealing a vampire. Buffy sees the vampire fighting with Dawn and breaks through the locked door. They fight and the cover over their mum is lifted in the fight. Buffy decapitated the vampire and she and Dawn look at their mother's still body. Dawn finally realizes the fact that her mother is gone.
5.17	Forever Written by: Marti Noxon
Buffy goes through the funeral arrangements while Dawn gets upset at why Buffy doesn't seem upset. After the funeral Buffy stays at the grave until sunset and Angel appears. They talk all night and Buffy is worried about tomorrow. She tells him he doesn't know what tomorrow is. Dawn stays with Tara and Willow after the funeral. Dawn asks them to do a resurrection spell but they refuse because witches are not allowed to play with life and death. Dawn gets upset so Willow secretly points her to a book on resurrection. Glory's minion asks Ben about the Key and he retorts that he would never help Glory harm a innocent before realizing that he revealed it was a person. Dawn uses the books and stolen ingredients to do a spell on her mother's grave when Spike appears. He helps her by showing her to a demon called Doc who knows everything about spells. Doc tells them of a vital ingredient the egg of a Gora demon. Spike fights the demon while Dawn steals the egg. Spike is injured. Tara and Willow find the book gone and call Buffy. Dawn is in her room doing the spell which requires a image of her mother. Buffy rushes upstairs but is too late. Dawn runs off while Buffy follows her demanding to know what she did. Dawn cries out that she needs Joyce because unlike Buffy she doesn't have anyone. Buffy exclaims that she has Buffy but Dawn says that Buffy is avoiding her and carrying around like it's all a chore for her. She didn't even cry or get upset. Buffy then starts crying telling Dawn that she has to do this because when she stops she starts crying. She needs to be the adult now and take care of things because who is . Who's going to take care of them. Dawn sees how Buffy is feeling and hugs her. Outside a figure walks slowly to their door and knock. Buffy whirls around and whispers 'Mommy?' Realizing Dawn quickly rips the image breaking the spell just as Buffy opens the door to find nothing. She then bursts into tears.
5.18	Intervention Written by: Jane Espenson
Buffy tells Giles she is worried that all her training and Slaying is turning her into heartless monster not able to love. Giles tells her of a spiritual quest for Slayers to answer their questions. Meanwhile, Spike receives his Buffy-bot made by Warren to love him. Glory orders her minions to watch who Buffy protects the most. Buffy has to take the quest alone and follows a bobcat out into the desert to a sacred place while Giles waits back in the car. The Buffy-bot goes out to patrol and meets Anya and Xander who thinks she came back early. Finding Buffy-bot gone Spike chases after her. The four slay some vamps and Xander and Anya leave. Then they realise that Buffy never asked about Dawn and go back to find 'Buffy' and Spike having sex in the cemetery. They go back and tell the shocked gang who figure that because of her mom's death she must be acting weird. Xander confronts Spike just as the minions rush in thinking Spike is the Key because of the Buffy-bot's concern about him. The gang try talking to 'Buffy'. Buffy waits in the sacred place when the First Slayer appears. The first Slayer tells her that she is full of love and that death is her gift to a shocked Buffy. The gang plan to save Spike or he'll tell Glory who the Key is. Buffy-bot goes to get weapons as Buffy returns. The gang are shocked at the two Buffy's and deduce that the other is a robot. Meanwhile Glory figures Spike is not the Key and tortures him to tell her but he refuses. The gang find Glory's apartment and rush in. Spike escapes bloody and half-dead as the gang rushes in. They fight the minions who retreat. Buffy-bot short circuits while trying to save Spike. Next day the Buffy-bot returns to Spike who is healing and asks him why he let Glory hurt him. He tells her that she couldn't bear to see Buffy suffer. Buffy-bot kisses him and he realizes that its the real Buffy pretending to be the Buffy-bot. Buffy touched by his loyalty goes telling him she won't forget what he did for her.
5.19	Tough Love Written by: Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Buffy leaves school to look after Dawn and is told by Dawn's principal that Dawn has been wagging and will be taken to a foster care if Buffy can't make Dawn go. Buffy decides to become the grown up and gets mad when she finds Dawn playing with the gang. They try to explain that it was to help her homework. Glory figures that Tara is the Key because she's new to the group. Tara and Willow have a fight over not trusting each other. Tara goes the a fair alone. At the Magic Box the gang find a minion spying. After some persuasion he tells them that Glory knows the Key is the witch. Realizing Willow rushes out to find Tara at the fair. Meanwhile Tara is greeted by Glory who crushes her hand. Tasting the blood she realizes that Tara is not the Key. Willow sees Tara with Glory but arrives too late as Glory feeds on Tara's mind. Tara is taken the hospital and is now insane. Enraged, Willow decides to take revenge on Glory and gathers weapons and spells. At Glory's apartment she traps Glory in a magical barrier and shocks her with energy. She uses all her magic, conjuring snakes and shooting daggers but Glory deflects them and is about to kill Willow. Buffy who realizes Willow's plan arrives in time stop Glory and the two run out. Glory goes after them but is stopped by Willow's barrier. Next day Willow, Tara, Dawn and Buffy are eating lunch as Willow feeds Tara and looks after her. Suddenly the walls in their room collapse and Glory appears. Frightened Tara looks at Dawn and wonders aloud at the pure green energy. Glory realizes that Dawn is the Key.
5.20	Spiral Written by: Steven DeKnight
Buffy runs out with Dawn as Willow slows Glory with a spell. Glory runs at super speed to the fleeing Dawn and Buffy. Luckily she is then hit by a truck and turns into Ben as Dawn and Buffy escape with Willow and Tara. Dawn tells the story to the gang who think Buffy defeated Glory and she explains that she just got hit by a truck. Buffy tells the gang to pack supplies and they're running. Spike and Buffy get a large caravan for the gang and they start moving. The knights discover from one of their insane knights that the Key is Dawn and attack the caravan. Ben complains that Glory took everything from him and says he'll destroy the Key himself to stop Glory. They fight of the knights but the caravan is toppled and Giles is speared in the chest. They rush to a old gas station and help Giles. Knights attack the station and Buffy captures their General. Willow creates a barrier around them. The knights allow Giles to be helped so Buffy calls Ben. Buffy tries to convince the General they are on the same side but they are still determined to kill Dawn. He explains that Glory was exiled from her ell dimension. The only way to stop her is to destroy the Key or kill the human half of Glory which nobody knows who is. If the Key is not killed, the dimensions will melt bringing hell on Earth. Later the General tries to convince Ben to destroy Dawn not knowing Ben is the human half of Glory. Ben refuses and helps Giles. Suddenly he fells Glory appearing and begs them to let him out. It is too late and Ben becomes Glory shocking everyone. Glory kills the General and grabs Dawn. The gang rush out after her to discover her gone and the ground filled with massacred knights. Stunned at losing Dawn, Buffy gives up and sinks to the ground in despair.
5.21	The Weight of the World Written by: Douglas Petrie
Buffy sinks into a coma while Dawn is prepared for the ritual with the minions. Glory begins to feel the line between Ben and her fading as the ritual draws closer. The others are unable to wake Buffy and are unable to remember that Glory is Ben until Spike who is immune tells them. Giles goes to the hospital and Xander and Spike go see Doc for help on Glory. Meanwhile Willow goes into Buffy mind to wake her. The Doc lies to them revealing that he also worships Glory. They fight and Doc is killed and they grab the item he was hiding. In Buffy's mind Willow watches as little-Buffy meets baby-Dawn saying she will take care of her. The scene switches to the Magic Box where Buffy puts a book back then to the desert with the First Slayer saying 'Death is your gift'. Next to Joyce's grave and then to Dawn's room where Buffy smothers her insisting 'Death is her gift' and that she killed Dawn. Ben tries to help Dawn escape but the two change back and forth arguing. Ben eventually makes a deal with Glory that if he helps Glory, she will give him a new good and cushy life. Ben decides to sacrifice Dawn instead and drags her back. Willow tries to break Buffy's time loop of the events playing over and over by explaining that Dawn is still alive and they need her. Willow notices a moment when Buffy puts the book back and Buffy explains that in that moment she let go, realized that Glory couldn't be beaten and imagined what a relief it would be to just let it happen. Willow decides to leave saying that if Buffy does stay in here then she really did kill her sister. Buffy yells for Willow to wait and they both break out of the trance. Buffy and Willow ready to save Dawn, return to the Magic Box where Giles tells her that Glory will bleed Dawn opening the walls and the only way to stop Glory is to stop the blood flowing. To kill Dawn.
5.22	The Gift Written by: Joss Whedon
Buffy saves a guy from a vamp. Amazed he says that she's just a girl and she comments that's what she keeps saying. Inside the Magic Box the gang go over the books for another way to stop Glory. Giles and Buffy have a fight over sacrificing Dawn but Buffy refuses. Xander asks why blood and Spike tells them it has to be blood, it's life. The gang sit in silence with no hope of winning. Anya suggest that they stop Glory before she bleeds Dawn and they don't even have to kill her they just have to delay her long enough as the ritual has to be done at a certain time. Anya reminds them of the Dagon's sphere which will repel her and the troll god's hammer to destroy a god with the weapon of a god. Meanwhile Dawn changes into the ritual clothes as Glory readies. The insane people are used as workers to build a tower to the right elevation for the ritual. Dawn is taken and tied to the top of the tower. Buffy tells Giles that she's done, if Dawn dies she quits as she can't take it anymore. Willow tells Buffy that she's found a spell to heal Tara and it might weaken Glory or blow their heads off. They know where Glory is by following Tara who is drawn to the ritual like all the other mental patients. The gang make plans as Buffy and Spike go to get more weapons from her house. She invites Spike in again and he tells her that he knows she doesn't love him and he's a monster but she treats him like a man. The gang are ready and follow Tara. Buffy tells them that if anyone tries to hurt Dawn she'll kill them. Tara goes to the tower just as Glory finds her. Willow uses a spell to take back Tara's mind and sends all of them flying. Glory gets up weakened from losing Tara's mind then sees Buffy. Buffy and Glory fight as the gang fight against the minions and mental patients. Glory whacks Buffy's head off to discover she's a robot just as the real Buffy hits her with the troll hammer from behind. Buffy hears Dawn yelling and runs up the tower. Willow recovers rushing over to Tara who remembers everything as the two embrace. Glory gets up racing after Buffy as the two fight while climbing up the tower. The gang are pulling back overwhelmed by the minions. Glory and Buffy fall from the tower to the ground. Buffy loses her hammer but Glory is hit by a wrecking ball courtesy of Xander. Buffy continues to pummel Glory who is severely weakened. Dawn watches below when suddenly the Doc appears. She begs him to help her but he reveals that if Glory can't make it to the ritual he'll fill in and holds up a knife. Spike notices someone up there and Willow uses magic to throw all the minions back in one blast as Spike makes a run for Dawn. Buffy keeps pummeling Glory until she turns into Ben. He vows never to come near them again and Buffy spares him. Giles walks over later and tells Ben that Buffy could never take a human life, she isn't like us. Then he calmly suffocates Ben. On the top, Spike confronts Doc who easily stabs him and pushes him off the tower. Spike falls down but is still alive. The Doc makes shallow cuts in Dawn as blood spills down. Buffy reaches the top and pushes the Doc off easily. She helps Dawn back but the blood drops have begun opening the portal. Dawn tries to jump saying she has to stop it. Lightning strikes the ground, monsters fly from the portal the earth shakes as the portal widens. Buffy stops Dawn as Dawn says it has to stop the blood flow, it has to be blood. Buffy flashes back to when she told Dawn they had the same blood Summers blood, then to when she tells the others that she more than family, she's me, the monks made her out of me, Spike's explanation about blood and finally to 'Death is your gift.' Realizing what the First Slayer meant finally she turns around. Dawn realizes and stops her. Buffy then quickly tells her that she loves her. To tell the others that she's okay and to Giles that she finally understood. She tells Dawn 'The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live.' before turning around fast, running and jumping off the tower in the portal energy below. The energy shocks and kills her as she falls and just as the sun rises, the portal closes sealing hell with it. The gang recover from the battle to see Buffy's still body on the ground.

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