What if there was no Dawn...

[Chasing Cordy]

...or she came in at another time (earlier or later)

How do you think the story would have been affected? As for me, :idunno:

[M-a-r-c]

well season 5 would've been screwed with the key storyline and all...

I guess the monks would've made the key in another form that the slayer could protect. perhaps a new handbag for buffy. But I still think it would've resulted in buffy winning but if there was no dawn buffy couldnt really die because theres no blood involved...does that mean glorys spell wouldnt work anyway?

So if buffy doesnt die then no disruption to the slayer line becuase she wont be brought back. No disruption= no opportunity for the firsts plan.

[Wicked]

If thre key was something else, buffy wouldnt be inclined to protect it like she did cos dawn was her sister. Therefore Glory could have won.

[Angels baby101]

I dunno it would have really screwed up season 5, unless they had changed the story line and instead of it being around the key and glory something else. But if the story line were the same, it would screw it up because like wolf said, Buffy wouldn't be so inclind to protect it....

[Black Eye Guy]

Well if there was no Dawn the whole series from 5 on wards would be different. I totally agree with what the others said abut Buffy maybe not protecting as much as she did with Dawn, but then Buffy wouldn't have died, so Willow wouldn't have to resurrect her, so her Decent into Dark Magick could have been delayed(I think it would still have happened but not at the same time), so Tara wouldn't have left her so she might not have died, So Willow wouldn't have gone to the dark place she went, so maybe she wouldn't have been able to get to a place of complete goodness!

Also Buffy would not have to care for Dawn the money problems would be different, but it also would have left her totally alone. And since she had no little sister she may not have been as invested in investigating the school when it reopened, also the fact that she would not have parented Dawn, she may not have been ready to look after the potentials when they turned up(Just encase the first found another way to make it's plan happen)

So Imagen a season 5,6 and 7 with out Dawn in kinda impossible, too much would have changed!

[Helpless]

If ther was no Dawn and if she was something completely different, it wouldn't have the same aspect of affect on us at all.

Part of the emotions of season 5 was that Buffy needed to protect Dawn...she wanted to and Dawn meant everything to her, especially after The Body.

It would have been alot different not having the sister as the key and The Gift wouldn't have been that emotional and I don't think there would be any sacrifice.

It just wouldn't be the same...better to just leave things alone.

[Chasing Cordy]

Buffy wouldn't have died, so Willow wouldn't have to resurrect her, so her Decent into Dark Magick could have been delayed(I think it would still have happened but not at the same time), so Tara wouldn't have left her so she might not have died, So Willow wouldn't have gone to the dark place she went, so maybe she wouldn't have been able to get to a place of complete goodness!

After my head stopped spinning, I realize based on that description, Dawn was indeed the key to the whole series. Without her, everything from season five onwards is void. It all goes back to Dawnie.

[Vicky]

I think it would have been weird without Dawn, when you get into like season 6 and 7 it's hard to think what the show was like when Dawn wasn't in it...

[Irish Spike]

NHo dawn, no difference, except Spike would never have been able to hit Buffy cause she wouldn't have jumped off the tower

[freakydorky]

It would have been a lot more enjoyable I think. Everyone go back, watch a few eps of season 5 and 6... now count how many tantrums you just watched Dawn have, or how many times she whined and bitched about trivial things. Alot huh?

[Wicked]

Wow I think thats the shortest and most to the point post you've ever made Whatshisname :p

[Lyri]

I liked Dawn's interactions with Spike.

wow, you really must be drunk tonight if that's all you have to say about this! lol
you know i love ya, i'm only teasing!

but seriously, back on track.
without Dawn, SO many things wouldn't have happened, or would have happened differently.
Buffy wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself to save Dawn, so that would mean, Willow wouldn't hvae had to bring her back from the dead, she wouldn't have had to use Spike just so that she could feel something, which would mean no Spuffy!! at least, not then.
Also, Spike's chip would still have worked on buffy, which means his attempted rape couldn't have happened, so he wouldn't have gone looking for a soul, which would mean The First wouldn't have been able to use him.