"Forever"

[babyo0ogirl]

Just watched "Forever" today. It was so sad! I was really happy to see Angel's appearance. When he slipped his hand in hers, it was so sweet. Like she waited there until nightfall because she knew he would come. And poor Joyce. She was so sweet. I also felt for Spike, when he tried to bring the flowers (this could have happened in "The Body"). I think that he truly liked Joyce, they had a few good conversations..one of my favorite scenes ever was their convo in "Lover's Walk". Also, I am totally loving Anya. Her naive way of looking at things because she just doesn't understand is so loveable. Her speech in "The Body" was so heartbreaking as she's trying to come to understand death & that she is now mortal.

[alexa]

Yeah I still love that time between Buffy and Angel in Forever. Sad they couldn't do crossovers in season six.
The interaction between Spike and Dawn is good too, but really sad at the end. :(

[Cangel]

Lol, this is funny, I watched this episode yesterday. What I always asked myself, how did Angel know that Joyce had died? Did somebody call him? And did they mention this on Angel? If they do, I don't remember

[babyo0ogirl]

Ya know, I don't remember them mentioning it on Angel. Like when she found out Angel was in LA, I guess I just assume someone, maybe Willow, since she seemed to be most in contact with Cordelia & Angel, called him to let him know about Joyce.

[Joyce Summers]

I just think the scene with Spike and the flowers is the sweetest thing. And is one of the few moments where Xander annoys me. Spike speech about being adament that the flowers are for Joyce and not for Buffy's benefit always reaches me and reminds me why I love Spike so much.

And I do like the fact that both Willow and Xander realize he was being genuine and did actually care when Willow looks at the flowers and says 'He didn't leave a card'.

And I always cry with the scene between Buffy and Dawn at the end of the episode. What Buffy says really reaches me. I've had a major loss in my life, more than one in fact, and it is exactly how you feel.You focus non-stop on the funeral because it's something to do, it stops you thinking on the reality; that the person you love is gone.

[VisionGuy]

The scene with Buffy and Dawn in the end of the episode always breaks my heart. Especially when Buffy goes, "Mommy?" and runs for the door.

[white avenger]

Lol, this is funny, I watched this episode yesterday. What I always asked myself, how did Angel know that Joyce had died? Did somebody call him? And did they mention this on Angel? If they do, I don't remember


Well, we know that in Angel S5, he has her watched in Rome (or at least who he THINKS is Buffy since Joss changed canon on us), so it's not too great a stretch of the imagination to figure that he had someone watching over her the whole time that he was gone. Willy seemed to be pretty "up" on the supernatural goings on around Sunnydale, maybe he kept an eye on things for him.

As for this episode or soon thereafter, I think a scene where Spike says his final goodbyes would have been in order. After all, Angel was there primarily for Buffy, not to mourn Joyce. The two of them were never really friends.

[SpikedBuffy]

I really like the Buffy and Dawn interaction at the end of the episode. That's the scene that I can't wait for when I watch this episode. It's so sad, with Buffy crying about who's going to take care of them. And then when her and Dawn collapse on the floor after realizing nobody is at the door just breaks my heart. :(

[angeldork]

In regards to how Angel found out about Joyce obviously can be opened to interpretation cause they didn't say or show Angel found out about the whole thing. Though I think they did a great thing by bringing Angel into the episode to be there for Buffy. Not only that but after that episode they didn't link it with the show Angel. In terms of him finding out and him coming back. You would think that when he found out that he would tell Cordelia and Wesley that he was leaving to go to Sunnydale cause Buffy's mom died; one could think that if it happened that way that Wes and Cordelia would want to go to to pay their respects. They could've made it to be this sad episode but also a little bit of a reunion episode. Which to come to think of it they never had one the entire time that both series were on at the same time.

[Vicariously]

I think all around from every aspect they handled Joyce's death fantastically on the show! I loved how they had Angel come to hold her hand. I love how Spike mourned Joyce, and not just for Bufffy but for himself. I loved how poor Anya broke down because she didnt understand death and she hated feeling the pain. I loved how undecided Willow was aobut what Joyce would have wanted and just couldn't comprehend this and her hurt. I loved how they showed Buffy completely lost and hopeless how they incorporated a bond between Dawn and Her. Dawn really kicked up the emotional side of things. Her in the morgue looking at her mothers dead body, Wow. Just Wow every bit of it! They didnt overkill with emotion. THey didnt disregard it either they truly played on what a loss like Joyce is like in the real world!

[Lauryn Summers]

Seeing Angel included in that episode was huge. It showed that he wasn't really gone and that he would always be there for Buffy when she needed him. And that they'll always love each other. Their exchanges were so tender and quiet but incredibly effective.

That final 5 minutes is one of the most heartbreaking moments on the entire show. I don't know about anyone else, but I believe those are real tears. I've never seen that kind of emotion out of someone in a TV show or a movie as Sarah Michelle Gellar let out. That interaction between Buffy and Dawn really connected the two as sisters for me and when Buffy said, "Who's gonna take care of us?" as well as the rest of her heartwrenching lines, it showed that Buffy wasn't as invinceble as everyone thought she was.

This is one of my favorite episodes of the series.

[Fake Shemp]

i just watched it yesterday (well like at 3am this morning) and the return of angel for that is sooooooooooo sweet.... awness and i think it was great how they didnt do some over the top thing with him, it was subtle and once again with the sweetness

[hyperballadbrad]

I always feel so numb when watching this episode, because i always watch it right after or soon after 'The Body'. It is a brill episode though.... it is one of those eps that rises Buffy above so many other tv shows. Special!

[InsaneMystic]

While "The Body" doesn't get me (I just don't like Joyce, can't help it), this one does... especially the end with Buffy storming to the door where Zombie!Joyce is knocking and Dawn breaking the spell at the last moment.

[angelchick182]

I'll have to discuss both eps - since I've always considered them the "unofficial 2-parter". "The Body" and "Forever" both get me - there's so much going on emotionally with everyone, it's hard not to get caught up in it. From both eps, off the top of my head, these are the moments that choke me up the most:

"The Body" - the look on Buffy's face when she realizes she's referred to Joyce as "the body", instead of "my Mom"; Dawn collapsing at school; Willow's maniacal clothes-changing and hunt for "the blue one"; Anya's breakdown about not understanding the human condition in regards to death.

"Forever" - Spike showing up with the flowers and the fact that it wasn't about impressing Buffy; Angel showing up and the next scene of them sitting together and talking; Giles listening to the song that he and Joyce listened to together; and finally after Buffy catches Dawn doing the spell - pretty much everything from their conversation until the end of the episode.

[Violette]

I love all the B/A crossovers. It was great to see Angel come back in "Forever", if only he actually did stay there in Sunnydale forever as Buffy had hoped too. I liked how they spent the night just talking under the tree after Joyce's funeral. He came just at the right time, giving Buffy the much-needed emotional comfort after Joyce's death.

[DarkAvenger]

poor spike. he was strying to be nice.. i think he really liked Joyce and xander (mostly xander) did not have the right attitude. I understand that xander thought he was just trying to impress Buffy but we know that's not true so it makes me sad every time i watch it :(

[untouched]

I really liked when Angel showed up. Buffy was needing that, that kind of security blanket. Even me, as a viewer felt safer with his presence (kinda like when Giles comes back to stop Willow). So, that was a very good idea, to bring him in this ep.
Also, that scene with Spike is really touching. He really did have a great chemistry with Joyce; I always loved watching those two hanging out, they were a blast. And she really did get him in a way that no one else did so he really feels her loss, which is proven by those flowers (stupid Xander lol).