Change one thing in S5

[Kendra371]

If I had to change one thing... It would've been Glory being inside of Ben.

I felt that adding her to a human was a cop out because they needed a easy way to weaken the "GOD BEING." What made glory badass was that she was virtually unstoppable. Once The whole Ben is Glory thing came up, it sort of became dull.

On a side-note, I absolutely love Joyce and I feel that once she died a part of the show died with her. But I never would've had her die. I would've had Glory kill Willow.

 

[white avenger]

In the last episode, when Spike has been re-invited into Buffy's home, he says something like, "I know you'll never love me. I know I'm a monster..." Buffy should have said something. Not any declaration of undying love and devotion, I wouldn't expect anything like that at that time, but she could have said something like, "If I thought that you were a monster, I would never have invited you back into my home."

Here was a man voluntarily putting himself in a situation where he could be killed in order to rescue someone who should have been his prey, fighting shoulder to shoulder with a group of people who neither trusted nor liked him, solely because "he made a promise to a lady," without expecting anything in return.

She don't have to love the guy in order to afford him a little respect and show some gratitude for what he was about to do.

 

[Robb Stark]

In the last episode, when Spike has been re-invited into Buffy's home, he says something like, "I know you'll never love me. I know I'm a monster..." Buffy should have said something. Not any declaration of undying love and devotion, I wouldn't expect anything like that at that time, but she could have said something like, "If I thought that you were a monster, I would never have invited you back into my home."

Here was a man voluntarily putting himself in a situation where he could be killed in order to rescue someone who should have been his prey, fighting shoulder to shoulder with a group of people who neither trusted nor liked him, solely because "he made a promise to a lady," without expecting anything in return.

She don't have to love the guy in order to afford him a little respect and show some gratitude for what he was about to do.

I get that, and as a fan I totally wanted her to say something meaningful or special. But at the same time, regardless of how often he's proved how he felt about her, it makes sense that she didn't say anything. Spike didn't have a soul at this point and he Buffy didn't need him emotionally as she would in S6, so at the forefront of her mind, he IS a monster.

He saved Dawn, and went through hell to do it, but I don't think that just wipes the slate clean. I mean, there's a book full of the terrible and evil things Spike did to Buffy and her friends between them. It's different when he gets his soul back, very different, but by this point, feelings aside, he is a monster.

 

[Kendra371]

I get that, and as a fan I totally wanted her to say something meaningful or special. But at the same time, regardless of how often he's proved how he felt about her, it makes sense that she didn't say anything. Spike didn't have a soul at this point and he Buffy didn't need him emotionally as she would in S6, so at the forefront of her mind, he IS a monster.

He saved Dawn, and went through hell to do it, but I don't think that just wipes the slate clean. I mean, there's a book full of the terrible and evil things Spike did to Buffy and her friends between them. It's different when he gets his soul back, very different, but by this point, feelings aside, he is a monster.

I agree with you both. I also would've liked "something" as a response, but honestly I think her reaction was very natural. At least she acknowledged what he did for her and Dawn by taking a beating by Glory. She kissed him 😀

 

[Selfless705]

I never really liked how glory died at the end, I wish it was a bit more dramatic but then with her being a God, I dont actually come up with a counter-example... I just kinda dont like how it happened. 😵

 

[white avenger]

I get that, and as a fan I totally wanted her to say something meaningful or special. But at the same time, regardless of how often he's proved how he felt about her, it makes sense that she didn't say anything. Spike didn't have a soul at this point and he Buffy didn't need him emotionally as she would in S6, so at the forefront of her mind, he IS a monster.

He saved Dawn, and went through hell to do it, but I don't think that just wipes the slate clean. I mean, there's a book full of the terrible and evil things Spike did to Buffy and her friends between them. It's different when he gets his soul back, very different, but by this point, feelings aside, he is a monster.

I can't see the logic here, and I can't see how his not having a soul, or the terrible things that he had done in the past, in some way mean that he shouldn't be allowed the common courtesy of acknowledging what he was doing for Buffy and Dawn at that time. This is the same soulless monster who Buffy kissed after he got the crap beaten out of himself rather than reveal Dawn's secret. Why did he deserve gratitude then, and even a kiss, but not later? If anything, he had demonstrated more loyalty and love, for both Buffy and Dawn, since that time, certainly enough for his risk and potential sacrifice to be acknowledged. Buffy had just seconds before stated that she was depending on him, specifically, soulless monster that he was, to protect Dawn if she herself was no longer able to do so. If she could trust him with that sort of responsibility, I'm not suggesting that Buffy should have drug him upstairs for a quickie, just that she say, "Thank you."

 

[YummySushiPJs]

I get that, and as a fan I totally wanted her to say something meaningful or special. But at the same time, regardless of how often he's proved how he felt about her, it makes sense that she didn't say anything. Spike didn't have a soul at this point and he Buffy didn't need him emotionally as she would in S6, so at the forefront of her mind, he IS a monster.

He saved Dawn, and went through hell to do it, but I don't think that just wipes the slate clean. I mean, there's a book full of the terrible and evil things Spike did to Buffy and her friends between them. It's different when he gets his soul back, very different, but by this point, feelings aside, he is a monster.

I agree with you Always Bangel, and I also think the reason she didn't say anything back was that she was just... letting him have his little moment. He wanted to make a heartfelt speech, and she didn't laugh at him or tell him to shut up, which she probably would have done to Season-4-Spike (not that Season-4-Spike would have made such a speech). I think she just respectfully let him say his piece.

 

[Kendra371]

I agree with you Always Bangel, and I also think the reason she didn't say anything back was that she was just... letting him have his little moment. He wanted to make a heartfelt speech, and she didn't laugh at him or tell him to shut up, which she probably would have done to Season-4-Spike (not that Season-4-Spike would have made such a speech). I think she just respectfully let him say his piece.

I was just about to say something similar LOL.

I think it could have also been Buffy was just dumbfounded by his speech. Spike proved more than enough of his loyalty to Buffy. He got beaten for her. He was soulless, yet still was able to protect Dawn's secret and fight by Buffy's side. Buffy kissed him and in that moment when Spike said his speech, she realized that he in fact changed and fought that monster within himself. So I think she was speechless and just didn't know how to respond to that. After she was resurrected in season 6, she was very comfortable with him and he was the 1st person she told about where she was when she was dead. I think her view of Spike was changed with that speech he gave her.

 

[tkts]

I'd like to find a way for Buffy's final sacrifice to make a little more sense. They say the portal will close when the blood stops flowing, but that can be accomplished with a Band-Aid, and it's not clear how throwing an entire person's worth of blood into the vortex closes it. Maybe just a little more exposition earlier in the episode that pointed the way a little more directly to the portal demanding a death.

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

Defintely would have had the Buffy/Riley breakup happen sooner. I think if they had had that happen at the same time that she met Glory, it would have been interesting to see Buffy deal with both of those

Why all the Dawn hate? I actually liked her in S5. Eh, everyone's own opinion I guess

 

[marie21]

Never introduce Dawn to the show

I agree!!!🙂
Sorry but I still don't think it was a good idea, even if they needed to bring a new character to the show.
First of all, I don't like Dawn, too whiny, like most teenagers, true but come on...She's so annoying!!!
Second, I've always pictured Buffy as an only child...For me, the only child thing fits some aspects of her personality. I love Buffy but you have to admit that she is a bit spoiled and sometimes very selfish or self-centered. At the beginning of season 3, she's a bit jealous of Faith and doesn't really give a damn about her. She didn't think of inviting Faith for Christmas. Her mum had to remind her of that...and in Season 4, she doesn't see much her Mum. This time, it's Faith who notices it and uses it to hurt Joyce.
I'm not saying that someone with siblings wouldn't be as self-centered, I've got two younger brothers and I can be self-centered too sometimes ^^lol not with my family, though...it's just that for me, being an only child adds some consistency to the character and that's also why I like and understand her. She's not a flawless heroine.
And thirdly, Buffy wouldn't have been so hurt by her father's neglect if she had been able to share it with her sister...
So for me the whole Dawn thing, with her being the Key on top of that, is something I don't like. But I've come to accept her, especially in S.6

 

[Audrey]

the same as marie regarding to Dawn...

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

Personally, I wouldn't have Glory suck out Tara's brains....it's too painful for me to watch, especially considering that what Willow did afterwards led to the entire Magick addiction in Season 6

 

[touchthesky]

Get rid of Dawn. I can't stand that character. Make Tara the key or something lol.

 

[Jeff86]

Part of me wishes Buffy would have stayed with Riley. To be honest, I like them together alot. (I love Spuffy too, but I can't help but have a soft spot for Ruffy. 🙂 ) I just always felt bad for Riley when he realized Buffy wasn't in love with him.

 

[JReed1985]

Alternative ending

The helicopter which Riley was in when he left Sunnydale blew up and Riley died, good riddance to the worst Buffy character.

 

[CSIgirl86]

Ha I'm so glad there's someone out there who disliked Riley as much as I did. I always felt he was the worst character on the show. I'd rather watch an entire episode revolving around Dawn that watch one minute of boring Riley

 

[Zeppelin92]

The second: Having Dawn die at the end instead of Buffy. Like [MENTION=10496]Zeppo[/MENTION] said Dawn's death would of had a huge effect on Buffy. Plus I liked his idea of it pushing Buffy to quit and walk away from the slayer gig all together. That would have made for a very interesting story-line.

I feel like that would have ended up being a repeat of Buffy running away and becoming Anne after she killed Angel.

Honestly I don't see how Dawn gets so much grief on the show. Yah she was annoying at times and changed the dynamics of the group, but she really captured the essence of that annoying bratty little sister that no one wanted around. Which is why everyone in my opinion, hated her character. haha.

When I look at episodes like The Body for example, if that scene where Buffy went to school to tell Dawn about their mother's death never occurred, in some ways the episode would have been less significant.

Also S7 Dawn was a very strong character in my opinion. She may not have been the main protagonist or even a very important part of the season, but she showed a lot of leadership in a number of episodes.

 

[brooke2707]

For spike not to have a crush on Buffy... WORST STORYLINE EVER!!!

 

[OFAWB]

Joyce getting sick, then getting 'better', then dying, all within the span of a few episodes...That really bothered me.