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Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Forever

Season 5, Episode 17, Aired Apr 17, 2001

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Refusing to accept that her mother’s death is the end, Dawn becomes obsessed with using magick to bring her back. Meanwhile, Buffy receives some much-needed comfort from an old friend who comes to town for the funeral.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Joel Grey

Doc
GUEST STAR
Alan Henry Brown

Funeral Director
GUEST STAR
Darius Dudley

Minister

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Buffy Anne Summers
Nicholas Brendon

Alexander 'Xander' Harris
Alyson Hannigan

Willow Rosenberg
Emma Caulfield

Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg

Dawn Summers
James Marsters

Spike

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Fan Episode Reviews (14)

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Why I fell in love with Dawn

9.0

"Superb"

By joxerlives, Jan 20, 2012

The Good;
Angel's back, hooray. The final scene where Buffy and Dawn collapse into each other's arms is my favourite scene in the whole of Buffy.

The Bad;
Dawn stealing the eggs, the Ghora demon just looks lame.

Best line;
Dawn; "It's ok, okkaaayyyyy!"

Jeez!;
Doc is far more human that many of the demons the gang face and ALL the scarier for it. Like Mayor Wilkins, Doc is a tribute to the skill of an actor in the role. Am I the only one who finds Willow's idea of making a stuffed animal dance extremely sinister? Buffy slaps Dawnie but in fairness she has every right to.

Kinky dinky;
Glory refers to Jinx as her 'Robed stud'. Willow likens Tara's fried eggs to 'little boobs'. Anya and Xander have sex, Anya hinting to a terrified Xander she eventually wants children.

Captain Subtext;
Note that Buffy never hugs Dawn after Joyce dies, not even at the graveside, can't even bare to look her in the face. (both girls sitting alone in their bedrooms) Can't stand to see her mother's eyes looking back at her? It's only in the last scene that the sisters finally find each other and it's all too wonderful. Spike (who was noticeably absent in The Body) brings flowers for Joyce whom he professes his fondness for (in Lies My Parents Told Me we discover why). Buffy says she wants Angel to stay on in Sunnydale for all time which must give Bangler's reassurance.

Apocalypses; 5,

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1

Kills:
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, a demon, a demon
Anya: a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore

Questions and observations;
Willow's helping of Dawn foretells her abuse of magic in later seasons. A lot of people blame Dawn for trying to ressurect Joyce but just imagine you're 14 year old girl and the mother you love more than anything has died. If there was the slightest chance you could bring her back, wouldn't you? Wouldn't anyone?
Angel comes to Sunnydale for the funeral. Do Wes and Cordy come? Oz? Do they tell Faith? She doesn't mention Joyce when she turns up in season 7 but maybe Buffy posts her a letter? Nice mislead with Buffy and the coffins, you think she's vamphunting at first. Dawn in pigtails to make her look even younger. The album Giles is listening to is the same one he listened to with Joyce in Band Candy.
For the record the scariest monster we never see is the THING that crosses past the window and knocks on the door of the Summer's house. And Buffy goes 'Mommy' and runs to the door because she'd give the world to have Joyce back. And Dawn becomes the grown up and rips up the photo so she opens the door to nothing. And the Summer's girls collapse into each other's arms because (to paraphrase Ally McBeal) Joyce is dead, they loved her and she died and she's going to be dead forever. But they'll always have each other, she lives on through her deeds and her daughters. Angelus in Passion referred to 'The ecstasy of grief'. Here we see it in all it's glory. And in many ways Buffy needs Dawn a lot more than Dawn needs Buffy, Buffy doesn't ask who's going to take care of Dawn, she asks who's going to take care of 'us'. And the answer is from now on they take care of each other.
Marks out of 10; 9/10, would be 10/10 except for the stupid looking demon.
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Forever

9.5

"Superb"

By TrueTvWatcher, Nov 02, 2010

Forever was a great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This episode ties up the sub plot of Joyce's death and really touches the heart thinking about having to deal with similar issues. This episode showcase's this series ability to portray everyday human experiences in a relative manner with a supernaturally entertaining mythos. I really enjoyed watching this because it was a good story line to wrap things up, and introduced new insights into some of the characters. We also met a new character who is more than he appears. Meanwhile Glory has learned what form the Key is in, and it seems things are about to go from bad to worse for Buffy and the gang. I can't wait to see what happens next!!!!!moreless
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Season 5, Episode 17.

8.5

"Great"

By Wanted23, Jul 22, 2009

Buffy and Dawn both struggle to cope with their mother's death. Dawn refuses to accept it, and tries a spell to bring Joyce back. Meanwhile, Angel returns to town to help comfort Buffy. Glory finds out more information on The Key.

I really liked this episode. I think Buffy looked amazing in this episode, especially during the scene where she is talking about the wake at the dinner table with Giles. Great episode, for sure. Glory is getting so annoying, but she obviously has a mental problem. Ben and Glory are brother and sister?! Wow. Anyway, Glory finds out that The Key is a human. Cool episode! :)moreless
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Still Grieving

9.1

"Superb"

By lenzinoH20, Jul 19, 2008

Forever-Refusing to accept that her mother's death is the end, Dawn becomes obsessed with using magick to bring her back. Meanwhile, Buffy receives some much-needed comfort from an old friend who comes to town for the funeral.

After one of the saddest and most surreal hours in television history, "Forever" is massively overlooked when it's quite a stunning episode in it's own right and some performances are quite moving. Everyone in the gang is still trying to adjust with life after Joyce's death but these aren't gettin' easier, especially for Dawn and Buffy. Buffy, of course, keeps herself busy by preparing herself for her mom's funneral even she's avoiding Dawn because of it. Dawn, still in denial about her mother, wants to bring back her mother magically with the help of Willow and Tara. Of course, when Dawn goes behind their back and goes on a one girl mission to bring her mother back to life. I liked seeing Spike helping Dawn throughout as Spike is growing to be a more caring character, especially bringing the flowers for Joyce. You can tell he feels real genuine concern for Dawn which is touching to see.

The funeral scene was such a moving moment seeing all the characters saying goodbye to Joyce. Then comes the unexpected return of David Boreanaz to Buffy and his scenes with Buffy are some of the most memorable between the 2 characters. It's great to see after all these 2 have been through, they still have an undeniable connection and can be there for one another. For the first time, both characters seem like they have matured after years ago nad have much wisdom to tell each other. Another interesting development is old shop keeper who seems like a creepy old man, but is definately something more sinister and evil. The actor was great in the role and he gives off a disturbing essence as the character.

The episode ends with one of the saddest scenes of the series as Buffy confronts Dawn about the spell she just casted. It's ironic how Buffy is noticeable pretty absent from the episode, yet Sarah Michelle Gellar steals the show with one scene. Just the way Buffy slaps Dawn and breaks down about her trying to keep busy it hurts to much when she stops and realizes her mom's gone. It's a powerful scene as Dawn rips up the picture just as Buffy races to see her mother again and both sisters just fall to the ground in each others' arms. Often forgotten, "Forever" is a wonderful follow-up to the events of "The Body" with great developments and a heart-breaking final scene.moreless
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"Who’s gonna take care of us?" - Buffy

9.2

"Superb"

By rachel_london, Jun 28, 2007

The last episode chronicled Buffy's reaction to her mother's death, now it's Dawn's turn. Buffy is arranging the funeral, looking at coffins not, for once, for vamps but for her mother's body. Dawn, though, is not allowed to choose or to help plan the funeral. Buffy wants to shield her from the realities of adulthood ("you shouldn't have to deal with this stuff"), little seeing that her li'l sis is capable of a) grown-up emotions and b) raising the dead. As Buffy has been forced into the rle of adult, Dawn steps somewhat into the Slayer's shoes in this episode. The two are separated, each sitting in her bedroom, not communicating. But because Dawn is not involved, she finds it hard to accept that her mother is gone. And feeling more alienated than usual from the grown-ups, doubly-deserted by her mother and then emotionally distant Buffy, her involvement in the magicks that her sister and peers are caught up in is also caused by her desire to change things, to have control over something bigger than choice of coffins. There is no wake after Joyce's funeral but the two Summers girls lie awake; Dawn in Tara and Willow's room, Buffy in the cemetery with Angel. Tara is still strong; she is sympathetic and kindly towards Dawn but still stands up to her plan to raise a zombie Joyce. Tara, perhaps because of the loss of her mother, knows about death, whilst Willow thinks you can play with life. Both witches object to Dawn's plan but for Willow it's reasons of practicality whereas Tara knows that it's morally and spiritually wrong: "Magic cant be used to mess with the natural order of things". In pulling the spell book out for Dawn, and then lying to her girlfriend about it, Willow foreshadows the Season 6 rift regarding the use of magic between her and Tara. Whilst Tara is imbued with moral realism, Willow has the will to power - she thinks magic can be used to force your version of reality on the world, she wants to play god(dess). As we saw in S4, Willow found it very difficult to accept Oz's departure and here she empathises with Dawn's grief. In the last episode whilst fretting about her clothes, Willow worried that she wasn't a grown up. Here we see proof of that.

Everyone grieves for Joyce in their own way, Giles listens to the record he and Joyce hung out to, Spike leaves flowers, reminding us of Joyce's humanity ("She never treated me like a freak") and Anya and Xander have sweaty sex, celebrating the rhythms of life and death in a different way. Buffy has no need of Spike's sympathy, she secretly meets and turns to Angel in order to express her feelings and sum up Joyce's entity: "Mom was the strong one in real life". Joyce may have done some bad things to Buffy, particularly in the episodes Ted and Gingerbread and refusing, at first, to understand Buffy's calling led, in part, to her running away at the end of S2. But she more than made up for her temporary failings through her warmth and humanity and general emotional sturdiness. She was always there.

Buffy worries that she won't be strong enough to cope, but she shows her genetic strength in telling Angel to go back to LA when her neediness turns to lust and she wants him to stay in Sunnydale "forever". More than just her mother's loss, she feels responsibility bearing down on her, the need to look after Dawn and to be the adult. She can't accept this change as little as Dawn can.

Buffy's other love interest, in refusing to date the Slayer in order to aid Glory, ironically makes it worse by letting slip that the key is human. We see nice guy Ben get ruthless as he attempts to kill Jinx in order to protect the secret. Glory's discovery takes place at the same time as our introduction to the black-eyed Doc Dawn is in a lot more trouble than just demon egg stealing. In the absence of Hank, Buffy turns to Giles and then Angel; Dawn enlists her older brother-figure Spike. We see the beginnings of her kleptomania as she steals a book from the Magic Box and sets off to raise the dead, with a single-mindedness akin to Buffy's. Spike, who has doing good only to impress Buffy, here does the wrong thing for the right reasons, because he doesn't want to see Dawn upset. For her, he is willing to be gored by the latest in the long line of yet another man in a rubber suit playing a snake-demon. Dawn performs the spell, to Buffy's horror, and they argue as Mombie approaches the house. Buffy is appalled by what Dawn has done until they hear "Joyce" knocking on the door and then we see the expectation and hope in Buffy's face: she wants her "mommy" back just as much as Dawn. Dawn, wanting to join the big guys, finally acts like an adult and rips up the photo, breaking the spell, as Buffy breaks down. Dawn comforts her, little sister protecting Big Sis. By emotionally connecting with Dawn, rather than acting the mom, Buffy makes Dawn realise that she's not alone, that she doesn't have to go into dark magicks to get some solace. Buffy thought Dawn needed her to be strong and hold everything together, but Dawn wanted the emotional side of Joyce, someone to turn to: a sister in fact.moreless
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TRIVIA (7)
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- Willow's bookcase and dresser have switched walls for this episode until the end of the season as well as the pictures that were hanging above the bookcase. However, the stereo that was also on it is gone. In the Angel episode "Disharmony" that aired the same night, you can see the bookcase back on it's original wall.
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- This is the first appearance of Angel in the flesh since the episode The Yoko Factor.
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- After the funeral, Giles goes home and listens to Tales of Brave Ulysses by Cream. This is the song he and Joyce listened to in Band Candy.
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- Joel Grey is the only Academy Award-winning actor, to date, to guest star on the show.
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- This is one of the only episodes in the series in which the character of Buffy Summers does not fight.
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- When Spike and Dawn are walking to Doc's, there is a stop sign on the left-hand side of the road and on the sidewalk... why?
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- For not knowing where the "dangerous stuff" was kept in the Magic Box, Dawn found the book and potion ingredient she was looking for quickly.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Buffy: I've been working. I've been busy, because I have to.
  Dawn: No. You've been avoiding me.
  Buffy: I'm not. I have to do these things cause when I stop, then she's really gone. And I'm trying. Dawn, I am really trying to take care of things, but I don't even know what I'm doing. Mom always knew.
  Dawn: Nobody's asking you to be mom.
  Buffy: Well, who's gonna be if I'm not? Huh, Dawn? Have you even thought about that? Who's gonna make things better? Who's gonna take care of us?
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- Glory: What about the key? Jinx: He indicated that it was a person, most... highest... you. Glory: The key's in human form? Jinx: I believe so... (searching for words) good one. Glory: Jinx, you robed stud, you're my man! I'm even gonna let you slide on the lame toadying on account of you're dying and stuff.
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- Angel: I can stay in town as long as you want me. Buffy: How's forever? Does forever work for you?
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- Tara: Magic can't be used to alter the natural order of things. Dawn: But all you do is mess with the natural order of things.
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- Dawn: Good, 'cause I know... what I want to do now. Willow: Great. What are you up for? Dawn: You guys are witches. And you do magic and stuff. Willow: You want us to teach you something? Uh, like a glamour, or I could make a stuffed animal dance! Dawn: I wanna do a spell. I wanna bring Mom back.
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- Spike: Joyce was the only one of the lot of you that I could stand! Xander: And she's the only one with a daughter you wanted to shag. I'm touched. Spike: I liked the lady! Understand, monkey boy? She was decent. She didn't put on airs. She always had a nice cuppa for me. And she never treated me like a freak. Xander: Her mistake.
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NOTES (1)
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- The Events of the second Buffy game "Chaos Bleeds" happen between this episode and the next episode "Intervention".
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ALLUSIONS (6)
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- Buffy: She said that potlucks are depressing enough as it is.
  A potluck is a gathering of people for a meal where most of the guests bring food that is to be shared among all the guests.
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- Glory: Was this (the perp. of Jinx's injury) the Slayer? I'll pull her wings off!
  Compares Buffy to a fly, to which little boys pull the wings off. It also shows how insignificant Glory thinks Buffy is.
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- Dawn: Osiris, giver of darkness...
  Osiris was the lead god of the Egyptians until his brother Set, Lord of the Underworld, killed and dismembered him and scattered the pieces across Egypt. His wife and sister Isis recovered all the parts except for his "manhood," which ended up in the Nile, and resurrected him. Thus unable to give new life he became Lord of the Dead and Resurrection.
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- Ben: Tell my sister I'm sick of running into her Jawa rejects.
  Jawas are the little hooded scavengers who live on Tatooine in George Lucas' epic saga Star Wars.
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- Buffy: Mom!
  This episode clearly owes a debt to the classic horror story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. In this story, a grieving mother makes a wish to bring back her dead son - but what exactly has she brought back? Be careful what you wish for...
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- Doc: (whistles a little tune)
  When Spike takes Dawn to see Doc, the creepy little man is whistling a little tune. It's from the children's symphony, "Peter and the Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev (1936). It also may be familiar to some as incidental music from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons.
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