TV.com

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 8

Shadow

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 1

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.2

User Rating

458 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Free Trial / Subscription

VUDU

Buy

AIRED: 11/21/00

Riley begins to suspect that Spike has feelings for Buffy, and Spike takes great pleasure in telling Riley about Joyce’s illness – and about the fact that Buffy told Spike first. Meanwhile, Glory is conjuring up a creature that will be able to locate The Key for her, no matter what form it may be in.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

The cancer a lot scarier than the snake

7.0

By joxerlives, Jan 20, 2012

The Good;

Glory's minions are hysterical. The giant snake is a lot better than what we see in Graduation Day 2 and Band Candy. All the Buffy/Dawn/Joyce scenes are fantastic beyond belief.

The Bad;

Not much although you continue to feel for Riley.

Best line;

Willow; "Tomb-go-boom!"

Women good/men bad;

Riley cheats on Buffy.

Jeez!;

Not an ep for you if you suffer from Ophidiophobia

Kinky dinky;

Riley get's some vamp action/snuff. Spike takes his stalking of Buffy to a new level, sniffing her sweater and stealing a pair of Buffy's skimpy pink frilly undies as Riley kicks him out. Dawn tells Riley Buffy cries a lot less with him about, she means well but this isn't what he wants to hear. Giles appears quite taken with Glory, can't blame him with her in that red leather dress. Xander also gives her the once-over

Captain Subtext;

Check out the little look Willow gives Xander when he eyes up Glory, there's still something there. When Xander and Riley have their heart to heart Xander asks Riley "What kind of action are you looking for?" Ohhh matron! Dawn is quite the screamer (she could have been a Classic Dr Who companion) and one could say that this is Buffy protecting her virginal teenage sister from the threat of a huge phallic snake? Sitting astride it and restraining it with a chain.

Scoobies to the ER;

Buffy needs an ice pack after Glory smacks her around.

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: 15

Giles: 10

Cordy: 6

Xander: 8

Will: 5

Jenny: 2

Angel: 6

Oz: 3

Faith: 1

Joyce: 3

Wes: 1

Anya;1

Kills: Riley kills Sandy, Buffy kills the snake demon

Buffy: 86 vamps, 31 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot

Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon

Cordy: 3 vamps, a demon

Will: 4 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: 9

Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths;

83;

Total number of scoobies: 7

Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara, Riley

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: Should we count Riley and Sandy as a sexual act?

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; 2; Buffy and Sandy

Questions and observations;

Aleister Crowley was a famous British occultist/satanist who coined the phrase 'Do what thou wilt shall be the only law'. Xander refers to Riley as Captain America who was also a goverment supersoldier. Joyce has a cellphone, about time one of the Sunnydale Scoobies did. The Sunnydale Zoo again. Another lovely Xander/Riley scene. Note when Riley goes to see Buffy after being with Sandy he wears a high necked sweater to cover the bite marks.

Marks out of 10; 7/10

moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Shadow

10

By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 28, 2010

Shadow was a perfect episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's fifth season, and it is also one of my favorites! I really enjoyed watching this episode because it had complex character development in Riley, Buffy, and Joyce. We also learned that the woman in red is called Glory, and she is pressed for time to find the key. I like how we are seeing more and more magic in the series and I think it's great that the gang now have a magic shop as headquarters. There is so much depth to this series, and this episode is a prime example of that. I think that this episode is key to the season and series, pun intended!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
A great episode that advances the three main plots forward without getting confusing or too heavy!

8.5

By TwistedConverse, May 06, 2010

Shadow is a great episode that balances comedy, drama and emotion perfectly and furthers the three main arcs perfectly; it isn't the best episode or the most entertaining but is definitely a great one.

I love two of the three main storylines here; for me, the cancer storyline and the Glory storyline are two of the greatest in the entire show and I generally like all episodes connected with them. However, on the other hand, Buffy and Riley's imminent breakup really does not interest me in any way; seeing as I've seen the show countless time, I already know what happens and the storyline just seems to get worse every viewing. It's just annoying, boring melodrama. I don't care for Riley as a character and feel at this point he is nothing more than a badly acted waste of space (that may be a bit harsh though).

The Joyce storyline is simply fantastic in my opinion. I can't say Joyce has always been one of my favourites and she's vital to the show but this storyline helps us get invested in her character the Summers family dynamic. It also really helps us to care about the character of Dawn more; she may be a bit annoying but by this stage, I always really care for her and this really helps to draw us more into the Glory storyline; I feel the two compliment each other.

The Glory storyline is possibly my favourite storyline on the entire show. Some found it annoying and boring but I thought it was utterly fantastic. Glory herself is a brilliant villain in my opinion (though she slips far too much into cheesy comedy at times). She's not the best but seeing as she exists to basically be extremely powerful but a bit stupid, I feel she does this perfectly. Clare Kramer is a great actress and is like marmite; you'll either love her or hate her.

Shadow is a great episode; not one of the season's best by any means but still a great all rounder and an episode that will leave you wanting more.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
5 0

Flag
Share Hide
Season 5, Episode 8.

9.5

By Wanted23, Jul 12, 2009

Riley begins to suspect that Spike has feelings for Buffy. Buffy's world is falling apart as Joyce is diagnosed with a brain tumor. She tries to keep Joyce's diagnosis from Dawn. Buffy must also protect Dawn after Glory creates a snake that will find The Key, no matter what shape it is in. I really enjoyed watching this episode. It was near-perfect. The only thing I didn't like were the graphics. The graphics didn't wok the first time they did a snake with the mayor, so why would they attempt to do it again? I liked when Glory bought the stuff at the magic shop though. Sarah Michelle Gellar was once again amazing in this episode. Great episode. :)moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Snakey Wakey

7.4

By lenzinoH20, Jul 15, 2008

Shadow-Riley begins to suspect that Spike has feelings for Buffy, and Spike takes great pleasure in telling Riley about Joyce's illness – and about the fact that Buffy told Spike first. Meanwhile, Glory is conjuring up a creature that will be able to locate The Key for her, no matter what form it may be in.

Despite mediocre looking monster of the week, "Shadow" does move along the storylines of the season pretty well. The most interesting development is Joyce's illness as Buffy finds out her mom has a tumor. It's a heart-breaking scene when Buffy finds out her mother's life might be in jeapordy and will do anything to save her. You can instantly tell that Buffy is overwhelmed by the fact that she might lose her mother which is wonderfully played by Sarah.

While it's always great to see Glory again, her presence is unterutilized in this episode despite kicking Buffy's a$$ once again. The whole episode is wasted on that stupid, badly CGIed giant snake. In some scenes, the snake actually looks pretty cool, while in most, it looks done right fake. But it was a cool scene when Buffy took down the snake by choking it then punching the life out of it. I love it when Buffy gets all violent! But another downside is the wasted energy being put into Riley's depression storyline. "Awwwwwww, Buffy doesn't need anymore, waaaahhhh, I'm gonna let a vampire almost kill me!", ehw! I'm glad it's only 2 episodes down until Riley leaves the series and the character looks so pathetic and desperate. All and All, "Shadow" is pretty good for building emotions about Joyce's illness, but the rest of the episode is mediocre at best.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 1

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Sarah Michelle Gellar	Buffy Anne Summers
Nicholas Brendon	Alexander 'Xander' Harris
Alyson Hannigan	Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas	Riley Finn
Emma Caulfield	Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg	Dawn Summers

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Kevin Weisman	Dreg	Guest Star
Megan Gray	Sandy	Guest Star
William Forward	Dr. Isaacs	Guest Star
Clare Kramer	Glory	Recurring Role
Charlie Weber	Ben	Recurring Role
Amber Benson	Tara	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (8)
ADD TRIVIA
- The vampire (Sandy) that Riley stakes is the same girl from Season 3 episode "Doppelgangland". In that episode, she was the girl in the Bronze that Vampire Willow bit as an object lesson.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy becomes inexplicably weak when the snake creature attacks the Magic Box. A small set of shelves is knocked down on her, yet she is unable to crawl out from under it or throw it off even as she watches Dawn being threatened.
  Compare this to the episode No Place Like Home, where Buffy falls from the third floor of a building, lands on her back on concrete with someone on top of her, and yet be able to get up immediately without so much as having the air knocked out of her.
  EDIT SHARE
- The establishing shot of the Sunnydale Zoo shows it to be daytime and open to the public, yet there are no visitors in the reptile house. The building could be closed, meaning that Glory, Dreg and Buffy broke in. If so, it is odd that no one investigates, especially with all the noise and commotion Glory and Buffy are causing.
  EDIT SHARE
- Although Buffy knew that Glory was attempting to create a serpentine creature it isn't made clear how Buffy knew that Glory would be at the zoo and when she would be there.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy makes no signs having the very painful stab wound she received in the previous episode "Fool for Love". Since this episode picks up immediately after the other, even with her Slayer healing Buffy wouldn't be completely healed.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy and Tara talk about Joyce getting a cat scan but the machine we see her in is an open MRI -- a totally different technology.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy wears different pairs of shoes nearly every scene though she doesn't change the rest of her outfit (there isn't time for that anyway).
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy ices her left arm after the fight with Glory in the museum. But Glory injured her right arm, not her left.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (8)
ADD QUOTES
- Spike: Look, I know for a bleedin' fact the Slayer wouldn't mind me being here.
  Riley: Right. What's a little sweater-sniffing between sworn enemies?
  EDIT SHARE
- Giles: The demon woman was here, the one who attacked you.
  Willow: It's no biggie. She just got an amulet and a blood stone.
  Anya: That can create a monster.
  Willow: Okay, biggie.
  EDIT SHARE
- Tara: (reading the Magic Box slogan) "Your one-stop spot to shop for all your occult needs." Catchy.
  Giles: Think so?
  Tara: Uh-huh. In a... hard to read sort of way, but I think it's great.
  EDIT SHARE
- Giles: (to a customer) Ah, a weeping Buddha: shoulders your spiritual burden. Makes a lovely paperweight, too.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy: How did she get away with this bad mojo stuff?
  Anya: Giles sold it to her.
  Giles: I- I- I... I didn't know it was her! I mean, how could I? If it's any consolation, I may have overcharged her.
  EDIT SHARE
- Anya: Are you stupid or something?
  Giles: Allow me to answer that question with a firing.
  Xander: She's kidding. An, we talked about the employee-employer vocabulary no-nos. That was number five.
  EDIT SHARE
- Spike: Okay, how 'bout this one. Twice in recent memory, she's had the lover-wiccas do a deinvite on the house. Keep out specific vamps. Ever ask yourself why she's never taken my name off the guest list?
  Riley: Because you're harmless.
  Spike: Oh yeah, right. Takes one to know, I suppose. Least I still got the attitude. What do you got, a piercing glance? Face it, white bread. Buffy's got a type, and you're not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region. Not that she doesn't like you ... but sorry Charlie, you're just not dark enough.
  EDIT SHARE
- Xander: Am I right, Giles?
  Giles: I'm almost certain you're not, but to be fair, I wasn't listening.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (8)
ADD NOTES
- The Merry-Go-Round seen in this episode is the same one that appears in the second season of the TV series Bones (in the episode Man in the Cell). David Boreanaz (Angel) plays one of the two principle characters in Bones.
  EDIT SHARE
- Anthony Stewart Head (Giles) did the "Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer" narration.
  EDIT SHARE
- At the Hellmouth Convention in Belfast in April 2003, Clare Kramer noted how during the filming of the zoo scene (with the snake), the snake escaped and she and Sarah Michelle Gellar were standing on a chair/stool, terrified and refusing to come down until it was recaptured.
  EDIT SHARE
- The round building used in this and later episodes is also seen in the episode of Angel, "Sense & Sensitivity". Half way through, we see the building as the home of the sensitivity trainer.
  EDIT SHARE
- At the end of this episode when Buffy slays the Snake-Demon in the field, there is a continuous shot panning from Buffy standing over the Snake-Demon's body up to a wide shot of Glory standing in the window waiting for it's return. Later we learn that Glory is holed up in a luxurious apartment, but the wide shot of the building she is in looks a lot more like a house than an apartment. Furthermore, the cliff-side building (and it's surroundings) that we see her in at the end of this episode looks exactly like the shots of the cliff-side house that Anya and Xander live in starting a few episodes from now. Is it the same building?
  EDIT SHARE
- When Buffy said the snake demon was, "big, but not Mayor big", she was referring to The Mayor's Ascension at Graduation.
  EDIT SHARE
- The stake Riley used to slay Sandy wasn't actually a stake, it was a wooden switchblade.
  EDIT SHARE
- Buffy using the chain to choke the snake creature is reminiscent of Princess Leia killing Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi, as is the creature's tail flopping up and down in it's death throws.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (6)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Joyce: They have to do a biopsy to find out exactly what it is.
  
  A biopsy is a medical procedure to extract and examine a tissue sample in order to detect the existence of disease, such as cancer.
  EDIT SHARE
- Spike: Not that she doesn't like you ... but sorry Charlie, you're just not dark enough.
  The expression "Sorry Charlie" is in reference to the old Starkist Tuna Fish commercials where the animated Charlie Tuna would try to get "caught" by the Starkist fishing boats but would only receive a note at the end of the hook saying "Sorry Charlie". Starkist would only accept the best tuna fish for their product.
  EDIT SHARE
- Spike: (to Riley) Face it, white bread. Buffy's got a type, and you're not it.
  'White bread' is a slang term used to refer to someone who's boring, plain, nondescript, a 'goody-goody', etc.
  EDIT SHARE
- Xander: (about Riley) Captain America blowed it up real good!
  Captain America is a Marvel Comic Books hero who debuted in 1941 and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
  
  "Blowed up real good" was the punchline to the Farm Film Celebrity Blow-Up sketch on "SCTV", which depicted two hayseeds on the early morning farm report conducting a talk show. Normally, in this context the term 'blow-up' would refer to an in-depth look at the interviewee's life, but the guests on FFCBU actually exploded.
  EDIT SHARE
- Dawn: What is a CAT Scan exactly?
  Acronym for Computed Axial Tomography, also known as Computed Tomography Imaging. It's basically an x-ray tube that rotates in a circle around the patient, taking many x-rays of the brain as it rotates.
  EDIT SHARE
- Giles: Aleister Crowley Sings? Um no, but we do have some rather nice whale sounds.
  Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was an English occultist and self-styled "Great Beast 666". His works include "Magick in Theory and Practice" and "The Book of the Law". The record does not actually exist, but Crowley can be heard to sing (along with a number of magickal chants and discussions of ritual working) on the primarily bootleg album "The Great Beast Speaks".
  EDIT SHARE