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While Buffy tries to control a motherless Dawn and bring their lives back to some sort of normalcy, Tara is captured by Glory who is desperately trying to find the Key.
  • Willow, Buffy and their girls

    7.0
    "Good"
    The Good;
    Good scenes between Buffy and Dawn, excellent battle between Willow and Glory

    The Bad;
    If you're a Tara fan it's pretty gut-wrenching

    Best line;
    Minion; "Begging your pardon and begging in general"

    Women good/men bad;
    Glory calls Tara a tramp

    Jeez!;
    Glory brainsucking Tara is awful although Clare Kramer gives a great performance describing the madness (which of course Glory experiences it too). Anya's racism against the French is also a bit much (and surely Anya is actually Swedish, yah?). Willow spits on Glory.

    Kinky dinky;
    Glory bathes in front of her minions but blindfolds them.

    Captain Subtext;
    Tara and Willow have their first fight. A lot of people disliked this but couples fight, straight or gay, everyone has arguments. Willow refers to lesbo-street cred, she tells Tara that she's the only woman she's fallen in love with (again, bi rather than gay?). Implying that Tara has had gay lovers before? Anya offers to let Willow sleep with her admitting this sounds a lot more lesbian than she intended. Glory gives lots of little hints of lesbianism when she's 'holding' Tara's hand. Lovely scene at the end where Buffy and Willow are with 'their girls', Will kissing Tara and Buffy stroking Dawn's hair.

    Guantanamo Bay;
    Giles tortures Glory's minion. With the same trick Angelus played on him?

    Scoobies to the ER;
    Poor Tara, brainsucked.

    Apocalypses; 5, Glory asks did anyone order one?

    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: 96 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: 1vamp + a demon
    Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
    Buffybot; 1 vamp
    Spike; 1 vamp and 1/2 a demon

    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;
    You feel so bad for Buffy having to quit school and so bad for Ben being fired. Glory likes aspects of this dimension, changing her tune (because of Ben's influence?). The scenes with Buffy and Dawn over Dawn's truancy are heartrending, the terror they feel at the prospect of losing each other. Can't Dawn go to Aunt Arlene? Once again Tara says she fears Will's magic. Buffy's 'Things change' line may be from Batman Returns? What do people want petrified hamsters for?
    Marks out of 10; 7/10

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  • Tough Love

    10
    "Perfect"
    Tough Love was perfect episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and one of my favorites to watch. This episode was very entertaining as Buffy has to deal with Dawn and start putting her foot down, and Glory is closer to finding the Key. Buffy's situation with Dawn and school is a relatable experience for some viewers. Willow and Tara have their first quarrel and when Tara goes off by herself she encounters Glory. Leaving Tara insane Glory continues her search while Willow decides to take matters into her own hands. Willow fighting Glory was one of my favorite scenes. Emotions ran high all over this episode, which added to its complexity. In the end Glory discovers the true Key, and I can't wait to watch what happens next!!!!!moreless
  • Season 5, Episode 19.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    Buffy tries to control Dawn after learning that she hasn't been going to school and that she can be taken away. Meanwhile, Buffy also drops out of college for the semester, and Glory thinks that Tara is the Key.

    I liked this episode! Definitely a good episode, for sure. Buffy looked good in this episode, and I like how she's civil with Spike now. I liked how Glory went after Tara, and Willow went after Glory. I loved seeing Willow and Glory fight. Then Buffy once again saved her at the last minute. Haha. Buffy made Glory laugh. I liked how they fought and then Buffy ran out with Willow. Amazing episode. Can't wait for the rest of the season. :)moreless
  • I..owe..you..PAIN!

    9.0
    "Superb"
    Wow! Season Five has been a corker so far and this episode is no exception. Alyson Hannigan is on fine form, but so is Amber Benson and Clare Kramer.
    There is a lot of foreshadowing in this episode - Tara and Willow fight about Willow's growing power (something that happens in season six); something terrible happens to Tara (something that happens in season six) and Willow goes bonkers over it (something that happens in season six also). Its good to see someone actually hurting Glory, even if its is temporarily. The ending is quite touching, but the nice talking is interrupted by Glory and the revelation that little Dawnie is the Key. Thats bad.moreless
  • Tara goes cuckoo, Willow goes dark and Glory finds her Key. Another great Season 5 episode.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    Like 'New Moon Rising' and 'Family', 'Tough Love' is another lovely Willow and Tara episode with very powerful performances by Amber Benson, Alyson Hannigan and Michelle Tratchenberg. After sending her minions to spy on Buffy's friends, Glory mistakens Tara for The Key and after a confrontation sucks her brain out like there's no tomorrow. A lot of important things happen in 'Tough Love', a very good episode. Buffy deals with the responsibility she has over Dawn, Willow and Tara fight for the first time, Glory finally discovers that Dawn is The Key and Willow goes all Dark Willow due to what happens to Tara, foreshadowing some of the events of Season 6.

    There's not much I don't like here and Season 5 proves once again to be one of the best seasons of Buffy. Besides all the dark stuff going on, we still get plenty of funny moments like classic Anya lines about capitalism and Willow singing "Go school, it's your birthday". Overall a great episode that succeeds in building up tension to the final episodes of the season.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (4)

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    • Anya: "Yes. I've recently come to realize there's more to me than just being human. I'm also an American." Giles: "Yes, I suppose you are, in a matter of speaking. You were born here - your mortal self." Not true. As we find out in the season 7 episode "Selfless" Anya was born as Aud in the year 860 in Sjornjost, a small Scandinavian village. I guess you could however interpret the lost of her powers and turning back to human as being "reborn".

    • Notice the room Buffy, Tara, Willow, and Dawn are in at the end of the show. If you look at the poster on the wall on the left, the one that says "Blonde", notice the coloring of the walls, and the hanging Christmas lights, you'll notice this is Tara's dorm room, even though you mostly see her in Willow's room. It's the same room shown in the episode Family.

    • The glob of saliva that hits Glory's face is much more substantial than what Willow actually spat. Also, the spot where the spit should be appears and disappears between shots.

    • When Glory squeezes Tara's hand we clearly see her bleeding, but when the camera zooms out we don't see any blood on the bench.

  • QUOTES (7)

    ADD QUOTES
    • Willow: (to Tara) Hear that baby? You're my always.

    • Buffy: You lied to me? Dawn: Didn't... lie... exactly. Buffy: Really? What about all the times I asked you how school was and you said "fine"? Dawn: Well, it was! (softly) You didn't ask if I was in it when it was fine.

    • Glory: (to Willow) Know what they used to do to witches, lover? Crucify 'em. (Buffy appears and grabs Glory's wrist) Buffy: They used to bow down to gods. (punches her) Things change.

    • Willow: Yeah, but its a whole night. I don't think I could sleep without her. Anya: You can sleep with me.... That came out a lot more lesbian than it did in my head.

    • Willow: (to Glory) I- owe- you- PAIN!!!

    • Glory: A girl like Buffy's got just so many friends, all I have to do is rip through them one by one until--(Ground starts shaking) Did somebody order an apocalypse?

    • Anya: Look at 'em. Perusing the shelves, undressing the merchandise with their eyeballs. All ogle, no cash. It's not just annoying, it's unamerican. Giles: Appaling. Almost as if they no longer think money can buy happiness. Anya: Totally Unamerican. Oh, and you know what else is unamerican? French people. Willow: You don't say.

  • NOTES (5)

    ADD NOTES
    • Jinx, the main minion of Glory's, appears for the last time in this episode, inexplicably missing from subsequent episodes even though the writers spared his life in this ep from Ben's attack in the previous episode.

    • Although Leland Crooke only appears in this Buffy episode as "Professor Lillian," he returned in season five of Angel, in four episodes as "Archduke Sebassis."

    • We find out that the time between Ben changing into Glory and back can be undefined. Ben was fired from being an intern because Glory took hold of his body for 2 weeks.

    • LOOK HARD: Xander is reading an X-Men comic while in the Magic Box.

    • From the end of this episode to "The Gift," all of the events are on the same day.

  • ALLUSIONS (8)

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Glory: (demanding a drink from her minions) Mimosa.
      A Mimosa is a drink consisting of equal parts of champagne and orange juice.

    • Buffy: Early to bed, early to rise, balanced breakfast, hospital corners. It's a new beginning. Buffy's line is an adaptation of the popular aphorism found in Benjamin Franklin's (1706 - 1790) "Poor Richard's Almanac" that goes, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Franklin is famous for his multi-layered talents and contribution to early colonial America. He was an author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, and printer. "Hospital corners" refers to a method of making beds with neatly folded corners. It's commonly used in hospitals (hence the name) and in the military.

    • Willow: Kali, Hera, Kronos, Tonic
      Air like nectar
      Thick as onyx
      Cassiel by your second star...
      Kali is the Hindu goddess of destruction and death. Hera is the Queen of the Greek gods and the wife and sister of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. Kronos was the previous king of the gods, dethroned by his son Zeus. Cassiel is the angel of temperance and good fortune.

    • Doctor Guy: I don't care if you ate too many Twinkies.

      In 1978 Dan White murdered San Fransisco mayor George Moscone and his gay assistant Harvey Milk for reasons that included homophobia and the fact that his position had just been eliminated. During his murder trial his attorney argued that White's excessive consumption of junk food and his disinterest in exercise was a sign of depression that lead to the murder. This is the stimulus for the "Twinkie Defense". White was found not guilty of murder but convicted for (the less serious offense) voluntary manslaughter. He later committed suicide. This was the first of many stunt legal defenses before O.J. and Johnny Cochran.

    • Willow: Yeah, but not in a 'Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Girls' way.
      In the children's book A Little Princess written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies is a Victorian school strictly ruled by Miss Minchin. The novel has been adapted for the big screen several times, most recently in 1995 starring Eleanor Bron as Miss Minchin.

    • Willow: I know what a Freudian slip is.
      Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was an Austrian doctor who is considered to be the father of modern psychiatric medicine. He forged the idea that would eventually become psychoanalysis: the idea that neurotic behavior is motivated by unconscious desires that can be revealed through such things as dreams or slips of the tongue. In Freud's theory, a slip is the involuntary substitution of a word by another and would be indicative of the real opinion and feeling of the person who makes the mistake.

    • Xander: It's Dawn Giovanni and the Buffster.
      Xander's play on Dawn's name is a reference to Don Giovanni, the opera composed by Mozart which was first performed in Prague on 29th October 1787

    • Visual: Tara's mind suck venue
      Glory corners Tara at a fairground. Fairgrounds, of course, are often the location of mysteries in the classic cartoon series Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (and it's MANY spin-offs), of which BtVS feels so similar to at times that the Slayer and her friends are dubbed "The Scooby Gang".

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