5x16 - The Body

[Raven]

Written By: Joss Whedon

[Lior Knight]

This episode is the scariest episode ever. And not because of monsters or other fantasy creatures, but because it is so real - it scares me.

Loosing a loved one is very painful experience and I can't even imagine how hard it must be when it's one of the parents. So, Joss did an amazing work expressing those feeling through our beloved characters. The lake of music, and the fantastic acting skills of the cast create a feeling I've never felt watching a TV show before (or after).

So no doubt this is one of the most brilliant episodes in the series. I rate it as 10/10.

[Digital Leonardo]

I actually watched this episode last night with the commentary on (love Joss's comms)

This is the most heart breaking episode of the series, just the entire idea of Buffy's mom dieing from something so out of the ordanary (for Buffy). She can't fight what has happend and she can't get revenge on her mother's death.

My favorite aspect of this episode is the effect of the characters around her. Xander's anger's, Anya's confusion, Willow's worry and Tara's suttle calm. The scene in Tara and Willow's dorm room is so upsetting and Anya's break down. She is able to keep us almost happy but sad with her.
Tara and Buffy's little scene is a nice little step into Tara's character.

I always get chills when Dawn is looking at Joyce and the vampire sits up behind her. And Buffy's fight, its so weak and like this was her first vampire. Its just so upsetting...

But Joss really made this an amazing episode.

[bloodyfrenchy]

It's funny because Ouijarick and I are were talking about this episode and why he didn't like it on the tag board...Personnally, It's one of my favorite, and so far one of the best SMG's performance...The lack of music, mentionned by Lior Knight, was such a good thing! It made look so much more realistic...i wouldn't have expected joss to add in some anyway. And what a direction! Joss just rocks. Some of my close friends lost one of their parent, and that is a difficult situation to go through, especially when you have the time to tell them things and bye. I realized day after day how blessed I am to have both of them...

[Smashed]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I cry every time Buffy tells Dawn in the hallway of her school. I love how we don't actually get to hear what Buffy tells her. It is just so sad and the no musical score is one of the best things.
10/10
-John

[jommy4eva]

its gross when buffy vomits. and sad when she tells dawn.

[slayer489]

This was a really sad episode but it was amazing! The way Joss wrote it is outstanding. One of the most saddest episodes ever. Joyce's death was so powerful and emotional and her dying a human death with the aneurysm was horrific! Also, the gang dealing with their loss in different ways with Willow worried about what to wear and Xander punching a wall and Anya breaking down and talking about all of the things that Joyce won’t get to do anymore is heart-breaking! Poor Buffy and Dawn! Buffy was in shock and threw up and Dawn broke down in the middle of her school hallway!

Fantastically sad episode!

10/10

[sometimesjoan]

This is a stunning episode. I remember the first time it aired, I actually had perched, temporarily, on the edge of the coffee table and the epi pulled me in so much that I don't think I moved the whole time.
It was so real.
The scene where Xander and Anya pull up to the dorms to get Willow always stands out in my memory. The weird angles and strange light and silence was so valid. I've had times like that, where the world is oddly distorted due to shock and grief and it was captured exactly.
And Anya's speech in the dorm is one of my all time favorite Buffy moments. I even had a friend who never 'got' my Anya loved, who called me after that epi aired and said "I get it now. Anya is wonderful".

[Buffysmglover]

I love this episode! But I want to know what Sarah does toturn on the tears.