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List Price: $59.98 | | Label: WB Television Network, The
Salesrank: 17489
Released: December 9, 2003 |
| Our Price: $32.64 |
| Used Price: $19.73 |
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MPAA Rating:
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
After an unsettling encounter with the Dracula, Buffy asks Giles to once again be her Watcher. Luckily he agrees, for Buffy is about to face mortal problems far more threatening than the undead: the sudden appearance of a sister named Dawn, her mother’s mysterious illness and Spike’s undying devotion. Then an undefeatable demon appears, forcing Buffy to turn to an ancient Spirit Guide who tells her that love is her greatest gift — and power.
Description of Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season:
The fifth season of Joss Whedon's hit series started out in excellent form as slayer extraordinaire Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) did battle with the most famous of vampires (that Dracula guy) and then went on to spar with another nemesis, little sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). Wait--Buffy has a teenage sister? Where has she been the past four years? And why is everyone acting like she's always been around? Turns out that young Dawn is actually "The Key," a form of pure energy that, true to its name, helps open the gates between different dimensions. To protect said key from falling into the wrong hands, a group of monks gave it human form and sent it to the fiercely protective Buffy for safekeeping, creating new memories of Dawn for everyone as if she'd existed... well, always. Why all the super secrecy? There's this very, very, very bad girl named Glory (Clare Kramer) who wants the key very badly, and will do anything to get it. Oh, and by the way, Glory isn't just a run-of-the-mill demon... she's way worse.
Some fans will tell you that Buffy "jumped the shark" with the introduction of Dawn, when in actuality this season was the pinnacle of the show's achievement, as there was superb comedy to be had ("Buffy Vs. Dracula," the double-Xander episode "The Replacement," the introduction of the "Buffybot" in "Intervention") as well as some of television's best drama. The Whedon-scripted and -directed "The Body" remains one of Buffy's best episodes, when the young woman who faces down supernatural death on a daily basis finds herself powerless in the wake of her mother's sudden passing. The first third or so of the season was a bit choppy, but once the evil Glory came into her own, Buffy was a television force to be reckoned with. Kramer was the show's best villain (after the evil Angel, natch), and the supporting cast was never better. But as always, it was the superb Gellar who was the powerful center of the show, sparking opposite lovelorn vampire Spike (James Marsters) and wrestling with moral dilemmas rarely seen on television. With this season, Buffy Summers became, like Tony Soprano, one of television's true greats. --Mark Englehart
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season Reviews:
Jumped the Shark! 
2008-09-16 - Up until this season, I really loved BTVS; however, the introduction of the whining, bratty little sister, the show lost it's appeal to me. As a villian, Glory was okay, but she, too, was bratty.
Buffy vs. Dracula was one of the more stupid episodes of the series. It was too contrived and Dracula wasn't convincing. And yet, "The Body" is probably one of the very best episodes of the series and, perhaps one of the top 20 episodes on ANY television series. However, with the loss of Joyce and Giles, the series lost it's appeal to me as an more mature viewer.
The series also lost a lot of its punch when Spike is utterly emasculated and becomes a quivering, lovelorn wimp. Spike is at his very best when he's "The Big Bad."
The series was still strong, but this season was definitely the beginning of the end.
Giles!!! 
2008-01-22 - Love the show! Writing is absolutely amazing. The cast is fresh and interesting. And Giles... Mr Anthony Stewart Head... What can I say?? He's FABULOUS!!!
The Slim Set is much cheaper
2007-09-10 - Anyone thinking of ordering this should consider Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set) instead. The discs are exactly the same and the only difference is that the DVD packaging is a Slim Set. Slim Sets are thin cases (about half the width of a regular DVD) that don't contain the booklets you usually get with DVDs. Those bargain DVDs you see for $5 at the store are usually sold in slim sets. Otherwise, you are paying way too much for this product.
If you're trying to get the entire series of Buffy, go with Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Collector's Set (40 discs)
Love Buffy!
2007-03-12 - I own seasons 1-7 and they're all great. Don't remember what happens in Season 5, but they're all awesome. Watch them in order; you'll get hooked!
Good season
2007-02-27 - Ok I reallly liked Glory and the ending was sooooo good. Yes, Dawn was very annoyin but I like her character later on as she grows up and understands the whole buffy life. I thought glory was good because she was pretty strong and buffy had a hard time killing her. Spike starts changing too. And i Love Spike!! He needs a spin-off show. What it is taking soooo long, Joss?
