Buffy - Into The Woods 5x10 - Full Reaction

You get caught up in the scenes and are willing to change your mind as a scene progresses. This is one of the reasons you are the best reactor (and I’ve seen a lot of good ones). The scene with Xander and Buffy, at the end, is a case in point. Xander comes on a little strong at first (but Buffy is imploding and no one else had the courage to confront her and try to help her), and you register disapproval, Certainly understandable. Then as he keeps talking, you listen and you get what he’s saying. I love that. It’s surprising to me how many say that Xander is out of place. And extremely odd, considering Buffy ends up realizing that he’s right and decides to chase after Riley. That, in itself, shows that Xander’s right. Friendship does not mean never challenging your friend (in fact, that would mostly not be true friendship). Xander is trying to protect Buffy from a decision he fears that she’ll regret (and how much more might she have regretted it, if she hadn’t tried at the last minute). Buffy never loved Riley. The fact that she didn’t call him when her mother was in the hospital, and yet all the Scoobies knew (and Spike), was the icing on the cake. There is no reason to judge Buffy in any of this. Who knows, if he had stayed, maybe she’d have learned to love him. Anyway, great reaction. I always approach reactions to this episode apprehensively. The anti-Riley feelings and the anti-Xander feelings can ruin some otherwise good reactors. I’m always impressed with your ability to see both sides of things.

I am among those who dislike Xander’s speech and the fact that Buffy run after Riley. It’s not fair on both Riley and Xander part to put the responsibility on her for Riley deciding to leave. It’s extremely manipulative. Riley put Buffy on the spot, either she treats him like he want to be treated, or he’s gone. Without ever, until now, talking to her about it and only because he got caught. Xander act as if what Riley told him about Buffy’s feelings as gospel and act as if he knows better than her. It infuriates me.

When Buffy told Riley that she did cry, he is disappointed because she didn't cry to him. Thinking back to their whole relationship, this has been a common thread: Riley simply cannot handle that Buffy is the stronger one in the relationship. Before they even got together, they had an argument where Buffy said "You think boys can take care of themselves and girls need help?" and Riley wholeheartedly said "Yes!" Later, when he finds out how strong he is, he says "give me a week to get ready" as if he just needs a little time to become the strong one again. And now it's "about me taking care of you." The signs are there from the start: Riley cannot handle Buffy being so strong. As for Xander's speech, a lot of fans dislike it because they disagree. But I think what he's saying is correct: IF Buffy loves Riley, then she should fight for him. It's just that, IMO, she doesn't love him that way. She has feelings for him, sure, but not in the "no emotions barred need" way that Xander describes. I also think Xander is projecting, but that doesn't make his argument less valid.

"You like buffy, she likes you. You spend time together, feelings grow deeper, and one day, without even realizing it, you find you're in love. Time stops, and it feels like the whole world's made for you two, and you two alone, until the day one of you leaves and rips the still-beating heart from the other, who's now a broken, hollow, mockery of the human condition." - Willow (talking to Riley), S4E7 Riley likes to feel useful and needed and that is something that Buffy can't supply. They both loved each other a lot in their own way, but sometimes other things get in the way. I don't think anyone is to blame for what happened. I don't like that Riley kept Buffy in the dark, but I can't get down on him because Buffy didn't need to worry about Riley while her mom was in the hospital. Giles mentioned that what Riley was doing can be addictive, so I was more concerned for him than angry at him.

Buffy was right, their relationship was doomed from the start. Buffy just isn't Riley's type. A big hint came before they were dating. When Buffy asked, "So you think boys can take care of themselves but girls need help?" Riley,"Yes." Xander has an opinion as to how Buffy's been treating Riley and what he should mean to her. Please. He shoved her into going after him imo. Just overlook Riley's emotional blackmail because you love him. And If she had caught him and asked him to stay? They just would have put it off anyway. They aren't compatible. Like Buffy said, "This is the package." She doesn't have what he needs.

I hate that Riley adds Dracula to the supernatural attraction tally; she was under his spell and wasn't the only one affected, Xander and Giles were as well. He really bought into what Spike told him, essentially. I think Xander is right (though I actually don't like the speech) but also that Riley went too far, if that makes sense.

At the end of Family, Tara's father says "We are her blood kin, who are you" to which Buffy replies "We're family" and it cuts to a long shot of all the members of the Scoobies, including Spike, but Riley is not there. Im not sure if this was a foreshadow of Riley leaving, but knowing the Buffy writers I would not put it past them!

It's definitely a good thing that Spike isn't just becoming completely good because of his forced absence of hurting humans or even through love and desire or any feeling. That would destroy the whole idea of the show. If a vampire (without soul) would be capable of changing that fundamentally, the Slayers killing them would be morally not justifiable. So we need to be reminded from time to time that Spike is a soulless monster at his core.

"I don't mind being hurt and upset." That is a very important mindset when watching Whedon shows... He loves to treat the viewers sometimes "badly", just like the classic Greek tragedy uses fear/horror and pity/empathy (eleos and phobos) to reach catharsis. To think of that might help with some stuff. I'm not saying where, when and how.

I usually skip this one on rewatches, but it was nice to watch it with you. I'd forgotten it wasn't all just about Riley. That was most of it, but there's Joyce's good news, and Xander taking it up a notch.

Hi Juliette, this might be a little early, but I'm not sure how far ahead you've already watched. As a little advice to avoid a spoiler in episode 14 cover the lower part of the screen (where the additional credits appear) after the opening credits until Giles stands up and says "good night".