s05e10 — Into the Woods

A strong series.

Personally, I'm even glad that the soldier is gone. It 's a pity , of course , that they decided to arrange everything so tragically in the end . But what kind of relationship should be expected after the phrase:" She doesn't love me."

Riley, of course, is doing well: the girl's mother is sick, and he suffers from a lack of attention.

Xander did a great job

Xander has matured😊

I'm amazed at how dirty Spike plays to get Buffy, but at the same time I can't help but admire)
and for probably the fourth series in a row I punch my forehead with my palm - then we sniff other people's blouses, then rummage through boxes in the basement, then we break into the bedroom in the middle of the night)) A stunningly tenacious character

I remember the first time I watched it, I was glad Buffy didn't make it, that she didn't stop Riley. And now, reviewing it, I sincerely feel sorry for him. I still don't like him, but... Buffy initially didn't feel for Riley the way he felt for her. Of course, he's still an egoist, Buffy's mom is sick, the world is falling apart, but she really didn't let him into her soul. In a relationship with Angel, he was the lead, and here Buffy always decided whether to be with him or not, to open up or not, but this is who she is. He should have known what he was getting into. She didn't always see him the way he was either. His ultimatum was a shot into the void. But the scene with Zender and Anya is just incredible... Goosebumps.

Flew away and okay, anyway, Buffy will end up/Angel.

I'll make a reservation right away: I don't like Riley, I don't like this character. But I don't like this episode at all because he's leaving. Zender reveals himself wonderfully here. Rather, we understand that his character has received uninhabited development. This is the episode where he finally let go of his teenage feelings for Buffy. He realized that his place in her life was to be a friend, and it was much better than being in Riley's position. As a guy, Zender would not take out a relationship with Buffy in any aspect, because Spike told the truth: she dances with death and needs something darker. At least at this stage of life. After looking at her relationship with a "normal guy," Zender drew conclusions. And it's good that they are exactly like that.
And how nice it is (despite subsequent events) that he gave Anya her due and the words important to both of them sounded out loud. It is unclear whether he is saying this for her or for himself, it is only clear that Buffy is now and henceforth a friend for him, and not a dream girl.

The first episode, where I am both sincerely and genuinely admired by Xander.
And, of course, I'm very happy for Anya, she's so cool, one of my favorite characters, and they always treat her like someone second-rate.
As for Buffy and Riley... Here they are able to breed the couples I dislike so much that it takes their soul. It worked out at Angel in the first season, but it turned out even better here. And this time I simultaneously wanted her to make it and not to. Although I still don't believe that this realization after talking to Xander would have been enough to give Riley what he wanted from her.
Well, Spike may be right about something, there are certain advantages if you have nothing to lose)

Although I watched the series for a long time, I completely forgot this episode
And at the moment when she was running, for a second I thought that she was running to Spike... 😔

I think this is one of the best episodes

Xander is finally the way he is. Attentive, feeling, loving. And finally with brains , not just between your legs

On the one hand, it's a pity that Riley flew away, but on the other hand, he clearly no longer knew where to put himself out of boredom and idleness. After all, he was always busy in the Initiative, and he knew what to do, he was used to being a soldier, but here next to Buffy he was always on the sidelines, which did not suit him very much. And this whole vampire situation obviously started after he found out how close Buffy and Angel were, and it hurt him. Although this certainly does not justify his behavior, he behaved selfishly while Joyce was ill and Buffy needed support.
Xander made a very good speech, really matured, calmed down his feelings for Buffy and now thinks correctly and soberly.

I don't even remember the last time I was so eager for someone to break up)) Well, they didn't suit each other at all, there was no chemistry.
And if Buffy had made it, I don't think it would have gotten any better anyway. It was already an unhealthy relationship, where he demanded something from her, felt insecure, and she just didn't really need him.

PS Okay, the screenwriters have done their job and now I'm eager to see a couple of Buffy/Spike!

The most unbearable couple of all that were in the series. I've been hoping all series that she won't make it, thank God, she didn't make it. From the very beginning, this relationship with a "reliable insurance company" was doomed to failure. Buffy is a slayer, and no matter how much she wants to have a normal life with an ordinary guy, this is not her option. On the other hand, she probably had to try to figure it out.

Now I'm aggressively waiting for Spike/ Buffy's spike, although I understand that there will probably also be trash in the relationship (perhaps even worse than with Riley), but at least there is chemistry between them)

I'm also from the "good thing she didn't make it" team. Riley is kind of understandable, but damn, your girlfriend is the coolest in the world! Strong, brave, knows how to be friends, can kick anyone's ass, and even a beauty! Don't whine, accept her for who she is! And the fact that her feelings weren't as strong as his, well, sorry, you can't tell your heart, nevertheless she didn't hang around vampire brothels! She didn't pout for other men, she didn't throw herself at an Angel. Anyway, it's good that I didn't have time, he's not worthy of her.

Xander didn't tell Buffy that out of great friendship.
When you look at it again, you notice a lot of details.

She shouldn't have run after anyone.

Riley is a lost boy who has always been uncomfortable with a strong girl. He grew up in a masculine environment. It's a trauma for him.
Like Xander, who, in an attempt to "set Buffy on the right path," simply closes his about the failure of a relationship with her. "Brotherly," he understands Riley's feelings, but not his girlfriend Buffy's.

I liked the Buffy couple./Riley is in season 4. But at 5, everything went wrong.
And I can understand Riley's claims. Just to understand.
Buffy had never been completely honest with him. She was constantly hiding something for various reasons (she didn't want to show her weaknesses, there were too many problems and worries, she didn't want to involve dear people, etc.). I can understand Buffy too, she used to take too much on herself and deal with all the shit alone.
But for Riley, it's kind of a shock. With her, he will always be on the sidelines and never in the first place. Even when Buffy is with him, her thoughts may be on completely different issues. And purely on his part, I can understand the desire to hang out with a vampire whose thoughts, even for a short time, will be exclusively about him.
I'm not saying it's good or bad. It's just that Buffy and Riley are different people who expect different things from a relationship. She keeps everyone at a short distance, and he needs to give himself completely.
Although, of course, Riley behaved like an asshole with his so-called going left. And if I were Buffy, I wouldn't run to him as fast as I could, but I would let him go. But I'm not Buffy.

I liked how Buffy let go of the vampire from the hangout that Riley went to. But then she killed him anyway. And we were shown the chemistry between Buffy and Spike so well that I think most of them were rooting for Buffy not to make it 😁😁

All season there was this cloud over my head and an understanding of where everything was going.
However, the series and all the events were very sad : with

And this is like a man? To shift all responsibility onto the shoulders of a woman, to be jealous of her strength, of who she is.
If you have decided so, then have the courage and take responsibility for your decision on yourself! And not that's all. Well, even if she had managed to, and he stayed, then what next? He would also continue to throw insults at her. So it's all for the best. Carlson flew away and did not promise to return.

Although I initially disliked the Riley/Buffy pair, I still feel very sorry for Riley. the moment when he stood by the helicopter and waited for her was sad. you can understand him, he was in love with her, gave himself completely to her, but did not receive the same amount in return. I will agree with Xander on this. I hope he finds someone with whom he will be truly happy, but Buffy is still not a match for him…

It's kind of sad, but at the same time the Riley and Buffy line ended well. In the fourth season, I liked him even more or less, but in this he was aloof

It's actually a very sad episode and the situation is complicated, even though I'm not a fan of the Buffy couple either./Riley.
But in general, I can understand Riley's feelings, naturally his claims look selfish, given the time when he makes them, but being with Buffy is really hard. And she wouldn't let him in, that's a fact.

This episode has definitely rehabilitated Zender, where he was a real jerk in previous seasons. Although everything he told her about Riley, he tried on himself, but yes, he probably finally realized that he couldn't be with Buffy and let go of his teenage crush on her.

Well, Spike is stubborn! Moving towards his goal 😅

In season 5, of course, the Buffy couple/Riley became quite sad. It's a pity for both of them, but what did he tell her about the proposal at the last moment? A really terrible ultimatum, after such revelations, any human needs time to think about it. Of course, he was called in at the last moment, which somewhat justifies him.
Spike plays really dirty, I admire his persuasiveness. Like when he quarreled with the scoobies-he presses on sore points, making Riley doubt Buffy. While Buffy, on the contrary, wants a normal relationship and warmth, and she just didn't express any complaints about Riley. Yes, they had problems, but clearly not with the fact that there wasn't enough darkness in Riley.
I can't judge, I like Spike a thousand times more)
Well, on the whole, I'm glad that he flew away. As the military has said several times since season 4, there is nothing keeping him in Sunnydale. He lost his purpose and he lost himself. As much as he loves Buffy, it's not enough. I hope everything will be fine with him, after all, he's a good guy and he doesn't deserve a cunt.
It's a pity Buffy, in some ways it would probably be easier for her to get over the breakup if she was angry. But I didn't have time. It hurts more, I think.

That's what I admire about this series, that almost all the quarrels between the characters are absolutely not stupid. I don't remember such big conflicts or breakups between different couples being black and white, where one is right and the other is wrong. Different characters always have their own objective reasons for doing what they do. And everyone says exactly what any other person would logically say in such a situation. There is no usual affectation, which you often see in TV shows and realize that in real life no one would act and say so stupidly. Everything happens very organically. Willow and Oz's breakup came back to mind. Where it was also hard to choose a side and you understand the reasons for both sides

It's good that 8 years have passed since the last viewing. I hardly remembered what kind of melodrama it was. well, even to those who watched it for the 1st time, I think it became clear from the moment when the Angel's soul disappeared. And here at first we have a vampire who lost his soul and immediately started doing shit, and as soon as they returned it became clear that there was no sex otherwise fucked up, we saved each other and let's see each other off. then that goat over there. Riley is kind of a normal character, but first the Initiative, then he found out that Buffy is a slayer and very strong, and apparently he was shocked that some girl killed a bunch of what were they called creatures all together, which can easily put them in a special group in how many seconds? It hit him earlier. But Buffy never cheated on him. and she always treated me normally. Well, maybe not always, but again yes. starting with the fact that she told me everything about herself and introduced me to her team, and so on. yes, not immediately, but after the incident when they "met with crossbows" or whatever. Well, not everything was OK with their couples, but everything was OK with their work. starting with the fact that Buffy is stronger than him even when he was sitting on the shit they were being pumped with. and then he lost that strength and became just a man with military training and a dubious past. They were brainwashed there, and they were stuffed with chemicals, and they were chipped, and so on. Well, nevertheless, he found himself a girl who thought she was "normal," and she thought so much about him that she was just a man, both wanted to tell him, but the environment did not approve, although taking into account her occupation, it became clear that sooner or later they would meet "at work." Well, the drama here is clearly too much. Buffy got "burned" a couple of times, Riley did whatever he was told all his life, and then he even outgrew it for a while, but after losing his profession and his job and his superpowers, he only had Buffy left, and Buffy had her own worries, then another supervillain, then a sister who appeared out of nowhere, then her mother got sick, and all at the same time, And he's like, oh, she doesn't like me.

Finally got rid of the infuriating Riley, hooray. I don't understand why they call him a "normal" guy. He's not like that at all: touchy, jealous, had an unhealthy attachment to Buffy, focused his whole life only on her (surprise: total absorption by the other half is addiction), while throwing insults at what he invented for himself.

Why the fuck is everyone for Buffy deciding/figuring out how she feels? That's right, she says. This is complete nonsense.

The fact that she did not open up to him in sick places does not mean that she does not love him. She was used to being alone in her experiences. But Riley had every chance of becoming a part of her life, if not for his idiotic tantrums about the girl being stronger than him and if not for his own speculation about her feelings.

It's funny, but that's exactly how he embodied the effect of a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you believe in something very strongly, you end up behaving yourself in such a way that this "prophecy" comes true. Riley believed that he would not be with Buffy for a long time, and he himself led their relationship to break up. Well done, the kid has come to success

Oh, that smoking spike under the windows 🥺

Poor Buffy, she definitely didn't expect to see this (Is this equivalent to addiction or cheating, or both?!Seriously, I don't understand what the joke is at all, it's not exactly that they're in love, a vampire and a human, and it's like a show of trust, just something strange. Even with Buffy, everything is fine, why look for adventures in your head?

It's interesting how Willow used to feel sorry for any living creature, but now she calmly talks and even jokes about newt eyes, chicken paws and other, in fact, witch-hunted things.

It's strange that it's not the other way around-like vampires would pay people to drink their blood. That would be easier to understand.

"..I gave you my soul – and I don't feel it. So maybe you're the problem?!

Another episode confirming that Xander is Whedon's avatar, i.e. Whedon is a schmuck. And another monologue by Xander, where he allegedly cuts the bitter truth - the uterus is a delight for the same schmucks with a fragile male ego. It's a shock that Buffy fell for this bullying from Xander. It's a shock that the audience fell for this scene where Xander MANFULLY admits how much he loves Anya, although obviously this is not the case. It's a shock that many commenters admire Xander and feel sorry for Riley. Clowns.

Riley, you can't ask a man for something he can't give you... In this case, it would be more correct to end the relationship, rather than drown in infidelity and dependence...

"But if you really love this guy with a terrible love that has no brakes and no control, if you're ready for it, then think that you're about to lose it" is a creepy phrase... Xander had pissed her off as much as possible, and he'd blamed Buffy for the situation. And it's a pity Buffy bought into that speech, but I'm glad she didn't make it. It will hurt for a while, but then it will get easier. You can't blame her, even though she's already an adult beyond her years - she's only 19 years old, as far as I remember. And Riley's finally gone, and that's where he belongs.

So the problem isn't that Riley is selfish.
He realized that she didn't love him. And she really doesn't love him.
In the whole series, she didn't even seem to say it once.

And she really doesn't need him. It's convenient.

Even the fact that she ran to him at the end is not about love at all. What kind of love is this that you needed to realize through a dialogue with XANDER?

It's clear that Riley had joints. But he was right, she doesn't love him, and she'll never love him the way he loves her.

This music gives me the creeps.💔