Buffy The Vampire Slayer 5x22 | The Gift
Added 2025-07-26 01:04:21 +0000 UTCMy reaction to Buffy Season 5 Episode 22 "The Gift".
Comments
I did hear about this, so sad! RIP
Chance's House Of Horror
2025-08-19 18:19:51 +0000 UTC[SPOILER: Skip if you don't want to be depressed and don't follow the news]: This hits so much harder knowing Michelle is gone in RL. SMG used parts of what she says to Dawn in this for the Eulogy.
Yvonne Decelis
2025-08-19 18:13:18 +0000 UTCThat's a cool touch with the glasses!
Chance's House Of Horror
2025-07-29 13:47:26 +0000 UTCUrgh love this episode! Giles , killing Ben is such an insane moment, because it is Giles not the Ripper, he puts the glasses on! Which I think is such a cool touch and he back before “dawn” not only for dawns arrival on the show, but she had to be back for this Dawn to save her sister and the world
George Alexander
2025-07-29 11:43:54 +0000 UTCThank you! There would have been so many unfinished storylines had this actually been the series finale.
Colleen
2025-07-26 15:51:00 +0000 UTCThat's crazy! I love little nuggets like this.
Chance's House Of Horror
2025-07-26 13:22:57 +0000 UTCI didn't know it would be renewed, I used to get the VHSs because Buffy moved from BBC2 to Sky from memory, I was young and we didn't have Sky. But I remember seeing the trailers for the final episode and believed it was the end. I was to young for internet chat and forums, think I found out about series 6 because I found the Buffy magazine. I love Series 6 and 7, but this would have been an extraordinary final episode. It is perfect in my opinion. Say what you like about Joss, he may be a terrible person but he made every decision in series 5 feel intentional, and planned from way back in series 3.
Georgina Devonshire
2025-07-26 09:17:09 +0000 UTCThis episode was originally intended to be the series finale. TJoss Whedon had written and filmed it as such because the show's future on The WB network was uncertain. While the series was ultimately picked up by UPN for two more seasons, "The Gift" still stands as a powerful and emotionally resonant ending to the show's initial run. I think every reactor thought Anya wasn’t gonna make it 😂. The last part when Buffy told Dawn to live for Buffy, she reposted this when Michelle Tratchenbeeg died, saying, “the hardest thing in this world is to live in it, ill be brave, I’ll live for you!”.
Mykhel Anghelo
2025-07-26 05:30:04 +0000 UTCGlad you liked the finale. This is my favorite episode of Buffy. You asked if she was going to sacrifice herself right during the music they titled Sacrifice. Its beautiful music. As soon as she looks toward the dawn and it starts playing I start to tear up every time. As to Anya dying, from what I recall Joss intended her to die but she kept moving during shooting when she was supposed to be dead and they scrapped it but maybe that was just an unfounded rumor.
Dutchkel
2025-07-26 04:20:56 +0000 UTC"Miles to go, Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-30". When Faith says those words in that dream sequence it was 730 days until the end of Season 5. Later in Restless when Tara says, "Oh that clock's completely wrong" it meant it's not longer 730 the time was actually getting closer. The whole thing was foreshadowed back in season 3 and 4.
Claire Eyles
2025-07-26 04:10:54 +0000 UTCSeason 5 is epic and this is a FINALE w/a killer final fight sequence. I'm psyched for your season 6 reactions though because it's my favorite (along with season 3). Season 5 is great, but it's really sad... losing Joyce, then Buffy. Season 6 is crazy though! It's like the best of times and the worst of times. Back in 2001, me and my friends who watched expected Buffy to come back somehow; before we knew there would be seasons 6 & 7... and beyond
Fauxindigo
2025-07-26 03:52:41 +0000 UTCMy favorite season as well! And I’ve probably seen this episode more than any other in the series, as her speech to Dawn at the end has always meant so much to me. Can’t wait to keep going on your Buffy journey with you!
Laura
2025-07-26 03:27:20 +0000 UTCIt’s often been said that the show wasn’t renewed until after season 5 ended but that isn’t true - I watched the whole show in real time and followed along with the fandom in chat rooms and on message boards and before season 5 ended we already knew it would be changing networks and was renewed for two more years.. the reason this feels like a series finale is because Joss didn’t know for a lot of season 5 if it would be renewed so he planned this season finale to feel like a series finale anyway, even though the show was renewed before it aired
Aurro Eronaile
2025-07-26 03:25:19 +0000 UTCYea it was wild when this first aired. Enjoyed the reaction as usual can’t wait for the next episode!
Penny
2025-07-26 02:59:09 +0000 UTCJust about to watch ep 21 and 22, but no this was not meant to be the series finale. That is a misnomer that has been going around for years. Joss wasn't happy with the WB, and had a pretty tenuous relationship with the execs. In turn the execs at WB either dismissed the show, and/or tried to interfere too much with it, there were very few who understood what they had and how the show should be managed. Joss was looking for another network, the WB wasn't prepared to offer extra money for the show, there was a bit of a public spat, UPN came in and basically offered more money and the show moved to a network. There is stuff in season 6 that was planned from season 2, so it doesn't make sense anyway that 5-22 was ever going to be the season finale. Also in Australia we totally got spoilt for the ending of this episode when they showed the zoom in on Buffy's grave in one of the 'Next time on Buffy promos'. So not happy about that.
Claire Eyles
2025-07-26 02:57:07 +0000 UTCTo answer your question, yes this was meant to be the series finale but the show was picked up by UPN.
Sko0lboy G
2025-07-26 02:10:23 +0000 UTCI’m here and seated!
Sko0lboy G
2025-07-26 01:05:09 +0000 UTC
