Season 5
Cast: Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Benson, Michelle Trachtenberg, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas
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Sept 26, 2000 Buffy vs. Dracula
Still searching for a normal life, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is shaken by the awesome power - and more than a little star-struck - when she and her friends come face to face with the greatest vampire of all time, Dracula (guest star Rudolf Martin, "Bedazzled"). While Buffy is powerless under Dracula's thrall, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becomes the dark one's emissary and leads his friends into peril. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Buffy, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is seriously contemplating returning to England as he feels she no longer needs his help. Alyson Hannigan, Marc Blucas, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) heat up the training, Buffy and Dawn’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) sibling rivalry gets them into trouble when a new gang of vampires target the slayer. Across town, when the magic shop is ransacked and the owner killed, Giles thinks he may have found a new hub for the Scooby gang. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Marc Blucas, Amber Benson, James Marsters and Emma Caulfield also star. David Fury wrote the episode directed by David Grossman.
When a crafty demon out Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) hunting accidentally catches Xander (Nicholas Brendon) in his sights, a mysterious Xander double (guest star Kelly Schultz) is born. Two Xanders aren't better than one as the evil double quickly takes over Xander's identity, fooling everyone including Buffy, and starts living Xander's life with a flourish. Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Jane Espenson wrote the episode directed by James A. Contner.
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is in a race against time when the physical aftereffects of Riley's (Marc Blucas) being used as a lab rat for months by The Initiative threatens his very life. When Riley stubbornly refuses help and goes into hiding, Buffy reluctantly turns to Spike (James Marsters) for help, but he takes advantage of her situation for his own plot to rid his life of the slayer once and for all. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Rebecca Rand Kirshner wrote the episode directed by David Grossman.
Oct 24, 2000 No Place Like Home
An unseen evil comes to Sunnydale that helps Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) discover more about her newly arrived little sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and the girls are distressed and confused when their mom (Kristine Sutherland) suddenly becomes ill without any clear explanation, medical or supernatural. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Marc Blucas, James Marsters and Emma Caulfield also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Douglas Petrie.
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) feels betrayed when Tara's (Amber Benson) family makes a surprise visit to Sunnydale for her birthday threatening to reveal a shocking secret that could endanger all of their lives. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) secretly try to learn more about the new evil that is hunting her and her family. Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas, Kristine Sutherland and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
In an effort to learn about slayers' final battles, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) forces Spike (James Marsters) to recount how he was able to kill two slayers. His flashbacks reveal his first meeting with his one true love, Drusilla (guest star Juliet Landau), and how lovers Angel (guest star David Boreanaz) and Darla (guest star Julie Benz) joined them. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Marc Blucas, Anthony Stewart Head, Kristine Sutherland and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Doug Petrie wrote the episode directed by Nick Marck.
In order to protect her sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must face a horrible beast that has been conjured by the powerful demon Glory (guest star Clare Kramer) to help seek out "The Key." Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Marc Blucas, Kristine Sutherland and Emma Caulfield also star. Dan Attias directed the episode written by David Fury.
Nov 28, 2000 Listening to Fear
As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) help their mother (Kristine Sutherland) prepare for brain surgery, a creepy extra-terrestrial demon becomes fixated on an increasingly disoriented Joyce and infiltrates the Summers' home. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Marc Blucas and Emma Caulfield also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner.
Spike (James Marsters) disrupts Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) one moment of peace after her mom's (Kristine Sutherland) successful operation to expose Riley's (Marc Blucas) late nights spent in the arms of a vampire, sending an upset and bewildered Buffy into a tailspin and putting their relationship in turmoil. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head and Emma Caulfield also star. Marti Noxon wrote and directed the episode.
While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) recovers from losing Riley, emotions are charged between Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) when they are left in charge of the magic shop and Willow accidentally conjures an enormous troll (guest star Abraham Benrubi, "ER") that will force them to deal with their less than perfect friendship and their feelings towards Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star also star. Christopher Hibler directed the episode written by Jane Espenson.
The Watcher's Council arrives in Sunnydale demanding Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) pass an exhaustive review of her slaying skills or they will withhold critical information about Glory (guest star Clare Kramer) and have Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) deported back to England. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. Nick Marck directed the episode written by Jane Espenson & Douglas Petrie.
As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends celebrate her 20th birthday, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) is traumatized to learn she is the Key and runs away but Buffy and the Scooby gang must find her before Glory (guest star Clare Kramer) does. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland and Amber Benson also star. Michael Gershman directed the episode written by Steven S. DeKnight.
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) confronts Spike (James Marsters) about his suspected crush and is appalled by his admission of love, and her brutal rejection sends him back into the clutches of Drusilla (guest star Juliet Landau) who has returned to Sunnydale intent on returning Spike to his killer ways. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg also star. David Fury wrote the episode directed by Dan Attias.
Feb 20, 2001 I Was Made to Love You
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must stop a heartbroken young woman (guest star Shonda Farr) who was manufactured to be the perfect girlfriend from destroying the city and then finds herself comforting the creation over the loss of love in both of their lives. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Amber Benson also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Jane Espenson.
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends are overwhelmed with grief and their lives are changed forever when they must deal with the loss of someone close to all of them. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Michelle Trachtenberg and Amber Benson also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
A grieving and confused Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls into the loving arms of Angel (guest star David Boreanaz) who comes back to Sunnydale after he gets word about the death of her mother. Meanwhile, a distraught Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) takes it upon herself to perform a magic spell to bring her mom back to life. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield and Amber Benson also star. Marti Noxon wrote and directed the episode.
Buffy travels to a sacred location on a solemn quest guided by the first slayer with the hopes of uncovering why she has become emotionally paralyzed and to help regain her focus towards slaying. Back in Sunnydale, unable to have the real thing, Spike builds a Buffy robot, who is a picture-perfect replica and so devoted to the rogue that it leaves the Scooby gang reeling and Glory's minions convinced he is the Key. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield, Kristine Sutherland, Michelle Trachtenberg and Amber Benson also star. Michael Gershman directed the episode written by Jane Espenson.
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) must step up as the authority figure for Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) now that their mom is gone, all the while fearful that Glory (guest star Clare Kramer) is closer to discovering the Key when a member of the Scooby gang is her latest victim. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield, and Amber Benson also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner.
Buffy explodes into action and takes the gang on the road once Glory discovers that Dawn is the Key. While on the run, things happen fast as Giles and Spike are wounded, Dawn learns she has the power to destroy the universe, and Willow stays close to an incoherent Tara. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Steven S. DeKnight.
May 15, 2001 The Weight of The World
Buffy slips into catatonia after Glory kidnaps Dawn and prepares to bring about the end of the world, so Willow uses her wicca talents to reach Buffy deep inside her innermost secrets and subconscious fears. David Solomon directed the episode written by Doug Petrie.
Another imminent apocalypse is at hand in Sunnydale. Buffy must square off against a true God when Glory prepares to use Dawn to break down the walls between the dimensions and unleash all Hell on Earth. Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Anya, Tara and Spike go to battle with the knowledge that they may not all survive. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
