Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S5/E10 Into the Woods

"I'm leaving tonight Buffy. Unless you give me a reason to stay."

All appears well as Joyce comes out of surgery unharmed, but then Buffy discovers Riley's night time activities.

"Anya: He's not very convincing, is he?"
 * Air Hugging: Giles and Xander go to hug like everyone else is doing, then stop and shake hands.
 * Bad Liar: Xander.

"Spike: Oh please! Like I'd give a bloody damn!
 * Bait and Switch:
 * Blatant Lies: Buffy-in-the-buff refuses to get out of bed until Spike turns his back.

Turns around -- cue lustful look."

"Spike: We only came because we care about you, friend. You need help."
 * And later Spike to Riley

""You know, you can be, like, Sixties Mom, Action Mom, (wiggles her hips, suggestively) French Maid Mom...""
 * Call Back: Riley mentions wanting to "even the score" over Dracula's little hickey.
 * Casual Kink: That "funny thing with the vaulting horse" Anya/Xander enjoy doing.
 * Buffy suggests Joyce cover her surgery scar with various wigs.

"Buffy: I thought [Riley] was ... dependable.
 * Cut Apart: As Buffy runs through the woods to intercept Riley's helicopter before it takes off, Riley suddenly looks up with a hopeful expression -- but the woods in front of him remain empty.
 * Corner of Woe: The episode ends with Buffy sitting alone on the staircase, and Riley sitting in the helicopter -- both staring forlornly off into space.
 * Damned By Faint Praise

Xander: Dependable? What is he, State Farm?

Buffy: You know what I mean.

Xander: Yeah. I think you mean convenient."

"Riley: You actually think you've got a shot with her?
 * Dark and Troubled Past: Giles says that the hazards of the underworld can be addictive to...some people. As he then mentions his Ripper days, it's clear how Giles got first hand experience of the vampire prostitution scene.
 * Description Cut: Major Ellis asks what Riley has in Sunnydale that's so special that he'd want to stay. Cut to Buffy sleeping in her bed.
 * Does Not Know Her Own Strength: Dr. Kriegel's ribs creak when Buffy hugs him a bit too enthusiastically.
 * Dark Side: Buffy and Riley.
 * Death Glare: Buffy to all and sundry.
 * Everything Is Better With Monkeys: Anya wants to watch a movie about monkeys playing hockey because "The ice is so slippery and monkeys are all irrational".
 * Fantastic Aesop: Vampire prostitutes.
 * Fool for Love

Spike: No I don't. Fellow's got to try though. Got to do what he can."

"Buffy: I gave Riley the day off.
 * Foreshadowing: Anya expresses her annoyance of Willow (and Xander taking her side) presaging their dispute in the next episode.
 * From the Mouths of Babes: Dawn knows perfectly well she's been packed off to Xander's place so Buffy/Riley can have a boinkfest.
 * Hit Me Dammit: Wanting to experience any strong emotion from Buffy, Riley invites her to take a swing at him. Buffy just walks off.
 * Hell-Bent for Leather: Buffy changes into the Brown Leather Pants and Badass Longcoat of Women Scorned.
 * I Lied: Xander tells Buffy that if she doesn't want to hear his What the Hell, Hero? lecture, she can leave. Buffy naturally goes to storm off, only to be blocked by Xander who hasn't finished talking. "I lied."
 * Kick the Dog: After massacring the vampire-pimp's gang, Buffy finds herself facing the vampire prostitute she earlier caught feeding on Riley. Initially Buffy lets her go, but her Dark Side takes over and she hurls a wooden spear into the vampire's back as she's running away.
 * Kiss of the Vampire: Humans are paying for vampires to suck their blood, both for sado-masochistic pleasure and for the adrenaline rush of putting their lives in danger.
 * Laser-Guided Karma: Spike gives Riley a Hannibal Lecture over how nothing can be worse than being physically intimate with Buffy, yet not having the key to her heart. In Season 6 Spike finds out exactly what that's like.
 * Last Second Word Swap: Joyce is worried that Buffy is neglecting her boyfriend because of her illness.

Joyce: I don't think he thinks of you as a chore, Buffy.

Buffy: I know that. Look, I told him to make plans with his friends because I wanted to have you all to myself, okay? Besides, I can see him any time. And I'm sure he'll come over later looking for a little (remembers that she is talking to her mother)... Bible Study!

Joyce: (not buying it for a second) Well, good. I mean, just as long as the two of you are spending some quality time with... The Lord.

Buffy: Oh, we are. Absolutely."

"I've gotta say something... 'Cause ... I don't think I've made it clear. I'm in love with you. Powerfully, painfully in love. The things you do ... the way you think ... the way you move ... I get excited every time I'm about to see you. You make me feel like I've never felt before in my life. Like a man. I just thought you might wanna know."
 * Love Confession: Xander to Anya, after seeing how Poor Communication Kills the Buffy/Riley relationship.


 * Major Injury Underreaction:

"Buffy: Spike. Every time you show up like this, you risk all your parts -- you know that?
 * Manipulative Bastard: Spike
 * Modesty Bedsheet: Justified when you wake up and find an evil vampire standing over your bed.

Spike: As usual I'm here to help you and...are you naked under there?"

"Buffy: I want tonight to be special for you.
 * Murder the Hypotenuse: Spike frankly admits he'd kill Riley if he didn't have his Restraining Bolt; he does the next best thing by discrediting Riley in Buffy's eyes.
 * Percussive Therapy: Pissed!Buffy pounds the punching bag, but won't work out her frustrations on Riley even though he wants her too.
 * Political Correctness Gone Mad: A large banner in the Magic Shop reminds everyone that Christmas, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa & Gurnenthar's Ascendance are coming.
 * Put On A Black Helicopter: Riley
 * Revealing Hug: Riley's expression after Buffy tells him of how she'd wept in private over Joyce's illness, as he'd clearly been hoping for a Cry Into Chest moment instead.
 * Shipper On Deck: Xander says Riley is the kind of guy who comes along once in a lifetime.
 * Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: Riley tells Buffy that the military wants him back, and the helicopter is leaving at midnight with him on it unless Buffy gives him a reason to stay. Buffy is furious at this ultimatum and says nothing -- it takes a What the Hell, Hero? talk from Xander to put aside her pride and chase after Riley, but she arrives at the helipad too late.
 * So Happy Together: The Joss Whedon special

Riley: It's more than special. It's perfect."

"Spike: Look, I'm not the one who got you into this. Don't Kill the Messenger.
 * Stalker With a Crush: Spike's sinister shadow-lurking finally pays off when he catches Riley sneaking off to the vampire brothel.
 * Tempting Fate

Riley shoves a stake into Spike's heart.

Riley: Why the hell not?"


 * Woman Scorned: Buffy torches the (long abandoned) vampire brothel and kills the vampire prostitute she saw feasting on Riley, even though she's running away.
 * Your Cheating Heart
 * Your Door Was Open: Riley enters his apartment, switches on the lights and without turning around says, "Get Out!". Major Ellis and his men are standing behind him.
 * You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry: Buffy gives the vampire-pimp and his gang a chance to walk away. When they attack her, she vents her anger by massacring the lot of them in seconds.