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

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

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.

  • Air Hugging: Giles and Xander go to hug like everyone else is doing, then stop and shake hands.
  • Bad Liar: Xander.

Anya: He's not very convincing, is he?

  • Bait and Switch: Riley staking Spike with a plastic stake.
  • Blatant Lies: Buffy-in-the-buff refuses to get out of bed until Spike turns his back.

Spike: Oh please! Like I'd give a bloody damn!
Turns around -- cue lustful look.

    • And later Spike to Riley

Spike: We only came because we care about you, friend. You need help.

  • 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.

"You know, you can be, like, Sixties Mom, Action Mom, (wiggles her hips, suggestively) French Maid Mom..."

  • 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

Buffy: I thought [Riley] was ... dependable.
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?
Spike: No I don't. Fellow's got to try though. Got to do what he can.

  • 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.

Buffy: I gave Riley the day off.
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.

OW BLOODY HELL! OH GOD! (realises he's not dust) Hey...

Buffy: Spike. Every time you show up like this, you risk all your parts -- you know that?
Spike: As usual I'm here to help you and...are you naked under there?

Buffy: I want tonight to be special for you.
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.

Riley shoves a stake into Spike's heart.

Riley: Why the hell not?

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