Line #103 Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E20Spiral


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/btvs_s5_ep20_spiral.jpg]]
2
3	->'''Dawn:''' At least things can't get any crazier. Right?\
4	''[an arrow smashes through the wall]''\
5	'''Buffy:''' You know this is your fault for saying that!
6
7	Directed by Creator/JamesAContner
8
9	Written by Creator/StevenSDeKnight
10
11	With Glory now possessing knowledge that Dawn is the Key, Buffy and Dawn run for their lives, escaping thanks to Willow's magic and a large semi-truck slamming into Glory out on the street, causing her to transform into Ben.
12
13	The gang gathers in Xander's apartment to discuss possible plans of action. Buffy surprises everyone by proclaiming that they will never be able to defeat Glory, and that they must leave town in order to stay alive. Spike solves their transportation problem by procuring a sun-protected Winnebago, and Buffy allows him to accompany them. Though Giles and Xander are anything but pleased by this decision, Buffy informs them that she and Spike are the only ones who stand a chance at protecting Dawn in the event that Glory catches up to them, and makes it very clear that the subject is not open for discussion.
14
15	Ben talks to one of Glory's minions, revealing that he is just a human body encasing Glory's god form. The Knights of Byzantium retrieve their crazy member, Orlando, from the hospital, who babbles that the Key is a shiny girl, prompting the Knight's leader to realize that the Key is the Slayer's sister. Giles, driving the RV, talks with a motion-sick Xander about Buffy's state of mind.
16
17	Depressed and worried about their future plans, Buffy is comforted by Dawn until the Knights attack. A sword through the roof nearly kills Buffy, but Spike stops it with his bare hands. While Buffy battles the Knights from the top of the RV, one knight impales Giles with a flying spear, causing the RV to crash onto its side.
18
19	The Scoobies rush to an abandoned gas station, where Buffy fends off the attackers until Willow erects a barrier spell. Meanwhile at the hospital, all those left crazy by Glory repeatedly mutter, "It's time."
20
21	Spike suggests to Xander that they run, but Buffy refuses to let anyone die. Buffy captures the General, who reveals that Glory once ruled over a hell-dimension alongside two other hell gods, only to be banished by them when they grew to fear her. As a result, Glory was trapped inside a mortal body in which she was meant to lay dormant. Buffy realizes that this is her only weakness--kill the mortal, and Glory dies as well. However the General explains that Glory's mortal host has never been found. He also reveals the Key was created to open up the gateways between dimensions, and Glory intends to use this power to return to her own dimension. However, this will also dissolve the boundaries between dimensions and destroy all of them. Buffy promises Dawn that she'll protect her.
22
23	Realizing that Giles is seriously injured, Buffy arranges a deal with the Knights to allow Ben to safely pass; he stabilizes Giles, and then is left alone with the General, who suspects Ben is an outsider and tempts him with the idea of killing Dawn. Ben realizes that Glory is about to take over his body and tries to leave, but before he can get outside the force field, Glory comes forth.
24
25	Glory kills General Gregor, fights off the Scooby Gang to take Dawn, and bursts through the force field. By the time Willow releases the field, Glory has disposed of all the Knights and disappeared with Dawn. Knowing they have to move fast, everyone heads for Ben's car to chase after Glory. Buffy, however, is left emotionally shattered after going through so much to protect Dawn only to lose her to Glory, and collapses to the ground.
26
27	----
28	!! Tropes in this episode include:
29	* TheAllegedCar:
30	-->'''Spike:''' Hey, Gramps! Bloody step on it!\
31	'''Giles:''' Step on ''what''? I've driven tricycles with more power!
32	* AmbiguouslyBrown: Dante, who may be of "Moorish" ancestry.
33	* AmbitionIsEvil: Invoked: according to Gregor, this was the crux of Glory's exile to Earth; she ruled over one of the more horrific demon dimensions as part of a triumvirate with two other hell-gods. When Glory's power, ambition and appetite for conquest and domination grew too great, her fellow hell-gods feared she would seek to overthrow them and seize power for herself, so [[EnemyMine they choose to ally and strike first]]. It took all their combined might to defeat her, and even then they were forced to exile Glory because she was too powerful to destroy.
34	* AreWeThereYet: Discussed and defied.
35	-->'''Anya:''' Shouldn't somebody be asking, "Are we there yet?" Isn't that what small entertaining children do?\
36	'''Dawn:''' That kinda only works if you know where you're going.
37	* ArrowsOnFire: The Knights lay siege to the gas station using flaming arrows.
38	* AwfulTruth: The Key – Dawn's – raison d'etre: upon activation, the Key will tear down the barriers between dimensions, causing untold destruction.
39	* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: Glory is the one who kills Gregor, the General of the Knights of Byzantium.
40	* BareHandedBladeBlock: Spike stops a Knight of Byzantium's sword from stabbing through the roof of their Winnebago and impaling Buffy through the skull, managing to hold it in place long enough for Buffy to get out through the roof hatch and take the fight to the Knights. It's played realistically: his hands are gashed and bandaged for the remainder of the episode.
41	* BarrierMaiden: If used, the Key will collapse the barriers between all dimensions and lead to TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
42	* BattleDiscretionShot: Glory killing the Knights.
43	* BilingualBonus: The spell Willow casts to repel Glory is Russian - "Air become fist".
44	* BothSidesHaveAPoint: When Gregor argues with Buffy about killing Dawn, he points out that most of Dawn's life is a lie and she's one life that would be sacrificed to save millions. Buffy retorts that Dawn is her kid sister and a living, breathing, feeling being with people who love her.
45	* BridalCarry: Buffy [[BrokenHeel carries Dawn this way]] to escape Glory.
46	* BuffySpeak: Gregor is General [[FacialMarkings Forehead Guy]].
47	* CigaretteOfAnxiety: Cornered in the gas station, with the Knights about to break through Willow's barrier spell, Spike lights one up.
48	* CurbStompBattle: Glory dishes out two in quick succession.
49	** She defeats the Scoobies (and Spike) in less than twenty seconds, with roughly two punches thrown.
50	** Then she slaughters the entire Knights of Byzanthium in the time it takes Willow to drop a magical barrier.
51	* DarkestHour: By the end of the episode, Glory has kidnapped Dawn and is going to use her to end the world. Plus, Giles is badly injured and the gang are stranded in the middle of nowhere.
52	* DisappointedByTheMotive: Buffy's reaction to finding out that Glory has been after the Key all along, just so she can use it to return to her home dimension:
53	-->'''Buffy''': [''laughs''] That's it? ''That's'' Glory's master plan? To go ''home''?
54	* DistinctionWithoutADifference:
55	-->'''Dawn:''' You're not fleeing. You're... moving at a brisk pace.
56	* DistractedByTheSexy: Dawn's telling of how she and Buffy got away from Glory gets derailed...
57	-->'''Dawn:''' And then WOOSH all of a sudden, Glory's standing right there in front of us all skanky and blond and thinking she's all that because some bumpy heads kiss her stinky feet ... she does have nice feet... and she's coming right for us...
58	* DramaticIrony:
59	** The audience knows Ben and Glory share a body and can foresee that, being on the run from Glory, he's pretty much the worst doctor possible our heroes could call to treat Giles. However, the characters have no way of knowing this.
60	** The audience is also aware of the potential double-meaning of Gregor's conversation about sacrificing one life to save the world - said unknowingly to ''Ben'', Glory's human prison. Killing Ben would end the Glory threat just as easily as killing Dawn.
61	* EasilyForgiven: Spike quickly brushes off Tara accidentally setting him on fire when she opens the window blinds to look outside.
62	* EnemyMine: Giles and Xander are aghast that Buffy has called on Spike for help. Buffy shoots them down, making it clear she's not going to debate the matter.
63	* EnvironmentalSymbolism: The [[AC:Beware of the Dog]] sign is seen at the gas station, part of a RunningGag with Spike.
64	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Invoked by Gregor while expounding Glory's back story: despite being cruel, tyrannical monsters themselves, the other two Hell gods who ruled in unity with Glory grew afraid of her when they realised her lust for power was insatiable.
65	** Spike shows no animosity towards Tara for lighting his hand on fire, from a combination of (like the rest of the Scoobies) having a bit of a soft spot for her and having experience with mental illness from his relationship with Dru.
66	* EvilPlan: Glory plans to go home to her own hell dimension, that's all. Admittedly by using a means that will collapse the universe into chaos.
67	* FireForgedFriends: Xander is finally willing to throw Spike a bone. After everything Spike has done, Xander takes sympathy on the guy and lights his cigarette for him, what with his injured hands. Then they sit and commiserate (co-misery) over their doomed situation.
68	-->'''Xander:''' Have I mentioned how much I hate you, lately?\
69	'''Spike:''' Finally let you slip, have you?\
70	'''Xander:''' How are your feelers?\
71	'''Spike:''' Nothing compared to what Little Bit's gonna get chopped into once the Renaissance Faire kicks the door in.
72	* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Spike gets burnt by sunlight just after Anya asks who wants some fried meat products.
73	* FromBadToWorse: From the beginning of the episode to the end, events spiral further and further out of control despite all Buffy's attempts to manage the situation.
74	* FryingPanOfDoom: Wielded by Anya.
75	* GetOut: Giles when he sees their transport is driven by Spike. Buffy promptly shoots that down.
76	* GoodIsNotNice:
77	-->'''Willow:''' Don't hit the horsies!\
78	'''Buffy:''' We won't! ''[to Giles]'' Aim for the horsies.
79	* GogglesDoNothing: Zigzagged; Spike wears a dark pair of black goggles throughout the episode. While he initially wears them on his eyes to drive in broad daylight, when Giles takes over the wheel, he just wears them around his neck the rest of the episode.
80	* HomoeroticSubtext:
81	-->'''Dawn:''' All of a sudden Glory's standing right there in front of us, all skanky and blonde and thinkin' she's all that just 'cause some bumpy heads kiss her stinky feet... ''[pauses, very quietly]'' She ''does'' have nice feet.
82	* HeroicBSOD: So bad that Buffy's stuck like this until the next episode.
83	* HeroineWorshipper: Dawn raves over how Buffy saved her from last week's cliffhanger. Given that all Buffy did was let Glory get hit by a handy truck, Buffy is not so impressed by herself.
84	* HeyWait: Orlando's fellow Knights are signing him out of the mental wing. As they lead him off, Dante [[TemptingFate says how easy that was]], only for the nurse to cry out, "Hey wait!" Dante's pal draws a dagger from his sleeve--but it's just that Dante has walked off with her pen.
85	* {{Homage}}: According to Steven S. [=DeKnight=], the scene where the Knights of Byzantium attack the Scoobies in the Winnebago is a homage to ''Film/{{Stagecoach}}''.
86	* AHouseDivided: Seeing Ben is an outsider, Gregor tries to encourage him to kill the Key.
87	-->'''Gregor:''' Dissension in the ranks--never a good sign.
88	* IDontLikeYouAndYouDontLikeMe: Xander helps Spike (whose hands are badly damaged) light his CigaretteOfAnxiety.
89	-->'''Xander:''' I mention today how much I don't like you?\
90	'''Spike:''' You mighta let it slip in. Once or twice.
91	* ImmediateSequel: Last episode: Glory kicks down the wall and grins evilly. This episode: Buffy grabs Dawn and flees.
92	* ImprovisedWeapon:
93	** '''Spike:''' Hello? [[CarFu You're driving one!]]
94	** Glory kills Gregor with a hurled hubcap.
95	--->'''Glory:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner Hey, it's Gregor!]] ''[kills him]'' [[BondOneLiner Now it's not.]]
96	* InjuredLimbEpisode: Spike pulls off a BareHandedBladeBlock to stop Buffy from being stabbed in the head and give her enough time to take the fight to the Knights. For the rest of the episode, his hands are gashed up and bandaged. Later on, he punches one of the Knights of Byzantium to protect Buffy -- which results in his chip going off.
97	* InvoluntaryShapeshifting: Buffy and Dawn only escape Glory because her Ben side takes over after she's hit by the truck. Then Ben is called to give medical care to Giles, putting Glory inside the magic barrier when he morphs back into Glory.
98	* InterestingSituationDuel: Buffy fights the Knights on the roof of a moving Winnebago.
99	* InvulnerableHorses: Referenced; Buffy assures Willow they won't hurt the horsies, then tells Giles to "Aim for the horsies." However we don't see any horses hurt, although one is run off the road.
100	* KnightTemplar: General Gregor. He makes it clear he doesn't care that Dawn is human and has no memory of being the Key; no matter what form it's taken, the Key is too dangerous to exist.
101	-->'''Gregor''': The Key is the link. The link must be severed. Such is the will of God.
102	* KnowWhenToFoldEm: Buffy plans to flee Sunnydale to get Dawn as far away from Glory as possible. She can't take on Glory in a straight fight, and it would at least buy them time.
103	* LookBothWays: Glory gets slowed down (though not killed--she is [[ImplacableMan The Unstoppable Woman]], after all) when she's hit by a truck... after standing in the road talking to Buffy for almost a full minute. [[JustKeepDriving That must be one hell of a bad driver.]]
104	** Well SunnydaleSyndrome means you make an effort not to notice demon gods...
105	* MadnessMantra[=/=]VaguenessIsComing: [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "All dark, soon."]], and "Time! Time!" "It's time!"
106	* MercyKill: Dante kills a {{Mind Rape}}d Orlando.
107	* MoralityPet: Spike makes it explicit that he's only there to protect Dawn and Buffy.
108	* MrFanservice: In-Universe. Gronx (Glory's female minion) is quite obviously attracted to Ben.
109	* MundaneUtility: Willow uses magic on the payphone in the gas station to get it working again.
110	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
111	** The Knights trying to kill the Slayer's sister end up inadvertently causing the chaos they were trying to prevent.
112	** Buffy calls Ben to the gas station to heal Giles...and he then transforms into Glory and kidnaps Dawn.
113	* NoSell: Glory smashes through Willow's barrier with a little effort.
114	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Glory engages in an battle epic against the Knights of Byzanthium in order stop her from obtaining Dawn...or we can assume that, as we watch Buffy viewing the battle helplessly through a barrier.
115	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Buffy is freaked, as everyone notices.
116	* PetTheDog:
117	** Spike attempts to comfort an insane Tara when she accidentally exposes him to sunlight and is reduced to tears when Willow snapped at her. Given his time with Drusilla, this is probably something he's used to.
118	** When Spike has trouble lighting his cigarette due to his damaged hands, ''Xander'' is the one who lights it for him.
119	* PianoDrop: Anya suggests this as a [[InsaneTrollLogic viable strategy]].
120	-->'''Anya:''' Well, it always works for [[WesternAnimation/BugsBunny that creepy cartoon rabbit]] when he's running from [[WesternAnimation/ElmerFudd that nice man with the speech impediment]].
121	* PlayingBothSides: Ben kept Dawn's secret and resists the temptation to kill her in order to thwart Glory, but he also doesn't warn the Scoobies about Glory. While he might have been afraid to reveal the secret after hearing Gregor talk about trading one life to save the world, he also didn't have to go out to Buffy's remote location and step inside Willow's forcefield. Consciously or not, he led Glory right to them.
122	* PunchedAcrossTheRoom[=/=]GrievousHarmWithABody: Glory punches Buffy, sending her flying across the room and into Willow; and then punches Spike across the room into Xander. This leaves Anya as the last defender standing.
123	* RageBreakingPoint: Xander and Giles are anything but pleased that Buffy chose to bring Spike along, which Buffy justifies by pointing out that she and Spike are the only ones who stand a chance at protecting Dawn in the event Glory finds them. When Xander continues to object to it, Buffy, having enough to deal with already, snaps and promptly shuts him up with a few words:
124	-->'''Buffy''': Look, this isn't a discussion! He stays! ''Get over it''.
125	* TheReveal: Gregor reveals Glory's purpose, and that of the Key.
126	* RunOrDie: Buffy decides that they have no other options, so they pile into an RV and get the hell out of Dodge.
127	* SawItInAMovieOnce: Anya's suggestion for defeating Glory is to drop a piano on her, having seen it in WesternAnimation/BugsBunny cartoons. Presumably this is where her idea of wielding a frying pan comes from as well.
128	* SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud: Dawn re Glory getting hit by a truck. "And then whoosh! Wham! Hell-bitch in orbit!"
129	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Spike tells Dawn he should have nicked a Porsche, which would have been both fast and just big enough for [[LoveInterest Buffy]], [[MoralityPet Dawn]], and him.
130	* SmugSmiler: Spike when Buffy defends his presence to Giles and Xander.
131	* SomeKindOfForceField: Willow's barrier spell.
132	* SoProudOfYou: A wounded Giles to Buffy.
133	-->'''Giles:''' I'm so proud of you. You're everything a Watcher... that I could have hoped for.
134	* StabTheScorpion: Ben appears to be about to kill Dawn with a fatal injection, but it turns out to be a morphine shot for Giles.
135	* SublimeRhyme:
136	-->'''Willow:''' Discharge and bring life. ''[phone comes on]''\
137	'''Spike:''' Handier than a Swiss knife.
138	* SuperSpeed: Glory's OffscreenTeleportation ability is explained.
139	* TemptingFate:
140	** A noticeable {{lampshading}}.
141	--->'''Dawn:''' But there's a bright side.\
142	'''Buffy:''' There is?\
143	'''Dawn:''' [[RockBottom At least things can't get any crazier.]] Right?\
144	''[an [[TwangHello arrow flies through the window and hits the wall]]--right next to Buffy]''\
145	'''Buffy:''' [[YouJustHadToSayIt You know this is your fault for saying that.]]
146	** And of course it doesn't stop there--Xander says "Did we shake them?" just before a sword plunges through the roof.
147	** Giles is reassuring the Scoobies that everything will be alright.
148	--->'''Giles:''' As soon as Buffy arrives... ''[clapped out Winnebago pulls up]'' we'll feel oddly worse.
149	* ThereWasADoor: Not only Glory, but Buffy escaping from Glory.
150	* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Buffy's reaction to seeing the Knights of Byzantium is one of weary resignation.
151	* ThoseTwoGuys: The clerics that accompany the Knights of Byzantium, whom Willow refers to as WesternAnimation/HeckleAndJeckle.
152	* ThouShaltNotKillMuggles: Averted with Buffy killing humans for the first time, albeit in self-defense.
153	* TravellingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: How did the Knights know which way the Scoobies were heading, or catch up on their horses? They have their own magic-men, so I guess you could say AWizardDidIt. At least the "catching up" part can be justified by the RV being of the [[TheAllegedCar Alleged Car]] kind.
154	* UnconventionalVehicleChase: Knights on horses attacking a Winnebago, in what's both an AnachronismStew and a ShoutOut to Westerns.
155	* WeirdnessCensor: Well I guess the Knights of Byzantium could always pass themselves off as a [[UsefulNotes/SocietyForCreativeAnachronism medieval reenactment group]].
156	* WhamEpisode: Ben turns into Glory in front of everyone, slaughters all of the Knights of Byzantium, and takes Dawn. The episode ends with Buffy left in a catatonic state.
157	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The show has ''always'' made it a point to emphasize that killing a human, even a KnightTemplar, is a '''''huge''''' deal. The battle on the roof of the Winnebago ends with Buffy whipping an ax into the chest of a Knight of Byzantium. This is never addressed.
158	* WhatMeasureIsAMook: Buffy's usual hardline stance against killing humans is conspicously absent this episode, as she kills several Knights.
159	* WithAllDueRespect: Gronx: "With all due respect, and a [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E17Forever fear of sharp objects]]..."
160	* YouCantThwartStageOne: Buffy does all that she can to keep Dawn out of Glory's hands. She fails by the end of the episode.
161	* YouJustHadToSayIt: While they're driving along, Dawn notes that things can't get any crazier. Almost as soon as she says that, [[TwangHello an arrow punctures the window and lands near Buffy's head]].

Context Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E20Spiral