374:"): both victims are human, but their deaths are necessary to prevent further suffering. Although the moral ambiguity of killing Ben is discussed earlier in the episode, as well as Ben's innocence ("I know he's an innocent, but ... not like 'Dawn' innocent"), Giles is never shown to have feelings of guilt afterwards, because he did what needed to be done. Contrast this with Willow's guilt over murdering Warren in a spirit of revenge, a theme that persists until the end of the series. Petrova feels the difference for Giles is that killing Ben is his only option - the police wouldn't understand the danger, Buffy is morally unable to take a human life, and leaving him alive is too great a risk. In contrast, Willow had other options available, yet chose to murder Warren anyway. Giles recognizes that Buffy, as a hero, lives by a more demanding moral code than most people. Her unique role and abilities confer special responsibilities, including moral rules by which Giles is not bound. When Ben marvels, "She could have killed me", Giles disagrees: "No, she couldn’t. Never... She’s a hero, you see. She’s not like us." However, in an essay on the ethics in this episode, C. W. Marshall claims that Giles actually exhibits heroism, as his murder of Ben serves a greater good and protects those he loves.
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to start the ritual. A fight ensues, but Doc tosses Spike off the scaffolding and then cuts Dawn with shallow slashes that bleed steadily, starting the apocalyptic ritual. Buffy reaches the top, pushes Doc off and frees the captive Dawn just as the portal between dimensions opens. Dawn is willing to sacrifice herself to seal the portal, but Buffy, comprehending the true meaning of the First Slayer's revelation, stops her. Realizing that since Dawn has her blood and that her own death can stop the ritual, Buffy throws herself into the portal, which closes when she dies, leaving her friends devastated. She is buried with the epitaph, "She saved the world. A lot."
329:. Buffy surprises Glory by attacking her with Olaf's hammer, and then races to save Dawn, but Glory slows her down as they battle on the tower. The two of them fall to the ground below, where Xander uses a crane to hit Glory with a wrecking ball, making Glory bleed. Buffy beats Glory with the hammer until she reverts to Ben, but spares his life, telling him that Glory must never return or they will both die. With the others' attention diverted, Giles dispassionately kills Ben by suffocating him, to prevent Glory's re-emergence.
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thought the episode marked a pivotal moment in the series, concluding the lauded season on an "indisputable high note" that explored character arcs and themes, and serving as a launching point for significant changes for the last two seasons, including a darker and more complex storytelling approach.
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The episode also foreshadows the darkness within Willow, a character known for her endearing qualities. Willow harnesses powerful dark magic and telepathy to protect her friends, signaling her capacity for wielding darker forces. This transformation sets the stage for her eventual descent in the next
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The episode's title encapsulates its central theme. Buffy's ultimate sacrifice to close a hellish portal highlights the loss of her support system, including her mother and her mentor, Giles. This act thrusts her into a world where the weight of her unique role as the Slayer becomes overwhelming. The
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With the window of time to stop the ritual about to close, the
Scoobies spot someone up on the scaffolding with Dawn. Willow telepathically tells Spike to go up to Dawn, and she and Tara magically clear a path for him by throwing aside Glory's minions and guards. Spike finds the demon Doc threatening
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One of the significant developments in the episode is the evolution of the character Spike. He transitions from a tolerated danger to a multifaceted ally. Spike's love for Buffy and his commitment to protecting Dawn marks a substantial shift in his character arc, and this growth continues over the
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Giles, typically portrayed as a mild-mannered librarian and Buffy's guardian, reveals a darker side in the episode when he kills Ben, as he believes it is his duty as a
Watcher. His complex identity, somewhere between a friend and a father figure, adds depth to his character. In an essay on the
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proposes to Anya. At first, she is upset, believing that he is doing it just because the world will end, but after he reassures her that he wants to see the world safe because he truly wants to spend the rest of his life with her, she agrees to accept if they survive. As Buffy and
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launches a magic attack, confusing and dazing Glory, while restoring Tara's sanity. Buffy attacks Glory with the Dagon Sphere, but Glory manages to destroy it. As they fight, Glory punches off her head, revealing she has been actually fighting
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gather weapons, she asks him to protect Dawn. Spike tells Buffy he knows she will never love him, but is grateful that she treats him like a man rather than a monster.
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Glory's minions build a tower for the ritual to open the gates between dimensions. Buffy and her allies confront Glory just as the ritual is to begin.
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episode signifies the end of the comparatively lighter tone in the series, as Buffy grapples with the ramifications of her destiny.
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She also praised Sarah
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ownership of evil, Erma
Petrova argues that Giles murdering Ben is comparable to Willow murdering Warren (in "
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In "The Gift", Buffy refuses to accept that her sister Dawn's death is the only way to defeat the hell-god
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season, a contentious plotline that explores the consequences of unchecked magical power.
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despite loving him, after the loss of her mother she knows losing Dawn will destroy her.
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on May 22, 2001. The episode serves as the "WB Finale" of the series, as it moved to the
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subsequent seasons, leading to a profound exploration of humanity and redemption.
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and prepares to do battle. In the end, she discovers the meaning of her "gift".
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Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale
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finale, and the 100th episode, of the fantasy-horror television series
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before Glory uses her in the ritual, which Buffy refuses to consider.
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514:"Aeneas the Vampire Slayer: A Roman Model for Why Giles Kills Ben"
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22nd episode of the 5th season of Buffy the
Vampire Slayer
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nomination, at the very least, feels like an affront".
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1480:Television episodes about child abduction
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491:. Open Court Publishing. p. 157.
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1470:Television episodes about sacrifices
483:"Should We Do What Buffy Would Do?"
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1475:Television episodes about androids
777:Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
638:Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
512:Marshall, C. W. (August 9, 2003),
247:(1997–2003). The episode aired on
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1450:2001 American television episodes
958:Graduation Day, Parts One and Two
742:What's My Line, Parts One and Two
274:, but can only suggest killing
1325:Conversations with Dead People
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1:
1455:Buffyverse crossover episodes
1158:Bargaining, Parts One and Two
448:Petrova, Erma (March 2003),
423:Simon, Rachel (2021-05-27).
160:Craig Zimmerman as Minion #1
812:Becoming, Parts One and Two
485:. In James B. South (ed.).
349:for its final two seasons.
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680:Out of Mind, Out of Sight
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217:Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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798:I Only Have Eyes for You
610:Welcome to the Hellmouth
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244:Buffy the Vampire Slayer
44:Buffy the Vampire Slayer
18:The Gift (Buffy episode)
1395:Lies My Parents Told Me
1186:Once More, with Feeling
1131:The Weight of the World
846:Faith, Hope & Trick
192:The Weight of the World
714:Some Assembly Required
94:May 22, 2001
1297:Same Time, Same Place
853:Beauty and the Beasts
659:I, Robot... You, Jane
528:on September 27, 2007
481:Kawal, Jason (2003).
163:Josh Jacobson as Teen
327:Buffy's robot double
1346:Bring On the Night
176:Episode chronology
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978:Living Conditions
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107:Guest appearances
91:Original air date
16:(Redirected from
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707:When She Was Bad
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1409:Empty Places
1228:Normal Again
1221:Hell's Bells
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1034:Who Are You?
1020:Goodbye Iowa
930:Consequences
735:The Dark Age
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526:the original
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462:the original
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432:. Retrieved
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134:Amber Benson
116:Clare Kramer
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1402:Dirty Girls
1388:Storyteller
1381:Get It Done
1290:Beneath You
1214:As You Were
1193:Tabula Rasa
1179:All the Way
1172:Life Serial
902:Gingerbread
881:Lovers Walk
874:Revelations
617:The Harvest
343:Joss Whedon
341:Written by
337:Development
308:Meanwhile,
167:Tom Kiesche
152:Todd Duffey
138:Tara Maclay
78:Joss Whedon
69:Joss Whedon
65:Directed by
1439:Categories
1374:First Date
1242:Seeing Red
1165:After Life
1117:Tough Love
1103:Checkpoint
867:Band Candy
860:Homecoming
673:Nightmares
543:"The Gift"
468:2008-06-04
454:Refractory
434:2022-06-18
397:References
278:'s sister
204:Bargaining
169:as Vampire
98:2001-05-22
75:Written by
60:Episode 22
1360:Potential
1256:Two to Go
1041:Superstar
923:Bad Girls
916:The Zeppo
763:Innocence
728:Lie to Me
378:Reception
237:" is the
143:Joel Grey
1353:Showtime
1311:Selfless
1274:Season 7
1249:Villains
1149:Season 6
1138:The Gift
1110:The Body
1066:Season 5
1055:Restless
985:Beer Bad
969:Season 4
909:Helpless
888:The Wish
823:Season 3
756:Surprise
749:Bad Eggs
698:Season 2
645:The Pack
596:Season 1
588:episodes
372:Villains
239:season 5
235:The Gift
219:season 5
187:Previous
52:Episode
35:The Gift
1416:Touched
1332:Sleeper
1283:Lessons
1235:Entropy
1207:Wrecked
1200:Smashed
1082:Real Me
951:Choices
944:Earshot
805:Go Fish
784:Passion
518:Slayage
429:Vulture
385:Vulture
200: →
185:←
96: (
47:episode
1423:Chosen
1124:Spiral
895:Amends
770:Phases
495:
353:Themes
322:Willow
310:Xander
249:The WB
86:5ABB22
1263:Grave
992:Pangs
652:Angel
624:Witch
315:Spike
303:Angel
276:Buffy
272:Glory
260:Glory
120:Glory
1304:Help
1006:Hush
832:Anne
547:IMDb
493:ISBN
391:Emmy
284:Anya
280:Dawn
266:Plot
198:Next
156:Murk
1318:Him
545:at
347:UPN
253:UPN
154:as
147:Doc
145:as
136:as
129:Ben
127:as
118:as
54:no.
1441::
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427:.
405:^
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