Same. It hits different now. Lost my mom in April, and I can relate to each stage and trying to be strong, and everyone thinking me being robotic, but I HAD to get things done. People don't get it until they do. And I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Condolences on your loss :(
Same. Lost both parents and two long term partners, been battling cancer myself currently. Each significant experience of grief seems to make this episode hit differently and more thoroughly with each watch. I'm sorry for your loss.
it really is, its so relatable cuz of how realistic the experience was, most people have to go through this in some way. Wiping tears as I type this now smh.
People say that the vampire at the end was unnecessary in a completely grounded episode I 100% disagree. The vampire shows that this is a cruel world that goes on, it doesn't stop because of a sudden tragedy
Yep exactly. Also the scene of the double parked car getting a ticket, the kids outside playing joyfully while Buffy goes outside. Grief is so singular to the people it effects and no one else within that grief, the world just keeps going.
@@grkpektis To me, it shows how much of a toll the day took on Buffy because she could just barely handle slaying a newly risen vampire and probably only pulled through to protect Dawn.
Definitely. Buffy grapples with not having a life outside of being the slayer throughout the show. She can't even get a break the day her mom dies. Also, in this episode, you might sometimes forget that this is a supernatural show, so a vampire showing up at the end is a shock and a reminder that life won't let you pause everything until you're ready to keep going.
Please don't worry about not "being funny" during The Body episode. That is always one of the hardest ones for me to watch. I cry every time. So I don't mind you all crying and being somber. The entire cast did such a good job. I so understood Anya not understanding. Her character would have no mental framing for this. One of the best and most heartbreaking episodes.
Not many people pick up on it, but Anya made a wish in The Body that Joyce didn’t die. She knows the power of that word and said it very intentionally. Not even her “friends” understood her intention.
@@jeremiahmichael87 now I wanna swing on xander by trying to undermine her with a "funny" joke at her expense. I wonder if he knows how much like his daddy he is ...
Exactly. Anya knows the power of a wish, and had a vengeance demon been there, that wish could've been granted. Even if one wasn't there, it's established in the lore that vengeance demons are drawn to those experiencing grief, pain and/or anger towards something or someone, so wishing that out loud while surrounded by all of the stages of grief (which each character represents differently) possibly could have drawn a Vengeance Demon to the group and make that wish a reality (at least in Anya's mind, whether it was a conscious choice or not). The term "vengeance" makes it seem inherently spiteful, but I like in a later episode where the term "Justice Demon" is used (if you know you know lol). Most people (including myself) also love her monologue in the dorm room, but I've seen some say things like "it doesn't make sense because she used to be human and should understand mortal death" or whatever, and I think those people are just way off base. Yeah she used to be human, but she was turned into a Vengeance Demon at like age 20, and lived that way for 1100 years.... For one, we don't actually know if she even experienced grief from the death of a loved one when she was human, and even if she had, 1100 years of being a demon who's killed countless people vs 20 years of human life could easily make that connection and understanding fade... Not to mention the fact that it's heavily implied that the Vengeance Demons in this universe don't actually permanently die unless they're made mortal first or D'Hoffryn kills them himself. A fatal blow (like a sword through the heart) seems to kill them momentarily, but then they just jump back into their body and "resurrect" in a way. That sheds some light onto the line where she says "there's just a body and I don't understand why she can't just get back in it. It's mortal and stupid." I think that reinforces the disconnect and subsequent realization of what mortality really means, which makes it even that much sadder and more powerful, imo.
This was the first lesbian kiss on TV that was just a normal kiss between two main characters in a committed relationship, and wasn't hyped up as a Big Event. Putting it in this episode prevented it from being promoted as titillating or controversial. I like how you appreciated all the little details, like how Dawn was drawing the negative space around a body, and that Anya briefly found the blue sweater Willow was looking for.
Yeah, serious props to the writers for going out of their way to prevent the network from advertising an episode of Buffy as "the lesbian kiss episode."
@@Talisguy I think it also emphasizes just how silly worrying about a lesbian kiss is when there are so many other much bigger things going on out there like someone passing away. At the time it was a huge deal on television and even after this point there were limits on how much of that they were allowed to show on public networks.
“The Body” episode is a rite of passage for all Buffy watchers. You’re never the same after that episode. Your reaction was perfect. It was a heart wrenching episode.
The lack of music in The Body was completely intentional. Joss explained that even when it's sad, music is a "comfort" to the audience because it indicates how they should feel about a situation. By omitting it, the audience is left with their own unique feelings to contend with.
Obligatory but always necessary reminder that Sarah was robbed at the Emmys the year of The Body's release. Not even nominated and she is acting her heart out in this! Everyone is of course but Sarah really brings it at everything(Aside from her own dislike for Laughing acting as mentioned in commentaries from writers)
Been a long time, but IIRC, at the time it was still seen as a fantasy/Sci-Fi show by many at the time, and WB/UPN were seen as kids networks compared to the others. A few of the cast members should have been nominated over the years, but yeah, this should have been an easy win for her.
I have heard that they missed the Emmy submission deadline. (I am just repeating what I've read online, though.) Hush is the only writing nomination Buffy got.
We love you guys, and that's why we don't expect you to fake your feelings, so don't worry. Your reaction is exactly what most people have during this episode. It's stunned grief. Your genuine reaction is what we love. Period. You don't need to put on a show. We love that you are you.
Yea the body hits hard 😢 Sarah Michelle Gellar deserved a freaking award for that episode, I cry everytime. This was a very well directed episode too made everything feel serial.
I was waiting for this. Joyce’s death is one of the reasons why Season 5 goes so hard. Don’t worry guys, your reaction was very appropriate. I could be wrong, but the unique thing about “The Body” is I think it’s the first time the Scooby Gang was so affected by a natural death, one that wasn’t caused by supernatural forces.
I already watched your reactions for these on Patreon but you know I gotta support y’all over on RUclips too. I found my boyfriend at home after he suddenly passed away and when I tell you The Body absolutely destroys me every single time I watch it….. The most heartbreakingly real episode of television I’ve ever seen. No other piece of media portrays grief as accurately as this imo.
Yeah, aneurisms are quick. It's what got my dad. He was literally being helped into his hospital bed by a nurse when it happened. Just went "Oh!" and slumped over. Even with the nurse right there and medical help coming immediately, they couldn't do anything.
Guys, the fact that you go to this episode without being spoiled for it is amazing in itself. Many rate The Body as the best episode of BTVS ever, I don't personally, however The Body is one of the greatest episodes of tv drama ever shown. Whedon is a master at torturing the viewers. The fact that his episode has no music, and when Buffy opens the back door and hears the children playing it is so real, that even when a person has a personal tragedy life goes on as normal for all other people, it is all very human and ordinary, this is why it is so incredible. So many people watching The Body, myself included, have had an almost exact experience to this, this is why it is so brilliantly written and directed. SMG puts in an incredible performance here, and it is criminal that she was not awarded for this. This is why S5 is amazing. However I think there is one more episode in this Season which even surpasses this. A brilliant heartbreaking finale unmatched in the Series. Season 5 was a Zenith for the show.
You made it through the hardest episode of this series. I haven't met anyone who made it through this episode without crying. As someone who lost both my parents to situations like this, it's the most accurate portrayal of every feeling involved. They put an incredible amount of care into every line, every camera movement, every second of silence, *everything*. The whole cast just....DELIVERS.
Best Buffy episode for me. Saddest Buffy episode, too. Probably. PS: In the end, Dawn is reaching out for Joyce... but she doesn't. The episode cuts it just before she can do it. Because she can't. Joyce isn't there anymore. We all stretch ourselves out to reach our dearly departed, but we can't. We will always be "almost touching" their beloved faces, but we will never reach them for our whole lives.
What a fucking masterpiece. Criminal that nobody on this show was ever nominated for an acting Emmy. It was no accident that the woman's voice when Buffy called 911 sounded like Joyce, and that Dawn's art teacher actually LOOKED like Joyce. I just really want to hug you both, tight, right now. Cody's expression on the ending scene of "IWMTLY" when Buffy discovers Joyce, and then having to shift gears and talk about the relative humor of the episode, before "The Body", just broke my heart. I don't think this is spoiler territory, since by now you've seen the next episode, but when this episode originally aired, we STILL didn't really know the exact nature of the power of The Key- I know my friends and I were hoping to see some sort of AWESOME display of Dawn's power (as though it was foreshadowed when she told her friend she would immolate her enemies) and see The Key raise the dead, somehow.
"The Body" is one of the episodes that always comes up in conversations about the best Buffy episodes. I think it hit me harder than most tv show episodes I can remember. Absolutely devastating in such a raw and tender way.
I saw this show years ago with my mom, only to watch it with you guys as an adult without my mom. This hit home, i've always been alone with my mom, and after my mom was diagnosed with cancer she fought like a lion, beat it but that crap came back and destroyed her on the inside so much she couldn't fight it again, so i brought her home and after 7 days being kept in a coma her heart finally gave up...and there i was alone, i did have the chance to say goodbye and you think you're prepared but trust me your not, and you two weren't the only ones having an ugly cry, just glad nobody got to see mine...
THE BODY hit me like a freight train when I saw it the first time it aired. Now decades later after having lost my own parents- rips just as deep but in such a different way.
There are a trio of episodes that are usually argued over as the greatest episodes of Buffy. Season 4 Hush is one. The Body is the second. The third one is in season 6. The Thanksgiving scene was added so the credits wouldn't distract from SMG's performance. No music was intentional, so as to not coerce an emotion but to feel it for yourself. The Body is a gut-wrenching episode, and we are here for you.
Honestly, everyone involved deserves awards for that episode. Look at every area of the writing, lighting, plot, directing, production?! Awards were deaerved. And it still affects people today.
Darlins you don't need to apologize for not being able to have a more vocal reaction during "The Body", and I was sobbing right along with you. This is a real heartbreaking episode that hits close to home for me since I lost my father, so much so I usually skip it on a re-watch, especially right now coming up on the 10 year anniversary. I normally enjoy re-watching your buffy reactions a few times, but this time I'll have to keep it to just this once.
I lost my dad almost 20 years ago, and The Body hits….so hard every time. If I need a cry- I go to this episode. The way it shows grief and loss is just spot on. Everyone crushed it- but damn, SMG….she kills the emotion. I’ve been waiting for you guys to watch this episode. I’m sorry you had to be so emotional- but thank you for being so raw with us. Much love to you both. 🫂🫂
I noticed that Anya talks a lot less about her demon days/ victims after this episode. I don’t think she’s as proud of what she’s done now that she’s seen death in a different way. She even hinted to Giles in Wish that she killed people with her own hands not just through wishes
Anya's break down always hits me the hardest. Like, Sarah always gets me on the verge, but Anya is the one that breaks me. It's the innocence behind what she's saying, I think.
On a lighter note, the character of April was written with Britney Spears set to play the part. Unfortunately, she was unavailable, and didnt want to tarnish her image by playing a sex robot, so the part was recast.
The beautiful thing about Buffy is that it's not afraid to take you through the full range of emotions. It is great to be with you in normal "good times" reactions to laugh with you and be shocked with you... these episodes (and ep 17) are meant to be endured with you. I always feel closer to reactors, like we shared the pain together in some way, after this episode, and you guys are no exception. Hugs.
"The Body" is one the best episode of the entire show. Sarah Michelle Gellar deserved to win an Emmy or an Awards for her performance. She's amazing !!! They killed off Joyce to show that it is not just demons in life but also natural death which is a part of life, even in their universe.They choose to not add music in the episode for the realism, like it is in reality. You can notice when she opens the door about the realism. We can still hear the life : kids laughing, cars, people talking etc... Anya experience her first death and intense emotions, doesn't know how to react and think. The first kiss in the show between Willow and Tara is magical, melancholic and deep... Keep in mind starting now, it will be a hell of a ride until the end of the season. I think you gonna cry like you did for Joyce or even more. Enjoy the ride to one of the best season finale !
This episode is just one of a kind. My best friend was addicted to heroin for about 10 years and every time she relapsed, thoughts of The Body would come into my head. It was my biggest fear to come home and find her dead from an OD. Even now that my bff has passed (in the hospital surrounded by family, thank god) this episode still sticks with me and my heart goes out to everyone who HAS had this horrible experience. SMG was robbed of an Emmy for her performance.
Never ever worry about not saying anything during a reaction like this. Completely valid and we know you’re absorbing everything that’s happening just as we did when we first watched this
The Body was something else, it was still difficult to watch this time round! But I’m glad you both also sat in silence because I was just in such shock for the entire episode
When I recommended Buffy to a friend her mother died right when my friend hit the half point of season 5. She was gonna watch the show for confort and I felt I had to warn her it would have some hard triggers ahead. She took a pause from the show and when she found the guts to come back she said it was incredibly cathartic
I was waiting on for the reaction of the body... it is the hardest most emotional episode in the series. No matter how many times I watch it it makes me break down
The closing shot on Joyce is just a culmination event. Her entire mission with the "bathroom" mission was to go see the body in order to get fully convinced of the death. She wondered if the body was cold. Maybe she wanted to close the eyes. The cut is perfect in ... does she actually confront the death with actually touching her? Does she pull away? Does she get, at that point, Buffy's point that Joyce is gone? There's nothing spoilery here, it's all personal interpretation of the art.
20 years later, episode 15 hits different. Joyce showing off her dress to her daughters, being happy, excited to go on a first date. "Oh no, I left my bra in his car (...) I'm joking. I left it at the restaurant! On the dessert cart!" She had fun. She had a lovely day. If only all our loved ones could have such a nice day before they go. Do not apologize for crying, please. We're all right there with you.
Oh this was a tough one... BIIIIG hugs to you both. The Body never fails to tear out the heart. Don't worry about your responses, it's one of the most human I've seen in watching reactions. You guys are one of the best.
My mom died of a brain tumor, It's a blessing and a curse that I knew she was dying so I at least got a chance to say goodbye to her and she was relatively coherent
My mom died from pancreatic cancer. She was in hospice care, and we all had time to deal and prepare for her death, but like what Tara said, it wasn't sudden, but it was. It's always sudden.
Anya's monologue has literally been my therapy for five years now. I sobbed when I first watched this episode back in the day but when my Mom died in 2019 and no one would step up and take care of things or guide us 6 siblings, I realized as in life so was in death....me being the baby of the family needed to take care of everything so I bottled up my emotions and took care of things. When I needed to let go and release privately, this is what I watched. Now, I still cry when I watch this episode, it's sad but it's therapeutic for me.
The last shot where Dawn never touches her mom..it symbolizes the fact that ..we don’t know, we can’t touch the afterlife, we can’t touch that which is gone.. Truly an awesome episode for all of tv. I recommend watching with Joss’ commentary..I can’t say it better than he can about his own episode..
Yeah. I will never forget the gut punch of seeing Joyce on the couch at the end of the silly robot girlfriend episode. Then having to wait a week to see if she was really gone…
Your reaction to the body is exactly what it should be. We all break down during this episode, yet WHENEVER I see someone is watching it for the 1st time I have to watch with them. It's not because I'm a sadist, but rather because I personally feel like this episode will elicit the most genuine reaction and true emotion. It's nearly impossible to watch this episode and come up with witty commentary, and that's exactly what it should do, unless you're void of humanity. It never gets easier to rewatch btw. Everytime i watch this one, i cry. This is in my top 3 buffy episodes along with HUSH and one in your future. I won't say the 3rd because I don't want to spoil anything for you. Great reaction.
I lost my mom January 2nd 2013. We both adored this show and she gave me my love of horror. This watch is going to hurt, but I know she would want me to watch again...
You guys responded in the way I did when it first aired, totally gut-punch and emotional wreck, no need to say anything about being quiet while we watched. This is a real reflection of true loss and grief
I was on a cruise ship passing the straight of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean when i got the call my mother was dead in 2015. It was still 2 days till we reached the next port, i nearly lost my mind on that ship. Calling my best mate back in england was hard as the £10 credit on my phone went in a matter of minutes due to international stuff. This episode hits hard, everyone remembers how they went through loosing their loved ones, its a brilliant but gut wrenching episode. Keep the tissues nearby, the pain of this series is still not over.
I have loved this TV show (been obsessed) for 23 years, since I was 14. And I have lost a lot of people over that time. I watch reactions to 'The Body" to remind myself that we all actually do understand grief, that people care about your loss even if they can't show it. Yours is true and honours what the episode is about, thank you.
I think the most poignant moment of the episode is when Buffy opens her back door. She is absolutely bathed in light but looks sick and gaunt. The light can't save her, it's almost torture. That is devastatingly powerful for a show about vampires.
There are so many things I could say about the body but I’m sure everyone else will cover them so, fun fact about I Was Made To Love You- Britney Spears was originally meant to play April the robot girlfriend.. but she had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts. The actress they picked was great, and in hindsight it’s probably for the best not to use Britney because her cameo may have overshadowed the whole vibe of the final scene/Joyce reveal.
I’m the last person left of my original nuclear family of 5, because my brother just died in November. I’m 70, and he just turned 68. He was doing hospice in his final months and I was able to spend time with him. He told me he wasn’t afraid, and he was ready for whatever comes next. Nobody knows. It seems likely to me that we don’t know anything after we die anymore than we knew anything before we were born. I suspect that our desire to see those we loved after we die is sentimental. But I am enough of an agnostic to leave that question open.
I've been waiting for you guys to get to this episode all season. Watches the episode first and cried, then watched your reactions and cried again. Such an emotional and grounded episode, loved how differently every character reacts, Xander needs someone to blame, Willow overthinks and works herself into a frenzy, Giles goes full dad mode, Anya reacts like a child would asking a lot of questions kids ask when they first experience death, and Buffy being in shock/autopilot.
I don’t think Anya was just thinking about Joyce in her monologue, I think she was also thinking of all her victims. Such a great character, such a great show
Good job guys for a really tough ep to get through! You don't ever have to apologize for not talking on this one. The emotions on your faces, especially Sergio's said a thousand words. I loved it all. Joss Whedon did an audio commentary for this ep and you guys should listen to it once you finish the series. It's pretty interesting and informative. I believe he said he had SMG doing that opening scene finding Joyce sever times.(someone correct me if am wrong but I know it was multiple times. And she nailed it every time. That must have been exhausting. Would you believe this was my first ep of BtVS that I had EVER seen?! What an episode to be introduced to! But I couldn't fully appreciate the brilliance of the ep because I didn't know the character or their backstory. But this is definitely in my top 5 eps. Hush being #1
Your quiet reaction was perfect. Such a difficult episode to “experience“ for the first time. This originally aired just a few years after my father died and it destroyed me all over again. So realistic with all the feels. On a lighter note when we originally watched it we had to wait a whole week to know what happened after the “April” episode ending. The next day I went to work and all the Buffy fans just went over the cliff hanger all day. None of us got any work done, we were all so upset about the prospect that Joyce may have died but we didn’t know for sure. All these years later it’s still a tough watch but you have to respect how well the episode was made. So realistic and so painful 😢.
We're about two weeks to the two year anniversary of when my mother passed away, and so much about this episode is bringing those feelings flooding back. Since you guys reached season 5, myself and I'm sure a lot of fans were dreading when you finally got here. I've debated skipping this week but I've decided to try tough it out, but I know tears will be flowing. Have a great holiday Sergio and Cody, and everyone else who's reading this, we're all in this together
I’m so sorry for your loss. I know that feeling and I’m so sorry you’re going through it right now. This episode is still hard for me to watch as well.
I've seen this episode 1000x and it never gets any easier. The acting in this episode, by everyone is so over thre top amazing. You can FEEL the pain radiating off of them.
Everytime I watch this episode, I find new layers of magnificence in this episode. I also find most people completely overlook the fact that the art teacher actress looks EXACTLY like Joyce!!! And that camera pan to her face watching Buffy and Dawn cry together was like Joyce watching over them but nobody else sees it whenever I talk about it !!!!
I usually wait until Saturday to binge your reactions but I had to watch this one right away... don't worry about not saying much, I think all us sadists who love watching people react to The Body are in it for the raw emotion & you two definitely had that! I love watching reactions because it's like getting to watch the episode all over again, which you wouldn't think I'd want for that episode, but it's just such a well done episode that I look forward to it for every reactor.
That episode is one of the most powerfull episodes to air on TV in my oppinion. You both covered the episode incredibly well and everything you said at the end of the episode was exacly right. It's crazy the amount of emotions you go thrugh when you lose a loved one especially your mum. Don't worrie Sergio I ugly cried to the episode always gets me
I noticed that Anya talks a lot less about her demon days/ victims after The Body episode. I don’t think she’s as proud of what she’s done now that she’s seen death in a different way. She even hinted to Giles in Wish that she killed people with her own hands not just through wishes
I had similar experience this summer. There's something so brutal about calling 911, following instructions and knowing deep down that it's over. Plus staying in the same flat as the body and just waiting was surreal.
Don't worry about being emotional, this is the only second time I have watched this episode and I still cried my eyes out. Hopefully you guys are ok this is a very heavy episode. Take care
This episode means so much to me. It does such an amazing job of showing what it’s like. And what Tara said is spot on. It is always sudden. My mom was sick for a long time and we all knew it was coming, but when I got that call from the hospital that night I was just in disbelief.
The Body never fails to devastate me, even though I know what's coming. Even before I lost my dad, it devastated me. It still does though now I feel seen. The quiet, the what ifs, the noise of life going on as if my world hadn't shattered, the need to stay standing to help others though it when I was barely holding myself together. This episode does a wonderful job of showcasing grief. We see it, we feel it alongside the characters and sometimes grief strips us of our words.
I can’t say how many times I’ve rewatched Buffy, and this reaction still made me tear up. Fuck it’s such a kick in the heart. And all the various forms of grief were so heart wrenching.
Wikipedia has a pretty good entry on The Body, which is often acknowledged as one of the best episodes of TV ever made. Here are a couple paragraphs from that entry. ----- The most difficult scene for Whedon to film was Willow panicking in her dormitory room. Her obsession about what to wear to visit Buffy was inspired by Whedon's own experiences when he was at a loss for what tie to wear for a friend's funeral.[5] He praised Alyson Hannigan's acting, saying that she was able to be consistently emotional in every take and make him and the crew cry every time. Whedon acknowledged his difficulty speaking on the DVD commentary while watching Hannigan in the scene.[2] Whedon's rejection of the "very special episode" format impelled him to address the physicality of Willow and Tara's relationship within "The Body". Before this episode, they had held hands and danced on screen, but they had not kissed. A genre of television specials dealing with female homosexuality developed as the "lesbian kiss episode" in the 1990s, where a female character kissed another female but no relationship is further explored. Whedon set out to acknowledge Willow's and Tara's affection without making it the primary focus of the show. For attempting this, he received resistance from the airing network, the WB. Whedon informed them that the kiss between Willow and Tara was "not negotiable".[5] According to Whedon, the conversation about the kiss was approached by the network executives, who were concerned with the number of gay relationships on the network. Whedon countered that the kiss was "true to character" and said he would quit the show if the network forbade it. It was the only time during the series he threatened to do so.[7] ----- Whedon may not have been the greatest person - but I don't think anyone can say he didn't create great television. And everyone in the cast stepped up for this episode. Their acting is 100% on point in this one.
Your reactions to this episode were so genuine. I remember bawling my eyes out when this originally aired and now it hits even harder now that I've lost a parent.
the body is such an incredible episode, it evokes so many feelings and the lack of soundtrack really makes you feel the weight and emptiness of the situation. such incredible directing and writing
The Body is one of my favorite television episodes of all time. Imagine having to wait a WHOLE WEEK. Such an interesting concept to show someone who could literally save the world not be able to save the most important person to her. And it was a natural death which really hit hard. Beautifully crafted to show grief through the eyes of all characters, which really helped really show those of us who watch it at a younger age that grief has many faces. And it’s OK to feel how you feel when you feel it. Currently watching your reaction now. Really appreciate you just feeling it. Hugs from Atlanta. Fun fact to distract: Britney Spears was originally supposed to play the robot in I Was Made For Loving You.
Anya has likely killed more people than Spike and Angel combined (even accounting for age) but she also had the power to bring people back from the dead like the master. So of course life and death was meaningless to someone who could warp reality
True, but in her experience death is something that happens to "people who deserve it", so it happening to Joyce genuinely doesn't make sense to her, it's like the rules she understands as the way the world works have been broken.
The body is brutally realistic. And it's right that it is. Every moment is crafted for a reason. All the things around the Scooby Gang ; the playing children, the paramedics rushing off to the next call, Xander's parking ticket, and the vampire at the morgue. All are detailing the indifference outside of the group. Buffy's world is falling down around her, but THE world continues, untroubled and uncaring. It is one of the harsher realities of human existence.
I also appreciate you guys not quipping through the body as some other reactors did. I want to see you experience the episode like so many of us did. It speaks to how genuine you two are that you cried throughout which is what many of us did/ do when you watch it. Its almost as if you're paralyzed with fear, desperation and heartache that you just go through the motions of getting through it. I sadly experienced this with losing my Dad a few years ago many years after I saw this episode and when I did a rewatch after his passing I legit skipped this episode as its just so raw. It is so real and allows you to be so vulnerable its uncomfortable.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
"I wish that Joyce didn't die" Anya, having dedicated a thousand years to the power of the Wish.
That's a really good point! I've seen it many times, but hadn't thought of that yet! 🤔Look at the big brain on Thomas. 🤓
omg why did I never realize this. didnt need more to cry about 😭
"the body" is simultaneously one of the best and the saddest episodes of tv that exists. It hits even harder now that I've lost a parent.
Same. It hits different now. Lost my mom in April, and I can relate to each stage and trying to be strong, and everyone thinking me being robotic, but I HAD to get things done. People don't get it until they do. And I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Condolences on your loss :(
Definitely.
Same. Lost both parents and two long term partners, been battling cancer myself currently. Each significant experience of grief seems to make this episode hit differently and more thoroughly with each watch.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Agreed. Lost my dad a couple of years ago and every time I watch this episode it brings back all those feelings.
it really is, its so relatable cuz of how realistic the experience was, most people have to go through this in some way. Wiping tears as I type this now smh.
People say that the vampire at the end was unnecessary in a completely grounded episode I 100% disagree. The vampire shows that this is a cruel world that goes on, it doesn't stop because of a sudden tragedy
Yep exactly. Also the scene of the double parked car getting a ticket, the kids outside playing joyfully while Buffy goes outside. Grief is so singular to the people it effects and no one else within that grief, the world just keeps going.
True. It’s a reminder that death is a constant.
@@grkpektis To me, it shows how much of a toll the day took on Buffy because she could just barely handle slaying a newly risen vampire and probably only pulled through to protect Dawn.
Definitely. Buffy grapples with not having a life outside of being the slayer throughout the show. She can't even get a break the day her mom dies. Also, in this episode, you might sometimes forget that this is a supernatural show, so a vampire showing up at the end is a shock and a reminder that life won't let you pause everything until you're ready to keep going.
It is also a "loss of innocence" for Dawn because not only was it a vampire it was also a naked man...
That moment of her looking out the door and hearing kids is just that moment of stillness & heartbreak. The world going on but your world ended!
Please don't worry about not "being funny" during The Body episode. That is always one of the hardest ones for me to watch. I cry every time. So I don't mind you all crying and being somber. The entire cast did such a good job. I so understood Anya not understanding. Her character would have no mental framing for this. One of the best and most heartbreaking episodes.
Not many people pick up on it, but Anya made a wish in The Body that Joyce didn’t die. She knows the power of that word and said it very intentionally. Not even her “friends” understood her intention.
@@jeremiahmichael87 now I wanna swing on xander by trying to undermine her with a "funny" joke at her expense. I wonder if he knows how much like his daddy he is ...
Exactly. Anya knows the power of a wish, and had a vengeance demon been there, that wish could've been granted. Even if one wasn't there, it's established in the lore that vengeance demons are drawn to those experiencing grief, pain and/or anger towards something or someone, so wishing that out loud while surrounded by all of the stages of grief (which each character represents differently) possibly could have drawn a Vengeance Demon to the group and make that wish a reality (at least in Anya's mind, whether it was a conscious choice or not). The term "vengeance" makes it seem inherently spiteful, but I like in a later episode where the term "Justice Demon" is used (if you know you know lol).
Most people (including myself) also love her monologue in the dorm room, but I've seen some say things like "it doesn't make sense because she used to be human and should understand mortal death" or whatever, and I think those people are just way off base. Yeah she used to be human, but she was turned into a Vengeance Demon at like age 20, and lived that way for 1100 years.... For one, we don't actually know if she even experienced grief from the death of a loved one when she was human, and even if she had, 1100 years of being a demon who's killed countless people vs 20 years of human life could easily make that connection and understanding fade... Not to mention the fact that it's heavily implied that the Vengeance Demons in this universe don't actually permanently die unless they're made mortal first or D'Hoffryn kills them himself. A fatal blow (like a sword through the heart) seems to kill them momentarily, but then they just jump back into their body and "resurrect" in a way. That sheds some light onto the line where she says "there's just a body and I don't understand why she can't just get back in it. It's mortal and stupid." I think that reinforces the disconnect and subsequent realization of what mortality really means, which makes it even that much sadder and more powerful, imo.
"i wish the Joyce didnt die" hits undeniably hard when you realize that wishes were anya's power
This was the first lesbian kiss on TV that was just a normal kiss between two main characters in a committed relationship, and wasn't hyped up as a Big Event. Putting it in this episode prevented it from being promoted as titillating or controversial.
I like how you appreciated all the little details, like how Dawn was drawing the negative space around a body, and that Anya briefly found the blue sweater Willow was looking for.
Yeah, serious props to the writers for going out of their way to prevent the network from advertising an episode of Buffy as "the lesbian kiss episode."
2 shows at the very did it before, i don't remember the first one, but i'm certain ER did it one year before Buffy.
@@sashaturned
re-read the comment you replied to until you understand your error.
@@TalisguyJoss threatened to quit.
@@Talisguy I think it also emphasizes just how silly worrying about a lesbian kiss is when there are so many other much bigger things going on out there like someone passing away. At the time it was a huge deal on television and even after this point there were limits on how much of that they were allowed to show on public networks.
“The Body” episode is a rite of passage for all Buffy watchers. You’re never the same after that episode. Your reaction was perfect. It was a heart wrenching episode.
The lack of music in The Body was completely intentional. Joss explained that even when it's sad, music is a "comfort" to the audience because it indicates how they should feel about a situation. By omitting it, the audience is left with their own unique feelings to contend with.
Yes, and it was a genius move too.
We've all been holding our breath for this week...
Don't worry about not saying much during the body this episode premiered more than 20 years ago and still gets me every time
Emma Caufield put on an acting clinic in that monologue. Everyone brought their acting chops in this episode.
If I can hold on until this moment whenever I rewatch this episode, I can NEVER make it past her monologue without crying.
Obligatory but always necessary reminder that Sarah was robbed at the Emmys the year of The Body's release. Not even nominated and she is acting her heart out in this! Everyone is of course but Sarah really brings it at everything(Aside from her own dislike for Laughing acting as mentioned in commentaries from writers)
Been a long time, but IIRC, at the time it was still seen as a fantasy/Sci-Fi show by many at the time, and WB/UPN were seen as kids networks compared to the others. A few of the cast members should have been nominated over the years, but yeah, this should have been an easy win for her.
I’m always amazed that this episode wasn’t nominated for an Emmy.
I have heard that they missed the Emmy submission deadline. (I am just repeating what I've read online, though.)
Hush is the only writing nomination Buffy got.
We love you guys, and that's why we don't expect you to fake your feelings, so don't worry. Your reaction is exactly what most people have during this episode. It's stunned grief. Your genuine reaction is what we love. Period. You don't need to put on a show. We love that you are you.
It was so heartbreaking when Buffy said "Not to move the body" because that was when she finally realized what she was experiencing was real
Yea the body hits hard 😢 Sarah Michelle Gellar deserved a freaking award for that episode, I cry everytime. This was a very well directed episode too made everything feel serial.
Its a crime she didnt get one. This show deserve more award recognition
I was waiting for this. Joyce’s death is one of the reasons why Season 5 goes so hard. Don’t worry guys, your reaction was very appropriate. I could be wrong, but the unique thing about “The Body” is I think it’s the first time the Scooby Gang was so affected by a natural death, one that wasn’t caused by supernatural forces.
No matter how many times I watch The Body episode, I will never be desensitized to it. I always find myself bawling throughout the episode
I already watched your reactions for these on Patreon but you know I gotta support y’all over on RUclips too. I found my boyfriend at home after he suddenly passed away and when I tell you The Body absolutely destroys me every single time I watch it….. The most heartbreakingly real episode of television I’ve ever seen. No other piece of media portrays grief as accurately as this imo.
I'm so sorry for your loss. ❤
I’m sorry for your loss friend.
There’s nothing worse. I’m so sorry you had to go thru that.
Sorry for your loss. Losing someone like this must be really awful
I’m so, so sorry ❤️
Yeah, aneurisms are quick. It's what got my dad. He was literally being helped into his hospital bed by a nurse when it happened. Just went "Oh!" and slumped over. Even with the nurse right there and medical help coming immediately, they couldn't do anything.
Sorry for your loss ❤, lost my cousin a month ago with the same thing...
Guys, the fact that you go to this episode without being spoiled for it is amazing in itself. Many rate The Body as the best episode of BTVS ever, I don't personally, however The Body is one of the greatest episodes of tv drama ever shown. Whedon is a master at torturing the viewers. The fact that his episode has no music, and when Buffy opens the back door and hears the children playing it is so real, that even when a person has a personal tragedy life goes on as normal for all other people, it is all very human and ordinary, this is why it is so incredible. So many people watching The Body, myself included, have had an almost exact experience to this, this is why it is so brilliantly written and directed. SMG puts in an incredible performance here, and it is criminal that she was not awarded for this. This is why S5 is amazing. However I think there is one more episode in this Season which even surpasses this. A brilliant heartbreaking finale unmatched in the Series. Season 5 was a Zenith for the show.
You made it through the hardest episode of this series. I haven't met anyone who made it through this episode without crying.
As someone who lost both my parents to situations like this, it's the most accurate portrayal of every feeling involved. They put an incredible amount of care into every line, every camera movement, every second of silence, *everything*. The whole cast just....DELIVERS.
saw buffy wearing that red sweater in 5x15 and my heart sank. sending virtual hugs to you both. hang in there.
Everyone whose seen the show catches their breath when you see Buffy in the red sweater. 😢
Best Buffy episode for me.
Saddest Buffy episode, too. Probably.
PS: In the end, Dawn is reaching out for Joyce... but she doesn't.
The episode cuts it just before she can do it.
Because she can't.
Joyce isn't there anymore.
We all stretch ourselves out to reach our dearly departed, but we can't.
We will always be "almost touching" their beloved faces, but we will never reach them for our whole lives.
What a fucking masterpiece. Criminal that nobody on this show was ever nominated for an acting Emmy. It was no accident that the woman's voice when Buffy called 911 sounded like Joyce, and that Dawn's art teacher actually LOOKED like Joyce. I just really want to hug you both, tight, right now. Cody's expression on the ending scene of "IWMTLY" when Buffy discovers Joyce, and then having to shift gears and talk about the relative humor of the episode, before "The Body", just broke my heart. I don't think this is spoiler territory, since by now you've seen the next episode, but when this episode originally aired, we STILL didn't really know the exact nature of the power of The Key- I know my friends and I were hoping to see some sort of AWESOME display of Dawn's power (as though it was foreshadowed when she told her friend she would immolate her enemies) and see The Key raise the dead, somehow.
"The Body" is one of the episodes that always comes up in conversations about the best Buffy episodes. I think it hit me harder than most tv show episodes I can remember. Absolutely devastating in such a raw and tender way.
the body is such an incredibly sad episode but yet so beautifully done. absolutely one of my favourite episodes.❤
One of the best hours of television ever. Period.
I saw this show years ago with my mom, only to watch it with you guys as an adult without my mom. This hit home, i've always been alone with my mom, and after my mom was diagnosed with cancer she fought like a lion, beat it but that crap came back and destroyed her on the inside so much she couldn't fight it again, so i brought her home and after 7 days being kept in a coma her heart finally gave up...and there i was alone, i did have the chance to say goodbye and you think you're prepared but trust me your not, and you two weren't the only ones having an ugly cry, just glad nobody got to see mine...
THE BODY hit me like a freight train when I saw it the first time it aired. Now decades later after having lost my own parents- rips just as deep but in such a different way.
There are a trio of episodes that are usually argued over as the greatest episodes of Buffy. Season 4 Hush is one. The Body is the second. The third one is in season 6. The Thanksgiving scene was added so the credits wouldn't distract from SMG's performance. No music was intentional, so as to not coerce an emotion but to feel it for yourself. The Body is a gut-wrenching episode, and we are here for you.
As hard as it is to watch. Episode 16 is probably one of the best hours of TV ever produced.
Honestly, everyone involved deserves awards for that episode. Look at every area of the writing, lighting, plot, directing, production?! Awards were deaerved. And it still affects people today.
Darlins you don't need to apologize for not being able to have a more vocal reaction during "The Body", and I was sobbing right along with you. This is a real heartbreaking episode that hits close to home for me since I lost my father, so much so I usually skip it on a re-watch, especially right now coming up on the 10 year anniversary. I normally enjoy re-watching your buffy reactions a few times, but this time I'll have to keep it to just this once.
I lost my dad almost 20 years ago, and The Body hits….so hard every time. If I need a cry- I go to this episode. The way it shows grief and loss is just spot on. Everyone crushed it- but damn, SMG….she kills the emotion. I’ve been waiting for you guys to watch this episode. I’m sorry you had to be so emotional- but thank you for being so raw with us. Much love to you both. 🫂🫂
Ive seen this so many times and Anyas part still gets me hardest
"why can't Joyce just get back in it and NOT be dead?" always kills me. I've wondered that myself.
Me too, even if I feel like I've been desensitized to the rest, Anya's part always gets me
I noticed that Anya talks a lot less about her demon days/ victims after this episode. I don’t think she’s as proud of what she’s done now that she’s seen death in a different way. She even hinted to Giles in Wish that she killed people with her own hands not just through wishes
Anya's break down always hits me the hardest. Like, Sarah always gets me on the verge, but Anya is the one that breaks me. It's the innocence behind what she's saying, I think.
same
On a lighter note, the character of April was written with Britney Spears set to play the part. Unfortunately, she was unavailable, and didnt want to tarnish her image by playing a sex robot, so the part was recast.
I’m just glad you guys found SOME humor in this episode with the blue sweater and Anya tossing it back in Willows dresser
The beautiful thing about Buffy is that it's not afraid to take you through the full range of emotions. It is great to be with you in normal "good times" reactions to laugh with you and be shocked with you... these episodes (and ep 17) are meant to be endured with you. I always feel closer to reactors, like we shared the pain together in some way, after this episode, and you guys are no exception.
Hugs.
"The Body" is one the best episode of the entire show. Sarah Michelle Gellar deserved to win an Emmy or an Awards for her performance. She's amazing !!!
They killed off Joyce to show that it is not just demons in life but also natural death which is a part of life, even in their universe.They choose to not add music in the episode for the realism, like it is in reality. You can notice when she opens the door about the realism. We can still hear the life : kids laughing, cars, people talking etc...
Anya experience her first death and intense emotions, doesn't know how to react and think.
The first kiss in the show between Willow and Tara is magical, melancholic and deep...
Keep in mind starting now, it will be a hell of a ride until the end of the season. I think you gonna cry like you did for Joyce or even more.
Enjoy the ride to one of the best season finale !
I didn't realize we were here already. I instantly got a tear in my eye when I read the title.
Been waiting for this reaction - this may be the greatest piece of film ever produced.
This episode is just one of a kind. My best friend was addicted to heroin for about 10 years and every time she relapsed, thoughts of The Body would come into my head. It was my biggest fear to come home and find her dead from an OD. Even now that my bff has passed (in the hospital surrounded by family, thank god) this episode still sticks with me and my heart goes out to everyone who HAS had this horrible experience. SMG was robbed of an Emmy for her performance.
30:00 The Kiss. First girl kissing on Tv. A little Kate said "oh, you can kiss girls?" This matters.
Never ever worry about not saying anything during a reaction like this.
Completely valid and we know you’re absorbing everything that’s happening just as we did when we first watched this
The Body was something else, it was still difficult to watch this time round! But I’m glad you both also sat in silence because I was just in such shock for the entire episode
Given your love for Joyce, I am NOT ready to see your reaction to this episode. 😭
@@Lucy-uv4hvI’m literally Buffy !
When I recommended Buffy to a friend her mother died right when my friend hit the half point of season 5. She was gonna watch the show for confort and I felt I had to warn her it would have some hard triggers ahead. She took a pause from the show and when she found the guts to come back she said it was incredibly cathartic
I was waiting on for the reaction of the body... it is the hardest most emotional episode in the series. No matter how many times I watch it it makes me break down
You boys reacted to The Body the same way we all did. Nothing to apologize for ❤
The closing shot on Joyce is just a culmination event. Her entire mission with the "bathroom" mission was to go see the body in order to get fully convinced of the death. She wondered if the body was cold. Maybe she wanted to close the eyes. The cut is perfect in ... does she actually confront the death with actually touching her? Does she pull away? Does she get, at that point, Buffy's point that Joyce is gone?
There's nothing spoilery here, it's all personal interpretation of the art.
20 years later, episode 15 hits different. Joyce showing off her dress to her daughters, being happy, excited to go on a first date. "Oh no, I left my bra in his car (...) I'm joking. I left it at the restaurant! On the dessert cart!" She had fun. She had a lovely day. If only all our loved ones could have such a nice day before they go.
Do not apologize for crying, please. We're all right there with you.
Oh this was a tough one... BIIIIG hugs to you both. The Body never fails to tear out the heart. Don't worry about your responses, it's one of the most human I've seen in watching reactions. You guys are one of the best.
I felt really bad for the robot, that episode does such a great job of setting up Warren as a believable human POS
My mom died of a brain tumor, It's a blessing and a curse that I knew she was dying so I at least got a chance to say goodbye to her and she was relatively coherent
Hugs. My mom died of lung cancer that metastazied to a brain tumor.
My mom died from pancreatic cancer. She was in hospice care, and we all had time to deal and prepare for her death, but like what Tara said, it wasn't sudden, but it was. It's always sudden.
Anya's monologue has literally been my therapy for five years now. I sobbed when I first watched this episode back in the day but when my Mom died in 2019 and no one would step up and take care of things or guide us 6 siblings, I realized as in life so was in death....me being the baby of the family needed to take care of everything so I bottled up my emotions and took care of things. When I needed to let go and release privately, this is what I watched. Now, I still cry when I watch this episode, it's sad but it's therapeutic for me.
The last shot where Dawn never touches her mom..it symbolizes the fact that ..we don’t know, we can’t touch the afterlife, we can’t touch that which is gone.. Truly an awesome episode for all of tv. I recommend watching with Joss’ commentary..I can’t say it better than he can about his own episode..
Yeah. I will never forget the gut punch of seeing Joyce on the couch at the end of the silly robot girlfriend episode. Then having to wait a week to see if she was really gone…
Tbf the "silly robot girlfriend" episode bad a powerful, sad ending even before we saw Joyce
@@andrewdunn8778Oh, for sure. I was just trying to convey just how shocking Joyce’s death was here
Your reaction to the body is exactly what it should be. We all break down during this episode, yet WHENEVER I see someone is watching it for the 1st time I have to watch with them. It's not because I'm a sadist, but rather because I personally feel like this episode will elicit the most genuine reaction and true emotion. It's nearly impossible to watch this episode and come up with witty commentary, and that's exactly what it should do, unless you're void of humanity.
It never gets easier to rewatch btw. Everytime i watch this one, i cry. This is in my top 3 buffy episodes along with HUSH and one in your future. I won't say the 3rd because I don't want to spoil anything for you. Great reaction.
I lost my mom January 2nd 2013. We both adored this show and she gave me my love of horror. This watch is going to hurt, but I know she would want me to watch again...
Connections everywhere: I was born January 2nd and lost my grandma January 2nd...
@GJS2183 idk why but this year feels worse... Just needed to vent about it. I do agree about connections
You guys responded in the way I did when it first aired, totally gut-punch and emotional wreck, no need to say anything about being quiet while we watched. This is a real reflection of true loss and grief
I was on a cruise ship passing the straight of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean when i got the call my mother was dead in 2015. It was still 2 days till we reached the next port, i nearly lost my mind on that ship. Calling my best mate back in england was hard as the £10 credit on my phone went in a matter of minutes due to international stuff.
This episode hits hard, everyone remembers how they went through loosing their loved ones, its a brilliant but gut wrenching episode.
Keep the tissues nearby, the pain of this series is still not over.
I have loved this TV show (been obsessed) for 23 years, since I was 14. And I have lost a lot of people over that time. I watch reactions to 'The Body" to remind myself that we all actually do understand grief, that people care about your loss even if they can't show it. Yours is true and honours what the episode is about, thank you.
I think the most poignant moment of the episode is when Buffy opens her back door. She is absolutely bathed in light but looks sick and gaunt. The light can't save her, it's almost torture. That is devastatingly powerful for a show about vampires.
The best way to react to The Body is just to let your emotions take control. Everyone gets it.
There are so many things I could say about the body but I’m sure everyone else will cover them so, fun fact about I Was Made To Love You-
Britney Spears was originally meant to play April the robot girlfriend.. but she had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts. The actress they picked was great, and in hindsight it’s probably for the best not to use Britney because her cameo may have overshadowed the whole vibe of the final scene/Joyce reveal.
I’m the last person left of my original nuclear family of 5, because my brother just died in November. I’m 70, and he just turned 68. He was doing hospice in his final months and I was able to spend time with him. He told me he wasn’t afraid, and he was ready for whatever comes next.
Nobody knows. It seems likely to me that we don’t know anything after we die anymore than we knew anything before we were born.
I suspect that our desire to see those we loved after we die is sentimental. But I am enough of an agnostic to leave that question open.
I've been waiting for you guys to get to this episode all season. Watches the episode first and cried, then watched your reactions and cried again. Such an emotional and grounded episode, loved how differently every character reacts, Xander needs someone to blame, Willow overthinks and works herself into a frenzy, Giles goes full dad mode, Anya reacts like a child would asking a lot of questions kids ask when they first experience death, and Buffy being in shock/autopilot.
I don’t think Anya was just thinking about Joyce in her monologue, I think she was also thinking of all her victims. Such a great character, such a great show
Good job guys for a really tough ep to get through! You don't ever have to apologize for not talking on this one. The emotions on your faces, especially Sergio's said a thousand words. I loved it all. Joss Whedon did an audio commentary for this ep and you guys should listen to it once you finish the series. It's pretty interesting and informative. I believe he said he had SMG doing that opening scene finding Joyce sever times.(someone correct me if am wrong but I know it was multiple times. And she nailed it every time. That must have been exhausting.
Would you believe this was my first ep of BtVS that I had EVER seen?! What an episode to be introduced to! But I couldn't fully appreciate the brilliance of the ep because I didn't know the character or their backstory. But this is definitely in my top 5 eps. Hush being #1
One of the best reactions
A pair of gems
Hey you guys
Your quiet reaction was perfect. Such a difficult episode to “experience“ for the first time. This originally aired just a few years after my father died and it destroyed me all over again. So realistic with all the feels. On a lighter note when we originally watched it we had to wait a whole week to know what happened after the “April” episode ending. The next day I went to work and all the Buffy fans just went over the cliff hanger all day. None of us got any work done, we were all so upset about the prospect that Joyce may have died but we didn’t know for sure. All these years later it’s still a tough watch but you have to respect how well the episode was made. So realistic and so painful 😢.
Gellar, Hannigan and Caulfield get, deservedly, much praise here, but I am mesmerized by Benson's portrayal of quiet acceptance.
We're about two weeks to the two year anniversary of when my mother passed away, and so much about this episode is bringing those feelings flooding back. Since you guys reached season 5, myself and I'm sure a lot of fans were dreading when you finally got here. I've debated skipping this week but I've decided to try tough it out, but I know tears will be flowing.
Have a great holiday Sergio and Cody, and everyone else who's reading this, we're all in this together
I’m so sorry for your loss. I know that feeling and I’m so sorry you’re going through it right now. This episode is still hard for me to watch as well.
Your mother passed away only two weeks ago? Omg I'm so sorry, it never feels real.
@ChristianAnstes sorry, in a couple weeks it will be the two year anniversary
I have it fixed
🙏🙏🙏
Nothing to apologize for. You were genuine. This still hits me hard. And, yeah, I cried.
I've seen this episode 1000x and it never gets any easier. The acting in this episode, by everyone is so over thre top amazing. You can FEEL the pain radiating off of them.
Everytime I watch this episode, I find new layers of magnificence in this episode. I also find most people completely overlook the fact that the art teacher actress looks EXACTLY like Joyce!!! And that camera pan to her face watching Buffy and Dawn cry together was like Joyce watching over them but nobody else sees it whenever I talk about it !!!!
I usually wait until Saturday to binge your reactions but I had to watch this one right away... don't worry about not saying much, I think all us sadists who love watching people react to The Body are in it for the raw emotion & you two definitely had that! I love watching reactions because it's like getting to watch the episode all over again, which you wouldn't think I'd want for that episode, but it's just such a well done episode that I look forward to it for every reactor.
That episode is one of the most powerfull episodes to air on TV in my oppinion. You both covered the episode incredibly well and everything you said at the end of the episode was exacly right. It's crazy the amount of emotions you go thrugh when you lose a loved one especially your mum. Don't worrie Sergio I ugly cried to the episode always gets me
When you started the Buffy journey I immediately dreaded you getting to this episode.
Anyas reaction to her death destroys me everytime
I noticed that Anya talks a lot less about her demon days/ victims after The Body episode. I don’t think she’s as proud of what she’s done now that she’s seen death in a different way. She even hinted to Giles in Wish that she killed people with her own hands not just through wishes
🥲Not me absolutely sobbing alongside with you guys. I needed that actually…thank you for reacting to it and the therapeutic group crying 🫶🏻
I had similar experience this summer. There's something so brutal about calling 911, following instructions and knowing deep down that it's over. Plus staying in the same flat as the body and just waiting was surreal.
Don't worry about being emotional, this is the only second time I have watched this episode and I still cried my eyes out. Hopefully you guys are ok this is a very heavy episode. Take care
I've seen this episode probably over 1000 times and I still cry my eyes out when I watch it.
I've been dreading this moment for you. You both have all my sympathies.
This episode means so much to me. It does such an amazing job of showing what it’s like. And what Tara said is spot on. It is always sudden. My mom was sick for a long time and we all knew it was coming, but when I got that call from the hospital that night I was just in disbelief.
The Body never fails to devastate me, even though I know what's coming. Even before I lost my dad, it devastated me. It still does though now I feel seen. The quiet, the what ifs, the noise of life going on as if my world hadn't shattered, the need to stay standing to help others though it when I was barely holding myself together. This episode does a wonderful job of showcasing grief. We see it, we feel it alongside the characters and sometimes grief strips us of our words.
I can’t say how many times I’ve rewatched Buffy, and this reaction still made me tear up. Fuck it’s such a kick in the heart. And all the various forms of grief were so heart wrenching.
Wikipedia has a pretty good entry on The Body, which is often acknowledged as one of the best episodes of TV ever made. Here are a couple paragraphs from that entry.
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The most difficult scene for Whedon to film was Willow panicking in her dormitory room. Her obsession about what to wear to visit Buffy was inspired by Whedon's own experiences when he was at a loss for what tie to wear for a friend's funeral.[5] He praised Alyson Hannigan's acting, saying that she was able to be consistently emotional in every take and make him and the crew cry every time. Whedon acknowledged his difficulty speaking on the DVD commentary while watching Hannigan in the scene.[2]
Whedon's rejection of the "very special episode" format impelled him to address the physicality of Willow and Tara's relationship within "The Body". Before this episode, they had held hands and danced on screen, but they had not kissed. A genre of television specials dealing with female homosexuality developed as the "lesbian kiss episode" in the 1990s, where a female character kissed another female but no relationship is further explored. Whedon set out to acknowledge Willow's and Tara's affection without making it the primary focus of the show. For attempting this, he received resistance from the airing network, the WB. Whedon informed them that the kiss between Willow and Tara was "not negotiable".[5] According to Whedon, the conversation about the kiss was approached by the network executives, who were concerned with the number of gay relationships on the network. Whedon countered that the kiss was "true to character" and said he would quit the show if the network forbade it. It was the only time during the series he threatened to do so.[7]
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Whedon may not have been the greatest person - but I don't think anyone can say he didn't create great television. And everyone in the cast stepped up for this episode. Their acting is 100% on point in this one.
I absolutely adore you guys! Men showing emotions and feeling is wonderful. Ty! I will follow just BECAUSE of this.
Your reactions to this episode were so genuine. I remember bawling my eyes out when this originally aired and now it hits even harder now that I've lost a parent.
the body is such an incredible episode, it evokes so many feelings and the lack of soundtrack really makes you feel the weight and emptiness of the situation. such incredible directing and writing
The Body is one of my favorite television episodes of all time. Imagine having to wait a WHOLE WEEK. Such an interesting concept to show someone who could literally save the world not be able to save the most important person to her. And it was a natural death which really hit hard.
Beautifully crafted to show grief through the eyes of all characters, which really helped really show those of us who watch it at a younger age that grief has many faces. And it’s OK to feel how you feel when you feel it.
Currently watching your reaction now. Really appreciate you just feeling it. Hugs from Atlanta.
Fun fact to distract: Britney Spears was originally supposed to play the robot in I Was Made For Loving You.
Anya has likely killed more people than Spike and Angel combined (even accounting for age) but she also had the power to bring people back from the dead like the master. So of course life and death was meaningless to someone who could warp reality
True, but in her experience death is something that happens to "people who deserve it", so it happening to Joyce genuinely doesn't make sense to her, it's like the rules she understands as the way the world works have been broken.
The body is brutally realistic. And it's right that it is. Every moment is crafted for a reason. All the things around the Scooby Gang ; the playing children, the paramedics rushing off to the next call, Xander's parking ticket, and the vampire at the morgue. All are detailing the indifference outside of the group. Buffy's world is falling down around her, but THE world continues, untroubled and uncaring. It is one of the harsher realities of human existence.
Every time I see the episode with Joyce I cry.. So much for a human to take in
I also appreciate you guys not quipping through the body as some other reactors did. I want to see you experience the episode like so many of us did. It speaks to how genuine you two are that you cried throughout which is what many of us did/ do when you watch it. Its almost as if you're paralyzed with fear, desperation and heartache that you just go through the motions of getting through it. I sadly experienced this with losing my Dad a few years ago many years after I saw this episode and when I did a rewatch after his passing I legit skipped this episode as its just so raw. It is so real and allows you to be so vulnerable its uncomfortable.
Who’s ready for ✨TRAUMA✨
The delicious joy of witnessing new traume siblings being born into the fandom.