Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 1
Summary:
Three very brief appearances for Joyce in the fifth season opener. In the first Buffy has come over for dinner after her neglectful treatment of her mother in season four. Joyce suggests they spend some quality time together and is disappointed when Buffy opts to go on patrol instead. Further, Joyce admits her feelings of loneliness and Buffy suggests that they get together more often.
After Buffy has an encounter with Dracula in her bedroom, Willow and Tara come over to cast a protection spell at the house. Apparently, Joyce invited him in and she reveals to the dykeadelic Wiccans her romantic frustrations. It seems Joyce, in her classic naivety, has yet to work out that Tara and Willow are lesbians.
In the final scene, Joyce is afixing her earrings in front of the vanity. This is merely a plot device to introduce the hitherto unknown Dawn, as Joyce tells Buffy to take her sister to the movies. *gasp*
Thus, from the beginning, the emphasis has been put on Buffy's family life and we can expect to see an expanded role for Joyce as the season progresses.
Sunnydale Style:
Joyce is a veritable clothes horse in this episode and it's nice to see she's expanded her wardrobe to include brighter colours. Or at least not as much brown and grey. Also, her hair is looking gorgeous.
In the first scene, sitting at the dining table, she wears a gorgeous red cardigan with embroidered gold bits and a green top underneath.
During the protection spell, Joyce is resplendent in a lovely powder blue top, showing just a peek of cleavage, and a necklace. We don't see her bottom half but I think we can assume she's wearing understated black slacks and not gold lame flares.
Finally, she sports a green sweater, black pants and ugly oblong necklace. Not one of her better sartorial choices.
Interaction:
Buffy, Willow, Tara, Dawn and Dracula (except we don't see it.)
Joyce's Best Line:
To Willow and Tara, lesbians at large, explaining why she invited Dracula in:
"I'm not like this. I don't invite strange men in for coffee," she sighs, posing demurely on the stairs, "When you girls get older you'll understand. It's hard to date. Sometimes you just feel like giving up on men altogether."
Willow and Tara just smirk at each other. Poor Joyce, so utterly clueless.
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 2
Summary:
Our first glimpse of Joyce is in an amusingly choreographed scene designed to show how irksome Dawn is to Buffy as she takes Buffy's bowl and uses up the last of the milk. After asking what Buffy's plans are for the day, Joyce asks Buffy to take Dawn shopping with her. When Buffy complains, Joyce guilt trips her. It seems life is busy for the Bouffanted One at the moment with a new opening at the oft-mentioned and never seen gallery. Riley, the slimey bastard compliments Joyce's appearance.
Later, Joyce argues with Buffy because she believes Buffy acted irresponsibly, letting Dawn hang around the murder scene at the Magic shop and for not taking her shopping for school supplies in the first place. To make matters worse, Joyce is due at the gallery opening and needs a babysitter for Dawn.
Before she sets off to the gallery, Joyce greets Xander and Anya who have been enlisted to mind Dawn while Joyce schmoozes with the glitterati of the Sunnydale art scene.
That night, Joyce is used to illustrate Dawn and Buffy's emerging sorority as they pretend that nothing happened while Joyce was out. So all in all, not a significant appearance for Joyce but one which demonstrates the Summers family dynamic - the squabbling between Buffy and Dawn while Joyce acts as put-upon referee.
Sunnydale Style:
Good grief. Joyce really is branching out in the style stakes. Leopard print? Yeuch. Anyway, in the first scene, she wear the aforemention animal print shirt with an interesting brown cardigan and black pants.
In the next scene she wears a grey wool turtleneck sweater with, you guessed it, a long necklace.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn and Riley.
Joyce's Best Line:
The best line is actually spoken by Dawn but it is *about* Joyce so we're bending the rules on this one.
Dawn voiceover about Willow and Tara : I told Mom one time I wished they'd teach me some of the things they do together. A-and then she got really quiet and made me go upstairs. (She pauses in her writing and looks puzzled.) Huh. I guess her generation isn't cool with witchcraft.
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 3
Summary:
On the surface this seems to be a rather weird, pointless appearance for Joyce. Buffy and Dawn are bickering in Buffy's room. Joyce wanders past and tells them to be quiet, and that she has a headache. That's it. It only makes sense in retrospect - the headache is obviously an early sympton of something much more serious.
Still, it isn't that great an appearance for her. Hardly worth the oodles of dollars they must pay Kristine to get out of bed.
Sunnydale Style:
A short sleeved wine coloured top. to be honest, it doesn't really suit her.
Interaction:
Dawn and Buffy.
Joyce's Best Line:
"This must be my "two teenage girls in the house" headache. I thought it felt familiar."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 4
Summary:
Joyce is talking to Dawn in the kitchen whilst she makes breakfast. Suddenly she turns to her youngest with a puzzled expression. She asks who Dawn is, then collapses!
Later, after a quick trip to the hospital Buffy and Dawn fuss over her. Not a big appearance but it is the start of that rare and beautiful beast - a Joyce story arc! Shock, horror!
Sunnydale Style:
A graceful blue blouse over cream pants with dangly earrings is Joyce's apparel during breakfast, and later she's in a white t-shirt with grey pyjamas to recover from her funny turn.
Interaction:
Dawn, Buffy and Riley.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce asks a good question of Dawn when she takes her turn: "Who are you?"
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 5
Summary:
Joyce is still feeling unwell from the events of the previous episode and we first see her being fussed over by Buffy, with Dawn getting in the way. Buffy's also made her breakfast, which Dawn takes credit for, much to Buffy's chagrin.
Later that day Joyce has another funny spell, and a worried Buffy rushes out to the pharmacy to et her prescription. Her malady seems to be getting worse!
Meanwhile, Buffy goes into a weird trance-thingy to try and figure out what the Key might be. She does this at home, and whilst she's spaced out bumps into Joyce who apparently isn't remotely concerned that her daughter appears to have some hallucinogenic drug.
Her last comment is, 'you're all grown up.' Meaning what? 'You're all grown up and doing the same mind-bending drugs I did at your age'? Anyway, Joyce is feeling better, so she goes out. In her absence Buffy finds that the trance is disrupting all evidence of Dawn. Buffy decides Dawn must be evil, and on finding her 'sister' she tells Dawn to leave Joyce alone! Not that Dawn is too impressed.
Joyce comes back to a deserted house - but then finds Dawn, who offers her tea. The distinct impression is that Dawn is up to no good.
However we find out that the Key is in fact Dawn - and when Buffy returns home Dawn is simply curled up on the sofa with her mom. Awww.
The two sisters have a heart-to-heart, and we leave them pondering just what is wrong with Joyce.
A fairly good episode for Joyce; the mysterious illness storyline is developed further, and we find out that Joyce was the first to realise that all was not right with Dawn. And Joyce gets to do the nice mom thing she excels at.
Sunnydale Style:
A gorgeous pair of black silk pyjamas is Joyce's well-made choice in nightwear. When she later on goes out she wears grey pants with a light coloured wool top and a suede raincoat, looking, as ever, the epitome of haute couture.
Interaction:
Buffy and Dawn.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce on drugs: "either modern medicine's working or I just took the world's best placebo."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 7
Summary:
A nice pair of bookend appearances for Joyce. At the start of the episode she cheerfully asks Buffy to do some groceries. All is well with the world. Then, at the end of the episode, after discussing hair products (we were really happy at that!), she gently breaks some devastating news to Buffy - she needs to go to hospital for a CAT scan. Is this bad news for Joyce?!
Sunnydale Style:
A classy combination of brown trousers with a peach cardigan and a white top form Joyce's ensemble for this appearance.
Interaction:
Buffy, Riley and Dawn.
Joyce's Best Line:
Riley asks how Joyce is. She replies, "I'm fine, bordering on chipper and tomorrow planning on being obnoxious." - who knew Joyce *had* an obnoxious side?
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 8
Summary:
The episode begins with Joyce being given a CAT scan to determine the exact nature of her illness. Joyce, unsurprisingly, looks worried.
A little later in the episode, Joyce is eing given her results. Buffy comes in and Joyce, voice breaking, informs her that the scan has revealed a shadow - and that she will need a biopsy to discover how serious it is.
Later, with Joyce still recovering from the biopsy procedure, Buffy is told by the doctor that it is what they all feared - a brain tumour.
When next we see Joyce, she is sitting in a hospital bed with Buffy beside her. Joyce is about to tell Dawn about the tumour - but is worried that her dishevelled appearance (plus the bandage on her head) might scare her younger daughter. Buffy tells Joyce that she is beautiful. Summoning her courage, Joyce calls Dawn in, and although we don't actually hear her telling Dawn we can see it's emotional. And the episode ends on that.
It's a very sad episode overall, but the issue of the tumour is handled sensitively and the fact that Joyce continues to be an integral part of this season's storylines is wonderful to see.
Sunnydale Style:
Aside from a range of hospital gowns, Joyce wears a fawn cardigan over a stripey top when she tells Buffy about the shadow.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn and Doctor Isaacs.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce is about to tell Dawn about the tumour. "Do I have bad hair? I don't look like scary mom, do I?" (to which Buffy replies, "No. You look beautiful.").
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 9
Summary:
Joyce lies in bed at the hospital, with Buffy and Dawn at her side, eating her dinner. They discuss the merits of Jello before the doctor comes in to inform Joyce that they plan to operate on the tumour in two days' time. Joyce seems pleased, but we find out that she hates the idea of staying in hospital for that long. The girls try to convince her that there will be plenty of entertainment but Joyce appears unconvinced.
The next day, Willow comes into the hospital to dispense gifts to the Summers women. She has got Joyce a beer hat - which Joyce graciously accepts - although she's beginning to get a headache as the scene progresses. As Buffy and Dawn discuss their gifts and Buffy's college work, Joyce begins to talk complete gibberish, which understandably scares the girls. It's the first time since the first time she fell ill that we have seen the illness really affect Joyce - and the whole issue is brought nicely into focus. Meanwhile, a meteor crashes to Earth, and a strange creature is let loose on Sunnydale.
When next we see Joyce she's still in bed, pressing the call button for the nurse repeatedly. She's also rambling and increasingly disoriented. She wants to go home before the operation, angry when the Doctor is reluctant to let her go (although he does eventually concede). The illness is affecting Joyce's personality and the normally calm and sweet Joyce is frequently irritable and upset.
The creature from the meteor has reached the hospital and heads straight for the mental ward where it starts to attack the patients. The nurses don't notice.
A little later Joyce is dressed, ready to go home, as the doctor gives Buffy instructions on how to administer the medication. Joyce snaps at Buffy again in another flash of dementia. From the ceiling, we see the creature give Joyce an interested look.
The Summers family go home. Joyce is glad to be back but clearly still affected by her illness. Buffy and Dawn put her to bed, but she comes back downstairs in her nightgown and begins to make 'breakfast'. She's clearly not herself, and shouts at Buffy (calling her fat!) before suddenly regaining her composure. The girls take her back to her bed, and Buffy gives her some sleeping pills. Before they take can take effect Joyce is delerious again, shouting at Dawn and telling her that she doesn't exist - which, of course is true from a certain point of view. When she comes back to reality Joyce doesn't remember what she's said but Dawn remains distraught.
As the other Scoobies track the creature we cut back to Joyce to find her writhing on the bed, babbling and frightened. Dawn hears this from her room, and tries to block out the sound. Downstairs, Buffy is washing the dishes, and turns up the radio to drown out the her own crying.
In the bedroom Joyce is reaching fever pitch - and with good reason, as the camera pans up to show the creature (a Queller) hanging from the ceiling, staring at Joyce!
We cut to Riley working out where the Queller must be - and just as he does, it drops onto Joyce's face. Joyce screams at the top of her lungs, much too weak to fend it off. Dawn is panicked enough to come through, just in time to see the creature vomit goo all over Joyce's face, clogging up her airways. Dawn grabs a coatstand and rushes at the Queller, knocking it off her mother. She and the creature fight as Joyce claws at the goo on her face. Dawn screams for Buffy, who cannot hear for the radio.
Dawn continues to scream and fight and finally her cry for help is heard. Buffy dashes upstairs and begins to kick some Quellar ass whilst Joyce and Dawn clutch each other in fear. Buffy, with Spike's help, manages to defeat it. She rushes to her family and holds them tight, telling them both that everything will be alright.
The next day, Joyce is back in the hospital, ready for the operation. She's lucid again, but she needs to ask Buffy a disturbing question - is Dawn really her child? She has the feeling that she is not, but perhaps her mind is playing tricks on her. Buffy recognises her mother needs to know the truth and answers no, Dawn isn't really Joyce's daughter. Joyce recognises that Dawn is nevertheless a part of their lives and very, very important - and she makes Buffy promise that if she doesn't survive the operation that Buffy will take care of Dawn no matter what.
On gaining that assurance she lies down on the bed, and with all the Scooby gang watching, she's wheeled into the operating room - and with a world on tenterhooks, the episode ends.
The emotional intensity of Shadow is cranked up even further in this episode. We get a lot of conflicting emotions: the shocking effect of the illness on Joyce's personality, and the Queller attacking an already weakened woman was much more horrifying than the other episodes where Joyce has been in mortal peril. The end is moving too, with Joyce becoming only the third person to know Dawn's terrible secret - but loving Dawn nonetheless. Isn't she fantastic? Finally, we're left on a cliff-hanger ending - will Joyce survive the operation? As if that wasn't enough we also had the black humour of Joyce's mad ramblings - funny in a way but still deeply disturbing.
So, not only does Joyce have the lion's share of the screen-time, but Kristine delivers a tour-de-force performance that is a showcase of her considerable talents. There are also excellent turns from Trachtenburg and, yes, even SMG. One of the great Joyce episodes.
Sunnydale Style:
Aside from the hospital gowns, Joyce wears (to go home) an olive green top with a white tee shirt and blue jeans, and blue and white sneakers, and then a white nightgown at home.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn, Willow, the Queller and Dr. Kreigel.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce's first insane monlogue to the Queller is both compelling and upsetting: " I wish... I wish someone had bothered to tell me ... because I didn't know there'd be tennis being played, I just didn't know... oh, why? Those eyes, they're like gasoline puddles ... tell me because I need to know ... why, why are you staring at me? I wish I knew..."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 10
Summary:
Joyce's operation was a success! The Gang celebrate the news, although Joyce (we don't see her) is still unconscious.
When we do see her she's in hospital of course, but looking much better. She and Buffy discuss wigs, to comic effect. Then she launches into mom mode - a relief to both mother and daughter that she can do this once more.
A short but sweet appearance designed to show that Joyce is on the mend.
Sunnydale Style:
Another hospital gown.
Interaction:
Buffy.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce is unsure about the wig: " You don't think it's too obvious? I think I look like I have a cat on my head."
Special mention also to Buffy's comment that Joyce should have a range of wigs: " You can be like - Action Mom, Sixties Mom, French Maid Mom..."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 11
Summary:
Joyce gets two appearances here - one to show that her recovery is moving on as Dawn and Buffy see her in clothes and not nightwear for what is obviously the first time in a while. They then all make fun of one of her robes.
Later, after Giles has returned from his visit to the Watcher's Council in England, she, Buffy and Rupert sit around the table discussing what he's found out - her knowledge of Dawn making her a proper part of the team! Giles/Joycers get a nice scene here, and it's good to see Joyce getting back to normal.
Sunnydale Style:
Joyce chooses a stripey grey black and red top with black pants and a red bandana style headscarf to mark her first day back in clothing proper.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn and Giles.
Joyce's Best Line:
"Fine, fine, make the funny jokes at the expense of the woman with the hole in her skull."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 12
Summary:
We first see Joyce coming downstairs to meet Dawn, who's listening into the Scooby Gang's discussions. Joyce sends Dawn to bed.
The next day, Glory visits Buffy's home to demand that Buffy give her the Key. Joyce arrives just after Glory leaves, asking who was there. Buffy is panicked that Glory knows where she lives and sends Joyce (with Dawn) to go live with, er, Spike. They bond (again), this time over Passions, apparently their favourite soap. Joyce also insults the décor. Heh.
A funny but not very significant Joyce appearance; her chat with Spike is very cute though and is further fuel on the Spike/Joyce fire.
Sunnydale Style:
Joyce first models a sleek red jumper with black pants and red headscarf (red is obviously this season's brown), then an elegant blue sleeveless top with more balck pants and a dark blue headscarf with lighter blue trim, and another of her famous pendant necklaces. She chooses to wrap this ensemble up in a brown suede jacket to go stay with Spike, also taking her trusty black handbag.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn and Spike.
Joyce's Best Line:
Spike welcomes Joyce and Dawn to his home: "Just don't break anything and don't make a lot of noise - Passions is coming on." Joyce replies excitedly: "Passions? Ooh, do you think Timmy's really dead?"
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 13
Summary:
Joyce is at the little celebration for Buffy's birthday, sitting on the couch as Buffy opens her presents. She and her eldest daughter share a soppy look as Dawn's present is revealed as a handmade photo frame decorated with shells that the two girls picked on a beach as children. Or didn't, not really. She also chitchats with Giles and Buffy about Glory, again being kept in the loop. Yay!
Anyway, Dawn is listening in, so Buffy tells her to shoo, and Dawn goes upstairs in a strop, jumping out of the window to go break into the magic shop and find out what's going on.
After Dawn finds out she's the Key she comes home to cut herself with a knife to see if she'd flesh and blood, wandering into the still-raging party for Buffy, dripping on the carpet. Joyce rushes to embrace Dawn, clearly upset at her daughter's distress. As you would be.
After the other Scoobies have gone, Buffy, Dawn and Joyce try to talk things over but Dawn can't cope with it and tells them to leave.
The next morning, Joyce tentatively tells Dawn she'll be late for school. Dawn is still distraught and screams at Joyce that she isn't her mother. Joyce looks visibly upset, but is at a loss as to what to say. Dawn decides to go to school anyway.
That night Joyce and Buffy are talking about what to do; Dawn has been acting mad at school and has been suspended. Joyce wants to take positive action (she evidently still reads those books from season one). Buffy wants to give Dawn more time to come to terms with things. In attempting to make her mother understand this, however, Buffy is a tactless cow. Unfortunately Dawn overhears her and runs away in tears before she can hear her mother attack Buffy for saying such things and then Buffy's attempts to phrase it better.
Distraught, Dawn sets fire to her diaries and sets off the fire alarm. Joyce and Buffy run upstairs but not before Dawn has leapt out of the window and ran off.
This is the last we see of Joyce, but by the episode's end, Dawn has made it up with Buffy and the inference is that she'll sort things out with Joyce.
A nice, if not pivotal appearance from Joyce, and an ominous contrast in the parenting styles of Buffy and Joyce. It's a shame we don't get to see Dawn's reconciliation with Joyce, but we've come to expect that from the writers. Damn them.
Sunnydale Style:
The costume department pulls out all the stops and gives Joyce some gorgeous outfits to wear. For the party she's in a beautiful emerald green top with a stunning shimmering green skirt. The next day she has a lovely blue patterend top and dark blue pants with a tasteful necklace. Both times her hair is perfectly coiffed.
In short, Joyce is a vision.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce is in full indignation mode with Buffy, sadly too late: "How can you talk about Dawn as if she's a thing?"
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 14
Summary:
Buffy comes in from a night out at the Bronze. Her mother and Dawn are sitting watching TV, whilst Giles looks after them. Joyce expresses relief that Buffy's back, accidentally hurting Giles' pride. It seems that the two adults are comfortable around each other now, but the relationship seems definitely platonic.
Anyway, the next we see Joyce is the following day, when Buffy comes home from college and Joyce reports Dawn as missing - even more frightened by the murders on a Sunnydale-bound train (Drusilla's fault). Buffy reassures her then goes to find Dawn. Which she does, as Dawn hiding out at Spike's.
Next day, Buffy comes back into the house and wanders into the kitchen - where Joyce is telling a hysterically lame story about her day at the gallery to Dawn and Spike. Buffy is not pleased at Spike's presence, although her mother is unfazed.
When we later find out that Spike loves Buffy, Joyce is much more concerned, and wants Buffy to put a stop to it before it goes too far. She seems to like Spike, but she doesn't want him to date her daughter.
Once again another mumsy appearance from Joyce, but sweet with it and she gets some nice exchanges with both Giles and Spike. In other words, all in Joyce's life is getting back to normal. Insofar as it can be.
Sunnydale Style:
A blue jumper and beige pants for watching TV with Dawn, followed by what looked like the same jumper with olive pants and a long necklace the next day. Finally a yellow/white/grey/black stripey jumper thing over black pants to talk to Spike and Buffy.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Spike and Willow.
Joyce's Best Line:
" . . . so they thought that it was another order form, so now I've got two shipments of Greek amphorae on my hands!" the conclusion of Joyce's 'humorous' gallery anecdote.
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 15
Summary:
Joyce is going on a date! At last!
She pirouettes for Buffy and Dawn in her chic evening gown, fretting about the date, even though it's nearly three hours away. She's clearly dead excited about it though, and Brian, her beau, seems a nice guy. Buffy and Dawn are thrilled that she's so happy.
She meets a babysitting Giles and Buffy coming back in from said date later in the episode, walking on air. Buffy teases her about it but she more than holds her own and squicks Buffy out at the thought of Joyce having sex. She's glowing with happiness. Bless.
Next day, Buffy comes home, admires the flowers Brian sent Joyce, and walks into the living room. Joyce is lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, limp and lifeless… to Buffy whimpering 'mom' we blackout.
The bastards! Just as Joyce gets a chance to have a happy life again the rug is pulled out from under her feet and the recovery from the brain tumour is shown to have been premature. To build up it up so Joyce is so happy just beforehand was cruel, but if Joyce had to go, better she went happy I suppose.
Still a shattering episode and a big shock even when you know it's coming. And you don't get much more character development than death.
Sunnydale Style:
The dress for her date is a sublime black number with Japanese style flowers climbing up from the hem. She acessorised with a red wrap, a silver bangle and dangly earrings, with a dash of harlot red lipstick to finish. Her hair was perfect. So was she. Sob.
She lay on the couch in a cream top and olive green skirt with black pumps.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn and Giles.
Joyce's Best Line:
Joyce's last exchange of dialogue is amusing and fun. It just made later all the worse.
Buffy (about the date): It all looked pretty tame to me.
Joyce: Well, I suppose by your standards it could seem pretty ... Oh dear.
Buffy: What?
Joyce: I left my bra in his car.
Buffy looks wigged out.
Buffy: Mother!
Joyce: I'm joking.
Buffy: Good god, that's horrible. Don't do that.
Joyce: I left it in the restaurant... on the dessert cart...Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 16
Summary:
We first see the last scene from the previous episode; Buffy finding a pale and vacant Joyce on the couch. On that bombshell, we cut to the credits.
We return to the Summers household but at the previous Christmas where Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, Xander, Anya, Tara and Giles are all sitting round the table enjoying Christmas lunch. Xander compliments the food by saying he's so full he wants to barf, which gets him some affectionate sarcasm from Joyce. She and Giles take some plates through to the kitchen, before Joyce starts to prepare dessert. Giles opens another bottle of wine, and he and Joyce briefly flirt - cutting it short when Buffy makes a joke of them. Joyce begins to cut into a pie, but it slides off the counter onto the floor with a bang - and we cut back to the present.
Buffy stares at her mother for a moment more before running across to her. She shakes Joyce, shouting 'Mom' many times, then runs for the phone. She dials 911 in a panic. The operator assures her an ambulance is on the way then guides Buffy through CPR. Buffy, perhaps because of her Slayer strength, cracks one of Joyce's ribs in the attempt. She mentions to the operator that her mother is cold, and the operator pauses, then tells her just to wait for the paramedics. Buffy hangs up and dials Giles, giving him the cryptic message, "You have to come. She's at the house."
The paramedics arrive, and Buffy notices her mother's skirt has ridden up a little, so she pulls it down before the men come through the door. They move Joyce onto the floor and attempt to get her to start breathing, asking Buffy questions. As they do so, Joyce coughs and splutters back into life! We see her being rushed to hospital in the ambulance, then surrounded by her daughters looking relieved . . . but it's all going too fast, and when we cut back to where she lies on the living room floor, we realise it's just Buffy's fantasy. The paramedics are still attending to her, but the EKG machine is flatlined. They come to a decision: Joyce is dead. They inform Buffy, who is pale and quiet, and then rush off to another call, saying they'll inform the coroner's office. She wishes them good luck, before wandering to the back of the living room. She falls to her knees and vomits, the sound of a wind chime in the background.
She has just placed some paper towels on the mess when Giles arrives in a panic. He thinks that Glory is here, until he sees Joyce. He runs to her, and begins to shake her as Buffy had done, until Buffy's pitiful cry of, "we're not supposed to move the body!" stops him. He finally understands, and hugs Buffy tight, as she realises she has just called Joyce a body. We see a shot of Joyce's face, eyes open wide, then we blackout.
We briefly see Joyce in a body bag as the zip is pulled over her face. Her eyes are still open. We then cut to Dawn, who is crying, but over a teenage crisis rather than her mother, for she doesn't yet know. Dawn goes into an art class but is pulled out by Buffy soon afterwards, who tearfully tells her what has happened in full view of the concerned class and teacher, who watch as Dawn collapses with grief.
We see a shot of Joyce on the morgue table as someone begins to cut open her blouse, before cutting to Willow and Tara in their dorm room.Then, in complete silence, we see Anya and Xander in a car. They pull up outside the dorm, and make to go inside.
Back in the dorm room, Willow is fretting about what to wear to meet Buffy. She rejects clothes for being too silly or too royal. She wants to find a blue sweater she knows Joyce liked, and becomes increasingly hysterical until Tara hugs her close and kisses her, calming Willow down somewhat.
By this time, Anya and Xander have reached the corridor outside. Anya is asking Xander how she should behave, but he doesn't respond. They enter the room and Xander hugs Willow tight. There is small talk, and Willow decides she needs to change again. We find out from Anya that Xander has been crying. Anya also asks inappropriate questions, all of which results in Willow snapping at her. Xander is becoming increasingly angry and wants to find someone to blame for Joyce's death. Tara goes to see if Willow has left the blue sweater Joyce liked in the laundry. Anya asks more inappropriate questions trying to find out what she should do, but Willow simply snarls at her. Unable to comprehend, Anya suddenly gets distressed, saying tearfully she just wants to know what to do, why this is happening, why it is that Joyce is dead. Xander tries to comfort her but she pushes him away, and Willow explains that they don't know why either.
For a moment there is silence; no-one knows what to say. Suddenly there is an loud bang. Xander had punched the wall and his hand has stuck. Tara arrives, wondering what has just happened. He pulls it out, blood on his knuckles, and Anya fetches some Band-Aids.
They decide to leave to meet Buffy.
The pathologist bandages Joyce's head on the morgue table, pulls a sheet over her head, switches off the light, then leaves the room. He walks down a corridor and turns the corner into a waiting area. There, Xander and co. have just arrived to meet Buffy, Dawn and Giles. They all hug until Giles notices the doctor. Buffy, Dawn and Giles go to meet him. He informs them that it was indeed an aneurysm that killed Joyce, but that she wouldn't have been in much pain. Buffy thinks he's lying.
Giles leaves to deal with the paperwork whilst Dawn goes to the toilet. Willow, Xander and Anya go to fetch snacks, leaving Buffy and Tara alone. Tara explains that her mother died when she was young, and the two women bond over this. Dawn, meanwhile, goes to the morgue. She reaches the table where her mother lies and pauses, trying to work up the courage to pull the sheet back to see the face. In the background, a vampire rises! Dawn sees him and opens her mouth to scream.
Back in the waiting area, Xander, Willow and Anya return with a pile of snacks. Wondering where Dawn is, Buffy gets up and moves towards the bathroom. She sees the entrance to the morgue and realises where Dawn has gone, running towards the door when she hears a scream. She bursts in to find the vampire attacking Dawn, trying to feed. Buffy barrels into him, knocking Dawn away, and begins to fight. She is clearly weakened however, and they tussle on the ground for a while. They bump into Joyce's table, and the sheet slips down to reveal her head. Eventually Buffy gets the upper hand and beheads him. She looks up from the floor in time to see Dawn reach up from the floor next to the table for their mother's face. Just as her fingers reach Joyce, we blackout.
Sunnydale Style:
Initially Joyce wears the same outfit as the previous episode. For the Christmas scene she wears a leopard print blouse and dark pants.
Interaction:
Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander, Willow, Anya and Tara.
Best Line:
Anya's tribute is simple but heartfelt: "I wish that Joyce didn't die, because she was nice. And now we all hurt. "
Fertility Statue Rating:
I don't think I've ever cried so much at a TV programme. From start to finish this was beautiful and the acting superb. Particular praise must go to Michelle Tractenburg, Alyson Hannigan and Emma Caulfield who both still have me in floods even now. Even SMG, whose acting I enjoying mocking normally was excellent, and Kristine was classy in her last big episode.
I hate the fact that Joss killed Joyce. She could have done so much more on the show. However, I'm glad that if she had to go, he gave her this. The episode was incredibly moving and powerful - and I think few other characters, if any, could get something similar. The reason is that, as even those who disliked Joyce have been saying, many viewers discovered what most of the characters realised too: to the Scoobies - even Spike, as we found out in the next episode - Joyce was their only proper mother. She was much more integral to the show that many realised.
There were a few things that weren't quite right - Joyce should have had a headscarf on at Christmas, as she wore them on episodes set long after Christmas. I also felt Giles should have got more of a role but I suppose there just wasn't time.
These minor quibbles shouldn't however detract from something so brilliant as The Body. Joyce could have done so much more, been so much more. She never got the chance - but at least she got the goodbye she deserved.
For me, The Body was one of those rare and beautiful things: when what is ostensibly a good teen/action/horror/comedy show is elevated to the sublime. Joss has achieved this a couple of times, notably with Passion and Becoming, but The Body left me devastated. I watched it with a few friends and there was a palpable sense of grief throughout the episode (not to mention silence - even during the ad breaks, when normally we'd be bickering and chattering away.)
There were so many beautiful touches, Buffy adjusting Joyce's skirt to preserve her modesty, those gut-wrenching flashbacks and flashforwards that taunted us, the perfect Willow and Tara kiss. It was a wonderful ensemble piece - SMG managed to get it just right for once, Emma Caulfield was breathtaking, as was Alyson Hannigan. The stand-out, for me though, was Michelle Trachtenberg. The scene where Buffy broke the news to her at school and her ensuing hysteria left me with almost voyeuristic discomfort and almost as hysterical myself.
There were several times watching this episode that I felt I had to get up and leave the room, it was *that* powerful and I find that I'm still thinking about now. This harrowing episode will stay with me for a long time.
Joyce's death has left a huge gap and the repercussions will be felt for a long time.
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 17
Summary:
Joyce is technically in this episode, first at her own funeral (inside the casket) where there is a sizeable but not excessive turnout, and then at the end when Dawn resurrects her. We never see more than her feet, and there is a strong hint that this Joyce isn't quite the same - but we never find out exactly because Dawn breaks the spell just before Buffy answers the door to her mom. No-one is there.
There are also two beautiful moments in this episode for the characters whose grief over Joyce was not fully explored in The Body. First was Spike, who delivers a heartbreakingly sad piece of dialogue on how he felt about Joyce. You almost thought he wasn't evil. Second was Giles, who we see relax with a scotch listening to the same music he had enjoyed with Joyce two years before, as candy-induced teenagers, a melancholy expression on his face. It was very nice that they acknowledged both characters' feelings.
However, what is most significant about this episode is the title. I think this was the writers' way of underlining that Joyce was gone, and she is never coming back, at least not as we knew her. This is Buffy after all.
Sunnydale Style:
Her burial gown.
Interaction:
No one.
Best Line:
Here we must quote Spike's tribute, as it was one of the nicest things we've ever heard him say: "Joyce was the only one of the lot of you that I could stand . . . I liked the lady . . . She was decent. She didn't put on airs. She always had a nice cuppa for me. And she never treated me like a freak."
Fertility Statue Rating:
Title:
Season/Episode Number:
Season 5, Episode 21
Summary:
Joyce re-appears briefly in the landscape of Buffy's unhinged mind, following her breakdown. The same scene is on loop, Joyce and Hank bringing baby Dawn home from the hospital and introducing the infant to the five or six-year old Buffy.
Obviously a very minor appearance to illustrate Buffy's unstable emotional state but a nice, quirky one nonetheless. Joyce is the archetypal Madonna with child, maternal, nurturing, and patient.
Sunnydale Style:
New hair! Or old hair, rather, circa 1986. Joyce has a shorter, more girlish style, framing her face beautifully. Given that she's just given birth, she wears a yellow maternity smock and pants.
Interaction:
Mini-Buffy, Hank, and baby Dawn. (sort of)
Best Line:
Not much to choose from as it was a thirty-second scene but... To Buffy, who is at first reticent about the prospect of having a baby sister.
"Don't you want to be the big sister?"
Fertility Statue Rating:
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