No Place Like Home / Family
In "No Place Like Home", as Joyce's sickness persists, a cryptic warning leads Buffy to believe her mother's been cursed. When Buffy casts a spell that allows her to see other spells, Dawn flashes in and out of reality. Buffy looks for clues at an abandoned warehouse, where she battles a tantalizing tow-headed titan and saves a monk with a world-changing secret. Kristen and Mike discuss the introduction to Glory, and the explanation for the suddent appearance of Dawn.
In "Family", after her embarrassing fight against the slayer, Glory enlists the help of a Lei-Ach demon to remove the pesky Scoobies. Meanwhile, Tara's family comes to town to take Tara home with them so they can control her demonic nature! Tara, looking to hide her heritage from the Scoobies, casts a spell that prevents them from seeing monsters - which unfortunately includes the attacking Lei-Ach demons. We discuss Hank Summers, the importance of Cousin Beth, and Riley's nighttime activities.
PLUS! We answer Erika's question: If you could switch out a character from a Buffy verse show and put in a another character from a different show played by that same actor, which character would it be?
The Replacement / Out Of My Mind
In "The Replacement", Xander has had his fill of living with his parents. But his current financial capabilities do not include his dream apartment. Meanwhile, a demon named Toth arrives in Sunnydale, looking to separate Buffy from her powers. When Xander dives in front of Toth's magical strike, he saves Buffy while putting himself in the middle of a confusing divergence. Kristen and Mike discuss the evolution of Anya/Xander's relationship, and solve the mystery of "Where does Anya live?"
In "Out of My Mind", Riley's heart has reached its limit of the Initiative's experiments. Buffy must get him to the doctor before it completely goes kaput. But she'll have to find him first. Spike teams up with Harmony to kidnap Riley's doc and force him to perform a chip-ectomy, while Buffy searches the Initiative caves for a rogue Riley. Kristen and Mike discuss Riley's need to be a physical match for Buffy, and whether or not that makes him sexist.
PLUS! We play Nicole's "Would You Rather?" game - The Scooby version.
Buffy vs. Dracula / The Real Me
In "Buffy vs. Dracula", a dark visitor arrives in Sunnydale to seduce and turn the Slayer. While Buffy battles the irresistible thrall of history's most notorious vampire, the Scoobies attempt to protect her from his advances. All except for Xander, who under the Renfield-whammy, has turned to eating spiders and betraying Buffy in exchange for immortality. Kristen and Mike discuss Giles' decision to leave Sunnydale, and Mike teaches Kristen some Dracula basic facts. It's hard being a teen and the sister of the Slayer.
In "The Real Me", we meet Dawn, Buffy's always sister that has definitely existed for the entire series. While Buffy tries to learn more about the origins and the extent of her power, she's having trouble fitting in her responsibilities as a big sis. And an old foe returns for a final deadly battle - Harmony. Kristen and Mike recall their initial reactions to Dawn, and examine her relationships with the other characters.
PLUS! We answer Joe's question: What other characters/groups could have been spun off?
Primeval / Restless
Spike's plan to split up the Scoobies was almost perfect... until Adam realized that with Willow and Buffy not speaking, the Slayer would not receive the information on the encrypted disks. When Spike tries to rectify his mistake, he unwittingly clues Buffy into his manipulations. The gang, realizing they're stronger together, cast an enjoining spell to combine their greatest strengths. Meanwhile, Adam retreats to a secret lab in the Initiative with Riley, who's been booby-trapped with a behaviour modification chip. Kristen and Mike make a final attempt to understand Adam's dastardly plan, and try to nail down why this action-packed episode seems lacking in action.
In "Restless", the Scoobies are keyed up from the enjoining spell. Although they plan on celebrating with a movie marathon together, they all quickly fall asleep on the couch. We enter each of the sleeping beauties' dreams, which give us insight to their pyschy as well as some foreshadowing. Kristen and Mike discuss Willow's hiding, Xander's lack of mobility, Gile's sense of purpose, and Buffy's rejection of the Slayer myth.
PLUS! We answer Elle's question: Which relationship would you have loved to see last until the very ending of Chosen?