The one where Dawn learns she's the key.

the big revelation of the episode: ben is glory, glory is ben :blink: :o the fact that dawn can't remember it will be explain in a hilarious scene in a future episode :lol:

Blood Ties shows how good the screenwriters are to use metaphors (people being ignored and actually turning invisible, boyfriends that became changed people once they'd slept with a girl etc.) to make even the most story-arc heavy episode a great viewing experience. this time using adoption as the metaphor.

Dawn's pain at discovering that she wasn't real and that her family has only really known her for six months was really well play by MT. she is absolutely convincing as a sulky teenager reacting badly after learning there is something worse than having a curfew after all.

glory once again showing she is completly mad and her scene with dawn (each other trying to get more information) is quite tense; the following fight is also really good and the resolution of dawn trouble is quite touching (still love that glory is the only baddies swearing when she realised she has been beatten and in a bad situation :lol: )

This episode not only advanced the plot by miles, but delivered Buffy as we know and love her. Also the usual unhappy buffy birthday episode :rolleyes:

Blood Ties is a fine fusion of soap opera angst fused with Buffystyle supernatural drama.

It feels right that Buffy explains to the rest of the scoobies what the what with Dawn is as they surely need to understand Buffy and Giles actions. I love Anya's reaction to Dawn with her line about "Xander needs help with his thing".

Michelle plays it all perfectly from her alienation from the scoobies as they begin to treat her differently to her distressed realisation of who she really is. I loved Dawn moaning about the possiblity of her being exposed to "like, words". Great stuff.

I had forgotten her shocking act of self-harm which is a perfect fusion of soap opera and supernatural distress. Somehow Blood Ties manages to deliver both without it all blowing apart in some ridiculous fashion.

Blood Ties is maybe a little bit bland and slightly forgettable as I am struggling to remember the plot points I am supposed to be criticising. The genius here is Dawn's realisation that she does not belong being a perfect representation of alienation. Dawn's extreme reaction with her 'get out, get out, get out" and self-harming are entirely understandable.

The link between Ben and Glory is finally exposed after the exposition of Listening To Fear had made the connection. Buffy's entrance in the nick of time before Dawn was brainsucked smacked somewhat of a deus ex machina but it is not serious. At least Willow's spell had an impact on her limiting the extent of her powers which was probably a good thing.

The notorious end scene with Buffy explaining about "Summers blood" has almost assumed something close to Biblical exegesis ie it is hard to understand how much of a support it lends to The Gift. I definitely do not want some kind of midi-chlorian 'explanation' but at least Blood Ties is a tiny support to the events of The Gift. Blood Ties lays some groundwork for a distinct connection between Buffy and Dawn so the The Gift is not a disastrous non-sequiteur. 7/10. sk

OK I know I'm coming from recent hindsight with The Gift where the blood logic all pays off (allegedly) but has anything yet (I mean by now in the series) explained how the monks extracted a portion of Buffy to work their mojo? I mean, huh? :unsure:

Indeed this is a problem that has not really been solved but as I argue in my last paragraph above at least Blood Ties is a tiny support to the events in The Gift.

It is hard to understand if Buffy is giving Dawn emotional support in Blood Ties or saying something more concrete ie there is a mystical connection between them.

I am inclined to believe Joss and Marti want to give the viewer a bit of help so I go with the optimistic conclusion that Blood Ties shows Buffy and Dawn are deeply connected hence The Gift is not gratuitous.

I think you are touching on something fundamental Mehitabel in that S5 should have been a bit better plotted and Glory's motivation should have been clearer. sk

Good point and thank you respectively :thumbsup:

Hard to imagine the Scrawny One having Summer's blood in that way and it NOT being at the same time Slayer blood... which is a bit mind-boggling forthe writers
not to have steered us through.

But I'm OK with Glory's motivations- depressingly anticipating Illyria's, come tot hink of it.

I think I may be having too many thoughts for a Sunday morning :shrug:

maybe the blood thing is because buffy mixed her blood with dawn blood during her speech at the end of the episode (or not :shrug: ) but i think the monks probably just worked hard on buffy strong need to protect dawn :unsure: :ponder: