Buffy the Vampire Slayer/No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home
Season 5, Episode 5
Airdate	October 24, 2000
Production Number	5ABB05
Written by	Douglas Petrie
Directed by	David Solomon
← 5x04 Out of My Mind	5x06 → Family
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season Five

No Place Like Home is the fifth episode of the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the eighty-third episode overall.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers), James Marsters (Spike)

and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles)

Guest Starring: Clare Kramer (Glory), Charlie Weber (Ben), Ravil Isyanov (Monk)

and Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers)

Co-Starring: James Wellington (Nightwatchman), Paul Hayes (Older Nightwatchman), Staci Lawrence (Customer), John Sarkisian (Old Monk)

Uncredited: Pavel Lychnikoff (Other Monk)

Plot Overview

Buffy is warned of a danger aimed at her family soon after finding a mysterious object. Believing that something supernatural is behind her mother's recent illness, Buffy undergoes a spell to find whatever magic is responsible. She discovers, instead, a far more shocking discovery hiding in her family.

Notes

Monster of the Week

• Because this episode mainly deals with Riley and Joyce being ill, no monster of the week was introduced.

Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Vampire	Buffy	Staked	Outside A Warehouse

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The Key: Dawn is revealed as the Key, an energy matrix channelled into human form which is sought after by Glory.

• Glory: Glory is introduced in this episode. It is unknown what her motive and who/what she is at this point.

Characters

• Dawn: In this episode, it is discovered that Dawn isn't actually human, but is rather a matrix of energy crafted into human form by monks.

• Giles: Giles opens his store and is quickly overwhelmed by its popularity.

• Anya: Giles hires Anya as an employee full time. She remains as the cashier and magical consultant for the remainder of the season.

Trivia

The Show

• Original Name: Glory was originally going to be named "Cherry."

• First Appearance: This episode introduces the Big Bad of the season, Glory. Although we are not sure what or who she is, it is quite apparent that she's evil and strong.

Behind the Scenes

• Maybe They're Related: This episode wasn't the first time that writer Douglas Petrie worked with Michelle Trachtenberg. He also wrote the screenplay to the movie Harriet the Spy, which starred her and was a staff writer for Clarissa Explains It All, a series which she guest starred on several times.

Allusions and References

• Danger Room: The X-Men, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963, often train in their Rochester home for potential threats in a place called the Danger Room. The Danger Room is a blank room which can be manipulated using hard light technology to create various scenarios and enemies to fight against.

Riley: Giles, you got that Danger Room set up out back?

• Iron Chef: Iron Chef is a cooking show produced by FujiTV in Japan. The series began in 1993 with an initial run of 23 half-hour episodes, but was expanded to one hour after the first episodes aired. The series ended in 1999, but continued on with various specials and an American spin-off which airs frequently on Food Network. Iron Chef pits two chefs from different parts of the world against one another in a battle of cookery. The two must use a designated ingredient in all of their dishes, which are judged by a panel of judges and are rated on a point scale.

Dawn: Who died and made you the Iron Chef?

• Spider-Man: Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, is a Marvel Comics character with powers derived from a radioactive spider bite. His powers include spider-sense, being able to stick to walls and super-strength. More recently, he developed the ability to organically create webbing from holes in his wrists.

Ben: (about Buffy's strength) Radioactive spider bite?

Quotes

• Buffy: Actually, I have a little Scooby-centric deal to deal with first. (pulls out the Dagon Sphere) I put this before the group. What the hell is it?

Giles: It appears to be paranormal in origin.

Willow: How can you tell?

Giles: Well, it's so shiny.

• Xander: Anya, the Shopkeepers Union of America called. They want me to tell you that "Please go" just got replaced with "Have a nice day."

Anya: But I have their money. Who cares what kind of day they have?

Xander: No one. It's just a long cultural tradition of raging insincerity. Embrace it.

• Dawn: What are you doing?

Buffy: My boyfriend. Go away.

• Buffy: Don't take this the wrong way, but... (punches Spike in the nose) What are you doing here? Five words or less.

Spike: Out. For. A. Walk... Bitch.

Buffy: Out for a walk at night by my house. No one has time for this, William.

Spike: On your merry way, then. You know, contrary to one's self-involved world view, your house happens to be directly between... parts... and - and other parts of this town. And I would pass by in the day, but I feel I'm outgrowing my whole "burst into flame" phase.

Buffy: Fine. Keep going, I cut you a break.

Spike: Oh, yeah. Okay, let me guess. You won't kill me? Ooh. The "whole crowd-pleasing threats and swagger" routine. How stunningly original. You know, I'm just passing through. Satisfied? You know, I really hope so because God knows you need some satisfaction in life besides shagging Captain Cardboard and - and I never really liked you anyway and... and you have stupid hair.