Ep 17. Forever

Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 episode 17, titled "Forever," finds Buffy dealing with the aftermath of her mother's death. In the previous episode, Joyce passed away from natural causes, leaving Buffy and her friends in shock and deep grief. The entire episode revolves around Buffy struggling to come to terms with the loss of her mother and dealing with the logistics of her funeral.

The episode begins with Buffy standing alone in her mother's room, surrounded by her belongings, as she tries to process what has happened. She is in a daze, not quite sure how to move forward. Her friends try to comfort her, but they are all dealing with their grief in their own ways. Willow is so consumed by her guilt over not being able to save Joyce when she collapsed that she can barely function. Xander is trying to be strong for everyone else, but his own sadness is bubbling just beneath the surface. And Anya, still new to the concept of death, is struggling to understand why everyone is so upset.

In the midst of all this, Buffy must make the necessary arrangements for her mother's funeral. This includes dealing with bureaucratic red tape, coordinating with family members, and picking out a casket. As she navigates these unfamiliar waters, Buffy begins to feel overwhelmed. She doesn't have enough time to grieve properly, and the weight of responsibility is crushing her.

Complicating matters is the appearance of a mysterious little girl named Cassie, who seems to know more about Buffy's situation than she should. Cassie claims to be psychic and tells Buffy that she will never be able to bring her mother back, no matter how much she wants to. Buffy dismisses Cassie at first, assuming that she is just a troubled child looking for attention. But as the episode goes on, Cassie's words start to haunt Buffy. She begins to feel as though she is betraying her mother by trying to move on. She can't fathom a world without Joyce in it.

Meanwhile, Dawn is struggling with her own sense of loss. She's lost not only her mother but her place in the world. Buffy is consumed with grief, and the others are preoccupied with helping her. Dawn feels like she's disappearing into the background. She lashes out at Buffy, telling her that she's the only one who truly understands what she's going through because she's the only one who's lost a parent. Buffy is hurt by this outburst but ultimately understands where Dawn is coming from.

As the funeral draws closer, Buffy's anxiety intensifies. She begins to have nightmares about her mother's body being stolen and resurrected as a zombie. She wakes up in a panic and rushes to the cemetery to check on Joyce's grave. There, she has an emotional conversation with Giles about the nature of death. Giles tells her that he knows how hard it is to lose a parent and that he's there for her if she needs him.

The day of the funeral arrives, and Buffy is still struggling to come to terms with everything. The service is beautiful, and Buffy delivers a heartfelt eulogy. But as they prepare to lower Joyce's casket into the ground, Buffy has one last breakdown. She can't bear the finality of it all. She screams out for her mother, begging for a sign that she's still there.

In the end, Buffy realizes that she must say goodbye to her mother and move forward. It's a realization that comes with great pain but also great relief. She is able to take comfort in the fact that Joyce will always be with her in some way, even though she's gone. The episode ends with Buffy and Dawn sitting in their living room, surrounded by photographs of their mother, as they begin the long process of healing.

Overall, "Forever" is a moving and poignant episode that deals with the complex emotions of grief and loss. It's a testament to the strength of the show that it could tackle such heavy subject matter with grace and sensitivity. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always been more than just a genre show, and "Forever" is a shining example of its depth and complexity.