Buffy vs Dracula
The opening scene of this episode is one of my favourites. There is just something so carefree, and unBtVS like about it, Riley and Buffy just having fun and playing football together, and havinging out on the beach.Unfortunately due to witch-fu powers, the day couldn't stay that way. It leads onto Dracula's appearence. Riley, once again, jealous of a vampire. To be fair to him, she was under his thrall, but luckily she managed to break it, and told Riley that she's his girl, and it's gonna stay that way. Yay!
Real Me
"I'm here to violate your firstborn", even if Riley did say that, with his charming smile, I'm sure Joyce would still find him handsome. The episode starts with Riley sucking up to Joyce, and Dawn professing her grossness of the couple. It's interesting that she says that Riley was so into Buffy, and not that they were into each other. She kind of summed up the relationship pretty well, rather intuitive for a 14 year old. Buffy bails on hers and Rileys plans for the day, yet again. Throwing herself into her new slayer routine, she doesn't have much time for him anymore, but he tries to be understanding and supportive, as well as when she spends a lot of the episode bitching about Dawnie. Sensitive boyfriend ahoy.The Replacement
A Xander-centric episode but with 2 important Buffy/Riley shipper speeches. When Buffy tries to ask Riley if he wanted just Buffy, without the slayer part, he utters the immortal words.Hey. I have Buffy Buffy. Being the slayer's part of who you are. You keep thinking I don't get that, but... Buffy... if you led a perfectly normal life, you wouldn't be half as crazy as you are. I gotta have that. I gotta have it all. I'm talkin' toes, elbows, the whole bad-ice-skating-movie obsession, everything. There's no part of you I'm not in love with.
He even knew what she was going to ask before she asked it.
Once again we catch them making out at the beginning of the episode, once again showing that they have a very physical relationship.
And of course the happy/sad moment at the end, where Riley tells Xander how much he loves Buffy, but that she doesn't love him back.
Out of My Mind
Once again, Buffy and Riley having a boinkfest. Is that all they do? She does have the endurance of ten (wo)men of course! This is the episode where Dawn finds Riley's irregular heartbeat, due to the steroids withdrawal from the initiative, and Buffy has to convince Riley to get help. He doesn't want to be a regular person, he already feels removed enough from Buffy and thinks this would be the final thing to drive them apart. Buffy tells him she needs him healthy, and to the doctor he goes.The episode ends with Graham telling Riley he needs to be back in the mission, he can't just be the mission's boyfriend.
No Place Like Home
Dawn sticks her foot in it (again) by telling Riley that Buffy said he couldn't patrol, he was too weak now. Buffy tries to cover it up, and get Riley to help her with a spell she doesn't really need help with, but he can't help but know. They agree to take care of each other, instead of it just being one way.Family
Even their first lines together (Honey I'm home) is a pointer of things to come. Buffy is the demon fighting breadwinner here, and we know manly Iowa boy can't handle that. She did manage to slip in that he's the true God of Boyfriends, though it was because he managed to put away her stuff. He does get outfits in exchange though.Once again, Buffy takes off without talking to Riley, he utters the sarcastic words You decide you wanna let me in on any of it, let me know. I'll come running..
And we all know this leads to him meeting Sandy in Willy's bar, the start of his engagements with the vampires.
Shadow
This starts with the usual Riley vs Spike business, though this time Spike tells Riley about Joyce being in hospital, and Riley realises Buffy told Spike before him.He runs to the hospital and receives a warm type reception, but soon sends him to look after Dawn.
After Buffy leaves the hospital, Riley is once again sent to look after Dawn, and takes her to the carousel. And once again, of course, Dawn puts her foot in it, telling Riley that Buffy never gets worked up with him. Personally I think that's a compliment, as she did mean get worked up in a bad way, but it just adds to Riley's feelings that Buffy doesn't care much about him.
The episode ends with Buffy and Riley back at the hospital, Riley tries to get Buffy to open up, but she tells him she has to be strong, and leavse him outside Joyce's room.
Into the Woods
Unfortunately this episode starts really well between them. Dawn is out of the house for them to have a loving boinkfest. Buffy wanted to put the night on repeat, and so did we! Lets not have the end of the episode!Let us not forget the amusing banter between Joyce and Buffy on the subject of..um...'Bible Study'.
And then begins the beginning of the end. Spike (*sigh* Spike) takes Buffy to see Riley, at the vampire whorehouse. Buffy rightfully goes psycho, torches the place the next day and goes to beat out some anger in the training room.
Riley has a heart to heart with Spike. We can tell he loves her so much, but she doesn't love him back. Like we haven't had that thrown in our face enough.
Riley goes to find Buffy after his army buddies commandeer him, trying to convince him to come with them. Buffy may not be ready to talk, but Riley forces the ultimatum on her. To be with him, really with him, not push him away, to let him in and to get over the vampire whore thing, or he will go with the army. Buffy lets him go, she can't handle the ultimatum.
After slaughtering a bunch of vampires, Xander calls her out. Quoting for truth:
But you miss the point. You shut down, Buffy. And you've been treating Riley like the rebound guy. When he's the one that comes along once in a lifetime. He's never held back with you. He's risked everything. And you're about to let him fly because you don't like ultimatums?
If he's not the guy, if what he needs from you just isn't there, let him go. Break his heart, and make it a clean break. But if you really think you can love this guy ... I'm talking scary, messy, no-emotions-barred need ... if you're ready for that ... then think about what you're about to lose.
Buffy realises she can't let him leave, and Xander tells her to run.
She reaches the airfield, but it's too late, she calls out to him, but he can't hear her over the helicopter noise, the helicopter takes off and flies away. He's gone.