Season 5, Episode 6 | Aired: 7 November 2000 | Written by: Joss Whedon | Directed by: Joss Whedon
Tara’s family comes to Sunnydale to take her home — they believe, and have told her since childhood, that women in her family carry a demon taint that will emerge on her twentieth birthday. Tara, to prevent the Scoobies from seeing what she believes she is, casts a spell to obscure their sight. A real demon finds them. Tara tries to confess. Spike punches her and his chip fires. She’s human. Her family is wrong. Buffy tells them to leave. The episode is about chosen family versus blood family, and it’s direct about it.
What Happens
Tara’s father (a cold, controlling performance from Steve Rankin), brother, and cousin arrive to collect her. She casts a spell that prevents the Scoobies seeing demons — a Lethicant blur — and Glory’s minions, unable to find the Scoobies, cause chaos at the Bronze. In the fight that follows, Tara is grabbed by her father. The Scoobies hold him off. Buffy: “You want to take her? You’ll have to go through all of us first.” Her father leaves, defeated by the completeness of what Tara has found.
Key Moments
The final scene — Tara’s birthday, the gang together, Tara and Willow dancing. The show allowing an episode about belonging to end with belonging.
Monster / Villain
Tara’s family — the episode’s actual antagonists. The demon is incidental.
Notable Quote
“You want to take her? You’ll have to go through all of us first.” — Buffy. Then Willow. Then Giles, Xander, and Anya, each stepping forward. It is a beautiful scene and it earns every beat.
Where It Fits
Family gives Tara full membership in the group and establishes her as one of the show’s most important characters. Her centrality to Seasons 5 and 6 depends on the audience believing she belongs, and this episode makes the case completely.