Season 5 of what would have happened if Dawn appeared from Buffy season 1, but her sudden appearance is crucial to the shift in Buffy's character.

Dawn's existence changed the fantasy TV show forever. It not only reshaped the dynamics within the Scooby Gang but also plunged Buffy and her friends into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with the powerful and unpredictable deity, Glory. This abrupt and unconventional introduction set the stage for a season marked by significant changes. Looking back on season 5, the introduction of Dawn made very little sense, but it really is “the key” to the brilliance of the later seasons.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Key Storyline Started On Shaky Ground With Dawn's Arrival

Dawn’s Introduction Is As Abrupt As Her Reality-Shifting Origins

Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer saw significant changes, including the introduction of Dawn, a new magic shop setting, the loss of the college environment, Joyce's hospitalization, and Riley's departure. This, coupled with the arrival of the supernatural entity Glory and her minions, including Ben, and Spike's burgeoning feelings for Buffy, created a somewhat overwhelming narrative in the first two-thirds of the season. While Dawn was a key factor in these changes, it's important to note that the season's initial struggles stemmed from a broader shift in the show's direction, with a focus on exposition and world-building.

Dawn’s first appearance on screen in the show’s pacing is particularly bizarre. She abruptly arrives at the end of “Buffy VS Dracula” as a major twist – the use of this Monster of the Week episode contrasts dramatically with the unexpected implications for the wider storyline thrown in. However, this emphasizes the shift in the characters’ reality because of the monks. The twist demands the viewer to adapt to and accept it quickly, just as Buffy’s memories change after a moment of confusion.

The "Key" Storyline Held Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 5 Down

Dawn Has Massive Implications For The Scoobies’ Maturation

Dawn makes Buffy better in that she works as a vehicle to explore different sides of characters in season 5. Seeing Buffy shift from an only child to a big sister lays the ground for how her role develops in later seasons, but also humanizes season 5 in a way that shifts the tone of the show. The human element is crucial to season 5, especially regarding Joyce. Part of Buffy’s journey is letting her loved ones be close to her, and Dawn is a huge part of that.

Seeing Spike protect “Little Bit” also adds another dimension to his character, which continues into season 6. It also foreshadows the stepdad duties of Buffy's Spike in season 7. On the surface, the key storyline makes no sense, but arguably the frustrating factors of this storyline are around Glory as a villain rather than Dawn. Although the logic of Dawn as the key are odd, they do make sense. Glory could only find the key if she could sense its energy. But human blood has a special energy that could hide the key from her.

Once Glory's powers grew strong enough to track the key's energy, someone had to find a way to keep her from finding it. Turning the key into a human was the most obvious solution. Further, making the key the Slayer's sister was the perfect way to do it, laying the ground for Buffy’s ultimate “gift”, a Buffy moment that defined the show.

Buffy's Sacrifice Felt Like A Last-Minute Rug-Pull (& Never Really Made Sense)

Buffy’s Decision Is Illogical But Incredibly Powerful For It

Buffy's defense of Dawn went beyond familial love, reflecting a principled objection to causing harm. This raises some questions about whether Dawn's importance was sufficiently established to warrant such a profound sacrifice. It making no sense logically is the point because Buffy does not make a logical decision. With the full knowledge that Dawn is a fabricated sister, Buffy accepts that she is still a fully realized person with pain, and she cannot let her die.

Buffy's sacrifice, despite being Slayer-driven, also reflects a deeper search for purpose. The world seemingly punished her for her role, burdening her with protecting Dawn and coping with her mother's death. Adversity forced her to rely on others, like Spike, and to be more emotionally open. Her decision, reached after an introspective journey, culminates her season-long arc of personal growth. While Glory's villain arc might have lacked a traditional build-up, Buffy's internal journey was rich with development, making "The Gift" a profoundly meaningful conclusion. It also reflects a darker side of Buffy that will be explored in season 6.

By concluding that the message the First Slayer was trying to give her is that her gift is her self-sacrifice, Buffy reveals how easy it is for her to accept her own death. Leading up to season 5, Buffy has wrestled with the burden of her role, wishing she could live a normal life but not quite knowing who she is beyond the Slayer. The final scenes of season 5 are so heartwrenching because, for Buffy, it also symbolizes a release from her duty. This is especially heartbreaking because Buffy season 5 was originally going to be the final season. Even if it was, protecting her sister would make being a vampire slayer worth it.

How The Key Storyline Changed (& Didn't Change) Buffy's Later Seasons

The Key Necessitated Buffy’s Death And Rebirth, Having Major Implications For The Later Seasons

Dawn's presence significantly enriched the series. Without her, the emotional impact of "The Body" and one of the most devastating moments in Buffy would have been diminished, and Buffy's ultimate sacrifice in "The Gift" would have lacked the same profound resonance. Some of Buffy's most powerful character moments throughout Season 5 stem from her unwavering love and protection of her sister.

With Dawn's introduction, the Scooby Gang dynamic shifts. She becomes the youngest member, and the older assume more caretaker roles. The series' focus also evolves, delving deeper into mature themes of adult responsibilities and challenges. For example, Buffy has to get a conventional job to be able to take care of herself and Dawn in Joyce’s absence; memorably, Anya is genuinely confused as to why Buffy would not charge for her slaying services, but Buffy does not consider that a job, but a role.

The culmination of the key storyline in Buffy’s death also marks a major shift in the mood of the series. Season 6 is a dark season for Buffy as she struggles to adjust to being alive again. The resentment Buffy feels about this is one of the most isolating and difficult things she has to overcome. This adds yet more layers to her character.

The final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer also marks a significant shift for Dawn, as she transitions from a dependent figure to a more mature and capable individual.

The final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer also marks a significant shift for Dawn, as she transitions from a dependent figure to a more mature and capable individual. This is highlighted by her proactive of Buffy and Xander in Willow's absence and her active involvement in combat training, solidifying her place within the Scooby Gang. The microcosm of Buffy and Dawn’s sisterly relationship also lays the ground for the themes of sisterhood in the final season.