Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Crush (2001) User Reviews

The Women of Spike

[ossie85 · 8/10 · 19 August 2022]

The secret is finally out, Buffy finds out that Spike is in love with her and she quickly tells him that their is no chance between them. But then Spike's ex Drusilla shows up wanting to take Spike away again.

Why It's So Good - Spike is evil, and we need to be reminded of that, even when he is likable. Spike choosing Buffy over Drusilla underlines that Spike's feelings for Buffy isn't just a crush.

Watch Out For - Any scene with Harmony in it.

Quote - "Oh, what.. Ohh! Gaaah! What the bleeding hell is wrong with you bloody women? What the hell does it take? Why.. do you b**** torture me?" - Spike talking to Buffy and Drusilla.

Buffy and Spike, sitting in a tree...

[Joxerlives · 8/10 · 17 April 2012]

The Good; The stunning opening, the moment you see Dru pop up you just know it's going to be a good one.

The Bad; Nothing although you have to be following the series to understand it all.

Best line; Buffy; (to Spike) "You're like a serial killer in prison" Spike; "Women marry them all the time!" Sad but true, hybristophilia is the term for women being attracted to men who have committed an outrage. Female serial killers (such as there are) tend not to get all the adoration and fan mail from men their masculine counterparts receive from women.

Women good/men bad; Harmony finally wises up and dumps Spike, about time too! (he's especially cruel to her here) Spike wonders "Why you bitches torture me?". His idea of proving his love for Buffy is to kill Dru for her?!

Jeez!; The slaughter on the train. Buffy sitting in the chalk outline of the murder victim. Spike's story of massacring an entire family. Dru and Spike's horrible stalking and slaughter of the kids at the Bronze.

Kinky dinky; Anya dancing. What does Spike do to the little girl in the coal cellar? We won't find out until season 7 (remember this story, Spikettes when you're talking about how misunderstood he is and how badly Buffy treats him!). Buffy compares beating up Spike to sexual foreplay. He says he know's this is wrong as his stalker shrine and smelling her sweater testify to. Harmony is gorgeous in her nightie and is happy to play dress up with Spike. However she says no to threesomes...

Captain Subtext; ....unless it's boy-boy-girl or Charlize Theron. Dawn announces her crush on Spike much to Xander's chagrin. Dru says vamps can love 'Quite well' if not wisely as she and Spike and Darla and Angel prove. Spike suspects that the two vamps he and Buffy chase away are gay. Buffy suggests Spike 'Hit on Giles'. Dru says she knew Spike loved Buffy even before he did. Finally everyone catches on to Spike's Buffy obsession! And it's lil'Dawnie that points it out.

Apocalypses; 5,

Scoobies in bondage: Buffy in chains once more Buffy: 9 Giles: 4 Cordy: 5 Will: 3 Jenny: 1 Angel: 4 Oz: 1 Faith: 3 Joyce: 1 Wes: 1 Xander; 1 Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out: Buffy by Dru. Buffy: 17 Giles: 10 Cordy: 6 Xander: 8 Will: 5 Jenny: 2 Angel: 6 Oz: 3 Faith: 1 Joyce: 3 Wes: 1 Anya;1

Kills: Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon Cordy: 3 vamps, a demon Will: 6 vamps Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, a demon, a demon Anya: a demon Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil: Giles: 1 Cordy: 1 Will: 2 Jenny: 1 Angel: 1 Oz: 1 Joyce: 1 Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies: Buffy: 6 Giles: 3 Cordy: 1 Will: 2 Jenny: 2 Angel: 3 Oz: 2 Joyce: 2 Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9 Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths; six dead on the train plus the poor kids at the Bronze 98;

Total number of scoobies: 6 Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?) Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot: Giles: 2 Angel: 3 Oz: 4 Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost: Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes? Cordy: 1? Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?) Angel: 1;Buffy Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?) Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley Xander: 2; Faith, Anya Willow: 2;Oz and Tara Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore

Questions and observations; Dru doesn't believe in electricity but she seems content to use the cattle prod on Buffy. She fills Spike in on the events in LA but neither seem overly concerned about extra-crispy Darla (as Dru says vamps love 'Quite well'). Note when Spike courts Buffy he wears a jacket and tie, trying to present a different image? Xander refers to Spike as Evil Dead, wouldn't Nic Brendon make a great Ash in a remake? Love Xander's remarks on not offending a brutal killer ("actually pretty good advice"). You can already see that Dawn is taller than Buffy in the scene where they walk away from Spike's tomb (Michelle Tractenberg just shoots upwards during the course of the seasons). Harmony refers to Dru as 'Morticia' MM of course having starred in the Addams Family Movies. Note Buffy is a match for Dru even when chained up.

Once read an interesting fanfic where Harmony accidentally kills Buffy during the crypt fight but in the follow up story when Dawn touches Buffy's corpse she starts glowing green and brings her back to life (and spends the next five days in a coma as a consequence), a staple of happy-sequel fanfic.

Marks out of 10; 8/10

Deeply in Love

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 8 October 2007]

While in the Bronze with Scooby Gang, Spike sees Buffy alone at a table and talks to her. However, Buffy sees Ben and stays with him. Meanwhile, a train arrives in Sunnydale with all the passengers dead. When Buffy sees that Dawn is hanging out with Spike, she asks if Dawn has a crush on Spike, and she tells that Spike is in love with her. When Spike confesses that he is in love with her, Buffy becomes nauseated, upset and rejects him. Meanwhile, Drusilla meets Spike, convinces him that the chip in his brain does not cause pain, and Spike is back.

In this great episode, Spike finally confesses that he loves Buffy. It is hilarious to see him playing sex games with Harmony dressed and acting like the slayer. I like very much the evil Drusilla and it was great to see her again with Spike. The reaction of Xander is also very funny. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Paixões" ("Passions")

Oh God, do I love this episode

[katierose295 · 10/10 · 28 August 2006]

This was the first episode of BTVS that I ever saw. I was flipping through the channels and I passed by "Crush" just in time to see Harmony confront Dru and Spike. Harmony looked from Spike to Dru, then back to Spike and snapped, "You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking, because if you are my answer is the same as always. No threesome's unless it's boy, boy, girl. Or Charlize Theron." I stopped my channel surfing in shock. I couldn't believe they got away with saying that. I'd always thought that BTVS was a kid's show. I spent the next 40 minutes watching this episode in awe. I was just blown away by it's depth and artistry, and I had no idea who any of the characters even were. By the end of "Crush", I was completely in love with Spike. When Buffy slammed the door in his face, my heart broke for him. I felt BAD for the guy. I wanted Buffy to let him back in the house. And I'd just watched him tie Buffy up to a wall and threaten to kill her. THIS was a character. THIS was a show. I've been hooked ever since. I highly recommend this episode. Not only does it bring Spike's feelings for Buffy into the open, but it's also just a whole lot of fun.

The episode revolves around Buffy finally realizing that Spike loves her. She is horrified when he confesses his feelings and tells him to stay away. At the same time, Dru has come to town. After a fight with Angel out in LA, she's come looking for Spike. (On a side note, Dru's guests spots over on season two of "Angel" are just about the highlight of the season.) She's not about to let his chip stop her from turning him evil again. Spike is pretty susceptible to Dru's charms. He's loved her for over 100 years. At first it seems that he's willing to join up with the Black Hats, again. But, when Buffy shows up at his tomb and Dru "zapps" her with a cattle prod, it's pretty clear that Spike's not ready to just forgive and forget that Dru left him for that Chaos Demon. He quickly captures her, too, and soon Buffy and Dru are both ties up in Spike's basement. And he has a few things to say...

There is a lot to love about this episode. Seeing Dru on BTVS again is wonderful. I just adore her and she and Spike are so great together. And I think it's interesting that neither Dru or Buffy really thought that Spike would go through with his plan to kill them. Dru laughed. Buffy rolled her eyes. They both knew that he'd back down in the end. Spike's likes threaten, but it's mostly just tough guy talk. He loves Dru and Buffy too much to actually hurt either of them. Honestly, there are so many great moments in this episode that I can't even list them all. Spike and Buffy sitting in his car while he hums "I Want to Be Sedated"... Xander laughing when Buffy confesses that Spike loves her... Spike's storytelling to Dawn... Harmony dressing up as the Slayer... It's all just wonderful.

Spike is the star of "Crush". And there a few moments in this episode that really help to show his inner struggle. I like that he's wearing a whole new outfit when he tries to hang out with Buffy at the Bronze. As if he's attempting to distance himself from his former "evilness" and recreate himself as someone new. Only it doesn't work. The Scoobies still don't accept him. Later, when he and Dru go to the Bronze, he switches back to his leather jacket. He's embracing his old "Big Bad" persona. Trying to go back to the way things were before he got the chip and started fighting with the Scoobies. Only that doesn't work, either. Dru kills two victims and hands one over to Spike, but her very ease at inflicting death seems to startle him. Suddenly, Spike sees that he could go back to being evil. Only he doesn't want that. He's not the same vampire that he was before. Buffy, or the chip, or being on his own for the first time in his life (and un-life), or some combination of them all has altered him. Spike, unlike most vampires, has it in him to learn and feel. He can't change back into someone evil for Dru, and in the end, he's not just changing into someone good for Buffy. He's changing into a whole and grown up person for Spike and for William. The full transformation that will take until season five of "Angel." Along the way he'll have a lot of set backs. He'll try switching jackets and accents. He'll try hiding and crying and fighting. He'll even die a couple of times. But, in the end, he's on a journey that will redefine him forever.

On the down side, Buffy is kinna mean to Spike when he sits down with her at the Bronze. He's helped her a lot recently, and he just wants to talk, and she basically kicks him out of the group. Also, I wish Joyce had said something positive about Spike when Buffy was complaining that he had a crush on her. Joyce and Spike have always gotten along, so it would've been nice if she remarked that he had some good qualities mixed in with his evilness. Also, I get Tara and Willow's "Hunchback" conversation as a metaphor for Spike, but I disagree with the similarities. Spike isn't acting out of purely selfish motives. Again and again he places himself in danger to help the Scoobies and Buffy.

My favorite part of the episode: Spike and Dru sweeping into the Bronze, looking so wonderfully, beautifully evil that it just about makes me cry.

Spike: Just give me something, a crumb, the barest smidgen. Tell me maybe, someday, there's a chance.

[bombersflyup · 10/10 · 29 August 2018]

Crush is about Buffy becoming aware of Spike's obsession for her, through Dawn and then by a date like stakeout scenario.

Definitely the best episode since season three, with Boreanaz. Why it took so long for Spike to feel this way and why Buffy never realized, I don't know but it's amusing and expected. Someone said in a review that Drusilla was the one that killed the people on the train, that didn't cross my mind as I wasn't caring about anything but Buffy and Spike, but that makes sense. He chained up Buffy to force her to have to listen to him. I especially love the initial scene at the bronze where Spike just sits down and starts conversing and then obviously the stakeout, hilarious. Sarah alluring as ever. Glory isn't in this episode, Riley's gone and Tara isn't in much, all pluses. Dawn's likable here also.

The Doll on the Train

[buffyslayerofvampyres · 10/10 · 8 June 2017]

So, the doll in the overhead compartment of the train carriage, as Buffy and Xander are checking out the murder scene, is one of Drusilla's? And Drusilla, presumably, carried out the massacre, announcing her arrival in Sunnydale? That seems to be the best explanation out there. Always wondered what purpose the train massacre served, other than a background or a prop to the main story. Seemed like a loose end but this has finally given closure.

The One Where Buffy Finds Out That Spike Is In Love With Her...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 5 April 2015]

I love this episode so much. It is one of my all-time favorite episodes. Not just from Season 5, but from the entire series. I just love the reveal of Spike's love for Buffy and the fact that Drusilla is back.

In this episode, someone has killed people on a train and Spike and Buffy go to investigate. It comes out that Spike loves Buffy and she is furious. She really can't take a compliment, can she? Anyway, Buffy goes and tells her friends and Joyce convinces her to talk to him, and lay down the line, tell him that she's not interested and she never will be. Drusilla comes back to town, she's actually the one who killed the people on the train, and she convinces Spike to feed. Obviously, because of the chip he can't do it properly, so Drusilla kills someone and then he feeds. Buffy goes to find Spike in his crypt and Drusilla tasers her. Spike then tasers Drusilla and chains both of them up in his underground tunnel. He finally tells Buffy the truth about his love, without her interrupting him. He tells her that he's going to kill Drusilla for her and Buffy doesn't even care. Then Harmony comes and tries to beat the crap out of Spike. Drusilla gets freed, Spike frees Buffy, Drusilla leaves, Spike chases Buffy to her house and when he tries to go inside, he can't. Willow has reversed his invitation. Poor Spike.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

Give the people what they want

[jezabelejane · 10/10 · 8 November 2006]

Since Spike first appeared in the show he's been an enemy that is sometimes an ally but him and the Scoobies are not friends, and with the chip and him being in love with Buffy I think that we might have forgotten that. This episode puts things into perspective by showing us Buffy's point-of-view how she talks and thinks about him, the same as ever to her he is just Spike, only more annoying than usual(he acts weird because of the crush). This episode reminds us that that is how we are supposed to see Spike, also to get us to side with Buffy when she rejects him. Now can some body tell me why she doesn't kill him, all this trouble to prove to her he is just a vampire, yet she doesn't stake him she treats him human not gently but human. I really don't get it, she locks him out, says she wants him of the planet, yet doesn't leave him blowing in the wind

Buffy Learns the Truth

[Samuel-Shovel · 7/10 · 24 January 2018]

Buffy finally catches wind of Spike's feelings for her and is deeply disturbed by them. Love is in the air though as Dawn has a bit of a crush on Spike, Harmony is in love with him, and Dru comes back into town. It's all a very complicated web.

If you enjoy BTVS for its action and slaying, this isn't the episode for you. This one's Spike-centric, focusing on his complicated feelings for Buffy and how this combats his instincts as a vampire. Things only get worse when Dru decides to poke her head in and ask Spike to return to LA with her. Her body has a few scars from her last run in with Angel but she's still as kooky as ever (one of my favorite characters in the Buffy-verse). I forgot how much I enjoy her and Spike's rapport.

A great episode if you're into the romance portion of this show, but less exciting for the action-seekers.

Object of desire

[Realrockerhalloween · 4 October 2016]

Buffy finally realizes Spike has strong feelings for her. Dru returns to claim her unsoul mate knowing no one can take his place. It's a wonderful freaky episode as Buffy finds her carnage scene, the blind folded dolls and Dru breaking the neck of two victims to feast. I find it horrifying that stubble little details like this can create a haunting atmosphere and evil can take many forms as he forces Buffy with an ultimate love him or die. Its like a stalker who steals items of clothing, always on his mind, find excuses to be with her and forcing her hand.

Buffy feels justly repulsed by his advances wanting him to leave her alone and can't even stand him when he's around. Dru & Harmony in the other hand seems different as she doesn't expect more from Spike and always comes back to him not losing a challenge. Buffy expects only the best as you live up to her standards and must prove yourself as a shinning knight. It's the one girl he can't have driving him crazy as he isn't used to rejection nor looked down on and so he'll do anything to have it.

This is where the show really jumped the shark...

[m-47826 · 7/10 · 1 July 2021]

But it's so fun to watch. Back when Charmed and Angel were thriving, BTVS was drowning. Very few episodes stood out, the edge was gone, and it was struggling at keeping viewers invested. Crush is good at bringing Drusilla back, and showing Spike faced with his demons. His unrequited love for Buffy, grudge against Drusilla and unfairness towards Harmony. It's one of those rare sheer moments, where you feel the show could be back on track. As weak as season 5 is, the second half is a slight improvement (forget The Body...) And this episode tackles one very delicate matter. Spike's obsession with Buffy. Or is it love? I guess we'll never know. Because even when, like she says, he gets her after she's in a constant state of unconsciousness. It sounded more like a one way thing, than true love... The episode's also at the top of my list this season, for bringing back the new and improved Bronze. Gracing us with Summercamp and Devics « live » performances.