The Body (27 Feb. 2001)

Buffy, Dawn, and their friends deal with the aftermath of Joyce's death.

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator), Joss Whedon

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Dawn Summers
James Marsters	...	Spike (credit only)
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Randy Thompson	...	Dr. Kriegel
Amber Benson	...	Tara Maclay
Kristine Sutherland	...	Joyce Summers
Kevin Cristaldi	...	First Paramedic
Stefan Umstead	...	Second Paramedic
Loanne Bishop	...	911 Operator (voice)
J. Evan Bonifant	...	Kevin
Kelli Garner	...	Kirstie

Storyline

Buffy sees Joyce lying on the couch, calls 911 and unsuccessfully follows emergency procedures. When the paramedics arrive, they realize that Joyce is dead. Buffy calls Giles and goes to the school to tell Dawn. Along the day, the Scooby gang grieves the death of Joyce and sympathizes with Buffy.

---

Plot Keywords:

dead woman | grief | heroine | dead mother | loss of mother | 

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode features only diegetic sound - sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film (such as doors closing, footsteps, birds outside, etc). There is no mood music in the background.

---

Goofs

Paramedics in the state of California are not allowed to pronounce death. Joyce would have been taken to the hospital where it is likely she would have been pronounced DOA. Also, once paramedics begin CPR, it is usually not allowed to be stopped until someone with a higher degree of medical training takes over.

---

Quotes

Buffy: She's cold.
911 Operator: The body's cold?
Buffy: No, my mom. Sh-should I make her warm?

---

Crazy Credits

Instead of the regular opening credits, a flashback scene was created that consisted of the whole cast having Christmas dinner at the Summers' house. It was created so as not to have written credits appearing over the dramatic opening scenes.

---

Connections

References The Powerpuff Girls (1998)

User Reviews

One of the greatest television episodes ever !!!

Emotional, heart-breaking, Emmy-deserving. This episode revolves around the sudden death of beloved Joyce Summers. One of the best moms on television. But the whole episode is a work of art. First Hush and Restless now The Body, Joss Whedon really shows me that this episode is different than the other ordinary teen dramas.

Now, i have to talk about the acting. Every single actor shines in this this episode. Emma Caulfield: i didn't know she could act this great. Her monologue about Joyce's death broke my heart and make me cry like a river. She was just outstanding. Alyson Hannigan: she did have some really good acting scenes but in this episode she is great. In the whole scene about looking for the blue shirt she made me think i really misjudged her. Amber Benson: even she did a great job in this scene with Buffy in waiting room she wasn't amazing like other but she showed she can act. And finally Sarah Michelle Gellar: Her acting developed through the seasons and in this episode she was so real and act like her own mother died, applause!

The biggest applause goes to Joss Whedon. He's genius and takes this series to higher level. 10/10.