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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
S5.E19
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Tough Love

  • Episode aired May 1, 2001
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
Alyson Hannigan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
ActionDramaFantasy

When Tara falls victim to Glory's incredible power, Willow embraces dark magic and launches a counterattack.When Tara falls victim to Glory's incredible power, Willow embraces dark magic and launches a counterattack.When Tara falls victim to Glory's incredible power, Willow embraces dark magic and launches a counterattack.

  • Director
    • David Grossman
  • Writers
    • Joss Whedon
    • Rebecca Kirshner
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Nicholas Brendon
    • Alyson Hannigan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Grossman
    • Writers
      • Joss Whedon
      • Rebecca Kirshner
    • Stars
      • Sarah Michelle Gellar
      • Nicholas Brendon
      • Alyson Hannigan
    • 8User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos30

    Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Clare Kramer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Alan Heitz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Anthony Head in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and Nicholas Brendon in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Amber Benson in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and Amber Benson in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Amber Benson in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Emma Caulfield Ford and Anthony Head in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Buffy Summers
    Nicholas Brendon
    Nicholas Brendon
    • Xander Harris
    Alyson Hannigan
    Alyson Hannigan
    • Willow Rosenberg
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    • Anya
    • (as Emma Caulfield)
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    • Dawn Summers
    James Marsters
    James Marsters
    • Spike
    Anthony Head
    Anthony Head
    • Rupert Giles
    • (as Anthony Stewart Head)
    Clare Kramer
    Clare Kramer
    • Glory
    Charlie Weber
    Charlie Weber
    • Ben
    Troy Blendell
    Troy Blendell
    • Jinx
    • (as Troy T. Blendell)
    Anne Betancourt
    Anne Betancourt
    • Principal Stevens
    Leland Crooke
    Leland Crooke
    • Professor Lillian
    Amber Benson
    Amber Benson
    • Tara Maclay
    Todd Duffey
    Todd Duffey
    • Murk
    Alan Heitz
    Alan Heitz
    • Slook
    Pamela Buck
    • College Student
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Skipper
    Pat Skipper
    • Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Grossman
    • Writers
      • Joss Whedon
      • Rebecca Kirshner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the doctor is firing Ben he says that one of his excuses could be eating too many Twinkies. This refers to the "Twinkie Defence" as used by Dan White when he was on the trial for the murder of Harvey Milk (San Francisco City Supervisor) and George Moscone (San Francisco City Mayor). This was also referenced by Cordelia in season one's Out of Mind, Out of Sight (1997).
    • Goofs
      In a close-up of their hands, Glory crushes Tara's hand to the point of blood pouring from many of Tara's fingers and onto the bench. A few shots later - cut to a two-shot of Glory & Tara and there is no sign of blood on their hands or the bench. Then Glory raises their hands and there is only a little dried blood. This probably was done to get past the censors. Shows often have to remove the amount of blood and guts in order to get an approval to air.
    • Quotes

      Tara Maclay: Sweetie, you wouldn't blow off a class if your head was on fire.

    • Connections
      Featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Gift (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme
      Written by Nerf Herder
      Performed by Brandon K. Verrett

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Finding The Key
    Buffy drops the semester in the university to rebuild her family, and receives an ultimatum from the principal of Dawn's school, who threatens to send Dawn to a foster house if Buffy is not capable to control her. Willow and Tara have a quarrel, and Willow leaves Tara alone in a festival. Glory sucks Tara's mind, and Willow uses a powerful black magic trying to defeat Glory. Meanwhile, Dawn blames herself for the mess with her friends.

    The climax of this episode is the conclusion, with Glory disclosing the identity of The Key. Willow realizes that she is not as powerful as she believes, and Spike gives good advices to Buffy. Glory asking if anybody has order an apocalypse is hilarious. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil: "Amor Violento" ("Violent Love")
    helpful•14
    8
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Oct 13, 2007

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Hulu
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • 1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Mutant Enemy
      • Kuzui Enterprises.
      • Sandollar Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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