Family (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"Family"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Willow and Tara use their powers to levitate off the dance floor
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 6
Directed by	Joss Whedon
Written by	Joss Whedon
Featured music	"I Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Melanie Doane
Production code	5ABB06
Original air date	November 7, 2000
Guest appearance(s)
Amber Benson as Tara Maclay Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall Clare Kramer as Glory Charlie Weber as Ben Amy Adams as Cousin Beth Steve Rankin as Mr. Maclay Ezra Buzzington as Bartender Peggy Goss as Crazy Person Torry Pendergrass as Demon Megan Gray as Sandy Kevin Rankin as Donny Maclay Brian Tee as Intern
Episode chronology
← Previous "No Place Like Home" Next → "Fool for Love"
List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes

"Family" is the sixth episode of season 5 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon and is the only episode of the series to feature the character of Tara Maclay as the central figure of the narrative. This episode is also one of early acting works of multiple Academy Awards nominee Amy Adams.

The episode begins on the same night that previous episode ended. In Willow's dorm room, she and Tara enjoying each other's company: Tara tells Willow a story about a kitten, and then joins her in bed for a snuggle.

The same night, Buffy tells Giles the information that she discovered at the factory: that Dawn is the key, and that Glory is hell-bent on finding her. They decide to protect Dawn without telling others about it. Meanwhile, Glory easily frees herself from the collapsed factory rubble.

At the hospital, Ben enters the locker room. A moment later, Glory is there and captures a Lei-Ach demon, who tells her that Buffy is the Slayer. Glory sends it and its friends to kill her.

Buffy decides to leave on-campus accommodation and move back to the Summers house to be closer to her ailing mother. The gang assists with packing boxes, and Willow reminds everyone about Tara's upcoming 20th birthday. Later at the magic shop, Buffy and Xander struggle to come up with ideas for presents for Tara, coming to the realisation that they don't really know her very well. They similarly struggle to find information on Glory, since Buffy's best description that she is "kind of like Cordelia" proves too vague to be of use.

A young man comes into the Magic Box and disparages magic. He reveals himself as Tara's big brother, Donny, who has come to town with Tara's father and her cousin Beth for Tara's birthday. While Tara is clearly not thrilled at their presence, she agrees to have dinner with her family that evening.