A relationship fractures.

A choice is made.

And Buffy is left standing in the wreckage.

In “Into the Woods,” Riley reaches the breaking point. Feeling sidelined, powerless, and increasingly lost in Buffy’s world, he makes a decision that forces Buffy to confront something brutal: love doesn’t always fail because people stop caring—sometimes it fails because they can’t meet each other where they are.

As Riley prepares to leave Sunnydale, the episode explores masculinity, insecurity, and emotional labor with an honesty that still sparks debate years later. It’s not flashy. It’s not fun. But it is painfully human—and that’s what makes it linger.

Sometimes the monster isn’t a demon.

Sometimes it’s timing.

Sometimes it’s fear.

🎙 Hosted by your emotionally conflicted Watchers:

• Rob “Snark” Clark → https://www.twitter.com/snarkyeti

• Fares Muthana → https://www.twitter.com/FaresMuthana

• Adelia Chamberlain → https://bsky.app/profile/schizoaffectiveadelia.com

💬 Where do you land on Riley after this episode? Did Buffy do enough—or was the relationship already doomed long before the helicopter arrived?

👥 Join Our Discord (yes, we’re still debating Riley):

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