History YMMV / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E16TheBody

* HarsherInHindsight: The blue sweater that Willow wants to wear to the morgue but cannot find is the same sweater that Tara is wearing when she is killed in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E19SeeingRed Seeing Red]]". Fans have joked that "at least Creator/JossWhedon made sure somebody wore it to the morgue."

* HilariousInHindsight: Xander's "Avengers assemble" got a lot funnier after Creator/JossWhedon directed ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' eleven years later.

** Actually, everyone's performance is near-pitch perfect, with every actor performing their best in the episode. Creator/EmmaCaulfield's "punch speech" definitely was a TearJerker, as shown below, sold by Caulfield's convincing portrayal of an ex-demon dealing with mortality. Also, special mention to Creator/KristineSutherland, who had to spend ''hours'' portraying a dead body without much breaks. Even Creator/MichelleTrachtenberg, [[BrokenBase regardless of how you feel about her character]], pulls off a realistic and nuanced performance that proves to be one of her best on the show.

** While ''never'' considered a bad actress, Creator/SarahMichelleGellar's understated performance in the episode proves to be a highlight. Her opening lines in the episode reflect the actress' chops, especially "Mom? ... Mom? ... Mommy?" which shows how easily Gellar can portray a confident 20-year-old digressing into a scared little girl who had to deal with her mother's death.

* SignatureScene: Anya's speech about "fruit punch" seems to be the most memorable scene, highlighting the grief and tragedy she must be feeling in that moment.

* BestKnownForTheFanservice: Subverted! Although this is the episode with Willow and Tara's first on-screen kiss, the network didn't promote it as such and the episode is far more remembered for its writing and acting.

* AlasPoorScrappy: Even people who hated Dawn were heartbroken over her reaction to Joyce dying.

** Actually, everyone's performance is near-pitch perfect, with every actor performing their best in the episode. Creator/EmmaCaulfield's "punch speech" definitely was a TearJerker, as shown below, sold by Caulfield's convincing portrayal of an ex-demon dealing with mortality. Also, special mention to Kristine Sutherland, who had to spend ''hours'' portraying a dead body without much breaks. Even Creator/MichelleTrachtenberg, [[BrokenBase regardless of how you feel about her character]], pulls off a realistic and nuanced performance that proves to be one of her best on the show.

* HarsherInHindsight: The blue sweater that Willow wants to wear to the morgue but cannot find is the same sweater that Tara is wearing when she is killed in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E20SeeingRed Seeing Red]]". Fans have joked that "at least Creator/JossWhedon made sure somebody wore it to the morgue."

* HarsherInHindsight: [[spoiler:The blue sweater that Willow wants to wear to the morgue but cannot find is the same sweater that Tara is wearing when she is killed in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E20SeeingRed Seeing Red]]". Fans have joked that "at least Creator/JossWhedon made sure somebody wore it to the morgue."]]

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: A good portion of the scene in Willow and Tara's dorm, particularly Tara's ShutUpKiss and Willow challenging Xander.

* FridgeBrilliance: Buffy has to sign over Joyce’s body before it is taken away, an essential legal precaution in a town where dead people can suddenly get up and walk out of the morgue.

* TearJerker: Practically the whole damn episode is a ''river of tears.'' But especially Anya's speech.
** Compare the scene of Buffy calling 911 and trying to revive Joyce to a similar scene in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E7Angel Angel]]".
** Don't forget Buffy's initial reaction to the body, her dull reactions to Giles's presence, Willow's near-panic and eventual breakdown when trying to decide what to wear, Buffy breaking the news to Dawn, Anya's speech as mentioned above... Yeah, the whole damn episode.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: A justified example. The episode begins with Buffy finding Joyce dead on the couch. After the opening theme, we're shown a flashback to a Christmas dinner at Buffy's house before jump cutting back to the present day. WordOfGod says it's there because he didn't want the opening credits to be playing over Buffy trying to revive her mother.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: A good portion of the scene in Willow and Tara's dorm, particularly Tara's ShutUpKiss and Willow challenging Xander.

** Don't forget Buffy's initial reaction to the body, her dull reactions to Giles's presence, Willow's near-panic and eventual breakdown when trying to decide what to wear, Buffy breaking the news to Dawn, Anya's speech as mentioned above... Yeah, the whole damn episode.

* SheReallyCanAct:

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: A justified example. The episode begins with [[spoiler: Buffy finding Joyce dead on the couch]]. After the opening theme, we're shown a flashback to a Christmas dinner at Buffy's house before jump cutting back to the present day. WordOfGod says it's there because he didn't want the opening credits to be playing over Buffy [[spoiler: trying to revive her mother]].

* HilariousInHindsight: Xander's "Avengers assemble" got a lot funnier after Joss Whedon directed ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' eleven years later.

* HilariousInHindsight: Xander's "Avengers assemble" got a lot funnier after Joss Whedon directed ''The Avengers'' eleven years later.
* SheReallyCanAct: While ''never'' considered a bad actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar's understated performance in the episode proves to be a highlight. Her opening lines in the episode reflect the actress' chops, especially "Mom?...Mom...Mommy" which shows how easily Gellar can portray a confident 20-year-old digressing into a scared little girl who had to deal with her mother's death.
** Actually, everyone's performance is near-pitch perfect, with every actor performing their best in the episode. Emma Caulfield's "punch speech" definitely was a TearJerker, as shown below, sold by Caulfield's convincing portrayal of an ex-demon dealing with mortality. Also, special mention to Kristine Sutherland, who had to spend ''hours'' portraying a dead body without much breaks. Even Michelle Trachtenberg, [[BrokenBase regardless of how you feel about her character]], pulls off a realistic and nuanced performance that proves to be one of her best on the show.

* SheReallyCanAct: Sarah Michelle Gellar's understated performance in the episode proves to be a highlight. Her opening lines in the episode reflect the actress' chops, especially "Mom?...Mom...Mommy" which shows how easily Gellar can portray a confident 20-year-old digressing into a scared little girl who had to deal with her mother's death.

** Actually, everyone's performance is near-pitch perfect, with every actor performing their best in the episode. Emma Caulfield's "punch speech" definitely was a TearJerker, as shown below, sold by Caulfield's convincing portrayal of an ex-demon dealing with mortality. Also, special mention to Kristine Sutherland, who had to spend ''hours'' portraying a dead body without much breaks.

* HilariousInHindsight: Xander's "Avengers assemble" got a lot funnier after Joss Whedon directed ''The Avengers'' eleven years later.