Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
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
3K
YOUR RATING
Alyson Hannigan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
ActionAdventureDramaFantasyHorrorRomance

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
    • Steven S. DeKnight
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Nicholas Brendon
    • Alyson Hannigan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Grossman
    • Writers
      • Joss Whedon
      • Rebecca Kirshner
      • Steven S. DeKnight
    • Stars
      • Sarah Michelle Gellar
      • Nicholas Brendon
      • Alyson Hannigan
    • 10User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos30

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 26
    View Poster

    Top cast17

    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
      • Steven S. DeKnight
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    8.12.9K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8claudio_carvalho

    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")

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Willow defends her use of magic in a line that was cut due to length: "But it's good-witch power, not bad-witch power. You know, Glinda-in-a-bubble power, not Margaret Hamilton-on-a-bicycle power."
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Buffy Summers: She was looking to go all paybacky on Glory for a minute, but I cooled her down a little. Actually, a lot.

      Spike: So she's not gonna do anything rash then.

      Buffy Summers: No. I explained there was no point.

      Spike: Mm-hmm.

      Buffy Summers: What?

      Spike: You- So you're saying that a *powerful* and mightily pissed-off witch was planning on goin' and spillin' herself a few pints of god blood until you, what..."explained"?

      Buffy Summers: You think she- No. I told Willow it would be like suicide.

      Spike: I'd do it... Right person. Person I loved. I'd do it.

    • 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

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    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

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.