Episode 84 - Brooms, Balls, and Sweetbreads (Family)

In this episode of The Sunnydale Diaries, Sean and Melanie dive into Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5, Episode 6 “Family.”

Melanie’s prediction about the episode being centered on chosen family turns out to be very on point, as the Scooby Gang learns more about Tara’s past when her family unexpectedly arrives in Sunnydale. As Tara struggles with feelings of not belonging, the group is forced to confront what it really means to be family, and who gets to define it.

Along the way, Sean and Melanie discuss:

• The complicated dynamics of blood family vs. chosen family

• Tara’s heartbreaking backstory and why she feels like an outsider among the Scoobies

• Buffy becoming increasingly protective of Dawn after learning the truth about the Key

• Riley and Buffy’s ongoing relationship tension

• Spike’s growing obsession with Buffy

• And the questionable demon design choices of the episode

The conversation also turns personal as Sean and Melanie share their own experiences with family drama, estrangement, and the people in their lives who have become family by choice rather than blood.

Join us as we break down one of the most emotional episodes of Season 5 and celebrate the moment the Scooby Gang proves that family isn’t just who you’re born to—it’s who stands with you when it matters most.

Whether you're a longtime Buffy fan or watching the series for the first time along with Melanie, grab a seat at the Magic Box and join us for another trip through Sunnydale.