BtVS 5x16: The Body [half-meta, half-reaction post]
I've been doing my BtVS rewatch marathon and I'm currently on season 5 and I got to the hardest, most excruciating episode of the entire show - "The Body". There is no part of the episode where I wouldn't cry my eyes out. Admittedly, I have personal history with it too: last year I, for some inconceivable reason, thought it would be a brilliant idea to rewatch "The Body" and "Forever" just after I got home from my grandmother's funeral. That was the second time I saw the ep; today marks the third time. I don't think there's anything I could say about this episode that hasn't already been said (take this detailed and awesome article for example), but I just felt like writing my erratic thoughts down.
A lot has been said about the use of silence in this episode. We've got silent background here, no music, and each act opens with a few seconds of utter silence before the noises of the setting begin. This creates such a natural atmosphere. I've been meaning to say "oppressive", but now that I think about it, it's not oppressive. It's not anything specific. Watching TV-shows and films, we get so used to the score that when it's absent, the scene feels somehow surreal, but in truth, this is the closest thing you can get to reality. Because in reality none of the background noises we have to deal with are melodic. They have no structure, no beginning and no end, you can strain to hear a rhythm if you have a good imagination (or if you're August Rush), but it's not immediately obvious unlike the score of a TV-show episode. The silence frames Buffy's shock perfectly. I can only imagine how difficult for Sarah (and the other actors) it was to perform these scenes. Especially how difficult it was for Sarah to play that opening scene. True to himself, Whedon has this episode straight after the wackiness of the robot girlfriend episode, for maximum impact. I don't know if they filmed in order, but at least the scene at the end of the previous ep is the opening one of "The Body", so to transition from that to filming this scene must have been very emotionally challenging. Even if these scenes were filmed separately, I bow before Sarah's incredible talent.
Another thing that I absolutely love is the thing that also matters to me personally because I always try to focus on it in my own writing: details. The subtlety, with wich the details are shown, is stunning. Most of the time when there is a focus on some detail in a TV-show ep it's supposed to mean something, be crucial to the plot, etc. Here, it's not so. Buffy tugging her mother's skirt down; Xander getting the ticket for double parking; Anya putting aside the blouse Willow has been frantically searching for; Dawn's classmate drawing while she's getting the news; the list is endless. Some details do serve a purpose: like Xander accidentally putting his hand through the wall. It gets Anya nervous about his and her own mortality. She reprimands him that he could have hit a wire or something and she looks very nervous at the sight of blood on his knuckles.
I also love the job that's been done with make-up (or lack of thereof). It's very difficult to portray realistic looks on screen because somehow the characters will always seem prettied up in some way. I mean: you see a character crying and it's just water rolling down their cheeks, but try crying for real and your eyes will be red and swollen and you will look anything but pretty.
The sickly light falling on Buffy's face as she steps out into the sunlight while waiting makes her look extremely realistic. It's a heartbreaking discrepancy between the outside and the inside of the house: sunlight is bright and hot and cheerful, but it doesn't alleviate the pain; it underlines it, makes it more pronounced. And when it falls on Buffy's pale, shocked face, it makes her look like a ghost as opposed to infusing her with life as sunshine usually would.
Reactions of the characters are the thing that deserves special attention. It's a unique blend of powerful writing and stunning acting. And I think each reaction tells a lot about each one of the characters.
1. Buffy. Of course it's the hardest for her, and I confess that I used to be afraid of watching this episode (especially her scenes) for a long time and I still don't really feel comfortable because I have a very close relationship with my Mom, and what happened to Buffy here would be my ultimate nightmare. Again, Sarah's acting is simply flawless here: all the shock on her face, the breaking of her voice, the hysteria about moving the body, her little panic attack when she breaks Joyce's rib during CPR, her slumped posture that screams of helplessnes and disorientation...
Again, the details: the close-up of the phone before Buffy calls Giles gives off the impression of utter disorientation - these numbers can make up so many phone numbers, how do you even dial the right one; Buffy throwing up and wiping it - sometimes you remember the oddest things in such moments, like for example to clean up because it's routine, it's something you would have done straight away under normal circumstances, it's mechanical, you never know what you will remember to do and what you will forget.
Another thing that I find very effective if how she looks. We saw this outfit and this hairstyle in the previous episode and obviously she doesn't have any time to change when she comes home. I think the red blouse is very effective because the entire episode is very bright, clashing with the dark theme. It's very realistic: colours don't automatically get drained from the entire world just because one person died. Her hairstyle is also very affective because nothing obscures her face. Every emotional reaction can be seen very clearly.
2. Giles. He doesn't really do much except being there for Buffy, which is integral of course. I love their father/daughter-like relationship and I love that he is the first person Buffy calls.
3. Dawn. I love the beginning of Dawn's scene: she is shown crying but we find out a moment later that it's just because some guy called her a freak. I love how Buffy comes at the worst time: when Dawn is talking to the boy she apparently likes and they find common themes to discuss. And of course the incredibly powerful meltdown scene shown from the POV of her classmates, with muffled sound and disbelief on Dawn's part.
I used to have issues with Dawn as a character, but the more I rewatch the show, the more I come to understand and like her. Her disbelief here is so relatable (the only thing even more relatable, in my opinion, is Anya's reaction, but I'll elaborate later). Her innocent wish to see her mother's body and the question she asks at the end of the episode - "Where did she go?" - are the testament to how disarming and overwhelming death can be. The suddenness of Joyce's death is highlighted many times throughout the episode: the paramedics tell Buffy that Joyce had apparently died a long time ago; the doctor says nobody could have done anything, the rupture in her brain was undetectable and even if Buffy had been there with Joyce, she couldn't have stopped it. That is both terrifying and absolving: this is nobody's fault, this is something that could happen to anyone. The only comfort to be found in this situation is what Buffy tells Dawn at the morgue: "It's not her."
4. Willow. Willow's reaction could be seen as the opposite to Buffy's but it's really just shock too. It's impossible to predict what would seem important, which is why Willow's obsessive search for the blue blouse she knows Joyce liked is so painfully realistic. I don't know if I'm reading too much into it but when Willow discards all her clothes and says: "Why can't I dress like a grown-up?", it sounds like ¨Why can't I be a grown-up?" Grown-ups are supposed to know how to handle these things. They're supposed to be tough. The truth is, no one really knows how to handle it. The characters of BtVS are basically children, only 20 years old in the fifth season. They've saved the world many times, they've seen death and destruction, they possess powers and knowledge, but reality is a cruel thing that doesn't care for any of that. When faced with something so mundane, they just boggle down.
This episode also shows Willow and Tara kissing for the first time, and I think it's brilliant. We know they have a relationship. We even know they have a sexual relationship because we've seen them in bed together and there have been other hints. But it's never been shown - and then we get a kiss at such a strange time. That's what's so powerful in it: the emphasis is not on the orientation of the characters, not even on the romantic story, but on the comfort and the intimacy one person can give another during a crisis.
5. Xander. This season has really been building up Xander's confidence and cementing his role as the heart of the gang. He makes his feelings for Anya very clear to her; he mediates between Buffy and Riley and is there for her when Riley leaves. Xander isn't supersmart, doesn't have fancy computer skills or magical powers or superstrength, but he is a builder, he is the one that confronts the scariest threats while being arguably the weakest of the bunch (my favourite examples of that are when he confronts Angelus at the hospital in 2x18, "Killed By Death" and when he confronts Jack at school in 3x13, "The Zeppo"). In "The Body", Xander is mostly numb, barring one angry, babbling outburst about doctors. Anya says he cried and won't say anything. After being quiet for a part of the scene, Xander unexpectedly slams his hand into the wall. For a heart to be so numb and so angry at once is a scary thing.
6. Tara. Tara is mostly there supporting Willow, but it's not just that. Tara is traditionally a very quiet member of the gang and still sort of on the outside, but I love the scene between her and Buffy at the hospital.
"Family" establishes that Tara is part of the gang (just a couple of episodes before, she refers to herself as a non-Scooby), but it's obvious that her integration isn't seamless. Tara is a skilled witch and she's Willow girlfriend, but it's obviously not enough for the emotional connection to be cemented. I think the difference between her and Anya here is that Anya never seemed to be bothered about not fitting in; that's why she does fit in. In this scene, Buffy apologizes to Tara like one would apologize to an acquaintance rather than a friend. But this is also where Tara becomes a friend. Tara went through the same thing years ago, she is the only one who can relate to what Buffy is going through now and, moreover, she tells Buffy that what Buffy is feeling is normal just when Buffy needs to hear it. That's an interesting parallel with season 6 where Tara is the first person to learn about Buffy's relationship with Spike - and once again, Tara tells her that this is just a way of dealing with things, that Buffy hasn't come back wrong. Tara is often a background character and she is seldom given any role outside of her relationship with Willow (which is a pity because she is a strong character in her own right), but this is definitely one of her greatest moments.
7. Anya. I saved Anya for last because oh my God, that scene. Anya's breadown is spectacular, painful, a brilliant display of shock, vulnerability, misunderstanding and pretty much every other emotion ever.
Anya's clumsy attempts at dealing with her forced humanity frequently make a brilliant comic relief. She is rude and she doesn't see the point of pretending to care about things she doesn't care about (like she can't understand why she has to wish customers to have a nice day after they've given her the money). She speaks her mind, often divulging personal things that are not usually discussed in company ("We've enjoyed spanking"). She is quick-tempered and often disrespectful, but she is also learning. Anya is over 1100 years old, she doesn't really remember how to be human (though from what I understand she had always been a bit weird). And suddenly she has to face the most human thing there is: death of natural causes. I think her breakdown is so powerful because while the numerous questions she asks may seem inhumane ("Are they going to cut her open?") and insensitive, it's actually the most natural reaction there is. I personally reacted exactly the same way when my grandfather died. It was the first funeral I ever went to and I didn't know anything. I didn't cry, I was just sort of numb and didn't really want to be here because I felt uncomfortable, not knowing what I should do. It's not even "what humans do" but what I personally should do. Do I just stand still? Do I talk to other people and if yes, what do I say? I understand Anya's confusion very well here: she is out of the loop and nobody wants to answer her question because everyone fails to remember she is new to this, but also because they are also new to this. They might have the theoretical knowledge, but they're just as lost as she is. Anya's monologue is the point where most viewers break down. I think it's one of the most brilliant monologues in the history of TV-shows.
Anya: "Are they gonna cut the body open?"
Willow: "Oh my god! Would you just... stop talking? Just... shut your mouth. Please."
Anya: "What am I doing?"
Willow: "How can you act like that?"
Anya: "Am I supposed to be changing my clothes a lot? Is that the helpful thing to do?"
Xander: "Guys..."
Willow: "The way you behave-"
Anya: "Nobody will tell me."
Willow: "Because it's not okay for you to be asking these things!"
Anya: "But I don't understand! I don't understand how this all happens. How we go through this. I mean, I knew her, and then she's, there's just a body, and I don't understand why she just can't get back in it and not be dead anymore. It's stupid. It's mortal and stupid. And, and Xander's crying and not talking, and, and I was having fruit punch, and I thought, well, Joyce will never have any more fruit punch ever, and she'll never have eggs, or yawn or brush her hair, not ever, and no one will explain to me why."
Willow: "We don't know... how it works... or why."
I think these questions: "Am I supposed to be changing my clothes a lot? Is that the helpful thing to do?" are very indicative of Anya's character. She is not evil. She wasn't evil when she was a demon either and she's certainly not a bad person. She has always been quirky and mostly on the outside (her flashbacks in season 7 prove it; perhaps that's why she embraced the task of vengeance so readily, it must have given her the sense of belonging and purpose), but she is also very passionate, she gives herself away readily to the things that she cares about: she was quick to exact vengeance because she felt Olaf's betrayal very keenly; she embraced vengeance readily; she embraced the Scooby gang because it matters to Xander whom she loves immensely. For all her faults, Anya is driven by her desire to help. She doesn't understand the chaos around her, but she is still asking what the "helpful" thing to do would be. It's heartbreaking that she is completely unaware that her attitude might seem strange to people, that her questions might unsettle them. Anya has just realized what mortality really means. She has realized it not just about Joyce, but about herself and Xander too. As far as discoveries go, it's a pretty huge one, so I think Anya has ever right to feel and act the way she does. Another factor is that there is literally no right way to act in such circumstances. As Tara says, "it's always different". And ways and means to deal are also different. In my opinion, what Anya is going through is very natural and realistic. And of course the acting is superb.
Speaking of the acting, there is one actor people often overlook: Kristine Sutherland (Joyce). At least the others had something to do, to focus their energy on something, whereas she just had to lie still and look dead. Which was actually pretty scary because every time the body appeared, it looked deader and less like Joyce. Kudos to the stylists and the actress herself.
Overall, the emotional impact of "The Body" is enormous. It's the kind of an episode that stays with you and causes a response no matter how many times you've seen it. It's a milestone for Buffy as a character and it changes the dynamics between some characters (such as Buffy and Tara for example). Spike is notably absent from this episode, which is probably for the best, but I do wonder how he found out.
I think death is always an issue in supernatural stories because it can be defeated in ways that it can't IRL. Unless it's a rare and terrible death from non-supernatural causes (though Angel proves that there are supernatural non-reversible deaths too). This is why people like Joyce, Tara, Cassie are the worst reminder that reality is never far away and one day it will catch up with you. And it's always sudden, always in the worst possible moment and always gut-wrenching. It's also very Whedon.
All pictures are taken from Google and are not mine.
A lot has been said about the use of silence in this episode. We've got silent background here, no music, and each act opens with a few seconds of utter silence before the noises of the setting begin. This creates such a natural atmosphere. I've been meaning to say "oppressive", but now that I think about it, it's not oppressive. It's not anything specific. Watching TV-shows and films, we get so used to the score that when it's absent, the scene feels somehow surreal, but in truth, this is the closest thing you can get to reality. Because in reality none of the background noises we have to deal with are melodic. They have no structure, no beginning and no end, you can strain to hear a rhythm if you have a good imagination (or if you're August Rush), but it's not immediately obvious unlike the score of a TV-show episode. The silence frames Buffy's shock perfectly. I can only imagine how difficult for Sarah (and the other actors) it was to perform these scenes. Especially how difficult it was for Sarah to play that opening scene. True to himself, Whedon has this episode straight after the wackiness of the robot girlfriend episode, for maximum impact. I don't know if they filmed in order, but at least the scene at the end of the previous ep is the opening one of "The Body", so to transition from that to filming this scene must have been very emotionally challenging. Even if these scenes were filmed separately, I bow before Sarah's incredible talent.
Another thing that I absolutely love is the thing that also matters to me personally because I always try to focus on it in my own writing: details. The subtlety, with wich the details are shown, is stunning. Most of the time when there is a focus on some detail in a TV-show ep it's supposed to mean something, be crucial to the plot, etc. Here, it's not so. Buffy tugging her mother's skirt down; Xander getting the ticket for double parking; Anya putting aside the blouse Willow has been frantically searching for; Dawn's classmate drawing while she's getting the news; the list is endless. Some details do serve a purpose: like Xander accidentally putting his hand through the wall. It gets Anya nervous about his and her own mortality. She reprimands him that he could have hit a wire or something and she looks very nervous at the sight of blood on his knuckles.
I also love the job that's been done with make-up (or lack of thereof). It's very difficult to portray realistic looks on screen because somehow the characters will always seem prettied up in some way. I mean: you see a character crying and it's just water rolling down their cheeks, but try crying for real and your eyes will be red and swollen and you will look anything but pretty.
The sickly light falling on Buffy's face as she steps out into the sunlight while waiting makes her look extremely realistic. It's a heartbreaking discrepancy between the outside and the inside of the house: sunlight is bright and hot and cheerful, but it doesn't alleviate the pain; it underlines it, makes it more pronounced. And when it falls on Buffy's pale, shocked face, it makes her look like a ghost as opposed to infusing her with life as sunshine usually would.
Reactions of the characters are the thing that deserves special attention. It's a unique blend of powerful writing and stunning acting. And I think each reaction tells a lot about each one of the characters.
1. Buffy. Of course it's the hardest for her, and I confess that I used to be afraid of watching this episode (especially her scenes) for a long time and I still don't really feel comfortable because I have a very close relationship with my Mom, and what happened to Buffy here would be my ultimate nightmare. Again, Sarah's acting is simply flawless here: all the shock on her face, the breaking of her voice, the hysteria about moving the body, her little panic attack when she breaks Joyce's rib during CPR, her slumped posture that screams of helplessnes and disorientation...
Again, the details: the close-up of the phone before Buffy calls Giles gives off the impression of utter disorientation - these numbers can make up so many phone numbers, how do you even dial the right one; Buffy throwing up and wiping it - sometimes you remember the oddest things in such moments, like for example to clean up because it's routine, it's something you would have done straight away under normal circumstances, it's mechanical, you never know what you will remember to do and what you will forget.
Another thing that I find very effective if how she looks. We saw this outfit and this hairstyle in the previous episode and obviously she doesn't have any time to change when she comes home. I think the red blouse is very effective because the entire episode is very bright, clashing with the dark theme. It's very realistic: colours don't automatically get drained from the entire world just because one person died. Her hairstyle is also very affective because nothing obscures her face. Every emotional reaction can be seen very clearly.
2. Giles. He doesn't really do much except being there for Buffy, which is integral of course. I love their father/daughter-like relationship and I love that he is the first person Buffy calls.
3. Dawn. I love the beginning of Dawn's scene: she is shown crying but we find out a moment later that it's just because some guy called her a freak. I love how Buffy comes at the worst time: when Dawn is talking to the boy she apparently likes and they find common themes to discuss. And of course the incredibly powerful meltdown scene shown from the POV of her classmates, with muffled sound and disbelief on Dawn's part.
I used to have issues with Dawn as a character, but the more I rewatch the show, the more I come to understand and like her. Her disbelief here is so relatable (the only thing even more relatable, in my opinion, is Anya's reaction, but I'll elaborate later). Her innocent wish to see her mother's body and the question she asks at the end of the episode - "Where did she go?" - are the testament to how disarming and overwhelming death can be. The suddenness of Joyce's death is highlighted many times throughout the episode: the paramedics tell Buffy that Joyce had apparently died a long time ago; the doctor says nobody could have done anything, the rupture in her brain was undetectable and even if Buffy had been there with Joyce, she couldn't have stopped it. That is both terrifying and absolving: this is nobody's fault, this is something that could happen to anyone. The only comfort to be found in this situation is what Buffy tells Dawn at the morgue: "It's not her."
4. Willow. Willow's reaction could be seen as the opposite to Buffy's but it's really just shock too. It's impossible to predict what would seem important, which is why Willow's obsessive search for the blue blouse she knows Joyce liked is so painfully realistic. I don't know if I'm reading too much into it but when Willow discards all her clothes and says: "Why can't I dress like a grown-up?", it sounds like ¨Why can't I be a grown-up?" Grown-ups are supposed to know how to handle these things. They're supposed to be tough. The truth is, no one really knows how to handle it. The characters of BtVS are basically children, only 20 years old in the fifth season. They've saved the world many times, they've seen death and destruction, they possess powers and knowledge, but reality is a cruel thing that doesn't care for any of that. When faced with something so mundane, they just boggle down.
This episode also shows Willow and Tara kissing for the first time, and I think it's brilliant. We know they have a relationship. We even know they have a sexual relationship because we've seen them in bed together and there have been other hints. But it's never been shown - and then we get a kiss at such a strange time. That's what's so powerful in it: the emphasis is not on the orientation of the characters, not even on the romantic story, but on the comfort and the intimacy one person can give another during a crisis.
5. Xander. This season has really been building up Xander's confidence and cementing his role as the heart of the gang. He makes his feelings for Anya very clear to her; he mediates between Buffy and Riley and is there for her when Riley leaves. Xander isn't supersmart, doesn't have fancy computer skills or magical powers or superstrength, but he is a builder, he is the one that confronts the scariest threats while being arguably the weakest of the bunch (my favourite examples of that are when he confronts Angelus at the hospital in 2x18, "Killed By Death" and when he confronts Jack at school in 3x13, "The Zeppo"). In "The Body", Xander is mostly numb, barring one angry, babbling outburst about doctors. Anya says he cried and won't say anything. After being quiet for a part of the scene, Xander unexpectedly slams his hand into the wall. For a heart to be so numb and so angry at once is a scary thing.
6. Tara. Tara is mostly there supporting Willow, but it's not just that. Tara is traditionally a very quiet member of the gang and still sort of on the outside, but I love the scene between her and Buffy at the hospital.
"Family" establishes that Tara is part of the gang (just a couple of episodes before, she refers to herself as a non-Scooby), but it's obvious that her integration isn't seamless. Tara is a skilled witch and she's Willow girlfriend, but it's obviously not enough for the emotional connection to be cemented. I think the difference between her and Anya here is that Anya never seemed to be bothered about not fitting in; that's why she does fit in. In this scene, Buffy apologizes to Tara like one would apologize to an acquaintance rather than a friend. But this is also where Tara becomes a friend. Tara went through the same thing years ago, she is the only one who can relate to what Buffy is going through now and, moreover, she tells Buffy that what Buffy is feeling is normal just when Buffy needs to hear it. That's an interesting parallel with season 6 where Tara is the first person to learn about Buffy's relationship with Spike - and once again, Tara tells her that this is just a way of dealing with things, that Buffy hasn't come back wrong. Tara is often a background character and she is seldom given any role outside of her relationship with Willow (which is a pity because she is a strong character in her own right), but this is definitely one of her greatest moments.
7. Anya. I saved Anya for last because oh my God, that scene. Anya's breadown is spectacular, painful, a brilliant display of shock, vulnerability, misunderstanding and pretty much every other emotion ever.
Anya's clumsy attempts at dealing with her forced humanity frequently make a brilliant comic relief. She is rude and she doesn't see the point of pretending to care about things she doesn't care about (like she can't understand why she has to wish customers to have a nice day after they've given her the money). She speaks her mind, often divulging personal things that are not usually discussed in company ("We've enjoyed spanking"). She is quick-tempered and often disrespectful, but she is also learning. Anya is over 1100 years old, she doesn't really remember how to be human (though from what I understand she had always been a bit weird). And suddenly she has to face the most human thing there is: death of natural causes. I think her breakdown is so powerful because while the numerous questions she asks may seem inhumane ("Are they going to cut her open?") and insensitive, it's actually the most natural reaction there is. I personally reacted exactly the same way when my grandfather died. It was the first funeral I ever went to and I didn't know anything. I didn't cry, I was just sort of numb and didn't really want to be here because I felt uncomfortable, not knowing what I should do. It's not even "what humans do" but what I personally should do. Do I just stand still? Do I talk to other people and if yes, what do I say? I understand Anya's confusion very well here: she is out of the loop and nobody wants to answer her question because everyone fails to remember she is new to this, but also because they are also new to this. They might have the theoretical knowledge, but they're just as lost as she is. Anya's monologue is the point where most viewers break down. I think it's one of the most brilliant monologues in the history of TV-shows.
Anya: "Are they gonna cut the body open?"
Willow: "Oh my god! Would you just... stop talking? Just... shut your mouth. Please."
Anya: "What am I doing?"
Willow: "How can you act like that?"
Anya: "Am I supposed to be changing my clothes a lot? Is that the helpful thing to do?"
Xander: "Guys..."
Willow: "The way you behave-"
Anya: "Nobody will tell me."
Willow: "Because it's not okay for you to be asking these things!"
Anya: "But I don't understand! I don't understand how this all happens. How we go through this. I mean, I knew her, and then she's, there's just a body, and I don't understand why she just can't get back in it and not be dead anymore. It's stupid. It's mortal and stupid. And, and Xander's crying and not talking, and, and I was having fruit punch, and I thought, well, Joyce will never have any more fruit punch ever, and she'll never have eggs, or yawn or brush her hair, not ever, and no one will explain to me why."
Willow: "We don't know... how it works... or why."
I think these questions: "Am I supposed to be changing my clothes a lot? Is that the helpful thing to do?" are very indicative of Anya's character. She is not evil. She wasn't evil when she was a demon either and she's certainly not a bad person. She has always been quirky and mostly on the outside (her flashbacks in season 7 prove it; perhaps that's why she embraced the task of vengeance so readily, it must have given her the sense of belonging and purpose), but she is also very passionate, she gives herself away readily to the things that she cares about: she was quick to exact vengeance because she felt Olaf's betrayal very keenly; she embraced vengeance readily; she embraced the Scooby gang because it matters to Xander whom she loves immensely. For all her faults, Anya is driven by her desire to help. She doesn't understand the chaos around her, but she is still asking what the "helpful" thing to do would be. It's heartbreaking that she is completely unaware that her attitude might seem strange to people, that her questions might unsettle them. Anya has just realized what mortality really means. She has realized it not just about Joyce, but about herself and Xander too. As far as discoveries go, it's a pretty huge one, so I think Anya has ever right to feel and act the way she does. Another factor is that there is literally no right way to act in such circumstances. As Tara says, "it's always different". And ways and means to deal are also different. In my opinion, what Anya is going through is very natural and realistic. And of course the acting is superb.
Speaking of the acting, there is one actor people often overlook: Kristine Sutherland (Joyce). At least the others had something to do, to focus their energy on something, whereas she just had to lie still and look dead. Which was actually pretty scary because every time the body appeared, it looked deader and less like Joyce. Kudos to the stylists and the actress herself.
Overall, the emotional impact of "The Body" is enormous. It's the kind of an episode that stays with you and causes a response no matter how many times you've seen it. It's a milestone for Buffy as a character and it changes the dynamics between some characters (such as Buffy and Tara for example). Spike is notably absent from this episode, which is probably for the best, but I do wonder how he found out.
I think death is always an issue in supernatural stories because it can be defeated in ways that it can't IRL. Unless it's a rare and terrible death from non-supernatural causes (though Angel proves that there are supernatural non-reversible deaths too). This is why people like Joyce, Tara, Cassie are the worst reminder that reality is never far away and one day it will catch up with you. And it's always sudden, always in the worst possible moment and always gut-wrenching. It's also very Whedon.
All pictures are taken from Google and are not mine.