Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer
- Thread starter tomalak301
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Sorry. I spend way too much time on TV Tropes (It's so fucking addictive) and should have been clearer. "Word of God" is when an artist confirms something through interviews or audio commentaries that isn't made 100% apparent in the work itself. In the audio commentary for Bad Girls, writer Douglas Petrie said this about Faith's heart drawing:
In interviews since the show ended, it came out that Eliza Dushku felt that her character had an unrequited crush on Buffy and some members of Buffy's writing staff (off the top of my head, Douglas Petrie and Jane Espenson) agreed. They then coded Faith as bi in their scripts and her performance, but didn't tell anyone. Years later Joss Whedon found out, thought about it and agreed. Giving it his stamp of approval and making it canon through "Word of God".
Enemies
Now that's how you do payoff to keep Arcs going. If this was a DC show, an episode like this would have happened maybe the second the last episode of the season. Instead, this is Buffy, this is Joss Whedon, and this is how you do a satisfying payoff in a span of 3 episodes. I have to admit that I kinda knew Angel was faking being Angelous again, or at least it seemed something was up. I mean one of the things I loved about Season 2 was when he turned, he became an emotionally unstable psychopath. Faith would have been dead in 5 minutes if the real Angelous had been there. However, this series is about the characters, so watching it play out was honestly pretty awesome. The Sooby Gang got everything, Faith working with the Mayor, asension day happening around Graduation, finding out the Mayor is Immortal (I still think he's a demon), and I guess the Buffy/Angel thing is off again. Of course the last few episodes have pretty much set up Angel so considering Boreanez is going to be leaving for his own show soon, it's good that it happened sooner rather than later.
I think the best thing about this episode though is this was the perfect time to have some huge reveals. They didn't dwell on Faith working with the Mayor for a long time. We can actually have 5 episodes worth of fallout from this while setting up for the finale. Like I said before, this series is perfect when it comes to pacing. It makes the story they're trying to tell feel that much more exciting. Also, I do feel like there has been a turnaround in terms of Season 3 being good. I still think Season 2 will be my favorite after this season ends, but I'm enjoying where the show is going.
Now that's how you do payoff to keep Arcs going. If this was a DC show, an episode like this would have happened maybe the second the last episode of the season. Instead, this is Buffy, this is Joss Whedon, and this is how you do a satisfying payoff in a span of 3 episodes. I have to admit that I kinda knew Angel was faking being Angelous again, or at least it seemed something was up. I mean one of the things I loved about Season 2 was when he turned, he became an emotionally unstable psychopath. Faith would have been dead in 5 minutes if the real Angelous had been there. However, this series is about the characters, so watching it play out was honestly pretty awesome. The Sooby Gang got everything, Faith working with the Mayor, asension day happening around Graduation, finding out the Mayor is Immortal (I still think he's a demon), and I guess the Buffy/Angel thing is off again. Of course the last few episodes have pretty much set up Angel so considering Boreanez is going to be leaving for his own show soon, it's good that it happened sooner rather than later.
I think the best thing about this episode though is this was the perfect time to have some huge reveals. They didn't dwell on Faith working with the Mayor for a long time. We can actually have 5 episodes worth of fallout from this while setting up for the finale. Like I said before, this series is perfect when it comes to pacing. It makes the story they're trying to tell feel that much more exciting. Also, I do feel like there has been a turnaround in terms of Season 3 being good. I still think Season 2 will be my favorite after this season ends, but I'm enjoying where the show is going.
Earshot
I really liked that episode, as both just your typical Buffy episode and social commentary. Yeah it might not have aged well because this would have aired really close to the Columbine shooting but the way it was actually done was really well written. I loved the twist with Johnathon (The Gunman) wanting to commit suicide while the chef was the one who was plotting mass murder. The scene with Buffy and Jon was very poignant, and something we always seem to forget when it comes to a gun shooting or someone dealing with depression. I also loved some of the levity this episode had, like Buffy finding out that Giles and her mom had sex during the whole band candy incident and Buffy hearing the thoughts of everyone.
Also, I haven't mentioned it but there is something I am liking Wesley for right now. Cordelia having the hots for him is kinda fun at the moment. Wesley hasn't really done anything since his introduction, but I'm actually finding I'm liking having him around. His chemistry with Giles is pretty good so far.
I really liked that episode, as both just your typical Buffy episode and social commentary. Yeah it might not have aged well because this would have aired really close to the Columbine shooting but the way it was actually done was really well written. I loved the twist with Johnathon (The Gunman) wanting to commit suicide while the chef was the one who was plotting mass murder. The scene with Buffy and Jon was very poignant, and something we always seem to forget when it comes to a gun shooting or someone dealing with depression. I also loved some of the levity this episode had, like Buffy finding out that Giles and her mom had sex during the whole band candy incident and Buffy hearing the thoughts of everyone.
Also, I haven't mentioned it but there is something I am liking Wesley for right now. Cordelia having the hots for him is kinda fun at the moment. Wesley hasn't really done anything since his introduction, but I'm actually finding I'm liking having him around. His chemistry with Giles is pretty good so far.
People often compare Earshot to TNG's "Tin Man" because Harry Groener or whatever. I guess they have a vaguely similar concept, but I never saw it as anything more than people trying to force a connection.
Still, it does make one wonder if Whedon and Co. ripped-off that one Dennis Bailey guy.
Still, it does make one wonder if Whedon and Co. ripped-off that one Dennis Bailey guy.
you may not have noticed him, but Jonathan first appeared in the second season's Inca Mummy Girl, and has been a background face ever since. He'll become more prominent as the show progresses.
There is no comparison other than the guy wanting silence. He didn't want to kill himself, just live the rest of his days in peace. Also, Jon wasn't the one who was reading everyone's thoughts.
We don't know that they're friends just that Giles introduced him to his wife. I like to think Giles moonlights at Willy's and there was a single's mixer he hosted.
I did notice. He's popped up a few times leading to this episode.
Jonathan was originally in the pilot too, but his scene was cut.
These days Danny Strong has own little empire ... so to speak.
These days Danny Strong has own little empire ... so to speak.
Choices
There isn't really much to say about this episode except for something I really noticed at the end. Don't get me wrong it was a great episode, and it advanced the arc quite a bit (Again), but I really liked the scene with Buffy and Willow talking about their future. It actually made me think about the premiere and the second episode about how their friendship was tested, but I think it's gotten a lot stronger as the season has gone on. Also, Willow really is able to handle herself well. Her barbs with Faith were pretty good, and she did what she does best, be resourceful by taking the important pages from the Book of Ascension. Thinking about some of the episodes I've seen already, Hannigan might end up being the MVP of this season. She's really bringing a lot to the Willow character, whether it's evil Willow or Willow the loyal companion.
I'm also really liking Groaner's character, which was someone that took a while to get used to. Is he Spike or Drusilla, no. He's still a slimeball and it's just kinda fun watching this character develop now that we're at the end of the season. Every episode adds something new to this guy, and yeah it's more of an impact to binge rather than watch each week, but in the back half, they've really done a great job developing this villain a lot more.
There isn't really much to say about this episode except for something I really noticed at the end. Don't get me wrong it was a great episode, and it advanced the arc quite a bit (Again), but I really liked the scene with Buffy and Willow talking about their future. It actually made me think about the premiere and the second episode about how their friendship was tested, but I think it's gotten a lot stronger as the season has gone on. Also, Willow really is able to handle herself well. Her barbs with Faith were pretty good, and she did what she does best, be resourceful by taking the important pages from the Book of Ascension. Thinking about some of the episodes I've seen already, Hannigan might end up being the MVP of this season. She's really bringing a lot to the Willow character, whether it's evil Willow or Willow the loyal companion.
I'm also really liking Groaner's character, which was someone that took a while to get used to. Is he Spike or Drusilla, no. He's still a slimeball and it's just kinda fun watching this character develop now that we're at the end of the season. Every episode adds something new to this guy, and yeah it's more of an impact to binge rather than watch each week, but in the back half, they've really done a great job developing this villain a lot more.
I was checking in on Fat Willow earlier today. She quit acting, graduated Harvard and now she's a resource manager/accountant at a large business. So she's fine, but Jonathan was in the original Pilot with her.
Danny Strong must have had a conflict against joining the cast for season one? But Danny can be seen on Billions infrequently.
Tom Lenk was one of Harmony's M####ns.
I forgot Tobolowsky was Flutie.
"That gym was filled with ... asbestos "
"Bing again!" "Watch out. That last vamp is a doozie!"
"That gym was filled with ... asbestos "
"Bing again!" "Watch out. That last vamp is a doozie!"
Though she has to go through life being known as Fat Willow.
Yeah I watched a little bit if that before bed and I was like, Ned Ryerson was going to be in Buffy? Weird.
Oh yeah, definitely.
I couldn't stand Wesley in his first few Buffy appearances, it's the character arc through Angel that makes him so great. He was a totally different character by the end of Angel, but it was a slow build up through his arc, not just a sudden change.
It blew my mind when I saw the later episodes with Johnathan, and then started over and saw that he first appeared back in the beginning of the show.
If Buffy Wesley was basically a foil. A neutral rule follower guy. Angel was after he realized the council rules were stupid.
So basically just like Giles.
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