Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer

[tomalak301]

The Prom

This episode was beautiful. I thought it was going to get bogged down in Melodrama, but it really worked. I know they've been setting up Angel so there had to be a scene where Angel breaks up with Buffy, but having that being the backdrop of the entire episode really did work, and it didn't feel soap opera-ish at all. With the big finale coming, this felt like the calm before the storm, where the Students can have one more great night together before all hell breaks lose and they graduate. It was kind of funny hearing Johnathan saying this is the lowest fatality rate for a senior class considering what is going to happen (and I don't know what is going to happen, but it is a 2 part season finale and when you hear a comment like that, treat it very ominously).

Speaking of Johnathan, I don't really tear up that much when it comes to TV shows and movies. Maybe I'm just an unemotional bastard, but the show needs to work pretty hard to get an emotional reaction out of me. Buffy has done it a few times now (Prophecy Girl, Innocence, The episode where Angelous is torturing Buffy by going after everyone she cares about, the season 2 finale) and they did it again. Also, it's interesting thinking about the original airing and them having to hold back Earshot Because of Columbine. It's Johnathan, the guy who was thinking about committing suicide because no one cared about him except for Buffy, who gave that very nice speech. Also, I hope I wasn't the only one who thought Mary Poppins when the reward was an Umbrella. I mean it was a protector of the year, and Mary Poppins was a protector. Also, was this an admission that Buffy was practically perfect in every way. Maybe that might be too much praise, but considering everything Buffy has done for that school, I can see teenagers feeling that way.

On a more fun note, I loved the scene where Johnathan says the school has seen it's share of bad stuff and one student shouts out Snyder.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Maybe Ted had a poorly shielded reactor, inside him, and that's why he kept needing new "wives" for his bunker?

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

The scene where Jonathan gives Buffy the Class Protector Umbrella is one of my favourites.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

So basically just like Giles.

The two characters have a very similar basis. I've never heard anything in particular about what the writers thought at the time, but I've always believed Wesley was introduced specifically to contrast how far Giles had come by reminding everyone where he started. Watching season 3 Wesley and season 1 Giles side by side is kind of uncanny, except in the simple fact that Wesley is just a touch more naive, in particular in regards to believing that the watchers council and all its rules are perfect.

But while that shared basis does necessitate that both move in a certain direction over time, Wesley's later development is much more involved than Giles'. Giles, for the most part, is a watcher, a wise man and a father figure. Wesley gets to be a LOT more than that and in very unexpected and memorable ways.

 

[OCD Geek]

God, I love this episode. I usually pop it on after watching Buffy or Angel's series finale. After everything all the characters have been through it's a fun nostalgia trip seeing them all just being kids and going to the prom (or chaperoning the prom). And that last shot where we see Buffy and Angel with the entire extended Scooby Gang dancing nearby is lovely.

 

[tomalak301]

Considering Graduation 1 was basically all set up, I'm not going to talk about it that much, and I just started part 2. What I will say is that fight scene between Buffy and Faith was really really well done. I also liked Buffy pretty much telling the council to go pound sand, and the comeback after Wesley says this is Mutiny and Buffy says, "I prefer to call it...Graduation Day" might be one of my favorite pieces of dialoge in the series, especially what we saw when Trevor fired Giles.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The class protector is probably my favorite scene from the first three seasons.

 

[tomalak301]

Graduation Day, Part 2

Boy when they do finales on this show they love going big. I would call that an epic season finale, even though it actually felt like a series finale. It really was about surviving high school, literally and figuratively.
This felt like the end of phase one of this story, and like I said it could have been a series finale. The first three seasons were all about navigating high school, for better or worse, and we literally got the end of High School. I loved Oz's comment at the end about that very thing. He really did prove to be an eternal optimist in both parts of this finale.

This was the second time Buffy has "died" in this series, and maybe like the first, I'm a little confused as to how. Did Spirit Faith just revive her? Is she immortal? Am I overthinking this? She goes in needing a transfusion, has the dream with Faith, and is suddenly on her feet ready to go to war with the Mayor. I feel like I missed a scene.

Was this the Snake that caused the confusion when I was talking about the other "Snake"? Yeah it kinda looked a little dated but it was still menacing enough. I loved the battle scenes though, and the end of Snyder was kind of apropos.

Overall, I liked season 3, even though I think Season 2 is a lot better. It took a while for this season to get going but once we got Faith to turn and delved more into the Mayor, things were going really well. I think Groaner did a great job as the Mayor here, and considering this series has revived it's main character a couple times now, I don't think this is the last of Faith. I loved that personal storyline between Buffy and Faith, and I would even say it was my favorite storyline of the season.

In terms of favorite episodes from this year:

Lovers Walk
Helpless (Favorite episode of the season)
Consequences
The Prom
Graduation Day II

Looking forward to Buffy, The College Years.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

I think you are overthinking the Buffy 'death' thing a bit, yeah. Especially since I never really thought Buffy was supposed to be 'dead' at all in this episode.

The thing with Faith is just a mystical plot point that gives Buffy the information she needs to beat Wilkins (use his sentimentality for Faith against him). That she wakes up right after is just her normal slayer healing at work.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I haven’t seen Buffy in ages, but wasn’t there a line somewhere in this episode

Spoiler

that was already setting up season 5? Dream Faith tells Buffy that Dawn is coming?

 

[CorporalClegg]

Yeah. Buffy didn't die. She was just unconscious. They just shared a vision dream (like the one Buffy had in Surprise.)

I haven’t seen Buffy in ages, but wasn’t there a line somewhere in this episode

Spoiler

that was already setting up season 5? Dream Faith tells Buffy that Dawn is coming?

Yes.

 

[tomalak301]

Yeah. Buffy didn't die. She was just unconscious. They just shared a vision dream (like the one Buffy had in Surprise.)


Yes.

So maybe she got the transfusion before the dream sequence? I could buy that. I mean she was pretty weak in the hospital. It's not something I'm detracting the episode for, but I was just a little confused by it all. I actually did like the dream sequence quite a bit, especially considering their relationship leading up to that point.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I recommend going back and watching the dream sequence after you finish the next two seasons.

#mindblown

 

[Turtletrekker]

Faith is a character that jumps back and forth between Buffy and Angel. My favorite Faith story is actually in Angel, in an arc that also guest stars Willow.

 

[tomalak301]

So maybe she got the transfusion before the dream sequence? I could buy that. I mean she was pretty weak in the hospital. It's not something I'm detracting the episode for, but I was just a little confused by it all. I actually did like the dream sequence quite a bit, especially considering their relationship leading up to that point.

I rewatched the hospital and dream sequence again. Yeah she wasn’t dead and I’m a little dense. Oh well. Still a great finale.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I haven’t seen Buffy in ages, but wasn’t there a line somewhere in this episode

Spoiler

that was already setting up season 5? Dream Faith tells Buffy that Dawn is coming?

Actually to expand on that a little...

Spoiler

There isn't actually any line about Dawn specifically. The cat is an avatar of Dawn, but B&F are actually talking about Glory. She is Little Ms. Muffet - remember, the crazy guy calls Dawn "curds and wey." The whole thing is cleverly worded to make you think they're talking about the Mayor. And it certainly works on a double entendre level. But even the line "Human weakness never goes away ... even his." is actually referring to Ben.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

Actually to expand on that a little...

Spoiler

There isn't actually any line about Dawn specifically. The cat is an avatar of Dawn, but B&F are actually talking about Glory. She is Little Ms. Muffet - remember, the crazy guy calls Dawn "curds and wey." The whole thing is cleverly worded to make you think they're talking about the Mayor. And it certainly works on a double entendre level. But even the line "Human weakness never goes away ... even his." is actually referring to Ben.

Spoiler

It's easy to confuse the dream sequence from Graduation Day with the one from Restless. There is an actual specific line in the one in Restless that says 'Be back before Dawn'. That's probably what Victorious was thinking of.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Spoiler

It's easy to confuse the dream sequence from Graduation Day with the one from Restless. There is an actual specific line in the one in Restless that says 'Be back before Dawn'. That's probably what Victorious was thinking of.

Spoiler

And another in This Year's Girl.

 

[USS Firefly]

Season finale was indeed a great episode, especially Wesley's fight scène

 

[theenglish]

Graduation Day, Part 2

Boy when they do finales on this show they love going big. I would call that an epic season finale, even though it actually felt like a series finale. It really was about surviving high school, literally and figuratively.
This felt like the end of phase one of this story, and like I said it could have been a series finale. The first three seasons were all about navigating high school, for better or worse, and we literally got the end of High School. I loved Oz's comment at the end about that very thing. He really did prove to be an eternal optimist in both parts of this finale.

This was the second time Buffy has "died" in this series, and maybe like the first, I'm a little confused as to how. Did Spirit Faith just revive her? Is she immortal? Am I overthinking this? She goes in needing a transfusion, has the dream with Faith, and is suddenly on her feet ready to go to war with the Mayor. I feel like I missed a scene.

Was this the Snake that caused the confusion when I was talking about the other "Snake"? Yeah it kinda looked a little dated but it was still menacing enough. I loved the battle scenes though, and the end of Snyder was kind of apropos.

Overall, I liked season 3, even though I think Season 2 is a lot better. It took a while for this season to get going but once we got Faith to turn and delved more into the Mayor, things were going really well. I think Groaner did a great job as the Mayor here, and considering this series has revived it's main character a couple times now, I don't think this is the last of Faith. I loved that personal storyline between Buffy and Faith, and I would even say it was my favorite storyline of the season.

In terms of favorite episodes from this year:

Lovers Walk
Helpless (Favorite episode of the season)
Consequences
The Prom
Graduation Day II

Looking forward to Buffy, The College Years.

Season 3 is my personal favorite of the series. This is not to say the remaining seasons are not excellent, but like Season 3 of TNG this is where Buffy set the bar for quality.