Buffy ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[WillsBabe]

Revelations is one of my favourites, although there are a couple of weak points for me. While we're on the subject of accents, I think that Kirsten Scott Thomas' accent sounds incredibly fake, and she is actually British. The other weak point for me is when Post swings Faith to her way of thinking by telling her the Scoobies are having a get together to which she's not inivted. It seems a very weak moment to me.

I like the idea that it's Buffy's connection to humanity and normality that keeps her grounded and attatched to the living and so keeps her alive. I like the contrast of Faith to Buffy and Buffy to Kendra. Buffy is held up as the "normal" by the book one in relation to faith, but in relation to Kendra she's shown as having abnormal relations (her relationship with Angel). I guess the best we can hope for is some middle ground, which is what I like about Whedon's stuff, you have to keep thinking.

Faith on Buffy - there is a lot of subtext to their relationship. I don't actually think there's anything going on, especially from Buffy's pov, but it is played around with a lot. I didn't realise until watching this time around how much of it there is.

 

[I am not Spock]

God I love season three. There isnt really a single ep in the bunch which I didn't like.

 

[Forbin]

On the Wheldon thing - all you have to do is delete the L when you post the review. Or hit the EDIT button after you post to go back and fix it.

 

[WillsBabe]

God I love season three. There isnt really a single ep in the bunch which I didn't like.

It is a fab season, isn't it? There's some really good stuff. I think there are a couple of episodes that I dislike (Gingerbread and Helpless). I'm surprised to find that I prefer season 2. Originally, season 3 was my out and out favourite. (But it's a bit like saying "this big, shiny diamond isn't as big and shiny as that big, shiny diamond..." )

 

[AJBryant]

WHEDON, dammit. WHEDON!!!!!!!

 

[Skellington]

God I love season three. There isnt really a single ep in the bunch which I didn't like.

It is a fab season, isn't it? There's some really good stuff. I think there are a couple of episodes that I dislike (Gingerbread and Helpless). I'm surprised to find that I prefer season 2. Originally, season 3 was my out and out favourite. (But it's a bit like saying "this big, shiny diamond isn't as big and shiny as that big, shiny diamond..." )

I have to admit that I (re)discovered season two's overall awesomeness on the recent rewatch.

 

[Skellington]

SFX's Top 50 Vampires.

 

[I am not Spock]

God I love season three. There isnt really a single ep in the bunch which I didn't like.

It is a fab season, isn't it? There's some really good stuff. I think there are a couple of episodes that I dislike (Gingerbread and Helpless). I'm surprised to find that I prefer season 2. Originally, season 3 was my out and out favourite. (But it's a bit like saying "this big, shiny diamond isn't as big and shiny as that big, shiny diamond..." )

Hmm. You make a fair point. Gingerbread is possibly the only ep in the season which is expendable, really, in terms of the show's arc. If you were forced to cut one, it may be that. Although, wait a minute, it does have arc significance. Amy turns into a rat for the next three seasons in this ep, so can't lose this one! Amy plays a large part in triggering Willow's downfall in season six later on.

Most episodes of Buffy, even the standalones, introduce something new, or we as viewers learn something new about the unravelling plot. Maybe not so much in the first two seasons, with episodic stories like 'The Puppet Show', 'Inca Mummy Girl', etc (although the latter did introduce Jonathan, mind you). For that reason, you can't be without 'Helpless' as it is a majorly important episode in the show's mythology.

 

[Nick Ryder]

One thing about Buffy is that even the lame ass episodes fit into the greater mythology of the series and the characters. Some seem weak at the time, but really are just part of a larger story.

Who'd have thought that H'ween ep would have still been referenced and the skills Xander got from it would STILL be semi-useful all the way to Season 7 even if he forgot most of it by that point.

 

[WillsBabe]

Hmm. You make a fair point. Gingerbread is possibly the only ep in the season which is expendable, really, in terms of the show's arc. If you were forced to cut one, it may be that. Although, wait a minute, it does have arc significance. Amy turns into a rat for the next three seasons in this ep, so can't lose this one! Amy plays a large part in triggering Willow's downfall in season six later on.

Most episodes of Buffy, even the standalones, introduce something new, or we as viewers learn something new about the unravelling plot. Maybe not so much in the first two seasons, with episodic stories like 'The Puppet Show', 'Inca Mummy Girl', etc (although the latter did introduce Jonathan, mind you). For that reason, you can't be without 'Helpless' as it is a majorly important episode in the show's mythology.

The reason I dislike Gingerbread is because I feel it's a really weak episode in relation to the others that came before it. It feels like a season one episode, or a standalone season 2 episode. For me it's as if they've found an old script and padded out the season. True point about Amy, though.

I really dislike Helpless because I find it shocking that Giles would do to Buffy what he does to her. Again, for me, it's the placing of the episode that seems like a misstep to me. I could understand if this episode came in season one, but it seems like a betrayal of Buffy by Giles at this point in their relationship, and I find it hard to swallow by this point. On the other hand, I know it's probably not a mis-step by Whedon to have this happen here, and he knows what he's doing since we have (I think) the first real acknowledgement of Giles as Buffy's substitute father with the Icescapade conversation.

 

[saturn5]

I think the hints of the father/daughter relationship were there before, notably in Innocence. Are you saying I have to individually take out every L in Whedon/Wheldon because I'm not going back through 268 reviews and doing them all!
I think season 2 whilst fantastic has it's weak points (Bad Eggs, Reptile Boy) but season 3 just hits is past the boundary every time

Lover's Walk

The Good;
Spike is back in town and emotional hell follows with him for the rest of the cast! I think it's at this point that Buffy really stops being about the demon of the week and starts being about the relationships.

The Bad;
Are you kidding?

Best line;
Spike; I may be love's bitch but at least I'm man enough to admit it

Wheldon Cliches;
Character death;
Bye bye to another magic shop owner. Spike's killing her is horrible in the extreme, the sheer brutality of it. The scene where Spike threatens to push a broken bottle in Willow's face is also horrible (pay attention Spike fans!). I remember watching this ep for the first time and thinking "NO! They can't kill Cordy!" but eventually they do. Presumably the funeral we see is of the Magic Shop owner?
Shot;
Tied up;

Knocked out; Cordy and Xander

Xander and Cordy
Women good/men bad; Joyce wants Buffy to go to parties with kegs and boys, as it happens neither will work out well for her.

Kinky dinky; Willow thinks bowling and rented shoes are sexy which is a whole level of kink beyond my ken, my barbie and all my action figures. Spike also seems to be quite enamoured of Willow (Spillow?) which will be referred to again in season 4. He also talks of 'having a woman' which implies that a vamp feeding is akin to a sexual act. Spike says he's going to torture Dru until she loves him again.?

Calling Captain Subtext; How much do we adore the scene between Spike and Joyce? Of course when we see Spike's relationship with his own mum, we understand why. Spike also refers to Angel as 'peaches' and a 'great poof' which must have had Spangel fans working overtime. Buffy comments that for some reason she can't fool Spike hinting at their relationship to come and possibly Spikes hidden sensitivity (realising in season 4 that Willow is falling apart, empathising with Dawn in season 5). Plus Dru senses that Spike is infatuated with the Slayer.

Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy and Angel beat up and threaten to kill Spike for info

Questions and observations;
Willow refers to Cletus the slack jawed yokel from the Simpsons. Weirdly Buffy has never even been referenced on that show as far as I know? Xander refers to Buffy and him working at the drive-in, both will but not at the same time. Surely the Mayor wouldn't have let Spike and co run rampant last year and destroyed the world? Xander recognises the ingredients for a love spell from his experience in BBB. Note Xander refers to wanting to be a fireman which will also feature in The Replacement. Weirdly Buffy says that Spike's not known for keeping his word but to judge by 'Lie to Me' and 'Becoming' he actually does? Or does she mean that he'd promised that he'd never return to Sunnydale? Note that even Angel with a soul still knows how to push Spike's buttons? Cordy's expression upon seeing Xander and Willow together is just heartrending.
Buffy scores remarkably well on the SATs once again showing us there's brains behind that blonde hair. Love Cordy's bizarre leap of logic that Xander has been kidnapped by Columbian drug barons?
Really you get the idea that they're toying with the idea of Spike as a regular character and this was a test for it. Of course he fit the bill and the rest is history

10/10 no question

 

[WillsBabe]

I think the hints of the father/daughter relationship were there before, notably in Innocence.

I completely missed that. I'll look out for it on my next run through, which, given past form, will be 2025. Scary!

Are you saying I have to individually take out every L in Whedon/Wheldon because I'm not going back through 268 reviews and doing them all!

Others seem to be hung up about it. Me, I'm more interested in your reviews and observations than your spelling.

Really you get the idea that they're toying with the idea of Spike as a regular character and this was a test for it.

Good observation. I was really lulled into a false sense of security rewatching this epsiode. Him killing the magic shop owner was so shocking. And a great way for the writers to remind us not to get complacent.

 

[I am not Spock]

I think season 2 whilst fantastic has it's weak points (Bad Eggs, Reptile Boy) but season 3 just hits is past the boundary every time

Yes. Season 2's first half is mostly pretty good, with a few filler standalones (Bad Eggs, Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy, etc), interspersed with a few great episodes (Lie to Me, School Hard). After Surprise/Innocence, it becomes one of the greatest seasons of TV ever. Aside from Go Fish, the second half is killer stuff.

Season 3 however, is pretty much knockout the whole season through.

Some may not agree, but Season 5 comes close to 3, in my opinion. Especially the second half of season 5, with The Body and The Gift being some of the greatest television I've ever seen.

 

[I am not Spock]

One thing about Buffy is that even the lame ass episodes fit into the greater mythology of the series and the characters. Some seem weak at the time, but really are just part of a larger story.

Who'd have thought that H'ween ep would have still been referenced and the skills Xander got from it would STILL be semi-useful all the way to Season 7 even if he forgot most of it by that point.

Precisely. This is why I love the show. It's like a novel for TV. The arcs are incredible. I'm not sure how far in advance they planned things, but in the end, it all fits together pretty remarkably well. You have things like Xander playing Oedipus (a character who gets blinded) in season 1 (remembering what happens to him in late season 7), and Buffy crawling out of her grave in 'Nightmares' (season one). This kind of stuff may not have been intentional, but it is all very interesting stuff to notice when you rewatch the eps from the beginning.

I wondered why the hell Tara interrupted Will's demon locator spell in 'Who Are You' (season four), only to find out a season later in 'Family'. That is some pretty awesome foreshadowing.

I think the seeds for Spike's infatuation with Buffy started very early on in the show, before 'Lover's Walk'. In fact, maybe as far back as his first appearance in 'School Hard'. Look at the way he studies his prey in the Bronze as he sees her for the first time. Yes, he wants to kill her at this point, but there's already an almost sexual fascination with the Slayer there.

 

[Forbin]

IAre you saying I have to individually take out every L in Whedon/Wheldon because I'm not going back through 268 reviews and doing them all!

Not at all, just do it in the new posts as you posts them. I mean, it's two clicks - select the L, hit delete.

 

[WillsBabe]

It's like a novel for TV. The arcs are incredible.

I was just thinking this myself having watched seasons two and three back to back. I was thinking it the other day, how I feel like I've just read a big, fat novel. It hangs together so well.

 

[AJBryant]

Are you saying I have to individually take out every L in Whedon/Wheldon because I'm not going back through 268 reviews and doing them all!

I don't care if you fix the past ones. I just want you to STOP doing it. It's annoying, and it's been pointed out more than once. How hard is it to spell the guy's name right?

I'm enjoying the reviews, but every time I see that "Wheldon" it's a cold slap in the face. I curse, grit my teeth, roll my eyes, and then keep reading.

 

[Skellington]

Bored now.

 

[WillsBabe]

^ Me, too. Hope saturn didn't get put off by the comments about the spelling of Whedon's name. I think s/he may have said they were away for a few days, iirc. Looking forward to more reviews. I'm half way through season 4 myself at the moment.

 

[Lindley]

Seriously, it's not a big deal. Open your document, do a search/replace, save, and you're done. It'll take about 10 seconds.