Quoted for truth.
Buffy ep by ep; rewatch and reviews
- Thread starter saturn5
- Start date
Quoted for truth.
Yes, it is, I agree. I watched it the other day. I love James Marsters when he arrives and is being all the Big Bad, and then when he turns to Dru, he comes out of gameface. It's a great moment. I've always loved Spike but I don't think I've seen Buffy since it first aired, so it's several years since I first saw this episode, and it reminded me so much of why he's such an attractive character.
I love the choice of Prague being the venue for the mob's attack on Spike and Dru. There's something far-away, epic, romantic and fin de siecle about it - so much so that I always had it in mind that the attack had happened years ago and she'd been suffering ever since. Now I realise that it's more likely just happened.
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Hey, join us in the rewatch, you won't regret it
Inca Mummy Girl.
The Good;
Another doomed romance for Xander with a demon/older woman. Will's lovely Eskimo outfit and the first appearance of Oz and Devon, the first of Jonathon since the pilot. Buffy's identification with Ampata is lovely. A good enough ep but not a great one. Xanders as a cowboy from the country of Leone
The Bad;
Nothing really bad here, just a little lacking in sparkle
Best line;
Oz; What impresses me in a girl involves a feather boa and the theme from a summer place (the mind boggles but I'm sure it's been covered in fanfic).
Questions and observations;
The only ep in season 2 with no Angel in it whatsoever. No Jenny either. The cordettes are back but no Harmony. The mummy's way of killing people is reminiscent of an extremely so bad it's brilliant British sci-fi horror film called Lifeforce. We discover that Xander can drive and that he is aware of Willow's crush on him (which makes him turning her down all the more cruel). How does the mummy know to call Ampata's name at the bus station? Ampata shares Buffy's room, what about the one Dawn will eventually inhabit? Willow plays with a toy frog although it's later established that she fears real ones. This marks the beginning of Willow deciding to try for boys other than Xander. Buffy comments that one day Giles will have to get a proper car and indeed he does. Does Amapata have to drain people totally? Couldn't she just take little bits of Lifeforce so she doesn't kill anyone?
4/10
Reptile Boy;
The Good;
Buffy slumping her head onto the table. Willow's rant at Giles and Angel. Cordy and Buffy getting all hot-to-trot for the party. Queen C's driving skills. Jonathon! On a date with Cordy no less. Buffy pouting (Giles her father figure more than ever)
The Bad;
The endings a bit cheery considering the fate of all those poor girls over the years, just like the disappearing corpses in The Harvest. You utterly cringe at the misogyny of the Frat boys. What exactly do the Sunnydale police make of the demon's body?
Best Line;
Buffy (to Angel)"When you kiss me I want to die"
Questions and observations;
Buffy and Cordy go illicitly to a party with a bunch of older guys, pass out through drinking and end up in chains being menaced by a huge snake. Or what the girls at my old school used to call 'Saturday night'. (Apologies to the writers of Friends). Seriously though I was beginning to think I was seeing sexual subtext where there was none but upon listening to David Greenwalt's DVD commentary it's clear that's exactly what was intended. Xander also tries his hand at cross-dressing.
Another point for bisexual Will, she seems to fancy the frat boys. You wonder if Mayor Wilkins was a member of the fraternity?
An OK ep but not the best, I'll give it 6/10 but that might be a little generous
The Good;
Buffy slumping her head onto the table. Willow's rant at Giles and Angel. Cordy and Buffy getting all hot-to-trot for the party. Queen C's driving skills. Jonathon! On a date with Cordy no less. Buffy pouting (Giles her father figure more than ever)
The Bad;
The endings a bit cheery considering the fate of all those poor girls over the years, just like the disappearing corpses in The Harvest. You utterly cringe at the misogyny of the Frat boys. What exactly do the Sunnydale police make of the demon's body?
Best Line;
Buffy (to Angel)"When you kiss me I want to die"
Questions and observations;
Buffy and Cordy go illicitly to a party with a bunch of older guys, pass out through drinking and end up in chains being menaced by a huge snake. Or what the girls at my old school used to call 'Saturday night'. (Apologies to the writers of Friends). Seriously though I was beginning to think I was seeing sexual subtext where there was none but upon listening to David Greenwalt's DVD commentary it's clear that's exactly what was intended. Xander also tries his hand at cross-dressing.
Another point for bisexual Will, she seems to fancy the frat boys. You wonder if Mayor Wilkins was a member of the fraternity?
An OK ep but not the best, I'll give it 6/10 but that might be a little generous
Way generous. Lesson: if you're going to make "Animal House with Demons," at least make it funny.
Halloween
The Good;
Pretty much everything, great ep, love the alternate Scoobies, the Xena ref, the first appearance of Ethan and Ripper, the fight in the pumpkin stall at the beginning, Dru and Spike back, Oz, Larry, Cordy in her pussycat costume, Willow getting 'Sexy and Wild' (love her strutting at the end, do you think she got any offers?) the list goes on. Buffy unknowingly impersonating Darla and fainting (but at least she doesn't get tied up) and clinging onto Cordy's arm
The Bad;
Open to suggestions?
Best line;
Hard to pick but I'd say;
Willow "She couldn't have gone as Xena?
Just pipping Giles' "The ghost of what exactly?" upon seeing Will's streetwalker outft and "You went mental when?" from Cordy
Questions and observations:
Willow appears to be a Xena fan. Hmmmmm? Of course Xena started a couple of years before Buff and without it I don't think we'd have had Buffy. In one ep they refer to the play Buffus the Bachae Slayer. You could say that Spike's fascination with Buffy is evident in his watching the video of her fighting. Love Willow walking through the wall and people's reaction to it. The long tracking shot of Xander transforming into Rambo. Where are Joyce and Dawn during all of this? Either he reloads offscreen or Xander's rifle has a limitless magazine. Another hint of attraction between Cordy and soldier Xander. Angel wears a blue shirt which is ok but not really him. The Summers house get's trashed for the first time. How does the vamp Angel fights in the kitchen get in without being invited? First appearance of SDH's famous soda machine. Buffy get's sexually assaulted AGAIN, mauled by Pirate Larry (who really musn't be himself considering what we learn later). We discover that Cordy doesn't know Angel is a vamp. Xander tells Cordy she'll never get between Buffy and Angel, well almost. Giles tortures Ethan for info, the Scoobies really seem to have a knack for it. Reputedly Joss fired the writer of this ep afterwards, don't know why he did a good job?
How the scoobs really dress for Halloween; http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=107239
10/10 afters a couple of false starts season 2 firing on all cylinders
The Good;
Pretty much everything, great ep, love the alternate Scoobies, the Xena ref, the first appearance of Ethan and Ripper, the fight in the pumpkin stall at the beginning, Dru and Spike back, Oz, Larry, Cordy in her pussycat costume, Willow getting 'Sexy and Wild' (love her strutting at the end, do you think she got any offers?) the list goes on. Buffy unknowingly impersonating Darla and fainting (but at least she doesn't get tied up) and clinging onto Cordy's arm
The Bad;
Open to suggestions?
Best line;
Hard to pick but I'd say;
Willow "She couldn't have gone as Xena?
Just pipping Giles' "The ghost of what exactly?" upon seeing Will's streetwalker outft and "You went mental when?" from Cordy
Questions and observations:
Willow appears to be a Xena fan. Hmmmmm? Of course Xena started a couple of years before Buff and without it I don't think we'd have had Buffy. In one ep they refer to the play Buffus the Bachae Slayer. You could say that Spike's fascination with Buffy is evident in his watching the video of her fighting. Love Willow walking through the wall and people's reaction to it. The long tracking shot of Xander transforming into Rambo. Where are Joyce and Dawn during all of this? Either he reloads offscreen or Xander's rifle has a limitless magazine. Another hint of attraction between Cordy and soldier Xander. Angel wears a blue shirt which is ok but not really him. The Summers house get's trashed for the first time. How does the vamp Angel fights in the kitchen get in without being invited? First appearance of SDH's famous soda machine. Buffy get's sexually assaulted AGAIN, mauled by Pirate Larry (who really musn't be himself considering what we learn later). We discover that Cordy doesn't know Angel is a vamp. Xander tells Cordy she'll never get between Buffy and Angel, well almost. Giles tortures Ethan for info, the Scoobies really seem to have a knack for it. Reputedly Joss fired the writer of this ep afterwards, don't know why he did a good job?
How the scoobs really dress for Halloween; http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=107239
10/10 afters a couple of false starts season 2 firing on all cylinders
This is a really good episode for Willow, thanks in part to AH's strong performance. As regards her appearance; no wonder Oz falls for Willow and Buffy calls her a dish.
Nicholas Brendon gets to pose a lot,but other than that it's a pretty lame episode for Xander.
Cordy's ignorance of Angel's status as a vampire is one of those things that would never really happen and one just has to take with a pinch of salt. It's not the last time that the scoobies leave her out of the loop in a potentially dangerous way either, as the Angel episode Disharmony will show.
Dawn doesn't exist yet; or as yet hasn't always existed; or is still the Key and is in a monastery or wherever it was being kept. I wonder what she would have dressed up as.
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Halloween is a really strong episode and an indication of what the show is capable of, but I get the impression that at this point the show hasn't quite "found" itself yet nor perfected the art of the concept episode. It just feels like they should have refined it a little more, particularly when it comes to Buffy's 18th-century maid persona. Seven out of ten overall from me.
This is a really good episode for Willow, thanks in part to AH's strong performance. As regards her appearance; no wonder Oz falls for Willow and Buffy calls her a dish.
Nicholas Brendon gets to pose a lot,but other than that it's a pretty lame episode for Xander.
Cordy's ignorance of Angel's status as a vampire is one of those things that would never really happen an one just has to take with a pinch of salt. It's not the last time that the scoobies leave her out of the loop in a potentiallydangerous way either, as the Angel episode Disharmony will show.
Dawn doesn't exist yet; or as yet hasn't always existed; or is still the Key and is in a monastery or wherever it was being kept. I wonder what she would have dressed up as.
Now that's a pic for Billow!
I think Xander get's his first meeting with Larry and get's his soldier knowledge which comes in useful later. Also hints of CC's attraction to him and his speech to his trick or treaters.
Whatever Dawn dressed up as I think it would have been waay cute!
yeah, Sarah gives a great performance as a Jane Austen style heroine, especially love her reaction when Willow walks through the wall. And even the most fervent of Tara's kittens can't fail to be charmed by Woz
Lie to Me;
The Good;
The central story is very strong and it makes great fun of all the vampfans out there (Twilight lovers I'm talking to you ). The scene with Dru and the kid in the playground is scary as hell . First appearance of Chantrelle/Lily/Anne and she's great. Angel in the vamp club is hilarious. Ingenious the way Buffy defeats Spike and co, once again you see that this girl has brains and guile and not just looks and brawn. Adore the Angel/Will scene, her hiding her undies and telling him she's not allowed boys in her room. Willow finally realising what the Divinyls song 'I touch myself' is really about (you know if that had been sung by a guy they'd have never played it on the radio). Willow still in her 'startled virgin' phase which they play for laughs and will eventually be taken over by Dawn as Will grows more and more worldly. The Divinyls also provide music for the Buffy movie. Lovely scene between Giles and Buffy at the end.
The Bad;
Not much, strong ep
Best line;
Giles; I believe that's called 'Growing up'
Buffy; Then I'd like to stop now, ok?
but also
Willow (about Angel) "Ours is a forbidden love"
Xander (after Chantrelle describes vamps as 'the lonely ones') "Actually we call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones"
and Giles' wonderful speech at the end.
Questions and observations;
Cordy identifies with Marie-Antoinette. One day she too will be a Queen with people having their heads cut off. Ford likes Jack Palance as Dracula which is also the version Angel recommends (you wonder did he ever meet the real thing? He was certainly in Romania) Don't bother looking for Ford in the Buffy movie, I assure you he's not even mentioned. Jason Bher (Ford) will work with SMG again in The Grudge. We get the story of Angelus and Drusilla for the first time, explaining why Angel was reluctant to talk it over with the Scoobies.
Ford is SUCH a scumbag. Ok, you're dying but that doesn't mean you kill dozens of other people to enable you to 'live'. His scheme also seems unecessarily elaborate, why not just catch a vamp, chain it up in the open and tell it either to sire you and you'll release it or it'll be dead by sun-up?
Buffy entered a beauty contest at Hemery (check out 'I know what you did last summer' for SMG in a swimsuit pageant). Giles and Jenny have their second date at a monster truck rally which I think would have been a great episode in itself. Spike keeps his word and sires Ford, as with his love of Dru he seems a very atypical vampire.
Great stuff 8/10
The Good;
The central story is very strong and it makes great fun of all the vampfans out there (Twilight lovers I'm talking to you ). The scene with Dru and the kid in the playground is scary as hell . First appearance of Chantrelle/Lily/Anne and she's great. Angel in the vamp club is hilarious. Ingenious the way Buffy defeats Spike and co, once again you see that this girl has brains and guile and not just looks and brawn. Adore the Angel/Will scene, her hiding her undies and telling him she's not allowed boys in her room. Willow finally realising what the Divinyls song 'I touch myself' is really about (you know if that had been sung by a guy they'd have never played it on the radio). Willow still in her 'startled virgin' phase which they play for laughs and will eventually be taken over by Dawn as Will grows more and more worldly. The Divinyls also provide music for the Buffy movie. Lovely scene between Giles and Buffy at the end.
The Bad;
Not much, strong ep
Best line;
Giles; I believe that's called 'Growing up'
Buffy; Then I'd like to stop now, ok?
but also
Willow (about Angel) "Ours is a forbidden love"
Xander (after Chantrelle describes vamps as 'the lonely ones') "Actually we call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones"
and Giles' wonderful speech at the end.
Questions and observations;
Cordy identifies with Marie-Antoinette. One day she too will be a Queen with people having their heads cut off. Ford likes Jack Palance as Dracula which is also the version Angel recommends (you wonder did he ever meet the real thing? He was certainly in Romania) Don't bother looking for Ford in the Buffy movie, I assure you he's not even mentioned. Jason Bher (Ford) will work with SMG again in The Grudge. We get the story of Angelus and Drusilla for the first time, explaining why Angel was reluctant to talk it over with the Scoobies.
Ford is SUCH a scumbag. Ok, you're dying but that doesn't mean you kill dozens of other people to enable you to 'live'. His scheme also seems unecessarily elaborate, why not just catch a vamp, chain it up in the open and tell it either to sire you and you'll release it or it'll be dead by sun-up?
Buffy entered a beauty contest at Hemery (check out 'I know what you did last summer' for SMG in a swimsuit pageant). Giles and Jenny have their second date at a monster truck rally which I think would have been a great episode in itself. Spike keeps his word and sires Ford, as with his love of Dru he seems a very atypical vampire.
Great stuff 8/10
The Dark Age;
The Good;
Buffy's training although as Will later comments isn't she just naturally buff? Willow coming through with a great idea, Cordy tripping Ethan
The Bad;
The melting effect is a little lame. The demon seems quite insignificant compared to the threats we later see.
Best line;
Buffy; Have I ever let you down?
Giles; Do you want me to answer that or just glare?
but also
Xander; An extra day in school plus Cordelia? Mix in a little rectal surgery and it's my best day ever
Questions and observations;
Who's Gavin Rossdale? According to the comics Buffy's fantasy hasn't changed that much it's just Daniel Craig now. Willow by contrast likes Tina Fey now (Seth Green and Eric Balfour will work with John Cusack in 'America's Sweethearts' and Michelle Tractenberg will work with his sister Joan in 'Ice Princess').
Very much Giles' episode and adding a lot more depth to his character. Great stuff between him and Ethan, you wonder if ASH and Robin Sachs have worked together before, they really do come across as old friends.
Why does Eoghan wait all these years? Drunk Giles for the first time and Xander mentions his infamous uncle Rory who we'll later meet in Hell's Bells. The Bay City Rollers were late 70s and a little cheesey for a teen rebel like Giles. Jenny knocked unconscious and goes evil, Buffy knocked unconscious and tied up. Jenny mentions "I've got you under my skin" which is later a title for an Angel ep.
6/10, good ep but not brilliant
The Good;
Buffy's training although as Will later comments isn't she just naturally buff? Willow coming through with a great idea, Cordy tripping Ethan
The Bad;
The melting effect is a little lame. The demon seems quite insignificant compared to the threats we later see.
Best line;
Buffy; Have I ever let you down?
Giles; Do you want me to answer that or just glare?
but also
Xander; An extra day in school plus Cordelia? Mix in a little rectal surgery and it's my best day ever
Questions and observations;
Who's Gavin Rossdale? According to the comics Buffy's fantasy hasn't changed that much it's just Daniel Craig now. Willow by contrast likes Tina Fey now (Seth Green and Eric Balfour will work with John Cusack in 'America's Sweethearts' and Michelle Tractenberg will work with his sister Joan in 'Ice Princess').
Very much Giles' episode and adding a lot more depth to his character. Great stuff between him and Ethan, you wonder if ASH and Robin Sachs have worked together before, they really do come across as old friends.
Why does Eoghan wait all these years? Drunk Giles for the first time and Xander mentions his infamous uncle Rory who we'll later meet in Hell's Bells. The Bay City Rollers were late 70s and a little cheesey for a teen rebel like Giles. Jenny knocked unconscious and goes evil, Buffy knocked unconscious and tied up. Jenny mentions "I've got you under my skin" which is later a title for an Angel ep.
6/10, good ep but not brilliant
What's my line? pt1
The Good;
Love Buffy's miniskirt and booties, very hot. The neighbours scream blending into the plane's engine noise. Will and Oz, awwww! Buffy ice-skating, you wonder who's better now, SMG or Michelle 'Ice Princess' Tractenberg? Or maybe Julie Benz who is also apparently was once rated 12th best in the US. Buffy's gesture with the torch when Giles suggests she consider law enforcement as a career. Death by iceskate! Buffy's paranoia as she walks through careers day. The Xander/Snyder faceoff. Cordy's little expression at the thought of free cosmetics. Buffy's look of shock at the final line.
The Bad;
Kendra's accent for one although if she was taken from her parents as a child and raised in the UK you'd expect it to be a mishmash.
Best line;
Cordy; What am I, mass transportation?
Xander; That's what guys say but it's just locker room talk
Kinky dinky;
Rather like the idea of Buffy as a cop in an 'Undercover Heat' sort of sense (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114786/) and I imagine Faith would too to judge by some of her comments later.
Questions and observations;
A small town like Sunnydale must have a pretty huge airport to handle a 747? Why has no one tried to hire the Order of Taraka before now? Willy the Snitch for the first time. Angel tortures him, of course. Xander refers to the Scooby gang for the first time. First sign of Will's frog fear. Is this the first appearance of Mr Gordo? Also Dalton who will reappear as Spike's lackey in future eps. Xander breaks into Buffy's house very easily,for such a dangerous town everyone seems very slack. What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe.
10/10 great stuff
The Good;
Love Buffy's miniskirt and booties, very hot. The neighbours scream blending into the plane's engine noise. Will and Oz, awwww! Buffy ice-skating, you wonder who's better now, SMG or Michelle 'Ice Princess' Tractenberg? Or maybe Julie Benz who is also apparently was once rated 12th best in the US. Buffy's gesture with the torch when Giles suggests she consider law enforcement as a career. Death by iceskate! Buffy's paranoia as she walks through careers day. The Xander/Snyder faceoff. Cordy's little expression at the thought of free cosmetics. Buffy's look of shock at the final line.
The Bad;
Kendra's accent for one although if she was taken from her parents as a child and raised in the UK you'd expect it to be a mishmash.
Best line;
Cordy; What am I, mass transportation?
Xander; That's what guys say but it's just locker room talk
Kinky dinky;
Rather like the idea of Buffy as a cop in an 'Undercover Heat' sort of sense (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114786/) and I imagine Faith would too to judge by some of her comments later.
Questions and observations;
A small town like Sunnydale must have a pretty huge airport to handle a 747? Why has no one tried to hire the Order of Taraka before now? Willy the Snitch for the first time. Angel tortures him, of course. Xander refers to the Scooby gang for the first time. First sign of Will's frog fear. Is this the first appearance of Mr Gordo? Also Dalton who will reappear as Spike's lackey in future eps. Xander breaks into Buffy's house very easily,for such a dangerous town everyone seems very slack. What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe.
10/10 great stuff
Ever since this thread started I've been watching Buffy nearly daily LOL. And I'm enjoying the subtle evolution of Buffy. Although I'm thinking about Buffy Season 2 and Buffy Season 6 and... trying to find the point where it seemed like she stopped wearing bras. Compare her from Season 2 to Season 6.
The weird things you notice.
The weird things you notice.
It's all about the journey.
And the sad thing is... she looked like she had a nice rack when she was younger and as she got older... she got... smaller. 
Although I finally found the point where Buffy went from snarky teenager/irreverent kid to commanding and sometimes bitchy Slayer. Graduation Day. Sure she shows some signs during Season 2, but by the time Faith comes around... she goes from girl with power, to girl in command. Then by the time Season 4 comes to an end, she's full on General Bitchy Buffy at times. Culminating in Season 5 weepy general bitchy Buffy. And then by the time we get to the end of the series, she's still bitchy but she's the one calling the shots. Not leaning on Giles to give the orders. Even though she wants Giles at her side, she's not expecting him to tell her "Go and do this and then come back."
Watch as Season 2 progresses, you see the subtle hints of the General coming out.
Although I finally found the point where Buffy went from snarky teenager/irreverent kid to commanding and sometimes bitchy Slayer. Graduation Day. Sure she shows some signs during Season 2, but by the time Faith comes around... she goes from girl with power, to girl in command. Then by the time Season 4 comes to an end, she's full on General Bitchy Buffy at times. Culminating in Season 5 weepy general bitchy Buffy. And then by the time we get to the end of the series, she's still bitchy but she's the one calling the shots. Not leaning on Giles to give the orders. Even though she wants Giles at her side, she's not expecting him to tell her "Go and do this and then come back."
Watch as Season 2 progresses, you see the subtle hints of the General coming out.
I gotta say, what a great thread. It's been fantastic taking this trip down memory lane. I haven't watched Buffy or Angel in a while, but they were more than just shows to me, when they were on. It was like a way of life. Such awesome programmes on every level.
I'm really looking forward to your observations on season two onwards (when the show really started to get good)
I'm really looking forward to your observations on season two onwards (when the show really started to get good)
Given how huge a part of the mythos Spike and Dru became (especially Spike), its easy to forget that they weren't there at all in the first season. It becomes a much darker (and greater) show after they show up.