Buffy ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[saturn5]

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)

Thanks, you're too kind. Yeah, Buffy grows up over the seasons but she's always the wonderful girl we know and love from season 1 deep down, she's tough but she has to be.
As for the Gellar cleavage question I think she looks best in season 1 and also they probably dressed all the girls pretty slutty in season 1 to garner ratings and didn't feel the need to do so in later seasons (check out the Buffy girls early Maxim/FHM spreads which they didn't feel the need to do later). She's too thin in season 5 but she get's better. Looks great now but just had her kid so probably helped her in the chest department.
Best rack on Buffy? Tara I think although Joyce was also pretty good. "Gosh look at those!"

 

[WillsBabe]

What's my line? pt1
10/10 great stuff

I love What's My Line pt 1 & 2. They're a couple of my absolute favourite episodes. I like the way that Kendra's straight down the line attitude shows up the way that Buffy's life and attitudues are away from the "norm" for Slayers. Her presence shows up that Buffy's relationship with Angel is far from normal, and, possible, be the start of her perversions (I'm thinking sex with vampires). After having said that, one of my favourite Btvs moments is when she kisses Angel in gameface, and his squemishness to her seeing him that way.

I like the relationship between Angel and Dru, particularly when she has him in her clutches. There's undertones of incest and all sorts of dark stuff going on there. Also, the whole thing is helped enourmously by the fact that Boreanaz suffers so prettily.

I love these couple of episodes so much.

 

[Forbin]

As for the Gellar cleavage question I think she looks best in season 1 and also they probably dressed all the girls pretty slutty in season 1 to garner ratings and didn't feel the need to do so in later seasons

I was kinda disturbed about the costuming and makeup around season 3-ish. It seemed to me like they were dressing Sarah as if she was a 40-year-old soccer mom. I'm thinking of a scene in Faith's motel room where faith was dressed wonderfully slutty, and Buffy was standing there in what looked like one of her mother's business suits with a clutch purse and sensible heels. What was up with that?

 

[I am not Spock]

^I think Gellar's never looked better than in season one Buffy. Good god, she looked slutty back then! I swear I watched the shows for the great writing as well as for that reason! I'm not shallow! The show was the best of both worlds. You got an awesome, character rich show with consequences, which never pressed the reset button. And a bunch of incredibly hot women to look at along the way.

Think about it. A lot of shows, you only get one or the other. Either you get the hot babes and sucky dialogue, or brilliant dialogue but stuffy blokes in makeup. Buffy gave us both.

We just moved house, and most of my DVD library is still over at the other place, waiting to be packed up, so I should dig the good ol' Buffy DVD collection out of storage, join you guys, and give em another rewatch. It never gets old. I still enjoy the series every time I come back to it after a number of years.

 

[I am not Spock]

What's my line? pt1
10/10 great stuff

I love What's My Line pt 1 & 2. They're a couple of my absolute favourite episodes. I like the way that Kendra's straight down the line attitude shows up the way that Buffy's life and attitudues are away from the "norm" for Slayers. Her presence shows up that Buffy's relationship with Angel is far from normal, and, possible, be the start of her perversions (I'm thinking sex with vampires). After having said that, one of my favourite Btvs moments is when she kisses Angel in gameface, and his squemishness to her seeing him that way.

I like the relationship between Angel and Dru, particularly when she has him in her clutches. There's undertones of incest and all sorts of dark stuff going on there. Also, the whole thing is helped enourmously by the fact that Boreanaz suffers so prettily.

I love these couple of episodes so much.

Yeah. These eps, and most of mid to late season 2 are made of pure awesomeness. There is so much subtext in the Angel/Dru relationship. The slasher community no doubt had so much fun with all the vampire characters. Spike is so jealous of Angel. I bet offscreen, Angelus and Dru were banging like bunnies during season two. Hell, there's even a implied suggestion that there was a Spike/Angelus relationship to come later on.

 

[saturn5]

As for the Gellar cleavage question I think she looks best in season 1 and also they probably dressed all the girls pretty slutty in season 1 to garner ratings and didn't feel the need to do so in later seasons

I was kinda disturbed about the costuming and makeup around season 3-ish. It seemed to me like they were dressing Sarah as if she was a 40-year-old soccer mom. I'm thinking of a scene in Faith's motel room where faith was dressed wonderfully slutty, and Buffy was standing there in what looked like one of her mother's business suits with a clutch purse and sensible heels. What was up with that?

Her Jackie O look? I think the whole point was to contrast sensible Buffy with wild Faith.

What's my line? pt2

The Good;
Xander and Cordy get together, inevitable really. But Willow and Oz also take their first real steps towards a relationship. The shootout at the careers fair with Jonathon held hostage for the first time. Dru torturing Angel and Angel goading Spike into almost killing him. Great fight, great final twist, the sight of an arisen Dru carrying Spike is awesome.

The Bad;
If you can find some, let me know because I can't

Best line;
Xander; I am the bug man, coo-coo coo chu

Questions and observations;
Although not a Scooby yet Oz is shot, the second in a long line to be so plus Angel chained up. Buffy and Kendra torture Willy the Snitch, the Scoobs really having no problem with it. Cordy's wet dress is pretty daring not to mention Willy offering Buffy and Kendra a nude photoshoot (one day she won't be so dainty) but not half as extreme as the kinkfest which is Dru and Angel (she calls him a 'bad dog' and even more disturbingly 'daddy') . Note that Dru seems to genuinely miss her family (whilst Angelus glibly killed his) implying once again that Dru and Spike are exceptional vamps with remnants of humanity (possibly due to Dru's link to the PTB?). Despite his reputation Spike meanwhile seems to have no taste for torture commenting that he'd rather just see Angel die than the pre-show. Isn't it a bit risky for Dru to have Holy Water lying around? The Dru/Spike/Angel(us) jealousy triangle rears it's ugly if fascinating head. In terms of jealousy we also have Kendra and Buffy competing for Giles' attention like two little girls with their father, it's interesting to contrast that later with Buffy and Dawn (or Faith?) vying for Joyce's affections.
For a long time I thought the police woman assassin was Pat Tallman from Babylon 5 (who's also a stuntwoman) but it's not.
If Kendra was taken from her family to be trained at an early age, why wasn't Buffy? Although you can imagine Joyce and Hank's reaction if Merrick turned up at their door and said "Hey, I need to take your little daughter away to train her to fight the powers of evil" (they'd probably call the police and/or shoot him). Kendra's Watcher is called Sam Zebuto, confirming for the first time that not all Watchers are automatically British despite the Council's full name. Don't the council think Giles' and co need to know of Kendra's existance?
Willow nails her first vamp whilst Cordy helps Xander kill the bug man.
So did Kendra and Buffy dream up this plan between them all along or did Kendra follow Buffy to the church and then call all the Scoobies? Or was the argument at Willy's place all a show and the rest of the Scoobies tailed her and Willy knowing he'd lead them to Spike?
So why is the contract called off? That is lame and it's the only reason the ep gets 8/10 rather than top marks. Reminds me off Star Trek;Voyager where they'd find a way to return to Earth one week only to conveniently forget about it the next
8/10 for THAT ending alone

 

[Forbin]

The Jackie O look! Perfect!

 

[AJBryant]

Kendra's Watcher is called Sam Zebuto, confirming for the first time that not all Watchers are automatically British despite the Council's full name.

I may be forgetting something, but what does the name have to do with it?

Remember -- the British Empire covered a LOT of land. Jamaica and the Bahamas and so forth are still British Commonwealth territory.

 

[ToddKent]

What's my line? pt1
What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe.
10/10 great stuff

I think in part 2 Kendra says she assumed Buffy was a vampire because she was seen with Angel.

 

[saturn5]

What's my line? pt1
What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe.
10/10 great stuff

I think in part 2 Kendra says she assumed Buffy was a vampire because she was seen with Angel.

But surely she must have followed her through the streets in daylight?
Buffy was sometimes criticized for being a very lily-white show, at least Kendra's Watcher shows they include all races

(Hi, have you met...?) Ted
A prize for whoever can get that joke

The Good;
Really the more Joyce in an episode the better it is. She was originally due to be a very minor character as in the movie but the cast and crew all fell in love with Joyce/Kristine Sutherland and the writers kept giving her more and more to do. She's excellent here, the pained scenes between Buffy and Joyce are wonderful in their awkwardness (note Joyce just tells the police that Ted fell, still trying to protect her daughter, it's Buffy who admits she fought with him). Full marks also to John Ritter playing essentially an evil version of his character from 8 Simple Rules. Great scene where Buffy plays nurse to Angel (which she also enjoys doing later with Riley and season 7 Spike). Buffy taking out some frustrations on a very unfortunate vamp (Giles still accompanies her sometimes) plus Giles and Jenny beginning to get back together. Cordy's miniskirt and knee boots are smashing. Lovely scene between Buffy and Joyce at the end although not the best they'll ever have.

The Bad;
Labours a bit in the middle and the robot makeup is a bit dodgy (although if it's 50s technology maybe it should be crude?)

Best line;
Giles; "I believe the subtext here is rapidly becoming a text" (one of my great favourites which I use often) plus "DO let's bring that up as often as possible" when Cordy remarks on the Eyghon affair. Also great;
Cordy; "Buffy's a superhero, shouldn't there be different rules for her?"
Willow; "Sure in a facist society"
Cordy; "Yeah, why can't we have one of those?" (Wait until 'Shiny happy people')

Questions and observations;
Willow and Xander discuss The Captain and Tennile. Quite weird as their last big hit was in 1980 and that would have been before they were born. More the sort of talk a bunch of 30 year old scriptwriters would have. Xander suggests Buffy play 'the naughty stewardess' which is probably the one outfit SMG hasn't worn for a men's magazine. Giles becomes the 3rd Scooby to be shot, Buffy and Joyce knocked out. How exactly does Willow analyse Ted's cookies using a microscope?
Ted's creator, like Willow, Daryll Epps and ultimately Warren seems to be a recipient of the Hellmouth energy genius. No Oz. Buffy's antipathy to Ted actually seems pretty unreasonable although did any child of a divorce ever not want their parents to get back together? (I always think of the hair dye ad where the two little girls tell their dad that he'd be a great catch for someone, in real life you just know that if their mother was still alive they'd want him ti get back with her and if she was dead they'd want to keep him for themselves).
Big question, what did Dawn make of Ted? Did she like him as Joyce did or did she share Buffy's hatred? Due to her comments in 'I was made to love you' I think probably the latter. Surely being only 16 Buffy should have a solicitor or at very least an adult with her when the police talk to her? Shouldn't Joyce contact Hank and tell him what's going on? Ted threatens to put Buffy in a mental institution which she was in before (and if 'Normal Again' is to be believed remains in until she regains her sanity again at the end of 'Chosen'). Slayer healing is referenced for the first time, Buffy telling the detective that she doesn't bruise easily. Just as Buffy is repeatedly saved by her fashion sense Cordy discovers Ted's secret lair due to her sense of interior decoration (which we see again later in 'Rm w/a vu')
All told 6/10, a standalone ep that's ok in itself, it's strengths largely lying in the dialogue. The series increasingly relying on the relationships between the characters rather than the demon of the week, no bad thing.

 

[WillsBabe]

I never really cared for Ted, and remember it as being a weak epsiode. It's never going to be a favourite of mine, but I really enjoyed it watching it this time around (after not having seen the episode for years).

 

[Skellington]

Questions and observations;
Willow and Xander discuss The Captain and Tennile. Quite weird as their last big hit was in 1980 and that would have been before they were born. More the sort of talk a bunch of 30 year old scriptwriters would have.

Isn't that what Buffy was all about?

All told 6/10, a standalone ep that's ok in itself, it's strengths largely lying in the dialogue. The series increasingly relying on the relationships between the characters rather than the demon of the week, no bad thing.

Six out of ten sounds about right. A lesser show and a lesser writer than JW could easily have made a mess of the premise.

 

[Skellington]

I never really cared for Ted, and remember it as being a weak epsiode. It's never going to be a favourite of mine, but I really enjoyed it watching it this time around (after not having seen the episode for years).

Same here on all counts. The robot thing is handled very well; as a McGuffin for a human-interest story.

 

[Evil Twin]

Well, "Ted" actually could've been quite a good episode if Ted wasn't a robot and Buffy really did have to deal with the consequences of having killed a human being. The whole robot thing was kind of a cop out.

Kind of like the completely unnecessary vampire at the end of "The Body", marring an otherwise fantastic episode. Sometimes the obligatory inclusion of supernatural elements does a disservice to Buffy episodes.

 

[I am not Spock]

^I agree about Ted. It was a decent ep, but it could have been an amazing one if Buffy had to deal with the consequences of killing a human being, not a robot.

On the DVD of the Body, Joss explains his decision to include a vampire in the script. He says that its metaphorical. The vampire is intended to be an unwanted interruption, just as death itself, and the grieiving process, is an unwanted intrusion in people's lives. The fight between Buffy and the vampire in the morgue is shot a lot more realistically than usual, with just a desperate struggle, no fancy kung fu moves, etc.

 

[WillsBabe]

I am ambivilent about whether Ted would have been improved by Ted being a human victim rather than a robot. My thinking for this is that I think the lesson of having killed a human being would have been too soon in Buffy's develoipment as a character in my mind. Still, if they'd have done it, I would have been on board. On the subject of the vampire fight in The Body, I'm in two minds with that one, too. I agree that it was dramatic enough the way it was without having to have the "obligatory" vampire fight. On the other hand, I agree with Joss, that real life doesn't stop when personal tragedy strikes, and in some ways it highlights that what seemed important before (in this case Buffy's slayerage job) becomes trivial when something like this happens.

I think the thing I really enjoy about watching (most) of Joss's stuff, is that I enjoy his creative choices, hence my ambivilence!

 

[CorporalClegg]

I never liked "Ted." I've always found it to be really boring and a total waste of Ritter.

AFA "The Body," I think the vampire fight was a bad decision plain and simple. In completely interrupts the flow and detracts from the tone of the episode. There's no reason it couldn't have been saved for the beginning of "Forever" and not lost anything theme wise.

I also think it was the single difference in the episode not getting an Emmy nod. I really do.

 

[Forbin]

My wife and I are in the middle of a full Buffy rewatch too, and we mutually decided to skip Ted.

 

[ToddKent]

I never liked it when robots would show up on Buffy. I'm just not a fan of mixing genres (in this case horror & scifi). I mean why not just have the gang get abducted by aliens while you're at it?

 

[ToddKent]

What's my line? pt1
What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe.
10/10 great stuff

I think in part 2 Kendra says she assumed Buffy was a vampire because she was seen with Angel.

But surely she must have followed her through the streets in daylight?

Good point. I'm not sure how much due diligence Kendra did before she started getting all choppy.

It's also another take on the concept that slayers should be able to detect vampires just by looking at them (or watching them move or whatever) that was mentioned in (I think) the first episode.