Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer

[tomalak301]

The audio levels thing will be related to the big 4 episode, and you'll definitely know it when you see it. You are getting very close, btw.

Also, just fyi, the 'connection between Ben and Glory' thing is a tongue in cheek reference to a particular bit of dialogue from later in the season. That you'll also definitely know when you see it.

And I thought I was asked for clarification.

Crush

That episode was...something. Nice follow up to Fool For Love (And whatever Angel episodes that aired at the time same), and I guess we needed some levity after the big episode. Spike is always a charmer, but I enjoyed seeing Drusilla back. There really isn't much to say about this episode other than a guy fighting over two women is kinda cliche, but because it's Spike and James Marsters makes things work, it was fun.

There was no controversial thing about that episode, by the way, Unless Spike being a stalker was the thing. That was a bit disturbing, seeing Buffy see all those pictures of her and the Manniquen. He deserved a punch to the face.

 

[.:: TSN ::.]

So we are going forward with the theory that there is somekind of an connection between Glory and Ben?

 

[Forbin]

Into the Woods: I dearly love Xander's maturity, first in his wonderful big-brother speech to Buffy about losing Riley, then in his putting his own advice into action later with Anya. They're both just wonderful, warm, human moments.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

We never did find out how Ben and Glory are related.

I’m not a fan of how Riley was handled in season 5. He was secure with Buffy’s strength in season 4 and then turned into a whiny insecure passive aggressor.

 

[tomalak301]

We never did find out how Ben and Glory are related.

I really hope that isn't a spoiler and giving you benefit of the doubt because of the smiley. Of course because of the smiley, there could be a nice twist coming up, which I'm excited for.

 

[JD]

I'll keep this vague enough to not be a spoiler, but just to put the constant speculation to rest, if the controversial scene is the one I think it is, it doesn't happen until late next season.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Yup. And the amazing thing is, despite how controversial it is, it isn't even the most hated scene in the episode.

 

[tomalak301]

I'll keep this vague enough to not be a spoiler, but just to put the constant speculation to rest, if the controversial scene is the one I think it is, it doesn't happen until late next season.

Yup. And the amazing thing is, despite how controversial it is, it isn't even the most hated scene in the episode.

I’m glad to know this because I’m really enjoying season 5 to the point where looking for scenes that “might” be controversial will be a distraction. The reason I’ve been going fast on this season is because I’m so caught up in this story and I’m excited to see how it ends. To look for various scenes might take me out of the moment and I don’t want that. Right now with 8 more episodes to go Season 5 and 2 are tied for my favorite season. The only hurdle this season has to go is the season finale and how this arc ends. Considering what I’m seeing so far, I trust the writers to nail the ending. It’s like this season took the best of seasons 2 (that personal drama) and 3 (the demented big bad) and meshed them together. Season 4 felt like a drag. Season 5 is going at such a brisk and great pace.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Well, for what it's worth, three of my ten favorite episodes are all in this last stretch here.

 

[JD]

Anybody else here do Quidd, the digital collectables app? It's got a pretty good selection of Buffy stuff.

 

[SAndrews10]

You’re in for wild, epic ride. They stick the landing.

 

[tomalak301]

I Was Made To Love You

I don't know what to think about that episode. I wasn't a fan of the main storyline with April the Robot and the creep boyfriend and honestly if there is one thing this season might be overdoing just a tad, it's the relationship drama amongst the characters. However, the ending was really unexpected and now that it's here I can say something I've been keeping in since Season 4.

I accidentally clicked on a spoiler tab when I was watching Season 4 and it was the reveal that Joyce had died. Well, during the arc with the hospital and the brain tumor, I expected it to be that moment then and there. There was even a stretch of episodes where I was like "This is going in a very sad direction" because I didn't know what to say since I had known that Joyce wasn't going to make it out of this season. However, the spoiler actually ended up not being that big of a deal because the Brain Tumor might have been a fake out and her death would have come as a surprise. Well, come to the end of this episode and out of the blue there it is, sudden and unexpected. It's because of this ending I didn't hate this episode, but the stuff with April and Warren bring it down a lot. It was just kind of repetitive and a little dull. The next episode, though, I expect to be kind of an emotional wreak.

 

[Jayson1]

I Was Made To Love You

I don't know what to think about that episode. I wasn't a fan of the main storyline with April the Robot and the creep boyfriend and honestly if there is one thing this season might be overdoing just a tad, it's the relationship drama amongst the characters. However, the ending was really unexpected and now that it's here I can say something I've been keeping in since Season 4.

I accidentally clicked on a spoiler tab when I was watching Season 4 and it was the reveal that Joyce had died. Well, during the arc with the hospital and the brain tumor, I expected it to be that moment then and there. There was even a stretch of episodes where I was like "This is going in a very sad direction" because I didn't know what to say since I had known that Joyce wasn't going to make it out of this season. However, the spoiler actually ended up not being that big of a deal because the Brain Tumor might have been a fake out and her death would have come as a surprise. Well, come to the end of this episode and out of the blue there it is, sudden and unexpected. It's because of this ending I didn't hate this episode, but the stuff with April and Warren bring it down a lot. It was just kind of repetitive and a little dull. The next episode, though, I expect to be kind of an emotional wreak.

Expect to see more of Warren.


Jason

 

[tomalak301]

Expect to see more of Warren.


Jason

They set it up to have his return. That might be Season 6's storyline because I hope I don't see him again this season.

 

[tafkats]

Best line of IWMTLY:

"I don't know about you guys, but I've had it with super-strong little women who aren't me."

Also, SMG's "Mommy?" right before the blackout is heartbreaking.

Don't watch the next episode until you're able to have it be completely uninterrupted, btw ...

 

[tomalak301]

The Body

Wow! Wow! Wow!

First of all, to get something out of the way right now, I found the last of the Big 4 episodes. In terms of how this was filmed, it was like the Anti-Hush. No music, just sounds all around and as @CorporalClegg called it, environmental white noise. I actually turned this episode up because it was obvious right away.

Now on to this episode, and that is how you portray grief and sudden loss. There really are no words for it, it happens and you're shocked, angry, and just completely lost. I loved the way this episode handled this subject matter. I actually did get very emotional, but it was one speech that made me shed a tear. Anya's speech about learning about mortality and not understanding what is going on really got to me. We have this former demon who has become mortal almost facing her morality for the first time and her grief feels much more raw. Everyone here was in top form and just this episode was something I didn't expect. I mean I knew that Joyce was going to die, but dare I say Joyce's death lead to something much bigger and something that can never be spoiled. This episode was not just another hour of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This episode was an experience, learning about the stages of grief and how people react to the same thing in different ways.

Lately I've been binging this show because I'm loving where this season is going. I'm actually going to stop here tonight and think and meditate on what I just saw. I will probably have more about it tomorrow, but this episode left me with the feeling that yeah, tonight is going to be light on BTVS and that's a good thing.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I really hope that isn't a spoiler and giving you benefit of the doubt because of the smiley. Of course because of the smiley, there could be a nice twist coming up, which I'm excited for.

You will understand the joke soon.

Yeah, that's an amazing episode. The scene where the EMT is talking to Buffy and the camera shows him from the neck down. And all the cutaways where Buffy is fantasizing scenarios where her mother is okay.

It's an episode of a fantasy vampire show with no fantasy elements except for that random vampire who attacked Dawn in the morgue. And they nailed it completely.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Two amazing episodes of television that I've never been able to watch ever since my own mother died are Deep Space Nine "The Visitor" and Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "The Body". They hurt too much.

 

[tomalak301]

Two episodes of television that I've never been able to watch ever since my own mother died are Deep Space Nine "The Visitor" and Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "The Body". They hurt too much.

I think The Body might be a better episode. I cry during The Visitor because they absolutely nailed the relationship between Ben and Jake. The only reason why I think I like this episode better is because there was no reset button.

@JirinPanthosa

I loved that scene with the EMT. Everything in that scene was all about Buffy, what she was feeling in that moment. She was hearing the words but they were just words. That scene captured everything Buffy was feeling perfectly.

 

[OCD Geek]

There's an interesting story behind I Was Made to Love You. Britney Spears was a huge Buffy fan and approached them about guest starring. Not knowing where on the singer-turned-actor scale she would end up falling, Whedon and co decided to write a part for her where (worst case scenario) a bad performance wouldn't hurt the episode. Thus, April the Robot was born.

Spears ended up having scheduling issues, but they made the episode anyway with a different actress. There's an alternate universe out there where a February sweeps episode of Buffy starring Britney Spears ended with that gut punch, and America watched as Buffy's mom died.

Can't wait to tell you how Season Six's premiere was almost drastically different thanks to George Lucas, but that's a story for another day.