Massive Post O'Buffy
You all know I can go on and on about a TV show. It's a little different here, having mainlined the whole thing. But if you were/are into Buffy, I'd love to hear your thoughts, since I'm about ten years late on all this. Apologies for any missing 'c's - for whatever reason, the key is barely working.
Season One - So the first few episodes, I was unsure how this became a cult show. They're fun, but I was wondering if the ten years between now and then had somehow made it... not as special. Of course, any startling revelations, like Angel being a vampire, were anything but. And the Master was a lame villain with bad makeup and cheesy special effects. It wasn't until the episode 'Nightmares' that I started to recognize the Joss Whedon I know from Firefly. The other high point was Giles. Giles was totally my favorite character for about the first three seasons. Adore him, especially back when he was all tweedy.
Season Two - is pretty much the best overall (as with almost every TV show), am I right? The show really figured out its pace. I think I clapped with glee at Spike's entrance to the show. And Oz! And Xander/Cordy! I knew 'Surprise' and 'Innocence' were classics, but I also knew why, so that took away a little of their punch. I liked Buffy/Angel. I think it worked with the first three seasons. Even if, like Edward Cullen, Angel was a little flat and boring-broody. (More about this later.) But 'Passion' is the episode that hooked me. Obviously, I come to this series knowing the Joss-tropes, and knowing a good deal about who hooks up, leaves, and dies. I didn't know about Jenny Calendar, and absolutely adoring Giles, this episode was brutally wonderful (or wonderfully brutal, or something). Plus, the hook at the end with the disk falling led straight to 'Becoming', which was also awesome. I was not spoiled for that episode, so while I knew Angel would end up alive (or undead again), and with a soul, it still made me gasp when I realized what Buffy was going to do moments after he had regained it.
Season Three - was also pretty darn good. The Mayor was a great villain. And Faith... pre-season seven, I don't like the character Faith (I actually kinda loathe her), but I recognize that she worked well for the show, and for that season. 'The Wish' was an awesome episode, and I do like Anya (which may not be a popular opinion?). 'Lovers Walk' was also pretty good, and 'Earshot'! OMG, 'Earshot'. Watching it, I was thinking how well it was handling the school violence issue, and then I did the math and realized it came out the same year Columbine happened. And I thought Buffy's speech was so appropriate, and everything *we* felt and wanted to say at the time. It wasn't till later I read that the episode had been written before Columbine, and airing was delayed for months because of it. So wow. Good work, Joss and Co. The build up to the end of the season was great. The finale was okay, but the build-up, with the battle between Faith and Buffy, was really the epic part. Oh, and the end of 'Prom' made me cry for the first time in the series. Maybe I got a little teary when Willow let Buffy know she'd be going to college with her, but the little decorated umbrella? Sobbing.
Season Four - had some good moments, but didn't feel as strong to me. Not being in high school definitely sucked some energy from the show, as did Riley and Buffy's relationship. But it brought us chipped Spike, which in this season was good for the lulz. I feel like they finally got it together for the final fight against Adam, which is what needed to happen for the show, but also felt a little like the writers realizing what had happened, and correcting it. It's funny - watching such a famous show with such a large fandom after it's long over, I feel like I can spot a few instances where the writers self-corrected, or changed things for fan service. And they're usually for the better. Oh, and then the last episode - 'Restless' - was amazing. And heartbreaking, being spoiled for...
Season Five - felt like things were back on track. At least, once Riley left. Maybe, again, it's cause I knew what was to come, and was impatient for it to happen, but it felt like Riley outstayed his welcome. He never really fit into the Scooby gang, and whether that was the character or a chemistry thing, I'm not sure. So then we were on to the Spike>Buffy, which is so delightfully messed up. James Marsters seems to have chemistry with everything, which helps. It's been fun to spot the moments that were turned into Buffy vs. Edward, but I'm certainly not blind to how many of them were originally directed toward Spike. And I wonder why it works for me, when I make fun of Twilight. And then I count the ways... A heroine that actually has a backbone? The admittance that yes, the creepy stalking vampire does have issues? The fact that it's Joss and Co. writing it, instead of Stephanie Meyer? Buffy is not devoid of gender issues, but at least it's not totally ignorant of them.
Oh yeah, and the important stuff... Dawn and Joyce. I was spoiled for both, as I was for 'The Gift', but I don't think that made those moments lose any of their emotional resonance. Had to pause 'The Body' within minutes to go get a box of Kleenex. Glory/Ben was a decent villain, not really because she/he was so great, but because of the way s/he raised the stakes. By 'The Gift', everyone had come together, and the ending was freaking heartbreaking. I accidentally flipped to the end of 'The Gift' when starting on Season Six, and teared up at Buffy's final speech again. I really think 'The Gift' may be my favorite episode of the show, aside from that one in...
Season Six - 'Once More With Feeling', OMG. Definitely the high point of the season, and the only episode I've already rewatched fully. Several times. In addition to being a fun musical, important stuff happens. To song! 'Tabula Rasa' was also good, craxy fun. Overall, I thought season six was pretty good. Not as good as season five, but stronger than seven. Buffy coming back to life made it the OotP of seasons, with all the angst, but out of that we got hate sex with Spike. Which I was okay with. At least until 'Seeing Red', but I was already aware of the attempted rape and fandom's reaction at the time (people don't like Marti Noxon very much, do they?). I was also forewarned for Tara's death, not living under a rock. I think that lessened the impact, but Xander's yellow crayon speech still broke my heart. As had 'Hell's Bells' earlier in the season.
Season Seven - I think had I been a loyal viewer at the time, I would have been disappointed by this season. Watching it marathon-style made it okay, but like so many last seasons, it felt like they were dragging out unnecessary things toward the middle, and then had to rush to fit things in at the end. The potentials were a good idea, but I can't figure out if they had too little or too much screen time. And Andrew just didn't really do it for me, though when they finally paired him with Anya, it was gold. I liked Principal Wood, especially with Faith, and I liked the return to high school at the beginning of the season especially. Sadly, I stopped caring about Giles this season. It wasn't so much his actions - they made sense, coming from where he was - but more that he wasn't around enough to justify them.
Individual episodes in the final season - 'Conversations With Dead People' was amazing. 'Potential' and 'Lies My Parents Told Me' were also very good (though James Marster's William wig was the worst thing ever this time round). Seeing Nathan Fillion be evil is a bit of mindfuck. From 'Touched' onward, I feel like they did a nice job of ramping up the action to the finale, which was very good. Still like 'The Gift' best, but Buffy's decision to change the rules in 'Chosen' was a great way to end the series. Spike kinda lost his fangs this season (I know most people feel it happened back in season four), so his ending was bittersweet, but appropriate. And the Sunnydale sign falling one last time... lulz. Fun times for all, and now I almost want to seek out the comics.
So now I've added 'Angel' to my Neflix queue. I also noticed 'Torchwood' is available as watch-it-now, and started it last night. After seven seasons in a month and a half, somehow the shorter British ones don't look so daunting.
And because I am always the schmoopy fan girl at heart...
Season One - So the first few episodes, I was unsure how this became a cult show. They're fun, but I was wondering if the ten years between now and then had somehow made it... not as special. Of course, any startling revelations, like Angel being a vampire, were anything but. And the Master was a lame villain with bad makeup and cheesy special effects. It wasn't until the episode 'Nightmares' that I started to recognize the Joss Whedon I know from Firefly. The other high point was Giles. Giles was totally my favorite character for about the first three seasons. Adore him, especially back when he was all tweedy.
Season Two - is pretty much the best overall (as with almost every TV show), am I right? The show really figured out its pace. I think I clapped with glee at Spike's entrance to the show. And Oz! And Xander/Cordy! I knew 'Surprise' and 'Innocence' were classics, but I also knew why, so that took away a little of their punch. I liked Buffy/Angel. I think it worked with the first three seasons. Even if, like Edward Cullen, Angel was a little flat and boring-broody. (More about this later.) But 'Passion' is the episode that hooked me. Obviously, I come to this series knowing the Joss-tropes, and knowing a good deal about who hooks up, leaves, and dies. I didn't know about Jenny Calendar, and absolutely adoring Giles, this episode was brutally wonderful (or wonderfully brutal, or something). Plus, the hook at the end with the disk falling led straight to 'Becoming', which was also awesome. I was not spoiled for that episode, so while I knew Angel would end up alive (or undead again), and with a soul, it still made me gasp when I realized what Buffy was going to do moments after he had regained it.
Season Three - was also pretty darn good. The Mayor was a great villain. And Faith... pre-season seven, I don't like the character Faith (I actually kinda loathe her), but I recognize that she worked well for the show, and for that season. 'The Wish' was an awesome episode, and I do like Anya (which may not be a popular opinion?). 'Lovers Walk' was also pretty good, and 'Earshot'! OMG, 'Earshot'. Watching it, I was thinking how well it was handling the school violence issue, and then I did the math and realized it came out the same year Columbine happened. And I thought Buffy's speech was so appropriate, and everything *we* felt and wanted to say at the time. It wasn't till later I read that the episode had been written before Columbine, and airing was delayed for months because of it. So wow. Good work, Joss and Co. The build up to the end of the season was great. The finale was okay, but the build-up, with the battle between Faith and Buffy, was really the epic part. Oh, and the end of 'Prom' made me cry for the first time in the series. Maybe I got a little teary when Willow let Buffy know she'd be going to college with her, but the little decorated umbrella? Sobbing.
Season Four - had some good moments, but didn't feel as strong to me. Not being in high school definitely sucked some energy from the show, as did Riley and Buffy's relationship. But it brought us chipped Spike, which in this season was good for the lulz. I feel like they finally got it together for the final fight against Adam, which is what needed to happen for the show, but also felt a little like the writers realizing what had happened, and correcting it. It's funny - watching such a famous show with such a large fandom after it's long over, I feel like I can spot a few instances where the writers self-corrected, or changed things for fan service. And they're usually for the better. Oh, and then the last episode - 'Restless' - was amazing. And heartbreaking, being spoiled for...
Season Five - felt like things were back on track. At least, once Riley left. Maybe, again, it's cause I knew what was to come, and was impatient for it to happen, but it felt like Riley outstayed his welcome. He never really fit into the Scooby gang, and whether that was the character or a chemistry thing, I'm not sure. So then we were on to the Spike>Buffy, which is so delightfully messed up. James Marsters seems to have chemistry with everything, which helps. It's been fun to spot the moments that were turned into Buffy vs. Edward, but I'm certainly not blind to how many of them were originally directed toward Spike. And I wonder why it works for me, when I make fun of Twilight. And then I count the ways... A heroine that actually has a backbone? The admittance that yes, the creepy stalking vampire does have issues? The fact that it's Joss and Co. writing it, instead of Stephanie Meyer? Buffy is not devoid of gender issues, but at least it's not totally ignorant of them.
Oh yeah, and the important stuff... Dawn and Joyce. I was spoiled for both, as I was for 'The Gift', but I don't think that made those moments lose any of their emotional resonance. Had to pause 'The Body' within minutes to go get a box of Kleenex. Glory/Ben was a decent villain, not really because she/he was so great, but because of the way s/he raised the stakes. By 'The Gift', everyone had come together, and the ending was freaking heartbreaking. I accidentally flipped to the end of 'The Gift' when starting on Season Six, and teared up at Buffy's final speech again. I really think 'The Gift' may be my favorite episode of the show, aside from that one in...
Season Six - 'Once More With Feeling', OMG. Definitely the high point of the season, and the only episode I've already rewatched fully. Several times. In addition to being a fun musical, important stuff happens. To song! 'Tabula Rasa' was also good, craxy fun. Overall, I thought season six was pretty good. Not as good as season five, but stronger than seven. Buffy coming back to life made it the OotP of seasons, with all the angst, but out of that we got hate sex with Spike. Which I was okay with. At least until 'Seeing Red', but I was already aware of the attempted rape and fandom's reaction at the time (people don't like Marti Noxon very much, do they?). I was also forewarned for Tara's death, not living under a rock. I think that lessened the impact, but Xander's yellow crayon speech still broke my heart. As had 'Hell's Bells' earlier in the season.
Season Seven - I think had I been a loyal viewer at the time, I would have been disappointed by this season. Watching it marathon-style made it okay, but like so many last seasons, it felt like they were dragging out unnecessary things toward the middle, and then had to rush to fit things in at the end. The potentials were a good idea, but I can't figure out if they had too little or too much screen time. And Andrew just didn't really do it for me, though when they finally paired him with Anya, it was gold. I liked Principal Wood, especially with Faith, and I liked the return to high school at the beginning of the season especially. Sadly, I stopped caring about Giles this season. It wasn't so much his actions - they made sense, coming from where he was - but more that he wasn't around enough to justify them.
Individual episodes in the final season - 'Conversations With Dead People' was amazing. 'Potential' and 'Lies My Parents Told Me' were also very good (though James Marster's William wig was the worst thing ever this time round). Seeing Nathan Fillion be evil is a bit of mindfuck. From 'Touched' onward, I feel like they did a nice job of ramping up the action to the finale, which was very good. Still like 'The Gift' best, but Buffy's decision to change the rules in 'Chosen' was a great way to end the series. Spike kinda lost his fangs this season (I know most people feel it happened back in season four), so his ending was bittersweet, but appropriate. And the Sunnydale sign falling one last time... lulz. Fun times for all, and now I almost want to seek out the comics.
So now I've added 'Angel' to my Neflix queue. I also noticed 'Torchwood' is available as watch-it-now, and started it last night. After seven seasons in a month and a half, somehow the shorter British ones don't look so daunting.
And because I am always the schmoopy fan girl at heart...