Just finished watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time

POSTED BY: Mudd
UPDATED: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 09:08
VIEWED: 11609
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MUDD

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 7:54 AM

I was in middle school and high school when it first aired. If I caught it while flipping channels, I watched it happily, but I wasn't following it enough to know the major story arcs. I think it was January when I started watching it straight through for the first time, and I just finished on Saturday. I've been watching Angel at the same time, trying to watch episodes of both in the order they were originally aired. I haven't seen/read anything after the last episode of Buffy, so please don't spoil anything from the last season of Angel or the comic books. Here are some of my initial thoughts.

I loved the girl power message of how it ended. It wraps up a conflict that I didn't think we'd ever get resolution for - Buffy having to bear the burden of responsibility unwillingly. I loved Spike's arc in the last season, love making a demon quest to get his soul back, but his sacrifice was unsatisfying for me. But I understand I'll be seeing more of him in Angel somehow (don't tell me how!). The Kennedy/Willow relationship cheapened Tara's death for me. Willow should have needed more time single. The last season was too busy to do a new side relationship justice. I get why Joss needed to kill someone in the final battle, to have a real sense of danger and risk, but Anya dies so late that the battle is mostly over anyhow, and we never really get to deal the consequences. If the show wasn't about to end, we'd have seen Xander deal with so much regret. To a lesser extent, the same goes for Xander's eye. I love the idea of someone with no powers still feeling the need to do everything he can do help the side of good in these epic battles, and I appreciate why that should have consequences, but if it's going to happen, give us more time to play with that theme.

I would have loved to see Oz benefit from Season 5+ special effects, turning into an actual wolf instead of a dude in a wolf suit.

I miss Tara.

Too many thoughts to type them all out.

WISHIMAY

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 8:45 AM

I've never actually seen Buffy, more than bits and pieces of shows. I think me and the kiddo will do that and Angel this summer, mostly because we've watched everything else. It's funny the things I was so into as a kid I can't even bring myself to watch now, so I guess it's good I didn't watch some things....

Can you recommend any "Do Not Miss" episodes?

MOOSE

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:07 AM

Hush, The Body, and Once More with Feeling are the ones that immediately come to mind as must see.

MOOSE

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:07 AM

Hush, The Body, and Once More with Feeling are the ones that immediately come to mind as must see.

MUDD

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 6:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Moose:
Hush, The Body, and Once More with Feeling are the ones that immediately come to mind as must see.

This seems to be the general consensus. Those are the three episodes with the highest ratings on IMDB. You can check out others here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/eprate?ref_=tt_eps_rhs_sm

"Once More With Feeling" is so wildly impressive. It's just so different from anything I've ever seen on TV.
"Hush" didn't leave the same impression on me as it did on most people, but I plan to rewatch.
I think "The Body" is the only time I've ever cried watching television, but I don't think it would've had the same impact without the rest of the season leading up to it.

ECGORDON

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mudd:
I think "The Body" is the only time I've ever cried watching television, but I don't think it would've had the same impact without the rest of the season leading up to it.

"The Body" is hands down the best episode of the series, and one of the best hours of TV ever, in my opinion. But I agree that you definitely need most everything that came before to get the full impact of it.

All of the seasons have some weak episodes, but I would suggest you not worry about the ones that don't work, just persevere and go on to the next one, because it might be the one to convince you it's a great series even if you had been contemplating giving up on it before.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 6:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mudd:
I was in middle school and high school when it first aired. If I caught it while flipping channels, I watched it happily, but I wasn't following it enough to know the major story arcs. I think it was January when I started watching it straight through for the first time, and I just finished on Saturday. I've been watching Angel at the same time, trying to watch episodes of both in the order they were originally aired. I haven't seen/read anything after the last episode of Buffy, so please don't spoil anything from the last season of Angel or the comic books. Here are some of my initial thoughts.

I loved the girl power message of how it ended. It wraps up a conflict that I didn't think we'd ever get resolution for - Buffy having to bear the burden of responsibility unwillingly. I loved Spike's arc in the last season, love making a demon quest to get his soul back, but his sacrifice was unsatisfying for me. But I understand I'll be seeing more of him in Angel somehow (don't tell me how!). The Kennedy/Willow relationship cheapened Tara's death for me. Willow should have needed more time single. The last season was too busy to do a new side relationship justice. I get why Joss needed to kill someone in the final battle, to have a real sense of danger and risk, but Anya dies so late that the battle is mostly over anyhow, and we never really get to deal the consequences. If the show wasn't about to end, we'd have seen Xander deal with so much regret. To a lesser extent, the same goes for Xander's eye. I love the idea of someone with no powers still feeling the need to do everything he can do help the side of good in these epic battles, and I appreciate why that should have consequences, but if it's going to happen, give us more time to play with that theme.

I would have loved to see Oz benefit from Season 5+ special effects, turning into an actual wolf instead of a dude in a wolf suit.

I miss Tara.

Too many thoughts to type them all out.

Did you watch the original movie first?

MUDD

Thursday, April 21, 2016 8:27 AM

I didn't rewatch the movie, but maybe I should. I haven't seen it since some time in the 90s, probably before I was even in high school. Joss doesn't talk about it very favorably, but I'm sure I'd find something to enjoy in it.

MOOSE

Thursday, April 21, 2016 6:19 PM

It's a fun movie. Worth a rewatch every once in a while.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mudd:
I didn't rewatch the movie, but maybe I should. I haven't seen it since some time in the 90s, probably before I was even in high school. Joss doesn't talk about it very favorably, but I'm sure I'd find something to enjoy in it.

If that cast had been in the TV show, I would have started watching it.

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