Never one to jump on a trend while it's still trendy, I finally started watching Buffy all these years later. I actually started watching it quite some time ago, an episode here and there, and then didn't watch for a long time. A few days ago I started again . . . And I just . . . can't . . . stop. I picked up at about Season 2 episode 8 and have watched 11 episodes in just a few days.
I don't want to work, do yardwork or laundry or cleaning or be productive in any way. I just want to watch Buffy! And I thought my TV obsessions were over w/ the end of LOST. Sigh. I really can't do this for 7 seasons worth of shows. Or ever watch Angel.
Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
My wife and I are working through the entire Buffy/Angel runs. We're currently at the very end of Buffy Season 4/Angel Season 1.
It can be addictive, but most nights by the time we get to watch we can only get in 1 or 2 episodes.
Of course, other TV/movie viewing has diminished. But we'll catch up later.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Enjoy!
When I first started Buffy, by the time I got to season 2, I hardly watched any other TV or movies until I'd gotten all the way through season 7.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Buffy/Angel took over my life for 8 months. It was a crazy love-hate relationship that I do not regret in the slightest.
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
Five more seasons of Buffy in prose. Much better (in my opinion) than the Season 8 comic.
Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :
I also started watching buffy/angel last year. only had 1 or 2 seasons left left and took a break. Time to finish! Good thing I went ahead and bought them all.
edit: spelling
[ July 25, 2010, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: Pegasus ]
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Just watched the finale of Season 2 (and 1 1/2 episodes of Season 3, yes I'm hooked). I'm sort of keeping myself in the dark on purpose so don't spoilerize it too much for me, but about what point in the Buffy series will it start to make sense to me how Angel gets his own show?
I loved the "Bad Robot" bit at the end of the Season 2 Finale where the robot says "I need a hug" instead of "Bad Wobot!"
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
I remember watching Angel at first and thinking it was a pretty darn good show but man it got weird and corny as hell later on.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
**in the unlikely event that there is anyone reading this who hasn't watched Season 3 and doesn't want spoilers, be warned**
There was a moment in the episode I watched last night that made me appreciate the writing in this show. It was the episode where Buffy finally tells Giles and Willow what happened when she killed Angel. Giles had been pumping her for details for the sake of a "binding spell" for the demon Acathla and Willow wanted to help him with the spell. When Willow learns that her spell worked on Angel, she resumes the campaign, saying that she could really help. Giles simply cuts her off by saying, "There is no spell."
Loved that moment because Joss trusted his audience enough not to explain it. It was a perfect moment to showcase the character of Giles and how much he cares for Buffy, and how well he really does his Watcher job in spite of seeming so bumbling at times. So much of what's on TV would have resorted to a plot device like Cordelia acting confused and Xander explaining it to her or something. Much more lovely as it was done.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I love those moments on Buffy.
You haven't gotten there yet, but you'll know when you get there: two of the greatest hour-long bits of storytelling ever made are The Body (season 5) and Normal Again (season 6).
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale: Buffy/Angel took over my life for 8 months. It was a crazy love-hate relationship that I do not regret in the slightest.
This sounds like my relationship with LOST. I'm sure that the conclusion of LOST is at least in part responsible for my seeking out a new obession!
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
quote:Originally posted by Wingracer: I remember watching Angel at first and thinking it was a pretty darn good show but man it got weird and corny as hell later on.
I remember the opposite. I thought the last season was by far the best. Especially the Angel/Spike interactions.
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale:
quote:Originally posted by Wingracer: I remember watching Angel at first and thinking it was a pretty darn good show but man it got weird and corny as hell later on.
I remember the opposite. I thought the last season was by far the best. Especially the Angel/Spike interactions.
It's entirely possible I have it backwards. I've only seen it in syndication and I have NO idea what order I was watching them in.
Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: I love those moments on Buffy.
You haven't gotten there yet, but you'll know when you get there: two of the greatest hour-long bits of storytelling ever made are The Body (season 5) and Normal Again (season 6).
And Hush from season 4 was just amazing.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by Wingracer:
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale:
quote:Originally posted by Wingracer: I remember watching Angel at first and thinking it was a pretty darn good show but man it got weird and corny as hell later on.
I remember the opposite. I thought the last season was by far the best. Especially the Angel/Spike interactions.
It's entirely possible I have it backwards. I've only seen it in syndication and I have NO idea what order I was watching them in.
I always thought that season 5 of Angel changed so dramatically because Whedon couldnt vent his need for comedic dialogue anywhere else. Buffy always had a bit of cute tit for tat and Angel started out very gloomy, but then Buffy got canceled and all of a sudden Angel is transformed into a puppet and Gunn is peeing on everyone. I dont remember any fluffy humor episodes of Angel before season 5.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Maybe that's why I liked the last season so much.
I mean, the whole concept was RIDICULOUS (***spoiler warning, I guess***) a vampire with a soul running an inter-dimensional law firm with a musically-psychic demon, a scientist/demon/adorable-girl-with-a-boys-name, an English Marlboro Man, a reformed-English-Vampire-with-Spunk, and a local city boy.
It really couldn't take itself too seriously. I think the world would have collapsed.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: ... I dont remember any fluffy humor episodes of Angel before season 5.
Spin the Bottle, season 4 is the only thing that comes to mind for me
Posted by Herblay (Member # 11834) on :
Joss Whedon Guide for the Male / NON-Hardcore Fan
Buffy: Meh. Some good episodes (but a lot of filler).
Angel: Season 5 was fantastic. Just read spoilers for Season 1-4 (melodrama central).
Firefly / Serenity: Outstanding. The series is better than the movie, however.
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: Good but WAY too short.
Dollhouse: Erratic at the beginning. Skip episodes 2 through 5 altogether. This show meanders a lot (especially in the first season). The second half of the second season is Joss's best work. Better than Firefly. Seriously.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
quote:Originally posted by Herblay: The second half of the second season is Joss's best work. Better than Firefly. Seriously.
Until it crashed and burned and became horrible, you mean.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
I watched all of Buffy and Angel this spring through Netflix. Never watched before. When I got close to Buffy's series finale, I was pretty anxious about watching it, because Firefly, Dollhouse, and Dr. Horrible were what I knew of Whedon.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
And you're going to leave it at that and not say anymore in this thread, right Dabbler? Didn't watch Dollhouse but w/ Serenity and Dr. Horrible I catch your drift.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Yeah just that I was really anxious beforehand.
Posted by Herblay (Member # 11834) on :
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale:
quote:Originally posted by Herblay: The second half of the second season is Joss's best work. Better than Firefly. Seriously.
Until it crashed and burned and became horrible, you mean.
Uhm . . . when did it become horrible? It only got better (much better) as it neared the end. It was actually a coherent, well thought out, sci-fi story . . . more like a mini-series than a tv show.
Perhaps I liked it for the reasons that you didn't.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale: Maybe that's why I liked the last season so much.
I mean, the whole concept was RIDICULOUS (***spoiler warning, I guess***) a vampire with a soul running an inter-dimensional law firm with a musically-psychic demon, a scientist/demon/adorable-girl-with-a-boys-name, an English Marlboro Man, a reformed-English-Vampire-with-Spunk, and a local city boy.
It really couldn't take itself too seriously. I think the world would have collapsed.
.... it kinda did.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
The entire ending I thought was poorly thought-out, poorly executed, and painfully rushed. Well, I guess I'm just talking about the last episode (not Epitaph 2). I was so disappointed with that one.
Posted by Herblay (Member # 11834) on :
quote:Originally posted by The White Whale: The entire ending I thought was poorly thought-out, poorly executed, and painfully rushed. Well, I guess I'm just talking about the last episode (not Epitaph 2). I was so disappointed with that one.
Hmm . . . you sort of have a point. I'd say that the second half of the last season was phenominal. With the last episode, it didn't really seem like the end was that close . . . and all of a sudden -- big revelation, dramatic conflict, the end.
Sure, the final episode was abrupt and a little disorienting, but that didn't make it bad. And the narrative leading up to it was some of the best tv ever -- better than Lost, better than Firefly, better than Who, better than Torchwood.
And Epitaph Two makes up for any brevity in the "ending".
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Yeah, I agree.
I guess I was just so distraught that the potential of the show was stifled right at it was getting great, that I had an strong negative overreaction to that last episode.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
SPOILER ALERT------------ - - - - - - Sorry, wasnt thinking. Enjoy at your own pace Uprooted, but dont follow the song for it is all spoiler.
I just found a song about Angel, set to the tune of Pepper by The Butthole Surfers. - - - - - - SPOILERIFIC ABOVE
[ July 29, 2010, 06:19 PM: Message edited by: AchillesHeel ]
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
True, but that was still a kick-ass ending.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
AchillesHeel -- can you put a spoilers warning on that last one? Uprooted hasn't seen Angel yet.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Thank you plaid (and Achilles) -- I logged in after it was in place. I guess this is inevitable and I may just have to quit reading!
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
quote: Hmm . . . you sort of have a point. I'd say that the second half of the last season was phenominal. With the last episode, it didn't really seem like the end was that close . . . and all of a sudden -- big revelation, dramatic conflict, the end.
Sure, the final episode was abrupt and a little disorienting, but that didn't make it bad. And the narrative leading up to it was some of the best tv ever -- better than Lost, better than Firefly, better than Who, better than Torchwood.
Really? I agree that it was starting to get interesting and had a handful of good episodes in a row after a season plus of less than mediocre shows. But then it fell off a cliff.
*************SPOILERS***************** Boyd went from a sensitive man who was concerned about big picture ethics to a raging lunatic with no transition. It struck me as insulting to the viewers and far too easy/ lazy of writing.
Posted by Herblay (Member # 11834) on :
*******Spoilers*********** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boyd didn't ever seem THAT concerned with ethics. . . he seemed more concerned with Alpha (or Caroline). The show made his ethical flexibility clear from the begin, and they showed him ALWAYS putting Alpha first (over the company, his security, the security of the other dolls). Yeah, they could have characterized it better, but then it would have spoiled the twist. That second half was the best that Whedon has ever done on plot, if not characterization. . . . . . . . . . **********End Spoilers***********
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
Sorry to bring this thread back from the grave but you see, it inspired me to download the shows and finally watch all of them. I had seen an episode here and an episode there but nowhere near all of them. After finally finishing season 5 I have to say, Joss is a genius!
I mean come on, the whole idea of the show is pretty absurd, yet this is some of the best storytelling I have ever seen on TV. And season 5 may be the most moving thing I have EVER seen.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!! . . . . . Right from the get go of season 5, I was concerned that this was going to be a meaningless season. Dawn's appearance had me convinced that this was all just some dream sequence or alternate reality or some such thing that makes the whole story meaningless. The final episode of season 4 just reinforced that belief. Then "The Body" had me even more convinced it was all meaningless, especially when Dawn tried to bring her back.
But to my amazement, the writers never once took the cheap and easy way out. All the more amazing for a series that on the surface seems like nothing more than a fluff piece. It all culminated in the final shot of the season finale. It was all I could do to make out the inscription "She saved the world a lot" through the tears.
The only problem with it, I really thought that was the perfect tragic ending to the whole series. Watching the special features, I saw where Joss seriously considered doing just that. As tragic and heartbreaking as it was, it would have been perfect but just the knowledge that there is a season 6 let's you know that she will be back. Kind of a shame but let's hope the remaining seasons make it worth it. . . . . . . END SPOILERS!!!!! . . . . . Thank you so much for inspiring me to finally watch all of this show.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Why, hello old thread. Wingracer, glad you were inspired -- although I did not read anything past the spoiler alert (thank you) because I have suspended my Buffy watching for the time being because I can't be trusted not to let it eat my life. Perhaps I will resume next summer.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I saw a fair amount of Buffy, but I basically stopped after the 3rd season. Season 3 was so good and cohesive that everything just felt weird when the characters were uprooted to a college campus for the 4th season.
[ October 17, 2010, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: Sa'eed ]
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Mrs. BB is currently in the throes of Buffy passion. She is closing on the finale of season 3 and she is definitely enjoying it. She hasn't touched Angel yet, but I imagine she will when she finally finishes.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
My brother called me to yell at me for lending him Angel. He likens it to addiction. Says it's cutting in on his schoolwork.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
I love the Angel title music. It's haunting.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
--END OF SEASON 5 SPOILERS--
Yeah, while there's some really good stuff in the last two seasons of Buffy that would be a shame for us to not have, if it had ended at the end of season 5 it would have been one of the best series finales ever.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I tend to agree mph, but I really like the beginning of season 6.
Actually, I like all of season 6. Especially the relationship that develops. (Saying no more.)
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
There are some great things in season 6, but overall, I it is my least favorite season of Buffy. Especially the relationship that develops.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Well, poo on you. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
And may you, and all those who do not share my exact same opinions about fictional characters, also be covered with foul excrement.
Posted by ambyr (Member # 7616) on :
quote:Originally posted by dabbler: I love the Angel title music. It's haunting.
Ahh! Thanks, now it's stuck in my head.
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed: I saw a fair amount of Buffy, but I basically stopped after the 3rd season. Season 3 was so good and cohesive that everything just felt weird when the characters were uprooted to a college campus for the 4th season.
I agree season 4 did kind of suck you OUT of the story for a while but it finally pulls it all back to together at the end only to give us the near perfection that is season 5.
NOT REALLY A SPOILER BUT READ AT YOUR OWN RISK . . . .
Then we get season 6. Overall, not as good as 5 and probably should have ended at 5 but the scene where Buffy confides in Spike about where she was brought back from is absolutely brilliant and kinda makes it all worth it.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
I didn't want to make a new thread for this.
I was just at my local comic book store and saw a huge Buffy The Vampire Slayer collection. Twelve inch figures of all the principle characters plus two of the "Gentlemen" from the episode Hush. I was really surprised to see them and thought some of the Whedonites might enjoy them.
Here is the store if you want to contact them.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Hi again, thread. I've watched a few more episodes of Buffy but am still in Season 3. So I guess I must relinquish my Buffyholic title.
Since that time I have, however, watched all of Dollhouse. My current obsession is 24, Season 2. Yep, always on the cutting edge, that's me! ;-)
Posted by happymann (Member # 9559) on :
Uprooted, you really have to at least get through season 5. After that, meh. It's still good, but season 5 is amazing.
Oh, and Dollhouse is fantastic! The 10 years later episodes were pure brilliance.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
OK Strangelove, you win. Resuming Season 3.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
I hadn't watched much of anything Joss Whedon. After getting into Bones a while back, I attempted to watch Angel, but it was so full of feelings that I gave up 2 1/2 seasons in (see, I gave it a good long try).
But someone recently told me how amazing Buffy is and told me that I simply HAD to watch it, skimming the first two seasons, and then enjoy the rest.
I proceeded to watch the entire series in about 3 weeks. That's an average of over 5 hours a day of Buffy (there were two days in there that I was sick with a flu and spend an entire day in bed watching, but still).
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Hank, if you haven't, check out Dollhouse and, of course, Firefly. Neither are huge investments of time, but both are incredibly high quality.
Oh, and Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. Though I understand some people finding that one a bit too... niche.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
I actually watched Dr. Horrible before Buffy. Loved it!
I've seen Firefly, too, and I understand the many rants I've heard about it's cancellation. Clearly a waste.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Sounds like you're pretty close to a Whedonite to me!
I also haven't watched much Angel. I'm not sure why, but I just wasn't able to get in to it. My wife watched more of it when it was actually on television, so using her guidance I've watched some of the more important or good episodes (including the last one...), but neither of us has any desire to sit through the entire series. Maybe it is something about watching Bones first?
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
"Angel," even moreso than "Buffy," is heavily continuity-based and requires that you watch it in order from the beginning (ideally, concurrently with "Buffy") to get the full impact. It has sprawling, multi-season epic arcs that are unlike anything on Whedon's other shows. What's unfortunate is that Season 1 is one of the show's weaker seasons, and extremely uneven from episode to episode. But it sets up a lot of the major characters and some important things happen that will have reverberating consequences over the remainder of the series. And unfortunately, it's not the kind of thing where I can just say, "watch this episode and skip the rest," because the impact of the Big Events even within Season 1 is dependent on understanding character motivations and backstory that are slowly revealed over the course of the season.
If you have time, though, I'd highly recommend the show. It's every bit as character-driven and witty as Whedon's other work, and its long story arcs give it a sense of weight and permanence that "Buffy" and "Dollhouse" sometimes lacked ("Firefly," sadly, didn't last long enough to even attempt that). The development of one male character imported from "Buffy," in particular, is one of the best long-form character arcs I've ever seen on television - a stunning transformation that occurs so gradually and organically that you never once feel like the writers are actively altering who the person is, even as he changes completely between his first and last appearances.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
My previous experience with Angel was that it was rather silly, but having watched Buffy, maybe I'll give it another try. I think I could reasonable say I've converted to Whedonism.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
To me, the problem with Angel is it is not formulaic. Joss wanted the show to change, to devolve, to move forward. And some of the movement was forced and painful. Some was organic and some of the best television I've ever seen.
All and all, I'd say watch it, if you can commit to it.
Westly's transformation in season four(?) was breath takingly, heart breathtakingly amazing. But like Tarrask said, if you didn't see all the seasons, you won't get it.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: To me, the problem with Angel is it is not formulaic. Joss wanted the show to change, to devolve, to move forward. And some of the movement was forced and painful. some of the movement was forced and painful. Some was organic and some of the best television I've ever seen.
All and all, I'd say watch it, if you can commit to it.
Westly's transformation in season four(?) was breath takingly, heart breathtakingly amazing. But like Tarrask said, if you didn't see all the seasons, you won't get it.
This was what drove me away.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
Oops, sorry. I only meant to respond to this:
some of the movement was forced and painful
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
(mild spoiler) The whole baby coming back as a moody teenager was grievous.
[ July 10, 2012, 02:11 AM: Message edited by: Stone_Wolf_ ]
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
Yeah, Season 4 was... not so good. But again, important to the ongoing arcs. And sadly, the transition from the excellent Season 3 to the friggin' sublime Season 5 makes no sense without Season 4.
...OK, it doesn't really make any sense with Season 4 either. *sigh*
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Funnily enough I started watching Buffy only a couple of months ago. I'm now at the start of season 4 and I'm also watching Angel concurrently. I've never seen an episode of either before.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
(Saying no more.)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)