As you may have gathered, I just experienced the fifth-season Buffy episode, "The Body," for the first time. It cements my belief that BtVS is one of the greatest television series ever produced. What other sci-fi/fantasy series could get away with such a painfully realistic portrayal of the aftermath of death, particularly sci-fi series known more for their sense of humor than their character drama?
I loved how there was no music in the entire show, and how the camera lingered too long on certain, seemingly irrelevant details (the vomit, the telephone keypad), in order to evoke the numb shock Buffy experiences. Willow grasps for something she can control, while Xander reacts with anger, seeking to right a nonexistent wrong. And particularly heart-breaking: Anya, the perpetual outsider, BtVS's Constable Odo, desperate to understand the emotions she is feeling.
Loved the little touches: Xander's car being ticketed, each act book-ended by the eponymous body, and Dawn crying over the hurtful statements of her classmate, unaware of the real tragedy looming overhead. Even the vampire scene at the end felt different- no acrobatics, no martial arts, just grunts and impacts, ended via the most physical, horrific method of slaying possible.
Damn.
Once again, I can't believe I never saw this show while it was running. I don't think any television episode has ever managed to hit me quite the way "The Body" did. Bravo to Joss Whedon, bravo to Sarah Michelle Gellar and her cast-mates for an incredible job well done.
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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I always love to see new people turned into fans. Buffy is my all-time favorite show. Glad you two love it, too.
And yes, The Body was incredible. Tarrsk, you're a very observant viewer. You picked up on all of the things that Joss points out in the DVD voiceover. Did you cheat and watch it after?
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This is so strange. I've been watching Buffy for the first time, and I just started on season 5 this morning. I'm going to avoid reading this thread until I get to that episode. Just wanted to publicly have my mind blown until I can respond more fully.
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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My wife won't watch it again. She appreciated it -- I can't say "enjoy" here -- but it was too emotional for her to revisit afterwards.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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It was so well done. I couldn't believe how they handled it. This episode is one of the main items I cite to people to say "No, Buffy isn't just a pulpy teen horror show".
SPOILERS . . . . . . The Monkey's Paw kind of thing freaks me out. Funny thing is, the day I saw that episode, I also read the Monkey's Paw and saw the Simpsons version. Didn't connect 'em up until that night.
Posts: 1735 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Katarain: Heh, I'll admit that I did watch the DVD commentary, but the details I listed were ones that I'd noticed during my initial viewing. It was a thrill to realize that I wasn't just pulling those thoughts out of thin air.
Whedon's one of the more deliberate directors out there, now that I'm thinking about it- if you listen to the commentary for Firefly's "Objects in Space," there's a similarly obsessive approach to detail in set design and camerawork. It's impressive considering that he's known for his writing rather than his direction... the guy is too damn talented! Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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I bawled like a baby when I saw that the first time.
Just the other day the episode before The Body was on, and just seeing that body again gave me chills.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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For some reason, I didn't "lose it" and start crying till Anya did. Not even Willow made me cry, but when Anya started talking about the pleasent trivalities of life and how Joyce would never experience them again... Something about that hit me more than anything else...
Posts: 7085 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I mentioned this episode when a Hatrack Member who lost their mother recently posted about his troubles, for me it is the definition of shock and loss. I was moved very deeply by that episode.
I never watched it when it was on, so I've been catching up on it this year. It's now one of my favorite series ever.
kojabu, if you're thinking of watching Buffy, stop reading any threads about Buffy to avoid spoilers! A lot of the fun of Buffy is from the different plot twists.
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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By the time I hit season 5, I think I'll have forgotten about this thread. :-P Besides, I don't exactly know what's going on aside from the fact that it's an intense episode.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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I just saw this episode a couple of months ago. I kept getting the nagging feeling that this was all a hoax and that we would find out that her death was not real any second. That is almost exactly how I felt when my uncle died unexpectedly. A very good episode.
Posts: 1015 | Registered: Aug 2004
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One word of warning for those who have yet to watch the episode but will soon: It's heavy stuff and might have you moping around for the rest of the day.
Definitely one of those episodes I might not be able to watch again simply because it's too good. The fact that it's so good makes it hard to watch, specially if you have ever had to experience death or loss. The scenario in that episode hit a bit too close to home for me.
A must watch though, don't even consider skipping it.
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Ben recently confessed (over a dinner at our house) that he just didn't 'get' Firefly. He said everyone always praises Whedon's dialogue, but he just doesn't see it as that good.
I didn't, erm, make him give back the hot dog.
But now I see... Make him watch "The Body" and "Hush" and so forth. If that doesn'put him in awe of the wonderfullness that is Joss Whedon, then I'll just have to limit my family's exposure to him. Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Buffy is my all-time favorite show. Glad you two love it, too.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
