This summer I started watching BTVS while I was waiting for True Blood Season 3 to start. I'd never watched it before, but quickly fell completely in love with the series.

Yeah, I know, vampire groupie... V"V

I've noticed lots of love being given to the series recently and we've even had a couple of threads about it this year, but I want to start one up from Buffy websites I've looked at. There are so many forums there and so much of it is very old or even from closed websites. It's very confusing.

So here I am. For those of you who watch and wish to discuss:

Rank the seasons (least favorite to most favorite)

Least- 4

3

1

7

2

5

Most- 6

List your 5 favorite episodes

Once More with Feeling

Hush

List your 5 least favorite episodes

Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

List the 5 characters you love

Giles

Buffy

Zander

Willow

Spike

List the 5 characters that are most annoying

Buffy's mom

Faith

Riley

Dawn

Tara

I cannot list 5 favorite and not favorite episodes as I haven't seen them all yet and don't them all well enough yet. I got the series dvd set for Christmas so I'm working on it

And yes, I'm going to

Please discuss

I love discussing this type stuff with ya'll.

Im just going to do a quicky. Loved Buffy period.

season 3 rocked for me. The whole gang was in motion and full throttle, add Faith and the Mayor to the mix and it was all win.

I agree with Once More With Feelling and Hush. The soundtrack rocks written by josh, music and lyrics I believe.

I dont know the names of the episodes I didn't care for and honestly its been years since Ive watched them all the bad has kinda disappeared into the haze.

Favorite character: Loved Willow I actually think the whole series is bout her and her metaphorist from wallflower to earth goddess. Love me some Oz. Faith rocked me and I loved her arc towards the end. Buffy, Giles. Tara is also up there but I wish they had spent more time fleshing out her past.

Hate: Dawn.

Nothinbutjoy said:

List the 5 characters that are most annoying

Dawn

Tara

I'm terrible at lists, but I'm good at discussing, so here's some thoughts...

First thought. One of the most underrated tv series, ever! It's become fashionable to be anti-Buffy, which is a great disappointment to me. Because I'm fairly certain if more people would make the attempt to watch this show from beginning to end they'd be incredibly surprised by how much they love it.

Next thought. They got away with SO much on this show (as well as Angel). They must have been on the air at just the right time. Tons of violence and darkness, a stadium full of sexual innuendo, a natural, positive portrayal of lesbians on basic cable. Most non-pay cable shows these days don't come close to the darkness level of these shows and their violence revolves largely around guns and/or real crime procedures.

Thought about writing. It rocked! I don't care if Joss Whedon never creates anything as good as this again (although I'm a HUGE Firefly fan). He gets a lifetime pass for Buffy and Angel as far as I'm concerned. And it's amazing how many of the writers who worked on those shows are now writing or running other great shows.

Annoying characters. You just shush about Dawny and Tara! There is no denying that Buffy's mom was annoying. Although she did get better over time. I was never a huge fan of the evil super geeks in general, but I think they did a good job of making them work overall. Not a big Riley fan, though. I agree with you there.

Favorite characters. Buffy, Giles, Spike, Oz, Drusilla, Angel, Anya, Xander, Willlow, Tara, Dawn - in no particular order. I used to be kind of annoyed by Cordellia, but I like her more after watching (most) of Angel. I think if I really had to choose favorites.... ah crap! I can't choose!

Favorite episodes. Hmm, I've only been through most of them twice, so I'm not sure I know a lot of them by name, either. Besides, I'm more into certain moments and character interactions overall. I love almost all of the moments when Spike and Buffy were alone, speaking honestly to each other. The rest of the Scoobs never understood that connection (because Buffy wouldn't tell them and Spike let her keep it that way) and it created great tension. When Buffy explained to Spike that they had pulled her back from heaven - chills! I also like the small, one on one moments between Buffy and pretty much ever other character. The group interaction was great on that show. That was certainly when we got most of the funniest and most whitty dialogue. But the small, intimate moments was when the secrets were shared and the bombshells dropped (for the most part). It's those momenst, big and small, that got me hooked on this show.

However, since you mentioned both of them. Hush - GENIUS! One of the creapiest hours of television I've ever seen. It actually made me physically tense the first time I watched it. Once More With Feeling - eh, it's good. And don't get me wrong - I really like it (it's got that incredible reveal in it - more chills). But I do think it's taken on a bit of unwarranted hype over time.

Least favorite episodes. Again, I could find something to like in almost any episode (maybe all of them). But I was never a fan of Riley or The Initiative. I think there was a lot of time wasted on those episodes and relationships. They tried to make it meaningful and important to the show. But in the end you could remove all of it and it would make very little difference.

LOVE this show

Currently watching it all over again with my 14 year old

Hate Dawn

HATE Faith; worst dialogue since Jo on Facts of Life, it didn't fit the rest of the writing at all, and the character was just silly.

Everything else was perfect

Does watching Angel on occasion count?

buffy was my introduction to the world of joss whedon. love buffy. i had a little bit of disconnect with the show in general when buffy and spike went at it, but still followed until it's end then even watched angel.

fav episodes? also loved once more with feeling and hush plus, the episode where buffy is in the mental institution. comes around long enough to realize she's absically a prisoner in a locked and padded room, then drifts off, back to the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. and, the episode where dawn is introduced. whedon is rather brilliant

[Edited 12/30/10 17:00pm]

this is off topic but boreanaz rocks in his current role on 'Bones'

XxAxX said:

this is off topic but boreanaz rocks in his current role on 'Bones'

oh but yes he does

Ack! I need to watch the last 8 episodes of Angel. I've been putting it off too long. I think tonight is the night.

I can totally understand why people were initially turned off by the Buffy/Spike relationship. It was hard to take at first. But after I got used to it (a few more episodes) I liked how it was used to show just how broken Buffy really was. Which was very, VERY broken. It becomes much more apparent when you re-watch the series continuously. She was not always stable and was often extremely selfish.

I liked the Mayor storyline, sometimes. Like certain other parts of the show I think it may have gone on a bit too long. I liked Principal Wood more, though. He makes a very brief re-appearance in the Season Eight comic book.

I never disliked the Faith character, I disliked Eliza Dushku in the role. She a stank actress - nearly ruins Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (some might say that wasn't very hard to do, though ). Because I liked the Faith character I was able to look past some of her AWFUL line readings.

I'm opposite on the Dawn "birth". I didn't like how she was introduced (appeared), but I really grew to care about her as a character as the series went on. That's one of the great strengths of this show. It gets you to really care about vampires, former demons and "Keys".

Oh, but the episode Dawn "appears" in is 'Buffy vs Dracula', and that was definitely a good episode.

Okay, I can't think right now... painkillers:

But I own the full boxsets for both Buffy and Angel. LOVE THEM!

And I still watch Buffy every night on Logo. I watched the mini-marathon yesterday.

Favorite moments/lines:

• When Angel killed Jenny Calendar. There was something delicious about that!
• When Willow skinned Warren. I don't think I'll ever recover.
• When invisible Buffy was "riding" Spike
• The dream sequence where Xander said, "Willow and Tara do spells together, then I have to go do a spell of my own"
• Whenever Buffy and Faith fought. Cheesy stunt doubles, but awesome moves.
• The whole "Hush" episode.

Dawn irritated the HELL out me.

No one mentioned Darla.

Yeah... I love that show.

On Angel:

• I hated that whole thing with his son when he grew up.
• I kept waiting for Angel to sleep with Cordy and turn evil again.
• It broke my heart when the actor who played Lorne died.

morningsong said:

Ahhhhhh crap! I remember why I stopped watching Angel now. Siiiigh. And I only have six episodes to go.

Cerebus said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Cerebus said:

Ahhhhhh crap! I remember why I stopped watching Angel now. Siiiigh. And I only have six episodes to go.

You're not liking them?

Just bummed out by something that happened. Don't want to say what, though, in case somebody who is actually going to take the time to watch the whole series reads it. I wouldn't want to know ahead of time.

In general I've loved Angel. Not nearly as much as Buffy, but still quite a bit. Angel has always felt like it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. In some ways that was good, change often is. But in some ways it's been kind of frustrating, like never quite being able to get comfortable in a chair. At this point (with six episodes left) I actually wish it had lasted at least another season.

I also thought the stuff with the grown Connor was largely pretty bad. Thankfully there was usually something else going on at the same time and it didn't last forever. I thought the Jasmine storyline went on far too long, as well.

Wow. Can't believe I forgot Darla. She wasn't really one of my favorite or least favorite, though.

Nothinbutjoy said:

This summer I started watching BTVS while I was waiting for True Blood Season 3 to start. I'd never watched it before, but quickly fell completely in love with the series.

Yeah, I know, vampire groupie... V"V

I've noticed lots of love being given to the series recently and we've even had a couple of threads about it this year, but I want to start one up from Buffy websites I've looked at. There are so many forums there and so much of it is very old or even from closed websites. It's very confusing.

So here I am. For those of you who watch and wish to discuss:

Rank the seasons (least favorite to most favorite)

Least- 4

3

1

7

2

5

Most- 6

List your 5 favorite episodes

Once More with Feeling

Hush

List your 5 least favorite episodes

Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

List the 5 characters you love

Giles

Buffy

Zander

Willow

Spike

List the 5 characters that are most annoying

Buffy's mom

Faith

Riley

Dawn

Tara

I cannot list 5 favorite and not favorite episodes as I haven't seen them all yet and don't them all well enough yet. I got the series dvd set for Christmas so I'm working on it

omfg

No one ever agrees with me about season 6. I think it is Buffy's best moments and darkest just love the whole thing!

Cerebus said:

In general I've loved Angel. Not nearly as much as Buffy, but still quite a bit. Angel has always felt like it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. In some ways that was good, change often is. But in some ways it's been kind of frustrating, like never quite being able to get comfortable in a chair. At this point (with six episodes left) I actually wish it had lasted at least another season.

I also thought the stuff with the grown Connor was largely pretty bad. Thankfully there was usually something else going on at the same time and it didn't last forever. I thought the Jasmine storyline went on far too long, as well.

Wow. Can't believe I forgot Darla. She wasn't really one of my favorite or least favorite, though.

By the time Angel figured out where it wanted to go, it was too late to save the show. The first 2 seasons were very hit or miss it took too long for the show to gel and find its way.

Buffy's Mom was suppose to be annoying as hell, that was the whole teenage angle, however I think that the actress did a wonderful job of it.

Which make me remember The Body probably the darkest gem of the whole series when it comes to the depth of emotions. That episode of such loss still makes me quiver.

lazycrockett said:

Buffy's Mom was suppose to be annoying as hell, that was the whole teenage angle, however I think that the actress did a wonderful job of it.

Which make me remember The Body probably the darkest gem of the whole series when it comes to the depth of emotions. That episode of such loss still makes me quiver.

Ow yes, without a doubt one of T.V's greatest hours... still gives me chills

weird double post thingy

[Edited 12/30/10 23:58pm]

Gunsnhalen said:

lazycrockett said:

Buffy's Mom was suppose to be annoying as hell, that was the whole teenage angle, however I think that the actress did a wonderful job of it.

Which make me remember The Body probably the darkest gem of the whole series when it comes to the depth of emotions. That episode of such loss still makes me quiver.

Ow yes, without a doubt one of T.V's greatest hours... still gives me chills

When buffy smooths down her moms skirt, its such a lil moment but it speaks volumes after accidently breaking her ribs.

[Edited 12/30/10 23:57pm]

I don't know if season six was my favorite, but it was definitely very sad and very emotionally dark. My favorite eps from that season (had to check an episode guide )....

Life Serial - The new Buffy and Spike relationship begins

All The Way - Willow casts the memory altering spell on Tara

Once More With Feeling - Buffy tells sings to the the Scooby's that they pulled her back from heaven

Tabula Rasa - Willow's magic goes wonky, Tara breaks up with her and moves out

Smashed - After much violence, Buffy and Spike get busy

Wrecked - Willow junkies out and almost gets Dawn killed

Dead Things - Warren kills, Buffy does more violence to Spike

Hell's Bells - Xander ditches the wedding, Anya goes all demony again

Normal Again - The Buffy in the mental ward living out delusions ep

Entropy - Anya tries to enact vengance, ends up sleeping with Spike and everybody finds out (love this ep)

Seeing Red - Willow and Tara reconcile, Warren shoots Buffy and Tara, kills Tara

Villians - Willow goes Dark and kills Warren (that skinning will never have the same shock value as the first time I saw it, but it sure as hell made me jump then)

So, I guess I really liked about 70% of that season. Could be that it ends up as my favorite - I'll have to go over the other six to be sure. However, I DIDN'T like the final two episodes of that season. Dark Tara veered dangerously close (and occasionally over) the laughably cheesy line. Allison Flanigan is perfect as regular Willow, but I never bought her Dark side. And I thought Xanders talk down near the end of the last episode was totally unbelievable.

[Edited 12/31/10 0:46am]

lazycrockett said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Ow yes, without a doubt one of T.V's greatest hours... still gives me chills

When buffy smooths down her moms skirt, its such a lil moment but it speaks volumes after accidently breaking her ribs.

The Body was a great hour of television. Very sad and well acted. I might have gotten a little weepy even.

I think I probably like season five more than season six, possibly seasons one and two as well.

I know her mom was supposed to be annoying, but DAMN was she annoying! You can go to far with that kind of character and for me, they did, especially her earlier appearances.

"Have you tried not being a slayer?"

lazycrockett said:

"Have you tried not being a slayer?"

Some of her lines were great. And when used sparingly she was a very useful character. What I said above about Buffy's interaction with single characters was no different with her "Mom!". But when she had a larger role she usually got on my nerves right quick. It was something about the voice of the actress.

Cerebus said:

lazycrockett said:

"Have you tried not being a slayer?"

Some of her lines were great. And when used sparingly she was a very useful character. What I said above about Buffy's interaction with single characters was no different with her "Mom!". But when she had a larger role she usually got on my nerves right quick. It was something about the voice of the actress.

I can see what you mean. It actually took me the 2nd or 3rd time going through Buffy to really like Tara. I mean i liked her, but yes the voice and attitude you have to get used to and by the time season 6 came around it was quite sad she died a rather shitty death. Especially cause she was actually one of the most innocent characters on the show

As for Angel i am torn. I thought season 1 had some great episodes like the premiere, I remember you when buffy come's, Hero when Doyle died

The 2 parter with Faith & The finale

Season 2, did have some misses. but for the most part the Darla storyline was fantastic and one of my favorites in the Whedon verse.

3 Was just epic, great arc from beginning to end

4 Is my favorite... i might also mention. That Angel season 4 is my favorite season of T.V in the Whedon-Verse just my opinion

5 First time watching it i felt ripped off. It was obviously building to something big, then WB cancelled it and it kind of had to wrap up quickly i felt!, And the ending left me angry

But on a 2nd viewing, i actually enjoyed season 5... and can even accept it as a fine ending to the show.