This might be the most extraordinary reaction I've seen of Buffy yet! I mean, it's like the pure essence of denial - even when you saw Jenny's body in Giles' bed you refused to believe that they could've killed her off, so ridiculous a notion it seemed. I hope everyone watches this video until the end, just to see how much it affected you. Here's hoping you're OK!
On the subject of loss and important deaths... Among our core group, Xander lost his best bud in the pilot, Cordelia lost her boyfriend in the last season finale, Willow lost her AV club friends, Giles was responsible for the deaths of three of his school buddies, and Buffy had to stake her own childhood friend. Even Angel had to deal with the loss of his 150-year paramour. Jenny was the first death that mattered to us as the audience, but none of the characters have had an easy ride before now.
That is such good insight. Things are never real in the same way, until it happens to us. Come to think of it it's why I never listen to naysayers and never assume something is impossible when someone says they went through it, because I don't really know till it happens to me. Granted I have more empathy than most and been able to predict my own feelings on things a little too well when they finally did happen to me because I've seen it happen to others and felt it. But it's still a general rule of thumb because it's not 100%. We all see the world through our own special blended mold of a stained glass window that keeps getting things added with each new experience and view. I like anything that pulls us out of our own view to see someone else's now and again. That's why I love shows like this. I'd say all of my top 20 favorite shows have done that for me in one way or another.
Hi Rachel (and Barbara). "... Buffy had to stake her own childhood friend." For some reason it took me 5 full minutes to remember who that was. Brain... not... good. Maybe it was because he was in only one episode. lol.
Giles starts the episode telling Buffy she doesn't "have the luxury of being a slave to your passions. You mustn't let Angel get to you, no matter how provocative his behavior may become." Giles ends the episode burning down a building on a suicide mission. That's how good Angelus is at tormenting people. Makes you wonder the exact details of what he did to Dru.
"I'm absolutely dying to see all these scenes with Jenny & Giles." Oh, you poor child... Hugs. I'm old and cynical - and this gets me every damn time. ... This episode brings home just how cruel and twisted Angelus was. He had told Buffy what he had done to Drusilla - killed everyone she loved, drove her insane, and only then turned her. The Master admired Angelus' magnificent brutality. But this episode...hits everyone hard. Crying fully justified.
Angel SPOILERS for anyone other than the reactor obviously season 4 She's even seen evil Angelus in what she's watched on Angel but on some level I don't even think it was as difficult visually as this was, even if verbally if was pretty awful.
Sorry, but I have to riff on this. :) “They wouldn’t kill off Jenny” Joss Whedon: "All is proceeding according to my plan." “They wouldn’t kill off Jenny” Joss Whedon: "You have much to learn, young one." “They wouldn’t kill off Jenny” Joss Whedon: "Only now at the end do you understand."
Also I think that they wanted to show that angelus is twisted and malicious. He didn't even feed from her for the blood, he killed her just because he could. Quick, easy and without a thought
No spoilers, but Buffy is the kind of show that can make you laugh, and then cry sometimes within a few minutes. It is part of the reason it is as wonderful as it is. This may have been the first time I cried and grieved for a character when watching the series, it was definitely not the last time.
go back and look at giles face after buffy saves him. Tony Head was crying and acting out giles' grief so well that they actually had to cut the audio and have sarah re record her lines because they felt that tonys reaction was too harrowing for a family show. Its why buffy drops to hug giles after she punches him
Oh wow so that makes sense why her voice didn't sound as broken as if she had tried saying those lines while crying: "You can't leave me. I can't do this alone." I've only noticed that now so thanks for that trivia. And Giles face or Tony's acting looked so real, it didn't even seem like acting... maybe he was really close to the actress Robia LaMorte on the set.
Always knew it was looped. Thought it was because of the noise from the fire. Too bad they didn't let Tony loose on the audience. Was probably an amazing acting job.
I joined the patreon to get to this early. This is the episode where everything gets so real. "Are they going to ask her to do some kind of spell?" well "I'm excited to see where her character's going to go." I'm dying. :( All the comments about them being your favorite couple hurts. "The repercussions are going to be hard for Buffy to just forget" you really called it. "What the fuck just happened." I'm so sorry, I'm sure everyone else here sympathizes. The first time I saw this, it was the most shocking thing I saw on a show as a teenager. Oh no, grieving while editing. :( NO ONE IS SAFE! Take time if you need. Welcome to Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2. Thank you for doing your reactions to this show.
Originally they hyped that someone was going to die in that episode, and since most figured not a series regular Oz, Joyce and Jenny were most top 3 choices. Given how the episode played out sadly Jenny's death was obvious by the time it happened to anyone who saw the adds they ran. But was a shame as it killed a lot of the impact.
15:00 Well the first stage of grief is denial. 16:15 And that's the second one anger, and half a sentence later bargaining. 16:30 it's not Angel any more than anyone being turned into a vampire is the same person. 17:00 And that's depression 17:30 And Acceptance. 18:00 Everone is a crier when they watch this episode.
Without spoiling anything-this is just the beginning of the heart breaks that come with Buffy. The show is SO good and brilliant but really knows how to ruin you in the process. All the emotions. I feel you girl, we’ve all been there!
Thank you for your honest reaction to this hard episode. We've all been there, it still hits me when I re-watch it or even watching someone react to it. Take a look at AfterShowReactions' viewing of this one. Just a reminder that Angelus has killed several people already, including Theresa in 'Phases'. Killing Jenny is Angelus circling in. Regarding Jenny she may have come to Sunnydale under false pretenses but her ultimate goal was to keep Angel from losing his soul, from turning evil again. Her attempt to give him back his soul shows how good her intentions were.
That's why this episode is so brilliant. Even if Angelus is the one to blame, and Angel technically didn't do it, there are profound consequences to the murder of Jenny. Whether or not Angel is to blame, if he were to get his soul back he would have to live with the consequences. It's a pretty apt metaphor for how we have to live with the consequences of our past, even if we regret it and have become a better or different person since then. A crucial question at this juncture in the series is whether it's worth bringing back Angel's soul or not, because the damage is done. Could a repentant Angel ever make this right, or do anything meaningful in response? With that said, Angelus had already done far worse things over the centuries than rob someone of the person they love (e.g. Dru), and Angel had to face those consequences, and we (as the audience) were willing to let him try to redeem himself. It's only now that we can truly begin to understand what that must have felt like for Angel, and the complex sense of identity and guilt that he was living with. It's only now, when we're on the receiving end of Angelus's evil, that allowing Angel to try to redeem himself becomes less obvious and more questionable. Is the world, or anyone's lives, better with a dead or restored Angel?
@@ItsMeBarnaby Personally I'm glad Angel wasn't grey like Damon. Buffy was more hard lined regarding vampires being demons TVD overused the humanity switch and I never felt the impact as much as Angel's turn...it is more real and complex for me at least because we want to punish but there is no clear solution which makes it more heartbreaking. Also it's not 2 different 'people', Angelus is the demon/ vampire...he is not human even if he can take the form and memories of one. Demons cannot be held to the law of humans because evil has no grey area. To me it is not justice punishing the soul of Angel because he was not in the vampire body...you are not punishing the demon with the curse apart from suppressing it when the soul is intact. I think Angel mentions that the orb holds the soul until it can be returned to the body so the soul that makes Angel who he is, is not there at this time....so it makes sense why there is such a contrast,
Joss Whedon talked about Jenny's death in an interview once. He said he had Angel break her neck as opposed to biting her so there wouldn't be any mistake that she was somehow coming back. Also, he said (jokingly) he wanted to send a message to the rest of the cast that ANYONE was expendable. THIS may be my favorite BtVS episode (No worries...there's an ton of amazing episodes coming). I always felt that "Passion" is every fan's introductory lesson in how Joss Whedon operates.
This is a reaction like there couldn't be other like it. I was struck how you were in denial, especially considering you have seen season 5 of Angel. But I'd say that's what's great in reactions : no matter what a person already knew, you can still be surprised by how he/she would react to something you're waiting for. Somehow, I may even be a little jealous, cause back when I first saw this episode, I was a 17 insensitive boy very detached from fictional characters, it was only 2 or 3 years later that I started to cry watching sad episodes or movies (well... mostly movies)
It's been so long since this reaction, hut it's still as good as I remember. It's such a defining episode in the series, where we learn what the show is really like. How it can grab one by the emotions and wring them out of you. Just having a nostalgic look back.
After seeing the disbelief of Jenny dying i thought "Oh, looks like we are seing the fives stages of grief!" but later i wasn't as sure of it like then.
domi: "I'm not a crier." BtVS: "Hold my beer." After seeing the seasons you've seen of "Angel", though, is a major death that unbelievable? I'm not saying easy, just unbelievable.
To be fair some people who see Angel and not the OG, see Buffy as the kid version and don't really see this coming. But as the normies would say "this is Not a kid's show!" Ah, I miss the avatar reactions.
The singing in the cemetery scene music is actually Anthony Stewart Head. I've watched this episode so many times since it originally aired on TV, and it wasn't until a week or so ago that I learned it was ASH in the music of that particular scene. Giles has always been my favourite character, I've had a crush on him since I was 9 years old (back in the late 90s), now I'm in my 30s and it's only gotten worse, but then I have a thing for nerds with a dark side. Also ASH has said that this is his favourite episode, I have no idea why, it's so hard to see Giles get his heart ripped out and stomped on. Tony is a phenomenal actor and that reveal is painful, I can barely watch it because of how heartbroken he looks.
This show makes you love the characters, and then it breaks your heart. And fools that we are, we keep coming back, season after season, hoping that the next time it will be different, that everyone will live happily ever after after. And yet, somehow it's all worth it.
Very well done episode. Angel's cruelty is staggering. David really hit it out the park when Angel turned heel (much to a lot of people's surprise, for an untrained actor who was hired for his looks!).
I watched another reactor to this episode about 30 minutes before I watched yours, and another reactors about a week ago, and I still cry every time I watch this. It truly is a powerful episode.
You did say in the last episode that we didn't get to see what Angelus wanted to do to Buffy on Valentine's❤ here it is💔he wants to make her suffer by killing the people she close with and leave the body for them to find. Your thoughts about Angelus doing these horrible things and if he were to get his soul back, he will never be looked at the same within the group is spot-on. That's why Angel is the way he is with a soul because he keeps all those horrific memories and feelings he did as a soulless monster. Also, love your reaction to Jenny's death. It was really hard for you to accept but it happened😫
Pardon the pun, but this is definitely the episode where they showed they were prefectly capable of & willing to raise the stakes & you really realise that, especially at the time, there was nothing else like this on TV. From season 1, the Master: "He was the most vicious creature I've ever met.". Especially harsh for Buffy too, since she had the opportunity to take him out after beating the judge, but held off. Also welcome, you're now properly one of us - enjoy the forthcoming paranoia whenever you get attached to a character & things seem to be going well!
One of us, one of us. Seriously though, especially when you get to seasons 5-7, stock up on tissues. Seriously, buy them in bulk, trust me, you're going to need them.
Of the last 3 episodes, Phases was about Willow & Oz, Bewitched... Xander & Cordelia, and Passion about Jenny & Giles. The last one was funny to let your guard down a little. Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry is what this show is about.
I remember when I first saw Buffy season 2 and this episode. This episode is one of the greatest and one of the most heartbreaking. It hurt my heart and soul. :*( I loved Jenny, I loved Giles, I love the Giles and Jenny relationship. I loved Buffy, I loved Angel, was invested in their relationship, and I hated him when he became Angelus. But for this more than anything else. Both for killing Jenny and for the horrific way he emotionally tortured Giles afterwards with that display in his house. So cruel. And I loved Giles and Buffy's father-daughter relationship - and their scenes in this episode are so beautiful.
Hard to say how much of the script is by Ty King (credited writer, who otherwise wrote only Some Assembly Required), and how much was revised -- likely heavily, most fans surmise -- by Joss. It certainly has Whedon's strength in it, and he took great care shaping the main stories in the early years. In any case, it's a powerful, heartbreaking chapter in this extraordinary season.
Ed Sheeran did a song called Afire Love in which he sampled the musical theme you hear throughout this episode written by Christophe Beck called "Remembering Jenny" because he's a big Buffy fan. th-cam.com/video/JznXx1Ns374/w-d-xo.html
Phenomenal reaction and since all the good stuff is covered: 5:16 Speaking of denial. The minute you said "hi sunshine" you forgot they're vampires. Although I do kind of love it since Spike didn't eat the dog, they kept it as a pet and she used it as a mascot for her visions when going to the shopkeeper. Also to add to sentiment I am so sorry.
Like you I'm returning to this because I couldn't quite process it in the moment. When it released I wanted to tease you a little about your denial but that you came back just made this a gut punch all over again. This is one of the first episodes I clearly remember and forget that even with the cruel evil of what was done, you can forget just how shocking it was.
great reaction to this episode, even after seeing this many times it still feels like a punch to the gut. whedon has written these characters so well they feel like family and friends and it is hard to watch them suffer.
If you love the characters twice as much and they suffer twice as much, then everything hits you 4 times as hard. 4 times as much is one hell of a lot. Even some of the happy moments on Buffy are really intense. This is the kind of thing that no one is capable of understanding about Buffy until they watch it... unless perhaps if they've had a similar experience with a different show, and a reliable source has indicated to them that Buffy might have similar impact.
This is one of the best episodes of TV ever made. I remember watching it as a kid, when it first aired. I was 12 years old and it was the first time my heart was genuinely broken by a television series. I'd never felt a sense of genuine shock and grief like that before. I still feel it to this day. This is a Top 10 Buffy episode for me and my favorite of the season.
The grief is real. An absolutely heartfelt reaction. Sometimes, the show gets a bit too real. One of the few that really respects the audience and tells the truth.
Also, side note, Angelus was the first person to kill someone in the scooby gang cementing himself as the truely evil big bad. Buffy died first with the master but she came back.
This episode was done the way that it was, to show that Angel is gone and the monster that murdered Jenny Calendar, that's Angelus. Also, how not just evil Angelus, how much pleasure he takes in causing misery to others, to him creating Pain is like his Art.
If you remember Jesse. it was looking like he was a regular. From the start. Credits and dialogue and everything. I commented that his death was a sign that anything can happen to anyone at anytime. No matter how "important" or "big" their role is. I'm sorry you took this so hard. But at the same time I am so happy that you are loving these characters so much that it has such a profound effect.
This is an early example of 'Jossing' killing off a character just as they have reached a turning point, now something of a Whedon trademark. Please don't stop, there are some great episodes coming up!
I have seen this show so many times, watched several reviews and even now, I still tear up at that phone call at Buffy's house and Willow falling apart...
This is the episode to me where Buffy reached the highest level. Too many of these shows don't have consequences for these highly dangerous situations. This is when then show starts to feel real.
Oh my I just discovered this! I watch Buffy over and over. I guess this is your first time!? Wooow..very interesting. Buffy is may favorite thing of all time and second and third seasons my favoriiiiiiiiiiiiiites. This is such a pivotal episode! I'm excited for you haha.
I see a few others have already said as much, and this comment really *is* spoiler free: but in the Buffyverse, *anyone* can die. Anyone. I'm sorry that this hit you so hard (as it did many of us), but this is what makes this universe feel truly real. Actions have far-reaching consequences, and nothing is safe, or certain.
Me watching this and your comments on Jenny and Giles straight after "i hope we get more Angel, Spike and Drusilla stuff last episode": Oh, you sweet summer child...
I had the same reaction the first time seeing this. First, disbelief. Then, anger (which you didn't really have). Then, lots and lots of (of course very manly!! ._. ) crying!!!
Just passing through to see the initiation of another reactor into Whedonism. In memory of Janna of the Calderash Romani, alias Jenny Calendar, and all that is to come...
Two things: There have been many instances where they've indicated that Angelus is not the fluffy puppy Angel is so the fact that he killed Jenny shouldn't be a shock. Also, Joss Whedon is notorious for getting you invested in a character and then killing them off.
I mean, objectively there's reason to think he wouldn't _manage_ to kill Jenny, because most shows at the time wouldn't take that kind of leap with a major recurring character. Lots of show even now pull their punches when it comes to major character deaths, either finding some loophole in the plot that allows them to bring the actor back in some capacity (unless they've outright left the show) or making it a complete fake out to begin with. And with the exception of Flutie, Jenny's death at this point in the series is probably pretty unprecedented; and a new audience member hasn't been given any reason to think that someone's going to happen by at the last minute to save her or something stops Angel somehow, because that's normally the trope. I mean, they were going to kill Spike earlier in the season and had it all planned. then decided not to; which is arguably part of that plot armor trope, where he became popular enough to keep him around. Jenny's death subverted people's expectations and set the stakes, so to speak, for what the show was capable of doing afterwards.
I wasn't gonna get this emotional as well 'cause I think I've mentally prepared myself for this as I've seen this like a million times but I was actually going by your reactions this whole time. You were so in denial about it until 17:26 which also had me 😭😭
Angle has always been this sort of Batman 🦇-Type (dark, brooding, Anti-Hero-like). It’s Part of his Personality as a Vampire 🧛🏻♂️. He is drinking Blood. He lives in the Night. He is not a „normal“ human beeing. Take all his good Emotions, his Soul, away and you get the worst Villain ever - the Joker 🃏 Master of Torture!
I didn't even read the full post, just saw that Domi had uploaded a new reaction to Buffy and clicked on it. Didn't read the title, just started playing it. Then Domi says the episode title "Passions" Ah hell. Yeah, this is one of the rough ones.
I was going to make a quip about you being in denial, but then you came back with that 5 hours later bit, and I was like nah I can't do that. Sorry. Lots of hugs to you.
This one's always a rough one to watch reactions for - naturally, because the episode itself is such a rollercoaster. This is, I think, another important instance where it's important not to do the whole, "it's not _really_ Angel" rationalization, because it undermines Angel with a soul and his arc of redemption. If this isn't _really_ Angel, then what does the real Angel have to atone for? And if it's not the real Angel, what's his investment in Buffy if there's nothing of the person who fell in love with her? Angelus' entire motivation when he doesn't have a soul is rebelling again that which makes him feel human or reminds him of his humanity. Spike and Dru and other vampires can allow themselves some sense of humanity, enough for the Judge to be able to burn them, but it gnaws at Angel until he lashes out by targeting one person, then going after everyone close to them. He did it to Dru and now he's trying to do it to Buffy, because he wants them to feel how he feels.
I cry every time I watch this episode, but you refusing to accept her death made me cry even more. 😭 I can forgive angel (but not angelus) - it’s buffy I can’t forgive for not killing Angelus when she had the chance in the mall!
![[BAEMON NEWS 7] NEW ALBUM COMING IN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtVeAPimOyo/mqdefault.jpg)
Angelus: *snaps Jenny's neck*
Domi: I'm a little worried about Jenny.
bahahahahahahah
(and Domi is in COMPLETE DENIAL)
neck snapped "she is not dead"
laid on bed clearly dead "she is not dead"
on cementary: "she is actually dead?"
denial at maximum level
lol
This might be the most extraordinary reaction I've seen of Buffy yet! I mean, it's like the pure essence of denial - even when you saw Jenny's body in Giles' bed you refused to believe that they could've killed her off, so ridiculous a notion it seemed. I hope everyone watches this video until the end, just to see how much it affected you. Here's hoping you're OK!
I completely agree. This is exactly what I wanted to say!
ikr, I've never seen a reactor go into such a full blown denial over Jenny's death before.
On the subject of loss and important deaths... Among our core group, Xander lost his best bud in the pilot, Cordelia lost her boyfriend in the last season finale, Willow lost her AV club friends, Giles was responsible for the deaths of three of his school buddies, and Buffy had to stake her own childhood friend. Even Angel had to deal with the loss of his 150-year paramour. Jenny was the first death that mattered to us as the audience, but none of the characters have had an easy ride before now.
That is such good insight. Things are never real in the same way, until it happens to us. Come to think of it it's why I never listen to naysayers and never assume something is impossible when someone says they went through it, because I don't really know till it happens to me. Granted I have more empathy than most and been able to predict my own feelings on things a little too well when they finally did happen to me because I've seen it happen to others and felt it. But it's still a general rule of thumb because it's not 100%. We all see the world through our own special blended mold of a stained glass window that keeps getting things added with each new experience and view. I like anything that pulls us out of our own view to see someone else's now and again. That's why I love shows like this. I'd say all of my top 20 favorite shows have done that for me in one way or another.
Hi Rachel (and Barbara).
"... Buffy had to stake her own childhood friend."
For some reason it took me 5 full minutes to remember who that was.
Brain... not... good.
Maybe it was because he was in only one episode. lol.
Giles starts the episode telling Buffy she doesn't "have the luxury of being a slave to your passions. You mustn't let Angel get to you, no matter how provocative his behavior may become."
Giles ends the episode burning down a building on a suicide mission.
That's how good Angelus is at tormenting people. Makes you wonder the exact details of what he did to Dru.
Presumably something along the lines of Procedure 110-Montauk
"I'm absolutely dying to see all these scenes with Jenny & Giles."
Oh, you poor child...
Hugs.
I'm old and cynical - and this gets me every damn time.
...
This episode brings home just how cruel and twisted Angelus was. He had told Buffy what he had done to Drusilla - killed everyone she loved, drove her insane, and only then turned her. The Master admired Angelus' magnificent brutality. But this episode...hits everyone hard.
Crying fully justified.
Angel SPOILERS for anyone other than the reactor obviously season 4
She's even seen evil Angelus in what she's watched on Angel but on some level I don't even think it was as difficult visually as this was, even if verbally if was pretty awful.
@@barbarabaker1457 indeed...
“They wouldn’t kill off Jenny”
Joss Whedon: am I joke to you?
Sorry, but I have to riff on this. :)
“They wouldn’t kill off Jenny”
Joss Whedon: "All is proceeding according to my plan."
“They wouldn’t kill off Jenny”
Joss Whedon: "You have much to learn, young one."
“They wouldn’t kill off Jenny”
Joss Whedon: "Only now at the end do you understand."
@@UTU49 rumor has it he's still working on shooting lightning out of his hands
It's Willow face crumpling that gets me every time.
There's a reason why the had Angel snap her neck instead of biting her. They didn't want people thinking that she was going to come back :(
Also I think that they wanted to show that angelus is twisted and malicious. He didn't even feed from her for the blood, he killed her just because he could. Quick, easy and without a thought
Angel snaps Jenny’s neck, we see the dead body in giles’ bed, finally we see her headstone, Domi, “she’s dead?” Hahaha. This reaction was great
No spoilers, but Buffy is the kind of show that can make you laugh, and then cry sometimes within a few minutes. It is part of the reason it is as wonderful as it is. This may have been the first time I cried and grieved for a character when watching the series, it was definitely not the last time.
Angelus at his worst! Another round of 👏 applause for David Boreanaz.
go back and look at giles face after buffy saves him.
Tony Head was crying and acting out giles' grief so well that they actually had to cut the audio and have sarah re record her lines because they felt that tonys reaction was too harrowing for a family show.
Its why buffy drops to hug giles after she punches him
Oh wow so that makes sense why her voice didn't sound as broken as if she had tried saying those lines while crying: "You can't leave me. I can't do this alone." I've only noticed that now so thanks for that trivia. And Giles face or Tony's acting looked so real, it didn't even seem like acting... maybe he was really close to the actress Robia LaMorte on the set.
Always knew it was looped. Thought it was because of the noise from the fire. Too bad they didn't let Tony loose on the audience. Was probably an amazing acting job.
I joined the patreon to get to this early. This is the episode where everything gets so real.
"Are they going to ask her to do some kind of spell?" well
"I'm excited to see where her character's going to go." I'm dying. :(
All the comments about them being your favorite couple hurts.
"The repercussions are going to be hard for Buffy to just forget" you really called it.
"What the fuck just happened."
I'm so sorry, I'm sure everyone else here sympathizes. The first time I saw this, it was the most shocking thing I saw on a show as a teenager.
Oh no, grieving while editing. :( NO ONE IS SAFE! Take time if you need.
Welcome to Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2. Thank you for doing your reactions to this show.
Originally they hyped that someone was going to die in that episode, and since most figured not a series regular Oz, Joyce and Jenny were most top 3 choices. Given how the episode played out sadly Jenny's death was obvious by the time it happened to anyone who saw the adds they ran. But was a shame as it killed a lot of the impact.
@@dantheman8103
Thank goodness for the availability of old shows, right?
And thank goodness for reactors.
15:00 Well the first stage of grief is denial.
16:15 And that's the second one anger, and half a sentence later bargaining.
16:30 it's not Angel any more than anyone being turned into a vampire is the same person.
17:00 And that's depression
17:30 And Acceptance.
18:00 Everone is a crier when they watch this episode.
One of the best episodes. No doubt.
“I was raised by the people that Angel hurt the most.”
I think Daniel Holtz would disagree...
"I know that Jenny's not dead." That's certainly good news indeed. I was worried there for a minute. Best. Leo.
"I can't believe they f--g did that!"
Welcome to the Buffyverse! ❤️
Without spoiling anything-this is just the beginning of the heart breaks that come with Buffy. The show is SO good and brilliant but really knows how to ruin you in the process. All the emotions. I feel you girl, we’ve all been there!
The first stage of grief is denial...
Thank you for your honest reaction to this hard episode. We've all been there, it still hits me when I re-watch it or even watching someone react to it. Take a look at AfterShowReactions' viewing of this one. Just a reminder that Angelus has killed several people already, including Theresa in 'Phases'. Killing Jenny is Angelus circling in.
Regarding Jenny she may have come to Sunnydale under false pretenses but her ultimate goal was to keep Angel from losing his soul, from turning evil again. Her attempt to give him back his soul shows how good her intentions were.
That's why this episode is so brilliant. Even if Angelus is the one to blame, and Angel technically didn't do it, there are profound consequences to the murder of Jenny. Whether or not Angel is to blame, if he were to get his soul back he would have to live with the consequences. It's a pretty apt metaphor for how we have to live with the consequences of our past, even if we regret it and have become a better or different person since then.
A crucial question at this juncture in the series is whether it's worth bringing back Angel's soul or not, because the damage is done. Could a repentant Angel ever make this right, or do anything meaningful in response?
With that said, Angelus had already done far worse things over the centuries than rob someone of the person they love (e.g. Dru), and Angel had to face those consequences, and we (as the audience) were willing to let him try to redeem himself. It's only now that we can truly begin to understand what that must have felt like for Angel, and the complex sense of identity and guilt that he was living with. It's only now, when we're on the receiving end of Angelus's evil, that allowing Angel to try to redeem himself becomes less obvious and more questionable. Is the world, or anyone's lives, better with a dead or restored Angel?
@@ItsMeBarnaby Personally I'm glad Angel wasn't grey like Damon. Buffy was more hard lined regarding vampires being demons TVD overused the humanity switch and I never felt the impact as much as Angel's turn...it is more real and complex for me at least because we want to punish but there is no clear solution which makes it more heartbreaking. Also it's not 2 different 'people', Angelus is the demon/ vampire...he is not human even if he can take the form and memories of one. Demons cannot be held to the law of humans because evil has no grey area. To me it is not justice punishing the soul of Angel because he was not in the vampire body...you are not punishing the demon with the curse apart from suppressing it when the soul is intact. I think Angel mentions that the orb holds the soul until it can be returned to the body so the soul that makes Angel who he is, is not there at this time....so it makes sense why there is such a contrast,
Joss Whedon talked about Jenny's death in an interview once. He said he had Angel break her neck as opposed to biting her so there wouldn't be any mistake that she was somehow coming back. Also, he said (jokingly) he wanted to send a message to the rest of the cast that ANYONE was expendable.
THIS may be my favorite BtVS episode (No worries...there's an ton of amazing episodes coming). I always felt that "Passion" is every fan's introductory lesson in how Joss Whedon operates.
Anyone except the main cast.
Given what we've now heard about how Whedon was to work with, I don't think he was necessarily joking.
I can tell you're not a crier, that's what makes the tears special. And this is why this show is so special.
season five should be fun then. ug the pain
This is a reaction like there couldn't be other like it.
I was struck how you were in denial, especially considering you have seen season 5 of Angel.
But I'd say that's what's great in reactions : no matter what a person already knew, you can still be surprised by how he/she would react to something you're waiting for.
Somehow, I may even be a little jealous, cause back when I first saw this episode, I was a 17 insensitive boy very detached from fictional characters, it was only 2 or 3 years later that I started to cry watching sad episodes or movies (well... mostly movies)
Beautiful reaction! Your brain understand immediatly, but your heart refused to admit the sad reality.
Or was it the other way around?
Not sure which way is the most meaningful.
It's been so long since this reaction, hut it's still as good as I remember. It's such a defining episode in the series, where we learn what the show is really like. How it can grab one by the emotions and wring them out of you.
Just having a nostalgic look back.
I don't think I've ever seen such a Jenny nots dead denier so much. Awesome reaction.
After seeing the disbelief of Jenny dying i thought "Oh, looks like we are seing the fives stages of grief!" but later i wasn't as sure of it like then.
domi: "I'm not a crier."
BtVS: "Hold my beer."
After seeing the seasons you've seen of "Angel", though, is a major death that unbelievable? I'm not saying easy, just unbelievable.
She so needs the Buffy required box of tissues going forward
To be fair some people who see Angel and not the OG, see Buffy as the kid version and don't really see this coming. But as the normies would say "this is Not a kid's show!" Ah, I miss the avatar reactions.
A beautiful genuine reaction to a beautiful, genuine episode. It is one of my favorites for sure. The scene with Giles at the door to his room....
The singing in the cemetery scene music is actually Anthony Stewart Head. I've watched this episode so many times since it originally aired on TV, and it wasn't until a week or so ago that I learned it was ASH in the music of that particular scene. Giles has always been my favourite character, I've had a crush on him since I was 9 years old (back in the late 90s), now I'm in my 30s and it's only gotten worse, but then I have a thing for nerds with a dark side. Also ASH has said that this is his favourite episode, I have no idea why, it's so hard to see Giles get his heart ripped out and stomped on. Tony is a phenomenal actor and that reveal is painful, I can barely watch it because of how heartbroken he looks.
The evolution of your emotions was a roller coaster
This show makes you love the characters, and then it breaks your heart. And fools that we are, we keep coming back, season after season, hoping that the next time it will be different, that everyone will live happily ever after after.
And yet, somehow it's all worth it.
Very well done episode. Angel's cruelty is staggering. David really hit it out the park when Angel turned heel (much to a lot of people's surprise, for an untrained actor who was hired for his looks!).
I watched another reactor to this episode about 30 minutes before I watched yours, and another reactors about a week ago, and I still cry every time I watch this. It truly is a powerful episode.
You did say in the last episode that we didn't get to see what Angelus wanted to do to Buffy on Valentine's❤ here it is💔he wants to make her suffer by killing the people she close with and leave the body for them to find.
Your thoughts about Angelus doing these horrible things and if he were to get his soul back, he will never be looked at the same within the group is spot-on. That's why Angel is the way he is with a soul because he keeps all those horrific memories and feelings he did as a soulless monster.
Also, love your reaction to Jenny's death. It was really hard for you to accept but it happened😫
domi: "It's literally killing me alive until they get back together. But I am like very excited for once they eventually do. "
me: (cringe)
It hurts sometimes more than we can bare
Pardon the pun, but this is definitely the episode where they showed they were prefectly capable of & willing to raise the stakes & you really realise that, especially at the time, there was nothing else like this on TV.
From season 1, the Master: "He was the most vicious creature I've ever met.". Especially harsh for Buffy too, since she had the opportunity to take him out after beating the judge, but held off.
Also welcome, you're now properly one of us - enjoy the forthcoming paranoia whenever you get attached to a character & things seem to be going well!
It's either the first or one of the first to really take these kind of risks. Love it
One of us, one of us. Seriously though, especially when you get to seasons 5-7, stock up on tissues. Seriously, buy them in bulk, trust me, you're going to need them.
Of the last 3 episodes, Phases was about Willow & Oz, Bewitched... Xander & Cordelia, and Passion about Jenny & Giles.
The last one was funny to let your guard down a little.
Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry is what this show is about.
I remember when I first saw Buffy season 2 and this episode. This episode is one of the greatest and one of the most heartbreaking. It hurt my heart and soul. :*(
I loved Jenny, I loved Giles, I love the Giles and Jenny relationship. I loved Buffy, I loved Angel, was invested in their relationship, and I hated him when he became Angelus. But for this more than anything else. Both for killing Jenny and for the horrific way he emotionally tortured Giles afterwards with that display in his house. So cruel.
And I loved Giles and Buffy's father-daughter relationship - and their scenes in this episode are so beautiful.
I saw this episode twenty years ago but watching your reaction brought the pain all back. THANKS.
Yeah Buffy will make you laugh and cry, multiple times.
This episode is cruel but so good at the same time.. I mean Giles and Jenny were just perfect for each other, this is so unfair 😩
Snape: „Life is not fair“
I actually truly realise how old I am watching these. I watched every one of these originally air on TV once a week lol
Hard to say how much of the script is by Ty King (credited writer, who otherwise wrote only Some Assembly Required), and how much was revised -- likely heavily, most fans surmise -- by Joss. It certainly has Whedon's strength in it, and he took great care shaping the main stories in the early years. In any case, it's a powerful, heartbreaking chapter in this extraordinary season.
Ed Sheeran did a song called Afire Love in which he sampled the musical theme you hear throughout this episode written by Christophe Beck called "Remembering Jenny" because he's a big Buffy fan.
th-cam.com/video/JznXx1Ns374/w-d-xo.html
I’m a bit worried about Jenny too. I’m sure she will be ok though.
LOL. Welcome to Buffy, The show about pain.
Phenomenal reaction and since all the good stuff is covered:
5:16 Speaking of denial. The minute you said "hi sunshine" you forgot they're vampires. Although I do kind of love it since Spike didn't eat the dog, they kept it as a pet and she used it as a mascot for her visions when going to the shopkeeper.
Also to add to sentiment I am so sorry.
Like you I'm returning to this because I couldn't quite process it in the moment. When it released I wanted to tease you a little about your denial but that you came back just made this a gut punch all over again. This is one of the first episodes I clearly remember and forget that even with the cruel evil of what was done, you can forget just how shocking it was.
great reaction to this episode, even after seeing this many times it still feels like a punch to the gut. whedon has written these characters so well they feel like family and friends and it is hard to watch them suffer.
If you love the characters twice as much and they suffer twice as much, then everything hits you 4 times as hard. 4 times as much is one hell of a lot. Even some of the happy moments on Buffy are really intense.
This is the kind of thing that no one is capable of understanding about Buffy until they watch it... unless perhaps if they've had a similar experience with a different show, and a reliable source has indicated to them that Buffy might have similar impact.
This is one of the best episodes of TV ever made. I remember watching it as a kid, when it first aired. I was 12 years old and it was the first time my heart was genuinely broken by a television series. I'd never felt a sense of genuine shock and grief like that before. I still feel it to this day. This is a Top 10 Buffy episode for me and my favorite of the season.
The grief is real. An absolutely heartfelt reaction. Sometimes, the show gets a bit too real. One of the few that really respects the audience and tells the truth.
Congratulations on reaching your first Joss'ing! You're officially one of us, now.
"I know that they didn't kill off Jenny. They would never do that to me.", LOL
BtVS can be soul-crushing.
Also, side note, Angelus was the first person to kill someone in the scooby gang cementing himself as the truely evil big bad. Buffy died first with the master but she came back.
Sorry. I forgot to mention not to get too attached to Jenny. Oops. Oh, well.
This episode was done the way that it was, to show that Angel is gone and the monster that murdered Jenny Calendar, that's Angelus. Also, how not just evil Angelus, how much pleasure he takes in causing misery to others, to him creating Pain is like his Art.
I think i'm going to be OK, then I hear the music. "Remembering Jenny" ... and then tears.
If you remember Jesse. it was looking like he was a regular. From the start. Credits and dialogue and everything. I commented that his death was a sign that anything can happen to anyone at anytime. No matter how "important" or "big" their role is. I'm sorry you took this so hard. But at the same time I am so happy that you are loving these characters so much that it has such a profound effect.
This is an early example of 'Jossing' killing off a character just as they have reached a turning point, now something of a Whedon trademark.
Please don't stop, there are some great episodes coming up!
Yeah, this is a clear statement of 'nobody's safe'
I have seen this show so many times, watched several reviews and even now, I still tear up at that phone call at Buffy's house and Willow falling apart...
I cried so much watching this episode! I loved Jenny! 😭
This is the episode to me where Buffy reached the highest level. Too many of these shows don't have consequences for these highly dangerous situations. This is when then show starts to feel real.
Oh my I just discovered this! I watch Buffy over and over. I guess this is your first time!? Wooow..very interesting. Buffy is may favorite thing of all time and second and third seasons my favoriiiiiiiiiiiiiites. This is such a pivotal episode! I'm excited for you haha.
One of the most beautiful episode, Emotionally hard and painful...but so good..
I see a few others have already said as much, and this comment really *is* spoiler free: but in the Buffyverse, *anyone* can die. Anyone. I'm sorry that this hit you so hard (as it did many of us), but this is what makes this universe feel truly real. Actions have far-reaching consequences, and nothing is safe, or certain.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, sometimes it's a drama, sometimes a comedy, and sometimes...a tragedy.
Me watching this and your comments on Jenny and Giles straight after "i hope we get more Angel, Spike and Drusilla stuff last episode":
Oh, you sweet summer child...
man that denial was strong. lol
Man, your bird is chatty.
I had the same reaction the first time seeing this. First, disbelief. Then, anger (which you didn't really have). Then, lots and lots of (of course very manly!! ._. ) crying!!!
Thumbs up for manly crying.
Caring about things is good.
ANGELUS SOME DIFFERENT THAT NIGGA CRAZY CRAZYY BUT THATS WHAT I LOVE CAUSE ANGEL SO DIFFERENT THATS WHY ANGEL MY FAVORITE CHARACTER ALLTIME
and, for the 1st time ever, I am re-watching a reaction right after I finished watching it the 1st time
I understand. I knew this one would be hard for you. You will be alright, We're with you on this journey.
Nobody is safe. LET'S GO!
Just passing through to see the initiation of another reactor into Whedonism. In memory of Janna of the Calderash Romani, alias Jenny Calendar, and all that is to come...
Two things: There have been many instances where they've indicated that Angelus is not the fluffy puppy Angel is so the fact that he killed Jenny shouldn't be a shock. Also, Joss Whedon is notorious for getting you invested in a character and then killing them off.
I mean, objectively there's reason to think he wouldn't _manage_ to kill Jenny, because most shows at the time wouldn't take that kind of leap with a major recurring character. Lots of show even now pull their punches when it comes to major character deaths, either finding some loophole in the plot that allows them to bring the actor back in some capacity (unless they've outright left the show) or making it a complete fake out to begin with.
And with the exception of Flutie, Jenny's death at this point in the series is probably pretty unprecedented; and a new audience member hasn't been given any reason to think that someone's going to happen by at the last minute to save her or something stops Angel somehow, because that's normally the trope. I mean, they were going to kill Spike earlier in the season and had it all planned. then decided not to; which is arguably part of that plot armor trope, where he became popular enough to keep him around.
Jenny's death subverted people's expectations and set the stakes, so to speak, for what the show was capable of doing afterwards.
You mean he became notorious for that. This is the first instance.
@@stargazer1682 To be fair, this show also tended to exploit loopholes especially in the later seasons.
And you finally stopped calling her "Ms. Weekend". Just in time...ouch...
I feel it was more a wake-up call for the audience.
I wasn't gonna get this emotional as well 'cause I think I've mentally prepared myself for this as I've seen this like a million times but I was actually going by your reactions this whole time. You were so in denial about it until 17:26 which also had me 😭😭
Angle has always been this sort of Batman 🦇-Type (dark, brooding, Anti-Hero-like). It’s Part of his Personality as a Vampire 🧛🏻♂️. He is drinking Blood. He lives in the Night. He is not a „normal“ human beeing. Take all his good Emotions, his Soul, away and you get the worst Villain ever - the Joker 🃏 Master of Torture!
"But I know Jenny's not dead. She's not dead, she's fine. She's fine...I'm worried."
Oh. Oh, honey no.
Best, pure reaction ! Awwww it hit me hard too.
Wow! We know it's serious when she doesn't call her Miss Weekend.
Step 1: Denial
I didn't even read the full post, just saw that Domi had uploaded a new reaction to Buffy and clicked on it. Didn't read the title, just started playing it. Then Domi says the episode title "Passions" Ah hell. Yeah, this is one of the rough ones.
oh nooo.. you never had a clue 💔💔💔 I'll be back on Patreon next week xx
11:17 the denial is real 😂😂🤦♂️😂
I was going to make a quip about you being in denial, but then you came back with that 5 hours later bit, and I was like nah I can't do that.
Sorry. Lots of hugs to you.
This one's always a rough one to watch reactions for - naturally, because the episode itself is such a rollercoaster.
This is, I think, another important instance where it's important not to do the whole, "it's not _really_ Angel" rationalization, because it undermines Angel with a soul and his arc of redemption. If this isn't _really_ Angel, then what does the real Angel have to atone for? And if it's not the real Angel, what's his investment in Buffy if there's nothing of the person who fell in love with her? Angelus' entire motivation when he doesn't have a soul is rebelling again that which makes him feel human or reminds him of his humanity. Spike and Dru and other vampires can allow themselves some sense of humanity, enough for the Judge to be able to burn them, but it gnaws at Angel until he lashes out by targeting one person, then going after everyone close to them. He did it to Dru and now he's trying to do it to Buffy, because he wants them to feel how he feels.
Oh you were so hopeful about Jenny and Giles... join us... join us in our pain!
I knew Jenny had been killed long before I actually got to see the episode and it still made me cry, kerk
The only thing I have to say is... I'm so sorry :(
Wow, you take denial to a whole new level 😉😆😆
I cry every time I watch this episode, but you refusing to accept her death made me cry even more. 😭
I can forgive angel (but not angelus) - it’s buffy I can’t forgive for not killing Angelus when she had the chance in the mall!