It’s because he went on a needless tangent about beauty standards which wasn’t at all relevant to the episode. They weren’t trying to make “the perfect girl” they were trying to make a mate for the dead brother. But he didn’t watch long enough to figure that out before going off. Not that he’s wrong about the toxicity of beauty standards, but that conversation was just completely irrelevant to the episode.
@@rb5078 I enjoy the tangents and like you said, I think the content of the tangent was relevant to society even if not for the episode. I love watching people watch Buffy, needless tangents and incorrect theories and all.
Daryl not only wanted Cordelia's head on the "perfect body" he also still viewed Cordelia as the unattainable girl because she was still alive and wouldn't want to be with him. He needed to mutilate her in order to attain her :/
This. A hundred times. He needed his potential mate to feel as hideous and unlovable as he felt so they would have to settle for him because no one else would want them.
This episode is so hated by the fandom, that it's refreshing to find out, someone else liked it as much as I did. The story creeped me out so much the first time I watched it. I loved how well done the characters were, especially the grieving mom, just sitting in the dark, watching old videos and smoking herself into the grave. Thanks for coming to bat for this underappreciated episode.
Wow! Such an interesting video! This is a generally disliked or "meh" episode, so I loved seeing how much you got out of it and am looking forward to seeing how much you will get out of the rest of the show! Future episode reactions are going to get LONG!
By the way, I appreciate you narrating your text asides. I'm sure it means more work for you, but it saves me having to hit pause to ensure I'll have time to read it.
I'm a simple girl - I see a new Buffy reaction from Tyler, I click the link. That was epic and your commentary about beauty standards and the unattainable really elevated a rewatch of what I've always considered a standard MOTW episode. The social context you apply to your reactions really makes you stand out in the sea of reactors, so thank you for your thoughtfulness as well as your humour.
Another very interesting thing about the BTVS series is the writers constantly pay homage to old films throughout. Here of course we have The Frankenstein type theme, but also if you notice near the start where 'My Girl' is being sung whilst assembling the parts, a direct reference to 1987 film Mannequin starring Andrew McCarthy and Kim Catrall, where Jonathan is singing that same song whilst trying to create the perfect girl Mannequin from different parts. Also calling the dead character here DARYL could be a reference to 1985 sci-fi D.A.R.Y.L. , could be coincidence that last one but who knows. Quiet sad when we see Daryl's mother looking at his old American Football games, and Daryl himself thinking of his human life as well.
If you have any other reviewers worth recommending I’m all over that shit. I’m a hardcore fan from the start too and only recently found Tyler’s videos after AwkwardAshleigh just started to give it a go after years of encouragement from her boyfriend. I live vicariously through reviewers now getting to enjoy their discovery of how much of a brilliant show this was. 😊😊😊
@@kassard1 The Review Crew @732ReviewCrew are almost done with season 3. Their after chats are always hilarious bc they’re off so much lol. My all time fav is Darcie from @darciesnothere or @darcieswatching. Darcies watching has all her reactions to shows on it but it’s behind. I suggest doing her Patreon if financially able to bc she’s already finished Buffy and Angel. Hers are also Picture in Picture instead of watch along which is so convenient lol
@@kassard1 I'm loving Tyler's deep dives and analysis; but one of the other reactors I have really enjoyed for Buffy is DakaraJayne, who has literally just finished Season 7 if you're looking for something to binge
Can we see the kick to the face again? 🤣 Also, I love your reactions. You really GET the show. This is what we all used to talk about after the show back in the old AOL days. lol
The chair has wood - hahaha. Giles dialogue around “Grave robbery - that’s new, interesting” has always been one of my favorites and his follow up of “terrible thing…must put a stop to it, damn it” is a surprisingly handy quote in everyday life for those times you are little TOO excited about something everyone else is a little huh about. Really appreciate your commentary on narrative and story development - Buffy was always very good about subverting expectation and playing with viewers assumptions. I think back to the opening moments of the series as a whole - young woman in a school girl uniform being lead into a darkened school building. Our experience tells us SHE is in danger - but then she vamps out and we realize the boy is the victim here. 20:08 In my case, asking if they like (half) Mexicans - also a valid question. But YES, I remember loving how cool and easy Jenny handled asking Giles’ out. We love to see it!! Love your point about relationships. There are definitely some relationships that are more about not being alone than about being with that specific person. Giles quote about America’s obsession with virility and yet football. Everyone knew where he was going with that. And don’t even get me started on the homoeroticism of football…just saying those pants are real tight…
I love that you rock out every opening credits, reminds me of me the first watch around and I take such joy seeing you do the same. I’ve spent so many years trying to entice others to even just give the show a try but so many scoff at it purely because they find the name Buffy so stupid. Their loss but still so saddening.
I think the thing is, he doesn't want Cordelia's head on another body because she would be more beautiful that way--objectively, she will look worse, but, in looking worse, he feels that she will have no other option but to love him. This is actually kind of what the monster felt in _The Bride of Frankenstein,_ but she still rejected him.
Beautiful episode, beautiful reaction, Tyler! I absolutely love your extended commentaries (and your extended jamming to the theme tune) and can tell you worked hard to crop as much as you could to keep it shorter - honestly, I'm down with longer ones if others are! Your social commentary is what draws me to your channel; you get the nuances the writers added that a lot of reactors don't always spot, which brings a level of elevated intelligence to your views (without being elitist) that keeps me coming back for more. Another chef's kiss, thank you!
@@JhadeSagravme! Also anyone who is a Buffy/Angel fan PLEASE check out Passion Of The Nerd, their deep dives are just… fan nerd heaven. This goes out to Tyler too. The episode breakdowns are just *chef’s kiss* as they say.
I think there's a fascinating inversion of the Unattainable you mention here with the idea of building a Frankenstein's Bride- only an undead, stitched-together woman would accept a man in that condition, right? There's a notion of monstrosity and the need for acceptance that I think reflects Buffy and Angel interestingly- a vampire and the Slayer, both outside the ordinary world, both disallowed normal teenage life. As well as shedding new light onto Xander's continued interest in Buffy- it reminds me of Owen from last season, obsessed with morbid poetry and attracted to Buffy because she's a Slayer surrounded by death. Xander's interest at times seems similarly about Buffy's unusual nature, more than just a more...mundane?...beauty standard.
When you had that poll about longer episodes I was certain you had really strong feelings about this episode but I was super unsure if they were going to be good or bad
commenting again because i rewatched the video. I've seen this show all the way through a minimum of 18 times, and I never noticed the guys checking out that girl or what you were saying about Xander's speech and how it relates to him and willow. I think that, as well as Xander not seeing Willow and wanting Buffy, it's also him making a "dig" at Buffy for wanting Angel (unnatainable) and not Xander himself who is right in front of her. Also, my brother and I always used to play "What would we do if a zombie apocalypse started right now?" - you're not alone!
I've always enjoyed this episode in spite of the fact that it is one of the least popular episodes not just of the season but of the whole series. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to see the rest of the show with you because you always bring such great insights.
Thanks for the pep talk! I have never been a conventionally attractive person, but over the years I have had a number of various partners who didn’t complain! I’m glad you enjoyed this episode, I think they do a good job balancing the monster story and the emotional impact of the loss of a family member.
I, too, find the Angel - Buffy age gap super creepy. He's 241 and she's, like, 16. He's 225 years older than she is. And she's still a teenager in high school, while he was already a fully grown adult when he was turned. At least Edward Cullen was an actual teenager when he was turned. (And that's also an extremely problematic relationship for many reasons.)
I don't think "vampire years" count really, but the fact that he was already mid-20s when he was turned DOES. I know he's been around for over two centuries, but I only view their age gap as approximately a decade. However, since she's still a minor, that is a HUGE illegal and immoral deal.
Wow... here I always thought this was a middling Frankenstein / Bride-of-Frankenstein spoof that lacks the thematic depth of future episodes. And I was hella wrong. Loved how much you enjoyed this, and loved your analysis. Can't wait to see how much you'll have to say about the rest of the show.
I really love how much you appreciated this episode, because I know it's not usually a fan-favorite, but I agree that it was excellently done! And I'm SO excited for the next one!
I think what makes it less creepy for me is that yes, Angel is hundreds of years old, but he hasn't actually aged since the day he died. What DOES make it more creepy for *me* is not how old he is now, but how old he was when he died, which is CLEARLY not 17 or even close. Mid 20's at the earliest. More likely early 30's. I suppose the argument could be that 17 year old girls back 200 years ago would have been getting married by that age, and likely to men a lot older, but still, Angel knows how the modern world works. He knows what is and isn't cool anymore, yet he still tries to get with an underage girl.
Totally agree, even if it was considered normal at the time, it's not now - and Angel knows that. Interestingly, he doesn't even have that excuse, because it really wasn't that common for teenage girls in Europe to get married when Angel was young. When you look at census information from the time, women generally got married at around 25 years old!
It's in the episode: Xander: They seem kinda picky for guys who had three heads to begin with. Willow: Formaldehyde. Giles: Formaldehyde. Yes, yes, yes, yes, of course, it accelerates neural decay in the brain cells. Willow: After a couple days they're useless. They're gonna need something really fresh.
Hey Tyler! I haven't commented yet on your Buffy reactions. But just wanna say I have been really enjoying your in depth analysis on each of the episodes and like how you relate it to the social issues that go on today. Look forward to your next reaction and analysis!
interesting! i've never seen a reactor debating between whether eric or chris was responsible, especially after the "she'd be perfect for _us_ " and chris' response "don't be an idiot! she's alive". i've always taken that to mean a clear reveal that they were working together on something that involved dead girls editing because i just realized this comment could come off super rude lol- i LOVE these reactions. i know a million people have said it, but i have never watched reactions i love as much as yours, you're funny but you easily catch the deeper meanings in each episode and interpret it differently and more elaborately than anyone else i've seen. thank you so much for these reactions, i can't wait for you to get deeper into the show as it really only gets better and better
Petty, jealous Angel! Proving that vampires never grow up, no matter how many calendar pages they go through. Then he wears a very Xanderish style jacket to complete the look.
Nice essays as always! Two thoughts I'll add: Unattainability can apply to things other than physical beauty, such as status. Judge Judy, for example, while not someone I find physically attractive, is unattainable (and attractive) on the basis of her intellectual prowess. Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and relative to be sure, but I think there are also universal generalities. We have terms for that, namely 'models' and 'monsters'.
_If beauty is in the eye of the beholder,_ _then so too must ugliness be;_ _Which means it is not i who lacks beauty,_ _But the eye of the one who beholdeth me._ (apparently i woke up at 2 in the morning one night and wrote this and found it in my phone the next day. no idea if i stole it from somewhere or what. if anyone knows the source, lmk.)
I was just about to comment that I dig the dancing, especially the chest shaking. Then you said, "Don't forget the nipples." and I lost it. Bahahaha I thoroughly enjoy your reactions.
Im from America and did some light research about the differences between Ruby and American football and it seems the gear actually might cause more injuries especially head injuries surprisingly. Like I said it was light research but after reading I was pretty convinced that it made sense. Lol Good reaction!
Hearing you talk about attraction standards brings my mind right back to one of the weirder fan theories… the thing about all demons considering Xander attractive. Even the ones who aren't into him seem to refer to him in a way that implies they think he fits mainstream beauty standards. I've not actually watched the series since I heard that one, but watching your reactions so far I think I can see where it comes from.
5:33 actually, the zombies wouldn't be running, they typically lumber, bit of slow walkers. I am surprised you don't know this having watched so many films as a kid.
Xander's "what's unattainable vs what's right in front of them" was about all three of them. Buffy was in love with the unattainable older inappropriate Angel, instead of what was right in front of her (Xander). Xander was in love with the unattainable Buffy instead of Willow who is right in front of him, and Willow is in love with Xander who is unattainable because he is in love with someone else.
This video is a great example of why I love your channel. I dont really like this episode. I think the villains have a kind of cartoonish vibe to them. Yet your bring such a good discussion whith it. That thing about people having relationships out of needing something is a thing i've personally been saying for ages, to me is the reason so many relationships go sour, people want to feel whole and are not that particularly interested in the other person. Just interested in a desire and when they actually start to know the person and realize its not what they idealized the love fades, wich is more obsession than love but I will save that discussion for future episodes. I feel like you will have a blast with this show, it only gets deeper. And Im eager to watch it. And just a side note, this is the first time a channel makes me more excited for good place reactions than buffy and im obsessed with buffy. Thank you for the great content
Yes. It's the danger of wanting a partner to "complete" you. You are more attracted to your own image of the perfect partner than to the reality of the person who is or could be in your life.
As others have said, this is generally considered one of the weaker episodes of season 2, so it's great to see it get so much praise from you! I agree, this is one of those monster of the week episodes that brings up some really interesting social commentary.
It's so intriguing that you rate something which could be considered the worst episode of the series so highly. Can't wait to see how you feel in a couple of seasons when they start dropping literal pioneering, genre breaking, incredibly high concept episodes or start putting together insanely tight scripts with more subtext than you can shake a stick at. Buffy has done things no TV show before or since has even tried to do and this episode? I'd say bottom 5 for me probably, even though I really appreciated what they were going for. Super excited and hopeful that you will keep with the series. At this point, a lot of Buffy fans would say it still hasn't even gotten good or found its feet as a series yet. Prophecy Girl is a standout and other S1 episodes have some great scenes while being weaker overall than everything that comes after. Another handful of episodes until the first ones that really kick it up a notch in production and quality and writing. Think you're really gonna like everything from episode 7 and beyond this season.
I like that you addressed that the older brother looks in his 40s, this detail always takes me out of the episode a bit! We're meant to sympathise that he's not lived a full life, missed out on these stages of growing up and potential sporting success etc, and then the actor looks middle-aged. Were there no 20 year old available to play the part haha.
That's crazy that he was actually only 28! Either way though, he looks a lot older and it really takes me out of the episode because of it @@jspettifer
@tyleralexander The scene with Buffy instructing or giving tips on how to ask someone out on a date for Giles, I always read it differently. I thought that she caught him being nervous and flustered and gave him an easy template to use to ask out Miss Calendar. Obviously, he could personalize it. However, I do see how you came to your conclusions. Thanks for these reactions! They are not only enjoyable, they are educational.
I wanted Cordy and Angel to have a thing when I saw this episode lol. And a few other times this season I felt they had untapped chemistry! Also love Angel dressing like a regular guy after he saw Buffy’s dance with Xander last episode. 😂😂😂
@@lessismore8533 I just think David and Charisma have more chemistry initially than him and SMG. By the time Surprise comes around I finally buy them just for Angel to lose his soul.
"When you wake up you'll have the body of a seventeen-year-old." Cordelia is 16 years old. Maybe 17 if her birthday is early. So this doesn't change anything for her. But it is a commentary on the impossible beauty standards you were talking about earlier. But it is a bit odd since it is a beauty standard that Cordelia already has. It would almost make more sense if it was said to Jenny Calander.
my DOPAMINE FIX has arrived!!!!!!!!! Also, you're currently at 69 comments. Nice. I used to spend a lot of time planning for What If scenarios: What if zombies attacked RIGHT NOW? What if a school ...uh... "spooder" showed up? How would i rescue all my friends from different classes? (who'm i kidding. i didn't have friends. i was rescuing all my favorite teachers.) Only like a week ago did i discover the term: "Maladaptive Daydreaming" so there it is! Yet another disorder to add to the list! If you're collecting data, add a +1 on the "Tyler is Adorable, i will take no questions" column for me. (I'm like super old compared to you, so don't worry i'm not hitting on you. 😁) Doggone it i just LOVE your well-thought-out reviews. PROTECT THIS BEAUTIFUL PERSON AT ALL COSTS!!!
I really loved your reaction to this episode. So many people brush past this one. I will disagree with you slightly about the ending and whether or not Daryl should have lived. This episode focuses so much on obsession and grief and the interconnect between them. The tragedy of this episode is not that Daryl dies in the fire, but that his brother brought him back to "life." In the first place. The show touches upon death and its finality, as well as the trauma when its not final in "When she was bad" with how much Buffy struggles with life after dying ( for only a few minutes) and how that changes her. This has always felt like a great continuation of that theme, to the extreme. Daryl wasn't dead for a minute and recessutated. He was DEAD. And it is his resurrection that caused him to suffer. I always thought it was kind of fitting that he chose to not extend this pained existence. It always made me feel that you have to accept death to get past it. Cause we see how both Chris and his mom refuse to accept Daryl's passing and what it does to them. All in all, great reaction.
Gordon Ramsey! I'm dead (You're right tho...) Edit: please don't apologize for feeling that the Bangel relationship is weird, it absolutely is and if the stans can't tolerate it then whatever (I love another relationship from this show and I know it's really fucked up, but I can admit it)
right, i kind of took it less as "don't be _you_ " and more of, "relax, you got this. she already likes you! here's something you can use that's simple and easy to remember if you're nervous." "don't be you" would've been more like, "Ugh, don't be so boring. Say something like, 'Hey hot mama, how bout you and me go for some tacos!'" and now i'm imagining Giles saying, "Hey, hot mama!" and my day is officially made.
People think rugby is harder than American football...but things that are utterly common in football are fouls in rugby. Without the gear, football players wouldn't last long.
Ms. PastaStrainer, you mean? Gotta say, i've always loved Ms. ElectronicAbacus's character. There's a great fan-based theory about Ms. WoodWorker that i can't wait to tell Tyler about when we get to the season finale.
Was that progress for Xander, or was that Xander once again missing someone who expressed an interest in him? To be fair, how age appropriate can Angel really go? And also someone who would understand his special problems and avocation? Tricky.
My biggest problem with the men who have found me attractive in my life have always been OLDER THAN MY FATHER (to this day and he's 81!) Or homeless or drug addicts (lacking most if not all their teeth & refusing to bathe). So yeah, I gave up on even trying to attract anyone.
I was not expecting 36 min for one of the weakest imo episodes of this show 😂 I don't think there's more to it than just writers having fun with classic monster stories tbh but I'm glad you got more out of it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Everyone brings up the age gap thing with Angel & Buffy. No-one seems to focus on the inter-speciesism. Great reaction. I agree with so much of what you're saying, and with your style of analysis I think you're going to have a hoot going forward. Oh, and I'd have gone with Bride Of Frankenstein as a major influence rather than the original.
Lol... you were so focused on figuring out which of the two new characters was the bad guy... you totally missed their dialog which told you it was both of them at the end of their very first scene.
I realise this is a controversial point these days, but i having an age gap does not automatically mean its exploitative. It certainly could be, and that is something to watch out for. But Angel clearly has no plans to exploit Buffy. A power imbalance in a relationship implies a certain lack of consent, but does Angel really have any power over Buffy?
Buffy is right in front of Xander. Xander is right in front of Willow. Angel is right in front of Buffy (and vice versa). Jenny is right in front of Giles (and vice versa). Xander tries to oversimplify too much.
I respectfully disagree! I think there are lots of reactors with less analysis that you may enjoy more if that’s what your after but I loooove how Tyler talks and discusses it deeper! Haha I would watch it double the length. Each to their own - let reactors do what they feel to be right/ they enjoy and curate an audience that suits their style- tyler (and every other reactor) is never going to please everyone so he should be true to himself!
if THIS episode gets a 30+ minute reaction, i am so excited for future eps
They'll end up being 4 hours long 😆
@@heleni0 And I'm 100% okay with that...
It’s because he went on a needless tangent about beauty standards which wasn’t at all relevant to the episode. They weren’t trying to make “the perfect girl” they were trying to make a mate for the dead brother. But he didn’t watch long enough to figure that out before going off. Not that he’s wrong about the toxicity of beauty standards, but that conversation was just completely irrelevant to the episode.
@@rb5078 I enjoy the tangents and like you said, I think the content of the tangent was relevant to society even if not for the episode. I love watching people watch Buffy, needless tangents and incorrect theories and all.
Daryl not only wanted Cordelia's head on the "perfect body" he also still viewed Cordelia as the unattainable girl because she was still alive and wouldn't want to be with him. He needed to mutilate her in order to attain her :/
This. A hundred times. He needed his potential mate to feel as hideous and unlovable as he felt so they would have to settle for him because no one else would want them.
This episode is so hated by the fandom, that it's refreshing to find out, someone else liked it as much as I did. The story creeped me out so much the first time I watched it. I loved how well done the characters were, especially the grieving mom, just sitting in the dark, watching old videos and smoking herself into the grave.
Thanks for coming to bat for this underappreciated episode.
Yeah, I love the deep analysis
Wow! Such an interesting video! This is a generally disliked or "meh" episode, so I loved seeing how much you got out of it and am looking forward to seeing how much you will get out of the rest of the show! Future episode reactions are going to get LONG!
"Don't forget the nipples." Words to live by.
By the way, I appreciate you narrating your text asides. I'm sure it means more work for you, but it saves me having to hit pause to ensure I'll have time to read it.
And it lets me look away
I'm a simple girl - I see a new Buffy reaction from Tyler, I click the link. That was epic and your commentary about beauty standards and the unattainable really elevated a rewatch of what I've always considered a standard MOTW episode. The social context you apply to your reactions really makes you stand out in the sea of reactors, so thank you for your thoughtfulness as well as your humour.
💯
Completely agree!
Another very interesting thing about the BTVS series is the writers constantly pay homage to old films throughout. Here of course we have The Frankenstein type theme, but also if you notice near the start where 'My Girl' is being sung whilst assembling the parts, a direct reference to 1987 film Mannequin starring Andrew McCarthy and Kim Catrall, where Jonathan is singing that same song whilst trying to create the perfect girl Mannequin from different parts. Also calling the dead character here DARYL could be a reference to 1985 sci-fi D.A.R.Y.L. , could be coincidence that last one but who knows. Quiet sad when we see Daryl's mother looking at his old American Football games, and Daryl himself thinking of his human life as well.
What I love about this show is even the weakest episodes have hilarious dialogue.
As a diehard Buffyverse fan it’s so refreshing to see a reactor enjoy this episode!
If you have any other reviewers worth recommending I’m all over that shit. I’m a hardcore fan from the start too and only recently found Tyler’s videos after AwkwardAshleigh just started to give it a go after years of encouragement from her boyfriend. I live vicariously through reviewers now getting to enjoy their discovery of how much of a brilliant show this was. 😊😊😊
@@kassard1 The Review Crew @732ReviewCrew are almost done with season 3. Their after chats are always hilarious bc they’re off so much lol. My all time fav is Darcie from @darciesnothere or @darcieswatching. Darcies watching has all her reactions to shows on it but it’s behind. I suggest doing her Patreon if financially able to bc she’s already finished Buffy and Angel. Hers are also Picture in Picture instead of watch along which is so convenient lol
@@kassard1 I'm loving Tyler's deep dives and analysis; but one of the other reactors I have really enjoyed for Buffy is DakaraJayne, who has literally just finished Season 7 if you're looking for something to binge
@@angelawheatley4569 thank you so much, I’ve added them to my playlist. x
Can we see the kick to the face again? 🤣
Also, I love your reactions. You really GET the show. This is what we all used to talk about after the show back in the old AOL days. lol
The chair has wood - hahaha. Giles dialogue around “Grave robbery - that’s new, interesting” has always been one of my favorites and his follow up of “terrible thing…must put a stop to it, damn it” is a surprisingly handy quote in everyday life for those times you are little TOO excited about something everyone else is a little huh about.
Really appreciate your commentary on narrative and story development - Buffy was always very good about subverting expectation and playing with viewers assumptions. I think back to the opening moments of the series as a whole - young woman in a school girl uniform being lead into a darkened school building. Our experience tells us SHE is in danger - but then she vamps out and we realize the boy is the victim here.
20:08 In my case, asking if they like (half) Mexicans - also a valid question. But YES, I remember loving how cool and easy Jenny handled asking Giles’ out. We love to see it!!
Love your point about relationships. There are definitely some relationships that are more about not being alone than about being with that specific person.
Giles quote about America’s obsession with virility and yet football. Everyone knew where he was going with that. And don’t even get me started on the homoeroticism of football…just saying those pants are real tight…
Buffy doesn't kill humans just monsters, so it's her job to relate to people and try to help.
I love the way you are going deep everytime, and i love your reactions. You, and people like you, are my escape from reality right now.
I love that you rock out every opening credits, reminds me of me the first watch around and I take such joy seeing you do the same. I’ve spent so many years trying to entice others to even just give the show a try but so many scoff at it purely because they find the name Buffy so stupid. Their loss but still so saddening.
I think the thing is, he doesn't want Cordelia's head on another body because she would be more beautiful that way--objectively, she will look worse, but, in looking worse, he feels that she will have no other option but to love him. This is actually kind of what the monster felt in _The Bride of Frankenstein,_ but she still rejected him.
Can't wait for the next one. 🚙 "Welcome to Sunnydale"! 🚙
OHHHH, YES!
This was one of the best or most interesting discussions/reactions that I've ever seen by you. I was so invested in all you had brought up 😊
I'd kind of forgotten this episode existed, so it's great to see how much depth you're able to find in it.
Beautiful episode, beautiful reaction, Tyler! I absolutely love your extended commentaries (and your extended jamming to the theme tune) and can tell you worked hard to crop as much as you could to keep it shorter - honestly, I'm down with longer ones if others are! Your social commentary is what draws me to your channel; you get the nuances the writers added that a lot of reactors don't always spot, which brings a level of elevated intelligence to your views (without being elitist) that keeps me coming back for more. Another chef's kiss, thank you!
Two-hour Tyler Commentaries! Who's with me!?!
😁
@@JhadeSagravme! Also anyone who is a Buffy/Angel fan PLEASE check out Passion Of The Nerd, their deep dives are just… fan nerd heaven. This goes out to Tyler too. The episode breakdowns are just *chef’s kiss* as they say.
You calling Daryl similar to Gordon Ramsay and "two seconds away from calling someone an idiot sandwich" made me cackle with laughter. Heeeee.
I think there's a fascinating inversion of the Unattainable you mention here with the idea of building a Frankenstein's Bride- only an undead, stitched-together woman would accept a man in that condition, right? There's a notion of monstrosity and the need for acceptance that I think reflects Buffy and Angel interestingly- a vampire and the Slayer, both outside the ordinary world, both disallowed normal teenage life. As well as shedding new light onto Xander's continued interest in Buffy- it reminds me of Owen from last season, obsessed with morbid poetry and attracted to Buffy because she's a Slayer surrounded by death. Xander's interest at times seems similarly about Buffy's unusual nature, more than just a more...mundane?...beauty standard.
I’m ready for the patreon for future hour plus long analysis videos of the upcoming episodes
When you had that poll about longer episodes I was certain you had really strong feelings about this episode but I was super unsure if they were going to be good or bad
commenting again because i rewatched the video.
I've seen this show all the way through a minimum of 18 times, and I never noticed the guys checking out that girl or what you were saying about Xander's speech and how it relates to him and willow. I think that, as well as Xander not seeing Willow and wanting Buffy, it's also him making a "dig" at Buffy for wanting Angel (unnatainable) and not Xander himself who is right in front of her.
Also, my brother and I always used to play "What would we do if a zombie apocalypse started right now?" - you're not alone!
I've always enjoyed this episode in spite of the fact that it is one of the least popular episodes not just of the season but of the whole series. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to see the rest of the show with you because you always bring such great insights.
Never heard anyone say this episode was close to perfection. Interesting take.
Thanks for the pep talk! I have never been a conventionally attractive person, but over the years I have had a number of various partners who didn’t complain!
I’m glad you enjoyed this episode, I think they do a good job balancing the monster story and the emotional impact of the loss of a family member.
I, too, find the Angel - Buffy age gap super creepy. He's 241 and she's, like, 16. He's 225 years older than she is. And she's still a teenager in high school, while he was already a fully grown adult when he was turned. At least Edward Cullen was an actual teenager when he was turned. (And that's also an extremely problematic relationship for many reasons.)
I don't think "vampire years" count really, but the fact that he was already mid-20s when he was turned DOES. I know he's been around for over two centuries, but I only view their age gap as approximately a decade. However, since she's still a minor, that is a HUGE illegal and immoral deal.
Wow... here I always thought this was a middling Frankenstein / Bride-of-Frankenstein spoof that lacks the thematic depth of future episodes. And I was hella wrong. Loved how much you enjoyed this, and loved your analysis. Can't wait to see how much you'll have to say about the rest of the show.
This was just such amazing content!! Thanks for all the hard work you do- it shines through so much!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I really love how much you appreciated this episode, because I know it's not usually a fan-favorite, but I agree that it was excellently done! And I'm SO excited for the next one!
I think what makes it less creepy for me is that yes, Angel is hundreds of years old, but he hasn't actually aged since the day he died. What DOES make it more creepy for *me* is not how old he is now, but how old he was when he died, which is CLEARLY not 17 or even close. Mid 20's at the earliest. More likely early 30's. I suppose the argument could be that 17 year old girls back 200 years ago would have been getting married by that age, and likely to men a lot older, but still, Angel knows how the modern world works. He knows what is and isn't cool anymore, yet he still tries to get with an underage girl.
Totally agree, even if it was considered normal at the time, it's not now - and Angel knows that.
Interestingly, he doesn't even have that excuse, because it really wasn't that common for teenage girls in Europe to get married when Angel was young. When you look at census information from the time, women generally got married at around 25 years old!
I believe he was somewhere between 24 and 26 - they tweaked the years a couple times in various flashbacks but I think 26 is sited on all the wikis.
I suspect that all three heads had suffered trauma in the car accident, making them unsuitable for reanimation.
It's in the episode:
Xander: They seem kinda picky for guys who had three heads to begin with.
Willow: Formaldehyde.
Giles: Formaldehyde. Yes, yes, yes, yes, of course, it accelerates neural decay in the brain cells.
Willow: After a couple days they're useless. They're gonna need something really fresh.
Hey Tyler! I haven't commented yet on your Buffy reactions. But just wanna say I have been really enjoying your in depth analysis on each of the episodes and like how you relate it to the social issues that go on today. Look forward to your next reaction and analysis!
interesting! i've never seen a reactor debating between whether eric or chris was responsible, especially after the "she'd be perfect for _us_ " and chris' response "don't be an idiot! she's alive". i've always taken that to mean a clear reveal that they were working together on something that involved dead girls
editing because i just realized this comment could come off super rude lol- i LOVE these reactions. i know a million people have said it, but i have never watched reactions i love as much as yours, you're funny but you easily catch the deeper meanings in each episode and interpret it differently and more elaborately than anyone else i've seen. thank you so much for these reactions, i can't wait for you to get deeper into the show as it really only gets better and better
Brilliant; thank you for sharing your time and work Tyler. This series is made for someone of your intellect.
Petty, jealous Angel! Proving that vampires never grow up, no matter how many calendar pages they go through. Then he wears a very Xanderish style jacket to complete the look.
I dream zombies, think zombies and daydream zombies. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Nice essays as always!
Two thoughts I'll add: Unattainability can apply to things other than physical beauty, such as status. Judge Judy, for example, while not someone I find physically attractive, is unattainable (and attractive) on the basis of her intellectual prowess.
Also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and relative to be sure, but I think there are also universal generalities. We have terms for that, namely 'models' and 'monsters'.
_If beauty is in the eye of the beholder,_
_then so too must ugliness be;_
_Which means it is not i who lacks beauty,_
_But the eye of the one who beholdeth me._
(apparently i woke up at 2 in the morning one night and wrote this and found it in my phone the next day. no idea if i stole it from somewhere or what. if anyone knows the source, lmk.)
Been a fan of the show for years ! Great content ! Also love how you appreciate the theme song. 🤣
I was just about to comment that I dig the dancing, especially the chest shaking. Then you said, "Don't forget the nipples." and I lost it. Bahahaha I thoroughly enjoy your reactions.
I really enjoy your insights into the episode. Cannot wait for your thoughts on this whole season!
Being dead ages you; I don't know what to tell you.
Im from America and did some light research about the differences between Ruby and American football and it seems the gear actually might cause more injuries especially head injuries surprisingly. Like I said it was light research but after reading I was pretty convinced that it made sense. Lol
Good reaction!
I loved everything you got out of this episode, and I really enjoyed your discussion about it.
You've really been making me appreciate these earlier episodes more, love your analyses, and can't wait until you reach the really fantastic episodes
Hearing you talk about attraction standards brings my mind right back to one of the weirder fan theories… the thing about all demons considering Xander attractive. Even the ones who aren't into him seem to refer to him in a way that implies they think he fits mainstream beauty standards. I've not actually watched the series since I heard that one, but watching your reactions so far I think I can see where it comes from.
5:33 actually, the zombies wouldn't be running, they typically lumber, bit of slow walkers. I am surprised you don't know this having watched so many films as a kid.
Kinda suprised by the title. Most people dont really like this episode. Excited for your reaction 💜
Xander's "what's unattainable vs what's right in front of them" was about all three of them. Buffy was in love with the unattainable older inappropriate Angel, instead of what was right in front of her (Xander). Xander was in love with the unattainable Buffy instead of Willow who is right in front of him, and Willow is in love with Xander who is unattainable because he is in love with someone else.
This video is a great example of why I love your channel. I dont really like this episode. I think the villains have a kind of cartoonish vibe to them. Yet your bring such a good discussion whith it. That thing about people having relationships out of needing something is a thing i've personally been saying for ages, to me is the reason so many relationships go sour, people want to feel whole and are not that particularly interested in the other person. Just interested in a desire and when they actually start to know the person and realize its not what they idealized the love fades, wich is more obsession than love but I will save that discussion for future episodes. I feel like you will have a blast with this show, it only gets deeper. And Im eager to watch it. And just a side note, this is the first time a channel makes me more excited for good place reactions than buffy and im obsessed with buffy. Thank you for the great content
Yes. It's the danger of wanting a partner to "complete" you. You are more attracted to your own image of the perfect partner than to the reality of the person who is or could be in your life.
As others have said, this is generally considered one of the weaker episodes of season 2, so it's great to see it get so much praise from you! I agree, this is one of those monster of the week episodes that brings up some really interesting social commentary.
I loe the way you analyse episodes, I'm so looking forward to you doing more good place because your style will match it so well
It's so intriguing that you rate something which could be considered the worst episode of the series so highly. Can't wait to see how you feel in a couple of seasons when they start dropping literal pioneering, genre breaking, incredibly high concept episodes or start putting together insanely tight scripts with more subtext than you can shake a stick at. Buffy has done things no TV show before or since has even tried to do and this episode? I'd say bottom 5 for me probably, even though I really appreciated what they were going for.
Super excited and hopeful that you will keep with the series. At this point, a lot of Buffy fans would say it still hasn't even gotten good or found its feet as a series yet. Prophecy Girl is a standout and other S1 episodes have some great scenes while being weaker overall than everything that comes after. Another handful of episodes until the first ones that really kick it up a notch in production and quality and writing. Think you're really gonna like everything from episode 7 and beyond this season.
Low key expectation spoilers
I like that you addressed that the older brother looks in his 40s, this detail always takes me out of the episode a bit! We're meant to sympathise that he's not lived a full life, missed out on these stages of growing up and potential sporting success etc, and then the actor looks middle-aged. Were there no 20 year old available to play the part haha.
The actor is currently 54 so he would have been 28 (2 years older than Xander’s actor)
That's crazy that he was actually only 28! Either way though, he looks a lot older and it really takes me out of the episode because of it @@jspettifer
Bruh, give the guy a break! Dying adds on a few years (or decades), i'm guessing 🤣
🤣@@JhadeSagrav
@tyleralexander The scene with Buffy instructing or giving tips on how to ask someone out on a date for Giles, I always read it differently. I thought that she caught him being nervous and flustered and gave him an easy template to use to ask out Miss Calendar. Obviously, he could personalize it. However, I do see how you came to your conclusions. Thanks for these reactions! They are not only enjoyable, they are educational.
6:18 I don't do that anymore, I got my hopes up to many times
Buffy is not a huge whodunit. It is also why done it. This is the second vegetative mother we've seen
Theres a lot of evidence that the protective gear for american football actually makes health outcomes even worse.
_.............what???_
seriously??
WHY ARE SPORTS STILL EVEN A THING? Bloody heck it's a GAME, people!
I wanted Cordy and Angel to have a thing when I saw this episode lol. And a few other times this season I felt they had untapped chemistry! Also love Angel dressing like a regular guy after he saw Buffy’s dance with Xander last episode. 😂😂😂
I never shipped Angel and Cordy UNTIL the “Angel series”. When Cordy finally had character development..
@@lessismore8533 I just think David and Charisma have more chemistry initially than him and SMG. By the time Surprise comes around I finally buy them just for Angel to lose his soul.
"When you wake up you'll have the body of a seventeen-year-old." Cordelia is 16 years old. Maybe 17 if her birthday is early. So this doesn't change anything for her. But it is a commentary on the impossible beauty standards you were talking about earlier. But it is a bit odd since it is a beauty standard that Cordelia already has. It would almost make more sense if it was said to Jenny Calander.
my DOPAMINE FIX has arrived!!!!!!!!!
Also, you're currently at 69 comments. Nice.
I used to spend a lot of time planning for What If scenarios: What if zombies attacked RIGHT NOW? What if a school ...uh... "spooder" showed up? How would i rescue all my friends from different classes? (who'm i kidding. i didn't have friends. i was rescuing all my favorite teachers.)
Only like a week ago did i discover the term: "Maladaptive Daydreaming" so there it is! Yet another disorder to add to the list!
If you're collecting data, add a +1 on the "Tyler is Adorable, i will take no questions" column for me. (I'm like super old compared to you, so don't worry i'm not hitting on you. 😁)
Doggone it i just LOVE your well-thought-out reviews.
PROTECT THIS BEAUTIFUL PERSON AT ALL COSTS!!!
I really loved your reaction to this episode. So many people brush past this one.
I will disagree with you slightly about the ending and whether or not Daryl should have lived. This episode focuses so much on obsession and grief and the interconnect between them. The tragedy of this episode is not that Daryl dies in the fire, but that his brother brought him back to "life." In the first place. The show touches upon death and its finality, as well as the trauma when its not final in "When she was bad" with how much Buffy struggles with life after dying ( for only a few minutes) and how that changes her. This has always felt like a great continuation of that theme, to the extreme. Daryl wasn't dead for a minute and recessutated. He was DEAD. And it is his resurrection that caused him to suffer. I always thought it was kind of fitting that he chose to not extend this pained existence. It always made me feel that you have to accept death to get past it. Cause we see how both Chris and his mom refuse to accept Daryl's passing and what it does to them.
All in all, great reaction.
Gordon Ramsey! I'm dead
(You're right tho...)
Edit: please don't apologize for feeling that the Bangel relationship is weird, it absolutely is and if the stans can't tolerate it then whatever (I love another relationship from this show and I know it's really fucked up, but I can admit it)
bangel fans knowing our ship is weird 🤝 fans of what i assume your ship is also knowing its not great
@bashby97 🫱🏼🫲🏽
No Giles is over thinking things and Buffy is saying just be simple
right, i kind of took it less as "don't be _you_ " and more of, "relax, you got this. she already likes you! here's something you can use that's simple and easy to remember if you're nervous."
"don't be you" would've been more like, "Ugh, don't be so boring. Say something like, 'Hey hot mama, how bout you and me go for some tacos!'"
and now i'm imagining Giles saying, "Hey, hot mama!" and my day is officially made.
Thank you for judging Angel. The age difference gets swept under the rug too often.
Great reaction!
People think rugby is harder than American football...but things that are utterly common in football are fouls in rugby. Without the gear, football players wouldn't last long.
Why does everyone get Ms Bank-Holiday's name wrong?
Ms. PastaStrainer, you mean? Gotta say, i've always loved Ms. ElectronicAbacus's character. There's a great fan-based theory about Ms. WoodWorker that i can't wait to tell Tyler about when we get to the season finale.
You... are beautiful.
I'm not just talking about your pretty face.
Always love your reactions!
Was that progress for Xander, or was that Xander once again missing someone who expressed an interest in him?
To be fair, how age appropriate can Angel really go? And also someone who would understand his special problems and avocation? Tricky.
My biggest problem with the men who have found me attractive in my life have always been OLDER THAN MY FATHER (to this day and he's 81!) Or homeless or drug addicts (lacking most if not all their teeth & refusing to bathe). So yeah, I gave up on even trying to attract anyone.
I think you elevated this episode with your review.
One of the worst episodes in all the show and you extracted the best of it👏👏👏
I was not expecting 36 min for one of the weakest imo episodes of this show 😂 I don't think there's more to it than just writers having fun with classic monster stories tbh but I'm glad you got more out of it.
I felt the same way you do about Buffy and Angel's relationship at this point in the show. The writing definitely intended to make it feel weird.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Everyone brings up the age gap thing with Angel & Buffy. No-one seems to focus on the inter-speciesism. Great reaction. I agree with so much of what you're saying, and with your style of analysis I think you're going to have a hoot going forward. Oh, and I'd have gone with Bride Of Frankenstein as a major influence rather than the original.
Well, Buffy is just a kid, really.
Lol... you were so focused on figuring out which of the two new characters was the bad guy... you totally missed their dialog which told you it was both of them at the end of their very first scene.
I realise this is a controversial point these days, but i having an age gap does not automatically mean its exploitative. It certainly could be, and that is something to watch out for. But Angel clearly has no plans to exploit Buffy. A power imbalance in a relationship implies a certain lack of consent, but does Angel really have any power over Buffy?
Right, i feel like that's a big theme throughout. In basically every situation, the power is on her side.
Haha, i love your analysis, but especially the totally inappropriate relationship of Angel and Buffy. Not to mention his obsession.
Buffy is right in front of Xander. Xander is right in front of Willow. Angel is right in front of Buffy (and vice versa). Jenny is right in front of Giles (and vice versa). Xander tries to oversimplify too much.
You have good analyses and you’re funny so I mostly enjoy your reactions. But may I please offer a critique? You talk a bit too much between scenes.
I respectfully disagree! I think there are lots of reactors with less analysis that you may enjoy more if that’s what your after but I loooove how Tyler talks and discusses it deeper! Haha I would watch it double the length. Each to their own - let reactors do what they feel to be right/ they enjoy and curate an audience that suits their style- tyler (and every other reactor) is never going to please everyone so he should be true to himself!