James Marsters carried so much of this season to a degree he doesn’t really get credit for. However good he ever was before this, his acting transcends the rest of the cast here.
The first time I watched "Buffy", during its first run, and at my nephew's insistence, I laid eyes on Marsters and said to my nephew: "That's a stage actor", and I meant it to be taken in the best way: he has a way of listening to his scene partner and energizing things so that his partner and the scene are lifted. I can see this especially in scenes between Marsters and Brendon, who has some of his best interactions with Marsters. A couple of other actors who have this gift are Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson, both featured in "Lost". When they had scenes together it was dynamite.
@@melenatorr That's a great point actually. Nicholas Brendon and James Marsters bounce off each other so well it's noticeable in Season 4 but also for the rest of the series. They bring out great comedic timing in each other.
Well he did get a lot more attention this season than any of the scoobies...don't get me wrong, Masters is amazing, but it's part of what makes me uneasy about this season that it's not treated as much of an ensemble anymore.
@@Katiewithdaffodils Yeah good point when I compare it to Angel's last season for example, every character got a strong moment. Fred is head of the science lab, Gunn becomes super lawyer, Lorne gets his sleep removed. Buffy S7 is Buffy and Spike vs the World. Xander, Will and Giles are the characters that suffer the most from lack of focus. Love Scoobies just wanted some solid scooby episodes.
the flashback to Anya's previously unseen song, cut to her stabbed was brilliant and sad. It shows how horribly wrong her life went. How she tried to define her identity from her relationship and she felt this rush of happiness (hence singing), and it reminds us how deeply she and her relationship with Xander have been embedded in the show for years. but that abruptly we are confronted with the fact that it didn't work. She could not define herself from her relationship, it did not make her happy long term, now that part of her that had hope has died.
Yes! I always loved the abrupt change between the song and reality. That was the whole point of the song to show the contrast between happiness and absolute misery
I'm surprised you didn't mention the connection of "Cassie" being short for Cassandra the Greek Prophetess that had visions of the future no one believed!!! But LOVE your work!!!
The cutaway to Flutie’s death scene with the over the top sentimental music was a stroke of genius! Made me laugh so hard. Nice one! These are awesome analysis videos by the way. I’m really enjoying them. Finally someone is giving Passion of the Nerd some competition! 🥰
@@episodicanalysis would you be able to do a more in depth analysis on certain scenes, like that one, as these videos tend to rush them a tad and It would be nice to hear your indepth thoughts!
@@lucymay446 Definitely, at some point in the future I would like to try and make some videos on my top favourite scenes or episodes, which can give me more time to talk about them without making the video 3 hours long xD
I always assumed Dawn, Kit and Carlos were going to be " The Scoobies" of the next generation. If we had gotten another season but I think they knew this was going to be the last season so that's why they didn't plan on bringing those two characters back.
Thank you so much! I'm honestly surprised I even got 214 in the first place, but I'm glad people like listening to me talk about this silly show for hours on end. It means a lot.
My issue with this was similar with Giles and most of the characters acting inconsistently and the ending feeling rushed and inconclusive and your explanation of the ending does help with understanding it and getting more closure. I do have an issue with the fact the Giles does say that there's another Hell mouth in Cleveland though cause to me that's what made it really feel like it wasn't over.
To be fair, the Cleveland line was an allusion to a previous joke from the season 3 episode The Wish (when Giles is trying to convince Buffy's watcher to send her to Sunnydale, he says something to the effect of "Yes, I'm aware there's a lot of demonic activity in Cleveland!")
@@padawansound6423 I know it just bugged me because their story clearly wasn't finished as they just unleashed like a million nukes into the public and didn't even shut down the evil that would be going after them
I have always wondered how did Tara’s mother die? I think that since her mom was also a witch, that maybe she got lost in the majic like Willow and it consumed her until she died from her use of dark magic? That would explain why she was so outraged at Willow using magic to close the curtains Iand other mundane things, becoming more and more critical of Willows use of magic. for everything. The story line of Tara’ mother’s death never comes to a close in the future episodes, at least not that I saw. It might also explain Tara’s family thinking that she had Demon in her, also a way to control t the women in the family. I like the character of Tara, she was sweet and kind. But she had compassion for everyone. without judgment. I was disappointed that she died.
@@kyleellis1825I think (I could be wrong) that Tara says her mom died when Tara "was little" or something, so depending on how young she was, it was actually make even more sens, psychologically speaking, that she wouldn't have necessarily seen the darkness or "demon" in her Mom until she starts to see Willow go down that same path and makes the connection. Does that make sense?
Finding out the actress who played Walsh left early and how many actors all seemed to have full schedules, really makes me think it was a warning sign on working condition. Anyone proffesional/established seems to have wanted nothing to do with the franchise once escaping.
I thought the cut from anya singing to her stabbed through the heart to be on par with the heartwrenching deaths of Angel and Tara. Perhaps this is just me but in such a melodramatic world (fights! Fashion! Comedy!) once singing is introduced it isn't surprising or jarring to be introduced again. If you can 'buy in' to SMG beating up a troll demon, I don't think it is that crazy to find musical cutaways that out of line - especially since it juxtaposes high highs and low lows in a way speaking never really could
In terms of Jonathon being the one who deserved to join the gang. Yes, but Andrew is the one who makes for a better story. Jonathon had already completed his character arc, it's precisely because Andrew did NOT deserve to join the gang that he's a better option story-wise. Andrew is still flawed and incomplete, there are more stories left to tell about him.
Not a favourite for me, I only place season 6 ahead of this in terms of bad seasons. It felt like they were trying to do too much too soon with too little time. Whilst the performances were good, you can also see that they were all ready to move on, especially Sarah. One view I have always had about white haired Willow. I have always seen it as her tapping into the purity of magic and perhaps Tara being there and helping her, hence the oh my goddess line she says. Now I accept I have absolutely no proof of that but its a nice image I have. I do actually think Amber was spot on in not wanting to return. As recent events seem to show, Joss was not trustworthy at all and I am glad she didn't go back. It would have been nice to see Tara as a character again, but it would seem the price of that was one Amber wasn't prepared to pay and that makes her go way up in my estimations.
Adding a comment for the algorithm: Re: How some ppl want Dawn's creation spell to be responsible for Joyce's/Re: Anya's quick death I actually like Whedon's quotes about not accepting those head canons. Whedon lost his own mom in a car crash when he was in his 20s, and wrote the emotional beats of "The Body" to reflect the horrors of irl grief. I think that was WHY he wanted to write a quick and brutal death for Anya. People want STILL want to head canon a (mystical) reason WHY Joyce died and I think this was him saying: No. This is death, and it's sudden and real and I want ppl to prepare. Don't slip into fantasy bc when it happens, you don't have that luxury. Most of us can accept that, especially if we're older and have lost someone other than a Grandparent. Some folks just have trouble with reality.🤷♀️
I will never get over the TRAVESTY that is Empty Places. Were it not for significant plot points being in it, I would argue that it not even be included in the canon. I'd erase it from the box set (if it wouldn't be damn confusing to leave it out.) Seriously, it is just NOT BELIEVABLE that so many characters would turn on Buffy. Damn. I'm still upset about that episode (apparently). 😡
Nah, you're not the only one who's still pissed about that episode. They took Buffy for granted, she was training those girls from the beginning, teaching them how to fight, and hone their instincts, and doing all this while she was off slaying demons. She had no rest which was why that first Turok-Han vamp beat her ass those few times. On top of all that she told them time and time again that Caleb had something of hers but they didn't want to believe her. Without that scythe weapon they would all be dead.
I'm just mad that if it HAD to happen, what would have made more sense is if the First had been posing as Buffy and trying to subtly tear everyone down previous to this. They'd have much more incentive to kick her out, and tbh it's literally so stupid of the First not to try this at any point when it can literally look like Buffy
Season Ranks: 2 3 1 5/7 6 4 You can swap 6&4, but it was clear when they switched channels in season 6 that the show took a downturn. Season 7 was a step back up, although they should’ve done the potential to slayer thing earlier, Caleb should’ve been introduced earlier and more supervamps should’ve broken out of the seal on the first go round.
I think the reason Spike remembers everything after biting Buffy is because he loves her. Slayer blood has always been insinuated (if not explicitly stated) to have mystical properties of an undefined nature, but even if that doesnt have anything to do with it, i feel like the "intimacy" he'd feel while biting her could/would have triggered something in his soul and "snapped him back to reality," for lack of a better phrase... Thats my headcanon at least lol
1:04:50 though Faith and Dawn never actually met, they both have memories as if they did, just like with all the other characters. We know that Dawn has memories of Angel, and I suppose he has memories of her as well.
That would have been interesting to see! She was a bit busy with the visions and stuff, when she was alive on Angel. It looked like we were going to get a more action-based Cordy when she began training with Angel in S3, but then nothing came of it because S4 happened.
There were a few episodes that could have been changed such as; 1. Dawn obsession with RJ episode waste of time especially when it was so much going on. We could have gotten a scene with the potentials of fighting a vampire or something.
There is a somewhat interesting story surrounding the writing of Selfless. Due to a confluence of various conflicts Goddard turned up to plan with the other writers his first ever episode to find he was the only one in the office. Fury was helping at Angel, Noxon was pregnant and not available (I think it was maternity leave), Espensen, Petrie, Rand Kirshna and Greenberg were all off writing their episodes (even though Greenberg's episode was ep 6, they started on that first) and Joss was directing Firefly. With no one available to consult Goddard called Whedon and met up with him whilst directing and sketched out the episode. Normally a new writer would have been given plenty of support, but not in this case, giving Goddard a real baptism by fire. The Anya song was not left over from 'Once more with feeling'. IIRC it was Goddard's idea to have another song, but Whedon wrote it (might be wrong on that, its been over 20 years). Goddard made his directorial debut with the Cabin in the Woods, which he co-wrote with Whedon, and featured Amy Acker and Tom Lenk. The Selfess tale also begs the question of who was actually running Buffy in the first half of the Season, which was actually pretty good and far better than the second half when both Whedon and Noxon were more available. Noxon's limited writing credits likely demonstrate that she was engaged much more behind the scenes than she had been in S6, at least after her Maternity leave. We see something similar with Jeffrey Bell in S5 of Angel, writing an episode and a half. Both were officially showrunners for the last two seasons of their respective series, but in reality they had help in their first season in control, Noxon from Whedon and Bell from Minear. Noxon's lack of credits likely indicates that she was too busy to take on writing duties herself. I don't think Nathan Fillion was hired to promote Firefly. The show was already cancelled before he was cast and Serenity was a pipe dream at that point in time. Instead it was a case of an actor that Whedon held in high regard and knew personally, being available due to Fireflies cancellation. Similar to Gina Torres and Adam Baldwin on Angel.
I agree that they screwed the character of Giles. Everything else? Eh, I actually thought Anya's song in "Selfless" was legendary. I loved those unique cuts. I can't imagine a Xander/Buffy romance, especially that late in the game. It would have felt incestuous, like Rachel & Joey on FRIENDS. Buffy actually left in "Empty Places", after issuing an ultimatum, something like: "I'm willing to talk strategies, but I can't stay here if you don't fight with me (at the vineyard)." Dawn said: "Then you can't stay.", and Buffy CHOSE to leave. It blows my mind that ppl view that through the lens of victimhood, including Buffy herself. Empty Places felt petty, but I kind of liked season 7. I think more than this TH-camr, lol, though he articulated some of the season 7 issues well, like Dawn in high school.
Crossbow MISS KITTY FANTASTICO!!! I have seen that episode 65438768 times AND HAD NEVER HEARD THAT LINE! I have for years always wondered what happened....now I finally know!
We don't actually know how the slayer line works by this point in the show. Yes, the line initially moved from Buffy to Kendra after Buffy's brief natural death in Season 1. Then from Kendra to Faith after her death. But since they say here that Buffy's mystical resurrection caused an imbalance which The First is taking advantage of, it would make sense if Willow's spell reinstated Buffy in the line, thereby guaranteeing there would always be 2 slayers. That's my head canon.
The first can make himself look like he's leaning against a counter as longas he doesn't touch someone nobody can tell if he's actually touching pressing against the counter. Same logic for walking on a floor. Lol great videos btw
Selfless is definitely one of my favorite episodes.... I actually quite like season 7 for the most part. I even like Him! I'm not totally certain, but it really seems like the song Anya sings in Selfless was a new addition (as opposed to something "left on the cutting room floor" from Once More With Feeling), because she definitely has a wig on during that scene.... I mean, unless they just completely reshot the scene specifically for Selfless..... Idk, I felt like it made sense, considering Anya's internal struggle, and feel like it worked in the context of her character's arc 🤷
I thought it was a wonderful addition to put in Anya's song. I doubt it was cut from the musical episode. It seemed very deliberate to me. The only thing I didn't like about the episode was her saying she just clung to whatever was there. Her arc up until that point didn't feel like that at all.
response to empty places there is exactly 1 time before season 7 when the gang experience heavy casualties and thats the fight with the mayor but that was never really brought up again. season 7 is the first time they have really had to deal with a lot of death not just 1 familiar face or a few associates none of which actually died directly to a failure of buffy. ms calender died as a result of her actions though not in any way she can really be blamed for. here is the first time her actions reault in death and we face the feelings that brings (again the deaths at the battle of the mayor for some reason are not treated with the same kind of gravity, could be the network change) i agree it would make even more sense if xander had died but everyones faith being shaken in buffy makes perfect sense to me, xander losing an eye after rhe vision of him killing anya after recieving a crippling injury helping buffy i think can justify his reaction here. also somewhere in my stream of consciousness reply here i was supposed to point out that she wants to do it again with NO GOOD PLAN. her plan is basically to sacrifice people until she succeeds and theres arent soldiers or even really people fighing to save the world, not yet. they are young people who just want to live. (the potentials that is)
it was way too late for me to watch this in one sitting lol but thoroughly enjoyed your analysis and agree with most of your points. tbh 7 to me had a bit of an awkward finality looming over it with the potentials and then especially at the end with Caleb, who's just obviously a means for an end (..the end) with no real depth to the character. I feel like this season had maybe the least "tight" writing, a lot of lines which didn't land and a lot of comparatively bland dialogue as well as some random almost out of character stuff (Giles). that said upon seeing them all revue, the vast majority of episodes were actually still quite solid and seeing all the arcs throughout this season again I am a pretty big fan of how they wrapped up all the story and character arcs and it's about as satisfying as I could have hoped for. it's without a doubt some of my favorite characters and arcs of any narrative artwork I've come across. the writing in this show is really something to behold. I don't think any other fictional narrative ever so effectively made me reflect so much on my own behaviour and relationships, all while being such a comfort food fun genre entertainment.
Okay so here's how i see it. The First doesn't fall through floors or anything, right? so since it's non-corporeal, it's used to just floating and knowing exactly where tangible things are, enough to give the APPEARANCE of walking/standing on solid ground. So, i think it would give a realistic impression of "leaning" on something, just as easily as it's giving a realistic impression of standing.
I just want to write that my name is Josh and i want to write that on October 1, 2022 the FUSE channel began airing reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer all seven days of the week. the FUSE channel won the syndication rights to all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. People who are lucky enough to have the FUSE channel can watch and DVR reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer seven days a week anytime they want to.
For me, when I think about season 7, what I remember most are speeches being made in the living room. It gets so out of balance with all these speeches and arguments trying to motivate a sluggish plot. Every time there’s movement there’s an equal amount of stalling and regression. The season refuses to consistently build in one direction, and instead ebbs and flows and second guesses itself. It makes it a blur and a bit of a slog. To me, the weakest season that isn’t season 1.
Buffy instantly jumping into killing Anya was a little extreme. She didn't even suggest trying to revert her back into a human/kill D'hoffryn (who is the one recruiting the Vengeance demons). Buffy let Angelus run around for 9 episodes and made everyone else let her be the one to face him. Xander deserved the same chance to come to terms with it (at least more than half an hour). ... In regards to Xander's lie getting brought up and so quickly dismissed. That's because Joss is firmly in the Xander made the right tactical call but handled the moment all wrong. Buffy knows Xander made the right call because when she tells him to escape with Dawn, it's because he's the only one that she can trust to always do what's right. Both Giles and Willow turned dark at least once (willingly without mental influence). She might hate his choices. but she knows Xander will do anything to keep his loved ones safe. Angelus was going to end the world in an hour. Anya is still just in the killing randoms stage and every Scooby has killed people (Xander has a body count around 4 humans).
I remember watching that argument as kid and thinking Xander was 100% right. Willow got a 2nd chance, Faith got a 2nd chance, everybody got a 2nd chance. But Anya? Nope, she's not important enough. After Willow committed murder and tried to destroy the world and got to be friends with everyone again, there is just to way to claim that what Buddy does is justice. She just kills and spares people depending how much she likes them.
Xander isn't right but Buffy doesn't have time to unpack it and the moment has passed. Joss may think Xander was right but that says more about him - he's wrong about a lot of stuff.
This is the weakest season even though it has great parts, spike shines over all the others, but all the other characters betraying Buffy ruins everything they’ve built over six years. Even though they have all betrayed her along the way really driving it home to push the Buffy is alone storyline seems pointless. Plus killing two characters in the last five minutes of the finale is literally such a disservice. I like that the end of sunnydale wraps things up for us and feels like closure but it would have been great to see the characters enjoy their peace for more than 51 seconds.
Andrew comes out as gay in the best comic season 10 and Xander's lying finally is actually called out when he decides he knows best at the end of the 9th season yet again and it bites him in the ass when it becomes clear that attitude, the lies he told and his blaming Buffy for everything almost destroys everything. He promptly does what he should have done years ago and starts seeing a therapist.
In regards to Jesse. I fully believe Xander was more pervy in Season 1(his outloud comments) because Jesse died (season 1 is 2-3 months). He was making the comments because Jesse couldn't and it was the only way he could keep Jesse alive since everyone else in Sunnydale seemed to forget he existed.
No one ever picks up on the fact that Spike did "not" go to get his soul back. Also the amount of times people say that one of the potentials will replace Buffy if and when she dies. This is not true as she has already been replaced by Kendra. The only way one of them will be the slayer, is if Faith dies. This is reinforced by season 6 start when they are fighting with buffy bot as there was no new slayer.
hol'up. What? They play it out to trick you into thinking Spike was intending to go get the chip out, but they're pretty clear after the "gotcha" that he went with the full intention and desire to get his soul back. When Buffy asks him why he would do that, he says something like: "What doesn't a man do ...for _her_ ? To be _hers_ " The last thing she'd said to him was, "Ask me again why i could never love you!" And when he left, what he'd meant by "so the Slayer can get what she deserves" was "a man who she CAN love."
@@JhadeSagrav It never says "a man who she can love". Just for the slayer to get what she deserves. Just after attempting to rape her and the tone in his voice are keyed for 1 thing and 1 thing alone, to get the chip out. The start of the trials he was told he used to be a legendary dog warrior and you let yourself be castrated. The whole point was that Spike wanted the chip out, went through all of the trials, then instead of getting what he wanted, he was given his soul instead. So everything about "What doesn't a man do ...for her ? To be hers ", is all lies and failure to follow the plot from the previous season.
@@waynestapleton1205 Bro, even Whedon confirmed that Spike left with the intention to get his soul back. It's on the DVD commentary in a scene from a comic-con, where he jokes that it's called a "plot twist". He uses air quotes bc he seems amused that ppl didn't catch on.
Oh, that's a cool idea. I remember playing through Chaos Bleeds on the Gamecube and I thought it was actually a good game; I liked how it controlled. Yeah, I can have a look at that and the original one on Xbox sometime; I'd like to revisit them, although my game reviewing skills might not be as worked out and strengthened as my television reviewing skills xD
@@episodicanalysis oh, extra personal request, if you review these can you talk about where the would fall in the cannon? Or if you think they can't fit in cannon.
We actually don't know if another 2 slayers got called when Buffy died in S5/6. Buffy died in S5 so the Council had no reason to tell Giles/the Scoobies anything (not like they did when Kendra/Faith got called anyway). Buffy revives and doesn't make any effort to get in contact with the council (they may not even know she's alive again for a few episodes). So another Slayer could have been called and the Council just never told anyone on the show. Same with when she flatlined when Warren shot her. Only a couple months later the Council blows up and the possible 4th active Slayer never had time to be found. Makes sense to kill every potential before you kill the 2(maybe 4) slayers.
I suppose. However since the Council were planning on heading to Sunnydale before they were killed, I assumed that if any other Slayers were around, that they would have been told. And if they were also killed in the explosion, it's possible more Slayers were called and then the whole thing starts to become complicated xD
@@episodicanalysis KISS/Occam's Razor. We have nothing/noone that says another Slayer is around and I'd imagine the First or Caleb would have used the knowledge of 1-2 more Slayers being around as a taunt to divide the team/make Scoobies leave town to go find them. I personally don't think a slayer was called when buffy died the other times. But it's not an impossibility or ever directly stated in canon that Buffy doesn't call new slayers. The Council was planning on going to Sunnydale. But they have a history of not revealing info on the phone and just surprising the team when they arrive(not like Giles called ahead either). Joss LOVES miscommunitation. I could even see this being the reason Caleb/The First don't kill Buffy. they killed the freshest Slayer and it just called a new one, so they targeted Potentials instead (and the Council so no one could find the.). If Giles died in England, the Scoobies really would have been out of luck on any kind of information. They already exhausted Sunnydale's info on the First in S3 and it was barebones. Caleb could have spent the next year or two killing every single potential. ... Side note. Faith was stabbed in the gut in S3 and in a coma for months. That kind of condition would usually involve at least a couple ressucitations/flat lines. Faith may not even be the "true" Slayer anymore and this 3rd slayer died with the council.
I always assumed the girl we saw in the first opening of S7 was the slayer called in S5 and they killed her before anyone knew anything about her maybe.
@@benjamintriplett3 That's a really good point. She was definitly moving on above human levels. She could have been found by the council and trained. Or she could have been missed the entire time. My new head cannon is that she was the 4th slayer called.
Buffy was right about a weapon being at the vineyard. But she had absolutly no plan and choosing to return after the defeat was stupid. She had never actually lead untrained/powered people and even the Initiative soldiers couldn't keep up. So she shouldn't have been leading the potentials. Either Xander (who led the students at grad), Riley should have been asked to stay and train them, or Wood should have been given leadership (since he was actually a principal.)
Wow, that's a hot take! I agree that Buffy acted irrationally when it came to the Potentials; but she did have the most experience in leadership. I think she should have been far more open to what the rest of the gang had to say rather than immediately taking the burden on all by herself.
@@episodicanalysisI feel it's only a hot take because it's so middle of the road. I put most blame on the First and the over active Hellmouth and not nearly as much on any of the Scoobies/Buffy/Potentials. Giles is really the only person in S7 I dislike and it's because he was supposed to have been killed off and the first. Most fans either are all in on kicking Buffy out/knocking her ego down a peg or the otherside is hating all the Scoobies/Potentials. I think Buffy should have been in a joint leadership with Xander, Giles(Prefer Giles actually died and Wood was the 4th leader), and Willow. Xander had the best stradegies, Willow was the magical powerhouse, Giles had the research memorized, and Buffy had the best tactics. Buffy was only ever Squad leader in a battle, in charge of the core Scoobies (who knew how to react) and the few times with the Initiative (which showed how far above "normies" Buffy didn't even realize she was by this point.). She rarely ever actually led the team in combat and everyone just did what they wanted. Buffy didn't understand how to relate to the Potentials anymore and expected them to be as commited as she was.th-cam.com/video/APFMvzH1WEE/w-d-xo.html
@@kyleellis1825 Having Wood act more as a leader might explain his presence more in the last season, because he does get a lot of focus but ultimately doesn't do much. I agree most fans are on either side of the argument, and while I can see the argument from both sides and why they do it, I find myself leaning towards Buffy than the others, simply because of how much she'd already proven herself up to that point and even died for the cause (twice). The gang act like she's never done any of this and hasn't led them through countless apocalypses. Yeah, she made a big mistake, but I don't agree with the decision to kick her out of the house completely (and apparently neither did they as they start looking for her again after about two episodes).
@@episodicanalysis I agree. Wood needed something to do if he was sticking around. Why introduce a Principal and not have all the potentials go to his school? For me, the arguement is about what was planned. The plan was clearly to remove Buffy from leadership not kick her out. Dawn was the one who made that call last second. Dawn should get the kick out blame, everyone else should just get "handled it poorly" blame. The rest of the Scoobies needed to stick with Dawn's choice that night. But no way was it something they would let stand for more than a couple days. It wasn't just "get out Buffy, never come back". ... Buffy didn't actually lead them through most of the early Apocalypses. She was present but not actually making all the plans, she just had Veto power over whatever the team decided. She was field leader, but not planning how they overall fought evil until the end of S3. She actually has very little experience leading people. She's more of a lead by example than actually lead with words and the Initiave scenes show she doesn't know how to work with "normies." Nothing had happened in the show that suddenly elevated Buffy above the core Scoobies (as team leader). It was a behind the scenes decision done purely for feminsm reasons. Joss and Marti both admit they should have had Xander/Wood/Giles being tactical lead but it would have ruined the Female empowerment theme of the final season.
@@kyleellis1825 Ah that last point makes sense; I suppose since the show is called Buffy that having her being the leader doesn't seem like a new idea despite how long the show had run for up to that point. It's an interesting take on the "Empty Places" situation, although I would still argue that after Dawn tells her to get out, no one speaks up. They all seem to think they can lead the Potentials into battle with the First better than Buffy could, and since they stick Faith in charge, it seems their problem isn't that there's someone in charge, but more that Buffy is in charge.
I feel like they had planned another season. But since Sarah was done with the show, they had to Scramble to come up with an ending. They introduced so much in the last two or three episodes that never really got a definite answer to. Which I wish they had answered.
Overall, an amazing show. Flawed, sure, but still holds up fine, and is miles ahead of most current TV. Comparing it with the many clones/inspired by... none comes close... maybe Supernatural... Comparing it with the current big shows? Rings of Power? All the Disney SW/MCU crap? No contest. Considering the challenges it faced, the time in wich it was made where TV was not taken as seriously as now... It was a miracle. It's impact is comparable to giants, like X-files, Lost or Star trek... (unfortunately, as with the other examples, not for the better some times... the whedon style works for some stuff and when done right... but i'm tired of seen it everywhere everytime..)
I said I would comment when you came out with this video and I actually remembered! Xander was supposed to be in a relationship 2 seperate times (season 1 and 7). But if Xander and Buffy dated in S7, he was going to be killed by Caleb instead of blinded. The choice to keep him alive was purely because Buffy couldn't smile at the end of the series (in a hopeful way) if Xander was dead (same reason they decided to not have Willow ascend/die when she cast the awakening of potentials and became the new Slayer Spirit. Finally letting Sineya rest in peace. And Giles was supposed to have been killed early on and actually have been the First. They changed that one so last minute, they had the epiode about him not touching people to fix. Buffy was supposed to end the series alone but with Willow/Xander/Giles essentially now all part of the Slayer/Buffy like in the finale to S4. The Scythe would have absorbed Giles into the Slayer giving Watcher wisdom and Willow would have used her ascension spell to free Xander's soul from the Hellmouth/First. It was the S7 plan the writers had but they changed it after the S6 reaction to how dark it was.
Wow, I can see why they changed it; I seriously don't think I would have enjoyed that ending. Say what you will about the "Empty Places" saga but I'd take that in a heartbeat over this original plan.
@@episodicanalysis Not so much Original plan as ONE of the original plans that got melded into what the other writers had come up with. I can't remember if it was Joss who got talked out of it or if he was the one who talked Marti out of it. It never got farther than rough draft ideas and episode outlines though before being dissected for juicy bits of story(which you can see the bones of still in the show). It's actually the comment in the directors commentary that got me to discover fanfiction. Joss saying the show could have ended a few different ways and all of the main writers ended up compromising (they all pretty much got 1-2 things). That is what made me realize stories could end different ways and I didn't have to keep the what if's in my head anymore.
I know people dislike Kennedy. But for me, she was just Willow's Spike. Buffy, Willow, Xander all get the fairytail romance first (Angel/Oz/Cordelia). Then they get the healthy one about growing into a proper person (Riley/Tara/Anya). Then we go into the pure passion/physical romance (Spike, Kennedy, Anya after the seperation) Kennedy was training the Potentials because she was raised aware of the council/her status. She was good enough to teach them the drills before Buffy worked on individual skills.
In regards to Kennedy and Willow's relationship, I find it quite interesting that Willow gets a taste of her own medicine. At points with Tara, Willow could be really controlling and it caused Tara to leave her for that short period of time. Kennedy begins telling Willow what she should be thinking and doing in the later half of the season for things that really aren't any of her business. I actually liked Kennedy a lot more on this watch than the previous few, and although she had the most combat experience to train the Potentials, just watching her doing it shows that her experience didn't translate very well into teaching.
@@episodicanalysis I know I said Rona was my favourite Potential. But honestly, I think I liked all of them. True. I think Kennedy was more running the practice routine than she was actually training. It felt like training they did everyday and this time Kennedy was filling in (more like a spin class coach). And 100%. Kennedy had her own experience but it didn't translate to teaching. Same with Buffy and I feel Kennedy was the S7 mirror of her. Kennedy is basically Buffy is Joyce/Hank got approached by the Council while Buffy was in Hemory and let in on the whole shebang. Or maybe a cross between Faith's personality and how Kendra was raised.
1:06 not strictly true …….. Faith, Willow, Cordelia, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, Andrew, Spike, Darla, Drusilla, Oz and Harmony have all starred in both Angel and Buffy at some point.
I was referring to that particular season of the show, and specifically main cast members. Only Angel appears on Buffy in S7, and only Willow appears on Angel in S4.
@@episodicanalysis fair enough you have me there but you didn’t make that clear in your content, however, there IS one VERY IMPORTANT cast member who was in both season 4 of Angel and the last 5 episodes of Buffy and the very reason for Willow being in Angel in the first place …….. FAITH (The OTHER Slayer)
@@Serenity-Skye Again, I was referring to "main cast members" which is actors that appear in the opening credits of a show, under the "starring" mantle. Faith was a recurring character through S3 and S7 of Buffy, making guest appearances throughout S4 of Buffy and S1 & S2 of Angel. Eliza Dushku was never exclusively contracted to either show, and therefore, the writers used her as a way to crossover the two shows without having to spend a lot of money on other main cast actors of either show. Plus, the WB were notoriously frugal with the money they spent on their shows at the time.
@@episodicanalysis it just goes to show that when you sit and break something down fully you (as in the general public) discover that there is more to something than you first thought! Take our ‘conversation’ for example - these comments that I have typed have shown ME that I never realised just how many Buffy cast members (main, recurring and guest) have actually made an appearance in Angel at sometime - please don’t think I was being critical or nasty with my comments I WASN’T I just thought that if I thought that then others would and I felt that by sparking this brief conversation with you it would be much easier to bring that realisation into peoples minds. Although I have never commented in the past I do watch and enjoy your content when I get a chance
@@Serenity-Skye Oh, don't worry about it. I've had my fair share of nasty comments, I'm completely aware that yours was not one of them. I do appreciate the support though, and thanks for letting me clear that up :)
PLEASE! Slow down, or if not, annunciation. Like your voice but hate having to rewind and squint. Maybe it's the volume? Anyway, thanks for the video and your perspective
I must say, I've seen all the videos you've made regarding Buffy, but dear man, your understanding of human nature needs improvement. Most people are not heroes, quite the opposite. Their memory is so short and the desire for self-preservation often overshadows logic.
The "Buffy kicked out" scene. Technically Buffy was only removed from command and she couldn't accept that, forcing the unplanned kicking out. Because that part was clearly a last second change to the plan. Another thing about that scene, is that on several occasions we have been told the Hellmouth is leaing negative energies and this year it's worse than ever. So considering everyone else in town actually evacuated, we should cut everyone some slack and realize they had all been influenced into the heated emotions. Buffy basically mocked a girl's suicide. She was just as influenced by the First and it was giving her massive tunnel vision. We know all sides realize they are wrong based on the resolution. Buffy returns and is instantly in charge again. This shows the Scoobies/Potentials had underestimated the difficulty of leading. Buffy changed how she was acting, which shows she heard the points being made during her kicked out scene. Edit: It's better for the algorithm if my comments are seperate, right?
Yeah, I guess that's a fair conclusion to draw, although I don't really remember any of the gang having negative energy on the Hellmouth when it was being opened previously. Maybe it was the First's influence that caused it to have more of an effect? I always did find that scene where Buffy mocks the Potential's suicide strange, and that does seem like the only proper explanation for it, but because they never really explain that outright and just expect you to understand why they kick her out, I see it more as lazy writing regardless.
@@episodicanalysis I just have gotten frustrated over the years at people ignoring the nuance in the scene to just get mad at the Scoobies or Buffy. You did a good job at examing the overall scene and didn't just blame people wily nilly. The only other times the Hellmouth was opened(or really even messed with directly), was The Master in S1(He's an Old One fanatic and his whole bloodline was about bringing back the Old Ones), Sisterhood of Jhe in Season 3, and the S4 time when they go back to the Highschool(which is main the time it's directly stated the Hellmouth effects people). ... The only time I just flat out disagreed with you about an opinion this video and can't see what you mean, is Rona. She was always my favourite Potential (Kennedy seemed more whiney than Rona's wary caution from living on the streets.). It felt like Rona was legit used to looking after herself and was insulted at now being babysat.
@@episodicanalysis Buffy mocking the Suicide was such a reversal from how she acted with jonathan in Season 3, that it had to have been the Hellmouth affecting her. The other thing is, The First was able to spend enough time in the house to convince the girl to kill herself and no one noticed. That's days of effort at the very least and no one noticed. How many times was the First pretending to be someone who was in the bathroom? The First was messing with everyone for the entire second half of the season. How often did he pretend to be Kennedy and pop her head into a room to make a snide comment undercutting Buffy? How often did he pretend to Buffy acting even meaner than she was legit acting? it's the only logical explanation for why everyone is suddenly so irrational after 6 seasons of handling apocalypses. The Hellmouth and the First are both in overdrive and I just don't think it's fair to fully hate on the dozen or so humans capable of not fleeing for the hills because the sense of evil/foreboding was finally to great (remember, no one evactuated for any other apocalypse).
@@kyleellis1825 I always do my best to try and justify any decision made by a character, no matter how strange or unnecessary. Rona was just a character I was fed up with; she seemed to think she knew better and didn't want to put in the time or work to save the world. I can understand why she didn't want to, as she didn't want to die, but, to me, it just seemed a tad unnecessary.
I'm not alone! This seemed OBVIOUS to me. Xander was missing an eye ffs! The whole episode seemed like petty filler. I skip it every rewatch. (I actually don't mind "Him" and remember finding the ending lol funny on first viewing.)
Instead of getting angry at the reviewer, you should be angry with the writers. They're the ones who did a horrible job writing the first black slayer. They should have gave her a better character.
@@x-man9473 Re-read his comment. Rona wasn't the first black slayer on the show. She's the 4th. Sineya's been dead for thousands of years, Nikki Wood is murdered by Spike, Kendra Young gets murdered by Drusilla. None of them are fleshed out or written well. Most of the black characters on this show are walking stereotypes or are dead within a few episodes. Ultimately unsurprising given the fact that the show's entire writing staff was white.
@@Ilikefrogs.. Like I said. If he has a problem, he should take that up with the writers. They're the ones who did a horrible job writing the black characters. Instead, the commenter got angry at the reviewer for not liking Rona.
He sexually harassed Michelle Trachenberg who was a minor. He abused his position to exhaust charisma carpenter when she was heavily pregnant forcing her to reshoot perfectly well shot scenes at 1 in the morning. He had multiple affairs on set with junior actresses abusing his power. Many have supported the claims about him.
Insult a pregnant woman and try to her miscarry and then fired her. Traumatise a teenager so badly he wasn't allowed to be left alone with her. Then there's bullying a black guy. You asked.
I have a couple of thoughts about Faith this season. Perhaps Wesley should have been brought to the series with her. Especially at the end of season 4 of Angel, he had a small role. And in contrast to Buffy and Giles' relationship, Faith and Wesley's interaction could play the role of reflection quite well. Perhaps Buffy's characters were somewhat helped to clear their minds by the understanding that those whom they knew as a spineless arrogant and a psychotic killer could work normally with each other.
![ฮักเทื่อสุดท้าย - บอย ศิริชัย [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1PoPoQ-B-k/mqdefault.jpg)
James Marsters carried so much of this season to a degree he doesn’t really get credit for. However good he ever was before this, his acting transcends the rest of the cast here.
The first time I watched "Buffy", during its first run, and at my nephew's insistence, I laid eyes on Marsters and said to my nephew: "That's a stage actor", and I meant it to be taken in the best way: he has a way of listening to his scene partner and energizing things so that his partner and the scene are lifted. I can see this especially in scenes between Marsters and Brendon, who has some of his best interactions with Marsters.
A couple of other actors who have this gift are Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson, both featured in "Lost". When they had scenes together it was dynamite.
@@melenatorr That's a great point actually. Nicholas Brendon and James Marsters bounce off each other so well it's noticeable in Season 4 but also for the rest of the series. They bring out great comedic timing in each other.
Well he did get a lot more attention this season than any of the scoobies...don't get me wrong, Masters is amazing, but it's part of what makes me uneasy about this season that it's not treated as much of an ensemble anymore.
@@Katiewithdaffodils Yeah good point when I compare it to Angel's last season for example, every character got a strong moment. Fred is head of the science lab, Gunn becomes super lawyer, Lorne gets his sleep removed. Buffy S7 is Buffy and Spike vs the World. Xander, Will and Giles are the characters that suffer the most from lack of focus. Love Scoobies just wanted some solid scooby episodes.
He did so in every scene he was in, with every other actor. Masters effortlessly chews the scenery even when just standing in the background.
the flashback to Anya's previously unseen song, cut to her stabbed was brilliant and sad. It shows how horribly wrong her life went. How she tried to define her identity from her relationship and she felt this rush of happiness (hence singing), and it reminds us how deeply she and her relationship with Xander have been embedded in the show for years. but that abruptly we are confronted with the fact that it didn't work. She could not define herself from her relationship, it did not make her happy long term, now that part of her that had hope has died.
Yes! I always loved the abrupt change between the song and reality. That was the whole point of the song to show the contrast between happiness and absolute misery
I'm surprised you didn't mention the connection of "Cassie" being short for Cassandra the Greek Prophetess that had visions of the future no one believed!!! But LOVE your work!!!
I love Season 7 of Buffy. Conversations With Dead People and Chosen are Top 10 all time episodes for me.
The cutaway to Flutie’s death scene with the over the top sentimental music was a stroke of genius! Made me laugh so hard. Nice one! These are awesome analysis videos by the way. I’m really enjoying them. Finally someone is giving Passion of the Nerd some competition! 🥰
Spikes scene in beneath you is just breath taking...
Absolutely! It’s got to be in my top 10 scenes of the entire show, without a doubt.
@@episodicanalysis would you be able to do a more in depth analysis on certain scenes, like that one, as these videos tend to rush them a tad and It would be nice to hear your indepth thoughts!
@@lucymay446 Definitely, at some point in the future I would like to try and make some videos on my top favourite scenes or episodes, which can give me more time to talk about them without making the video 3 hours long xD
@@episodicanalysis sounds great can't wait!
Couldn’t agree with you more regarding Giles. They did him dirty in this season
I always assumed Dawn, Kit and Carlos were going to be " The Scoobies" of the next generation. If we had gotten another season but I think they knew this was going to be the last season so that's why they didn't plan on bringing those two characters back.
With Connor showing up as the Angel? Since wasn't he looking for colleges and Sunnydale U is super cheap?
@@kyleellis1825 I honestly always shipped Connor and Dawn.
The flashback to Anya’s song makes the scene so much darker. I actually loved it.
Why youu only have 214 Subs is baffling to me, you deserve much more! Binged it, awesome Videos!
Thank you so much! I'm honestly surprised I even got 214 in the first place, but I'm glad people like listening to me talk about this silly show for hours on end. It means a lot.
My issue with this was similar with Giles and most of the characters acting inconsistently and the ending feeling rushed and inconclusive and your explanation of the ending does help with understanding it and getting more closure. I do have an issue with the fact the Giles does say that there's another Hell mouth in Cleveland though cause to me that's what made it really feel like it wasn't over.
being that i LIVE IN CLEVELAND (the ohio one), you have no idea how loud my laughter was at that scene.
To be fair, the Cleveland line was an allusion to a previous joke from the season 3 episode The Wish (when Giles is trying to convince Buffy's watcher to send her to Sunnydale, he says something to the effect of "Yes, I'm aware there's a lot of demonic activity in Cleveland!")
@@padawansound6423 I know it just bugged me because their story clearly wasn't finished as they just unleashed like a million nukes into the public and didn't even shut down the evil that would be going after them
I have always wondered how did Tara’s mother die? I think that since her mom was also a witch, that maybe she got lost in the majic like Willow and it consumed her until she died from her use of dark magic? That would explain why she was so outraged at Willow using magic to close the curtains Iand other mundane things, becoming more and more critical of Willows use of magic. for everything. The story line of Tara’ mother’s death never comes to a close in the future episodes, at least not that I saw. It might also explain Tara’s family thinking that she had Demon in her, also a way to control t the women in the family. I like the character of Tara, she was sweet and kind. But she had compassion for everyone. without judgment. I was disappointed that she died.
oh i really like that idea! It gives a real, gut-wrenching reason for Tara's concern for Willow.
Okay, i'm taking that as canon now. THANKS!
That would give a legitimate reason for her Dad and Brother thinking she was a demon though. It kind of undoes Tara's earlier focus episode.
That would.make so much sense
@@kyleellis1825I think (I could be wrong) that Tara says her mom died when Tara "was little" or something, so depending on how young she was, it was actually make even more sens, psychologically speaking, that she wouldn't have necessarily seen the darkness or "demon" in her Mom until she starts to see Willow go down that same path and makes the connection. Does that make sense?
@@J_Mock92 Tara's mom dies when she's 17.
Anya did die saving his life she killed the bringer about to kill him.
Finding out the actress who played Walsh left early and how many actors all seemed to have full schedules, really makes me think it was a warning sign on working condition. Anyone proffesional/established seems to have wanted nothing to do with the franchise once escaping.
I thought the cut from anya singing to her stabbed through the heart to be on par with the heartwrenching deaths of Angel and Tara. Perhaps this is just me but in such a melodramatic world (fights! Fashion! Comedy!) once singing is introduced it isn't surprising or jarring to be introduced again. If you can 'buy in' to SMG beating up a troll demon, I don't think it is that crazy to find musical cutaways that out of line - especially since it juxtaposes high highs and low lows in a way speaking never really could
In terms of Jonathon being the one who deserved to join the gang. Yes, but Andrew is the one who makes for a better story. Jonathon had already completed his character arc, it's precisely because Andrew did NOT deserve to join the gang that he's a better option story-wise. Andrew is still flawed and incomplete, there are more stories left to tell about him.
Not a favourite for me, I only place season 6 ahead of this in terms of bad seasons. It felt like they were trying to do too much too soon with too little time. Whilst the performances were good, you can also see that they were all ready to move on, especially Sarah.
One view I have always had about white haired Willow. I have always seen it as her tapping into the purity of magic and perhaps Tara being there and helping her, hence the oh my goddess line she says. Now I accept I have absolutely no proof of that but its a nice image I have.
I do actually think Amber was spot on in not wanting to return. As recent events seem to show, Joss was not trustworthy at all and I am glad she didn't go back. It would have been nice to see Tara as a character again, but it would seem the price of that was one Amber wasn't prepared to pay and that makes her go way up in my estimations.
Adding a comment for the algorithm:
Re: How some ppl want Dawn's creation spell to be responsible for Joyce's/Re: Anya's quick death
I actually like Whedon's quotes about not accepting those head canons. Whedon lost his own mom in a car crash when he was in his 20s, and wrote the emotional beats of "The Body" to reflect the horrors of irl grief. I think that was WHY he wanted to write a quick and brutal death for Anya. People want STILL want to head canon a (mystical) reason WHY Joyce died and I think this was him saying: No. This is death, and it's sudden and real and I want ppl to prepare. Don't slip into fantasy bc when it happens, you don't have that luxury. Most of us can accept that, especially if we're older and have lost someone other than a Grandparent. Some folks just have trouble with reality.🤷♀️
I will never get over the TRAVESTY that is Empty Places. Were it not for significant plot points being in it, I would argue that it not even be included in the canon. I'd erase it from the box set (if it wouldn't be damn confusing to leave it out.) Seriously, it is just NOT BELIEVABLE that so many characters would turn on Buffy. Damn. I'm still upset about that episode (apparently). 😡
Nah, you're not the only one who's still pissed about that episode. They took Buffy for granted, she was training those girls from the beginning, teaching them how to fight, and hone their instincts, and doing all this while she was off slaying demons.
She had no rest which was why that first Turok-Han vamp beat her ass those few times. On top of all that she told them time and time again that Caleb had something of hers but they didn't want to believe her. Without that scythe weapon they would all be dead.
Oh and Giles was part of the problem smh big time.
I'm just mad that if it HAD to happen, what would have made more sense is if the First had been posing as Buffy and trying to subtly tear everyone down previous to this. They'd have much more incentive to kick her out, and tbh it's literally so stupid of the First not to try this at any point when it can literally look like Buffy
Season Ranks:
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You can swap 6&4, but it was clear when they switched channels in season 6 that the show took a downturn. Season 7 was a step back up, although they should’ve done the potential to slayer thing earlier, Caleb should’ve been introduced earlier and more supervamps should’ve broken out of the seal on the first go round.
Excuse me Wesley is your favourite Buffy character!!!! Is all I took away from this (very well made, thank you) video. :P
I think the reason Spike remembers everything after biting Buffy is because he loves her. Slayer blood has always been insinuated (if not explicitly stated) to have mystical properties of an undefined nature, but even if that doesnt have anything to do with it, i feel like the "intimacy" he'd feel while biting her could/would have triggered something in his soul and "snapped him back to reality," for lack of a better phrase... Thats my headcanon at least lol
When did spike bite Buffy?
1:04:50 though Faith and Dawn never actually met, they both have memories as if they did, just like with all the other characters. We know that Dawn has memories of Angel, and I suppose he has memories of her as well.
I like to think that Cordelia would have been a Potential/Slayer if she hadn've been sacked... I mean killed off.
That would have been interesting to see! She was a bit busy with the visions and stuff, when she was alive on Angel. It looked like we were going to get a more action-based Cordy when she began training with Angel in S3, but then nothing came of it because S4 happened.
There were a few episodes that could have been changed such as; 1. Dawn obsession with RJ episode waste of time especially when it was so much going on. We could have gotten a scene with the potentials of fighting a vampire or something.
There is a somewhat interesting story surrounding the writing of Selfless. Due to a confluence of various conflicts Goddard turned up to plan with the other writers his first ever episode to find he was the only one in the office. Fury was helping at Angel, Noxon was pregnant and not available (I think it was maternity leave), Espensen, Petrie, Rand Kirshna and Greenberg were all off writing their episodes (even though Greenberg's episode was ep 6, they started on that first) and Joss was directing Firefly. With no one available to consult Goddard called Whedon and met up with him whilst directing and sketched out the episode. Normally a new writer would have been given plenty of support, but not in this case, giving Goddard a real baptism by fire. The Anya song was not left over from 'Once more with feeling'. IIRC it was Goddard's idea to have another song, but Whedon wrote it (might be wrong on that, its been over 20 years). Goddard made his directorial debut with the Cabin in the Woods, which he co-wrote with Whedon, and featured Amy Acker and Tom Lenk.
The Selfess tale also begs the question of who was actually running Buffy in the first half of the Season, which was actually pretty good and far better than the second half when both Whedon and Noxon were more available. Noxon's limited writing credits likely demonstrate that she was engaged much more behind the scenes than she had been in S6, at least after her Maternity leave. We see something similar with Jeffrey Bell in S5 of Angel, writing an episode and a half. Both were officially showrunners for the last two seasons of their respective series, but in reality they had help in their first season in control, Noxon from Whedon and Bell from Minear. Noxon's lack of credits likely indicates that she was too busy to take on writing duties herself.
I don't think Nathan Fillion was hired to promote Firefly. The show was already cancelled before he was cast and Serenity was a pipe dream at that point in time. Instead it was a case of an actor that Whedon held in high regard and knew personally, being available due to Fireflies cancellation. Similar to Gina Torres and Adam Baldwin on Angel.
I agree that they screwed the character of Giles. Everything else? Eh, I actually thought Anya's song in "Selfless" was legendary. I loved those unique cuts. I can't imagine a Xander/Buffy romance, especially that late in the game. It would have felt incestuous, like Rachel & Joey on FRIENDS. Buffy actually left in "Empty Places", after issuing an ultimatum, something like: "I'm willing to talk strategies, but I can't stay here if you don't fight with me (at the vineyard)." Dawn said: "Then you can't stay.", and Buffy CHOSE to leave. It blows my mind that ppl view that through the lens of victimhood, including Buffy herself. Empty Places felt petty, but I kind of liked season 7. I think more than this TH-camr, lol, though he articulated some of the season 7 issues well, like Dawn in high school.
Crossbow MISS KITTY FANTASTICO!!! I have seen that episode 65438768 times AND HAD NEVER HEARD THAT LINE! I have for years always wondered what happened....now I finally know!
We don't actually know how the slayer line works by this point in the show. Yes, the line initially moved from Buffy to Kendra after Buffy's brief natural death in Season 1. Then from Kendra to Faith after her death. But since they say here that Buffy's mystical resurrection caused an imbalance which The First is taking advantage of, it would make sense if Willow's spell reinstated Buffy in the line, thereby guaranteeing there would always be 2 slayers. That's my head canon.
The first can make himself look like he's leaning against a counter as longas he doesn't touch someone nobody can tell if he's actually touching pressing against the counter. Same logic for walking on a floor. Lol great videos btw
Thank you for these! And this is your funniest commentary yet 😅
No problem, I appreciate the compliment :)
Selfless is definitely one of my favorite episodes.... I actually quite like season 7 for the most part. I even like Him! I'm not totally certain, but it really seems like the song Anya sings in Selfless was a new addition (as opposed to something "left on the cutting room floor" from Once More With Feeling), because she definitely has a wig on during that scene.... I mean, unless they just completely reshot the scene specifically for Selfless..... Idk, I felt like it made sense, considering Anya's internal struggle, and feel like it worked in the context of her character's arc 🤷
I thought it was a wonderful addition to put in Anya's song. I doubt it was cut from the musical episode. It seemed very deliberate to me. The only thing I didn't like about the episode was her saying she just clung to whatever was there. Her arc up until that point didn't feel like that at all.
I loved gnarl and his little songs. He would’ve made good asmr
response to empty places
there is exactly 1 time before season 7 when the gang experience heavy casualties and thats the fight with the mayor but that was never really brought up again.
season 7 is the first time they have really had to deal with a lot of death not just 1 familiar face or a few associates none of which actually died directly to a failure of buffy. ms calender died as a result of her actions though not in any way she can really be blamed for.
here is the first time her actions reault in death and we face the feelings that brings (again the deaths at the battle of the mayor for some reason are not treated with the same kind of gravity, could be the network change)
i agree it would make even more sense if xander had died but everyones faith being shaken in buffy makes perfect sense to me, xander losing an eye after rhe vision of him killing anya after recieving a crippling injury helping buffy i think can justify his reaction here.
also somewhere in my stream of consciousness reply here i was supposed to point out that she wants to do it again with NO GOOD PLAN. her plan is basically to sacrifice people until she succeeds and theres arent soldiers or even really people fighing to save the world, not yet. they are young people who just want to live. (the potentials that is)
it was way too late for me to watch this in one sitting lol but thoroughly enjoyed your analysis and agree with most of your points. tbh 7 to me had a bit of an awkward finality looming over it with the potentials and then especially at the end with Caleb, who's just obviously a means for an end (..the end) with no real depth to the character. I feel like this season had maybe the least "tight" writing, a lot of lines which didn't land and a lot of comparatively bland dialogue as well as some random almost out of character stuff (Giles). that said upon seeing them all revue, the vast majority of episodes were actually still quite solid and seeing all the arcs throughout this season again I am a pretty big fan of how they wrapped up all the story and character arcs and it's about as satisfying as I could have hoped for.
it's without a doubt some of my favorite characters and arcs of any narrative artwork I've come across. the writing in this show is really something to behold. I don't think any other fictional narrative ever so effectively made me reflect so much on my own behaviour and relationships, all while being such a comfort food fun genre entertainment.
And Cassie as the first also touched the table at the end of conversations with dead people! 😮
Okay so here's how i see it.
The First doesn't fall through floors or anything, right? so since it's non-corporeal, it's used to just floating and knowing exactly where tangible things are, enough to give the APPEARANCE of walking/standing on solid ground. So, i think it would give a realistic impression of "leaning" on something, just as easily as it's giving a realistic impression of standing.
I just want to write that my name is Josh and i want to write that on October 1, 2022 the FUSE channel began airing reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer all seven days of the week. the FUSE channel won the syndication rights to all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. People who are lucky enough to have the FUSE channel can watch and DVR reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer seven days a week anytime they want to.
Bro will not let Dawn catch a break but will let her catch these hands
For me, when I think about season 7, what I remember most are speeches being made in the living room. It gets so out of balance with all these speeches and arguments trying to motivate a sluggish plot. Every time there’s movement there’s an equal amount of stalling and regression. The season refuses to consistently build in one direction, and instead ebbs and flows and second guesses itself. It makes it a blur and a bit of a slog. To me, the weakest season that isn’t season 1.
Buffy instantly jumping into killing Anya was a little extreme. She didn't even suggest trying to revert her back into a human/kill D'hoffryn (who is the one recruiting the Vengeance demons).
Buffy let Angelus run around for 9 episodes and made everyone else let her be the one to face him. Xander deserved the same chance to come to terms with it (at least more than half an hour).
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In regards to Xander's lie getting brought up and so quickly dismissed. That's because Joss is firmly in the Xander made the right tactical call but handled the moment all wrong. Buffy knows Xander made the right call because when she tells him to escape with Dawn, it's because he's the only one that she can trust to always do what's right. Both Giles and Willow turned dark at least once (willingly without mental influence).
She might hate his choices. but she knows Xander will do anything to keep his loved ones safe.
Angelus was going to end the world in an hour. Anya is still just in the killing randoms stage and every Scooby has killed people (Xander has a body count around 4 humans).
I've been thinking that it was maybe Buffy's way of letting her hurt, jealousy over Spike and Anya hooking up in S6 come out.
@@benjamintriplett3 That really just makes her stopping Xander from killing Spike seem worse on her part. "Only I can kill for revenge/envy"
I remember watching that argument as kid and thinking Xander was 100% right. Willow got a 2nd chance, Faith got a 2nd chance, everybody got a 2nd chance. But Anya? Nope, she's not important enough.
After Willow committed murder and tried to destroy the world and got to be friends with everyone again, there is just to way to claim that what Buddy does is justice. She just kills and spares people depending how much she likes them.
Xander isn't right but Buffy doesn't have time to unpack it and the moment has passed. Joss may think Xander was right but that says more about him - he's wrong about a lot of stuff.
This is the weakest season even though it has great parts, spike shines over all the others, but all the other characters betraying Buffy ruins everything they’ve built over six years. Even though they have all betrayed her along the way really driving it home to push the Buffy is alone storyline seems pointless. Plus killing two characters in the last five minutes of the finale is literally such a disservice. I like that the end of sunnydale wraps things up for us and feels like closure but it would have been great to see the characters enjoy their peace for more than 51 seconds.
The episode with Cassie definitely broke me 🥺😞
Andrew comes out as gay in the best comic season 10 and Xander's lying finally is actually called out when he decides he knows best at the end of the 9th season yet again and it bites him in the ass when it becomes clear that attitude, the lies he told and his blaming Buffy for everything almost destroys everything. He promptly does what he should have done years ago and starts seeing a therapist.
The SMG approaching the show runners for a Buffy/Xander romance is bs. NB said it she's contradicted it.
In regards to Jesse. I fully believe Xander was more pervy in Season 1(his outloud comments) because Jesse died (season 1 is 2-3 months). He was making the comments because Jesse couldn't and it was the only way he could keep Jesse alive since everyone else in Sunnydale seemed to forget he existed.
No one ever picks up on the fact that Spike did "not" go to get his soul back. Also the amount of times people say that one of the potentials will replace Buffy if and when she dies. This is not true as she has already been replaced by Kendra. The only way one of them will be the slayer, is if Faith dies. This is reinforced by season 6 start when they are fighting with buffy bot as there was no new slayer.
hol'up. What?
They play it out to trick you into thinking Spike was intending to go get the chip out, but they're pretty clear after the "gotcha" that he went with the full intention and desire to get his soul back.
When Buffy asks him why he would do that, he says something like:
"What doesn't a man do ...for _her_ ? To be _hers_ "
The last thing she'd said to him was, "Ask me again why i could never love you!" And when he left, what he'd meant by "so the Slayer can get what she deserves" was "a man who she CAN love."
@@JhadeSagrav It never says "a man who she can love". Just for the slayer to get what she deserves. Just after attempting to rape her and the tone in his voice are keyed for 1 thing and 1 thing alone, to get the chip out. The start of the trials he was told he used to be a legendary dog warrior and you let yourself be castrated. The whole point was that Spike wanted the chip out, went through all of the trials, then instead of getting what he wanted, he was given his soul instead. So everything about "What doesn't a man do ...for her ? To be hers ", is all lies and failure to follow the plot from the previous season.
@@waynestapleton1205
Bro, even Whedon confirmed that Spike left with the intention to get his soul back. It's on the DVD commentary in a scene from a comic-con, where he jokes that it's called a "plot twist". He uses air quotes bc he seems amused that ppl didn't catch on.
Can you cover the console games if you are thinking of tackling the comics?
Oh, that's a cool idea. I remember playing through Chaos Bleeds on the Gamecube and I thought it was actually a good game; I liked how it controlled. Yeah, I can have a look at that and the original one on Xbox sometime; I'd like to revisit them, although my game reviewing skills might not be as worked out and strengthened as my television reviewing skills xD
@@episodicanalysis oh, extra personal request, if you review these can you talk about where the would fall in the cannon? Or if you think they can't fit in cannon.
We actually don't know if another 2 slayers got called when Buffy died in S5/6. Buffy died in S5 so the Council had no reason to tell Giles/the Scoobies anything (not like they did when Kendra/Faith got called anyway).
Buffy revives and doesn't make any effort to get in contact with the council (they may not even know she's alive again for a few episodes). So another Slayer could have been called and the Council just never told anyone on the show. Same with when she flatlined when Warren shot her. Only a couple months later the Council blows up and the possible 4th active Slayer never had time to be found.
Makes sense to kill every potential before you kill the 2(maybe 4) slayers.
I suppose. However since the Council were planning on heading to Sunnydale before they were killed, I assumed that if any other Slayers were around, that they would have been told. And if they were also killed in the explosion, it's possible more Slayers were called and then the whole thing starts to become complicated xD
@@episodicanalysis KISS/Occam's Razor. We have nothing/noone that says another Slayer is around and I'd imagine the First or Caleb would have used the knowledge of 1-2 more Slayers being around as a taunt to divide the team/make Scoobies leave town to go find them.
I personally don't think a slayer was called when buffy died the other times. But it's not an impossibility or ever directly stated in canon that Buffy doesn't call new slayers.
The Council was planning on going to Sunnydale. But they have a history of not revealing info on the phone and just surprising the team when they arrive(not like Giles called ahead either). Joss LOVES miscommunitation. I could even see this being the reason Caleb/The First don't kill Buffy. they killed the freshest Slayer and it just called a new one, so they targeted Potentials instead (and the Council so no one could find the.).
If Giles died in England, the Scoobies really would have been out of luck on any kind of information. They already exhausted Sunnydale's info on the First in S3 and it was barebones. Caleb could have spent the next year or two killing every single potential.
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Side note. Faith was stabbed in the gut in S3 and in a coma for months. That kind of condition would usually involve at least a couple ressucitations/flat lines. Faith may not even be the "true" Slayer anymore and this 3rd slayer died with the council.
I always assumed the girl we saw in the first opening of S7 was the slayer called in S5 and they killed her before anyone knew anything about her maybe.
@@benjamintriplett3 That's a really good point. She was definitly moving on above human levels.
She could have been found by the council and trained. Or she could have been missed the entire time. My new head cannon is that she was the 4th slayer called.
Buffy was right about a weapon being at the vineyard. But she had absolutly no plan and choosing to return after the defeat was stupid. She had never actually lead untrained/powered people and even the Initiative soldiers couldn't keep up. So she shouldn't have been leading the potentials.
Either Xander (who led the students at grad), Riley should have been asked to stay and train them, or Wood should have been given leadership (since he was actually a principal.)
Wow, that's a hot take! I agree that Buffy acted irrationally when it came to the Potentials; but she did have the most experience in leadership. I think she should have been far more open to what the rest of the gang had to say rather than immediately taking the burden on all by herself.
@@episodicanalysisI feel it's only a hot take because it's so middle of the road. I put most blame on the First and the over active Hellmouth and not nearly as much on any of the Scoobies/Buffy/Potentials. Giles is really the only person in S7 I dislike and it's because he was supposed to have been killed off and the first.
Most fans either are all in on kicking Buffy out/knocking her ego down a peg or the otherside is hating all the Scoobies/Potentials. I think Buffy should have been in a joint leadership with Xander, Giles(Prefer Giles actually died and Wood was the 4th leader), and Willow. Xander had the best stradegies, Willow was the magical powerhouse, Giles had the research memorized, and Buffy had the best tactics.
Buffy was only ever Squad leader in a battle, in charge of the core Scoobies (who knew how to react) and the few times with the Initiative (which showed how far above "normies" Buffy didn't even realize she was by this point.). She rarely ever actually led the team in combat and everyone just did what they wanted.
Buffy didn't understand how to relate to the Potentials anymore and expected them to be as commited as she was.th-cam.com/video/APFMvzH1WEE/w-d-xo.html
@@kyleellis1825 Having Wood act more as a leader might explain his presence more in the last season, because he does get a lot of focus but ultimately doesn't do much. I agree most fans are on either side of the argument, and while I can see the argument from both sides and why they do it, I find myself leaning towards Buffy than the others, simply because of how much she'd already proven herself up to that point and even died for the cause (twice). The gang act like she's never done any of this and hasn't led them through countless apocalypses. Yeah, she made a big mistake, but I don't agree with the decision to kick her out of the house completely (and apparently neither did they as they start looking for her again after about two episodes).
@@episodicanalysis I agree. Wood needed something to do if he was sticking around. Why introduce a Principal and not have all the potentials go to his school?
For me, the arguement is about what was planned. The plan was clearly to remove Buffy from leadership not kick her out. Dawn was the one who made that call last second. Dawn should get the kick out blame, everyone else should just get "handled it poorly" blame.
The rest of the Scoobies needed to stick with Dawn's choice that night. But no way was it something they would let stand for more than a couple days. It wasn't just "get out Buffy, never come back".
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Buffy didn't actually lead them through most of the early Apocalypses. She was present but not actually making all the plans, she just had Veto power over whatever the team decided.
She was field leader, but not planning how they overall fought evil until the end of S3. She actually has very little experience leading people. She's more of a lead by example than actually lead with words and the Initiave scenes show she doesn't know how to work with "normies."
Nothing had happened in the show that suddenly elevated Buffy above the core Scoobies (as team leader). It was a behind the scenes decision done purely for feminsm reasons. Joss and Marti both admit they should have had Xander/Wood/Giles being tactical lead but it would have ruined the Female empowerment theme of the final season.
@@kyleellis1825 Ah that last point makes sense; I suppose since the show is called Buffy that having her being the leader doesn't seem like a new idea despite how long the show had run for up to that point. It's an interesting take on the "Empty Places" situation, although I would still argue that after Dawn tells her to get out, no one speaks up. They all seem to think they can lead the Potentials into battle with the First better than Buffy could, and since they stick Faith in charge, it seems their problem isn't that there's someone in charge, but more that Buffy is in charge.
shut up i'm NOT CRYING AT A 3 MIN SUMMARY OF THE LAST EPISODE
YOU'RE CRYING
This season was very underwhelming for me. If it wasn’t the final season, I might like it more but I felt it was a lackluster way to end the show.
I feel like they had planned another season. But since Sarah was done with the show, they had to Scramble to come up with an ending. They introduced so much in the last two or three episodes that never really got a definite answer to. Which I wish they had answered.
@@benjamintriplett3 Same thing happened with the final season of Angel. They had to combine what they had originally planned for the 6th season.
Overall, an amazing show. Flawed, sure, but still holds up fine, and is miles ahead of most current TV. Comparing it with the many clones/inspired by... none comes close... maybe Supernatural...
Comparing it with the current big shows? Rings of Power? All the Disney SW/MCU crap? No contest.
Considering the challenges it faced, the time in wich it was made where TV was not taken as seriously as now... It was a miracle.
It's impact is comparable to giants, like X-files, Lost or Star trek... (unfortunately, as with the other examples, not for the better some times... the whedon style works for some stuff and when done right... but i'm tired of seen it everywhere everytime..)
Supernatural sucks. Awful show. I'm at season 11, so I know.
I said I would comment when you came out with this video and I actually remembered!
Xander was supposed to be in a relationship 2 seperate times (season 1 and 7). But if Xander and Buffy dated in S7, he was going to be killed by Caleb instead of blinded. The choice to keep him alive was purely because Buffy couldn't smile at the end of the series (in a hopeful way) if Xander was dead (same reason they decided to not have Willow ascend/die when she cast the awakening of potentials and became the new Slayer Spirit. Finally letting Sineya rest in peace.
And Giles was supposed to have been killed early on and actually have been the First. They changed that one so last minute, they had the epiode about him not touching people to fix.
Buffy was supposed to end the series alone but with Willow/Xander/Giles essentially now all part of the Slayer/Buffy like in the finale to S4. The Scythe would have absorbed Giles into the Slayer giving Watcher wisdom and Willow would have used her ascension spell to free Xander's soul from the Hellmouth/First.
It was the S7 plan the writers had but they changed it after the S6 reaction to how dark it was.
Wow, I can see why they changed it; I seriously don't think I would have enjoyed that ending. Say what you will about the "Empty Places" saga but I'd take that in a heartbeat over this original plan.
@@episodicanalysis Not so much Original plan as ONE of the original plans that got melded into what the other writers had come up with. I can't remember if it was Joss who got talked out of it or if he was the one who talked Marti out of it. It never got farther than rough draft ideas and episode outlines though before being dissected for juicy bits of story(which you can see the bones of still in the show).
It's actually the comment in the directors commentary that got me to discover fanfiction. Joss saying the show could have ended a few different ways and all of the main writers ended up compromising (they all pretty much got 1-2 things). That is what made me realize stories could end different ways and I didn't have to keep the what if's in my head anymore.
Giles isnt an a hole. maybe she might not fight and win.
I know people dislike Kennedy. But for me, she was just Willow's Spike. Buffy, Willow, Xander all get the fairytail romance first (Angel/Oz/Cordelia). Then they get the healthy one about growing into a proper person (Riley/Tara/Anya). Then we go into the pure passion/physical romance (Spike, Kennedy, Anya after the seperation)
Kennedy was training the Potentials because she was raised aware of the council/her status. She was good enough to teach them the drills before Buffy worked on individual skills.
In regards to Kennedy and Willow's relationship, I find it quite interesting that Willow gets a taste of her own medicine. At points with Tara, Willow could be really controlling and it caused Tara to leave her for that short period of time. Kennedy begins telling Willow what she should be thinking and doing in the later half of the season for things that really aren't any of her business. I actually liked Kennedy a lot more on this watch than the previous few, and although she had the most combat experience to train the Potentials, just watching her doing it shows that her experience didn't translate very well into teaching.
@@episodicanalysis I know I said Rona was my favourite Potential. But honestly, I think I liked all of them.
True. I think Kennedy was more running the practice routine than she was actually training. It felt like training they did everyday and this time Kennedy was filling in (more like a spin class coach).
And 100%. Kennedy had her own experience but it didn't translate to teaching. Same with Buffy and I feel Kennedy was the S7 mirror of her. Kennedy is basically Buffy is Joyce/Hank got approached by the Council while Buffy was in Hemory and let in on the whole shebang. Or maybe a cross between Faith's personality and how Kendra was raised.
1:06 not strictly true …….. Faith, Willow, Cordelia, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, Andrew, Spike, Darla, Drusilla, Oz and Harmony have all starred in both Angel and Buffy at some point.
I was referring to that particular season of the show, and specifically main cast members. Only Angel appears on Buffy in S7, and only Willow appears on Angel in S4.
@@episodicanalysis fair enough you have me there but you didn’t make that clear in your content, however, there IS one VERY IMPORTANT cast member who was in both season 4 of Angel and the last 5 episodes of Buffy and the very reason for Willow being in Angel in the first place …….. FAITH (The OTHER Slayer)
@@Serenity-Skye Again, I was referring to "main cast members" which is actors that appear in the opening credits of a show, under the "starring" mantle. Faith was a recurring character through S3 and S7 of Buffy, making guest appearances throughout S4 of Buffy and S1 & S2 of Angel. Eliza Dushku was never exclusively contracted to either show, and therefore, the writers used her as a way to crossover the two shows without having to spend a lot of money on other main cast actors of either show. Plus, the WB were notoriously frugal with the money they spent on their shows at the time.
@@episodicanalysis it just goes to show that when you sit and break something down fully you (as in the general public) discover that there is more to something than you first thought! Take our ‘conversation’ for example - these comments that I have typed have shown ME that I never realised just how many Buffy cast members (main, recurring and guest) have actually made an appearance in Angel at sometime - please don’t think I was being critical or nasty with my comments I WASN’T I just thought that if I thought that then others would and I felt that by sparking this brief conversation with you it would be much easier to bring that realisation into peoples minds.
Although I have never commented in the past I do watch and enjoy your content when I get a chance
@@Serenity-Skye Oh, don't worry about it. I've had my fair share of nasty comments, I'm completely aware that yours was not one of them. I do appreciate the support though, and thanks for letting me clear that up :)
PLEASE! Slow down, or if not, annunciation. Like your voice but hate having to rewind and squint. Maybe it's the volume? Anyway, thanks for the video and your perspective
It might be an accent issue on my part, I do come from Scotland and I know it’s a hard accent to understand for some folks.
You don't squint when you listen, you squint when you read. And if he doesn't talk that fast the video will be like 4hours lol...
@@saholakin9397 stop being so pedantic and apply it to my hearing you know what the f*** I meant😆
@@episodicanalysis no! I fuking love your accent.
@@saholakin9397 wouldn't mind listening to him for 4 hours, by the way😁
I must say, I've seen all the videos you've made regarding Buffy, but dear man, your understanding of human nature needs improvement. Most people are not heroes, quite the opposite. Their memory is so short and the desire for self-preservation often overshadows logic.
You’re shitting on Anya’s song in Selfless? It’s the highlight of the episode. What a shitty take.
You have ripped off Recycled Content for the last time. There will be consequences.
This is my least favorite season I can't stand jiles in this season, can't stand the assassination of Anya and Xand
interesting, but dang you talk way too fast... hard to follow
rona is right. none of them are trained and didnt want to be there.
And if I was Buffy I would let their ungrateful asses go. Nobody was forcing them there and ha they died it wouldn't have been on Buffy.
The "Buffy kicked out" scene. Technically Buffy was only removed from command and she couldn't accept that, forcing the unplanned kicking out. Because that part was clearly a last second change to the plan.
Another thing about that scene, is that on several occasions we have been told the Hellmouth is leaing negative energies and this year it's worse than ever. So considering everyone else in town actually evacuated, we should cut everyone some slack and realize they had all been influenced into the heated emotions.
Buffy basically mocked a girl's suicide. She was just as influenced by the First and it was giving her massive tunnel vision. We know all sides realize they are wrong based on the resolution. Buffy returns and is instantly in charge again. This shows the Scoobies/Potentials had underestimated the difficulty of leading. Buffy changed how she was acting, which shows she heard the points being made during her kicked out scene.
Edit: It's better for the algorithm if my comments are seperate, right?
Yeah, I guess that's a fair conclusion to draw, although I don't really remember any of the gang having negative energy on the Hellmouth when it was being opened previously. Maybe it was the First's influence that caused it to have more of an effect? I always did find that scene where Buffy mocks the Potential's suicide strange, and that does seem like the only proper explanation for it, but because they never really explain that outright and just expect you to understand why they kick her out, I see it more as lazy writing regardless.
Also I have no idea if the separate comments helps the algorithm or not, but I don't mind and appreciate the comments :)
@@episodicanalysis I just have gotten frustrated over the years at people ignoring the nuance in the scene to just get mad at the Scoobies or Buffy. You did a good job at examing the overall scene and didn't just blame people wily nilly.
The only other times the Hellmouth was opened(or really even messed with directly), was The Master in S1(He's an Old One fanatic and his whole bloodline was about bringing back the Old Ones), Sisterhood of Jhe in Season 3, and the S4 time when they go back to the Highschool(which is main the time it's directly stated the Hellmouth effects people).
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The only time I just flat out disagreed with you about an opinion this video and can't see what you mean, is Rona. She was always my favourite Potential (Kennedy seemed more whiney than Rona's wary caution from living on the streets.). It felt like Rona was legit used to looking after herself and was insulted at now being babysat.
@@episodicanalysis Buffy mocking the Suicide was such a reversal from how she acted with jonathan in Season 3, that it had to have been the Hellmouth affecting her.
The other thing is, The First was able to spend enough time in the house to convince the girl to kill herself and no one noticed. That's days of effort at the very least and no one noticed. How many times was the First pretending to be someone who was in the bathroom? The First was messing with everyone for the entire second half of the season. How often did he pretend to be Kennedy and pop her head into a room to make a snide comment undercutting Buffy? How often did he pretend to Buffy acting even meaner than she was legit acting?
it's the only logical explanation for why everyone is suddenly so irrational after 6 seasons of handling apocalypses. The Hellmouth and the First are both in overdrive and I just don't think it's fair to fully hate on the dozen or so humans capable of not fleeing for the hills because the sense of evil/foreboding was finally to great (remember, no one evactuated for any other apocalypse).
@@kyleellis1825 I always do my best to try and justify any decision made by a character, no matter how strange or unnecessary. Rona was just a character I was fed up with; she seemed to think she knew better and didn't want to put in the time or work to save the world. I can understand why she didn't want to, as she didn't want to die, but, to me, it just seemed a tad unnecessary.
it is no golden age of tv.
Yeah, I sincerely wish this show would stop playing sexual assault of minors for laughs. 😑
Him is the worst episode in the series. Period.
For me it is Seeing Red and the 2nd is Hell’s Bells.
Conversations with dead people is one of my least favorite episodes. So boring
Buffy got them into danger and they needed to kick her out.
I'm not alone! This seemed OBVIOUS to me. Xander was missing an eye ffs! The whole episode seemed like petty filler. I skip it every rewatch. (I actually don't mind "Him" and remember finding the ending lol funny on first viewing.)
The only Black Slayer that ACTUALLY lives through the series and you hate her…..typical. #ProtectBlackWomen
I'm black and I hated Rona because of her attitude, most people dislike Rona.
Instead of getting angry at the reviewer, you should be angry with the writers. They're the ones who did a horrible job writing the first black slayer. They should have gave her a better character.
@@x-man9473 Re-read his comment. Rona wasn't the first black slayer on the show. She's the 4th. Sineya's been dead for thousands of years, Nikki Wood is murdered by Spike, Kendra Young gets murdered by Drusilla. None of them are fleshed out or written well. Most of the black characters on this show are walking stereotypes or are dead within a few episodes.
Ultimately unsurprising given the fact that the show's entire writing staff was white.
@@x-man9473 Literary Hub has a great article about racism on BTVS if you want to read it.
@@Ilikefrogs.. Like I said. If he has a problem, he should take that up with the writers. They're the ones who did a horrible job writing the black characters. Instead, the commenter got angry at the reviewer for not liking Rona.
I’m not sure why all of a sudden they all hate Joss Whedon, and refuse to work with him what did he do pinch a butt? snap a bra strap?
He sexually harassed Michelle Trachenberg who was a minor. He abused his position to exhaust charisma carpenter when she was heavily pregnant forcing her to reshoot perfectly well shot scenes at 1 in the morning. He had multiple affairs on set with junior actresses abusing his power. Many have supported the claims about him.
Insult a pregnant woman and try to her miscarry and then fired her. Traumatise a teenager so badly he wasn't allowed to be left alone with her. Then there's bullying a black guy. You asked.
I have a couple of thoughts about Faith this season. Perhaps Wesley should have been brought to the series with her. Especially at the end of season 4 of Angel, he had a small role. And in contrast to Buffy and Giles' relationship, Faith and Wesley's interaction could play the role of reflection quite well. Perhaps Buffy's characters were somewhat helped to clear their minds by the understanding that those whom they knew as a spineless arrogant and a psychotic killer could work normally with each other.