Topic: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Marathon

[Dragonfire]

The season 2 finale of Buffy is such a strong episode..and heartbreaking. 

And I agree with Firefly being yanked too soon.  I was ticked when it happened and I'm still ticked now.  I'm thinking Whedon would do better with a cable station that would be more willing to give his shows time to build up and develop instead of FOX.

[Critter]

I can't help but think that his shows being axed now has to do with the advancments in piracy. I remember when Dollhouse was axed that it was getting low rating on TV every week, yet it was one of the most highly downloaded shows and one that was streamed online the most. It's a shame really, when Buffy and Angel were out people had no choice but to watch them each week on TV.

[Dragonfire]

A lot of shows have it where you can watch the shows from their own sites..or through sites they work with like Hulu.  FOX promotes watching stuff on Hulu a lot, so it is a legitimate way to do it.  I think I read somewhere that when the shows are watched online don't count..the DVR totals may not count either..I can't remember.

[Critter]

Mmm the problem is those Hulu and FOX sites only work for the US. So people in other parts of the world where the shows aren't airing still can't view it. There is no legal way for them to watch it online just have to sit back and look at all the online excitment for each new episode while having no chance but illegal downloading to watch it. I think too much depends on ratings in TV now. I suppose the stations need it but the ratings don't always reflect the popularity of the show. And that's what leads to incidents like Firefly being axed.

[Dragonfire]

I forgot about most of those sites not working in other countries.

Oh I agree about the ratings stuff.  I have my doubts about how accurate they are anyway since they only keep track of stuff from a fraction of the population.  They claim that gives an accurate result based on age ranges and junk like that.  I don't think they are though...There are things that other people my age like that I don't...and I'm sure that I like stuff that other people my age don't.

[Critter]

I have always been suss about ratings too. I mean they give a small selection of the population that little box thing and it's supposed to be accurate? Surely by now they could have technology in our televisions so that what everybody is watching can be counted, and not just a select few.

[Dragonfire]

Yup..that's what I think too.  If they want to base so much on the ratings, then at least make it so they count everyone and not just like 1 in 1,000 or whatever it is.

[Critter]

3.01
Anne

Plot: Still not knowing Buffy's whereabouts, the rest of the gang return to school and take over the slaying. Meanwhile Buffy, who is now living under an assumed identity, is recognized in a diner, and begins her fight to return home from the Netherworld she has fallen into.

My Thoughts: I have always found this episode to be an interesting way to start series three. The plot is interesting, but with Buffy still away from Sunnydale we are left with an almost isolated feeling coming from the powerful finale to season two. I suppose it makes more sense however than just starting the series with Buffy returning home straight away. I also like how they connected this story back to the episode in season two with the clan of vampire worshippers through the character 'Lily'. While this was a decent episode, I sure am glad to see Buffy back home in Sunnydale again.

Rating: 3½/5

[Critter]

3.02
Dead Man's Party

Plot: Buffy struggles to fit back into Sunnydale life. She feels her friends and family have grown distant while she was away. Battling an army of zombies called forth by a Nigerian demon mask brings everyone back together.

My Thoughts: This is a great episode that really closes up that empty feeling we were left with after 'Anne'. As a viewer I really felt Buffy's frustration and isolation at how her friends and family had reacted to her returning home. It created an almost estranged feeling towards the show. Luckily however, a very Night of the Living Dead style invasion brings the whole gang back together. The scene where the gang confront Buffy over her selfish endevour of running away is highly emotional and well written. I was frustrated at both Buffy and the others at the same time, yet finally relieved that they were letting all of this out.

Rating: 4/5

[DJ Doena]

I really love these episodes where some or all of them struggle with what life has put on their plates. That's also the reason why I like seasons six and seven, too. They are not as light-hearted as earlier seasons but because the emotional stakes are higher the outcome is even more gratifying (IMHO).

[Critter]

I really love these episodes where soem or all of them struggle with what life has put on their plate.

I myself am guilty of loving the episodes where all the characters just break down under the heavy weight of the crazy world they live in. I agree that there is more of this in season 6 and 7, yet I will always consider the final episodes of season 2 to be some of the toughest ordeals that Buffy as a character had to face throughout the entire show.

[Critter]

3.03
Faith, Hope & Trick

Plot: Another Slayer, Faith, arrives in Sunnydale, closely tracked by two vampires, thoroughly modern Mr. Trick and incredibly ancient Kakistos. With Buffy's encouragement, Faith finally stakes the formidable Kakistos. Buffy, finally, accepts Scott Hope's invitation to date, not knowing that Angel has magically returned.

My Thoughts: I like this episode becuase it introduces Faith, who is one of my favourite characters of season three. Aside from the somewhat exciting arrival of Faith however there really isn't much to this episode. Sure, Angel coming back is a big deal, but that's only for the final seconds, the rest of it I found a bit dull. Kakistos felt like a very rushed villian to me, he was built up to be some all powerful type vampire yet in the end he seemed very easy to kill which was almost a bit of a let down.

Rating: 2½/5

[Critter]

3.04
Beauty and the Beasts

Plot: After Oz escapes from his cage, everyone suspects that he committed last night's brutal murders. Only Buffy knows that Angel is a suspect as well. The Scoobies discover that the murderer is their Jekyll/Hyde classmate, Pete.

My Thoughts: This is an interesting episode. I love the way that even though it is only Faiths second episode in the series, that she is not really a main aspect of this story. Faiths involvement with this episode is very much of a background character, as if she has been in the show for years and already knows all the rings. The story had an interesting twist as it made us believe that first Oz, and then Angel might be killing people. Only to turn it around at the end as we find out that it was actually one of the students instead. I've always felt that bringing Angel back was a risky move, as it could have lessened the effect of the season 2 final. So far however the story seems to be running well as we are learning of the consequences of Angels return.

Rating: 3½//5

[Critter]

3.05
Homecoming

Plot: Buffy and Cordelia compete for Homecoming Queen while Mr. Trick organizes SlayerFest '98. Willow and Xander kiss, although each is seeing someone else. Unknown to SlayerFest personnel, Cordelia changes places with Faith. Buffy and Cordy reconcile while defeating Mr. Trick's contestants.

My Thoughts: There is a lot in this episode, and it really acts as something to start building up the long term story arcs of this season. For one thing we are introduced to the Mayor of Sunnydale in fantastic fashion. We find out that he is aware of the supernatural and discover that he is also after the Slayer which set shim up nicley as an interesting antagonist. The scenes between Buffy and Cordelia were fantastic, and I love Mr. Trick, he is much more creative than your usual vampire which keeps things interesting. I wasn't too keen on the Willo/Xander aspect in this episode though, I feel it would make more sense in say, early season 2, but them suddenly falling for each other just seems out of place this far in. Oh and the ending was hilarious. The show put us in the position to think that the writers had pulled a typical cliche when 'two winners' were announced, only to then let us know that neither Buffy or Cordelia was one was fantastic.

Rating: 3½/5

[Critter]

3.06
Band Candy

Plot: A candy created by Ethan Rayne causes Sunnydale's adults to behave like teenagers. Buffy confronts Rayne and makes him tell her about a plan to sacrifice Sunnydale newborns to a monster in the sewers.

My Thoughts: Ethan Rayne is back with yet another hilarious attempt to ruin Sunnydale. I don't know what it is about this man, almost everytime his character appears the results leave me laughing out loud. The way this episode starts really helps to propel the humour that will start later on, the fact that both Giles and Joyce are being to overbearing and overprotective towards Buffy as parents really contrasts to the second half when they themselves become teenagers. It was also fantastic seeing Prinsiple Snyder acting just like one of the kids which he loathes so much. Great episode, not too much development of the season all up but heaps of funny moments.

Rating: 4/5