Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[brigdh]

As I said in a previous post, I've been rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer with my girlfriend, who has never seen it (I know, it seems impossible). Oh my god, you guys. It is so good. SO GOOD*. I mean, obviously I knew this; I have watched Buffy since it first aired when I was 13; it is my first fandom and my first fanfiction and my first email account and basically just the first thing I ever did on the internet**. But I haven't rewatched an episode in at least four years, maybe longer, and it's been since at least the end of the show since I watched it regularly. And so even though I know everything that happens (Dude, I had episodes memorized when I was 13. 4-7 years does not erase that sort of knowledge), I can still be surprised by details. Mainly I am being surprised at HOW GOOD everything is. Except possibly for the costumes, because 90s fashion has now become funny. Like, we just watched 'When She Was Bad'- the first episode of Season Two- and there are three or four explicit instances of foreshadowing for events later in the season, including even a particularly distinctive and memorable shot/camera angle (trying to avoid explicit spoilers, but if you remember the slow-motion shot of Buffy running into the library at the end of Becoming Part One? That EXACT SAME SHOT is in When She Was Bad. It's awesome). There's so many lines and moments that just make me want to flail, and so many more coming up***.

(Also, man, it is sort of vaguely embarrassing to watch this show and recognize tropes and character archetypes that I CLEARLY IMPRINTED on and have continued to replicate across the internet. Although it's also not embarrassing because I still LOVE THEM.)

We are now up to 'School Hard', and OH MAN SPIKE. AND DRUSILLA. SPIKE AND DRUSILLA. SO MUCH LOVE. SPIKE/DRUSILLA IS MY OTP FOREVER!!!1!****

Um, yes. I can be rational. Anyway, it's a bit strange watching it with someone who has never seen the show, because I'm never sure how much of the plot has become general fandom knowledge, and what will still be surprising. And in some cases, I think that really influences how you see the show (speaking of Spike).

But Buffy is awesome. Yes. I need some Buffy icons. Squee with me, people.

*This post may contain lots of capslock.

**And I saw the film in theaters when I was 8. Basically, what I'm saying is: BtVS raised me.

***The "What's left?"/"Me." exchange of Becoming Part 2? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. It is the Crowning Moment of Awesome of the entire Universe.

****Don't talk to me about end of Season 6/Season 7 Spike. I am living in denial. It's a happy place.

Comments

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Hi, I followed from rm's LJ and just wanted to say, I *squee* with thee!
A fan since the age of 12 and was raised by it as well :D

Also, I'm adding you, just fyi ;)

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Confession:

I have never seen Buffy either.

[gamera.livejournal.com]

Another one here who didn't watch Buffy! My area didn't have a local WB affiliate and my family didn't have cable, so there really was no opportunity to do so when it was airing.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Gasp!

Well, I own DVDs of the whole thing, so perhaps I will force you to watch lend you them.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I'm having a Richard/Alec are Spike/Drusilla moment and it's SCARING THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Or something.

hi.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, that is a weird parallel. I'm not even sure who should be who!

[rm.livejournal.com]

Richard = Spike
violent and utterly devoted to someone crazier than him.

Of course, I base this off of one episode.

Also in the Torchwood analogy (I should make you watch this one ep) Jack is Spike and the Marsters character (John Hart) is TOTALLY Drusilla.

[wolfpilot06.livejournal.com]

I just recently finished watching all 7 seasons for the first time, and may I join you in the wild squeeing? =3

Though, I have to admit I love Spike, as he's my favorite character, and he makes me go "Oh Spiiiiike!" in the latter seasons, I totally understand why people didn't like the last two seasons that much. They are like, angst buses. Full of angst.

I always end up speaking Joss-speak when I watch Buffy. I think its biggest impact on me is with their dialogue, 'cause I often have Willow moments, or Buffy moments...:)

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

I didn't see Buffy until it was off the air, either, and have some fond memories of slowing growing to understand why so many people love this show while a friend bounced up and down squeeing on the other end of the couch.

I am happy to squee with you until the end of S5, which is the point that I (on the advice of many friends) stopped watching. Seriously, I would love to hear more of your thoughts on seeing Buffy again at this remove.

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

P.S. I have high hopes for some excellent Buffy content arising from the halfamoon impromptuathon. Have you seen the prompts?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Everyone may join in the wild squeeing!

I can totally understand why some people prefer the later Spike, and I think this is a huge area that is highly influenced by whether you watched the show recently or while it aired. Though even when it aired, there were HUGE wanks in fandom (lo those many years ago before LJ) between the two major sects: the Redemptionistas (who, as the name suggests, liked the redeeming of his character) and the Evilistas (who preferred Spike: original flavor). I feel old remembering that!

And yes, me too! I've been slipping into Joss-speak.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I think it's a parallel that works less the more you see (Spike, for instance, is so much less competent than the first episode suggests).

And I am amused! You can write the cross-over.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Hahaha okay. Yeah, so far, he seems like a functional (for a vampire) sort of guy. Other than being in love with the crazy chick.

[synergic.livejournal.com]

I was going to use my Dru account to agree, but then I realized you would have no idea who I was. BUT I AGREE.

[sorceressakemi.livejournal.com]

I've been watching Buffy from the beginning with someone who's never seen it, and it is so, so good to do so. It's serving as a ritual rewatch, with the bonus of getting to see the fresh reactions of a newbie. Aaaa. ♥ (We're partway through season four - just watched "Hush.")

[hazard-us.livejournal.com]

I have watched Buffy since it first aired when I was 13; it is my first fandom and my first fanfiction and my first email account and basically just the first thing I ever did on the internet.

Me too. :) And man was that first fanfic baaaaaaad.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, yes. There no longer exist any copies of mine, and oh am I glad.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Words cannot convey the depth of my glee re: you getting rm into Buffy. Enjoy your rewatch!

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Buffy defined my teen years (apart from the crap bits, obviously). I think I will gear up for a huge rewatch once I've finished Frasier, haha.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I think Seasons 6 and 7 are worth watching, even if they're not up to the quality of previous seasons. Season 6 in particularly has several fantastic episodes (the musical episode is amazing, and Normal Again, which is sort of a canon AU, is heart-breaking), and the overall arc concerning the three nerds-turned-evil is really well-done. Season 7 is a bit lesser, I think, but if nothing else, you need to watch the montage of women from the final episode. I don't know if you know about this, but it is the absolute perfect ending to the show, and makes it live up to all of its promise. It's only about 60 seconds long, so you could just watch that bit without the rest of the two seasons! It is even watchable online (http://www.vbox7.com/play:56c50a84?r=google), though obviously it involves spoiling yourself for finale.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

You should totally watch it! It is so AWESOME.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

It's so fun to watch it with a newbie!

And I love Hush. That's the episode I always show people when I'm trying to convince them into the Buffy-love.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I recommend it! I was not particularly inspired to do so when I started rewatching, but now I am full of love and glee.

[wolfpilot06.livejournal.com]

I liked both. =3 Though I probably lean towards the Redemptionistas a liiiittle only because i think it almost fell into his character, but to the extreme. I mean, I think that it was interesting how Spike seemed to be the only vampire capable of showing even a little bit of actual emotion after being turned - even if the Redemption itself hadn't happened, the history of him being obsessed with Drusilla to the point of actually feeling it, and his relationship with his mother...it's kind of just heart-twisting.

Joss does twist the heart SO WELL. T___T

I hope your girlfriend is liking it as much as you do! :D

**Wolf**

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*grins* Thanks! It is pretty awesome so far.