Originally posted on 2 years 14 days. This blog is no longer being updated - you should come check out my new blog: Too Short To Be A Storm Trooper

Wow, this actually worked out even better than I had hoped for.

When I set out I really wanted to revisit the Buffy the Vampire Slayer world without having to watch seven seasons which I just didn’t have the time for.  But I wanted to get the feel for the show, touch points that would give me the overview.

The episodes I put on the list may not actually be the best episodes, though some of them are.  These episodes serve as overall highlights of the show, key moments that set the overall tone and events.

It worked completely.

The Gift

Is possibly my favourite episode, it’s got pretty much everything in it; heroics, tragedy, humour, fighting, you name it!  There’s some much to love.  I remember when I first saw this episode and it was earth shattering that they would consider killing Buffy.

Of course we know that the show shifted networks and Buffy was brought back but it was a cool move anyway and a powerful ending where pretty much everyone got a chance to shine.

My favourite sequence out of many was when Giles kills Ben, that scene has always stuck with me for some reason.

Once More With Feeling

What can I say about this episode that hasn’t been said before.  It was an exciting experiment in the show’s format that proved to be an enormous success.

More importantly the episode itself is pivotal to the overall storyline as so much is revealed:

• Buffy being in heaven
• Giles realising he has to leave
• Tara realising that Willow is too reliant on magic
• Xander’s doubts over the wedding
• Buffy and Spike sharing a kiss

The episode sets the tone for the events of the season.

Seeing Red

An episode I see as pivotal with the sudden demise of Tara at the end as well as the assault on Buffy by Spike who is sent into a spiral that sees him leave in search of a soul.

I was tempted to watch the following two episodes to see Willow flay Warren who is pretty much the most unlikeable character who wanders off down his misogynist rant.  It was an interesting decision to have him show up with a gun at the end.

Chosen

All nine episodes lead to this.

I actually am unaware of what the general feel for the Buffy finale is.  For me it was very satisfying and heartbreaking and finale.  I think it was the right time for them to get out.

It was very cool for Angel to be there but not replacing Spike, his “I had a soul before it was cool” bit is just hilarious.  Anya’s death was a stark reminder that this is the Whedon universe where big characters die little deaths because that’s what happens.  I also like how the episode was shot so that before heading into the hellmouth the four original cast members get to have a moment before peeling off to their respective assignments.

It was an interesting solution to the problem in the end and I think it fulfilled the original scope of the series which played on challenging the hero gender role.

This was a lot of fun and more than a couple have been calling for an Angelfest 2011 which I’m all for too unless Tracey and I go down the path of watching the entire series again!

Thanks very much for indulging

Happy New Year