I’ve loved Star trek forever. Its no longer my favorite show of all time.
Note – The following is relatively Spoiler Free (lets stay that way)
For years, I listened to fans of a different show that I knew must be childish and infantile. I rejected this show based on my knowledge of a little seen early 90s flick, and swore I would never watch.
Nine months ago, my friend Arthur told me that if I bought the first season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and didn’t love it, he’d give me the money I spent. Immediately, I noticed the fresh dialogue and the the wittiness that lived somehwere between Dawson’s Creek, David Mamet, and Quentin Tarantino. Still.. it was just dumb fun.
How things were going to change.
Engaged, I bought the second season, and ripped through it – as one of the genuinely best seasons of TV I had ever seen.
As the months passed, I would watch up to 4 episodes a day (AHH, aint DVD grand) about Buf, Xander, Willow, Giles, Cordy, Tara, Oz, Riley, Spike, Angel, Faith, Dawn, and (my fave) Anya. After the third Season, I began watching the spinoff “Angel” – alternating episodes so as to keep the continuity.
Now, last week, I watched the final episode of Buffy, and for any who have seen it.. it was Remarkable. For anyone who has not yet.. well, I can’t say why, or it won’t be for you.
Objectively, the dialogue is amazing, the action is really very good – especially the fight scenes – the show isn’t afraid to take risks with its characters, or afraid to let them change or die, its genuinely very funny, and once you get past the first season (which is weaker, but still really fun) you’ll be in, hook line and sinker.
Is it like the movie? Only in the good ways. the fresh ideas, the mix of humor and action – but not dumb humor. As a matter of fact, I think its the smartest depiction of teens I’ve seen since the scream movies.
Suffice to say, the complicated storylines, the cryptic clues of what is to come, the laugh out loud humor (“BUNNIES!”), the devestating scene where ***** is on the floor and the EMTs come in and ***** can’t think of how to do CPR, the scene where ***** gets shot, the scene where ***** has to fight ***** and who can forget the musical (especially where she says she was!!)?
What am I talking about? Well, you have to watch if you want to find out.. and as for Trek.. well its like an old shoe, I’ll always love it. But honestly, for the first time I have found a TV universe thats better.
COMING UP IN FUTURE WEEKS: Needin Whedon Part 2: FIREFLY and after I finish it.. Needin Whedon Part 3: ANGEL
The musical
The Musical.
Best. Television. Episode. Ever.
“I think I was in H……………” tear-jerker.
The only part I don’t get is that the demon lets XXXXXX off the hook at the end of that episode. That never made sense to me. Except maybe if the demon just doesn’t swing that way…
(And by the way: posted at 2:00 AM??? Wow, man, you need to sleep!)
—
Matthew P. Barnson
yes
That was a great episode, but the best line through the entire series is during the “alternate universe” episode, where Willow (hot) looks at leather-clad, kinky, alternate universe Willow (hotter) and says, “I’m totally evil… and I think I’m kinda gay.”
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
2am
Working overnight. Hey, didja know the Musical is available for sale on CD?
No fun at all.
woohoo!
Hey Justin – glad to see you’ve come over to the dark side.
I got into Buffy sometime during the second season. I was resistant for obvious reasons, but was struck (like you) at the cleverness of the dialogue, the depths of the characters, and the inventiveness of the plots. I had read somewhere that Whedon had intended for the movie to be entirely different, and when the studio Nazis turned it into the silly farce that it was, Whedon was so angry that he set about making the TV show in order to do what HE wanted with the characters.
Angel is not as good – I lost interest near the end of the first season. Unfortunately, the characters are simply not as engaging. But Firefly was super fun! I was so bummed when it was canceled. Supposedly, there’s a Firefly movie in the making. I hope it happens.
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
Angel and Firefly
I don’t want to go too much into Angel and Firefly (because I’m lazy and don’t want to kill my 2 later posts)
BUT:
I felt like you did during much of Angel season 1 – (Although “I will Remember you” is arguably the best or one of the best of either series) And by Angel season 4 (where I am now, so if you’re ahead, please don’t spoil) I thought Angel was better than Buffy. Its worth a second look.
As for Firefly.. halfway through the series now.. and yes, “Serenity” will be released in September.. more on that in 2 weeks or so.
I’m not that gullible
Is this one big Barnson.org ploy to see if Sammy G will actually watch a BTVS episode? Is there a pool with odds taking stake on my response time?
Here’s what I know about the series: that everytime I flip past the show, I see that old chick from 90210. Maybe it’s not even the same series. I don’t know.
It’s really good?
90210??
I think that’s Charmed. I’ve watched that. Its not that good.
BTVS (and ANGEL) ranks with DS9 as the best show I never watched when it was on – and my fave of all time.
BWAH HAH HAH HAH
This is Jay, Matt’s brother.
I too discovered the power of the dark side after feebly resisting it for about half of three seasons. I kinda-sorta enjoyed the movie. Couldn’t imagine why I’d like the show. Then my wife watched an episode – I think it was the final episode of season 1. She said, “This is pretty good.”
BAH!
She watched some of second season. “This really is good,” she’d say. To which I’d respond, “Bah!”
Finally, I watched part of an episode. It wasn’t so bad. Then I watched a full episode. That was pretty good. And shortly thereafter – I was hooked.
I had another friend – Jacob. We tried to get him and his wife to watch it. To which he said, “BAH! I tried to watch it once.”
So we taped an episode. The episode was “Hush.” The one with the Gentlemen. The one where Tara was introduced as a character. The one that is considered perhaps the creepiest episode ever.
Jacob and his wife were hooked.
James Marsters, who plays Spike, once spoke in an interview about the show about all his friends from the theater (he was a Shakespearean actor) would call him up and hear that he was playing a recurring role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they’d feel sorry for him. They’d tell him they could arrange to get him into their latest production. He’d say, “I love this gig! Have you seen the show?”
“No.”
“Watch the show and call me back.”
A week later, they’d call him back. “That was GREAT! That was NOT what I expected.”
He’d say, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!”
If you only watch one episode, watch “HUSH” (Fourth season). But there’s a TON of great episodes (and only a couple of stinkers). But it’s best to watch them in order – you don’t NEED to, but they do have continuity, and the impact (and inside jokes) isn’t as strong if don’t know the characters and situations yet.
Buffy surprised the heck out of a lot of people. And received a ton of critical acclaim. It’s considered one of the most popular shows in modern television history (older ones did better due to there not being so much competition between networks) – not up there with, say, “Friends,” but still a huge success. And SMART to boot.
And now we’ve managed to get Matt hooked. HUZZAH!
Hooked…
I’m not hooked. I’m nowhere near hooked. I can stop any time I want!
(Because you haven’t loaned me the next season yet.)
The first hit is always free…
—
Matthew P. Barnson
I AM IMPEVIOUS TO THE DARK SIDE
if only because I have two two and under and have absolutely no time to watch it 🙂
Keeping with things everyone else has seen ( or done ) but I, I have never eaten at Taco Bell. Nor watched a full episode of BTVS or Friends. I did see the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld.
I think the last TV show I watched with any regularity was Scrubs.
Then came kids…now I can tell you the good Dora episodes.
Oh well… My $.02 Weed
Taco Bell?
OMG… Are you kidding.. I used to have it every frickin day when I worked at Montgomery Mall..
JT
Scrubs
Scrubs is the best show on television. Hands down. But that’s another thread.
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
I agree.,,
but I used to think that about “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” too, and we see where that show went.
My $.02 Weed
More Whedon
BTW – the rumor mill has it that studios are trying to tap Joss Whedon for X-Men 3 and the Wonder Woman movie.
Early reviews from test screenings of Serenity have thus far been extremely positive.
Spielberg and Lucas: Please make room for your successors, Whedon and Jackson.