Best Buffy episode to "hook" newbies?

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OldSwede

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I have a problem! I'm going to arrange a Buffy viewing at my workplace at the University (don't tell Fox...), to show my colleagues why I'm proudly wearing my "I'm a serious fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer"-sweatshirt at department meetings.

There would be time for only one episode. But I can't decide which episode would be most likely to "hook" someone who has never watched the show. I started from the beginning myself, and wasn't really thoroughly hooked until season 2. Also, the stand-alone episodes are often not the greatest. Give me some suggestions, and then perhaps I can make it a poll later...
 
Oh, InsaneMystic is right, check out that thread, but Im thinkin the obvious ones like Hush or The Body, they are good to show someone who dosent know anything about the show, Hush is the one that convinced my cousin that Buffy was a good show.
 
O
OldSwede
I'm thinking The Body might be a bit depressing as first episode, brilliant as it is!
I would take one that was funny, but also got through a lot of the characters personality.

If you didn't care which season, I'd say Once more with Feeling. Although it could ne too far in, and set a too high standard for the rest of the episodes.
Start in season two
 
pernilleborup said:
I would take one that was funny, but also got through a lot of the characters personality.

Yes, that was my thought - but which one is that?

If you didn't care which season, I'd say Once more with Feeling. Although it could ne too far in, and set a too high standard for the rest of the episodes.
Start in season two
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I'm not sure someone who doesn't now the characters and story would really appreciate OMWF like we do, though...

More thoughts are welcome! Remember also that this is for a group of colleagues and PhD students, not close friends or family. But with beer.
 
OldSwede said:
But with beer.
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Beer Bad? ^^

No just kidding. The first episode I saw was Something Blue. You should ask Cangel why she chose to show that one but it was cool. I think you should be looking for something relatively stand alone, but not completely, otherwise people won't be tempted to continue watching. Something Blue had the mystery with the Initiative going, or at least the "what's up with Spike" thing, and there was some Willow missing Oz, which made me wonder what had happened etc. However, School Hard would also be nice, it is not right in the middle of something, it's funny, the ending is open, so you think "think what would happen next?", it's a nice introduction to vampires and, of course, there's Spike. ^^

There should be more episodes like that, but I can't really think of one right now. Maybe doppelgangland. As long as you don't have to explain too much before watching ^^
 
ya i would say something classic in season 2. You dont want to do any of the later episodes bec that will give away important things if the person decides to get into Buffy.
 
The first episode i watched was Bargaining Part 1 and i was hooked. I'd never watched it before and automatically fell in love with it. I think a good episode to get someone hooked is possibly Halloween from season 2. I agree that it's probably best to find one from season two.
 
"Hush" always gets my friends hooked that are of that age range. However, if you're looking to hook people who're younger, I find that "Prophecy Girl" and "School Hard" always work.
 
The musical? I think it's quite a good catch. My father should me that one, but he showed me a different episode too, to make me interested, but it's way too long ago, to be able to remember. Well anyway, my memory is bad. But yeah, ooooh! I think the one where Buffy and Spike want to get married. That one yes. That one worked quite well. An Angel episode I was first shown was the one, where Wesley pretends to be Angel, that was also nice. 🙂
 
The musical one's good but we don't really want people to know what went on with BTVS at the end of season 5. LOL, that one, too!
For Angel I'd recommend "Waiting in the Wings" or "Spin the Bottle." Those always get people hooked. 🙂
 
it was graduation day that hooked me merely from the sight and humor of oz hehe, i think depending on the crowd and what u think the majority may like and which character they might respond to go with a character based episode or just throw hush or maybe even bewitched bothered and bewiledered, both pretty good episodes to start
 
If you're giving them an episode that they can start the entire show from, I'd say School Hard. That's where I have my friends start (I give them a basic synopsis of season 1 first, then have them start up), and it's worked 100% of the time.

If you're just looking for an episode they can enjoy, I'd say Hush, definitely. You don't need any real backstory to enjoy it and it's brilliant.
 
Some eps from each season I would reccomend would be:
Season 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Never Kill a Boy on the First Date, Prophecy Girl
Season 2: School Hard, Halloween, Ted, Innocence, Passion
Season 3: Dead Man's Party, Band Candy, Helpless, Earshot, The Prom
Season 4: The Freshman, Living Conditions, Fear Itself, Something Blue, A New Man
Season 5: Buffy vs. Dracula, The Replacement, Triangle, The Gift
Season 6: Life Serial, All the Way, Once More With Feeling, Gone
Season 7: Lessons, Help, Conversations With Dead People, First Date


Everything else is pretty much tied to specific storylines, and people who haven't been watching probably wouldn't be able to appreciate the episode.
 
L
luckystar
great selection smart lady ;)
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InsaneMystic
LOL! your list include some of my LEAST favorite episodes! ^^
As I said in another thread on this subject, I believe the show deserves to be watched in order from the very beginning. It's the only way that, to me, it can be truly appreciated. Warn them that if they're turned off by S1, the show improves and they'll love season 1 after they've watched the whole series.
 
BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
Well that's the PREFERABLE way of doing it, of course! :)
PurplePoof said:
As I said in another thread on this subject, I believe the show deserves to be watched in order from the very beginning. It's the only way that, to me, it can be truly appreciated. Warn them that if they're turned off by S1, the show improves and they'll love season 1 after they've watched the whole series.
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But in this case it would mean showing them only the first half of what was really a double episode...
Also, although you are of course right that the show deserves to be watched from the beginning, isn't it also true that it may work better to hook someone with a truly great episode first and then have them start from the beginning? I know I have no problem starting over every time I reach the end, and then season 1 is great just because I know what will come later.
 
I wouldnt start of with s1. Id definetly pick School Hard, Innocence or The Harsh light of day. It wont spoil it at all if they start watching not from the beginning.
 
littlewilly said:
I wouldnt start of with s1. Id definetly pick School Hard, Innocence or The Harsh light of day. It wont spoil it at all if they start watching not from the beginning.
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I consider HLoD too late, even though it's a great ep. I would definitely start with a Highschool ep - not just because I prefer the HS seasons, but because the tone of the series is markedly different 1-3 vs. 4-7... getting people hooked with smth S4 or later, and then having them start to watch WttH would feel odd IMO.
 
InsaneMystic said:
I consider HLoD too late, even though it's a great ep. I would definitely start with a Highschool ep - not just because I prefer the HS seasons, but because the tone of the series is markedly different 1-3 vs. 4-7... getting people hooked with smth S4 or later, and then having them start to watch WttH would feel odd IMO.
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I put that in because that was my first episode and it got me hooked. I felt this episode has it all and it left me wanting more. And i saw seasons 2, 3 and 4 before is saw s1 and i still loved s1 when i saw it. As long as its a good episode and they keep and open mind to it, anyone will be hooked.
 
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