J
Buffy #2 on Empire's list of "The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time".
- Thread starter David
- Start date
TheHeartist
The BB poster with a soul
Joyce Summers
Mom of a Chocoholic
See, I've always preferred Buffy. I just felt a deeper connection with the characters and there seemed to be more levels there. And while the characters on Angel were close they didn't have that family feel that the ones on Buffy did. Plus, some of the storylines on Angel dragged on far too long for me (Season 2's Darla storyline for example....)
J
JCC
Guest
Season 2's epic Darla storyline is why even the best parts of Buffy S5 pale in comparison to the wonder that is Angel S2.
Plus, Angel had that balance of dark and gritty and humour completely spot on. Buffy was where the humour sometimes took precedent over the darker aspect because of the lighter subject matter, leaving the dark reflective moments seeming a little... flat. Angel perfected that play-off.
Joyce Summers
Mom of a Chocoholic
Now please don't take this as an attack on your opinion, because it's not but I just think Buffy season 5 is far superior to Angel season 2. Angel season 2 seemed to wander around a little too much for me before getting to a pointy storyline that I found myself trying to keep my interest up whereas Buffy season 5 just kept me on the edge of my seat constantly as more and more things were torn away from us, and Buffy.
And I never thought the dark moments in Buffy fell flat. We have the light jokey times in Buffy because the darker moments are just too dark. We need to joke to allow ourselves as well as the characters relief. But there was no humor-escape used when Joyce goes into the hospital and we see her symptoms, when Riley leaves, when Joyce dies, when Tara is attacked by Glory, when Dawn is taken and when Buffy dies. I don't think humor was once actively used in any of those situations.
And season 5 of Buffy will always stand more impressively and prominently in my mind than Angel season 2 which always seems kinda fuzzy.
But like I said- that's my opinion. And obviously I'm a Buffy Girl, you're an Angel Guy.
J
JCC
I don't mind, debating's fun.
J
JCC
Guest
Yeah, but I think that it wandered because that's how both of the main parties were living at the time. On the one side you have Angel who's teetering on the brink of Angelus, and honestly isn't sure where to turn. He's lost his friends and he's lost his business, and he doesn't know which side he's fighting for any more. Then you have Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn, who've never done this alone before. You have the struggles of their trying to make things work and feel their way along, and it comes out in the storyline. And then, as the group is reunited and they find their way again, the storyline tightens and all of those loose ends and meandering are done with for the end of the season where there's a clear ethos to their mission.
I appreciate the humour in the Whedonverse, counterplaying with humour is what made the dark moments so effective.
The Body was an incredible episode, that I will concede. Riley leaving always seemed rather immature to me, I could never feel the same way about it as I did with, say, Angel setting Darla and Drusilla on fire. The last two episodes of Season 5 are fantastic, and I have to say that when Buffy died I was almost moved to tears, but if Buffy had been made up of moments like that, it would've kicked Angel's rear all over the Whedonverse. Buffy was just a bit inconsistent, whereas Angel delivered.
😀 I like debates.
Joyce Summers
Mom of a Chocoholic
Buffy was inconsistent while Angel delivered? ::coughs, splutters, before forcing self to maintain a live of Mom-like calm::.
I will repeat my statement about being a Buffy Girl. Haha.
See, as regards to Angel I thought the superior seasons were 3 and 5. 2 kinda fell flat for me. I do get your reasoning behind why it did drag on- and I always thought the part where Angel lets the lawyers be devoured by Drusilla and Darla was particularly chilling- but seasons 3 and 5 were better in my opinion, and well.....::says this in a rush:: Buffy 1-7 to seven just beat them all and this magazine proves it! Haha. 😉 (I think what I'm trying to say here is 'Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh 😀)
I will repeat my statement about being a Buffy Girl. Haha.
See, as regards to Angel I thought the superior seasons were 3 and 5. 2 kinda fell flat for me. I do get your reasoning behind why it did drag on- and I always thought the part where Angel lets the lawyers be devoured by Drusilla and Darla was particularly chilling- but seasons 3 and 5 were better in my opinion, and well.....::says this in a rush:: Buffy 1-7 to seven just beat them all and this magazine proves it! Haha. 😉 (I think what I'm trying to say here is 'Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh 😀)
J
JCC
Guest
Season Five was awesome. Having Spike in the mix didn't hurt.
Overall, I think that Buffy and Angel are so different that to compare the two is difficult.
Joyce Summers
Mom of a Chocoholic
I agree. Spike added something to that season that without him would have left a unpinpointable void. Season 5 just had so much. It had everything that makes the Whedonverse and the Buffyverse what it is. And the Fred/Illyria storyline always hits me hard.
And yeah, I think you're right. The two shows, despite being linked, went off in completely different directions and it does become increasingly difficult to directly compare the two. And eventually it just all comes down to personal preference.
Lauryn Summers
Sister of the Slayer
It's really amazing to me to see this show still recognized, and so high up in lists, even 5 years/6 years after it was completed. It really goes to show that people still care about these shows long after they are done. For me, it seems like it just ended, since I only just watched the entire series recently, but then I have to remind myself that it was "way back" in 2003. I've seen many TV shows (granted not nearly as many as others) but I pride myself on watching/completing the ones I feel have most merit and strong story line. Buffy is the #1 show I've watched on that aspect, in my world. Part of the reason is that I really connected with the characters from "Buffy" as opposed to characters from, for example, "Alias" or "Friends". Connecting to characters means connecting to the story line, and for me, that connection is one of the biggest reasons I watch a show. Also, I have to agree, that the humor in Buffy was welcome. I love a hero who can pun it up while she's fighting!
If I keep going in circles, I apologize! I'm a bit sick with a cold and I'm all congested!! Mushy brain!
If I keep going in circles, I apologize! I'm a bit sick with a cold and I'm all congested!! Mushy brain!
God, shut up! You don't have to yell at EVERYONE that doesn't agree with YOUR specific way of thinking. Who cares if people think it's stupid to ALWAYS put OMWF and Hush as there favorite? Stop ranting at everyone please.
L
LorneyTunes
hell yeh hes a moanie x
KhaoticLove
Townie
I never really got into the Simpsons but everyone loves that show so I can see why its first, but Im so happy that Buffy got 2nd thats awesome and I bet it makes the cast and crew smile.
F
Fake Shemp
made me smile
Wara lover
Townie
I don't agree with Buffy being under Simpsons...I think The Simpson's is highly overrated show..but I'm still happy. 2nd out of every tv show in history is an AMAZING achievement. I completely agree with OMWF being the best episode as it's always been my fave episode. I think it fully showcases what the cast can do, including showning a talent that most people wouldn't know about/think they had. It also shows just how good Joss is that he could write the dialogue and the songs and the music and direct the whole thing.... Genius!! (plus I'm a musicals freak lol)
I'm very happy Angel and Firefly were also in the top 25...though I thought they should be higher. I was surprised that Firefly was higher than Angel, though I don't agree/disagree...it does seem to be the general consensus that Firefly is a highly underrated show, especially among sci-fi fans. It's a testament to Joss that he got 3 shows not only on the list but in the top 25...not many people(or any other people, I'm not sure) managed that.
JOSS IS GOD!!!
I'm very happy Angel and Firefly were also in the top 25...though I thought they should be higher. I was surprised that Firefly was higher than Angel, though I don't agree/disagree...it does seem to be the general consensus that Firefly is a highly underrated show, especially among sci-fi fans. It's a testament to Joss that he got 3 shows not only on the list but in the top 25...not many people(or any other people, I'm not sure) managed that.
JOSS IS GOD!!!
Washburne
Protector of the key.
Can´t complain with a list that has so many great show on it. But a list is nothing else than a list. Fun then you agree with it and annoying then you don´t. But it´s hard to complain then two of my all time favourite shows are in the top 5. Of course Buffy, but also The west wing # 4. Is there anyone here that also loves this show? I feel lonely. :sad:
hyperballadbrad
Floppy. Hoppy. Bunnies!
Buffanator
got Spike?
Wow... I'm impressed that (what I refer to as) "The Whe-3" shows hit the list, & that Buffy hit it at #2 is even MORE impressive.
I wasn't surprised to see Star Trek, X-Files, The Sopranos or Friends.... but I was VERY happy to see that several of my other favs made it! - Prison Break, The Shield, Sex in the City, Frasier...
And quite perplexed that so many INCREDIBLE shows DIDN'T make the list... Rescue Me, (Dennis Leary is a genius!), Nip/Tuck, Weeds (OMG I love this show!!!!), Rome... and few older shows that are clearly the best is TV viewing, such as M*A*S*H, All in the Family, Sanford & Son...
The way I look at it, seems that someone of a "younger" (or rather, a better term, "more recent") generation was the head lister here.
And so I have to wonder WHO makes up these "lists". I mean, no list is like any other... Empire & Time Magazine would certainly have different lists... & no one has ever matched my own (how could it?) For instance, I know that Seinfield is one of the most POPULAR shows ever... but I never cared for it. I tried to watch it... several times... but it just didn't do it for me. Same goes for The Simpsons. Just never could get into it. So of course they wouldn't be on my list.
Oh well. I don't really care. I KNOW my favorite shows & I have them on DVD, so whoopity-doo-doo. (But still happy that Buffy, Angel & Firefly made the list!!!)
I wasn't surprised to see Star Trek, X-Files, The Sopranos or Friends.... but I was VERY happy to see that several of my other favs made it! - Prison Break, The Shield, Sex in the City, Frasier...
And quite perplexed that so many INCREDIBLE shows DIDN'T make the list... Rescue Me, (Dennis Leary is a genius!), Nip/Tuck, Weeds (OMG I love this show!!!!), Rome... and few older shows that are clearly the best is TV viewing, such as M*A*S*H, All in the Family, Sanford & Son...
The way I look at it, seems that someone of a "younger" (or rather, a better term, "more recent") generation was the head lister here.
And so I have to wonder WHO makes up these "lists". I mean, no list is like any other... Empire & Time Magazine would certainly have different lists... & no one has ever matched my own (how could it?) For instance, I know that Seinfield is one of the most POPULAR shows ever... but I never cared for it. I tried to watch it... several times... but it just didn't do it for me. Same goes for The Simpsons. Just never could get into it. So of course they wouldn't be on my list.
Oh well. I don't really care. I KNOW my favorite shows & I have them on DVD, so whoopity-doo-doo. (But still happy that Buffy, Angel & Firefly made the list!!!)