"Deja Buffy" - re-using the plots & arcs

[Taake]

So I was re-reading my SFX: Worlds of Whedon issue today and I came to a little part they call "Deja Buffy" where they mention that "Spin the bottle" was a virtual recycling of the idea for "Tabula Rasa", that certain arcs seem to pop up in both places (Willow turns evil... Cordy turns evil), and sudden grown up relatives appearing (Dawn & Connor)...

so it got me thinking are there any other plots/arcs you guys have seen recycled in the Whedonverse?

And out of the three mentioned do you think they were 'good' enough as ideas so to speak to be repeated on a second show and is there a version of them you prefer (i.e. which show Buffy or Angel executed these plots the best)

🙂

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Umm... I don't remember ones right now, but I'll answer the question about the 3 examples.

Good main characters turning evil is something that happens a lot, not just in Jossverse, I don't see it as recycling. The Dawn/Connor, Dawn didn't grow up fast, she was never a baby and it was a completely different arc. Tabula and Spin, a little recycling, yes.

But overall I'll say the most important thing I have to say on this: It's not recycling if the arc is completely different. It has similarities, yes, but they're treated differently. They come from a different direction, they end differently, they're not as common. If the arc is different, why not. The main idea could have similarities, so long as it's not really the same.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I think the shows copied off the other a lot. Angel losing soul to become a threat to all the other characters is another example of something that happened on both shows. I don't think it's always obvious that the writers are "recycling" ideas, but yeah, I did notice as I was watching both shows when these things were happening.
I don't think casual fans would really notice or care that the same or similar storylines were happening on two shows in the same 'Verse, but I know hardcore fans do sometimes gripe that it's a rip off.