Question Episode to get someone interested

[Aimee]

I'm hoping to get a friend into Buffy who thinks it sounds stupid.

In the past I've started one friend off with Season 4. I did that because I thought he'd find season 1 dated and I see season 1-3 as almost a trilogy. Turns out I had nothing to fear because when he went back to the beginning & watched the first 3 seasons he loved them.

I've started someone with season 1 when a) she insisted started from the beginning & b) I knew she watches Dr Who so she's used to cheap looking effects! 😉

With this friend I need an episode to make her want to watch it from the start. Something to convince her it's awesome and to give it a chance. So I need an episode that stands alone with no spoilers. My instinct is that she'll love season 5 & 6 but there's too many spoilers (eg. Dawn). I'm pretty sure she'll love Spike and Anya, but it doesn't have to be an episode with those characters.

Any suggestions?

 

[Blaze]

I'd go with Hush. It's funny, it's scary, it's full of suspense, and there's just enough stuff happening for your friend to want to watch more of it! There's no major spoiler, and most people like it.

Plus, it's not as out there as other epis, like OMWF, but it still showcase the uniqueness of BtVS. Plus, it might make your friend wonder about some of the characters, who they are, where they are coming from etc. and since it's mostly silent it'll keep the suspense and they can go back and watch from the beginning without being too too confused about the characters.

I think other good ones are the Halloween episodes, since those are also very stand alone-ish.

 

[nightshade]

I would say Hush as well, it's standalone and a great ep, plus Spike and Anya are in it!

For season 5 though, depending on the person how about family? it's pretty stand alone, shows the type of people the scooby gang are, with a little demon action.

Or possibly something blue, kinda spoilerish with Oz, but a fun ep.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I'd go with Prophecy.
She, your friend will get to know who the heroine of the show is quickly, what is the reasoning of the show.
Also those 12 episodes made the TV station believe the show had enough oomph, so it should be enough to convince your friend.

 

[Lyri]

See, I think it's wrong to start someone off with an ep like 'Hush' or OMWF or 'The Body'. They are GREAT episodes, the best the series ever did - but they are one offs. Starting someone with an ep like that gives them VERY high expectations, expectations that show just cannot live up to. Not every episode is as groundbreaking as 'Hush' was and I think, if that was the first ep someone watched, and then they had to go back to 'Welcome to the Hellmouth' and 'The Harvest', they'd be confused and are more likely to stop watching. The show doesn't really get going until the middle of S2, so, if they're disillusioned that the first eps aren't like 'Hush', they'd never get to S2 or the good eps, because I think they'd feel cheated.

Me, personally, if I was trying to get someone to watch the show for the first time I'd start with 'Surprise'/'Innocence' or 'Passion'. They are solid, strong, well-written, brilliantly acted and hugely character driven - but it's enough to get people thinking, and they'd want to know Angel's background, where he came from and why sex suddenly makes him a passive smoker.

 

[thetopher]

I agree with Lyri, start with a 'MOTW' in S1 or 2

Two of my friends watched 'The Puppet Show' with me, and were hooked after that. They liked the chemistry between the lead cast members, which is the main thing.

It's a 'MOTW' so the premise is set up, the characters get established pretty quickly, there's some good Xander and Buffy lines. It doesn't set the bar too high special effects-wise (Sid the Dummy anyone...) and its a mystery, to keep the interest up.

All round, its a typical Buffy episode, tells newbies what to expect, and they're pysched when they realise how much better the show gets over the next couple of Seasons.

 

[BuffyElevated]

If you're wanting her to watch from the beginning, I'd go with something like "Prophecy Girl" or like Lyri said, "Surprise/Innocence". Season 2 has a LOT of great episodes in it.

 

[Xin Rong]

I'd skip Buffy, and go straight to Angel, people take that show more seriously, probably 'cos the name isn't as silly, and then once they're hooked on angel, they'll be open to buffy.

This a tried and tested technique, that has worked for me on three occasions.

 

[Xin Rong]

thetopher agrees: That's actually a good point, it works well with guys, I notice, It's a darker, more action-packed show.

Definitely, it worked on my girlfriend, who has a more 'male' taste in entertainment, and my sister's boyfriend, and my best (male) friend.

I suppose an introduction to the buffyverse does depend on whom your trying to introduce

 

[Kean]

When someone asks this question I always answe with "Anne." It doesn't seem like much but I think it is a perfect stand alone episode with some amazing FCKYES moments. It is perfectly placed in that you can understand what is going on but it still would encourgage someone to want to see what came before that ep and what comes after.

But honestly? I think Welcome to the Hellmouth / Harvest are two very strong episodes to start someone on.

 

[sk]

But honestly? I think Welcome to the Hellmouth / Harvest are two very strong episodes to start someone on.

I agree with this.
Watching the pilot, and be patient enough to watch a few episodes after that is the best way to get proper feel of a new show.

All other ways just get spoilerish and I would hate that if it was me.

And if they don't enjoy the pilot of Buffy I don't see how they will make it through season 1 anyway.

/SK

 

[EVIL UU]

 

[TotallySpiked]

I honestly think just show them the first few eps of season 1. I think if you show someone random episodes, you spend too much time trying to explain who that character is and why they've done that etc, etc. That's from my own experience. I've shown people The Body, OMWF, beginning part 2, The Gift, Hush and Something Blue. I feel, in hindsight that they should have just watched Welcome to the Hellmouth and get to learn to love these characters like most of us did. I think sometimes we just want to skip ahead to show them the standout eps because they're awesome. What makes them so awesome though is that backstory and that character understanding and also appreciating the fact that not all episodes will be like this.
Just my two cents.

 

[Aimee]

Disappointing news.

I decided to go with Something Blue. It's funny, you get to know all the characters and I figured she'd want to go on to watch the next episode, Hush.

Unfortunately, she was sending text messages on her phone even before the opening credits rolled and continued to do so all the way through the episode.
When she was paying attention she was laughing.
At the end of the episode she said it was funny but she didn't think it would be something she could see herself watching. She also used the word tacky.

Now I'll point out she is a Vampire Diaries fan. She is aware now that all those plot lines she has been enjoying so much were ripped off from Buffy and Angel. But she enjoys the melodrama of Vampire Diaries.

I kind of feel like she had no intention of enjoying it and was surprised she was laughing but had already decided that watching an episode was going to be a token gesture because I love the show so much and she's loved every other show I've given her to watch (Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Weeds, Entourage, and Breaking Bad).

I'm really disappointed she didn't really give it a go. I'm actually surprised at how annoyed I was about it.

Sigh.

 

[thetopher]

That's the thing about Buffy, it has the bravery not to take itself too seriously.

I've seen the (laughable) Vampire Diaries, and like a lot of genre shows nowadays (Beauty And The Beast, Grimm) seems to lack a sense of humour. (I actually like 'Sleepy Hollow' a lot because it can juggle horror with the occassional witty aside...)

To somebody used to those kind of shows I guess it could come off as cheesy, but its got far more depth than any of them.

 

[Merrick]

I'm hoping to get a friend into Buffy who thinks it sounds stupid.

In the past I've started one friend off with Season 4. I did that because I thought he'd find season 1 dated and I see season 1-3 as almost a trilogy. Turns out I had nothing to fear because when he went back to the beginning & watched the first 3 seasons he loved them.

I've started someone with season 1 when a) she insisted started from the beginning & b) I knew she watches Dr Who so she's used to cheap looking effects! 😉

With this friend I need an episode to make her want to watch it from the start. Something to convince her it's awesome and to give it a chance. So I need an episode that stands alone with no spoilers. My instinct is that she'll love season 5 & 6 but there's too many spoilers (eg. Dawn). I'm pretty sure she'll love Spike and Anya, but it doesn't have to be an episode with those characters.

Any suggestions?

There have been some very good suggestions, namely Hush. However I have had a lot of success with the Season 3 episode The Wish. It's a standalone but nicely encapsulates the importance of Buffy as a character, Cordelia's bitchiness/awesomness and hints at a darker future for the show.

---------- Post added at 11:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 AM ----------

Sorry Aimee, perhaps I should have read your post where you said you'd ALREADY shown her an episode before I posted my previous response. 😱

 

[Still a Scoobie]

Now I'll point out she is a Vampire Diaries fan.

And you're still friends with this person? 😡

JK, the rest of my immediate family all watch the Vampire Diaries, even though we all watched Buffy together and I can't stand TVD.


This is a little off-topic but does anyone know if there was a major vamp presence on TV or in films pre-Buffy? I'm too young to remember much from back then but I always think of BtVS as the first and the best. It will always be the best but am I wrong on it being the first?

 

[Kean]

And you're still friends with this person? 😡

JK, the rest of my immediate family all watch the Vampire Diaries, even though we all watched Buffy together and I can't stand TVD.


This is a little off-topic but does anyone know if there was a major vamp presence on TV or in films pre-Buffy? I'm too young to remember much from back then but I always think of BtVS as the first and the best. It will always be the best but am I wrong on it being the first?

There was Forever Knight, which I think the premise of ATS owes a lot, if not everything, to. Also, Dracula the Series and couple of other shows but nothing break out successful.

I suppose the biggest Vampire hit in the early 90s was Interview with a Vampire. Or, the Count on Sesame Street lol

 

[Still a Scoobie]

There was Forever Knight, which I think the premise of ATS owes a lot, if not everything, to. Also, Dracula the Series and couple of other shows but nothing break out successful.

I suppose the biggest Vampire hit in the early 90s was Interview with a Vampire. Or, the Count on Sesame Street lol

Of course, how could I forget the Count? Someone should have staked him by now, really. He's on TV all the time, indoctrinating every generation's children with dangerous ideas on vampirism and maths, he's a menace. 😀

I'll have to look into those other shows. I like vampire stories but almost everything post-Buffy feels like a rip off.

 

[Kean]

Of course, how could I forget the Count? Someone should have staked him by now, really. He's on TV all the time, indoctrinating every generation's children with dangerous ideas on vampirism and maths, he's a menace. 😀

I'll have to look into those other shows. I like vampire stories but almost everything post-Buffy feels like a rip off.

I find the vampire thing really corny. I haven't been able to stick with any other show or film that was focused on vampires. And yet somehow my two favourite characters in fiction are a vampire with a soul and vampire slayer.

I had a look at Forever Knight and it looks like S1 of Buffy only much, much campier.