Episodes that are a good intro to Buffy

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BocaDelInfierno

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Sadly, my best friend is not a Buffy fan. In fact she has been making fun of me for watching Buffy for almost 8 years now. I finally convinced her to let me show her some eps, so she could see how good Buffy really is. She told me I had three chances. So my question is, what three eps would you show someone to get them hooked on Buffy. Eps that would show the clever and intelligent dialogue and what good writing the serries has. Her boyfriend had first crack, and unfortunately showed her eps that I think you need to either already be a fan of Buffy or know need some history to really appreciate. (Teacher's Pet, When She Was Bad, and Never Kill a Boy on the First Date). Any suggestions?
 
The first ep I tried was Tabula Rasa. I'll be honest. I thought it was ridiculous. I didn't get past the guy in the rubber shark head. Luckily for me though BTVS was also in reruns on another channel. The next one I saw was Hush, and I've been hooked ever since. So I'd say Hush.

Is there an episode she reminds you of? That one, but don't tell her why.

Is there an episode that speaks of issues she's going through? That one too, but again, don't tell her why.
 
Welcome to the hellmouth. The first episode. It makes sense.
Once more with feeling. Who couldn't love this episode!
And perhaps Hush...The Body...Or Restless...Or Becoming!

This is harder than I thought. Although really one episode should be enough!It's Buffy!
 
nerd4hire
nerd4hire
Yeah on the others, but Restless? For a noob?
M
MentPatient
Actually, The Body isn't really a good one. They need to understand WHY Anya doesn't understand it all. That is one of the better parts of the episode afterall.
I thought the second half of season 2 really started to click, demonstrated what the show would evolve into. A couple of picks:

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
I Only Have Eyes for You
 
I would say Earshot. It's one of my favorite episodes LOL But it's got comedy, drama, and everything else a Buffy episode should have. I agree on Hush also, that episode is really good. The Gift would probably be a good choice too but there might be too much goin on in that ep.
 
Oh wait. I've got it. Show her the last 3 episodes of Season 6. If she's not hooked after that little mini-arc, she never will be.
 
W
What happened to good TV?
I thought maybe Restless would entice them to want to know what the hell it was all about! :). The end of season 6 dark Willow arc! Good call!
The first episode I would get her to watch would be Welcome to the hellmouth and The harvest, but Only if she counts them as one episode so you would have 2 other changes, if she refuses to allow them be the same ep and will only give you one other shot, then don't show her them. If not then I would go with Prophecy Girl.

Then yeah I would agree with Vision Guy, I would show her Earshot.

Then... hm? I think I would show her Showtime from season 7, I think that would show a good range from the characters. Each ending on a good note, and also not heavy with the series arc, except Showtime but that could leave her with question she wants answered, get her hooked.

Of course you could maybe she her a specific type of the show, Like tell her these eps are mainly concentrated on The Slayer Show her
WttHM(Again only with Harvest as 1 episode) - Becoming prt 2(Part one if you could convince her 🙂) - Bring on the night, I wouldn't go for Get it done cuz it's kind heavy with the facts.

Or you could go with a specific arc like the Evil Willow Arc, Show her
Doppelganger - Two to Go - Grave

Or a love arc
Angel - Surprise - Innocence
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I can't decide if it would be better to go with three really good stand alones (In which case I would probably do Hush, The Body, and maybe Restless. Although Restless is a little out there, she likes David Lynch movies, so I don't think it would be too much) or three arcing episodes (I got hooked by watching Becoming part 1 and 2 because I had to find out what happened to Angel. So maybe those two and then maybe Amends, or I could go the other way and go with Innocence.)

Part of the problem is that while she likes sci-fi and some supernateral things, she's not to big on fanatasy. Oh, and as much as I love Hush and think she would love it too, I always talk about how I love the dialogue on Buffy, so I can't help but think I should show eps with great dialogue. I think I'm mostly rambling now, still open for more suggestions.

I think that she would find most of the episodes from Season One too campy, with maybe the exception of Prophesy Girl. Plus they are all very high school based, and we're old enough that it is getting a little more difficult to relate to.

Oh and Black Eye Guy, I don't think she will let me use any of the two part eps as one. She is already a little weary because of the eps her boyfriend showed her.
 
BocaDelInfierno said:
Oh and Black Eye Guy, I don't think she will let me use any of the two part eps as one. She is already a little weary because of the eps her boyfriend showed her.
Click to expand...

Damn that could have been a nice sneeky way to get her to see more, lol. Well I like your list The Body and Hush are excellent, The one thing I would question in Restless, just it might be a little hard to follow without knowing the characters, what about Once More with Feeling, tie up the 3 different episdes?
 
Oh course, Earshot would be really good too, and the Dark Willow arc, maybe I should just strap her to a chair and do a marathon. LOL

I love Once More With Feeling, but honestly I don't know how she would react to the singing and dancing, I could possibly replace Restless though. The more I think the more episodes I want to show.
 
I think Restless would be enough to intrigue anyone to continue watching the series. Its funny, its freaky, its well acted, it would work well in a contrast to the other episodes you plan on showing, it would show the diversity of the actors and the different ways the episodes are done(I mean dream sequences=awesome!), its brilliant!

Although once more with feeling to finish of the bufy marathon would be the icing on the cake. If that doesnt convince her nothing will!
 
I would say HUSH for sure. It is so interesting. And it is very important to show her Welcome to the Helmouth and also try to get her to watch harvest with it as one epi, like was ,mentioned up there ^

Then as a third I would probably show Tabula Rasa it is so funny. Yes the shark part is a little weird but if she is going to sit thru it then it is over faster then you think. Sooo, those are my top three...Not my fav top three, but a top 3 that may get her involved...or you can show her from the beginning, minus the witch epi and the teachers pet...might be a good start too.
 
Actually OMWF maybe wasn't the best suggestion, It's possible that people who don't like the show really won't like that episde, and I'd say the same thing, I think if I'd seen Tebula Rasa first it would have made me second guess continuing to watch, just cuz of how incrediabley cheesy the shark demon was. also it's only really funny if you know the characters, I think I would choose The Body, Earshot and Hush as my finale list!
 
I would try to get her to watch four episodes. Tell her one is a gimme, you need to see it anyway. That would be "Welcome to the Hellmouth/Harvest" You cannot possibly understand the show's base plot without watching that episode. You get it all... about Buffy's struggle to be a normal person, meeting all the central characters at their 'weakest'.

I would then probably have them watch "Becoming" "Showtime" and "Chosen" That way, your friend could see the beginning and the end, see the reason why Buffy became so popular (in my opinion, it's because of season two and it's eps) and how even though she gets knocked down, Buffy can still kick butt better than anyone.

I would stay away from the popular episodes. You need to appreciate the show to appreciate their value (Hush, OMWF, The Body)
 
I would obviously select the very first episode as a choice.

"The Body" is another one for greatness as is the "Graduation Day" episodes (if counted as one)

"Hush" is great, but Riley may be a bit of a bugger to explain especially if this is the only season four episode you choose.
 
if it was me doing this, i would choose one of the Angelus arcs of S2...possibly 'Innocence' or 'Passions'. i'd choose 'Restless' or 'Hush' from S4 and 'The Gift'
if you can't get hooked from watching 'The Gift' then you're dead inside, lol. seeing Buffy's death would make me wanna know why she had to die in the first place, i'd want to find out what her 'gift' actually was, and why Glory was there in the first place, so i'd watch all of S5...and that would make me wanna watch the rest, i think! lol even though i have been watching from the beginning.
 
I'd personally show her first: a fairly "simple" episode, one that focuses on the characters and such, but maybe not WTTH (something from early season two, maybe? Just something that's not overly complicated and focuses on all the characters)

Then, either show her a funny episode, and finally the show BEFORE a season finale (part one of a two parter 😉)

OR

Make the two last episodes ones that lead up to a grand finale, and leave her without the last episode, she'll be left hanging for a while and bean addict in no time 😉
 
Me personally, i'd go for Tabula Rasa.
Its a funny episode, it introduces the characters well, it gives you an update of whats been happening and it even allows someone who doesnt know the characters insight because they change characters.
 
From my personal experience tabula rasa has the ability to create a buffy fan, at least it did with my friend.

I'd also go for the episode where spike describes how he killed nikki woods and xin rong or the episode with buffy, the judge and a bazooka lol
 
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