Myau's Buffy/Angel re-watch.

[Myau]

Hello!
Later tonight (5th May 2015) I'm going to start my Buffy/Angel re-watch - I will start from the beginning of Buffy & as the series moves into Season 4 I will use a guide I found online to watch Buffy & Angel, in the "correct" (suggested) order.

I'm quite excited to start this re-watch, I haven't watched the shows simultaneously before nor have I ever noted down my feelings about either show before. So, I thought this would be a really good and fun opportunity to do so.

I'll watch a few episodes at a time & do mini reviews & general comments.

🙂 .

 

[Myau]

I just finished watching "Welcome to the Hellmouth" & as this is the opening episode I really wanted to address it on it's own.

This is (perhaps oddly) one of the episodes I've watched the least amount of times - so it feels fairly fresh seeing it tonight. I want to start with the one negative point I have about this episode. As I watched it I was immediately taken back to when I was a young boy, watching this for the first time on a VHS tape I'd got "from Santa" & feeling like I'd missed something. This doesn't feel like an opening episode to a series, it feels more like a returning season episode (which isn't necessarily a bad thing in it's self) & it plays out assuming the viewer knows Buffy's back story. Long story short, even after all this time & knowing what I know about Buffy, I still feel like I'm "not in on the joke" for most of the episode.

With that said, I do want to praise the writing. I think the script is fantastically constructed. It's fairly obvious that this episode (and all of Season One) had a fairly low budget - but the writing totally more than makes up for it. Proving that you don't need a huge budget to tell a good story.

There are quite a few highlights for me in this episode. But one of the main ones is Buffy's face when Giles slams the "Vampyr" book on the counter. Something that Sarah Michelle Gellar was very good at throughout Buffy's run, was facial acting. That look was brilliance.

The "Hey, Aphrodisiac!" scene, floored me! I had totally forgotten about this scene. So subtly done but so hilarious, I spilled my coffee!

I was going to list ALL the quotes I found amusing or cute from this episode but we would be here all day.

I found a lot of the Giles & Buffy interactions after their initial meeting very touching. The scene in The Bronze where Giles is waffling about a Slayer should know if a vampire is near & Buffy glances & spots one because of his dated outfit, is one of my favorite moments from the entire series. I think it epitomizes their early relationship very, very well.

All the horror aspects in this episode were pretty good. The masters first appearance was amazing, I actually got a little shiver seeing him come up from that pool. Darla was particularly sinister, to me. I always enjoy the Buffy/Luke fight at the end, such a cool cliffhanger.

All in all a strong episode & it's made me excited to continue my rewatch.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

That's great that you're doing a rewatch and are going to watch Angel at the same time to. I've never done that either. I usually just watch all of Buffy then all of Angel.

I'm not sure I'm with you on the episode feeling like you missed something. It starts on Buffys first day of school and you get some back story about her past. I thought it works fine for the opening episode. Sets everything up for the season well.

 

[Myau]

That's great that you're doing a rewatch and are going to watch Angel at the same time to. I've never done that either. I usually just watch all of Buffy then all of Angel.

I'm not sure I'm with you on the episode feeling like you missed something. It starts on Buffys first day of school and you get some back story about her past. I thought it works fine for the opening episode. Sets everything up for the season well.

That's what I normally do too & I was too young really when it aired originally to properly understand the cross-over stuff. I even got Amazon Prime to make it easier to watch like this (my copies of Buffy & Angel are the VHS box sets). So excited!

You know, I was thinking about that after I posted it & wondering if I'd been a bit harsh with that comment but I stand by it. I do always feel like I'm missing something when I see it. I don't feel like I'm missing something when I watch the un-aired pilot though & I can't quite put my finger on the difference. But you're absolutely right, it does set up for the season very well 🙂.

 

[Myau]

The Harvest/Witch

Just finished watching these episodes! Both very different but equally as good. I think it goes without saying that the Harvest is a pretty crucial episode. My absolute favorite part is the cymbal throw. I'm often comparing Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Sailor Moon & the cymbal throw reminds me a lot of the original moon tiara throw.

Other highlights for me in The Harvest are Buffy leaping over the school gate & the final fight with Luke.

I actually think this episode is quite creepy & combined with Welcome to the Hellmouth, could easily pass a movie.

Witch, I think is good. I'm aware it's not a huge fan favorite but I thoroughly enjoy it every time & I like that it sets up the whole Willow/Amy/witchcraft story lines for further into the series. Cordy in this episode, really stands out for me, both the character development & Charisma's acting.

Can we just take a moment to applaud Willow's braveness in these early episodes? This girl has no powers at this point, not a whole lot of self confidence, was thrown into this situation without a clue & takes it all on the chin with a smile & is still willing to fight/do her part. Xander is brave too but largely because he's thinking with his penis... so I applaud him less. GO WILLOW!

 

[Joshua]

If you don't mind me asking, but what viewing order are you using? Cause I wanna do a watch soon

 

[Myau]

Hi Joshua, of course I don't mind 🙂.

This is the running order I'll be using:

After watching the first 3 seasons of Buffy, move on to this order. This is order is designed for minimum disc switching.

Seasons 4/1
Buffy Season 4 - The Freshman
Angel Season 1 - City of...
Angel Season 1 -Lonely Hearts
Buffy Season 4 - Living Conditions
Buffy Season 4 - The Harsh Light Of Day
Angel Season 1 -IN THE DARK
Angel Season 1 -I FALL TO PIECES
Buffy Season 4 - Fear Itself
Buffy Season 4 - Beer Bad
Buffy Season 4 - Wild at Heart
Buffy Season 4 - The Initiative
Angel Season 1 -RM W/A VU
Angel Season 1 -Sense and Sensitivity
Angel Season 1 -The Bachelor Party
Buffy Season 4 - Pangs
Angel Season 1 -I Will Remember You
Buffy Season 4 - Something Blue
Angel Season 1 -Hero
Angel Season 1 -Parting Gifts
Buffy Season 4 - Hush
Buffy Season 4 – Doomed
Buffy Season 4 - A New Man
Angel Season 1 -Somnambulist
Angel Season 1 -Expecting
Angel Season 1 -She
Buffy Season 4 - The I In Team
Buffy Season 4 - Goodbye Iowa
Angel Season 1 -I've Got You Under My Skin
Angel Season 1 -The Prodigal
Angel Season 1 -The Ring
Angel Season 1 -Eternity
Buffy Season 4 - This Year's Girl (1 of 2)
Buffy Season 4 - Who Are You? (2 of 2)
Buffy Season 4 - Superstar
Buffy Season 4 - Where the Wild Things
Angel -Five by Five (part 1 of 2)
Buffy Season 4 - New Moon Rising
Angel -Sanctuary (part 2 of 2)
Buffy Season 4 - The Yoko Factor
Angel Season 1 -War Zone
Angel Season 1 -Blind Date
Buffy Season 4 - Primeval
Buffy Season 4 - Restless
Angel Season 1 -To Shanshu in LA

Seasons 5/2
Buffy Season 5 Episode 1: Buffy vs. Dracula
Buffy Season 5 Episode 2: Real Me
Buffy Season 5 Episode 3: The Replacement
Buffy Season 5 Episode 4: Out of My Mind
Angel Season 2 Episode 1: Judgment
Angel Season 2 Episode 2: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
Angel Season 2 Episode 3: First Impressions
Angel Season 2 Episode 4: Untouched
Buffy Season 5 Episode 5: No Place Like Home
Buffy Season 5 Episode 6: Family
Angel Season 2 Episode 5: Dear Boy
Angel Season 2 Episode 6: Guise Will Be Guise
Buffy Season 5 Episode 7: Fool for Love
Angel Season 2 Episode 7: Darla
Buffy Season 5 Episode 8: Shadow
Buffy Season 5 Episode 9: Listening to Fear
Buffy Season 5 Episode 10: Into the Woods
Buffy Season 5 Episode 11: Triangle
Buffy Season 5 Episode 12: Checkpoint
Buffy Season 5 Episode 13: Blood Ties
Angel Season 2 Episode 8: The Shroud of Rahmon
Angel Season 2 Episode 9: The Trial
Angel Season 2 Episode 10: Reunion
Angel Season 2 Episode 11: Redefinition
Buffy Season 5 Episode 14: Crush
Angel Season 2 Episode 12: Blood Money
Angel Season 2 Episode 13: Happy Anniversary
Angel Season 2 Episode 14: The Thin Dead Line
Angel Season 2 pisode 15: Reprise
Angel Season 2 Episode 16: Epiphany
Angel Season 2 Episode 17: Disharmony
Buffy Season 5 Episode 15: I Was Made to Love You
Buffy Season 5 Episode 16: The Body
Buffy Season 5 Episode 17: Forever
Angel Season 2 Episode 18: Dead End
Angel Season 2 Episode 19: Belonging
Buffy Season 5 Episode 18: Intervention
Buffy Season 5 Episode 19: Tough Love
Angel Season 2 Episode 20: Over the Rainbow
Angel Season 2 Episode 21: Through the Looking Glass
Buffy Season 5 Episode 20: Spiral
Buffy Season 5 Episode 21: The Weight of the World
Buffy Season 5 Episode 22: The Gift
Angel Season 2 Episode 22: There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb

**note: Although some may not agree, the narrative flow is actually better if you watch "Darla" BEFORE "Fool For Love" (or if you have any skill at math with regards to calculating Angel's age)

Angel Season 3 Episode 1: Heartthrob
Buffy Season 6 Episode 1: Bargaining: Part 1
Buffy Season 6 Episode 2: Bargaining: Part 2
Buffy Season 6 Episode 3: After Life
Angel Season 3 Episode 2: That Vision Thing
Angel Season 3 Episode 3: That Old Gang of Mine
Angel Season 3 Episode 4: Carpe Noctem
Buffy Season 6 Episode 4: Flooded
Buffy Season 6 Episode 5: Life Serial
Angel Season 3 Episode 5: Fredless
(at this point you can watch them however you want until mid season 7 of Buffy [indicated] as Buffy moved to UPN and there were less crossovers. I grouped them into fours so it's still not as much disc switching...but feel free to watch 8 Angels in a row if you're into the story more, or vice versa)
Angel Season 3 Episode 6: Billy
Angel Season 3 Episode 7: Offspring
Angel Season 3 Episode 8: Quickening
Buffy Season 6 Episode 6: All the Way
Buffy Season 6 Episode 7: Once More, with Feeling
Buffy Season 6 Episode 8: Tabula Rasa
Angel Season 3 Episode 9: Lullaby
Angel Season 3 Episode 10: Dad
Angel Season 3 Episode 11: Birthday
Angel Season 3 Episode 12: Provider
Buffy Season 6 Episode 9: Smashed
Buffy Season 6 Episode 10: Wrecked
Buffy Season 6 Episode 11: Gone
Buffy Season 6 Episode 12: Doublemeat Palace
Angel Season 3 Episode 13: Waiting in the Wings
Angel Season 3 Episode 14: Couplet
Angel Season 3 Episode 15: Loyalty
Angel Season 3 Episode 16: Sleep Tight
Buffy Season 6 Episode 13: Dead Things
Buffy Season 6 Episode 14: Older and Far Away
Buffy Season 6 Episode 15: As You Were
Buffy Season 6 Episode 16: Hell's Bells
Angel Season 3 Episode 17: Forgiving
Angel Season 3 Episode 18: Double or Nothing
Angel Season 3 Episode 19: The Price
Angel Season 3 Episode 20: A New World
Buffy Season 6 Episode 17: Normal Again
Buffy Season 6 Episode 18: Entropy
Buffy Season 6 Episode 19: Seeing Red
Buffy Season 6 Episode 20: Villains
Angel Season 3 Episode 21: Benediction
Angel Season 3 Episode 22: Tomorrow
Buffy Season 6 Episode 21: Two to Go
Buffy Season 6 Episode 22: Grave

Angel Season 4, Episode 1: Deep Down
Angel Season 4, Episode 2: Ground State
Angel Season 4, Episode 3: The House Always Wins
Angel Season 4, Episode 4: Slouching Toward Bethlehem
Buffy Season 7, Episode 1: Lessons
Buffy Season 7, Episode 2: Beneath You
Buffy Season 7, Episode 3: Same Time, Same Place
Buffy Season 7, Episode 4: Help
Angel Season 4, Episode 5: Supersymmetry
Angel Season 4, Episode 6: Spin the Bottle
Buffy Season 7, Episode 5: Selfless
Buffy Season 7, Episode 6: Him
Buffy Season 7, Episode 7: Conversations with Dead People
Buffy Season 7, Episode 8: Sleeper
Buffy Season 7, Episode 9: Never Leave Me
Buffy Season 7, Episode 10: Bring on the Night
Buffy Season 7, Episode 11: Showtime
Buffy Season 7, Episode 12: Potential
Buffy Season 7, Episode 13: The Killer in Me
Buffy Season 7, Episode 14: First Date
Buffy Season 7, Episode 15: Get It Done
Buffy Season 7, Episode 16: Storyteller
Angel Season 4, Episode 7: Apocalypse, Nowish
Angel Season 4, Episode 8: Habeas Corpses
Angel Season 4, Episode 9: Long Day's Journey
Angel Season 4, Episode 10: Awakening
Angel Season 4, Episode 11: Soulless
Angel Season 4, Episode 12: Calvary
Angel Season 4, Episode 13: Salvage
Angel Season 4, Episode 14: Release

(Start watching in this order again around or before here.)

Buffy Season 7, Episode 17: Lies My Parents Told Me
Angel Season 4, Episode 15: Orpheus
Buffy Season 7, Episode 18: Dirty Girls
Buffy Season 7, Episode 19: Empty Places
Buffy Season 7, Episode 20: Touched
Angel Season 4, Episode 16: Players
Angel Season 4, Episode 17: Inside Out
Angel Season 4, Episode 18: Shiny Happy People
Angel Season 4, Episode 19: The Magic Bullet
Angel Season 4, Episode 20: Sacrifice
Angel Season 4, Episode 21: Peace Out
Angel Season 4, Episode 22: Home
Buffy Season 7, Episode 21: End of Days
Buffy Season 7, Episode 22: Chosen

Then all of season 5 Angel (in order, of course.)

Which I got from the Buffyfest blog.

Would be cool if you did your re-watch at the same time & we can chat about it together.

 

[Joshua]

Hi Joshua, of course I don't mind 🙂.

This is the running order I'll be using:


Which I got from the Buffyfest blog.

Would be cool if you did your re-watch at the same time & we can chat about it together.

That's a nice viewing order. But if you want it to be a realistic rewatch. Imo you should do it by the air dates of the episodes

for example

Watch S4 "Living Conditions" first and then watch the Angel episode after that that aired. Just my personal preference. It's easier.

 

[Myau]

Hello,
I haven't forgot about the forum or my re-watch. Long story short, had a terrible flu, technical issues & the way I was going to do the cross over re-watch, I now can't. So that is currently postponed. Probably pick it up back again in the winter time 🙂.

 

[iamphillip]

Hi, this is my first time seeing through the series and i too am using the watch order...

Really great tv show, i'm sad to say i didn't get into it earlier....