Yeah, stuff like that can never be accurate on TV, it's like the lab results coming back overnight, detectives only working on one case at a time or people able to give statements on 5 minutes. Really only a doctor can declare life extinct but I think we'll allow dramatic licence in this case
The Body
- Thread starter Cohen
- Start date
Yeah, stuff like that can never be accurate on TV, it's like the lab results coming back overnight, detectives only working on one case at a time or people able to give statements on 5 minutes. Really only a doctor can declare life extinct but I think we'll allow dramatic licence in this case
JudyLovesBuffy
Townie
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2010
- Messages
- 24
IMHO, this was a brilliant episode. Anya's confusion over how she should be reacting gets me every time.
Angel vs Spike
vs Riley...? hardly
Indeed it was one of the best episodes of the whole series.
It was actually a feat of the director: The lack of music, the whole flashback things that make it seem like it didn't happen...
The director really made it work on this one.
It was actually a feat of the director: The lack of music, the whole flashback things that make it seem like it didn't happen...
The director really made it work on this one.
ILLYRIAN
Druish Pervonian Wizard
I wonder where the method of Joyce dying came from, was it Buffy's comment in the library at the start of season 4, as she put the books into Willow's basket?
I can't wait till mom gets the bill for these books, I hope it's a funny aneurysm.
And what about Xanders comment in the Bronze, about having cancer of the puppy?
I can't wait till mom gets the bill for these books, I hope it's a funny aneurysm.
And what about Xanders comment in the Bronze, about having cancer of the puppy?
I was only 12 years old, when this episode came out. So, it really didn't seem artistic or realistic to me at that age. Now watching it as a 21 year old, I can see how amazing this episode was. I caught it recently on the Logo reruns. Last year, my grandmother who pretty much raised me passed away and I found out through a text message in my college class saying "i'm sorry for your loss. i'll miss grams." I pretty much had the same reaction Dawn did in class and when I made it back to my dorm building had a similar experience in front of all my new friends. Kind of embarrassing. I can relate to Dawn a lot with this. Watching the episode on Logo, I was close to tears pretty much the whole episode. It was crazy. This is certainly one episode of television that could touch anyone's soul. I feel that someone who's never watched Buffy in their life could watch The Body and say "wow, this is amazing." Buffy finding her mother and the whole "mom, mom, mom, mom, MOOOMMM!!!" thing is so disturbing. Such a well written and produced episode, but still disturbing yet truely touching.
Everything about this episode was great and heartbreaking. I couldn't hold back tears. I especially loved seeing the Anya moments it showed us so much about her character and gave me a lot of insight. I still think this is one of the saddest episodes of any series I have seen.
Bungle Jerry
Orthopedic Pants
This is probably not merely my favourite BtVS episode, but my favourite hour of television ever, so if I raise a point of criticism, you'll see it's not to be contrary - I love love love this episode, but I've always disliked the inclusion of the vampire. It's like they had a contractual obligation to have one vamp per episode or something. It's shoehorned in, and in an episode that goes as far as possible to say, "this is not fantasy; this is real life", it was uncalled-for, I think.
Otherwise, I've never seen television break down the fourth wall better - not because anyone ever speaks to the camera, but because the moment Dawn breaks down at school and it's cut so that we're in the classroom too watching them, it's so incredibly real that I always feel the exact sense of shame that I would if I were really observing it happen in real life.
And speaking of shame, much love and kudos to Joss for getting network television's first female-female kiss televised in an episode that would have severely shamed any channel or advertiser grotesque enough to complain. Pity he even needed to worry about it; brilliant, brilliant solution.
Otherwise, I've never seen television break down the fourth wall better - not because anyone ever speaks to the camera, but because the moment Dawn breaks down at school and it's cut so that we're in the classroom too watching them, it's so incredibly real that I always feel the exact sense of shame that I would if I were really observing it happen in real life.
And speaking of shame, much love and kudos to Joss for getting network television's first female-female kiss televised in an episode that would have severely shamed any channel or advertiser grotesque enough to complain. Pity he even needed to worry about it; brilliant, brilliant solution.
Amazing, amazing, amazing episode. Not much I can add to what has already been said here - but I want to mention how CINEMATIC the whole episode is. Good enough for feature film - was there some restriction in the series bible that Whedon was the only director on the show who was allowed to be this cinematic and experimental? Just an amazing ensemble of acting, mise-en-scene, editing, sound, cinematography, everything!
Also wanted to give a shout out to a cameo by Kelli Garner, an underrated indie actress and absolute cutie who plays the high school bitch conspiring against Dawn in this episode.
Also wanted to give a shout out to a cameo by Kelli Garner, an underrated indie actress and absolute cutie who plays the high school bitch conspiring against Dawn in this episode.
L
LizzieRainbow
Guest
It is an amazing episode. I end up crying when Willow is searching through her tops and starts getting upset that she has no "grown-up tops". I also felt really sorry for Anya because she didn't understand death and how one day a person can be there and the next gone.
BuffyHead
Ready Randy?
that always gets me to. Anya always gets me also.... that scene is a killer.
MistressPointy
Longtime Scooby, BB Nooby
My husband wanted to comment, but he's not allowed to join the forum yet (as he's just reached The Body for the first time, and we're trying our best to avoid spoilers). 😛 His opinion definitely falls into the minority's, but here it is: "The episode was a good concept, but he tried too hard, and therefore all the stylistic interpretations of what death feels like take away from the viewer's actual connection with the characters' emotions. There were some moments of believability (I did find myself tearing up during Anya's speech and Xander's encounter with the wall, which I can relate to), but they were so few and far between that overall I feel that Joyce was not given a proper exit scene. It is impossible to accurately convey on film how a person feels when someone close to them passes away, and getting close only serves to detach the viewer from the personal connection that we feel in nearly every other episode. ... The lack of music and out of the ordinary camera movements perhaps convey a sense of confusion that comes with a death, but in the context and frequency with which they were used, they make the episode seem like a 'demo,' a rough draft that would be referenced when filming the 'actual episode.'"
---------- Post added at 10:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------
My opinion, however, is a combination of that of the norm and that of my beloved's. ;-p I feel that Joss' goal in this was something that would sting us emotionally as would the death of loved one of our own, and I feel this is accomplished in the initial viewing (as well as every subsequent viewing), but that it was not something that has stuck with me since the last time I viewed this episode, as do the emotions I've experienced from other episodes (ie: Seeing Red). I believe the no-music and, as my husband put it, 'out of the ordinary camera movements' contributed largely to the realism, or rather surrealism, one feels in such a tragic scenario, almost as though it really could have all been a terrible nightmare, the way we feel the next day (or in the middle of the night when we wake up crying after such an event), thinking there is no way what we are remembering could have been real, like I'd wake up and go running into my mother's room just to see her sleeping soundly, breathing softly, only to realize... 'she's gone.' It is for that reason that I rate this episode highly: not because it sticks with me, not because it has any resemblance to the quick-witted or action-packed experience I expect from Joss (even in the life or death, down right depressing and gut wrenching, 'leaf on the wind' moments), but because it captured the 'no way this is real' feeling in such a real way.
(I'm not the review critic my husband is, I just speak, err type what I feel.)
---------- Post added at 10:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------
My opinion, however, is a combination of that of the norm and that of my beloved's. ;-p I feel that Joss' goal in this was something that would sting us emotionally as would the death of loved one of our own, and I feel this is accomplished in the initial viewing (as well as every subsequent viewing), but that it was not something that has stuck with me since the last time I viewed this episode, as do the emotions I've experienced from other episodes (ie: Seeing Red). I believe the no-music and, as my husband put it, 'out of the ordinary camera movements' contributed largely to the realism, or rather surrealism, one feels in such a tragic scenario, almost as though it really could have all been a terrible nightmare, the way we feel the next day (or in the middle of the night when we wake up crying after such an event), thinking there is no way what we are remembering could have been real, like I'd wake up and go running into my mother's room just to see her sleeping soundly, breathing softly, only to realize... 'she's gone.' It is for that reason that I rate this episode highly: not because it sticks with me, not because it has any resemblance to the quick-witted or action-packed experience I expect from Joss (even in the life or death, down right depressing and gut wrenching, 'leaf on the wind' moments), but because it captured the 'no way this is real' feeling in such a real way.
(I'm not the review critic my husband is, I just speak, err type what I feel.)
MistressPointy
Longtime Scooby, BB Nooby
This may make us sound heartless, but upon watching the beginning of this episode...
*Buffy walks in seeing her mother lying lifeless on the couch* 'Mom? Mommy? Mom mom mom mom mom...'
*My husband & I watching* 'HI!'
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8&NR=1[/ame]
*Buffy walks in seeing her mother lying lifeless on the couch* 'Mom? Mommy? Mom mom mom mom mom...'
*My husband & I watching* 'HI!'
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8&NR=1[/ame]
VisionGirl
Newly Human
Just finished this in my re-watch, and I believe it so accurately captures what someone goes through when a loved one dies (IMO, from the perspective of someone who has been through it). I started crying with Dawn, and of course I can't not cry when Alyson cries. I relate to Anya's speech deeply: when I experienced my first losses (when I was in college a 19-yr-old friend died of Hodgkins disease, followed by my paternal grandmother 5 mos later, than grandfather 4 mos after that), that was exactly the sort of thing I thought and felt.
I did also find myself laughing at spots in the Willlow-changing-clothes scene. But y'know, it didn't seem inappropriate or disrespectful. This is the essence of these characters, and even a death doesn't change who they are.
That last scene was terrifying, starting with the camera angle on Dawn as she walks into the morgue (as if viewing her from above, with the pipes in the foreground)- could've been any scene in a truly scary horror movie. And continuing with the vamp's body rising behind Dawn. I disagree with a PP about the inclusion of the vampire. I think it was Saturn who said that this vampire was the most vampirish one in the entire series. And I think the ending emphasized what the real horror was: not the vampire, but the sight of Joyce's dead body by her daughters. The evil undead is not the worst thing in the world, the unexpected, natural death of a loved one is.
I did also find myself laughing at spots in the Willlow-changing-clothes scene. But y'know, it didn't seem inappropriate or disrespectful. This is the essence of these characters, and even a death doesn't change who they are.
That last scene was terrifying, starting with the camera angle on Dawn as she walks into the morgue (as if viewing her from above, with the pipes in the foreground)- could've been any scene in a truly scary horror movie. And continuing with the vamp's body rising behind Dawn. I disagree with a PP about the inclusion of the vampire. I think it was Saturn who said that this vampire was the most vampirish one in the entire series. And I think the ending emphasized what the real horror was: not the vampire, but the sight of Joyce's dead body by her daughters. The evil undead is not the worst thing in the world, the unexpected, natural death of a loved one is.
M
moonshadow
so true
BananaBuffy
Peanut Bear
Okay, so I watched this episode for the first time ever yesterday...Can you say 'tear-fest'? See, recently I've been told I'm going to cry at things and haven't. This is a strange thing because I am prone to crying a lot when sad things happen on TV. Trust me. And so I was kind of wondering whether or not I was going to cry at The Body. Everybody told me that I would but I just wasn't sure. I wanted to though, because for some reason I always feel good after crying during a TV show or movie.
It didn't take long after the episode started for the crying to begin, however. It was all just so amazing and tear-jerking and all the actors performances are brilliant. It really is a work of art and there is some brilliant emotions going on. I think I might have first started crying when Buffy said "We're not supposed to move the body" or whatever. I was shaking with tears after that. And then the Tara/Willow scene was just so...heartbreaking and then we moved onto Anya's monologue and Xander and Willow hugging and all of that. Anya's monlogue was the best. The emotions were perfect and it just made me cry so hard.
So basically, I cried thoughout the whole episode but that doesn't stop me from wanting to watch it all over again. Which I do plan to do.
Oh yeah, and Michelle Trachtenberg did an amazing job in this episode. I had to mention her because when she finds out I started crying harder. It was just so...well done. Her acting and the way it was shot. Everything about that scene.
It didn't take long after the episode started for the crying to begin, however. It was all just so amazing and tear-jerking and all the actors performances are brilliant. It really is a work of art and there is some brilliant emotions going on. I think I might have first started crying when Buffy said "We're not supposed to move the body" or whatever. I was shaking with tears after that. And then the Tara/Willow scene was just so...heartbreaking and then we moved onto Anya's monologue and Xander and Willow hugging and all of that. Anya's monlogue was the best. The emotions were perfect and it just made me cry so hard.
So basically, I cried thoughout the whole episode but that doesn't stop me from wanting to watch it all over again. Which I do plan to do.
Oh yeah, and Michelle Trachtenberg did an amazing job in this episode. I had to mention her because when she finds out I started crying harder. It was just so...well done. Her acting and the way it was shot. Everything about that scene.
VisionGirl
Great post- it's always interesting to read reactions from people who have never seen it before.
moonshadow
northern novice
I've got to be in good spirits when I go into watching this episode because I'm a wreck by the end of it. It captures the surreal nature of losing an essential part of your world and seeing the rest of the world carry on regardless.
There are too many amazing moments to go into them all but for me it's Anya's reaction that hits closest to home. I relate to her 'fish out of water' situation that most of the time is very funny but in times like this jar those around her.
One of the most haunting episodes of the series for me which is ironic because it deals with the supernatural the least.
There are too many amazing moments to go into them all but for me it's Anya's reaction that hits closest to home. I relate to her 'fish out of water' situation that most of the time is very funny but in times like this jar those around her.
One of the most haunting episodes of the series for me which is ironic because it deals with the supernatural the least.
VisionGirl
with your last statement especially!
Willow My Love
Scooby
So, I could've sworn I'd responded to this topic, but I guess not. I've been where Buffy was. Like Tara said, the death was expected in my case, but it was a surprise. My grandfather took the place of my father. I was there when he died. The worst experience of my life was seeing his chest fall, and never rise again. I was 12. Joss portrayed that feeling so well that after the 100th time watching this, I would still bawl. I threw up, I freaked about what to wear, and my older brother punched a hole in the wall. Papal died at 4:45 on Monday, August 7, 2000. The coroner pronounced him dead at 5:35. I told them the right time and they ignored me. I hate revsitig that memory, but that episode, when I first saw it, it brought that back up, in a good way for me. I hadn't dealt with what happened. Just pushed it away. It was so traumitizing. But seeing everyone band together to cope made me think about how my family came together. My mom and I got really close.
But it makes me think back to that experience of seeing him die. I believe they captured it completely perfectly. The feeling I got watching that episode was like reliving that all over again, but I hadn't dealt with it. I needed to, and watching that episode helped me cope more than I can say.
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But it makes me think back to that experience of seeing him die. I believe they captured it completely perfectly. The feeling I got watching that episode was like reliving that all over again, but I hadn't dealt with it. I needed to, and watching that episode helped me cope more than I can say.
Posted via Mobile Device
M
moonshadow
very touching post
White Willow
Townie
This episode is just incredible. I never cry about TV or movies ever, but this had me bawling like a baby. No TV show has ever done death more realistically than this, or at least none that I've seen.
I would say this is just about the best episode of Buffy.. not my favourite but the way it was done, was so brutally realistic, and most if not all of us can relate to what the characters are going through.
I would say this is just about the best episode of Buffy.. not my favourite but the way it was done, was so brutally realistic, and most if not all of us can relate to what the characters are going through.
W
Willow My Love
I actually have to mentally prepare myself to watch this episode or I get super depressed. It brings back painful memories. But I agree about it being the best. Not my fav either.
Goldilocks
Hostile17 stole my ♥ !
I love the episode. You see how supportive and loyal the whole Scobby Gang actually is - Willow's reaction is so touchy.
And as someone already mentioned it, one can relate to what the guys are going through, especially because it makes you realize that death is not only "bitten by a vampire", "killed by a demon" etc etc, but it is a natural thing as well, which can happen 'naturally'.
And I like the fact that there is no background music in the episode at all.
And as someone already mentioned it, one can relate to what the guys are going through, especially because it makes you realize that death is not only "bitten by a vampire", "killed by a demon" etc etc, but it is a natural thing as well, which can happen 'naturally'.
And I like the fact that there is no background music in the episode at all.
MRNewman
Potential
This was a well done episode all around. The lack of background music, the acting from the cast, just all around it's an amazing episode.
The emotion it evokes is still incredible.
The emotion it evokes is still incredible.