Trying to get someone into the show

[Bluebird]

I've got an idiot friend who has a strong prejudice against Buffy and Angel, and I wanted to get him into it. Do you think it's best to show a few of the real stand out greatest eps first? Or just force them to start from the beginning and tell him not to be so narrow minded?

 

[caitaintdead]

It depends why they are being narrow minded? Sometimes it's best to go with the great stand out episodes. What kind of movies/shows are they into?

 

[Bluebird]

It depends why they are being narrow minded? Sometimes it's best to go with the great stand out episodes. What kind of movies/shows are they into?

Hmm I guess he's just not into sci-fi/fantasy shows. That's his excuse anyways. Although he's a massive fan of HIMYM, so maybe that's a good way to hook him haha.

 

[Washburne]

Or just force them to start from the beginning and tell him not to be so narrow minded?

That's what I do but I can't say it's the best way since the only ones I've managed to convince are people that really trust my taste in tv-shows. Not that they like everything I like but when I recommend them something they've ended up liking it.

Do you think that you can force them to sit through a certain number of episodes without giving up I'd say make him watch it from the beginning. But it's probably easier to hook someone by showing them great stand alones. If they manage to get into the style of the show fast. Watching OMWF for example without knowing anything about the show in general or the characters and their connections must be very weird. I know that it worked for WA but I'm still sceptical. But since OMWF is such a different episode maybe something like Hush would work better. Which stand alones would you show him?

 

[Bluebird]

Which stand alones would you show him?

Probably Hush, Doppelgangland and maybe Halloween. Like, really good stand alone eps that don't give away much of the plot of the season.

 

[caitaintdead]

I recently declared that The Replacement would be the perfect episode to show someone for the first time. It has genuine laughs, a stand-a-lone villain, a clever storyline, some good fight scenes.

I got someone into Buffy by showing them The Body. He lost a parent at a young age so found it poignant and it really spoke to him. After that he wanted to see the next episode to see how they represented the grieving period, then he watched the rest of season 5. Then wanted to know the characters backstory.

 

[MinwaraYana]

I'd go with Hush, Doppelgangland or Halloween too. But out of these 3, I'd pick Doppelgangland. It's like a short film and there's two Willows, which is interesting. Also, your friend is HIMYM fan, right? Show her how awesome Aly was in BtVS. 😉

 

[Anya2012]

Show him episodes like School Hard, The Wish, Dopplegangland just to name a few. There are so many good episodes it will surely make him a fan. 🙂

 

[DanAngelus]

I'd say Dopplegangland is a good one to show someone you are trying to get into the show. Whenever I've tried to get someone into Buffy I've just made them watch from the beginning, but that is the hard way imo.

 

[Ms.Trick]

I think it's best to show some episodes that your friend may like to start opening his mind!
As mentionned, Hush is a good episode. I also think about Something Blue, Once more with feeling (I have a friend who really wanted to watch the show after I showed her OMWF), Halloween, Bewitched, Bothered, and bewildered, Intervention,...There are a lot of episode you can show your friend, just depends on what he likes! If he is very into HIMYM, crazy-funny episode he will like!

But it's really necessary to show episodes he might like before he watches the whole show from begin of season 1 to end of season 7!

The friend I showed OMWF to watched the first season with another friend, who made her watch it non-stop, the whole season 1 at once, so my friend say "Hum, I'm going to wait till I start watching it again, seeing all in once make me lose a bit my envy to watch the show, even tough I've seen episodes every now and then...I'll wait and watch it at my own pace, someday!"
So don't rush things! 😉

 

[kristin1105]

I didnt like buffy untill i saw a few episodes from season 6 and 7. Maybe thatll work for him. Truthfully I thought it looked really lame especially the first two seasons. I feel in love around season 3 but season 1 and 2 do play a huge part.

 

[VisionGirl]

I just watched Graduation Day part 2 last night, and that was so awesome that I'd recommend that. Of course, it's a finale of sorts, so it might ruin the whole story for your friend.

 

[Stanger406]

I have actually been thinking about this, while rewatching the series recently...I have some friend who know I'm obsessed with Buffy, and refuse to give it a try because it's about "a girl who fights people in rubber masks"...I think some people see that as being all Buffy is about, plus, I think the title really throws people off. I know I won't be able to convince them anytime soon to watch (though I recently got two people at work to watch the whole series and start reading the comics, but they are more open minded)...but in my opinion, Passion is the perfect episode to start someone off with.

1.) It's not overly supernatural...not too much vamp stuff, and no demons.
2.) Has some great laugh moments (Cordy worrying about the vamps being able to get in her car whenever they want).
3.)And amazing drama (need I mention it).

I think it's the perfect episode to show that the show can go all sorts of places, and some weeks be crazier than the next.

My other choices would be Bad Girls and The Body!! If they aren't hooked by then, I don't think they'll ever be haha.

 

[StarSlayer]

Hmm I guess he's just not into sci-fi/fantasy shows. That's his excuse anyways. Although he's a massive fan of HIMYM, so maybe that's a good way to hook him haha.

No, seriously, that's your hook right there! If he watches HIMYM, he probably loves Neil Patrick Harris. If he does, then he has to love Dr. Horrible (who doesn't). And if he loves Dr. Horrible, which was written and directed by Joss Whedon, he has to start watching Buffy! Maybe lead him in with the episodes with Nathan Fillon and Felicia Day, or even OMWF, although I think it's always best to start at the beginning 🙂

 

[zobothehobo]

I was really closed minded and prejudice against Buffy at first because I thought it was one of those "geeky/nerdy shows for convention goers and losers." AKA I didn't like sci-fi/fantasy. Then I watched Buffy because it had connections to so many things I liked and realized it was really great... and then I did a whole bunch of sci-fi/fantasy and have discovered I'm one of those geeky/nerdy convention goers.

I've been struggling with this same question because I have two friends who are so against Buffy but I know if they watched it, they'd fall in love. I think I'm going to show them a few stand out episodes first. I'm thinking of starting with Hush. I know they'll both love it. The issue is how to get them to agree to even watch that. I was thinking about showing them OMWF but then I decided that was unfair... too many spoilers.

 

[VisionGirl]

I was really closed minded and prejudice against Buffy at first because I thought it was one of those "geeky/nerdy shows for convention goers and losers." AKA I didn't like sci-fi/fantasy. Then I watched Buffy because it had connections to so many things I liked and realized it was really great... and then I did a whole bunch of sci-fi/fantasy and have discovered I'm one of those geeky/nerdy convention goers.

LOL, since I got back into Buffy I've totally embraced my inner geek. And she's always been there, just hidden, waiting to reemerge. 🙂 I realize that I come by it naturally: I was raised by a father who exposed us to Star Trek, Highlander, comic books (I was an X-Men fan from way back!) and shelves full of sci-fi/fantasy hardbacks (he was always a member of one of those monthly book clubs). I read CS Lewis, Tolkein, McCaffrey, and L'Engle growing up! Oh yeah, I'm a nerd. :tongue3:

 

[zobothehobo]

LOL, since I got back into Buffy I've totally embraced my inner geek. And she's always been there, just hidden, waiting to reemerge. 🙂 I realize that I come by it naturally: I was raised by a father who exposed us to Star Trek, Highlander, comic books (I was an X-Men fan from way back!) and shelves full of sci-fi/fantasy hardbacks (he was always a member of one of those monthly book clubs). I read CS Lewis, Tolkein, McCaffrey, and L'Engle growing up! Oh yeah, I'm a nerd. :tongue3:

My parents weren't like that at all. When I bought my first comic book last week dad freaked out on me and told me he'd lost me. Which is strange coming from him because a while ago (like a couple years) he went through this big huge thing and watched everything in the Stargate franchise to date. He has followed it since then... But whatever, parents are weird.

 

[Washburne]

My other choices would be Bad Girls and The Body!! If they aren't hooked by then, I don't think they'll ever be haha.

I'm sure The body will work on some people but I wouldn't consider it a given winner. It's depressing, the atmosphere is dark and the lack of music although a great touch doesn't make it easier to watch. Especially if you're not connected with the characters. You'll see that they're in pain but you won't feel their pain in the same way as you do when you're attatched to them.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

 

[zobothehobo]

I'm sure The body will work on some people but I wouldn't consider it a given winner. It's depressing, the atmosphere is dark and the lack of music although a great touch doesn't make it easier to watch. Especially if you're not connected with the characters. You'll see that they're in pain but you won't feel their pain in the same way as you do when you're attatched to them.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

I agree... I couldn't do The Body if I didn't have an emotional connection to the characters already...

 

[Icarium]

I have actually been thinking about this, while rewatching the series recently...I have some friend who know I'm obsessed with Buffy, and refuse to give it a try because it's about "a girl who fights people in rubber masks"...I think some people see that as being all Buffy is about, plus, I think the title really throws people off. I know I won't be able to convince them anytime soon to watch (though I recently got two people at work to watch the whole series and start reading the comics, but they are more open minded)...but in my opinion, Passion is the perfect episode to start someone off with.

1.) It's not overly supernatural...not too much vamp stuff, and no demons.
2.) Has some great laugh moments (Cordy worrying about the vamps being able to get in her car whenever they want).
3.)And amazing drama (need I mention it).

I think it's the perfect episode to show that the show can go all sorts of places, and some weeks be crazier than the next.

My other choices would be Bad Girls and The Body!! If they aren't hooked by then, I don't think they'll ever be haha.

I wouldn't go with Passion. Most of its emotional punch comes from the fact that for the first time an important character gets killed off. A new viewer would be "told" of Jenny's importance but wouldn't really feel it unless they have watched the previous episodes.

If you want to try with a hard-hitting episode, I would suggest Lie to Me. Not too spoilery and it pretty much encapsulates what the show is all about both in the scenes where the vamp cult idiots are mocked and when Buffy is forced to kill Ford.