Why is OMWF so highly regarded?

[Robb Stark]

Now, I've always really liked this episode. It's a lot of fun, it's a fairly original concept that was executed pretty well and it advanced several key seasonal arcs on a few fronts.

...But, when you really give it some thought, "Once More With Feeling" isn't that great of an episode. Think about it. It's fun, but not exactly a plotting masterpiece. The entire concept is shaped by essentially making Xander guilty of criminal negligence causing death. We, and that includes me, seem to just kind of gloss over that fact (while penalizing other characters for crimes which produce far less overall damage). But really, because of the way the episode is written, Xander causes the death of a few people, and nobody bats an eye.

Mechanically, beyond the singing, the episode is fairly generic. Dawn gets kidnapped by a witty villain with a plan which doesn't exactly stay within the boundaries of logic, and the whole plot seems like a not-so-subtle device to simply have a singing episode. I don't think that's the case with other theme episodes like "Band Candy" or "Hush", which are a LOT better put together.

So what is it? The character development? It's an important episode in that regard. And again, I do like this episode, a lot actually, but when you look at it, it's fun, but not good.

 

[NY State of Mind]

Cause like lots of things in life....popular vote doesn't know what its talking about 😛

 

[fredthe3rd]

Oh... That Xander! He's such a card!

 

[sk]

Personally I think it just is how they used to songs to move the main storyline forward that does it.

Thought it was done quite brilliant and it was much more than I had expected of the episode beforehand.

/SK

 

[EVIL UU]

Because it's a musical episode and therefore memorable for a casual BtVS viewer. If you are not a hardcore fan you don't really see how lame the writing is or how generic the plot is. OMWF sucks as a BtVS episode and it sucks as a musical too because of the horrendous singing. Basically, OMWF is complete garbage and yes, I do admit that it's kinda fun but it's still complete garbage. I don't think that it is that original either, other genre shows had done musicals years before BtVS.

 

[christina]

Because it's a musical episode and therefore memorable for a casual BtVS viewer. If you are not a hardcore fan you don't really see how lame the writing is or how generic the plot is. OMWF sucks as a BtVS episode and it sucks as a musical too because of the horrendous singing. Basically, OMWF is complete garbage and yes, I do admit that it's kinda fun but it's still complete garbage. I don't think that it is that original either, other genre shows had done musicals years before BtVS.

I Agree I find OMWF to be one of my least favorites...

 

[The Bronze]

I don't get it either. I enjoyed the episode and agree it's good fun but it's nowhere near being one of my favourites. I can't take Xander calling Sweet seriously, I didn't even remember he did it on some of my re watches. It just seemed like they needed any old reason for a singing demon to show up.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

I think because it's unique (or was for the time) and campy. I always thought of it as sort of like an "inside joke/loveletter" for loyal fans and not a good standalone episode.

Aside from all of that, "Something to Sing About" gives me chills. What she sings, how she does it, is just beyond heartbreaking. And then, "there was no pain. No fear no doubt, till they pulled me out...of hea-ven. I think I was in heaven" with the b min-bdim slide on the word "heaven."

Cut to Willow's face.

That's incredible art, right there. For me, it makes up for the rest of the episode.

 

[Blaze]

The soul and only reason it is popular is because of the singing. Remove the singing, and the episode is no where near the top.

But now add the singing, and you have an episode worthy of being on my ipod 😛

Also, I think it's one of the only ep where we truly truly get to see how the characters are feeling, because almost every song is a monologue.

 

[SlayerPrincess]

Wasn't he trying to be over dramatic with it? It reminds me of a Disney movie or something. It's cute but obviously someone who isn't into Buffy would think it's stupid. And yea the Xander part is just brushed off, like they just did that so Sweets wouldn't take Dawn. (I wonder what would happen if it was Dawn, would they be able to stop him?)

 

[christina]

I think because it's unique (or was for the time) and campy. I always thought of it as sort of like an "inside joke/loveletter" for loyal fans and not a good standalone episode.

Aside from all of that, "Something to Sing About" gives me chills. What she sings, how she does it, is just beyond heartbreaking. And then, "there was no pain. No fear no doubt, till they pulled me out...of hea-ven. I think I was in heaven" with the b min-bdim slide on the word "heaven."

Cut to Willow's face.

That's incredible art, right there. For me, it makes up for the rest of the episode.

I Do agree in fact that was the part that mattered the most because it made you feel broken when we see Willows face but some of the singing I was not big on because it was so new to me for Buffy having a whole singing ep. But I am happy what all of the buffy cast worked to make it a classic🙂

 

[Lyri]

There's nothing big or dramatic that happens in this episode. Usually when it's one of the 'big', 'groundbreaking' episodes, something major happens - 'The Body', 'Hush', 'Conversations with Dead People', all of those had something that was very important to the plot of the overall seasons - Joyce's death, the revelation of Riley being in the Initiative, Spike killing again. But OMWF doesn't have that.

What it does have are lots of little revelations that seem to get lost in the singing. Most people remember the singing more than the fact that Xander and Anya are terrified of getting married, or Dawn's stealing getting worse, Giles' decision to leave, Tara's feelings of betrayal by Willow. The only thing that seems to stick is Buffy's revelation.

I admit, take away the singing, it's nothing more than a filler episode while they gear up for the rest of the season, laying the ground work for Spike and Buffy's relationship, Willow's magic addiction, Xander leaving Anya at the alter. Add in the singing, it's one of the very few BtVS episodes that even some non-fans will know about.

 

[kittenpoker]

Because its awesome! ;-)

I feel like this is the pivotal episode for season 6. Until this everyone is carrying around their own private inner struggles. This episode is where everyone is able to speak (sing) their truths. It all gets let out into the open and the rest of the season is about where they go from here....

Aside from that the singing is just plain fun!!!

The one thing that bothers me about this episode is Xander's part... Not only that he summons the demon and doesnt admit to it until the end, which in and of itself seems ridiculous... But he does not speak his raw core truth when he sings. Sure he sings about how he's afraid to get married and gives some generic reasons but he never says the real truth - that he's scared they'll end up like his parents.


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[bentjazz]

Yeah, you know, I've had a theory about this episode I've been carrying around with me for quite some time now. This particular episode, in my humble opinion, allows the hardcore Joss Whedon sycophant among us to further prostrate themselves before their mighty hero in an attempt to position JW as one of the greatest human beings of all time. Oh, he's so artistic. Oh, he's so original. Oh, he's so sensitive. Oh, Oh, Oh, he's such a genius. One word, folks: boring. Oh yeah, and get a life. I'd be willing to lay good money on the table stating that whenever someone gets all wacky doodle nutty butter about how much they just LOVE OMWF, you can bet the kitchen sink that said person is probably a disturbed and delusional Joss Whedon worshipper---or as I have always called them, Whedonbot.
That said, OMWF has kind of grown on me over the years. Even so, it's not THAT great, people....

 

[sleecin]

I cant understand how one can not think that this episode is awesome.

Great singing, Great music, Cool themes, Alot of interesting character stuff, Everything they hidden from eachother comes out.

I think the episode is very well done. I love watching the little details in this episode. All the dancing in the background , props,costumes and so on. There is so much so just enjoy in this episode.

I kinda feel bad for people who dont see everything AWESOME about this episode.

Especially with all the work that has been done to make it from everyone in it. For me I can see that both the writers , joss and the cast has made a really great effort into this episode.

But thats my view on it .

---------- Post added 10-18-2013 at 12:02 AM ---------- Previous post was 10-17-2013 at 11:58 PM ----------

Yeah, you know, I've had a theory about this episode I've been carrying around with me for quite some time now. This particular episode, in my humble opinion, allows the hardcore Joss Whedon sycophant among us to further prostrate themselves before their mighty hero in an attempt to position JW as one of the greatest human beings of all time. Oh, he's so artistic. Oh, he's so original. Oh, he's so sensitive. Oh, Oh, Oh, he's such a genius. One word, folks: boring. Oh yeah, and get a life. I'd be willing to lay good money on the table stating that whenever someone gets all wacky doodle nutty butter about how much they just LOVE OMWF, you can bet the kitchen sink that said person is probably a disturbed and delusional Joss Whedon worshipper---or as I have always called them, Whedonbot.
That said, OMWF has kind of grown on me over the years. Even so, it's not THAT great, people....

What? I cant have a life becouse I appriciate great work when I see it?

You sound jellous of joss more then anything in this post.

 

[Xin Rong]

The episode is meant to be fun, and it is, despite the bad singing the music and lyrics of the song are fantastic...

Also, the episode is clearly not a filler episode, it basically foreshadows the rest of the season:

1. Tara breaking up with Willow.
2. Willow using magic in a bad way.
3. Dawn being a klepto.
4. Giles leaving.
5. The fissure in Anya/Xanders relationship.
6. Buffy's depression, as a result of leaving heaven.
7. Spuffy.

It is therefore, in my mind, a pivotal and brilliant episode, and I would say those that disagree are just being nitpicky and purposely negative... although I would have to agree that the whole Xander summoning sweets thing is so Deus ex machina, it's absurd, although whether this is something done deliberately to emphasise the campness/fun of the episode is questionable?

 

[kittenpoker]

although I would have to agree that the whole Xander summoning sweets thing is so Deus ex machina, it's absurd, although whether this is something done deliberately to emphasise the campness/fun of the episode is questionable?

I like this take on that... That it could just be part of the campy fun of the ep!



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[PassionBecoming]

As others have said, I think it's mostly because it's a musical. As far as I can remember, it's one of the first series to do a musical ep and many more followed. And it was a huge ep for character development (kind of the beginning of Spuffy, Giles and Tara talking about leaving, et.c) and revelation (Buffy admitting to the others she was in Heaven). The big bad of the ep and that line wasn't all that original, but everything going on around it was.

That said, I LOVE musicals, so even though S6 is not my favorite, I did love this ep!

 

[Ethan Reigns]

The episode is meant to be fun, and it is, despite the bad singing the music and lyrics of the song are fantastic...

Also, the episode is clearly not a filler episode, it basically foreshadows the rest of the season:

1. Tara breaking up with Willow.
2. Willow using magic in a bad way.
3. Dawn being a klepto.
4. Giles leaving.
5. The fissure in Anya/Xanders relationship.
6. Buffy's depression, as a result of leaving heaven.
7. Spuffy.

It is therefore, in my mind, a pivotal and brilliant episode, and I would say those that disagree are just being nitpicky and purposely negative... although I would have to agree that the whole Xander summoning sweets thing is so Deus ex machina, it's absurd, although whether this is something done deliberately to emphasise the campness/fun of the episode is questionable?

Agreed on all counts. Hinton Battle (as Sweet) gives the best performance I have seen on any television program or movie or play - it's a shame they couldn't find a way to keep him on. Every part of his performance was perfect.

The part where Xander takes responsibility for Sweet's arrival may have been from a deleted scene - this is the longest Buffy at 48:33 minutes and something had to be cut.

The other part that is worthwhile is that we see some of the people behind the scenes - writer David Fury is the one singing "They got the mustard out" and producer Marti Noxon is the woman being issued a parking ticket. No one from behind the scenes appears anywhere else except a brief appearance by Joss Whedon in Angel as Numfar who shows up in Pylea doing various ridiculous dances.

 

[sk]

although whether this is something done deliberately to emphasise the campness/fun of the episode is questionable?

I like this take on that... That it could just be part of the campy fun of the ep!

Think it's obvious that it's just a funny thing. Really not something you're supposed to think about. 🙂

/SK