Buffy Night Madness!

[jdotmi]

Okay. So, I'm really going to plot a Buffy night now! I'm just trying to decide what episodes should go into it. I'm thinking five or six episodes tops. That way it won't be some huge ordeal or anything.

So, now for this post.

My ideas on possible themes:

Funny Buffy:
These episodes really are just funny. Yeah, no episode of Buffy plays only for laughs, and most have some character development things going on, but these episodes really just push for the funny. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Band Candy, Something Blue, Superstar, Tabula Rasa and I Was Made to Love You really fit the bill for this kind of event. Granted, the last two choices end on a huge downer, but the rest of the episodes are pretty damn funny.

Crossover Buffy:
This would actually be a Buffy and Angel dealie. The Harsh Light of Day and In the Dark, Pangs and I Will Remember You, Fool for Love and Darla. These episodes bounce back and forth between the two shows and make for a more complete story when watched together.

Bad Buffy:
No, not Buffy goes evil! This would be a collection of the worst episodes of Buffy. Now, keep in mind that a bad episode of Buffy is still pretty damn good. These are just the episodes that you sometimes wish hadn't been. Teacher's Pet, Inca Mummy Girl, Gingerbread, Buffy vs. Dracula and Doublemeat Palace are the kinds of episodes that fit in here. Keep in mind, they're still pretty damn good shows, they're just the low points of Buffy episodes.

Event Buffy:
Alternately "A Very Special Buffy" or just something that seems incredibly gimmicky, these are some of the best of the best in terms of Buffy episodes. Angel, Amends, Hush, Restless, The Body and Once More With Feeling are some real contenders for this type of episode.

Depressing Buffy:
Buffy knows angst. She knows it so well that you sometimes wish the writers would just come and put a bullet in your head to put you out of the character's misery, but then you'd miss what new horrors await them next week so you'll just suffer and secretly love every minute of it. The Dark Age, Innocence, Passion, Helpless, Wild at Heart, Into the Woods, The Body and Hell's Bells fit nicely into this mold.

Seasonal Buffy:
This is basically the kind of deal I've done before. Picking a single season and hitting the high points of it. Premier and Finale are pretty much a given in this arrangement. Usually a funny episode, a big plot twist episode, and maybe one or two other episodes tossed in for good measure.


So, there you have it. A big long list of possibilities.

Now. Who wants to be in the filter where I decide on this? There will be polls and stuff!

[Poll #324080]

Comments

[hylandr.livejournal.com]

I'd join if I was close enough to go. Wish I could make it to these and see you guys again.

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

See, everyone just needs to move to Michigan, then it'll all be good!

*hears crickets chirping*

...

Okay maybe not... Everyone needs to move to someplace nice and friendly where the fundies can't find us. :-p

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

I'm re-watching season 2 now. There's a handful of episodes from season 6 and season 7 that I haven't seen before, but that's it.

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

I know I don't live close enough to go to one of your parties, but it would be fun to see what you decide.

I like your lists so far but I wouldn't exactly say that the "Bad Buffy" episodes are bad. Like Inca Mummy Girl for instance is Johnathan's first appearance and, hello! Willow in a parka!! And Oz noticing her for the first time. (OMG I sound like a 14 year old girl.)

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

You did read the part saying they're still good TV, right? :-p

And, sorry, but Inca Mummy Girl is one of the worst episodes of the show ever. Willow in a Parka and the introduction of Oz do not make a lame episode good.

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read that part but they were still listed under the heading "BAD BUFFY." I guess you should've called them "SLIGHTLY LESS GOOD BUT STILL BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON TV BUFFY."

Willow in a parka is CLASSIC!!

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

I like the Willow sideplots.

Ampata?

I'm sorry, but A) girl can't act and B) your parallels need to be a bit more prallelogramy and a lot less stainless-steel-baseball-batty.

But, yeah, I liked the Willow bits.

When I watch it I pretty much have to fast-forward past the Xander/Ampata bits (although the last one is pretty good) just to watch the other character development.

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will agree with you there. There are some lame moments in the episode.

It might be fun to pick out 6 Willow character development episodes to watch...or maybe more specifically 6 Willow/Oz episodes or 6 Willow/Tara episodes. That would make for a fun theme night!!

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

I actually did have a very Willow night one time. There were only four seasons out on DVD at that point, but I had one!

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

That's cool! But to do Willow right, you need season 6 and a bit from 7. But you KNOW that.

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

You actually don't need Season 7, although Conversations With Dead People and The Killer in Me might help.

Willow's arc, as it were, begins in Season 2, builds slowly in Season 3, starts to take off in Season 4, begins to reach critical mass in Season 5, and then comes crashing down around her in Season 6. The bits in Season 7 are really just a coda, as it were.

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

I agree with you but I am a big fan of redemption too. Those season 7 episodes are great to see but I think to fully cap off Willow's story, you need to include the bits at the end where she transfers power from Buffy to the potentials and transforms (for an instant) into White Willow. It's not essential, like you said, but it is nice.

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

But, see, it's not really a Willow episode. When I do character-focused things the episode really needs to focus on that character. Otherwise it's an IV Drip of Mt Dew and every episode ever in order no breaks. :-p

[ex-nomoresci293.livejournal.com]

NOW THAT sounds like a party!!

[brigittefires.livejournal.com]

I'm all for seasonal buffy, but that's because I didn't see most of season 7.

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

Season 7 isn't out on DVD yet. This next party will occur way before it comes out.