Shows to Get Hooked By

[jdotmi]

Once upon a time, I started compiling a list in my head of episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that one could show to an unsuspecting individual and probably hook them instantly. I would try to think of episodes that you don't really need a lot of context for because they either are fairly stand alone or they have such a great punch that context is sorta secondary to the greatness of the episode.

I've been trying to do the same thing with Angel lately and it's not quite so easy. You really really need context for the best episodes in that show. Heck, you really need to watch two and three at a time in some cases to really get the full impact of the show.

This is a tentative list. I don't know for sure on some of these, and there may be some I've missed. But I've been watching so much Angel lately that it's been coming to mind a lot. :-p This could be fodder for a "Best of Angel" marathon party at my place at some point.

Season 1
"Rm w/ a Vu"
"Somnambulist"
"I've Got You Under My Skin"
"Five by Five"
"To Shanshu in L.A."

Season 2
"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been"
"Dear Boy"
"Darla"
"Reprise" (context helps)
"Epiphany" (context helps)

Season 3
"Heartthrob"
"Fredless"
Everything else that's really really good this season really really needs context.

Season 4
"Supersymmetry"
"Apocalypse, Nowish" (context helps)
"Orpheus" (context helps)
"Peace Out" (context helps... a lot...)
"Home" (context helps... a lot...)

Season 5
"Damage" (context helps a little, you should know how "Chosen" ends on Buffy)
"You're Welcome"
"Smile Time"
"A Hole in the World"

Comments

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

Season 1
"Angel"
"Prophecy Girl"

Season 2
"School Hard"
"Passion"

Season 3
"The Wish"
"Helpless"

Season 4
"Wild at Heart"
"Hush"
"Restless"

Season 5
"Fool for Love"
"The Body"
"The Gift"

Season 6
"Once More With Feeling"

Season 7
"Same Time, Same Place"
"Conversations With Dead People"

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

Yep....especially HUSH, THE BODY and ONCE MORE WITH FEELING. I think those are my favorites

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

"Once More With Feeling" is sorta iffy on that list. Some people are really really averse to musicals, so you would want to at least show them one other episode first before hitting that one. But other than that it is one of the best episodes ever.

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

Yes it is....Though HUSH show the best in direction and THE BODY was the best acting....I still cry when I watch that one

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

Same here. As soon as Anya starts asking all sorts of inappropriate questions in Willow's dorm room, I start sniffling.

[jguy70.livejournal.com]

The Body disturbed me on a primal level. I was totally put into a state of awe at how I was so emotionally drawn into this.

The Anya parts are just heart wrenching. One of the best episodes of television of any show I have ever seen.

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

Completely agreed. That's why I like to use it as an introduction to the series for some people.

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

That script was the very essence of Anya. It really showed her naive and childlike views. Her whole "This isn't right. Joyce is the 'Mom'. She is supposed to be there to have the lemonade and cookies for us" speech was touching and sad all at once.

If people only saw that episode of the show they wouldn't even know that Buffy was a supernatural thriller.

And interestingly enough, in all the seasons where they saw classmates and strangers and badguys die, this is the only one that truly effected them (until Tara's death of course)

[emerald-ibis.livejournal.com]

I think that these are rather universal. When I was trying to get a friend of mine hooked, I used...well, lots of these. "Hush" was the first one I showed her, I think. This was closely followed by "School Hard" (because everyone is powerless against the Spike) and "Fool for Love."

[jdotmi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think the introduction of Spike and Dru marked a major turning point for the direction of the series. These were villains you could, to a point, relate to. Makes it that much more intresting.