Once More with Feeling (again)
November 2, 2012 7:02 AM   Subscribe

 
Not sure who these folks are, but it looks fun.

Putting on my critic hat, the version of Rest In Peace is a bit thin. That could be audio capture, though. But you need a real strong rock 'n' roll voice to pull off that song.
posted by clvrmnky at 7:16 AM on November 2, 2012


Oh, man, "Once More With Feeling" is one of my favorite episodes of anything, and if my girlfriend is reading this she's probably yelling "I FUCKING TOLD YOU" at her monitor. She tried to get me to watch Buffy for ages, and I just wasn't having it -- I had nothing against it, but no interest either. Anyway, she got me to shut up long enough to show me "Once More With Feeling," and I was just so delighted and we ended up quickly burning through the series (although there was a compromise in that we didn't watch any of S1 past the pilot.) For some reason, we stopped after two or three episodes into S7. I'm pretty content with that, though; we haven't finished Battlestar Galactica either and I'm okay with where we stopped.

Also, I used to work in a shop a few doors down from the IFC theater in the West Village. One day, I went outside for a smoke and there was a giant line of college kids going down 6th Ave and around the block. It was for the "Once More With Feeling" sing-along. The only time I ever saw a line that long at that theater was before the premier of the new Crispin Glover movie, and Crispin Glover was in attendance and doing a Q&A.
posted by griphus at 7:27 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Sitting at a stoplight right now I guess I'll play the soundtrack on my commute and then listen to this when I get to work. Thanks!
posted by rtha at 7:30 AM on November 2, 2012


although there was a compromise in that we didn't watch any of S1 past the pilot.

Awww man, really? If limited to only one episode of Season 1 I'd take Prophecy Girl over the pilot any day.

Anyway, love Kate Nash, love Buffy, need to find the time to watch this!
posted by yellowbinder at 7:40 AM on November 2, 2012


God this episode always makes me want a pair of shiny, shiny pajamas SO MUCH.
posted by The Whelk at 7:44 AM on November 2, 2012 [2 favorites]


Oh man, this is so great.
posted by Windigo at 7:52 AM on November 2, 2012


This is awesome--thank you so much for posting!
posted by lagreen at 8:06 AM on November 2, 2012


In semi-related news Mark Oshiro (previously) just wrapped up his 'Mark Watches Buffy the Vampire Slayer' commentary series.
posted by the_artificer at 8:19 AM on November 2, 2012


BUNNIES! IT MUST BE BUNNIES!
posted by Windopaene at 8:20 AM on November 2, 2012 [7 favorites]


My girlfriend made me sit through all of Buffy a couple of years ago. It's hard to describe just how masterful that musical episode was. All of the plotlines of that season just merge perfectly into it. I had no idea it was coming up, either. Really blew me away.
posted by Catblack at 8:20 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Anyway, she got me to shut up long enough to show me "Once More With Feeling," and I was just so delighted and we ended up quickly burning through the series (although there was a compromise in that we didn't watch any of S1 past the pilot.)

Man, that is so weird. "Once More with Feeling" is the last thing I'd show someone as an intro the show, not just because it's so atypical, but mostly because that episode depends so heavily on previous story. (On preview, as Catblack said.) And the pilot's a strong candidate for the worst part of season 1...

What did you like so much about "Once More with Feeling", not knowing any backstory? And why'd you skip season 1?
posted by stebulus at 8:24 AM on November 2, 2012


I can say that even though OMWF is VERY plot dependent and not a standalone in any sense of the word, it does work very well at getting people into the series. "Hush" has always been my standby and that hasn't really changed, but I've known more than one person who was successfully introduced via the musical.
posted by yellowbinder at 8:32 AM on November 2, 2012 [2 favorites]


Standard " introduce people to Buffy logic" states you skip over the first season because it's not really indicative of the rest of the series, in format or tone ( there are some nice spots, " Witch" for example, but you can go back to them later if you really want to.)
posted by The Whelk at 8:32 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


...TIGHT EMBRACE!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:37 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


The first Buffy I ever saw was this episode. I tuned into the live broadcast on UPN or whatever just in time for "Walk Through the Fire." What The Actual Fuck? Given my kid was a baby then, life was busy, as well as the horrible TV reception, I did not continue to watch episodes as they came out.

But my Wife and I started renting odd discs from the video store, starting with "The Body." Again, pretty atypical, but one knew that one was in the presence of Greatness.

If I were as rich as Bill Gates, I would start investing my fortune in the effort to get the original cast back together for a concert of this show. A one-off thing, maybe at the Greek Theater in LA, or somewhere. A great band, and all the performers just stepping up the mics and singing their parts, as they came.

At some point, there would be enough money on the table, both for the performers, and for their charities, that they'd be unable to say no.

Then put out a DVD of the event. Hmmm. . .maybe over in MeFi projects I could get the ball rolling. . . .
posted by Danf at 8:38 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


At my college several years ago, some people (mostly musical theater majors with fantastic voices) acted out & sang the whole episode. It was FANTASTIC.

they got
the mustard
OUT!
posted by insectosaurus at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


I have an unabashed and wholly unironic love for musicals, so I guess that was why she chose that as the jumping-off point. I'm really glad I managed to somehow completely erase the very last scene from my memory though.

Re: Season 1, I don't enjoy the "training wheels" phase of network TV shows in general (I've recently burned through both Bones and Supernatural having skipped the first season and feel no poorer for it.) Everyone is too fresh, and the cast and crew don't have a hang of either the characters themselves or the inter-character dynamics, and the network doesn't yet trust the show enough for everyone to do what they actually want to do. The plots also tend toward world-building and introductions a lot more than toward telling a story or developing characters. I'd rather come in on the series at a point where everyone has a hang of what the show is about and the budget is past the "we'll give you a chance, but we're not seriously investing in you just yet" phase. I'm not saying these factors necessarily make for bad television, but they make for the sort of television I don't really have an interest in. Especially when there's not much pay-off for watching the world-building (unlike, say, Boardwalk Empire where the amazingness of season 2 entirely depends on the slow-and-steady world-building of season 1.) Excluding a few plot callbacks and inside jokes, I can't say not watching season 1 of Buffy effected my great enjoyment of it at all.
posted by griphus at 8:41 AM on November 2, 2012 [2 favorites]


Oh, and "Hush" was the second episode she showed me.
posted by griphus at 8:41 AM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


I was introduced by "The Wish," which was not a good choice, as I had no backstory to understand why the new world was any different. I went back to the beginning, and I'm glad I did!

I got Mr. C into it a couple years ago. He'd roomed with a Buffy fanatic while the show was airing, and being a hardcore introvert, knew it only as "that show that she holds viewing parties for every week which makes me retreat to my room." Once he was living with me, and I wasn't holding parties, he consented to watch, and turned out to like it a lot.
posted by cereselle at 10:35 AM on November 2, 2012


This is a thing what makes me happy.
posted by flaterik at 11:30 AM on November 2, 2012


Yeah, Prophesy Girl was the first episode that convinced me SMG could actually pull Buffy off. The last scene with Giles, before she confronts the big bad, just slays me.
posted by bonehead at 12:14 PM on November 2, 2012


Yesterday was soundtrack day so between this and JC Superstar I was all set. So much to love in that episode!
posted by TomSophieIvy at 12:24 PM on November 2, 2012


I love the OMWF episode, especially Let Me Rest in Peace. And it's the episode where the whole Spuffy thing begins.

Buffy is the series I go to when I'm stressed out. It's my total escapist fare.
posted by shoesietart at 12:56 PM on November 2, 2012


shoesietart: "And it's the episode where the whole Spuffy thing begins. "

I thought that was "Something Blue" back in season four.
posted by the_artificer at 1:34 PM on November 2, 2012


"Something Blue" is the kinda goofy episode where Willow did a bad spell and made Spike and Buffy engaged. OMWF is where Buffy and Spike kiss for the first time (without a spell).
posted by shoesietart at 1:51 PM on November 2, 2012


I'd've set Spuffystart at the end of "Out of My Mind", when Spike is alarmed to have been dreaming an erotic dream about Buffy.
posted by stebulus at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2012


I love what this conversation has become.
posted by The Whelk at 3:07 PM on November 2, 2012


Gosh. I don't think I've ever heard of this episode.
(Ahem.)
posted by it must be bunnies at 3:25 PM on November 2, 2012 [4 favorites]


OMWF is one of my all time favorite viewing experiences. It is just so brilliantly executed, managing to be its own special thing while still advancing the season's story arc.
I almost choked laughing when, on a second viewing, I caught Giles mentioning that the police had been taking "witness arias".

flaterik: "This is a thing what makes me happy"

I'm with flaterik. Very much so.
posted by John Smallberries at 3:25 PM on November 2, 2012


OMWF is also the episode that got me hooked on Buffy. That, and the fact it has just gone into syndication and was running daily.
posted by it must be bunnies at 3:33 PM on November 2, 2012


I used to have a movie-style poster for this, it was so awesome. Bunnies.
posted by Mngo at 3:51 PM on November 2, 2012


When I volunteered at the local animal shelter, during down time I would wander into the exotic animal room (essentially the rabbit room) and chat with the volunteers there. I tried singing "Bunnies! Bunnies! It must be bunnies! Or maybe midgets" at them, but apparently none of them were Buffy fans and I got a reputation as being even crazier than the exotic animal people.
posted by jeather at 4:24 PM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Yeah, Spuffy was definitely getting going in early season 5. "Crush" was playing at the gym today ("Droodzilla"!!!), and I think it's the first time he expresses feelings for her, even if it would take her another 15 or so episodes to kiss him. "Something Blue" was a either a dry run or "LOOK HOW RIDICULOUS THIS IS HAHAHAHA uh oh it's actually pretty hot..."
posted by yellowbinder at 4:32 PM on November 2, 2012


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