Best Buffy Episode

[David]

http://www.cinemablend.com/television/buffy-vampire-slayer-best-episode-once-more-with-feeling-36545.html

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Best Episode: Once More With Feeling

Normally, this would be impossible. Singling out the best episode of a
long-running television series? Sophie had an easier choice. Only two
options! How does one narrow down the funniest Seinfeld episode, the most
riveting episode of The Wire, or the most unforgettable Arrested Development
episode?

That’s why I went with Buffy the Vampire Slayer when we started pitching
this column around at CinemaBlend headquarters. Because when discussing the
best episode of Joss Whedon’s masterful soap opera, there can be only one
choice: The legendary musical, Once More With Feeling.

[[more at the link]]


http://daviderl.com/ .
http://daviderl31.blogspot.com/

[Duggy]

On Apr 20, 6:57 am, "David" <davider...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Sophie had an easier choice. Only two
> options!

And she only gave birth to them. You had to watch them.

> That’s why I went with Buffy the Vampire Slayer when we started pitching
> this column around at CinemaBlend headquarters. Because when discussing the
> best episode of Joss Whedon’s masterful soap opera, there can be only one
> choice: The legendary musical, Once More With Feeling.

Obvious and amateur choice.

It's a popular episode, probably the most popular. But popular isn't
best. Or reality television is better than scripted drama.
It's stands out because it is different. But different isn't best, it
just stands out more.

I'd say "The Body".

===
= DUG.
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[One Bit Shy]

"Duggy" <p.allan...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:19b22f89-1c97-40fa...@w6g2000pbp.googlegroups.com...

Which doesn't stand out more because it's different?

You're not actually making an argument for or against anything. Being
popular and standing out doesn't mean it's not the best either. At least
being likable and having unique qualities can be recognized as favorable
attributes.

There is no absolute answer anyway. You can't remove preferences from the
equation. I love The Body myself - it would be somewhere in my top 4 for
the series. But some people quite legitimately feel that it is too dismal
and self-consciously arty for their tastes.

Here's a basic argument in favor of Once More With Feeling. It's not just a
fun rest stop in the season (which the series does do once in a while) where
the Scoobies get to sing and dance. What makes it so special is that it's
also the pivot point for the whole season, using the song and dance to
define the core conflicts for the characters and sending them reeling onto
perilous journeys. I'd submit that it's the drama of OMWF more so than the
singing that captivates. Though it's really the combination of the two that
makes it soar, earning it its rightful praise.

Of course if you can't tolerate musicals or amateur singing, then this
episode starts with one foot too deep in a hole for it ever to climb out of.

When you look at how the implications of OMWF resonate forward - only
Innocence can match its power IMO - you can also see more clearly one major
criticism of The Body, which is so comparatively self contained. Aside from
the fact of Joyce's death, and the immediate grief generated, it's hard to
find much of anything generated from it. Indeed, the series needs to
immediately follow it with another Joyce's death related episode to address
its implications. That doesn't stop The Body from being a great episode by
any means, though I do wonder at its appropriateness for representing the
best of Buffy. Rather it highlights how OMWF goes beyond its "special"
nature to be a driving component of the greater tale that is Buffy the
Vampire Slayer.

YMMV
OBS

[Duggy]

On Apr 29, 3:57 am, "One Bit Shy" <O...@nomail.sorry> wrote:
> Which doesn't stand out more because it's different?

It is different, sure, but that's not why I picked it.

It's *powerful*.

> You're not actually making an argument for or against anything.  Being
> popular and standing out doesn't mean it's not the best either.

Sure, but WMwF isn't the best, it's picked because it stands out and
is different. It doesn't have much else going for it.

> At least
> being likable and having unique qualities can be recognized as favorable
> attributes.

Not always. Reality TV is popular. Snuff films are different.

An episode can be different and popular and be good, and it is a good
episode. It just isn't the best.

> There is no absolute answer anyway.

True.

> But some people quite legitimately feel that it is too dismal
> and self-consciously arty for their tastes.

The question wasn't "favourite", it was "best". Best implies quality.

> It's not just a
> fun rest stop in the season (which the series does do once in a while) where
> the Scoobies get to sing and dance.

Agreed.

> What makes it so special is that it's
> also the pivot point for the whole season, using the song and dance to
> define the core conflicts for the characters and sending them reeling onto
> perilous journeys.

"The Body" is a pivotal point for the whole series.

> When you look at how the implications of OMWF resonate forward - only
> Innocence can match its power IMO - you can also see more clearly one major
> criticism of The Body, which is so comparatively self contained.  Aside from
> the fact of Joyce's death, and the immediate grief generated, it's hard to
> find much of anything generated from it.

Buffy's growth into an adult?

> That doesn't stop The Body from being a great episode by
> any means, though I do wonder at its appropriateness for representing the
> best of Buffy.

The question was not "representing the best of Buffy". That would be
another episode.

===
= DUG.
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[no one important]

Good episode. When I first started watching it I thought, "oh no", but
after about ten minutes it started working. Have now watched it several
times.

Too hard to pick the best episode, much like which is the best color M&M?