Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 1x11 Full Reaction
Added 2023-05-24 13:39:37 +0000 UTC
Comments
just so you know, the words in the textbook at the end of the episode are the lyrics to the beatles song "happiness is a warm gun"
Michael Lieb
2024-03-01 02:15:12 +0000 UTCMore like dragging them not carrying them on her shoulder
Rey Gallogo
2023-11-08 12:48:08 +0000 UTCTurns out, with above average deduction skills, episodes titles are a bit more spoilery than i thought... Also, have watched the show many times, have watched reactors alot, never seen anyone (including myself) actually read the book at the end before, love that you go for extra credit :o
Leonard Ledung
2023-05-26 21:15:38 +0000 UTCThis is the other episode of the season with that one scene with a set up so incredibly absurd that it just goes dumb and it annoys me every time I rewatch it. The scene (well 2 technically) in question is when Marcie knocks out Cordelia and Buffy before taking them to the Bronze and tying them to the chairs. I can't avoid to see in my head Buffy and Cordelia bumping into each other, floating in mid-air, as Marcie, somehow, carries them on her shoulders all the way from the school to the Bronze, and it's just too stupid. Could they have set the whole situation in a more believable way? Sure, but they didn't, and this annoys me, there's nothing I can't help it. Aside this, I overall really like the episode, it has a good story and a brilliant ending. Anyway the highlight of the episode is the beginning of the exploration of Cordelia's character. She's definitely an interesting character, she is not just your usual mean girl. She is not a bully, and she never aim to hurt or mortify people, so she's not “mean”, but, at the same time she says what she thinks every time without any filter or consideration for other people feelings, if you don't like what she says or what she thinks about you, it's just your problem for her, so she's not “nice” either. She's just unapologetically herself. Cordelia's character walks this thin line between “mean” an “nice”, and until she remains on such line she's always brilliant and incredibly funny. She also turns out to be tougher than one can imagine. She's genuinely scared while tied to the chair, but as soon as Buffy tells her to shut up she immediately pulls herself toghether and just says “ok”. Question, do you really believe that Buffy isn't running for “May Queen” because Xander and Willow think it's lame? First I don't think that they do, second she wouldn't be in character as Buffy, if she wants to try anything she does, third Xander and Willow are her friends, if she decides to run for the title they would 100% support her. Problem is, we're talking about a popularity contest here, and being the Slayer made it nearly impossible for her to build any kind of popularity in school, at least not a good one. Was Angel 25 when he was turned? Maybe, at some point in the series it's possible. The simple truth is that the writers didn't care. For example, in one episode they say that in 1775 he was 18 and still human, in another that he was turned into a vampire in 1753 without specifying his age, and this during the same season. So, basically, he become a vampire at the age that works best in that episode, and probably their approach is right, what metters considering it was over 200 years ago and he's not even a human being anymore. So, the next episode will be your first finale for this show, and I'm really curios to see if you'll be able to identify the true story arc of this season. If you're having trouble, the only help I can give you is to think hard about Buffy in the finale, then think about Buffy in the very first episode, and then carefully consider the title of the episode and what it actually refers to. Enjoy ☺️
G.Un.
2023-05-25 17:34:25 +0000 UTCI agree that an age gap like this wouldn't fly today. It doesn't bother me for the reason that Angel isn't a human. He's a demon, a supernatural being that's immortal. Interspecial relationships could be an issue. Buffy isn't a normal girl either, she's a superhero. But still human of course.
Bud Haven
2023-05-25 05:02:57 +0000 UTCWe forget that this is a show aimed at and written for teens. So teen stuff is what people are caring about in High School, who's in , who's out, who likes who, how do I dress so people will like me. This is about when that all goes south for a girl. Xander and Willow, and now Buffy too, are experiencing the same outcast status, but Xander has Willow, and their friendship keeps them going. Buffy felt a bit out when she could not share their bond, because it reminded her of past trauma and her less than popular status. Cordy rubs it in mercilessly, like Harley Quinn taunting Batman and Robin, and it is comedy gold, in a teen mean girl way. That after ending scene tho. I think they call it a coda when they tack on a parting shot that relates to the story but is not part of it, to add some flavor or meaning. Love it! There are more than a few "troubled teen" episodes where the villain or the reason for the bad is someones fears or insecurities or emotional turmoil. Willow says something about it in this episode about the Hellmouth making regular problems into monstrous ones. Just like Scifi is about societies current problems, horror is about the nightmare scenario that comes from inside people to wreak havoc. This first season they don't get too deep into psychological horror, they just have villains with personal ambitions of vengeance or power, or compulsions. Marcie was on her way to becoming a serial killer, she snapped and got a taste for violence and invoking terror in the people that refused to be her friends. People given power and then seeing it not solve their problems, in fact being a terrible influence and making everything so much worse, is super drama.
spikeysnack
2023-05-24 22:53:46 +0000 UTCWhen you said in the intro "I'm sick of waiting, I just want to watch Buffy" I wanted to say "One of us! One of us!"
Christine Cox
2023-05-24 22:14:43 +0000 UTCWhile nowhere near the most profound this show will get, hopefully the episode proved that you can’t really think too deeply on BtVS. Even at the show's "silliest" or most lighthearted there's always deeper meaning within. Clearly, your guess about the episode, based only on the title, wasn’t far off. The episode seemed to be primarily focusing on the theme of loneliness; with Buffy in the middle between Marcie, someone who felt so alone she literally became invisible, and Cordelia, someone who is extremely visible to everyone around her who, as Buffy came to learn, also occasionally finds herself dealing with a sense of loneliness. Buffy was looking in on Cordelia’s life, wishing that could be her, and confirming to Xander, Willow, and the audience that it was her when she was in LA before she became the Slayer. Marcie lashed out at Cordelia because she couldn’t have that life while Buffy and Cordelia found (a very small amount of) common ground. Buffy might still wish she could live the life Cordelia is living but at least she knows that even Cordelia’s life isn’t perfect and that it does come with its own challenges.
tc3
2023-05-24 20:54:23 +0000 UTCLoved how you totally nailed the plot from the title only to talk yourself out of it. I did a little cheer when you realized you were right. lol I really liked that they gave Cordelia a few extra layers here, even if it's a little typical to hear from "popular" kids in these shows. Charisma has this way of turning Cordelia on a dime, so I can laugh at an insult one minute and then want to hug her the next. Great reaction! I'm excited for you to get to the finale.
indaeo
2023-05-24 20:41:12 +0000 UTCI always struggled with the Angel Buffy relationship, I see him as a male with 240 years of experience not 25 being with a 16 year old and at the time these episodes aired my own daughters were 15 and 13 so there was a real ick factor for me.
Stephen Knueppel
2023-05-24 18:56:52 +0000 UTCThe character that gets pushed down the stairs is named Harmony. Remember that name. 😉
Myoclonic Jerk
2023-05-24 18:30:14 +0000 UTCI need a fix 'cuz I'm goin' down... Came for this; leaving satisfied.
Myoclonic Jerk
2023-05-24 18:21:51 +0000 UTCI'll just leave this here: the actor playing Mitch is one of two who played Todd Wilkins on the syndicated Sweet Valley High series.
Nica Marie
2023-05-24 17:34:51 +0000 UTCClea Duvall is such a great actress - that slow zoom in on her face after Cordelia and the Cordettes leave is so powerful with so little. I almost wish she'd been able to stick around as a regular somehow, even if she was playing someone else. It gave me a good chuckle that you literally guessed the whole concept of the episode before pressing play, and exemplifies why your reactions are so great. I'm terrible at ranking favourites, as I'm constantly flip-flopping, but this and the next episode are definitely at the top of my favourites in the first season - I can't wait for the finale reaction :)
Jordan McLaren
2023-05-24 16:58:36 +0000 UTCI love how deeply you analyse things! Honestly, some of the ideas that you’ve had, and plot concepts that you’ve thought of, would’ve been really interesting if incorporated into the story. Another wonderful reaction. Thanks Cass!
Jack Stankovic
2023-05-24 16:35:35 +0000 UTCI’d never read the contents of the book before. That’s the lyrics to Happiness is a Warm Gun by The Beatles. Very interesting. Great reaction, thanks
Paul Thomas-Humphreys
2023-05-24 15:10:39 +0000 UTC
