TV Meme: Day 07

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 07 | Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show

I probably could've gone with a few episodes during the show's sixth season, but where was the fun in kicking something already down? I picked an episode that while a lot of people also think is one of the worst episodes of the series, I have a more personal reason for labeling it as my "least favorite episode" and it has to do with my favorite Buffy pairing, Willow and Oz.

The episode is "Beer Bad" (Season 4, Episode 5) and it's a less-than-subtle jab at underage drinking. Buffy, at her whiny and woe-is-me best, goes on a drinking binge with a bunch of snotty upper-class college guys to forget all about how her heart got broken by Parker. Little did they know the beer turns them into neanderthals. Expected chaos and rampaging ensue and yeah, it's as lame as I'm describing it.

But back to the real reason I don't like this episode: Willow, Oz, and grr Veruca. I was aware that Seth Green wanted to pursue other projects and thus they had to create an exit for his character, but the whole Veruca thing made me apeshit crazy. Granted I was biased, because I was such a big Willow/Oz fan, but the first time we saw Veruca, I literally threw stuff at the TV. I'm sure Willow wanted to do the same thing when Oz was all "ooh she intrigues me." See the pictorial evidence:


The next Willow/Oz scene after that took place in front of Willow's dorm room. He invites her to the Bronze to see Veruca's band play and she turns him down so she can do something far more exciting... studying. It was highly awkward and just so so so painful to watch. So yeah, in summary, I didn't like this episode. Buffy acted like a helpless little girl, Xander continued to be the butt of jokes, Willow/Oz demise started, and lest anyone forgot... we got cavemen. CAVEMEN! WTF?!


While re-watching the episode though, the one bright spot was Willow. She had some of the best lines especially in regards to Veruca and Buffy's Parker situation. She also put Parker in his place which was all kinds of a "you go girl!" moment. I even have a bunch of quotes I particular liked from the episode:

Willow: I'm pregnant by my step-brother, who'd rather be with my best friend, and he's left me with no place to live, no food except for this bottle of Wild Turkey which I drank all up. That was me being tanked and friendless for ya.
Xander: Gets my Oscar nod.

Buffy: Maybe I'm in his bubble, and then, pretty soon, he's gonna realize that he wants more than just bubble Buffy, and he'll pop me out, and we'll go to dinner and... it could happen, right?
Willow: Buffy, that is my best friend, you need to think about not-Parker. He's no good. There are men - better men -- where in the mind is stronger than the penis.
Xander: Pfft! Nothing can defeat the penis! Too loud. Very unseemly.

Willow: "My name is Veruca. I'm in a band." "Oh, I'm Oz. I'm in a band, too. Oh, and this is Willow." "Oh, how fun, a groupie." Groupie! Buff, have you heard of this Veruca chick - dresses like Faith, voice like an albatross?

Buffy: I went to see Xander. Then I saw Parker. Then came... beer.
Willow: And then group sex?

Giles: I can't believe you served Buffy that beer.
Xander: I didn't know it was evil.
Giles: You knew it was beer.
Xander: Well, excuse me, Mr. "I spent the 60's in an electric-kool-aid funky-Satan groove."
Giles: It was the early 70's and you should know better.

So even my least favorite episode of Buffy had a lot of good moments. Go figure. Maybe I should've done a S6 episode, huh?