Happy 20 Buffy!

20 years ago today Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my favorite show of all time, premiered.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Reunites With Old Castmates! Huzzah!

If you're a Sarah Michelle Gellar fan (and who isn't?) and especially if you enjoyed her previous roles as Buffy Summers and Kathryn Merteuil, then this week was just wonderful.

First, Gellar posted on her social media this adorable photo with her previous Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan. Willow and Buffy reunited! Now that Joss Whedon is seemingly done with comic book superheroes for now, can we talk about a reunion special perhaps taking place adjacent to Sunnydale?

.@alydenisof and @AlexisDenisof Thanks for such an awesome party and my new #Giraffe You are the #CraftMaster pic.twitter.com/XHVD9AgUBj

— Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) May 23, 2015

But then Gellar wasn't done with reunions! Just a few days ago, she posted this photo on her Instagram alongside her previous Cruel Intentions co-stars Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair eliciting a super gay gasp and squeal from me!

Oh it's happening!!! #CruelIntentions .....the later years. @reesewitherspoon @therealselmablair #CruelIntentions

A photo posted by Sarah Michelle (@sarahmgellar) on May 28, 2015 at 8:11pm PDT

And then to find out they were actually together to see a Cruel Intentions musical was just too much. She and Blair then knocked me out by re-enacting their infamous kiss. More details and photos here.

I wonder which previous co-star she'll hang out next.

Birthday Girl: Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan is celebrating her 40th birthday today. If you don't know her then I don't even understand you. At the very least, you should know that she played Willow Rosenberg aka my favorite TV character in one of my all-time favorite TV shows. Really, I love her.

Hannigan also played the one girl, who did that thing at band camp that one time, in the American Pie films and more recently have been starring in CBS' How I Met Your Mother which just aired its penultimate episode tonight. After nine years, her show is ending next week, so she's going to have lots of free time. I think she's already attached to a pilot possibly for next season, but I wouldn't blame her if she took a little break to just enjoy life with her husband, fellow Whedonverse alum Alexis Denisof, and their two adorable children together.

Happy Birthday Alyson! P.S. Your stepmother is an alien!

Sarah Michelle Gellar Wins People's Choice Awards

The People Choice Awards were held last night. I didn't watch, because there are only so many hours in a day and who really cares what the "people" think. But there were still a few well-deserved winners like The Good Wife taking home Favorite Network TV Drama and Orange is the New Black the top choice for Favorite Streaming Series. It's also hilarious that Breaking Bad, which aired its final episode just a few months ago, won Favorite Series We Miss Most. See a complete list of winners here.

My favorite win though was Sarah Michelle Gellar for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series. It was a great moment not because I really thought she deserved this particular award (see Keri Russell, Tatiana Maslany, Taylor Schilling, Lizzy Caplan, etc.), but because it's always good when an under appreciated and under-rewarded actor gets their due. She highlighted this sentiment by touchingly paying tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show that catapulted her as a TV icon. The quote and video are below:

For seven years, I had the privilege to be a part of one of the most amazing television shows and I've never gotten a chance to publicly thank them--the cast, the crew, and all the fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So thank you.

To say I was emotionally overwhelmed after seeing the clip above would probably be understating it. Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains my favorite show ever and I'm just glad its star is still so appreciative after all of these years. And you know what, she's pretty great in her new show The Crazy Ones.

Quick Birthday Post

Remember when Buffy turned 19? I'm the same age today... give or take a decade.

I'm currently out of town, but this is as good a time as any to remind y'all that while I don't regularly post here, I'm always on twitter and also have a tumblr.

Willow & Oz Together Again

Alyson Hannigan posted the picture above earlier today on her twitter to show her reunited with former Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Seth Green on the set of How I Met Your Mother. As a longtime-fan of Buffy and especially a HUGE FAN of Willow/Oz, this made me ridiculously happy. It was like seeing a continuation of the Willow & Oz story.

But of course Hannigan and Green took it up a notch by posting this extremely adorable and unbelievably cruel picture later today...

I... just... I can't even really. I've the lost the ability to... whatever. I'm done. It really does look like Willow and Oz got their happy ending, didn't it?

Birthday Boy and Killer: Joss Whedon

Joss Whedon turns 48 today and do we even need to mention what an insane year or so it's been for him? Let's just spew out some key numbers here: $1.4 billion worldwide, $591.2 million domestic, $200+ million opening weekend, 93% Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Yeah, suffice it to say whedon is on top of the Hollywood world right now and as happy as I am for him obviously I'm not ready for him to become "Joss Whedon, the director of The Avengers" as opposed to "Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That may have sounded a little hipterish of me, but not really since I don't at all begrudge him his mainstream success (just the opposite) and I don't regard myself a truer fan of Whedon since I was a fan long before The Avengers. Whedon is for all and may he have many, many more opportunities to show us his mad genius.

Speaking of his mad genius, I think it's common knowledge how much Whedon enjoys putting his characters (and fans) through a ringer including killing off beloved characters and breaking off relationships. You see that in The Avengers where 70% of the plot includes Loki trying to break the superheroes up and of course that one death which I won't spoil for the 3 people in the world who hasn't seen the movie yet. And so with that said, as I promised last year, here's my list of Top 10 Whedon Deaths. Spoiler Alert... obviously.

First, just want to list some honorable mentions. Penny's demise in Dr. Horrible makes you wonder how they'll do a sequel. Jesse's death in episode 2 of Buffy should've clued us in on the depths of Whedon's sadism. Book, Wesley, and Topher's deaths in Serenity, Angel, and Dollhouse respectively made my heart hurt considering I actually thought they'd make it out alive somehow. And of course that one Avengers death that made me shake my head. See the entire list after the jump...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Turns 15

Can you believe it's been 15 years since Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Rupert Giles, and Cordelia Chase first graced our small screens? Well, believe it. On March 10th 1997, Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired its first two episodes "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "The Harvest" about a young high school girl facing her destiny as the Chosen One to slay vampires in the small California town of Sunnydale. And the rest, aka being my favorite TV show of all time, is history.

"The Earth is doomed."

Buffy Musical and 24 Turn Ten

This morning I learned that two major TV events celebrated their 10-year anniversary today. The first is near and dear to my heart as it has to do with my beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Its musical episode "Once More With Feeling" debut with its cast and crew singing and dancing into all of our hearts. The episode ended up getting Emmy-nominated for its Music Direction. Director Joss Whedon also wrote the score and lyrics to all of the songs, a precursor to his Emmy-winning Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog web series. It remains one of my favorite episodes of the series and while I love most of the songs, I am quite partial to "Under Your Spell" and the heartbreaking Tara/Giles duet.

The second TV event that happened a decade ago was the series premiere of 24. As I said last year when it was announced the series would end after its 8th season, it is no doubt one of the most important television programs of the past decade. Postponed due to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the show flourished with America needing an anti-hero American hero in this moment in time. It was nominated for 10 Emmy awards its first year with two wins including Best Writing for its pilot episode. Kiefer Sutherland grabbed Best Actor at the Golden Globes that year as well with the TCA bestowing the show its New Program of the Year AND Program of the Year honors.

See old promos for both "Once More, With Feeling" and 24 after the cut.

Birthday Boy: Joss Whedon

Mad genius Joss Whedon, aka creator of my favorite show of all time, celebrates his 47th birthday today and while he was unable to pursue his dream of making a Wonder Woman film, he is quite busy writing and directing the much-anticipated film The Avengers. His long-completed horror film The Cabin in the Woods is also finally set to release this Halloween. He also received the Vanguard Award from the Producers Guild of America last year.

In honor of Joss, I decided last night to come up with a list of my top ten favorite characters from his various shows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse) aka the Whedonverse*. Apart from my top pick, I found it nearly impossible to choose amongst the wonderful characters he has created throughout the years. I was debating listing 47 characters for his age, but a) that's just silly and b) that probably wouldn't have it that much easier.

*Yes, I know he's done more. There's Dr. Horrible, his other films, and his comic-book stuff, but as this is already a difficult task, I've decided to limit myself accordingly.

So presented with very little commentary, my Top Ten Whedonverse Characters:


1. Willow Rosenberg - As I've said before, she's my favorite and will always be my favorite.
2. Faith Lehane - Part of it is Eliza Dushku inherent hotness, but how can you not love someone whose motto is "Want. Take. Have."?
3. Dr. Simon Tam - While River is the heart of the show, Simon is her keeper his relationship with her is just touching.
4. Cordelia Chase - Apart from Willow, her character growth/arc is one of the best.
5. Daniel "Oz" Osborne - A werewolf in love, do I REALLY need to say more? Because he didn't.
6. Buffy Summers - Too low? Perhaps, but I'm usually not drawn to the MAIN CHARACTER. Still, she's an automatic part of this list.
7. Winifred "Fred" Burkle/Illyria - Cheating since this is two characters? Probably, but tough since I love them both.
8. Anya Jenkins/Anyanka - Sigh. I was devastated by her death and her arc really.
9. Victor/Anthony - Enver Gjokaj was like a chameleon making this character oh so fun to watch.
10. Kaylee Frye - She has great taste in ships and men. Need I say more?

Ugh. That was really hard. Remind me to never ever do that again. Though as soon as I started writing this list, another list came to my head: Top 10 Dead Whedonverse Characters. That should be loads of fun. Maybe next year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! Second, a bit of self-promotion. Earlier this month I decided that I just wasn't stretched thin enough so I decided to get a tumblr account. Mostly it was so I could more easily follow people there, but also because it enabled me to use the little Photoshop skills I have. Plus lots of pretty pictures.


Anyways, if you have a tumblr feel free to follow or ask me a question or whatever. If you have a tumblr let me know so I can follow you. In the meantime, hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving. Or if you don't celebrate it... happy Thursday!

Fact: The two images used in this entry are my own creations and are on my tumblr.

Whedon Out, Whit In for Buffy Movie

When I started this blog more than a year ago, my very first "real" entry was me reacting to the news of a possible film reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer happening without Joss Whedon's involvement. Basically I found it patently ridiculous. Since then, I had assumed no news was good news. I was wrong.

Seems like the project is full speed ahead especially since the project now has a writer and unfortunately her name is not Joss Whedon. The LA Times was the first to introduce us to 29-year-old actress-turned-screenwriter Whit Anderson who is a self-professed fan of Whedon's Buffy:

I didn’t really watch much television at all, but I always watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That was the one show I would watch when I got home. I just loved this character. I was the same age as Buffy, and it was so rare to have a female lead character on TV in those days who was strong and capable and smart but also allowed to be feminine.

So I suppose it's nice that she's at least a fan and I can't really blame her for getting every Buffy fan's dream job, but a Whedon-less Buffy is just wrong. And so far the reactions online have pretty much been the same as mine and if there's anything us Whedonites can be, it's INSANELY LOYAL and LOUD. So I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the script is finished, casting begins, etc.

For his part, Joss Whedon spoke to Kristin Dos Santos and gave his hilarious and totally classy take on today's news:

Kristin, I'm glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film. This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths—just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself. Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this.

Head over to E! Online for Whedon's complete quote. It's most definitely worth it.

Nine Emmy Wishes

The Emmy nominations are announced tomorrow and I'm already preparing myself to be disappointed one way or another because that's how it goes nearly every year. But then mB had to make a blog post with his five Emmy wishes and I just had to steal steal his idea.

So here are some of my Emmy wishes tomorrow and yes, I realize that most of them will unlikely happen. Whatever.

1. Don't go Glee crazy!

Look it's the most buzzed new show of the season and it's a great show and one of my favorites, but don't go gaga over it. Please. This means think carefully about the acting nominations. Jane Lynch is a BIG YES. Lea Michele? Sure. Chris Colfer? Er, fine. Chenoweth or NPH as guest actors? Uh, all right. Now stop. Seriously. Stop. That's it.

2. Give some love to Modern Family and Community.

No doubt Modern Family will get a good amount of Emmy nominations, but I feel no matter what it gets, I'll think it should be more. All of its actors deserve nominations! It's not happening, but gah I will feel bad for those that get snub. As for Community, any Emmy recognition will be a miracle, but I'm crossing my fingers for ANY Emmy love for that show.

3. Want lots and lots and lots of nominations to LOST.

People may have had mixed reactions to the finale, but damnit it was still brilliant TV and it's done... forever! I want hoards of nominations especially for some of its cast. For such a strong ensemble show, it's insane to think about how many of its actors have been ignored by the Emmy. Of course Best Drama, Best Writing, Best Directing, etc. should be a no-brainer.

4. Remember Dollhouse!

Sure, its first season wasn't that strong and it was canceled. But its second season was so SO good. I'm not even asking for much. Maybe a writing nom here, a supporting actor nom there (Enver Gjokaj, Fran Kraz), etc. Anything really.

5. And Fringe! And Chuck!

Clearly, I'm rooting for shows that have no chance of Emmy nominations, but I'm trying to be optimistic here. John Noble delivers one of the most nuanced characters on TV this season and Chuck is just full of fun.

6. Don't forget Keir Gilchrist from United States of Tara!

This past TV season saw a bunch of gay teen storylines. Justin's Ugly Betty came out and had his first kiss. Kurt in Glee was front and center and equally fierce. And finally, the best of the bunch, Marshall dealt with finding his own gay identity in Tara. While Chris Colfer (Kurt) is in the more popular show, I hope the Emmys don't overlook the great job Keir Gilchrist (Marshall) did.

7. Other than the usual suspects or any actors I've already mentioned, here are other actors to not overlook:

Alison Brie, Alyson Hannigan, Alexander Skarsgard, Stana Katic, Nathan Fillion, Archie Panjabi, Dichen Lachman, Christine Baranski, Danny Pudi, Joel McHale, and on and on and on. I know they ALL can't be nominated, but please please please just don't nominate someone because you've always nominated them. Think new! Think out of the box!

8. Speaking of out of the box, nominate Torchwood: Children of Earth!

I heard that BBC America decided not to submit this impeccable miniseries for consideration, but I say fuck it. That's right, fuck it. This is still the best TV I've seen the past year and for it to not be recognize AT ALL at TV's premiere award show, well it's just too depressing to think about.

9. Worship at the altar of Joss Whedon and retroactively declare Buffy the Vampire Slayer the best TV show of all time.

Talk about not holding my breath.

TV Meme: Day 24

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 24 | Best quote

Suffice it to say, like "best scene," there's just way too many choices for this one. Weirdly enough, I picked a quote from a scene that should have been included in my "best scene" entry. It's from "The Prom" episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and this particular quote came from the recurring character Jonathan Levinson presenting Buffy with a special award at the prom:

We're not good friends. Most of us never found the time to get to know you. But that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you. We don't talk about it much, but it's no secret that Sunnydale High isn't really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here. [...] But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you or helped by you at one time or another. We're proud to say that the Class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. And we know at least part of that is because of you. So the senior class offers its thanks and gives you this. It's from all of us. And it has written here, "Buffy Summers, Class Protector."

It's a beautiful moment between two characters who didn't exactly have the best high school experience. Jonathan is your typical dork who everyone picked on and only a few episodes before this one he was going to commit suicide. Buffy saved him of course, which just puts the quote above into new context. Then there's Buffy. She knows her responsibilities as the Slayer, but she also strives to be a normal girl, wanting that "perfect high school moment." She got it here and it's awesome.

TV Meme: Day 21

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 21 | Favorite ship (aka relationship)

Willow/Oz

This shouldn't be too much of a shocker considering how much I love the show and the character of Willow as I've written recently. It's also the first ship I truly got obsessed over, which again goes hand in hand with my strong feelings over the characters and the show.

OZ: Hey. That girl. Who is she?
Devon: She's an exchange student. I think she's from South America.
OZ: No, not her. The Eskimo!

One of my favorite things about this couple is how different they are to one another. Oh sure they are both adorable, smart, and whathaveyou, but when they first meet he's this cool senior who has a band while she's the computer geek junior who can't talk to boys. Couples that provide this type of contrast really intrigue me in movies, books, and TV. And since I've mentioned already how much I related to Willow during the series, her dating the cute-rocker-guy-next-door wasn't too shabby.

OZ: I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting.
WILLOW: Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes.
OZ: Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?
WILLOW: (cringes and slaps her hand to her forehead) Oh! I can't!
OZ: Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.
WILLOW: Oh, it's just it's Buffy's birthday, and we're throwing her a surprise party.
OZ: It's okay.
WILLOW: But you could come. If you want to.
OZ: Well, I don't wanna crash.
WILLOW: No, it's fine! Well, you could be m... my date.
OZ: All right. I'm in.
WILLOW: (to herself) I said 'date'.

WILLOW: Do you wanna make out with me?
OZ: What?
WILLOW: Forget it. I'm sorry. Well, do you?
OZ: Sometimes when I'm sitting in class... You know, I'm not thinking about class, 'cause that would never happen. I think about kissing you. And it's like everything stops. It's like, it's like freeze frame. Willow kissage.

It was fantastic seeing their courtship develop from Oz noticing her from a distance to their chance first meeting to the wait fans (and Willow) had to endure for the couples first date, first kiss, and finally first time they made love. It wasn't all roses and puppies. While they were usually adorkably awkward or painfully sweet, it was the obstacles they had to endure (Oz's werewolf self, Willow kissing Xander) that made their relationship stronger and made me want to cheer them on even more.

OZ: So... Maybe it'd be best if I just... sorta...
WILLOW: What?
OZ: Well, you know, like, stayed out of your way for awhile.
WILLOW: I don't know. I'm kind of okay with you being *in* my way.
OZ: You mean, you'd still...
WILLOW: Well, I like you. You're nice and you're funny. And you don't smoke. Yeah, okay, werewolf, but that's not all the time. I mean, three days out of the month I'm not much fun to be around either.
OZ: You are quite the human.
WILLOW: So, I'd still if you'd still.
OZ: I'd still. I'd *very* still.
WILLOW: Okay. No biting, though.
OZ: Agreed.

WILLOW: Oz, please believe me.
OZ: This is what I do know: I miss you. Like, every second. Almost like I lost an arm, or worse, a torso. So, I think I'd be willing to... give it a shot.
WILLOW: Really?
OZ: Yeah.

This also has to do with my penchant to like or be invested more in the supporting characters over the main lead character(s). Their relationship, to me, was more accessible, than the Buffy/Angel saga or the Xander/Cordelia fling.

With that said, their relationship did end during "Wild At Heart," which is still the Buffy episode that made me the saddest I've ever been, when Oz left town after sleeping with Veruca and realizing he had to find a way to control his inner werewolf. Oz did come back in "New Moon Rising," but by then Willow had moved on. Thankfully for this Willow/Oz shipper, the writers gave us a beautiful end scene between the two:

OZ: You're happy?
WILLOW: I am. I can't explain it...
OZ: It may be safer for both of us if you don't.
WILLOW: I missed you, Oz. I wrote you so many letters, but I didn't have any place to send them, you know? I couldn't live like that.
OZ: It was stupid to think that you'd just be... waiting.
WILLOW: I was waiting. I feel like some part of me will always be waiting for you. Like if I'm old and blue-haired, and I turn the corner in Istanbul and there you are, I won't be surprised. Because you're with me, you know?
OZ: I know... But now is not that time, I guess.
WILLOW: No... What are you gonna do?
OZ: I think I better take off.
WILLOW: When?
OZ: Pretty much now.

Cue the hugging, the crying. Oh gosh, it still gets me every time. I haven't read any of the official comics yet, but I do know both of the characters have moved on. And yet I'll always think about some time in the future, maybe not Istanbul, but somewhere when both are ready again, they'll be together. Call me a hopeless romantic, a werewolf in love.

TV Meme: Day 15

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 15 | Favorite female character

Even with a lot more candidates to choose from than the men, this was an easier choice to make. I knew I was always going to say Willow Rosenburg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She's my favorite character in my favorite show of all time, so it was pretty much a no-brainer. In my earlier entry on Buffy, I talked about how I personally related to it and well, Willow was the character I related to the most. She was the brainy and shy girl who would rather spend time in the library doing research than going out and partying. Basically, me.

With me relating to her to such a high degree, I found myself seeing the show through her eyes, feeling the emotions she was feeling. If she was sad, I was heartbroken. "Oz... don't you love me?" If she was deliriously happy, I was doing the Snoopy dance. "We're in love. W-we're lovers. We're lesbian, gay-type lovers!" If she was homicidally mad, I was cheering on for everyone's deaths. "Bored now... one down..."

Willow is the one character that probably grew the most from pilot to series finale. She went from bookish shy Willow to band groupie Willow to confident college Willow to powerful Wicca Willow to scary Dark Willow to beautiful goddess Willow. She even donned the leather once or twice to play Vamp Willow. To be honest, seeing Willow come out of her shell is just one of my favorite things from the show.

And I really felt that while she started the show as a sidekick, she grew into a strong lead character in her own right standing side by side with the titular slayer character. Hell, for a few episodes she became the main villain and in the series finale she was instrumental in changing the course of the entire slayer mythology.

Finally, special kudos to Alyson Hannigan for living as the character all those years and going through all those changes. It's a testament to her that I don't ever mistake Lily Aldrin (How I Met Your Mother) or Michelle Flaherty (American Pie) for Willow Rosenberg. Like Oz said, "As Willow goes, so goes my nation."

Honorable Mentions: Buffy Summers and Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kaylee, Inara, and Zoe (Firefly), Echo, Sierra, and Adelle DeWitt (Dollhouse), Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies), Phoebe Buffay (Friends), Chloe O'Brien (24), President Laura Roslin, Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, and Six (Battlestar Galactica), Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, and Donna Noble (Doctor Who), Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls), Lily Aldrin (How I Met Your Mother), Sydney Bristow (ALIAS), Juliet and Sun (LOST), Karen Walker (Will & Grace), Betty Suarez (Ugly Betty), Captain Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek Voyager), Nancy Botwin (Weeds), Tara Gregson (United States of Tara), Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons), and I can probably name a few more but I'll stop right now.

TV Meme: Day 09

"30 Days TV Meme"

Day 09 | Best scene ever

I wanted to plead the fifth with this question just because at how severely open-ended it is considering ALL of the TV I'm watching or have watched. How can I pick just one? So I won't. Instead I'm just going to list a few of my favorite scenes from a few of my favorite shows and that's that. I've included accompanying Youtube clips of each scene when possible.

Battlestar Galactica - The one scene I'm thinking about happens in "Exodus: Part 2" when Galactica jumps into the upper atmosphere, launches its fighters while free falling to provide cover for ground troops, and jumps back out right before hitting the ground. I literally went "WHOA" when the scene concluded. Just brilliant stuff. [Youtube Video]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - There are a bunch. My real answer is probably the scene in "The Wish" where everyone dies, because it really was such a powerful scene. Other scenes that rank high for various reasons are the gorgeous Giles/Tara duet in "Once More, With Feeling" and the heartbreaking break-up scene of Willow/Oz in "Wild At Heart."

Doctor Who - It's incredibly cheesy and saccharine, but I have to admit, I very much enjoyed the extended sequence of the Tenth Doctor having a chance to say goodbye to all of his companions before he regenerates in "The End of Time: Part Two." [Click here for more of my thoughts on this scene] [Youtube Video]

Friends - Who can forget "The One with the Proposal: Part 2" when Monica proposed to Chandler? Starting with Chandler running to Richard's place thinking he's blown it to Joey actually using his acting chops to make Chandler believe Monica ran out to Chandler being surprised that Monica has decorated the apartment with candles to both Monica and Chandler trying to propose without tearing up to finally ending with all of the friends hugging in the end, it's one of my favorite scenes that show had delivered in its ten seasons. [Youtube Video]

Frasier - NBC advertised the opening of the "Three Valentines" episode as the "funniest ten minutes" of the show ever. They delivered. The opening is a mostly silent extended scene with Niles getting ready for a date in Frasier's apartment. A series of unfortunate events and accidents happen the enables Niles to absolutely wreck the place from leaving the iron on his pants a little too long to putting the couch on fire. Good stuff! [Youtube Video]

Lost - Last, but not least we get to one of the best, if not the best, episode of this show in "The Constant" and that unforgettable scene between Desmond and Penny finally reaching each other by phone on Christmas Eve 2004 stopping his flashes that was very close to killing him. If you had a dry eye during that scene, you are unreal. [Youtube Video]

If I think more about it, I'm sure I can come up with a few more great scenes in a bunch of other TV shows, but there's only so much time I can devote to this, so that's all for now!

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?

TV Meme: Day 06

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 06 | Favorite episode of your favorite TV show

As difficult as it was to pick just one episode, it had to be done. I somehow narrowed it to about 13 or so episodes and then I looked at them and asked myself which episode I wanted to re-watch RIGHT THAT MINUTE and the answer came: "The Wish" (Season 3, Episode 9)

What's not to love about this episode? I'm such a huge fan when TV shows do the whole alternate reality thing, because if done right those types of episodes not only give insight to the show and its characters, but also give a chance for the actors to show off their skills. This episode did all of that and more.

The basic premise of the episode is that Cordelia comes to the realization that Buffy is the cause of everything awful that has happened to her, more recently being dumped by Xander, and wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. Her wish is granted by the demon Anyanka and the rest of the episode takes a look at this brave new world where Buffy never made it to Sunnydale, the Master and his vampires rule, and everything is upside down.

I can't even begin to list all of the things that make this episode so exceptional. First of all, you could tell the actors really had fun with this episode, probably Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon most of all being asking to play leather-donned-fierce vampires. Charisma Carpenter had a few, but poignant scenes where you could really feel the pain she felt being ostracized by the kids in school and losing the support and friendship she had with the Scooby gang. Finally, Sarah Michelle Gellar played the emotionless anti-happy-go-lucky version of Buffy that made you really appreciate regular Buffy's gung-ho persona.


Second, the episode had so many stunningly shocking and unforgettable scenes. When the vampire versions of Xander and Willow killed Cordelia in front of a helpless Giles, I was stunned they actually went there. Little did I know that later on in the episode, the show would deliver a more powerful and absolutely beautiful scene/sequence i.e. the battle at the warehouse--Buffy not flinching at Angel's death, Xander getting staked by Buffy, Willow killed by Oz, the Master snapping Buffy's neck. To say I was breathless throughout that whole sequence would probably be undercutting the emotions I felt during it. The voice overs from Giles and Anyanka (plus the musical score) just added to the layer.

Third, we got our first appearance of Anyanka and of course one of my favorite villains, Vamp Willow. Whenever I re-watch the episode, I can't help but smile knowing the full journey that the character of Anya will go through leading to her heartbreaking death in the series finale. Then of course there's Vamp Willow. Alyson Hannigan was pure brilliance in this role and was solely responsible in me using "Bored now" for years to come. And actually one of the things I liked about this episode is related to Anya/Vamp Willow in that as much as I like alternate realities and those sort of story lines, I sometimes am disappointed that there's usually just one big reset button in the end. And while this is true for this episode as well, we do get Anya who remembers it all and of course the re-appearance of Vamp Willow later in the season.

The timing of the episode, too, was like a perfect storm as it aired right after a very good "Lover's Walk" when Spike made his welcome return to Sunnydale just in time to cause havoc and drama to the group and right before a truly classic Buffy episode in "Amends" where the gang tried to juggle the holidays with their first encounter with The First Evil. So with those three episodes, all in a row, it was just a plethora of awesome for Buffy fans everywhere. Furthermore, one can even think of "The Wish" as the first part of a two-parter episode with another fantastic episode "Dopplegangland" in which Vamp Willow crosses over to our reality. That episode was much more an Alyson Hannigan showcase, which frankly, rocks and was in fact THIS close to being my answer today for this meme!

Finally, I just want to give a shout-out to the general awesomeness that was season 3. When trying to answer this meme, I was shocked to see how many episodes I loved coming from this amazing season. Like the featured episode, what's not to love about it? We had the peak of Willow/Oz, the introductions of Faith, Wesley, and Anya, the senior year of the Scooby Gang, and some of the best episodes the series had ever delivered. All that and it was also the final season of Angel and Cordelia as cast regulars! Make sure to check out my friend's Bunny's Pop Culture Blog where she also picked a S3 BtVS episode for her Day 6 entry.


Some choice quotes:

Buffy: Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
Xander: Mine's much more advanced.

Oz: So Cordelia wished for something? If it was a long, healthy life, she should get her money back.

The Master: Hungry? I've lost my appetite for this one. She keeps looking at me. I'm trying to eat and she looks at me!

Buffy: World is what it is. We fight, we die. Wishing doesn't change that.
Giles: I have to believe in a better world.
Buffy: Go ahead. I have to live in this one.

Willow: Uh-oh. Puppy got out.

TV Meme: Day 04

"30 Days TV Meme"


Day 04 | Your favorite show ever

I can't believe it's been more than 13 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) came into my life. I was only in sixth grade! The last new episode aired a little more than 7 years ago and here I am still compelled to write about why I love the show and why I constantly refer to it as my favorite show of all time.

It was the very first show I got "obsessed" over. It was the one show I was compelled to talk about with other people in depth online, which was still so new at the time. This was after all pre-Lost days when your only option was to go into those old-school AOL message boards. I met a lot of amazing people during that time, people I still talk to and are friends with today. Of course none of us would've found one another if the show didn't lend itself to that kind of loyalty and commitment from its fans.

I could honestly go on and on and on about this show, but if you haven't seen the show, it's hard to explain why a lot of people are still talking about and love it after all of these years. My friend Ali, who is also doing this meme, also picked BtVS for her Day 4 and I don't think I could've said it better than her:

Joss [Whedon] was (is) a masterful storyteller, and everyone who loved Buffy (and all of Jossverse) got to experience that. And for a depressed, emo teenager who felt lost in her world, Buffy echoed all of those life themes brilliantly. Not to bring Lost into this, but I think Buffy is a Constant for a lot of us; it keeps us grounded and together.

And in a nutshell, that's why BtVS is on the top of my list of TV shows. Not only was it written in a way that 6th grade me totally related to it, but 25 year old me, all these years later, could still very much appreciate and remember it fondly. And while I've loved other shows since BtVS (Lost, Torchwood, Firefly, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, etc.), there really is something special to your first, isn't it?

I'm sure this show will make a few more appearances in the 30 Day TV Meme. So keep an eye out! In the meantime, if you haven't watched the show, I highly recommend.