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shadowkatSo someone attempted to rank the Buffy episodes, all 144 of them. Go read and disagree at will, I certainly did, although I admittedly didn't post any comments - just did it in my head or here on my own lj : http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/ranking-every-episode-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer?bftw
The link basically proves something I've long suspected - these types of games tell people more about the people playing the game than about the show. Actually reviews in general tend to. For example? If a music reviewer scoffs or derides music that is not "classical" or "opera", you begin to think the person is a bit snooty and needs to lighten up and get out more. While a reviewer who only likes Katy Perry songs...comes across as...you fill in the blank. In short, we don't learn anything about the music - and just react to the reviewer's tastes.
Also, if the reviewer/ranker isn't careful they can turn you (the reader of the review) against a piece of music, a book, a movie or a tv series they adore - making you, the reader, despise it - having never ever seen it. (This sort of happened briefly for me in regards to Breaking Bad. People, in particular television critics, were so "obnoxious" in their adoration of it - stating it was BETTER than everything else, it was hard to like it. BB tended to bring out the asshole in their viewers/fans. Not sure why. 50 Shades of Grey had a similar effect, as did Twilight. Hype is not always a good thing.) It's weird when it happens. The opposite can happen as well - a reviewer will deride or rip apart a book or tv series - and in the process turn you on to it or make you so curious about it - you have to see it or read it. (See 50 Shades of Grey. It actually falls into both categories!) In short, reviewing is an odd occupation. Why we pay people to do it, I've no clue. Before the internet, it sort of made sense - because not everyone could post their opinion. You had to get a paper or magazine to employ you to post one. Now, however, why bother paying them? Do people like Robert Bianco, Alan Sepinwall, Owen Glieberman, Ken Tucker, etc...really need to be paid for just writing their opinions? Are their opinions any more relevant or interesting than those who aren't being paid?
Eh, I don't know. Sorry for the tangent. Distracting self from work-related stress.
Anywho..admittedly it's been a while since I've watched Buffy (last time was in 2009), and my tastes may have changed, since my obsession has definitely disappeared. That said, there are some headscratching moments on this person's list.
First off - I may be in the minority here? But I thought Beer Bad was a whole lot funnier than Gone, which felt sort of silly in places. And I'd certainly rank Smashed higher than Older and Far Away, Gone, and Doublemeat Palace. The ranker clearly despised Riley, yet for some reason did not rank As You Were third from last. Also they have an odd fondness for the First Evil and Amends.
Also...Chosen. Did Chosen make you cry? I didn't cry. My mother didn't cry. The guy I watched it with didn't cry. And we've been known to cry at Hallmark commercials...and Grey's Anatomy episodes. Yet, this ranker - saw it as a top episode and adored it, and it made them cry.
Clearly the ranker is a Faith, Spike and to a degree Angel fan. Also a Giles fan. Not so much a Xander or for that matter Riley fan (although to be fair neither got great episodes).
They did not like S4, S7, and S6. But adored S1 - Nightmares, Out of Sight Out of Mind, Witch are all ranked highly (yes, go figure) as is Doomed (which blew my mind). Although kudos that they admitted the rocket launcher tackle in HIM is comedy gold (it is). But seriously All the Way ranked higher than Never Leave Me, Beneath Me, and Smashed???
And dear lord, Family...? They stated that this was a good examination of how badly men treat women???? Oh dear. (Family is one big huge cliche after another, and preachy as all get out.) And they hated the Pack???
So, yes, some headscratching moments.
I'll do an abbreviated listing off the top of my head, because seriously 144 episodes takes way too much time. Also upon reading the below - keep in mind everything I said in the above half of the post...
Bottom ten:
Family (yes, the stereotypical redneck white trash family who is into the bible - Whedon your upper class prejudices are showing), Amends (it's magic Christmas snow...and sigh, the First EVIL! When this show was cheesy, it was REALLY cheesy), As You Were (here it's GI Joe and GI Jane but with less personality, return to save the day and teach everyone morality lessons), Teacher's Pet, I Robot You Jane, Go Fish, Wrecked (magic as crack - complete with crack den leader with a yen for molesting young women), Older and Far Away (pacing issues), Where the Wild Things Are (has similar issues to Family - apparently stereotypical bible thumping backwards fundamentalists are a recurring villain trope for Whedon series - found them in Firefly as well. Annoying. Not even the great Giles/Spike/Anya/Xander scenes could save it.), Some Assembly Required (too cheesy for words and Frankenstein for some reason is harder to pull off than it looks).
[Doomed is saved by the scenes with Spike, Willow and Xander - you just have to ignore the plot and Buffy/Riley. Beer Bad is saved by SMG's ability for comic timing and Xander/Giles who were hilarious in the episode.]
Top ten:
1)Once More with Feeling, 2) the Body, 3)Hush, 4)Becoming, 5)Restless, 6) Fool for Love, 7)Lies My Parents Told Me (although I agree with the ranker that Robin Wood's character didn't work - his vendetta seemed a bit long in the tooth and too late.), 8) Conversations with Dead People, 9)Beneath Me (and yes I liked the whole episode so sue me - the ranked hated the first part with the Sluggoth demon - and yet they thought Family was innovative?)/ Selfless (tied), 10) Dopplegangland
The link basically proves something I've long suspected - these types of games tell people more about the people playing the game than about the show. Actually reviews in general tend to. For example? If a music reviewer scoffs or derides music that is not "classical" or "opera", you begin to think the person is a bit snooty and needs to lighten up and get out more. While a reviewer who only likes Katy Perry songs...comes across as...you fill in the blank. In short, we don't learn anything about the music - and just react to the reviewer's tastes.
Also, if the reviewer/ranker isn't careful they can turn you (the reader of the review) against a piece of music, a book, a movie or a tv series they adore - making you, the reader, despise it - having never ever seen it. (This sort of happened briefly for me in regards to Breaking Bad. People, in particular television critics, were so "obnoxious" in their adoration of it - stating it was BETTER than everything else, it was hard to like it. BB tended to bring out the asshole in their viewers/fans. Not sure why. 50 Shades of Grey had a similar effect, as did Twilight. Hype is not always a good thing.) It's weird when it happens. The opposite can happen as well - a reviewer will deride or rip apart a book or tv series - and in the process turn you on to it or make you so curious about it - you have to see it or read it. (See 50 Shades of Grey. It actually falls into both categories!) In short, reviewing is an odd occupation. Why we pay people to do it, I've no clue. Before the internet, it sort of made sense - because not everyone could post their opinion. You had to get a paper or magazine to employ you to post one. Now, however, why bother paying them? Do people like Robert Bianco, Alan Sepinwall, Owen Glieberman, Ken Tucker, etc...really need to be paid for just writing their opinions? Are their opinions any more relevant or interesting than those who aren't being paid?
Eh, I don't know. Sorry for the tangent. Distracting self from work-related stress.
Anywho..admittedly it's been a while since I've watched Buffy (last time was in 2009), and my tastes may have changed, since my obsession has definitely disappeared. That said, there are some headscratching moments on this person's list.
First off - I may be in the minority here? But I thought Beer Bad was a whole lot funnier than Gone, which felt sort of silly in places. And I'd certainly rank Smashed higher than Older and Far Away, Gone, and Doublemeat Palace. The ranker clearly despised Riley, yet for some reason did not rank As You Were third from last. Also they have an odd fondness for the First Evil and Amends.
Also...Chosen. Did Chosen make you cry? I didn't cry. My mother didn't cry. The guy I watched it with didn't cry. And we've been known to cry at Hallmark commercials...and Grey's Anatomy episodes. Yet, this ranker - saw it as a top episode and adored it, and it made them cry.
Clearly the ranker is a Faith, Spike and to a degree Angel fan. Also a Giles fan. Not so much a Xander or for that matter Riley fan (although to be fair neither got great episodes).
They did not like S4, S7, and S6. But adored S1 - Nightmares, Out of Sight Out of Mind, Witch are all ranked highly (yes, go figure) as is Doomed (which blew my mind). Although kudos that they admitted the rocket launcher tackle in HIM is comedy gold (it is). But seriously All the Way ranked higher than Never Leave Me, Beneath Me, and Smashed???
And dear lord, Family...? They stated that this was a good examination of how badly men treat women???? Oh dear. (Family is one big huge cliche after another, and preachy as all get out.) And they hated the Pack???
So, yes, some headscratching moments.
I'll do an abbreviated listing off the top of my head, because seriously 144 episodes takes way too much time. Also upon reading the below - keep in mind everything I said in the above half of the post...
Bottom ten:
Family (yes, the stereotypical redneck white trash family who is into the bible - Whedon your upper class prejudices are showing), Amends (it's magic Christmas snow...and sigh, the First EVIL! When this show was cheesy, it was REALLY cheesy), As You Were (here it's GI Joe and GI Jane but with less personality, return to save the day and teach everyone morality lessons), Teacher's Pet, I Robot You Jane, Go Fish, Wrecked (magic as crack - complete with crack den leader with a yen for molesting young women), Older and Far Away (pacing issues), Where the Wild Things Are (has similar issues to Family - apparently stereotypical bible thumping backwards fundamentalists are a recurring villain trope for Whedon series - found them in Firefly as well. Annoying. Not even the great Giles/Spike/Anya/Xander scenes could save it.), Some Assembly Required (too cheesy for words and Frankenstein for some reason is harder to pull off than it looks).
[Doomed is saved by the scenes with Spike, Willow and Xander - you just have to ignore the plot and Buffy/Riley. Beer Bad is saved by SMG's ability for comic timing and Xander/Giles who were hilarious in the episode.]
Top ten:
1)Once More with Feeling, 2) the Body, 3)Hush, 4)Becoming, 5)Restless, 6) Fool for Love, 7)Lies My Parents Told Me (although I agree with the ranker that Robin Wood's character didn't work - his vendetta seemed a bit long in the tooth and too late.), 8) Conversations with Dead People, 9)Beneath Me (and yes I liked the whole episode so sue me - the ranked hated the first part with the Sluggoth demon - and yet they thought Family was innovative?)/ Selfless (tied), 10) Dopplegangland
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Date: 2013-11-16 07:45 am (UTC)Today? Well having reviews for the NY Times might still make sense I suppose when there are so many forms of art and media concentrated in one city (museums, opera, etc etc). But otherwise, really not. Besides internet, access to media is another part of that - I can now watch a restored version of Metropolis on Netflix for instance, or watch new indie films from around the world. When I was in college 20 years ago that was unthinkable.
First off - I may be in the minority here? But I thought Beer Bad was a whole lot funnier than Gone
Then that makes two of us, although I doubt it's such a minority, at least here on LJ.
Although kudos that they admitted the rocket launcher tackle in HIM is comedy gold (it is).
Him is actually my (guilty pleasure) go to ep for laughs. I've seen the something happening outside someone's window and they don't notice routine done hundreds of times in movies and tv shows. This was the first time it ever actually made me laugh.
But seriously All the Way ranked higher than Never Leave Me, Beneath Me, and Smashed
I have no words for this.
And I can't disagree with most of your bottom picks, although I love Tara's awesomeness in OAFA - it definitely has pacing issues as you say. Family bothers me for the very reasons you say, especially given it was written by Joss. Up until that point "written by Joss Whedon" usually meant I could expect something extraordinary (Hush, Restless); the one time he bothers to turn the spotlight on Tara, he let me down big time with his horrid stereotypes. (Even with Amy Adams.) Another lost opportunity, because the theme of chosen families and the fact that the ep begins with Buffy committing to protect Dawn, and ending with Buffy and Dawn protecting Tara, it could have been something special. (His stereotyping of southerners comes across loud and clear in Showtime, when the only Potential who becomes the First is Eve.)
Inca Mummy girl lands near the bottom of my list. That horrible "incan" accent, ugh, and a gorgeous woman thinking Xander is the most wonderful thing ever is clearly Joss acting out his fantasies.
Beneath Me (and yes I liked the whole episode so sue me
I think the entire episode is terrific; all the focus (in the Spuffy part of fandom) of course is on the last scene, but the scene in the Bronze is razor-sharp and crackles with tension until Spike & Anya blow the lid wide open.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-16 10:12 pm (UTC)Typical Hollywood stereotype and highly annoying. I similar issues. And I agree, one of my main problems with Family - was it was supposed to be the Tara back-story episode and it failed. Tara was originally supposed to be a wood-sprite but they chose to go with the witches are demon's hollywood C-movie trope.
I think the entire episode is terrific; all the focus (in the Spuffy part of fandom) of course is on the last scene, but the scene in the Bronze is razor-sharp and crackles with tension until Spike & Anya blow the lid wide open.
I thought it worked as well. The shifts in Spike's behavior are fascinating. He tries on various personalities trying to figure out what works. And that Bronze scene crackles, as does the bit in the alley when he slays the sluggoth demon - trying to be heroic, only to discover its a man not a demon and to get terribly confused about it.
One of the most interesting character centric episodes of the series. I actually think Buffy was at its best when it focused on the emotional journeys of its characters and not on plot.
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Date: 2013-11-17 06:01 am (UTC)Actually that's exactly what I'm talking about re: BY, the almost total focus on Spike in that ep by fandom. Yes, his shifts are fantastic and chilling - except for the OTT screaming in the alley. I'm thinking more of the total quartet of players: Buffy, Xander, Anya, Spike, the history, the bristling tensions. Buffy trying to figure Spike out every step of the way, trying to summon The Slayer when she's still hurting from last year and dealing with PTSD; Xander trying to move on, Anya trying to stay in D'Hoffryn's good graces.
When Anya says "Bite me, Harris!" the anger and resentment, the contrast to the intimacy they once shared ("Harris" now, not "Xander") is remarkable. Buffy trying to do her job, trying to stop both Spike and Anya but hesitating to do so; Spike and Anya beating the shit out of one another in complete contrast to their moments of tenderness in Entropy. I even felt a little sympathy for Xander realizing Nancy wasn't going to call him, and I hardly ever feel sorry for him. Buffy/Spike & Xander/Anya labeling each other as "exes" to Nancy, putting their relationships on an equal plane verbally. (Xander doesn't say "ex-fiancee".) And of course the "Is there anyone here who hasn't slept together?" and Xander & Spike's look. Gold.
I actually think Buffy was at its best when it focused on the emotional journeys of its characters and not on plot.
Absolutely.
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Date: 2013-11-17 05:23 pm (UTC)But you are right, the Anya/Xander storyline works quite well and builds up to Selfless marvelously. Actually both Beneath You, Same Time Same Place, and Selfless are work quite well together. Although Anya seems to have a more constant role in these than some of the other characters. Anya had more character development in the front end of S7, but after Selfless...she sort of disappears or gets relegated to background chatter. That was actually my main issue with S7 - The front half of season is really good - it's more focused. We have less characters, and so it is more focused on the core characters, their issues, and the plot is tighter and more suspenseful.
The second half - introduces about 15 more characters or at least it felt like that. Instead of just three or four, we got a whole slew. In previous seasons...it was just a couple new characters and they weren't on screen all the time. In S7: we had about 5-6 potential slayers, Andrew, Robin Wood, Faith. So that's about 10 new characters - who all required focus. It became defused and wandered all over the place. What they should have done was introduce maybe three new slayers (Kennedy and possibly Rona and Amanda - who did further the plot and were important), reduced Andrew's screen time (this character was overused), kept Robin Wood and kept Faith.