a 7 episode summary

[deird1]

I’ve been trying to decide on the best combination of episodes - one per season - to give someone a summary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

You see, the problem is that if you’re trying to give someone an overview without filling them in on everything that happened in-between, you can’t show most of the ‘classic’ episodes.
Like Becoming for instance

Comments

[rebcake]

Very useful, indeed. I am always getting up to do a "backstory lecture" for the uninitiated. Nobody likes it, of course. This would be better.

My only comment would be that "Fool For Love" works almost as well as "Crush" for Season 5, but then, I'm a Spike fan, so I would naturally pick his showpiece episode.

[deird1]

Would you believe, I didn't even think of Fool For Love?
And you're right, that would work almost as well.

[draconin]

I'd have no problems with that as a list for BtVS - I like your reasoning and, although I can see that as you go further through the seasons there are increasingly going to be things unexplained, I can't really see that there's any way around that. The ones you've picked are better than most in terms of being largely standalone. I will say, however, that I'd have picked "Lie to Me" S2 because of the way that it shows her loneliness and increasing despair of ever having a life for herself.

Re Angel - I'd suggest "Rm w/a Vu" for S1 because it introduces all the characters, showing both Cordelia's growing strength of character and Doyle's crush on her, plus the beginnings of Angel's attraction. Plus Dennis, who's one of my favourites. Re "Couplet", I don't know... my favourite is the one immediately preceding "Waiting in the Wings". For S4 I don't have any problems with "Supersymmetry" but I'd also consider "Orpheus". For S5 I'd use "Hell Bound" (redemption and great acting) or "Smile Time" (fun!!).

[debris4spike]

They are some great chices - and lovely reasonings there.

As I re-watch Buffy I tend to post as and when something really hits me! It was going to be each episode, then got that I want to watch more, and not post!

[shapinglight]

Very interesting choices.

[dreamincolor]

Well thought out list, babe. I'd definitely consult this if I were in said situation, and wanted someone to get the gist of the show. Though total shame that Faith wouldn't ever be mentioned..seems like she's always what I'm luring people in with. ("Look at the sexy bad girl, you know you want to watch this show!") But I'd say overall you picked some really good episodes that represent the series well, especially Hush, Normal Again and Potential. I'd probably root for other episodes over Crush though, simply because Spike really got on my nerves in that one... But I guess the other ones, for the most part, do include the Glory and Dawn issue as the centerpiece plot wise, which wouldn't work well as a stand alone. Hmm.

As for the Angel season one, I'd second "Rm w/a Vu" as a possibility. It introduces everybody, (except, I think, Kate?) and does seem to work pretty well as a stand alone. Although maybe Lonely Hearts and The Ring should be up for consideration as well. Lonely Hearts has, I think, a pretty interesting stand-alone plot

[deird1]

But I guess the other ones, for the most part, do include the Glory and Dawn issue as the centerpiece plot wise, which wouldn't work well as a stand alone.

Well, exactly. Season five is especially tricky, as far as picking something that isn't part of a very complicated story arc.

[dreamincolor]

That makes sense Faith-wise too. While she was seriously awesome, she is part of a greater, somewhat-confusing-to-a-newbie plot arc that's definitely not resolved in one ep. I'm definitely on board with you're logic there.

Speaking of Faith - the icon you used with this post is somewhat awesome. Now I have the strong urge to figure out when she was making that face..