Buffy Full Circle
I finished watching Buffy season five today.
Normally I watch an episode of Buffy and a one of Angel each day. As there were two episodes left in each, I decided to watch two episodes straight. It was a good choice. And it brings me around "full circle" to when I first started to watch Buffy regularly.
This was because Cathy was off on a trip and wanted to tape the episodes while she was away. Cathy is an arch-Buffy fan, and had been watching it from first transmission, and traded overseas to get advance copies of episodes! In ny case, I started watching from the episode "Tough Love" in season five. In that episode, Glory (a goddess) sucks out the mind of Tara, Willow's girlfriend (in a cool on-screen lesbian relationship). Later Willow decides to attack Glory and "give her pain". I got hooked because of this episode.
I'd seen two other episodes before it: "Teacher's Pet" and a two part cross-over with Spike from season four. Neither really got me enthused. The key to appreciating Buffy and Angel, is the interplay between the regular characters, not the random adventures and monsters they encounter. Like Trek (which I've always loved) it's the team that makes the difference.
And watching an episode a day has been really good at seeing the general development of the characters and plots. The story arc since Joyce's death has been really good, and I can see how it leads directly into season 6.
Gasp, so I've come full circle, back to where I started. I might take a break for a week or so now (after finishing Angel season 2) before I watch any more. This is Not Art's only next week, and I want to give that my attention. It'll also give me time to buy collections for season 6 part II, and season 7 part I, which I currently don't have. Even at only $20 each, that's a $40 chunk which I need to spread out. An average season is 22 episodes, so it lasts for 3 weeks if I watch each day.
Gasp, have to be a fan, wouldn't I?