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[molly_may]

Over at Mark Watches today, they're discussing Becoming pt. 1. There are always remarks in Mark's posts and in the comment section from the unspoiled, first-time watchers that are amusing, but, maybe because the stakes (hee) are so high in this episode, I found some of the comments today especially noteworthy. Like for example, Mark saying "I

Comments

[cindergal]

My Buffy watching was all over the place. I started watching in S2, and was upspoiled. Then I moved, and Buffy was shown at some weird time like 6 pm, and by the time S4 rolled around, I gave up a few episodes in. Then I read in TV Guide that Spike had fallen in love with Buffy! I had to see that! So I went to the internet to get caught up and that's how I discovered online fandom. After that I was at times a spoiler phobe, and at times a spoiler ho (in S6 as a defense mechanism, definately).

So I don't think I fit into any of those ticky boxes. ;-)

I have to believe that Angel's "Irish" will win by a landslide, though. *g*

[molly_may]

After that I was at times a spoiler phobe, and at times a spoiler ho

Heh, yeah that describes me as well. I did try to stay unspoiled for most of S7, but that was after getting spoiled like crazy in S6.

I have to believe that Angel's "Irish" will win by a landslide, though.

It's not a fair fight, but I couldn't resist adding it to the poll!

[botias]

I find the predictions interesting too. They are clearly innocent of how dark BtVS is willing go, and how willing they are to smash what they've built all season or seasons in a few terrible moments. *pats them*

Most TV shows are much more careful of their status quo.

[molly_may]

There is one first time viewer who commented "I am just numb at this point. There is nothing this show could do to emotionally break me further. Jesus, this is just so bleak. I mean, it always had a dark edge to it, but recently it’s just like one horrible disaster after another." And it's like, oh honey if you're finding this bleak, I don't know how you're going to deal with S6.

[lycomingst]

Bleak? No need to wait until S6, how about that bus ride out of town in the next episode!

[molly_may]

I know, it's like they haven't even experienced the full heart-stomping experience yet. Kids today, they don't know what "bleak" is!

[diebirchen]

It was an accident some years after the series finished. I saw one episode and I was hooked.

[molly_may]

So which episode was it that hooked you right away?

[diebirchen]

"Something Blue"

[molly_may]

Awww, that's a very good first episode to stumble on! No wonder you were hooked.

[electrcspacegrl]

I'm really enjoying Mark's episode reviews. I look forward to them every weekday. I love how unspoiled he is about everything. And then finding out his reaction to the plot twists is such a delight.

[molly_may]

I have been having a lot of fun reading them too!

[fenchurche]

I watched the first five seasons almost completely unspoiled as they aired, and then switched to being spoiled absolutely rotten for the last two (for a reason you've already hit squarely on the head: defense mechanism).

My first experience with spoilers was sort of by accident toward the end of Season Five. Someone posted the script for last scene of "Intervention" out on one of the boards I frequented (I think it may have been BAPS) and no one believed it. We all thought it was great fanfic and couldn't wait to see what was really going to happen in the episode... so you can imagine our surprise when it was accurate, word for word!

I started actively pursuing spoilers partway through season 6 and kept it up until the show ended... and, to be honest, it was really because I'd lost my trust in the writers. I wanted to be able to prepare myself for what was coming.

[molly_may]

I spoiled myself silly for the last half of S6 for the same reasons you did, but I tried to give them up during S7. One of my first experiences with spoilers, and certainly the first that really made an impression on me, was in S5, when I got spoiled that there was an upcoming scene in which Riley staked Spike, which led to weeks of angsting on my part. There were spoilers in S6 that did that too, blowing things out of proportion and causing fandom to go into a meltdown (and of course I can't think of a good example now), so that once I had gotten a little distance from S6, I decided I might enjoy the final season more if I wasn't worrying about every rumor that came along.