Two announcements for the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story:

Buffy and the Art of Story Season 3 begins next Monday (August 10, 2020) with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 premiere, Anne.

The second Patron-Only Q&A has been posted on Patreon.

(You can become a patron here for a dollar or more a month.)

What's in the Q&A?

 

key writing lessons learned from watching Buffy Seasons 1 and 2 so closely 

which episodes I'm most looking forward to watching for the podcast (hint: 3 of them are from Season 4)

tips on writing great dialogue

did Spike bail on his deal with Buffy in Becoming Part 2 (when he left even though he thought Angel was going to kill her)?

Last Week: Season 2 in Review

Next Up: Anne

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story Buffy Season Two In Review (a discussion of Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a whole):

This podcast episode covers (1) how Season 2 uses the bookends technique; (2) Season 2 themes; (3) character arcs; and (4) how Season 2 foreshadows Season 3 and beyond.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Becoming Part 2

Next Up: Anne 

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets. 

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown and a monthly Q&A.

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

Why I Love V.I.

V.I. Warshawski novels by Sara Paretsky

John Sandford Prey Novels

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in 2020 for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen: Audible.

Where You Can Find Buffy The Vampire Slayer DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Buffy Season Two In Review

Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)

This week on the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story Becoming Part 2 (Season 2 Episode 22 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This podcast episode covers (1) why the pace of Part 2 is so fast compared to Becoming Part 1; (2) how to show emotion through a character’s actions; (3) the elements of a pyrrhic victory; (4) and how the episode plays out Season 2 themes and foreshadows future relationships.

As always, the discussion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Becoming Part 1

Next Up: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 In Review

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets

Check out Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form 

Become a patron and access to bonus episodes and content

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help (available in ebook or workbook form).

More Episode Links

Watch Full of Grace/Sarah McLachlan

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series by Lisa M. Lilly free for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen from Audible.

Where You Can Find Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Becoming Part 2

Hello and welcome to the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

This Monday we're talking about Becoming Part Two. That is Season Two episode Twenty-Two. The second half of the two-episode finale.

What’s Included

We’ll cover:

the plot points from the Midpoint of the two-episode arc through the end;

episode plot turns;

how the pace of Part Two differs From Part One

showing emotion through a character's actions;

the concept of a Pyrrhic victory;

and how the episode plays out themes that are present throughout Season Two and foreshadows future relationships and developments.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Becoming Part Two was written and directed by Joss Whedon.

Opening Conflict Of Becoming Part Two

We start right where we left off. And it is a fantastic opening conflict for the episode.

Kendra is lying dead on the library floor. We hear a cop say, “Freeze,” as Buffy is leaning over Kendra.

There are two police officers. They pull Buffy away. One determines that Kendra is dead. The other says, “What about up there?”

And for the first time Buffy looks up and sees Xander lying in front of the bookshelves. She tries to get to him. But the police officer drags her out. She is protesting that she didn't do anything, and Snyder comes in with more police and says, “Why do I find that so hard to believe?”

He then tells the cops that if there's trouble, Buffy is behind it.

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story Becoming Part 1 (Season 2 Episode 21 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This podcast episode covers (1) use of recurring images and actions to link characters’ stories together; (2) major plot points through the Midpoint for the 2-episode story arc; (3) how those points intertwine with episode plot turns; and (4) in spoiler section, how this episode sets up the next one, Season 3, and Willow’s series arc.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Go Fish

Next Up: Becoming Part 2

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets. 

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown and a monthly Q&A.

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

Happiness, Anxiety, and Writing: Using Your Creativity To Live A Calmer, Happier Life

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in April and May, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen from Audible.

Where You Can Find The DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Becoming Part 1

Hello and welcome to the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today we're talking about Becoming Part One, the first part of the two-part finale of Season Two.

What’s Included

There's so much to talk about here. A few points in particular:

the use of recurring images and actions to link the characters’ stories together;

what I think is the best use of flashbacks we have seen in Buffy so far, because those flashbacks tell a story of their own;

major plot points through the Midpoint for the two-episode story arc; and

(in the Spoiler section)n how this episode sets up the next one, Season Three, and Willow's series arc.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Becoming Part One was written and directed by Joss Whedon.

Opening Conflict - Voiceover

We start with a voice over. We’ll later meet this character Whistler, a demon who seems to be on the side of good.

Whistler: Here's the thing. There's moments in your life that make you….Some are little or subtle and some are not.

A subtitle tells us we are in Galway 1763. Angel as a human and his friend are being thrown out of the pub. The friend passes out in the street. Angel sees a woman. Her back is to him, and she walks down an alley. She looks a lot like the drawing of the woman in the fancy dress tha...

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Go Fish (Season 2 Episode 20 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

This podcast episode covers (1) how the episode undercuts its light tone by treating disturbing issues as a joke; (2) some of the most fun lines in Buffy to date – including "Oh forgive me your Swimteamliness"; (3) an unexpected Midpoint twist; and (4) major plot turns at unusual places.

As always, the discussion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: I Only Have Eyes For You

Next Up: Becoming Part 1

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets.

Become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown.

Visit Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Links

Three Times a Lady (Not a Fish Guy, as Xander jokes)

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in June, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen to The Awakening on Audible.

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Go Fish

Hello and welcome to the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today were talking about Season Two Episode Twenty Go Fish.

What’s Included

In particular we’ll talk about:

how this episode treats disturbing issues as a joke, undercutting its lighthearted tone;

some of the most fun lines in Buffy to date (including Xander saying, “Oh forgive me your swimteamliness”;

a twist at the Midpoint that is especially fun and interesting; but

major plot turns out unusual places that rob the episode (in my view) of a bit of its momentum and make it feel uneven.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Is Go Fish Fun?

Go Fish was written by Elin Hampton and David Fury and directed by David Semel.

Before I go into the breakdown, when I said last Monday that we were coming up to Go Fish, a fun episode, I had forgotten the troubling aspects of it. Which are that both threatened and actual sexual assault and rape are treated lightly and played for jokes.

There's nothing graphic here in my breakdown or in the episode itself, but I am flagging these issues in case it's something that you don't want to encounter as you listen to this episode. Especially if perhaps, like me, you forgot that aspect of the episode.

A Peaceful Start, Then Opening Conflict

We start out, for a change, not with conflict but with a very peaceful scene. A shot of the ocean. It is rolling. We see lovely waves,

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: I Only Have Eyes For You (Season 2 Episode 19 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This podcast episode covers (1) the interplay of plot and emotion; (2) surprising major turns after the three-quarter point in the episode; (3) whether the pop scares fit the narrative; and (4) seemingly insignificant scenes that turn into a subplot with a twist of its own.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week:  Killed By Death

Next Up: Go Fish

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets. 

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown and a monthly Q&A.

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in April and May, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen from Audible.

Where You Can Find The DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for I Only Have Eyes For You

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today we're talking about Season Two Episode Nineteen I Only Have Eyes For You.

What’s Included

This episode is all about twists and turns that grow organically out of the story and yet still surprise us. In particular, I'll talk about:

plot and emotions;

a surprising major turn after the three-quarter point in the episode;

scares that, in my opinion that don't quite fit; and

seemingly insignificant scenes that turn into a subplot with a twist of its own.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

This episode was written by Marti Noxon and directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Opening Conflict

The opening conflict in I Only Have Eyes For You shows Buffy standing alone at the Bronze on the upper level. She's leaning on the railing and looking down. The moment, I just realize, is echoed in a way in the climax of the episode.

But here another student walks up to her.

We have not seen him before. Below there is a band playing. The young woman vocalist is singing a song about language as an annoying necessity. Which fits because language becomes key to this entire story.

The student tells Buffy he was in her Algebra class. She doesn't remember him but she does her best trying to. He asks if she's going to the dance tomorrow. And she says, “Oh, the Sadie Hawkins Dance where the girls are supposed to ask the boys.”

He says right,

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Killed By Death (Season 2 Episode 18 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

This podcast episode covers (1) what causes this episode's slower pace; (2) whether the flashbacks are needed; (3) fuzzy major plot turns in unusual places; (4) just-in-time backstory; and (5) very subtle advances in the season 2 arc.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Passion

Next Up: I Only Have Eyes For You

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets.

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown.

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Links

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in June, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen to The Awakening on Audible.

More Episode Links

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Killed By Death

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today we're talking about Season Two Episode Eighteen Killed By Death.

What’s Included

In particular, I'll cover:

why the pace in this episode feels slower than usual;

the use of flashbacks;

some fuzzy major plot turns; and

the very subtle advances in the Season Two series arc.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Killed By Death was written by Rob DesHotel and Dean Vitali and directed by Darren Serafini.

Opening Conflict

We start with conflict. Buffy climbs over stone wall into the graveyard. And she is coughing as she does. She stumbles when she lands on the ground and puts her hand to her head, clearly feeling ill but struggling to patrol anyway.

As she moves around the tombstone she almost stakes Xander.

Xander: Damn Buffy. My whole life flashed before my eyes. I gotta get me a life.

Cordelia and Willow are with him. Willow scolds Buffy for being out patrolling when she is so sick.

Cordelia: Half the school is out with the flu and we’re all concerned about how gross you look.

Buffy says she needs to patrol. She's not going to let Angel kill even one more person.

From behind her Angel says, “Oh, come on, just one more.” And he runs for Cordelia and knocks her down. Buffy pulls him off of Cordelia. They fight. She is struggling, but she does get some good punches and kicks in.

Angel, though, says her being off her game kind of takes the fun out of it. Then he hits her really hard says,

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Passion (Season 2 Episode 17 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This podcast episode covers (1) who the protagonist is – Angel or Buffy? (2) weaving together two strong plots; (3) underscoring tragedy by shifting a character's tone; and (4) dramatic irony that ratchets up emotional pain.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Next Up: Killed By Death

Work On Your Story

Download free Story Structure worksheets. 

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown.

Check out Help With Your Story at Writing As A Second Career.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in April and May, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen from Audible.

Where You Can Find The DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Passion

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today we're talking about Season Two Episode Seventeen Passion.

What’s Included In Passion

I'll cover:

who the protagonist is here (Angel, whose voice we hear first, or Buffy);

how a shift in a character's actions and words underscores the tragedy here;

and using dramatic irony to ratchet up emotional pain of the audience.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Passion was written by Ty King and directed by Michael Gershman.

This episode raises interesting questions about who the protagonist is. And it shows two plots, or the same plot from two different points of view, weaving together. That’s something that usually is difficult to do, but that is done very well in this episode. And that's despite that some of the plot turns I usually look for are not quite as clear.

Yet there are significant turns that keep the story moving and engaging. So that's another reason I find this one very interesting.

Opening Conflict In Passion

We began with intense conflict. Buffy and Xander are dancing at the Bronze. That's not the intense conflict – they are having fun. But Angel is watching from a distance. We know there is danger here for Buffy.

The voiceover is about passion. Angel tells us it lies in all of us. “Waiting, unwanted, it will stir, open its jaws and howl.”

We see the Buffy, Willow, Xander and Cordelia leave the Bronze. But we are not hearing them. We only hear music,

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Season 2 Episode 16 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

This podcast episode covers (1) using humor to convey theme; (2) conflict that causes character growth (for Cordelia); (3) foreshadowing significant plot developments without giving anything away; and (4) intertwining many plotlines seamlessly.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Phases

Next Up: Passion

Work On Your Story

Download the 5-Point Story Structure Template, available free to all on Lisa M. Lilly's Patreon page.

Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown.

You can find articles on writing craft, publishing, and time management at WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Links

Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in May and June, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen to The Awakening on Audible.

Where You Can Find The DVDs

Season 2 Buffy DVDs

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today were talking about Season Two Episode Sixteen Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered.

What’s Included

In particular, we’ll cover:

how this episode, which seems to be a very light one-off episode in fact, foreshadows so much of the rest of the season and the series as a whole;

significant themes about love versus obsession and about being who you are;

a central conflict that causes strong character growth for a side character (Cordelia); and

the masterful way that numerous plot lines are woven together seamlessly.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered was written by Marti Noxon and directed by James A. Contner.

Opening Conflict In Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

We start as we should with conflict. Xander and Buffy are in the graveyard. He shows her a silver heart necklace and asks if she thinks Cordelia will like it. Buffy doesn't quite understand what he sees in Cordelia and gives him a bit of a hard time about it. He says the only other person who interests him is unavailable and gives her a look.

Buffy more or less ignores that and tries to reassure him that yes, Cordelia will like the necklace. And we get the first of some great Xander quotes in this episode.

Xander: This is new territory for me. I mean, my Valentines are usually met with heartfelt restraining orders.

This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Phases (Season 2 Episode 15 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This podcast episode covers (1) why Buffy is the protagonist despite this being a key episode for Oz and Willow; (2) using humor and character development to hide clues; and (3) who Buffy feels she is allowed to kill and why.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Innocence

Next Up: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Work On Your Story

Download a free 5-Point Story Structure Template

Become a patron and get (a) (at $5 level) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to bonus episodes and content(all levels).

View articles on writing craft, publishing, and time management at WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

Buffy and the Art of Story Season One: Writing Better Fiction by Watching Buffy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale

Book 1 in Lisa M. Lilly's The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series freeKindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

Or download and listen from Audible.

Season 2 Buffy DVDs.

Buffy DVD Complete Box Set.

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Episode Transcript for Phases

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Today we're talking about Season Two episode fifteen Phases.

What’s Included

In particular, I'll cover:

why Buffy is still our protagonist despite that this is such a key episode for Willow and for Oz;

using humor and character development not just as an end in itself but to hide certain clues from the audience; and

more on the show's underlying philosophy and theme regarding violence and who Buffy believes that she is allowed to kill as the Slayer.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I'll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Phases was written by Rob DesHotel and Dean Batali and directed by Bruce Seth Green. A listener asked about Seth Green the actor was the same person as the director. It is not. In fact, the two are not related.

Starting With A Call Back

Before we get to our opening conflict…. Which remember is that conflict that sometimes relates to our main plot and sometimes doesn't. It is meant to draw our audience member or reader in before we get to that Story Spark or Inciting Incident that sets off our main plot.

Sometimes the conflict relates to that Story Spark, and sometimes it does not.

Here, we’re going to have three opening conflicts and the Story Spark. All in that teaser part of the episode before the credits. (Also known as the cold open.)

What’s kind of amazing is even before we get to that, we have a short call back to The Witch. All of this in less than 5 minutes.

We start out and Oz is in the hallway. He’s looking at that cheerleader trophy. The one where in The Witch Amy's mom became trapped. Now, none of our characters know that, although they do know that that statue or trophy is of Amy's mom. We see Seth Green (Oz) standing in front of the trophy. He’s kind of moving from side to side.

Willow walks up, and he says something like,