Once More With Commentary: A Buffy Podcast

This week, we must correctly define a parasite, as we confront maybe the grossest demon in the Buffyverse? Yes? And, as Willow returns to Sunnydale, the show and her friends both refuse to just let her off the hook for her actions, which we appreciate. On Angel, we take a trip to Las Vegas to find out what Lorne is up to!

This week, we have to again talk about the problematic corner the show has written Spike into, and how his treatment is different than the treatment of Anya. On Angel, Wesley continues his cool streak and Angle tangles with a super-powered thief to get information about Cordelia’s whereabouts. Also, did one of Buffy’s most famous plots borrow from Sailor Moon?

We’re going right back to the beginning and we’re going to learn about ourselves in the process! Welcome to Buffy Season 7 and Angel Season 4! We’re almost done with Buffy eps and we’re not crying, you’re crying! In “Lessons” we are re-world building, as Buffy returns to the newly re-opened Sunnydale High, still inconveniently located on top of the Hellmouth. In LA, Angel is still underwater and Cordelia is missing, but Wesley and Lila have their best moments, maybe ever, and We. Are. Loving. It!

It’s finale time this week, as we discuss “Grave” and “Tomorrow.” Willow is still on the rampage in Sunnyvale and even Giles can’t stop her, but maybe Xander can, with the power of wuv. We still disagree on Spike’s intentions, but he gets something out of his trials that may or may not be what he was after. In LA, Angel tries to bond with Connor, who only has revenge on his mind. Cordelia finds herself swept up to a new existence.

This week, Willow is on the hunt for Jonathan and Andrew as Buffy and Xander desperately try to keep her from crossing further over the line by killing them. On Angel, Connor spends time with the team and Holtz carries out his final plans.

In “Villains,” the aftermath of Warren’s attack proves deadly, as Willow sets out for vengeance at any magical cost, and Buffy and Xander try to stop her (we admit we found it kind of cathartic watching Warren get his). On Angel, Connor is back, but he’s grown up and has a massive chip on his shoulder toward Angel. Bored now.

This week, we arrive at “Seeing Red” and it’s a big one. Ultimately, humans are going to be the most dangerous foe for Buffy and friends. Monsters may haunt Sunnyvale, but it’s guns that are the most terrifying. In LA, magic, water hogging slugs invade the hotel, but mostly Angel is still the worst. We want justice for Wesley!! And for Tara, she didn’t deserve to go out like that.

The Scoobies begin to descend into (more) disorder this week, as Anya’s quest for revenge on Xander leads to revelations about Buffy and Spike. On Angel, Cordelia returns and offers comfort to Angel, while Fred and Gunn contend with their own relationship and a demon returned from Gunn’s past.

Everything is normal again! Not so much, as a poison-addled Buffy must differentiate between two different realities. But, mostly, txt this be remembered as the episode where Buffy committed the unforgivable sin of pouring liquids into a trash can. Meanwhile, Angel’s toxic masculinity is showing, and our patience is thinning. We see the consequences of no meaningful interactions between Angel and Wesley since Pylea, as the team tries to sift through the fallout of Connor’s kidnapping and we try to figure why this show continually undermines itself.

Hell’s Bells! Xander and Anya make it to their wedding day but not down the aisle, thanks to a plotting demon and Xander’s truly terrible family. On Angel, Wesley’s attempts to thwart prophecy have catastrophic consequences.