Once More With Commentary: A Buffy Podcast

This week, what we did on our Buffy breaks and proper sun care! Meanwhile, Buffy deals with the question of whether she can be the slayer and still love, and we think the show is trying to retcon some questionable writing around Riley’s exit, but overall it opens some questions and themes that will take us into the next season as well. Spike proves his loyalty to Buffy and Dawn, and Glory starts her hunt for a human key. The Buffybot is still gross, but we like her fashion choices! On Angel, we say goodbye to Lindsey for now, and we can start to ship Cordial and Angel.

This week, we’re so thrilled we loved Angel again! But first, Buffy and Dawn have to bury their mother and deal with the aftermath of Joyce’s death. We argue about whether Dawn is reacting like a girl whose mother just died or if the writer’s continue to write her too young, but ultimately we appreciate the fantastic melding of horror and emotion in this episode, as well as some pretty significance foreshadowing with Willow. On Angel, Harmony travels to LA for some girl time with Cordelia, and what can we say? Hilarity ensues. Here’s to Harmony and Vampire pyramid schemes!

Ok it’s that episode. We spend 50 minutes watching our favorite characters deal with a death they couldn’t prevent or stop from happening. We’re wrecked but also really admiring a great episode of television. And then, we finally like Angel again! This week’s course correction is welcome and maybe a little meta about the nosedive the show has been taking these last few weeks with the spiraling Angel arc. But we’re here for the rebound!

It’s the “boy builds sex robot” episode of Buffy that takes a bit of a different turn. Buffy learns to be ok with being single. And then there’s the ending we all knew was coming. Oof. On Angel, what even was that? We attempt to parse the hot mess that was “Reprise” but we just don’t know. What was reprised?

We mostly like this episode of Buffy this week, but we agree some of the plot points feel a little forced, especially when you tie in what’s been going on over in LA. That said, Drusilla and Spike in the same room again is a treat. And we aren’t sure if we know where the shows land on the capability of vampires to love, as Angel and Spike seem to have different ideas about that. On Angel, we finally focus more on the former Angel Investigations team, which is all we’ve been asking for. Unfortunately, they are dealing with zombie cops this week in Gunn’s old neighborhood, Wesley gets shot, and we’re not sure that poor girl ever got her eye fixed. Also, Kate is back and is almost fine. Almost.

We’re fighting this week about acting choices but we do agree this is a huge episode for Dawn and Buffy and for us. Identity, relationships and reality are all on the table. Angel continues to disappoint us on a massive scale. We like the show where the rest of the gang solve mysteries in mansions, Clue-style. Let’s watch that one!

Glory is a great villain, but did she have to be a god? Is that at impactful as it was supposed to be? We judge the council for their methods and cheer Buff’s “I have the power” speech. On Angel this week, we see a familiar face, Chanterelle/Lily/Anne, aka the Kate we deserve! But really, we are mostly just pissed at Angel, his biased moral code, and his tendency to take agency away from female characters.

This week, we get a lighthearted breather on Buffy as Willow and Anya’s bickering sets a troll loose in Sunnydale. Elsewhere, Giles heads to England to consult the council about Glory and Buffy processes her breakup, while we argue over the cost of salamander eyes. Over in LA, everything with Angel is terrible, but his friends and enemies are saving the show this week.

We’ve been clear about the treatment of Riley’s character this season, but it all comes to a head this week, and we…have thoughts. But even if Buffy and Riley are making us angry, Anya and Xander are here to make it better. And Willow is in that one scene too (where is Willow this season?) Don’t miss the Team Xander shoutout! It’s gonna be the last for a while. On Angel, a lot of things are happening and we get a little confused, but it’s the Druscilla show, get ready.

We have a lot to say this week about heroes and responsibility, as Buffy and Angel demonstrate the dos and don’ts of sacrifice. Buffy is starting to realize the reality of being Dawn’s sister as Joyce realizes the truth about her youngest daughter, in between surgery and fighting off an extraterrestrial demon summoned by Ben(!) to clean up Glory’s mess. In LA, Angel is generally insufferable in his quest to help Darla.