Buffy Sundays! Season 5 Episode 15 First Time Reaction!
Added 2024-08-25 19:56:37 +0000 UTCHi guys! So sorry about the tech issues last week! We should be back to normal now! I am trying something a bit different with the links as I am running out of 'Patreon video' time! Hope this works out ok for you, let me know if it doesn't!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XeLUKNTgSwjbJi5bIbQG_7gKJ7c_Wsej/view?usp=sharing
####### EPISODE SPOILER REVIEW BELOW! APPARENTLY SOME OF YOU ARE WATCHING FOR THE FIRST TIME ALONG SIDE ME, SO PLEASE DON'T READ BEYOND THIS POINT UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN THE EPISODE YOURSELF! ######
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Ok... let's talk about the episode before the ending.
Such a great performance by April! It is easy to see her as the villain, but my goodness it is undeserved!
NOTE!! - I missed Dawn's line about Ted because I was waffling, but luckily I went back to list to it later and talk about it! Great callback!
Super protective Giles was awesome here. Spike is gone completely overboard! God knows what will happen with 'Buffy 2.0'!
Warren can go do one.
Now then... I naturally get a bit emotional at the end. I had NO idea it was considered a 'cliffhanger' moment. I needed a quick break and then give my notes on the episode as a whole. It will be interesting rewatching next week's ep.
Hope you guys are having a great weekend!
As always, if you click the video just after this post, you may need to download it first. This should be fixed in a couple of hours!
Comments
I have never before related April to Talkie Toaster but now I forever will, it is definitely the same principle!
SapientButterfly
2024-09-28 11:42:41 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you've already seen the next episode in light of your recent tragedy. It is such a beautifully crafted thing, but having some level of preparation going into it feels like a blessing here. I don't think there are any words I can give you that you haven't heard a million times already, but if I haven't already said it elsewhere- I was so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope the good memories stay vivid <3 Also April is a standout character and concept to me, I love the conversation this episode sparks about romantic perfection and how often it's chased - (but would we really want it if we could have it?) (Putting aside the creepy sexbot stuff for a second- I'd love to know if I'd get tired of a personality that I tailor-made to suit my own!) I enjoy this theory that it's human nature to inevitably crave the unexpected (and imperfections, maybe even someone to butt heads with specifically) Anyway, really poignant episode, as I think you said. :o) Aaaand Spike's obsession is really peaking unfortunately ....
Goblin
2024-08-28 03:38:10 +0000 UTCThen britney got to play a fembot in Austin powers anyway, so role realised! Haha
x_Rhi_x
2024-08-28 01:56:18 +0000 UTCId been nervous about you getting to this episode at this time in your life. I hope you’re doing well and you’re in all our thoughts❤️
Alysha
2024-08-26 18:03:14 +0000 UTCI thought the April actress did a fantastic being "off", especially in that last "powering down" scene. I also never caught her apologising to Buffy for hurting her - that was nice of her 😅 the next episode is so tough to watch. It's okay if you're not ready to watch it. It doesn't further the plot beyond what we know by the end of this episode. Take care, Veggie!
Nyssa Rawther 🍉
2024-08-26 14:05:09 +0000 UTCBuffy/April, George/Lennie, Bowman/HAL
Paul Maki
2024-08-26 13:33:26 +0000 UTCI loved your reaction to this one. I love April’s character, this story is so important and I almost feel Buffy is not only comforting April at the end but herself. She’s often been left by boyfriends without things being resolved and feeling abandoned. She wishes she could have another conversation and ask why/if there is something wrong with her. She tells April here that she did nothing wrong, she was a good girlfriend and it was about them, not her. I think that’s important closure for Buffy on all the self doubt, even if she’s saying it to someone else. Which is why it’s nice to see her decide to put herself first at the end, no relationship just Buffy. The girlfriend robot stuff is so creepy to me, Spike is being a little freak and I think the past few episodes they are trying to make it very clear to the audience that “he is a bad person so stop liking him/shipping him with Buffy!” It becomes more complicated because half the writers liked him and half the writers didn’t (these are not exact numbers lol); I know it was a very split writers room on how sympathetically they viewed Spike and it’s reflected in the inconsistently written humanity from episode to episode. But then again, maybe it’s just the inner struggle of human Spike and demon Spike. However, I also think that the idea of a sex robot was something much more trivialised at that time period and played for laughs in a lot of ways. Look at how Xander reacts to it saying what young boy hasn’t dreamed of that, in reaction to finding out about April. Only the girls are not impressed, because it’s them being objectified. Especially with a lot of films like Weird Science etc from the 80s, even without robots there’s a lot of questionable consent and sexist stuff from the era. It’s not taken as seriously as it would be today, even in 2000’s BTVS. So I would also keep that in mind. I appreciated you soldiering through at the end, I felt so bad waiting for you to realise. No matter how many times I watch it, it’s always a shock at the end and I think it’s perfectly done. Death doesn’t come when you expect it, it sometimes happens at the end of a really ridiculous day or you’ve just been for a date or you think you are healthy again. It totally catches you off guard, it’s not planned for the perfect episode slot. So it really made sense to me. Hope you are doing well! Saw your lovely post at the weekend. Sending love to Woozle!! 🖤
Giorgia M
2024-08-26 13:02:47 +0000 UTCHi Tommy. ‘off’ was a throw away comment based on the performance of the actor and when I didn’t know the full context of what is going on (there are often twists in Buffy). I am not always able to get everything right first time before the true plot has been revealed because I have not seen the episode before. I am sorry for getting this wrong.
VEGGIE GAMER
2024-08-26 08:18:11 +0000 UTCWow, no, Katrina was not "off." She just expected basic communication from her partner. How dare she?
Tommy Ross
2024-08-26 05:10:56 +0000 UTCfun little fact: the actor who played warren mears dated amber benson (tara) for 7 years irl!
esme
2024-08-26 00:46:59 +0000 UTCFrom the "They Really Dodged A Bullet" Dept: The role of April was originally offered to Britney Spears, but she couldn't fit it in to her schedule, Fortunately, we got Shonda Farr instead, which I see as a blessing. First, she's a better actor, and second, if Ms. Spears had been in it, it would have been too distracting. It would have been like warren made a Britney Spears 'Bot.
thompur
2024-08-25 23:16:10 +0000 UTCThank you so much for this comment, Claire! It highlights something I was thinking during the episode, but couldn't really find the words. Honestly, that aspect I completely felt, but couldn't really vocalise it in a way I wanted, hence I agreed it is was 'sad' rather than 'weird'. The more we heard about the way April was programmed did bother me, but Warren (at least at this stage) does have some sympathy from me too. Loneliness is something that rarely gets brought up in a sympathetic way in shows (though I am NOT saying what he did was ok).
VEGGIE GAMER
2024-08-25 22:43:49 +0000 UTCHonestly I do like what Willow had to say about people getting lonely and wanting someone around, even if it isn't necessary real. Okay partial life story time: I used to be a street worker (yes that sort of street worker) back in the 90s, and some people might be surprised at just how many guys were willing to pay just to have someone spend time with them and talk. No hanky panky, they just genuinely wanted company that for whatever reason (too shy, too busy with work, etc) they weren't able to otherwise find at the time.
Claire Eyles
2024-08-25 22:33:57 +0000 UTCOn a lighter note, tool is used in American slang as well. Typically reserved as a derogatory term for a man who is full of himself. Sort of a less vulgar version of douchebag. So, Warren is actually the tool ;).
JenM
2024-08-25 21:25:01 +0000 UTCHugs ❤️
JenM
2024-08-25 21:15:29 +0000 UTCLast time I did a rewatch I totally forgot about the ending and it's always a shock especially as for me there are a few natural endings in the episode before the actual cliffhanger.
L F
2024-08-25 20:56:35 +0000 UTCHaha, Veggie, I've been looking forward to your reaction to Apri...Oh. Oh dear. We're here.
Raven Dark
2024-08-25 20:53:38 +0000 UTCRight? When reading the description, "Such a great performance by April!" .... then I was like, oh no. We are already here? Jeepers.... Won't have time to watch this until tonight, but at least that gives me some time to prepare for it. :)
Amanda S
2024-08-25 20:47:10 +0000 UTCOh man this episode really sneaks up on you - I hadn't consciously realised we were here already. I'll watch this later when I've had a chance to catch up on your latest Angel reaction 💜
Jordan McLaren
2024-08-25 20:22:10 +0000 UTCI did wonder whether your tech breaking was a sign from the Buffy gods, knowing what the end of the next episode was. At least now you're prepared for it before the reaction? Honestly, I'd avoid the Slayin It podcast for now- there are some pretty dark discussions. So the Monster of the week this episode is toxic masculinity. I totally agree, Warren and his Simple Plan hair can do one.
Jake M
2024-08-25 20:19:45 +0000 UTC
