Buffy: Once More With Feeling... — Page 2

Whedon is a rare person in Hollywood: he's really able to spin straw into gold. I think Buffy was, without question, the most underrated television show since the 80s (And I'd probably be hard-pressed to go back further and find its equal). Great, solid storytelling, pulling compelling performances from actors I don't necessarily think are great...I mean, the show works as long as you accept his concept.
And the musical is no exception. It's clever, funny, smart, all those nice, positive adjectives...and he was even kind enough to give us a reason for the sudden singing (A demon's magic).
As for the singing, I actually am fine with the fact that they all did their own. SMG was given a lot to sing since you can't do a musical without centering it on Buffy. Anthony Stewart Head (brother of Murray Head, for those theatre buffs who will know who he is) is a well-liked Brit performer (he's done a LOAD of shows; a google search finds pictures of him as Frank-n-Furter if you look hard enough!), Amber Benson and Emma Caulfield were the most at-ease singers so he gave them more material. Nicholas Brendan was apparently game to sing although he's only mediocre. Apparently, part of the whole Willow character's stage fright is based on the fact that Alyson Hannigan does hate performing live and HATES singing, so she was given as little as possible. I'm assuming that's part of the reason Dawn also has nothing to sing (because what little she does is not so great).

God, I love this show! I totally agree the 7th season was the worst season but I actually disliked season 4 more than seasons 5 and 6-huge B&A fan, hated Riley, grrr.

Other people in posts greatly summoned up the magic that is Buffy and the genius that is Joss Whedon. It really is sad that this show was so unrecognized. Most people fall into the trap already stated, it's a stupid WB show with actors who are young and can't act and it's about a vampire slayer...that doesn't even begin to describe this show. The acting only improved with the years, but especially SMG, Ally...well everyone just got better. The meaning and really "metaphor" that Buffy was able to portray was just amazing. I mean, their high school was on the hellmouth, a metaphor for the fact that high school is hell. When Buffy slept with Angel, he lost his soul and became evil, a metaphor for after I slept with my boyfriend, he changed. Even "The Witch" brings new meaning to the phrase "I would kill to be a cheerleader."

For huge fans of the show, it really helped to get us through junior high/high school. It portrayed happiness and pain, morality yet the consequences of the high road, the fact that at heart we are all suffering, but sometimes people do surprise you and are better than they seem. God, I love this show! Okay, enough raving of Buffy. For those of you who never really gave the show a chance or easily dismissed it, you really don't know what you were missing, I highly recommend buying Buffy DVDs--particularly 2nd or 3rd season, the two best seasons IMO.

Okay, now on to Once More With Feeling...great, great episode. I have the CD too hehe. I agree it wouldn't work as a show or even an entity onto itself but in tying with the entire 6th season, it was genius. I don't think you can appreciate it as much as it should be if you're not a huge Buffy fan, or at least watched all of season 6, the moments just become so much more powerful. I disagree that Sarah was the weakest singer, I think Nicky was slightly worse, though neither of them were best. Alyson Hannigan, when finding out the musical was going to be done, begged Joss to hardly let her sing anything. When she saw the episode and realized the importance of the episode and how well it was written, she came to really regret it. I love Rest In Peace(James' face when Spike realizes he is about to sing is priceless), In the Way(makes me tear up now and then, when you think of Buffy and Giles relationship), and
Walk Through the Fire just because the chorus together sounds great. And the guy who played the demon, can't remember his name, had a great voice.

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I dunno, I know a couple people who feel Dawn coming was when Buffy got the worst, I personally feel Angel leaving and the gang leaving High School was when Buffy got the worst, one of the reasons I probably detest season 4. I really didn't mind Dawn that much, especially in the 5th season. Joss Whedon on a DVD special feature said they decided Buffy's season 5 love interest was going to be her sister. I don't know, that's just so poignant.

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Anyone who's read this far is probably enough of a geek to know abou this but here goes:

As part of the wall-to-wall Sondheim, Frank Rich will moderate a discussion about pop culture with Stephen Sondheim and Joss Whedon. It's sort of my Holy Trinity: Broadway, TV and Politics! Some one go and Post a transcript, K?

Other shows have tried 'concept' episodes with only limited success; ER in real time and a couple have tried musical episodes; 'That 70's Show' & '2Pints of Lager...' but none as successfully as 'Buffy' did. As others have said it didn't stand apart from the rest of the series but blended perfectly both stylistically and thematically. The fact the the tunes stand up isdown to Wheedons talent as a songwriter.

I think it's 3/19-- check wall-to-wall Sondheim on the web....

It took me three tries to get into this episode.

The first time I saw it, I was more in the mindset of expecting a musical, and the singing was a turnoff. So I didn't make it.

The second time, I was more receptive to it, but I still didn't have any investment in the story, and I got distracted halfway through and forgot to come back.

By the third time, when I had actually figured out what the series was like and how it worked, it was amazing. Once I got it through my head that this was part of a larger story, and how well the series does with its larger stories, I realized pretty much every good thing that's been mentioned in this thread. And yeah, I spent a while of time in the "man, that show sounds stupid" phase before it finally got through to me. Basically, Buffy is the show that's better than you think it is.

Just a few clarifications to finish off, from the part of my brain devoted to fandom. Alyson Hannigan (Willow) said she was moritified by the sound of her singing voice, and asked for less singing. Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn) also opted to do less singing, in favor of more dancing.