Best Episode to Introduce a Friend to the BuffyVerse

beagle · Best Episode to Introduce a Friend to the BuffyVerse

If you had a chance to have a friend who just "don't see why you watch that show" (we all have them) honestly give it a chance for one episode. Which episode would you show them.
I know, it's heavy S1-S2,,, but, well, it's my poll.. haha

greengirl00

Angel. Many of my friends would be won over by David Boreanaz's tattoo methinks...
I nearly said Doppelgangland, just cos it's so funny, but I'm not sure you'd get all the jokes if you hadn't watched the rest of the series.

beagle

beagle

I finally picked The Body. I just watched it and I just can't imagine someone not being moved by it. Of course I couldn't actually watch it cause I cry most of the way through it and well, a grown man crying, distracting.

insaneinthebasement

I voted for Hush, I figure it's scary, funny, well-written, not too hard to understand if you don't know the characters, and it's original. So there's not much to go wrong with. It's also one of my favourites.

dramagirl

I voted Doppelgangland, mostly because it's a kind of "monster of the week" episode where it's a pretty typical look into the weird and wonderful things that go on in the Buffyverse. It has witches, vampires, two Willows... what more do you need?

MysteryEND

I converted three friends with OMWF.... but I felt I cheated them because of all the spoilers.

Beckyxx

I chose "Hush" because it doesnt have too much in the way of spoilers, its very Monster of the Week (I love that term) and it truly shows the depth of how good Buff actually is. Even without words it entertains.

However, Olly things The Prom would be a good one. He thinks Johnathons speech for the Class Protector award is really sweet and it shows how important Buffy is to Sunnydale High!

TwoToGo-Grave

The more I think about this, the more that I think that 'Prophecy Girl' is the choice. It should be an ep that's early in the series, I would think, and this ep has all facets of the show clicking. It's also very transitional from the style of season one to the (better) style of season two. I just think that it's the best choice.

Sunnydalehigh

I have to go with The Body. It worked for me, so why not?

HarFang

The Body left me petrified and speechless, but that's precisely why I wouldn't choose it for a first-time viewing of BtVS. Beyond its tone and topic, the fact is simply that it really isn't representative of the series as a whole. Same thing for OMWF and Doppelgangland, which require too much background info. Bewitched could do, but it's more about Xander than about Buffy, so what's the point?

And BecomingII was one of the first episodes I saw, so I can tell you from first-hand experience, it would be a terrible waste to get someone started with it. The whole season serves as a setup for this magnificent and tragic finale. Beginnning there would mean not knowing WHO Angel and Spike were before the former turned bad and the other sided with Buffy. You would miss all the stakes and heartbreak.

So I voted Innocence, although I really think I would start with Surprise then because the episode really works as a two-parter, and it defines a big turning point in the series. But I think Hush and Angel would also work rather well. Let's say I would definitely try Angel if the friend in question was a girl.

Actually, if I had a choice, I would probably go for School Hard for all the following reasons:
- It's a very good episode with comedy and action, and you don't need to know the characters beforehand
- It's a standalone episode but it also introduces Spike and Dru who will play a pivotal role this season
- The next few episodes are good too, so my hypothetic friend wouldn't be disappointed if he/she wanted to go on watching
- And by starting with so early an episode, he/she would have all the necessary background info when the big life-changing episodes kicked in.

beagle

You speak with wisdom Harfang. I would agree with you if I had a reasonable expectation of the friend moving on to watch the series. But, I find that usually the odds are slim of converting a "non-believer" so I went with maximum force regardless of spoiler consequences. I think the greatest strength of the series is the series itself. In whole, week to week, arc to arc, character development etc.. That being said I would consider it very difficult to win over the average person with one episode or for them to actually have the comittment to watch enough to "get it". They just can't get past the title, and as Joss says, "If they can't get past the title, they aren't invited to the party."

HarFang

beagle

You are so right about people dismissing it because of when it aired.. I just don't get that, oh, "that art sucks cause it's old"... Whaaa?

HarFang

[Hmm, popular art has always been a matter of fashion, unlike "higher" arts. Where you rank BtVS is another question, but I wouldn't call most shows "art"]

The fact is that a lot of shows from the 90s are totally outdated now. I would probably be prejudiced against any show that aired during my teens, simply because the standards and techniques were not the same. And so would be the average viewer, because after all BtVS is an exception. Imho, this is precisely what makes it outstanding: it survives so well despite everything that TV shows do and dare nowadays.
(It's a bit like the original Star Wars movies, which still attract new fans 30 years later, whereas most movies that were made at the same time now look very old-fashioned to us).

beagle

Yes, I remember Joss saying they took particular effort to not "date" the show. That's gotta be hard with all of the pop culture references.
A think a lot of people have problems with the special effects also, but I just don't get that. I mean, a book has some really cheap special effects but I've never seen better. Guess some people care less about the strory than eye candy.
I have friends that watch movies just because there is someone they find attractive in it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like to look at pretty people as much as the next guy but,,,,

ildjarn

Sunnydalehigh

I've converted my best friend from high school! Woo hoo! She started watching from the beginning without even telling me. We were just talking about politics the other night and she was telling me that she turned away from the debate to "watch Buffy." I was like, "Wait.... What? Did you just say you watched Buffy, as in Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" She said yes. I asked her if I had anything to do with that and she said that just my talking about the Buffy Halloween party and the show in general had persuaded her to check it out. She's now totally hooked. She's up to "Family" in season 5.

People either get it or they don't. Don't waste your time on those who don't. Those who get it will "get it" with very little effort on your part. The show speaks for itself.

cardboardy

i have to tell you about something really funny that happened the other night

i was standing around with some non-buffy friends talking which tv series were good, and worth getting into on dvd

there was the usual lost, westwing, bsg, seachange (an aussie pearler, apparently) etc etc

someone started dissing buffy, or more speciffically, dissing these friends (a couple) of theirs who were so obsessed with buffy that they take the dvds with them whenever they go away for 12 months (DUH, who wouldn't?!)

laughing laughing mocking mocking, another one said that these ladies had tried to convert them once and made them watch seasons 1 and 2 and 'defended the lameness' by saying no wait, it gets better, just wait til season 6! My friends thought this was the funniest thing ever, and were laughing laughing at the lameness of watching 5 years of a series before it gets good

THEN

I said, well it does get very interesting after buffy dies

THEN

there was shocked silence, then some loud protestations at my mammoth spoiler ... but i said you beeyartches are never gonna watch it anyway so what do you care

THEN

they became totally obsessed with buffy dying, how did that work, omg did she become a vampire omg omg omg... but my lips were sealed.... anyway by then end of the conversation methinks they were more interested in the show than ever before

anyway, maybe you had to be there

greengirl00

Hehe, that's certainly one way to get someone hooked. They deserve what they got! Being mean to Buffy, they should be ashamed. LOL

dramagirl

It really bugs me when people are mean about Buffy, but what annoys me even more is when people are mean about it before they've even watched it. I've actually found in the past that the best way to get someone to watch Buffy is not to let them leave until they've seen at least five episodes. LOL.

I just wish people would see the greatness right away...

beagle

I gave up on trying to "convert" people. One time I worked on my friends over the course of weeks to watch just one episode with me. I got them all to agree, I even went so far as to make little guides for everyone. I was so looking forward to it.
We agreed to watch one episode together while we were all together for Thanksgiving. Well, when it came time they all just blew me off. Stayed outside and I watched by myself, and hid the guides under the couch so no one would guess how hurt I was. No use bumming them out too.
Whatever, Like Joss says, the people that just won't give it a chance, for whatever the reason like they can't get past the name or reputation or whatever... "Those people just aren't invited to the party."

greengirl00

Awww... That's crappy beags. Poke them for me. They don't get special sparkly party invites.

cardboardy

damnit beagle you are too cute
i totally feel your pain... but i guess we just have to keep it in the family: which makes it all the more special when you meet a buffy fan, or someone expresses interest voluntarily.

my mum has recently expressed such interest, and shes genuinely into it. her motivation is simply that she knows that i love it. shes also an all american girl and quite likes the whole idea of american teenage highschool cheerleader politics mixing with demons and monsters. she lives in another state and whenever we see each other we watch a few eps: she just watched Passion.
Its very very cool.
xx

beagle

my recently ex always Hated buffy with a passion. she would have a tirade if i watched when she was around. now that i have left and she wants me back she has borrowed and watched S1 and on into S2. i just don't know how to feel about it really, it's sorta sad.
and no, i didn't leave her because she didn't like Buffy, but it didn't help. haha

greengirl00

Aw, I didn't realise that you'd had a split. That sucks. *Hugs*