"The Puppet Show" [1x09] Review by Mikelangelo "MikeJer" Marinaro Posted by MikeJer on October 13, 2005 (Updated: January 26, 2013) Writer: Rob Des Hotel and Dean BataliDirector: Ellen S. Pressman  Quick Links Spoiler Warning! This is a retrospective review and may contain spoilers from anywhere in the series. Read at your own peril. Review Well that was kind of… pointless. All the episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so far have been about something. Whether they were good episodes or poor episodes, they all had something they were trying to say about, if not the characters, life in high school through the lens of the Hellmouth. "The Puppet Show," alas, does not have much of anything on its mind. Beyond priming the viewer for the show's ability to throw out a plot twist or two, there is absolutely nothing substantive to analyze in this slow paced all-plot outing where the only character relevance is the introduction of Principal Snyder. With none of the reasons I love this show so much for present, there's not much to talk about. Well, at least unlike "I Robot, You Jane" [1x08], "The Puppet Show" is reasonably pleasant to watch. This is mostly thanks to a good number of amusing scenes involving fun, albeit inconsequential, character interaction. This characteristic of the episode, in conjunction with that hilarious end credits scene, single-handedly keep this one out of 'F' territory, but not by much. The first time I saw "The Puppet Show" the plot struck me as a mildly fun murder mystery in which a lot of characters are implicated, and the perpetrator turns out to not be the obvious candidate: the possessed dummy. The problem with all-we-have-is-plot episodes -- like nearly every procedural out there – is that once you've experienced it once, maybe twice, there's nothing more to do with it. Episodes like this simply offer no reason to ever revisit them, which is directly at odds with what Critically Touched as a site is all about. If you're ever curious about how I might grade the common procedural show, look no further! Lasting relevance is a problem a number of Season 1 episodes have, but I think "The Puppet Show" might just take the cake. With any possible surprise removed from the plot, all that's left are a lot of shots of Sid staring insidiously while on one-off one-note Morgan's lap. The only thing I can think of to take away from all this is what Sid's role communicates to the viewers, and to Buffy. Sid represents the subversive nature of the show by appearing to be evil, but is instead good, like Angel. From Buffy's standpoint, though, Sid is a reflection of her destiny: trapped in her circumstances and required to constantly sacrifice (eventually her life) to succeed. Sadly, that's about it. I found "The Puppet Show" to offer relatively inoffensive fun, but that fun has its limits. It is completely devoid of the things that I'm looking for in a quality episode of television: lasting relevance and resonance in story, theme, and characterization, along with some symbolism, subtext, and a nice dash of subtlety. If all you want in an episode of television is campy horror with a twist, along with some fun quotes, then "The Puppet Show" will satisfy. If you expect more -- as I do -- it will not. Minor Pros/Cons (+/-)
Foreshadowing
Quotes BUFFY:The school talent show. How ever did you finagle such a primo assignment?GILES:Our new Führer, Mr. Snyder. WILLOW:I think they call 'em 'principals' now. GILES:Mm. He thought it would behoove me to have more contact with the students. I did try to explain that my vocational choice of librarian was a deliberate attempt to minimize said contact, but, uh, he would have none of it. BUFFY:Giles, unto every generation is born one who must run the annual talentless show. You cannot escape your destiny. BUFFY:Principal Snyder! SNYDER:So. We think school events are stupid, and we think authority figures are to be made fun of. BUFFY:No! No, we don't... unless you do. BUFFY:What am I gonna do? Slay vampires on stage? WILLOW:Maybe in a funny way! SNYDER:Kids today need discipline. That's an unpopular word these days, 'discipline.' I know Principal Flutie would have said, 'Kids need understanding. Kids are human beings.' That's the kind of woolly-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten. SNYDER:This place has quite a reputation. Suicide, missing persons, spontaneous cheerleader combustion... You can't put up with that. GILES:I'd like to think you're right. A demon is a creature of evil, pure and very simple. A person driven to kill is, is, um, it's more complex. WILLOW:The creep factor is also heightened. It could be anyone. It could be me! ...It's not, though. WILLOW:We could set up a complex sting operation where we get him to confess! XANDER:Uh, I should wear a wire! SNYDER:School hours are over. You, therefore, should be gone. BUFFY:And I'm going any minute now. SNYDER:There are things I will not tolerate- students loitering on campus after school, horrible murders with hearts being removed. And also smoking. BUFFY:Well, I don't do any of those things. Not... ever. CORDELIA:Uhhh, what? GILES:Oh! I'm sorry. Um, your hair, uh... CORDELIA:There's something wrong with my hair? Oh my god! (runs off) GILES:Xander was right. It worked like a charm. BUFFY:Well, I saw something. I-it ran across my floor, under my bed and then it attacked me. GILES:Attacked you? How? BUFFY:It was like it pounced on my face. XANDER:Like a cat. BUFFY:Yeah, exactly! But when I turned the lights on it was already gone. I think it went out my window. XANDER:Like a cat. BUFFY:Yeah! No! XANDER:Redrum! Redruuum! BUFFY:This means that whatever's out there still needs a healthy, intelligent brain. XANDER:In other words, I'm safe! BUFFY:And it's gonna be looking for the smartest person around. WILLOW:What? What could a demon possibly want from me? XANDER:What's the square root of 841? WILLOW:29. Oh, yeah.
Comments (42) All Comments | Link2 | LibMaxJul 14, 2007 This is my least favorite of all the Buffy episodes, sorry. It's a mystery without even one valid clue, a comedy that mostly made me groan (except for Snyder). But it's the non-stop barrage of insults to the viewer's intelligence that really put me off. Okay, so there's this Demon Hunter. The episode implies that Demon Hunters are the counterpart to Vampire Slayers, but we'll never hear of them again (excepting the lame title Wesley clearly makes up for himself in "Parting Gifts," Angel S1). But he's killed a demon, and the demon can curse him into an inanimate object (but not, apparently, in time to avoid being killed by him). So what'll it be? Ashtray, doormat, toilet brush? No, a ventriloquist's dummy, so he can walk and talk and wield a knife! What a considerate demon. Now another demon needs a human heart and brain to be able to stay in human form. The demon's behavior clearly shows that it recognizes the advantages of stealth. But it decides to choose both of its victims from a very public high school talent show, and enters the show itself to maximize its chances of getting caught. The Demon Hunter, now in dummy form, tracks the demon to the high school. He can't identify the demon by sight, so he derives no advantage from being part of the show himself - just much less freedom of movement and a reluctant partner who may or may not accidentally betray him. Said partner is a supersmart A student, not someone with a gift for gab or comedy who might make the act look natural. We might suspect that Sid has decided that the demon will go after the kid to get that smart brain, but we're giving Sid too much credit - he pays no attention to his partner, and the demon gets him while Sid is occupied elsewhere. And it turns out (what are the odds!) that this A student has a brain disease which makes his brain useless to the demon so they can all get a second shot at him. Sid, of course, is completely unaware of this. Also, I could have lifted that chandelier, enough to get out from under it, myself. Buffy should have been able to throw it like a frisbee. And these are only the worst of the howlers this episode throws at us. The DVD commentary confirms that this episode was made because Joss and the other writers thought a ventriloquist's dummy would make a creepy adversary. A) How original! B) The dummy itself and every effect involving the dummy were cheesy and campy and not the least bit scary, and C) Maybe it would be a better idea to come up with a story and/or a point first and then fit the monster to it, rather than the other way around. There's no such thing as a Buffy episode with nothing good in it. This one has Armin Shimerman's Principal Snyder, who is hilarious every time he's on screen. There's also the funny travesty of Oedipus Rex, but that was a piece of fluff very appropriately played over the credits, like Boreanaz and Denisof's dancing dork contest in "Expecting," Angel S1. All Comments | Link3 | LibMaxJul 23, 2007 Oh, I forgot one. Compare the sequence in which the Scoobies question talent contestants in Puppet Show with the nearly identical sequence in Earshot, Season Three. The sequence in Earshot is hilarious throughout. The biggest laugh in the Puppet Show sequence is the bit about conflict between the swing band and the cheerleaders. Which is observational humor without the humor part - like if Jerry Seinfeld got up on stage and said, "Remember in high school, how much the swing band hated the cheerleaders and vice versa?" And then stopped. This is also a useful exercise for those who consider Season One to be as good as or better than the seasons that came after. YMMV of course. All Comments | Link4 | buffyholicOct 5, 2007 I really like this one. The plot is average but the characters have a lot of fun with it. I love the introduction of Principal Synder, a character I love to hate. My favourite scene is the end credits and also Synder`s remark about being avant garde. That always cracks me up. All Comments | Link5 | OtterBearJan 4, 2008 LibMax, I think you miss what makes this episode fun. When we are talking about a plot involving a talking dummy, we are supposed to suspend belief for a while. The writers knew very well that this is a B-movie situation, and handled the material with the appropriate amount of tounge-in-cheek attitude. As for the dummy effects, well you have to remember that this is season one and the budget was small. Besides, I like that it is a bit campy as it adds to the B-movie feel. The only thing I agree with you about is the chandelier. It just doesn't seem that heavy. But both Buffy and Angel's physical strength varies over the episodes as required by the plot. BTW I love every scene in this episode involving Cordelia. All Comments | Link6 | SamNov 23, 2008 I think Season 1 is underrated. Sure, it's shorter due to being a mid-season replacement, but I think many of the episodes are very enjoyable, and it's remarkably sufficient for a shorter arc. While this isn't my favorite episode, I do think it's very funny. Sid is corny, but the episode gets better as it goes along. I especially love Buffy's "Ewwwww!" when she kicks the villain and his demon skin peers out from under his human disguise. All Comments | Link7 | RaskolnikovAug 6, 2009 I love this one. Partly because it was the first full episode of Buffy that I saw. But even beyond that it's a great comedy with so many great lines and little character moments. The ending pre and post credits are awesome, it takes real talent for Geller and the others to portray such bad acting convincingly. And Snyder was hilarious from the start. "There are some things I won't tolerate in my school. Students loitering after hours. Ghastly murders with the heart removed. Also, smoking." One thing I noticed in rewatch is how spooked and nervous Buffy was towards Snyder. Quite a contrast to S2 when she's so openly dismissive of him (especially I Only Have Eyes For You) and downright threatening in Becoming. There is growing. All Comments | Link8 | BethSep 8, 2009 "The Puppet Show" is my favorite Season One episode. Yep, that's right. I find it very funny, with great character interactions, plot twists and overall silliness. I can see why some people might not like it, but it just happens to work for me. All Comments | Link9 | RedSep 10, 2009 The episode is a bit ham-handed, but totally worth the end when Synder says, "I don't get it. What is it, Avant Garde?" Best line in the episode. And also the credits with the poorly acted drama and Willow running offstage. All Comments | Link10 | SmallprintMar 4, 2010 @ 2:57am This episode I liked a lot. It was great because of the twist who was the murderer. It also of course reminded me of the horror flicks "Chucky" and Argento's giallo "Deep red". In this film the killer sends a automatic controlled doll to another victim with a knife in his hand. All Comments | Link11 | MaxMar 20, 2010 @ 4:55pm I was about 8 when this aired on British television. I vaguely remember already hating dummies (R.L. Stine & Goosebumps may have had something to do with that) and this episode completely freaked me out. Now, almost 21, I find this episode hillarious, but it brings back great memories. All Comments | Link12 | Smallprint84Mar 29, 2010 @ 4:16am Oops, I ment Child's Play, Chucky was the name of the doll obvious. :/ All Comments | Link13 | EllieSep 16, 2010 @ 1:40pm I like the fact that the dummy wasn't evil. Dummies scare me, and I don't need any more nightmare fuel about them. I thought the episode was kind of funny in places, though I mostly find myself not caring what happens when I watch it, which is a bad. I also love the horrible play the Scoobies put on at the end. They can fight monsters but they can't act. All Comments | Link14 | John RobertsSep 16, 2010 @ 3:24pm This is one of the few episodes I saw live. I was so conditioned to believe that the puppet would be the baddie that I remembered the show that way, and was surprised to find Sid innocent upon rewatching! So good on the show for fooling me twice, good on the Snyder/Giles interaction, and good on all the bad bits of the talent show. This was one of the better silly romps. All Comments | Link15 | MikeJer | CREATOR/ADMINDec 2, 2010 @ 10:42pm ADMIN NOTE: This episode review has been completely rewritten. In light of this, references to the old review have been edited out of the the above comments. All Comments | Link16 | PaulaDec 3, 2010 @ 1:38am I somehow feel the need to jump in this episode's defence, as I feel it's one of the most watchable "normal" S1 episodes as a whole, but I do get your points, Mike. Whedon & co. should feel flattered that the fans' standards for a good Whedon show episode are as high as they've come to be. Yes, pretty inconsequential. I'll always love the way they wrap up this episode, though! All Comments | Link17 | buffyholicDec 3, 2010 @ 2:56am It is harmless but I like it mostly for the character interaction and dialogue. Also, Principal Synder rocks! All Comments | Link18 | PaulaDec 3, 2010 @ 7:24am Thinking a little bit further, I figure there's one not-totally-inconsequential aspect in this episode, although it has perhaps more to do with AtS than BtVS. Meaning, isn't this the first episode where it came up that there are such things as demon hunters out there, and that therefore the Slayer and the Watchers' Council aren't the only people fighting supernatural evil in Buffyverse? All Comments | Link19 | PaulaDec 3, 2010 @ 7:31am (Well, unless you count Jenny Calendar and the Amazing Technopagans, but I for one don't really.) All Comments | Link20 | John RobertsDec 3, 2010 @ 2:31pm I suppose it's nitpicking to mention that for Xander to show how smart Willow is by instantly solving the square root of 841, that Xander instantly had to know that 841 *was* a square. Which is actually harder than Willow's problem. (Because Willow could reasonably guess "29" in knowing that 30x30 = 900, so 841 yeah that's probably 29. Whereas Xander can only state 741 after having done the math.) Alright, it's nitpicking. Amused me, though. All Comments | Link22 | G1000Dec 3, 2010 @ 6:44pm Wow. This episode really went down in your second review (wasn't it a B minus before?) I always kind of liked it. I mean, nothing brilliant... but it was an inoffensive and harmless stand alone with some neat twists and funny moments. B/B minus would be where I'm at, although I'm sure it loses something on multiple viewings. And the tag scene was priceless. All Comments | Link23 | MrBDec 3, 2010 @ 7:18pm Harsh review! Is Puppet Show really in the same league as Beer Bad? (I happen not to hate BB by the way.) A fair amount good stuff happens here and the story, by Mike's own admission, isn't all that horrible. Why the hate, Mike? I am NOT saying this is a great episode. I am saying it is better than how it is rated here. It seems that our gentle reviewer is a HUGE fan of character over plot. I understand that. But as a plot episode, it wasn't that horrible, especially at this stage of the show. If this were a 7th season episode, then I could more understand the ranking. All Comments | Link24 | MikeJer | CREATOR/ADMINDec 3, 2010 @ 8:15pm Well, plot-heavy episodes can still have critical merit (see "The Witch" for an example of that). "The Puppet Show" has none. The primary purpose of my site is to analyze each episode of the show within the context of the rest of the show, which inevitably includes how the episodes hold up to multiple viewings. "The Puppet Show" played a lot better for me the first couple times I saw it (while the plot was still somewhat new), but now it just holds no interest for me anymore within the scope of what my analysis is based on. The name of this review network, Critically Touched, represents the two major elements I'm looking for in my television. I want there to be something worthwhile to think about (preferably connected to the characters), and I want to be emotionally stimulated by what I see. Usually Buffy is the rare show that really manages to balance both aspects to near perfection. Not here though. Critically, "The Puppet Show" gets maybe a 5/100 for offering nothing but a see-it--twice-then-forget-it plot. Emotionally, I'd probably give the episode a 75-80 considering that I found parts of it moderately amusing. Together, I arrive at the score above. This isn't exactly a scientific calculation, and other aspects usually play into the score, but it helps give a background for why this was scored the way it is. While "The Puppet Show" isn't that horrible in terms of passive enjoyment, it is that horrible critically. There's just nothing there. I literally had only two brief talking points in my notes about the episode. The rest of the notes were filled with minor pros/cons and quotes. All in all, I don't "hate" the episode, I just find it completely irrelevant. Its fun factor is solely what's keeping it from getting a F. :) All Comments | Link25 | Sam LDec 5, 2010 @ 10:10am I was pretty shocked by the new grade, but MikeJer's last comment answered all my questions about it. From an entertainment perspective, "The Puppet Show" provides moments of fun, humor, and heartwarming character interaction that this show specializes in. From a critical perspective, however, it has nothing to offer except introducing the Principal Snyder--he provides most of the best parts--and the series' only end credits sequence, which is so great I often wonder why they didn't make more. This is still one of the S1 episodes that I enjoy watching. Buffy's "ewwww" when she sees the demon's skin under its human disguise is priceless. All Comments | Link26 | DarthMarionDec 8, 2010 @ 12:39pm Fair review enough (even if I've already seen Sid being compared to Angel successfully I don't believe this was on the writers' minds). Is it foreshadowing that Xander's playing Oedipus, aka the most famous eye-poked man? All Comments | Link27 | JohnnyWJan 4, 2011 @ 4:15pm Not sure I buy the "there's nothing critically to talk about" line. Stand-alone episodes can be annoying, but as stand-alone episodes go, this was definitely one of the better ones. Especially in the first season. The are great character interactions, wonderfully funny dialogue, and most importantly; something unique and interesting happening in the plot. I'd go so far as to say that this episode actually begins to pave the way for where the show was heading. The unique slant in the show's universe, not to mention funny dialogue, are light-years ahead of the previous episodes, which, despite slight movements towards bigger arcs, were really just pale retreads of television tropes. Even in the episode "Angel", which in theory has a big twist in it, didn't really offer anything that unique or interesting to an educated television watcher. "The Puppet Show", however, had the most innovative twist on the universe since the show's shock opener (where the girl turned out to be the vampire). Since that moment Buffy felt like it was finding its feet, wondering where the next interesting and unique twist might come from. In theory, as I've said, the love interest with Angel should have been it, but, and I hope I'm not going to incite hatred here, the "big moment" (and especially those moments that followed it) was predictable, dull and heavy-handed. Finally with this episode we got a hint that, a) This show had a mythology much bigger and far-reaching than what the characters were immediately facing, b) The show _could_ actually invert the clichés you've seen so many times, and c) It could do all these things with a lightness of touch that was really missing from the earlier shows. I've probably not done a great job of explaining myself here, but basically, despite the lack of overall progression, despite the lack of character progression (which, to be fair, had been practically zero in the season to this point anyway), there was a real evolution in _execution_. This evolution was, for me, the first time that the writers successfully inverted my expectations, whilst at the same time succeeding in doing something else (letting the characters be gleefully entertaining). This opened the door for doing them doing same thing with a plot that had higher emotional stakes, and really, the best moments of Buffy. So yes, I'd say you've undervalued this episode's importance in the progression of the show, but I'd also say that you're undervaluing comedy for the sake of comedy... even if, as you say, this episode doesn't offer much enjoyment for repeated viewings. All Comments | Link28 | JohnJan 6, 2011 @ 10:35pm Xander with the puppet made this episode for me. "I'm completely inanimate!" All Comments | Link29 | EmmiFeb 3, 2011 @ 10:13pm My favorite part of this episode is the fact that Xander was playing Oedipus at the end in the skit that they performed. Okay, maybe i'm reading too much into it and finding foreshadowing where it doesn't exist, but if any of you know the story of Oedipus..basically, he stabs his own eyes out. All Comments | Link30 | CoyoteBuffyFanFeb 5, 2011 @ 9:17am This episode was not THAT bad in my opinion. Yes, it was pointless and the story was cheesy but there was some serious comedy gold: The introduction of Snyder -- He has some great lines in this episode Giles' face when he is listening to Snyder tell Buffy, Xander, and Willow that they have to be in the talent show is PRICELESS! He is trying to hold his snickers back when they come back to sit near him. Great, great scene. The puppet stabbing the demon with the knife that is so obviously a prop since it is, literally, bouncing off the demon is hysterical. The final scene as the credits roll (I think this is the only time they do this in the show, right?) is probably my favorite comedy moment in all of Buffy. The "passionate acting" in the dramatic reading followed by Willow bolting has me cracking up every single time. I understand why you gave the grade you did and I mostly agree with your assessment but the comedy part of it would have me bump it up to maybe a C. All Comments | Link31 | deadlegoApr 18, 2011 @ 9:24am i think the puppet show is about something- the assumptions we make about people and how misleading it can be to judge someone just on an aspect of their outward behaviour rather than taking a wider look at all their behaviour and who they really are on the inside-their intentions and personality. the demon is choosing who he kills for what they have on the inside - hearts and brains - and finds value in intelligence, not wanting just any old brain and so presumably the girl killed for her heart was chosen for some trait which made her heart valuable. the scoobies judge morgan incorrectly, presuming him to be the bad guy initially due to his 'weird' behaviour noticed by them and the other school kids. actually his strange behaviour is due to dealing with sid and that he has a brain tumor. sid presumes buffy to be a demon due to her strength and so perceived odd behaviour but, instead of trusting morgan who seems to know her better and thinks she'd be able to help, he tries to kill her. After this attempt on her life, buffy, albeit for a good reason, thinks sid is a 'bad guy'. His presumptions and consequent actions are the cause of a 'good guy' fighting 'good guy' situation. The cheesy moral of the story is that we need to look deeper to find out what kind of a person (or demon, or puppet!) someone really is. look beneath the surface and you might find something unexpected, whether it's good (both buffy and sid are heroes) or bad (a demon who cuts out internal organs, a brain tumor). All Comments | Link32 | JeffMay 10, 2011 @ 9:22am This is a few years too late, but I wanted to comment on an early comment: I don't think "demon hunters" were meant to be a mystical counterpart to the slayers. It was just an early introduction to the idea that, in the Buffy mythos, there have been normal humans who aren't with the Watchers but also know about the supernatural and fight against it, and Sid was one of them back in the 1930's. He was a freelance hunter like Holtz, or Principal Wood or post-Connor Wesley, that's all. There's not much to the episode, and having the possessed dummy as a good guy isn't a sustainable enough plot twist to carry the episode all by itself, but I think it was pretty good for Season 1, and it did help set the stage for later demon-slaying characters. And of course, the closing credits scene alone would've made even the worst episode worth the price of admission. And Buffy's account of why she became scared of dummies as a child is so funny and true to life: "I saw a dummy. It gave me the wig. There really wasn't a story there." All Comments | Link33 | Gemma Dec 6, 2011 @ 4:25am i love this episode! I can see what Joss was endeavouring to do; finding the balance of humour with plot. I can agree with many of the comments above with regards to the plot being a little slow and a tad deficient but it confounds me when people proclaim that this episode has nothing to say, it does. It signifies that not all evil acts are committed by monsters in the literal sense but in that human beings can be monsters themselves. This stand alone episode that doesn't feature any vampires i hasten to add is one of the best of the inaugural season. Plus i want to point out Sid is a cool character. A demon hunter in puppet form! Classic. Who new how fun a talent show could be! The puppet show goes along in planting the seed that Buffy as a show doesn't take itself to seriously but still be suspenseful, Flash to the scene in Buffy's bedroom with SId running along the floor. It is my own preference to be found of this episode for the aforementioned reasons in addition to the one-liners and comedy moments. All the actors do a tremendous job in this episode. A real corker of an episode with laughs a plenty. Buffy is going in the right direction. I also want to add that this episode manages to foreshadow over events well, the investigation in Earshot from season 3. Willow's shyness on stage repeated agin in Nightmares and Season 4's Restless in her choosing drama as a major in college. Also the episode some assembly required could be considered to be foreshadowed by this episode with regards to the evil that people do. In summary i appreciate this episode! All Comments | Link34 | Gemma Feb 1, 2012 @ 1:08pm The position of my rating this episode hasn't changed; i love it. Its so unexpected, a demon at a talent show! Its the only time i have ever EVER enjoyed a school talent show or production, and i was a part of a few not in any means by choice i hasten to add. My heart goes out to the gang when they realise the true horror and uncaring nature of a head teacher or principal forcing such a task on you so my favourite scene is when the credits are rolling and Buffy, Xander and WIllow are performing a dramatic piece, Buffy's i don't care or want to being doing this approach was mine! I adore WIllow, running off like that! I also like that this ep has quite a few unscripted moments added in! All Comments | Link35 | JustJennaMar 12, 2012 @ 10:31pm Gemma, I think I speak for all of us out-of-the-loopers, when I say I would love to know what the unscripted moments are! All Comments | Link36 | AlexMar 13, 2012 @ 2:33pm I only know of one - Xander's 'red rum!' lines were thrown in by Nicholas Brendan himself. Gemma, please enlighten us about the others! All Comments | Link37 | Gemma Mar 14, 2012 @ 1:44pm When Willow runs of Stage at the end during the dramatic scene is another, The Red Rum bit....I also think the scene with Willow and Giles looking around for Sid was another.. All Comments | Link38 | ZedMar 18, 2012 @ 12:53am Well I for one enjoyed this episode just because it revealed an early example of the writers' cleverness. The show leads you to expect a lot and imagine a final battle with the creepy puppet killer, but like half way through, it discards that whole tension and shifts it into another. That's kinda cool, and makes for interesting tv. Who cares if you can't watch it again? I for one can't see myself watching this series again. The episodes are far too long for repeat viewing when you consider how much other stuff life has to offer... All Comments | Link39 | Gemma Aug 6, 2012 @ 5:55am I disagree Zed, personally for me S1 has a lot to other in terms of reasons to re-watch. Not only do you see the whimsical side to the characters and the show, its like a child seeing disney for the first time. Buffy and co have no burdens on them, no past disappointments or heartache. This season is a nice set up for what the show brings and is in later seasons. Its a lovely set up, delving into Buffy's life in Welcome to the Hellmouth, Never kill a boy on the first date and her romantic life in Angel. All that aside i can't think of a show that has an amazing first season as this one, the comedy, the writing, the concept and the characters/actors must importantly. I must point out though that this is my opinion and i respect yours i just wanted to put my view across. Oh and i'm glad you enjoyed this episode because its one of my favourites :) All Comments | Link40 | SummerDec 12, 2012 @ 2:55pm I just watched this again and it was a very creepy episode. I've seen it a few times and I was all wigged out, to steal a Buffy term. It had a horror type feel to it. So that's a plus. All series need a couple of plain old stand alones. Also I enjoy any old episode with a Xander/Cordy interaction because I feel like it feeds at their growing sexual tension... well once Xander gets over Buffy, of course. Don't fight it! All Comments | Link41 | NinaDec 27, 2012 @ 3:33pm You forgot: Forshadowing - Cordelia sings the same song 'Greatest love of all' in an episode in Angel (season 2 I think) All Comments | Link42 | SeeleJan 17, 2013 @ 9:37am I think it's cool that, while Giles (who's really smart) was the one in danger, the Scooby Gang (who are 2/3 Buffy and Xander) are the ones who figured out that he was :) Also (this may be slightly off-topic, and I have no problems with it being edited out if it is), I remembered the line from this episode half an hour after I finished watching The Usual Suspects for the first time, and I was very embarrassed that I didn't figure the movie out sooner :(. Or possibly :)? Post a Comment
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Latest News  Delays... MikeJer - Feb 24, 2013 Hey all!I just wanted to let you all know that I'm looking forward to getting going on my Season 2 review updates. I recently started a new job, so life has been extra bu... View Full Post Latest Comments Vishal [Gingerbread] One thing I do not get about The Buffyverse is, now that nearly everyone in town has seen va... View CommentMay 20, 2013 Ryan ONeil [Consequences] *in reply to James (#30) Probably public property View CommentMay 19, 2013 Waverley [Family] This episode makes me cry like a big girly man every time. That bit where Buffy says 'Take h... View CommentMay 18, 2013 Latest Forum Posts Brachen Man [Supernatural Rewatch] Season 3 is pretty great. It pretty much ties with Season 4 for second greatest season. That... View PostMay 20, 2013 Ryan ONeil [Xander Harris] The problem with DMP isn't the argument. It's A] the party being over the top and out of cha... View PostMay 20, 2013 MikeJer [Critically Touched Reviews: Frea] w00t w00t! View PostMay 19, 2013 |
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Once again a really great review.