Upcoming Buffy and Angel Episodes
Hello 💜😸
I wanted to quickly mention that I will be reacting to the Angel spin-off series and at this point, I'm most likely going to follow this reactors guide, if you'd like to check that out here
http://slayalive.com/showthread.php/3924-The-Buffy-Angel-watching-guide?p=129360&viewfull=1#post129360
It's either that, or watch 1 x Buffy and then 1 x Angel and then 1 x Buffy, etc. I've had a very, very quick check on YouTube because I didn't want any spoilers, and it looks like some people follow the guide and some just alternate. I haven't started Buffy season 4 or Angel season 1 yet, but I'm happy to go ahead and follow the guide if most people are okay with that.
I also need to say that because we are watching Angel, which is a spin-off of Buffy, this does mean that there won't be two Buffy episodes per week. It will be whatever it says on the guide, so perhaps 1 x Buffy and 1 x Angel per week. Some weeks there may be 2 x Buffy only, or 2 x Angel only, depending on that week. OR if I decide to do alternating, it will just alternate.
I am sorry if some of you might be upset by this but I really hope that you understand and will be okay with this change. It's either that or don't watch Angel at all to continue on with 2 x Buffy episodes per week as I simply do not have the time to watch and edit another video per week. Even if I did have the time, that then would mean 3 Buffy related episodes per week which is just too much. I also don't want to get burnt out.
I don't want to make anyone upset, but then I also know that it's impossible for me to make every single person happy. So I write this with my heart in my hands, hoping that everyone will be okay and understanding with these plans 🥹 Thank you!
Comments (27)
I'm here for Who, but I want to assure that there is no "right" answer for watch order. People will complain no matter what order you pick. The Buffy reactor I'm near the end of Angel with did a poll that had hundreds of votes. People still complained, both those who were around for the votes and those who joined later. Just embrace your choice and know that complaints are really about ever being more than a few days from the next Buffy episode.
Thank you so much!! I got the notification for your comment on my phone this morning, so I've been looking for it here and I'm glad I found it. I am scared of the complaints, but you are exactly right. I just need to make a decision and go with it. If people are too negative on the YT channel, I'll just delete their comments 🤐
Do what you want Juliette, it's all Gucci here!
That's because you're awesome, Texman 🥰
I want to echo what Rhi said, and ask that you don't stress yourself out about this unnecessarily. It's a preference, and very few people are likely to get bent out of shape about this. Both options are a perfectly valid way to watch it; I just think there are some glaring issues with the guide, that negate the few benefits it might have (like putting the multi-part episodes together). And I know the possible sh*tstorms that usually erupt when Angel has too long of a run in reactions. It basically ruined Liam Duke's enjoyment of the shows to some extent, but he used the old original SlayAlive guide, which as a ton more issues than the "reactor-friendly" version (the updated guide was created in response to his experience). So that wouldn't be your experience. But people still get salty. And people like myself think of it in a cost/benefit way, especially when it comes to Patreon. Regardless... We're here for you, and no one should feel stressed, or feel that their hand is being forced by any of this. We've given our opinions. And that's all they are. It's an amazing show, yes, but at the end of the day, it's still just a television show. If someone gets bent out of shape, that's their issue. Not yours.
Thank you, Will. It's a very weird situation as I didn't expect so much of an uproar and certainly didn't expect rude messages to be sent my way. I thought, at most, maybe one person would be a bit cranky. BOY was I WRONG 🤣 There is NO possible way for me to please everyone, all the time. And whatever watch order I choose, it doesn't mean I have to have it like that forever. I can change it up if I feel it works best for me. For the most part, the majority of people here seem to want alternating and it was even how it aired at least for a couple of seasons so that is definitely something to think about!
Don't worry as James Marsters himself once said, Buffyerse fans are the nicest fans on Earth :) Other reactors following this mysterious guide seem to have done just fine and not spoiled something for themselves. As an OG fan I had to watch Buffy then Angel, but they were on Sky One in the UK back to back. Happy days... I think before that I was a season behind watching Channel 4 where I found X Files, I was one of the first lot in the UK to watch Friends, as it was on before the X Files and after... I think it was Frasier.
I also watched them on Sky One back in the day. Can you remember if they aired every episode back-to-back? That's how I remember watching them but it was a long time ago now so I could be wrong. I know in the US Buffy changed networks and messed with the schedule over there but I can't remember if it ever affected things here in the UK.
Just wanted to add: please don't stress! People have opinions, but absolutely no one will be mad with whichever you choose. Its your channel, we're here to watch you, and I (and I think most others) will be happiest if you're happy, whatever you choose :)
It's all good!
Thank you, Alan. I just hope it works out 💜
Perspective of someone who watched both shows as they aired: viewing guides are utterly unnecessary for the next two seasons. BUFFY and ANGEL aired back-to-back on Tuesdays nights, BUFFY at 8PM and ANGEL at 9PM. To the best of my recollection, they stayed on cycle--if that week's BUFFY was a new episode, so was the ANGEL, and when BUFFY was in reruns during the season, so was ANGEL. Now, after Season 5 BUFFY/Season 2 of ANGEL... then things get trickier, after BUFFY moved to another network and there wasn't as much coordination between their schedules. Then I think viewing guides become more useful. But for the next two seasons, both shows CAN be properly digested by alternating--considering that's how they WERE consumed between 1999 and 2001. :-)
Thank you, Darryl! It does make sense when hearing of how the show was aired. Maybe we'll deal with season 2 of Angel when we get there 💜
It always makes me sad for reactors when they get to this point, because the fans make it so stressful. People have VERY strong opinions. While I generally prefer the SlayAlive watch order, for the first season the two shows were in fact shown in alternating order. (That's not necessarily true in later seasons for... reasons.) So you're not going to run into any major issues either way, at least at first. I'll now toss in a third option that some reactors opt for, just to muddy the waters: especially for the first season of Angel, some reactors watch the entire season but only post reactions to the strongest episodes. (You can ask for suggestions from patrons or rely on your trusted advisors/mods.) That can help appease some viewers who really hate Angel, and also keep your YouTube views up as there are a few episodes in that first season that many will skip. Honestly, though, it really is impossible to please everyone. Please try to ignore the most abrasive voices, and remember that passions run high because we really love the Buffyverse, and experiencing it with you.
I do like the idea of asking for certain episodes, and it's one that I've suggested with the X Files in the past, but that caused a lot of upset. Maybe it's just me that's the cause of these problems 🤣 I never knew this would cause so much trouble... It's so awkward and confusing! It seems most people want alternating and I could give that a try and see if it works for me. Whatever way I choose, it doesn't have to be set in stone if it doesn't work. If we try Angel for a while and it does seem to be so hated, then maybe I will just end up watching it by myself 💜 There's always options! I haven't even watched it yet haha. I'll just see what happens and what works 😊
Personally I hate this and I hate when every reactor does it. Angel isn't as good in my opinion and now Buffy reactions will be cut in half. I hate when people do that. Especially since Angel is only good for two seasons before its garbage.
If I skip Angel, I think a lot of people would be upset. I'm sorry, Matthew 😔
I can see from other comments here that opinion is divided so just go with what you feel is best. For what it's worth, the shows were broadcast in an alternating pattern, with none of this 7 Angel episodes in a row business, so perhaps that's the best way? I'm not enough of a super-fan to really know though, sorry.
I think maybe this might be the way to go. I can at least try with alternating and see how that goes. I'm not going to please everyone so it's a pretty stressful decision! The only thing I can think of is that the episodes were aired alternately, which is how a lot of the original viewers would have seen them. Most people seem to want me to alternate so.... maybe that's the way! I personally would prefer that, I think. Thank you, Neil 💜
My preference is alternate. If you look at the guide, for example at the end of 5/2, you have 7 angel episodes in a row. For people who much prefer buffy that's quite a gap. But go with what's best for you xx
I didn't realise it was that many in a row 😳 I thought at most it would be 2. The opinions here are divided which really makes it hard for me to know what to do next 😔 thank you, Rhi 💜
Use the guide like all the other reactors. That's the best order. And don't worry about people just wanting Buffy. There isn't a single Buffy fan who doesn't also like Angel.
That offers a LOT of relief, thank you! I was a bit worried that a few people really wouldn't want Angel. PHEW! I feel better now 💜
It's unfortunate, but there's always a little bit of division when a reactor reaches this point. Some people make a poll and the Slayalive reactors guide you linked usually/always wins by a lot, but there's a vocal minority that only wants Buffy. Can't please everyone, and the guide is probably the way to go. Looking forward to the show, hope you like it. I must admit I'm not sure where to watch the show. I have my DVDs, but I'm not sure if it's as bad to try to sync as Buffy is/was, and my cheap usb-CDROM player occasionally stalls. Buffy remastered is a bit easier to find.
That is a good point! I'm watching it on Disney Plus but I am also not sure if there are multiple versions of Angel as there are Buffy. I would have to imagine that a few people only want Buffy, but I really can't please everyone as much as I'd like to be able to. Thank you so much for your help 💜
I would suggest just alternating. That's how it was intended to be watched: in the order in which it aired. Buffy is always first, until season 6 of Buffy; then it's Angel first. The original "watch guide" was created when this was only out on DVD, to avoid switching DVDs constantly. One reactor (Liam Duke) found it online, and used it. He got a lot of flak for it, due to how Angel-heavy it is (the creator of the list loves Angel_, and the creator of the "SlayAlive Guide" created what he thought was a more "reactor-friendly" version, which is better, though it still has some of the same issues. Basically every reactor just started copying Liam, though most used the latter version. I would suggest checking the list; if a reactor releases one episode a week, there are at least two times where it's a solid month of one show. Honestly, these guides are something of a pain, and unnecessary. It's literally just one guy's preferred watch order. I would say just watch the show as the writers and creators intended it to be watched. Buffy and then Angel, then repeat. But it's up to you.
That's actually a good point. I thought at most it was 2 episodes in a row of one show, but looking down further, there are up to 4 episodes in a row, multiple times. I really don't mind which way I watch it, but that could explain why more recent reactions to Buffy/Angel are alternating if there were complaints about the guide!