FIRST TIME WATCHING: Buffy the Vampire Slayer S2E1

I think this is an issue of your modern lens have a really tough time with how TV used to be. You're applying the current storytelling format and getting frustrated when it isn't following it. Stories used to operate as analogies. The monster of the week is there to represent what the characters are emotionally going through. The writers aren't writing them to make the best villain ever, or making sure every detail is steeped in realism of how that monster would operate. It's like folklore. Every episode has a message and theme. When viewers watched this back in the day, it was very natural to pick up that each episode had a message and what it was because audiences were primed to look for it. You aren't, so you instead focus on realism and laugh at things like Vampires not drawing breath, or why nobody called the police or how the school isn't closed. It's because this is a TV show and none of this is real lol. That's why. A story is meant to convey a point and depict characters going on an emotional journey and it was this that mattered most on Buffy; not whether this is what it would look like IRL if there were vampires.

Hi Natalie! I just joined your Patreon a few days ago after watching your Buffy compilations of Season One on your YouTube channel. So I just wanted to note how much the quality of the Acting and Cinematography advanced from Season One to this first Episode in Season Two. Not only have the characters have matured and are more complex in their portrayals, such as you noted for Cordelia, they really depicted Buffy with PTSD, which in the '90's was a largely new and was only recognized by psychology in the 1980's. They wove her symptoms and behavior substantially in the Story and Production elements here. There's more cohesion to the cast as well seen with the actors expressions in the shots. Cheers! Dave *By the way, actor Nicolas Brendan (Xander) who passed away back in March had struggles with alcohol and drugs after the series ended, but did get his life back on track. In 2022 He had a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition and that is what he died from.

Subbed for a year because you're watching Buffy, Nat. I need to head back and start from season 1 but I'll binge your Buffy videos with pure joy in my heart. It feels like I've waited for this for too long. First there was Ashley Burton, then you; next we need to get Cass from Popcorn in bed to watch.

Am I the only one who finds the music in the closing scene (in the classroom) way, way 'off-brand' for this show?! 😂

Disney cause I have the series on disc so no matter what the show will be slightly off.

And before I forget, I know you don't want any spoilers, but if there's any subject matter you might at least want trigger warnings on I'm happy to do that (whilst still keeping plot details as vague as possible).

In terms of the DVDs there is a difference between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere releases in terms of frame rate. So as someone in Australia I would find it difficult to continuously sync my DVD copies of Buffy with yours, as the frame rate difference means it would constantly drift out of sync. Disney supposedly has the same frame rate for streaming worldwide, which makes it easier for more people to Synch; however, even then I've noticed some differences in timing of black screens where ads were originally meant to go. This means some people might need to make minor sync adjustments along the way. Ditto for Hulu and Amazon. Just personally Disney is better for me, but I am fine with other sites like Hulu and Amazon. If it's DVD watching that is when I have to hit the Piracy sites to find a copy that will actually sync up properly. It's pretty rare that I can't find any solutions to sync issues, so although I'd prefer Disney, I'd also say just go with whatever is easiest for you.

Hi Natalie, thanks for staying with Buffy…I know you will maybe need to take a break at some point, it’s a lot of episodes, BUT PLEASE STICK WITH IT, THE WHOLE SHOW LEADS TO SINGLE POINT AND THE JOURNEY is ONE HELL OF A RIDE…..ENJOY!!!!

If I watch the DVDs in VLC at 96% speed it almost syncs up. Have to pause the DVD every few minutes. I don't know if that would be remedied by watching from another service or not. Just happy to be watching Buffy again!

1. The way Nat reacted to Xander and Willow almost kissing perfectly encaptures what's so great about this show: The characters and the fantastic job the actors do portraying them. It really is the heart of the show. 2. I couldn't agree more about Cordelia. Charisma Carpenter does such a great job that you first hate her as the quintessential mean girl, but then suddenly you realise she might be the best part of the show.

I don't mean to harp on this, but I'm only mentioning it because it may come up again in later episodes. While Angel does technically go through the physical motions of breathing, it's purely a mechanical habit so he can speak, and because he's used to doing the action of breathing in and out like he did when he was alive. He doesn't actually require oxygen, and his lungs don't process it. He could technically hold his breath forever and never pass out or die. Because his body doesn't utilize or exchange gases, any air he blows out wouldn't have the necessary oxygen content to revive someone, and since Buffy actually died from drowning in that shallow pool, she specifically needed someone who could provide real, oxygenated rescue breaths alongside chest compressions to clear her lungs. Angel literally couldn't provide that "breath of life." The thing about Vampire biology in Buffy, specifically, is that it's completely dead and sustained by magical/mystical means. That's what Giles is talking about when he mentions "mystical energy". Their organs don't function, their cells don't retain oxygen, and their hearts don't beat. Another example: if Buffy ever needed a blood transfusion and Angel happened to have been the right type when he was alive, he wouldn't be able to give her blood now. Not only would his vampire blood not be helpful, it would also probably be incredibly toxic to her because its composition and properties are totally different now that he's undead.

I'm glad I found you before you got too far in! One of my favorite reactors doing one of my favorite series. Can't wait to catch up.

Hey, every single time I'm watching a physical media I own, it's never fits. You watch the director cuts, I have the theatrical and vise versa or it's out of sync. I'm getting used to it.

Oh boy am I glad for this. You’re in for some really fucking good television these next few seasons. So glad I joined your patreon! Thanks for watching with us!

Buffy is also on Hulu fyi. Hulu doesn't have the same issues with the show disney does (others can correct me if i'm wrong for their copies). Instead of paying $20 to buy 1 season on amazon you could use that for hulu and get all seasons plus whatever else you may want from Hulu.

I also have joined your patreon because of the Buffy episodes. I have been obsessed with this show since as long as I can remember. I really hope you decide to keep going after this season because it just keeps getting better from here on out, especially season 3.

When it comes to this show unfortunately all streaming services have kind of butchered it for some of the later episodes. For the early seasons it's not too bad it's just the fade to black when they would have showed adverts for the most part. On DVD versions it's loyal to the show on streaming they cut up to 10 seconds out which doesn't seem like much but it means you have to be constantly watching for that Black screen to pause to make sure it still syncs which can take you out of the reaction. Towards the later seasons is where it gets really bad they cut entire parts of scenes out making it extremely difficult to keep synced if watching the DVD versions. Also losing some of the original meaning of the scenes. Just to be clear this is Disney and Hulu I have no idea about Amazon others will know better. If you want to stay with streaming Disney is probably the better option as it's worldwide where as Hulu isn't everywhere. I'm sure Buffy fans here would be willing to chip in for the DVD if you want to buy it and rip it from the disk or if buying it digital from Amazon is a good option.

The issue with watching on disney (with everything): unless I'm watching on disney my version is slowly than your version by about 1 second per 4 minutes. Over a 30 minute show I pause it once or twice to catch up in a couple of seconds. On something longer I'm pausing to sync every few minutes and it gets tedious.

Please continue to watch on Disney. In the US, Amazon only has the dreadful HD Remaster which will throw things even more off. Disney will have later seasons in 16:9 which is an unfinished version that will have some visible boom mics and things on the side very occasionally, but it is significantly better than the HD Remaster. Unfortunately, there is no real definitive version of the show available to stream or purchase online. The DVDs even have some issues.

All I’ll say is Buffy is gonna go through some rough patches and events and the show does present those events with the tone they need. But there will never not be a funny moment or just straight up comedy episode far behind. This season is a good test for more or less how the show will be handled from now on since this is were they really found their feet and ran with it.

I think the comment was that it looked as if you were watching it on the original 4x3 box TV version - while Disney+ usually has the more common “HD Remaster” widescreen version, which is, overall, a bad remaster bc it messes up a lot of the colouring and lighting in some scenes, but it is the most commonly available and also the version I’m watching along with, and it seem to also be the version you’re watching anyway It isn’t too noticeable on a first watch imo, and I think it evens out as the show goes on, so I’m fine with watching along on Disney tbh

Fear not, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled campy fun next week 😁 I will say tho, this season you may eventually have to start bringing some tissues 👀 It’s more than just melodrama!

I vote for the Amazon distribution, but it's not that big of a deal. The main issue if continuing with Disney+ is getting the sync right. A better system to keep the videos in sync would be helpful if not going with Amazon.

I'm also one of the ones that only joined for Buffy :)

I have never had an issue with the frames or framing while watching on Disney. No clue what people are talking about. Please don't switch. This is so convenient. As for the vibe of the show. It does get back to funny, but not nearly so campy as the first season. Now they are fleshing out the characters so they remain interesting beyond 12 episodes. I think you will enjoy it more and more as you go on.

My only request is that you leave part of the screen unblurred so I can resync my video when it gets off or if I have to pause it or something. My time doesn't match yours and it's really hard to sync with the entire screen blurred.

Cordelia is the best character, and my absolute favorite. Knew it wouldn't be long before you loved her character!

No just do your own thing with the way you what to watch it. I only brought it up in the past because I thought that was the version you were already watching and I wanted to know were it was at the time Also the version you get on prime is the same as Disney. I think Apple TV iTunes has the original format for purchase and it’s cheaper than Prime. This is based purely on me buying Season 3 episode 21 on it own on both platforms and checking the fight scene that has the whole right side of the screen showing the secondary camera crew and see which version had them properly cropped out (even then you could make out guys arm in the screen corner lol). But it’s honestly fine most people will watch along with Disney version anyway. It just comes down to individual preference but I do think the darker lighting and aspect radio add the atmosphere of the show and hide budget limitations. I also don’t want it effecting your choice to stay with the show it ends up becoming a big cost long term.

The masters bones not dusting isn’t a plot hole. It indicates how ancient he was compared to most vampires. Buffy at its core is about the joys and trauma of growing up. There will be comedy and drama. Hope you still enjoy it. This show is on most every list of best shows of all time. Rolling Stone ranked the series at #73 in their updated list of the 100 Best TV Shows of All Time. Time Magazine highlighted it as one of the finest shows of its era, praising how it navigated the challenges of modern life. TV Guide placed it at #39 in their 2013 list of the "60 Best Series of All Time."

I'm not 100% sure yet if the Fandango version still has the widescreen that the original airing didn't (where you may see a boom mic once in a blue moon), but Fandango had all season bundle on sale recently I think it was $25 USD if sale is still going. I haven't noticed on bad framing on any of the episodes so far though!

The master didn't poof because he's really really really old. Old vampires have different rules.

"Capturing all the hot women!" sent me into a coughing fit

The original was not filmed in the wide frame. It’s in 4:3. If you don’t mind seeing crew members in the background or lighting when it’s supposed to be night and othe remastered problems then continue on Disney. I really don’t care if you don’t care.

Another music fun fact from Buffy, Cibo Matto, the band in this episode, the guitar player is Sean Ono Lennon, John Lennon's son.

I have original North American region DVDs and I think I only had problem syncing once or twice so far and only because a previously on was there or missing. Whatever you decide I'd suggest making the video a little less blurry to help with syncing and letting a few seconds unblurred after scene changes as the black screen duration does vary between versions. Angel did not need a new invite because only one invite is needed in this show, kicking a vampire out does not revoke it. About stakes: they go puff if not held on.

The mis-sync does affect me, but it ain't the worst part of my day. I just have to periodically re-sync

The big issue is just that the cuts between scenes where there originally were ad breaks are different lengths, so over the course of an episode the syncing gets way off. So if you just give time to re-sync periodically, it's fine. From a purist perspective, I think Disney is fine because it's letterboxed in the original aspect ratio. It gets funky when you watch the "widescreen" version because it shows things that weren't supposed to be visible. Avoiding spoilers from thumbnails is nice though.

I would much prefer the Amazon version, as a Buffy purist 😂

I've watched your YouTube for a long time. Finally joined your Patreon for Buffy!

Happy Thursday Nat. This was a definite "clear the air" introduction to this season, and there had to be a resolution. Cordelia still un-phased by the whole experience haha. I enjoyed your reaction today Nat. Look forward to the next one 😊

I watch along with you via Apple TV (itunes purchase) and I have no issues syncing it up with you. There is no problem with you streaming with Disney.

The drama and melodrama will persist, but so will the fun. From now on there is a better balance of light and heavy episdoes, and even some of the one-off "monster of the week" episodes do contain plot points for the overall season story archs.

Just starting to watch. I follow you using Hulu. No issues so far.

Please stay either with Disney or Hulu. That's where it's streaming right now. Why are we thinking a different source where everyone will have to pay more to watch along, unless you own it, is the way to go?

Happy "Buffy" Thursday, Natalie! 😊 I've been so excited for you to get started on this season. This is maybe my second favorite season of the whole series. This is a good season opener. We see that Buffy is still dealing with the aftermath of the season one finale. Got a couple of good performances by Sarah Michelle Gellar in this one. Now that you've officially started the season, I'm already looking forward to the episode 3 reaction. Have a great day today! Stay Golden! 💛

Is hulu not an option