Tonight, I was going to talk about Mystery Science Theater, but I noticed Buffy the Vampire Slayer just sitting there on Netflix, waiting for me. Without hesitation, I pulled up "Once More With Feeling" which just so happens to be a perfectly crafted episode. When I first saw promos for the musical episode, I was pretty annoyed. It seemed like a gimmick to me, one that was not needed. While the series is far from perfect, it was interesting and unlike anything else on television at the time. Angel doesn't count. Part of me didn't like it because I can't sing, which was silly but true.
When the episode finally premiered, I fell in love with it. I loved how they explained away the singing, how it was part of the monster of the week. It all made sense! Sitting down to watch the episode tonight, I feared that Yester-Holly may have been wrong. What if the episode was really, really bad? A few months ago, I watched the episode entitled "Hush" and was unimpressed, even though that episode is considered by many to be one of the best.
I am happy to report that "Once More With Feeling" holds up! If I wasn't singing along, I was sitting on the couch with a stupid grin on my face. That one episode utilizes all the characters and furthers their individual story lines incredibly well. Add in the self-awareness of that particular episode, and you have the best Buffy episode created. Every fan has their favorite, and this one is mine. For someone trying to get into the series, that episode is probably not a good starting place, as you have to have great knowledge of the history of the characters, as well as being familiar with their current story lines. But if you've been away from Buffy for a while and want to remember what you liked about it, queue up "Once More With Feeling". You'll be glad you did.
(Moved from FB - January 4, 2012)
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