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Post by Techno-bot on Jun 12, 2004 23:03:46 GMT -5
Written by Joss Whedon Directed by Joss Whedon Air date: 11/6/01
A demon named Sweet descends upon Sunnydale in search of Dawn, his arrival causing everyone to burst into song and dance - and eventually into flame.
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Post by Lola m on Sept 4, 2005 19:30:45 GMT -5
It’s the final week of the Sizzlin’ Buffy Episode Festival!!!!And the winner is . . . . (drum roll, please!)
The most requested (by more than half of those surveyed) episode!
[/img] [/center] Looking at the reactions and thoughts and feelings this whole festival has generated, I realised what we are really celebrating.
Joss.
We get Whedon in all his glory here in this episode. Wittily funny with a depth and meaning in even these “lightest” of episodes that most dramatic shows would kill to be able to pull off when at their most serious. And daring to do what no one else on TV will. Singing and dancing? Actually done by the regular cast? With all original songs that actually tell the story of this season?
That’s our Joss. He didn't write every episode (although we have learned that he was often the one putting on the finishing touches) and he certainly didn't direct them all, but we always knew he was the one at the helm of the Buffyverse. So, get out there and appreciate and celebrate these episodes and the man who created the whole Buffyverse! [/size]
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Post by Squeemonster on Sept 5, 2005 17:38:36 GMT -5
Since I’ve been a bad S’cubie, and not commented much on the top ten eps, and since I don’t have much to do today, I thought I’d watch OMWF and Smile Time and comment on all my favorite little things. This is not in any way an analysis (I’ll leave that up to everyone else, since ya’ll are so much better at it than I), and I know that all of this has been mentioned before. It’s just all my own little squee moments. --The opening song-Going Through the Motions—first time I saw it, I was already crying before it ended. It’s just so much fun, and heart-wrenching at the same time. I had my doubts on whether or not Joss could pull this off, but even before this first song is over, I knew this was gonna be one hell of a ride. The ashes of the vamp dissipating, and seeing her desolate expression—it’s just too, too wonderful. --I’ve Got a Theory—Anya’s too funny rockin’ bit of the song!! ;D I heard someone say, maybe in the behind the scenes stuff or the commentary, that Joss wrote that part for her because EC was known to all of the sudden start singing and screaming rock songs, and playing air guitar, just out of the blue. I just love how he incorporates little bits of the actors into the story occasionally. --Anya’s response to Dawn’s “I gave birth to a pterodactyl.”—“Oh my God, did it sing?” #rofl1# --“Under Your Spell”—AB is just absolutely stunning, her voice is so sweet, and that park setting is gorgeous. --“I’ll Never Tell”—OMG, my love for this song and dance number knows no bounds! And is there nothing that EC can’t do well? She’s absolutely precious, and NB did an awesome job of it, as well—it looks as if they had so much fun with it. And Anya’s concern over whether or not their song would be a popular song. Hee, hee! And Anya’s reassuring pat on Giles’ shoulder, and Giles’ look of bafflement by it—too funny (can you tell that Anya’s one of my favorite characters? ). --“Rest in Peace”--*sigh* Spike desperately trying to get Buffy out of there before he starts singing, and then rolling his eyes when he does start*giggle*. That predatory stroll towards her, then when he’s on his knees, and let’s his gaze slide down her body #thud# --You know, I didn’t really care for Sweet, one way or another, the first time I saw this ep. But he has really grown on me since, and now he’s one of my favorite demons on the show. That actor did an amazing job. --Giles’ song is, by far, my absolute favorite. He loves her so much, and wants to do what’s right for her—it just breaks my heart over and over. And the duet between him and Tara is so, so, so gorgeous. Their voices blended so well together. --The look on Giles’ face when Buffy reveals that she was in heaven gets me everytime. Ouch. --You know, one of the things that bugged me about season six is that in this ep, Spike wanted Buffy to enjoy life—to realize that the best part of being alive is to actually live. IMO, that’s not dark and sinister—that’s wanting her to live in the light. So it really bothers me that after this ep, they go back to Spike wanting to drag her into the dark. I realize that he feels that that’s the only way he can have a part of her, but it still irks me. Feel free to tear apart this thought. --And the inevitable ending. *swoon, sigh* I’ve heard people complain about that kiss, saying it wasn’t passionate or sexy at all. I beg to differ—what with the rising music, and the rising…music ;D, I think it’s extremely sexy, and about damn time! This in no way encompasses everything I love about this episode, because I love every single moment of it. But, it felt good to list some of my most favorite moments.
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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 5, 2005 20:14:48 GMT -5
Since I’ve been a bad S’cubie, and not commented much on the top ten eps, and since I don’t have much to do today, I thought I’d watch OMWF and Smile Time and comment on all my favorite little things. This is not in any way an analysis (I’ll leave that up to everyone else, since ya’ll are so much better at it than I), and I know that all of this has been mentioned before. It’s just all my own little squee moments. --The opening song-Going Through the Motions—first time I saw it, I was already crying before it ended. It’s just so much fun, and heart-wrenching at the same time. I had my doubts on whether or not Joss could pull this off, but even before this first song is over, I knew this was gonna be one hell of a ride. The ashes of the vamp dissipating, and seeing her desolate expression—it’s just too, too wonderful. I love Going Through The Motions. I can't wait to analyze this ep. I have tons of thoughts on this song alone. It's sooooo Buffy. I recently mentioned on the board that I believed Joss very deliberately references Innocence over and over in OMWF, and you really hear it in this I'm Under Your Spell song. I delberately threw in some subtle references to OMWF in my Innocence analysis, but I don't know if anyone noticed it. It's hard to pick a favorite song, isn't it. I love Xander & Anya's song and dance, and Giles' Standing in The Way song - oh my God, it brings me to tears everytime. I know. Thud, indeed. Ditto on the Sweet love. You've answered your own question, if you know what I mean. Spike wants Buffy however he can get her. That's the first priority and everything else - genuine as it may be - takes a back seat. It didn't irk me, because I thought it made perfect sense for Spike at the time. I wouldn't have bought it, if Spike had put "Buffy getting better" ahead of "Buffy staying with him." The way things were with Buffy, he knew he couldn't have both, much as this may have been his first preference. He was, as he sings, a man obsessed. Not passionate or sexy? I thought it was very passionate and sexy. It was this "long time coming" thing that they've both wanted since I don't know when. Not understanding the explosion of repressed passion in that kiss is - well, to each his own, but to me, it suggests not understanding Buffy very well at all. I know. It's really hard to say it all. I have a zillion things to write for this analysis. Goodness, I have to get back to those analyses.
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Post by Lola m on Sept 5, 2005 20:43:52 GMT -5
Also, as Linda was wonderful enough to remind me, don't forget Erin's fab essay!! I've Got a Theory: Episode 7 Foreshadowing in Once More, With Feeling.On the main S3 site at: www.soulfulspike.com/oncemoreessay.htm
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Post by Pixi on Sept 7, 2005 13:02:59 GMT -5
Well - it's musical theatre. Musical theatre is my life. (well musical theatre via television so technically a musical). Regardless - this is what MTers like me live and breathe for.
I loved the opening credits. So Patty Duke sappy and sort of giddy and cutesy. All the little intermingling while Buffy just lies there. Then Going through the Motions. How much do I love Going through the Motions?
Okay - the vampires and demons are dancing people. Hee, hee, hee. There's a Fabio guy trying to sweep her off her feet and she says Whatever. Whatever - hee, hee, hee. So great.
SMG doesn't have a great voice so that takes some points off for me. She's straining for these notes and her breath control is way off but she does okay. It's not a run screaming into the night voice like AH has so I can ignore for the most part, the strain and the breathiness.
I loved the visual where she hits the end note, explodes the vampire as her last notes rise into the air.
Sigh!
Then we get the magic shop and everyone talking at once about singing. Hee, hee. Loved Giles and his dancing room service guys. And then I've Got a Theory. The song rocks immediately with ASH's and Tara's terrific voices. They make beautiful harmony. So Giles guesses the answer right away, Xander is all witches, we get the reference to nightmare w/ cute little jazz hand hand gestures from Tara (hee, hee - love jazz hands) and then EC rocks out. Great voice, great moment and the funny or midgets and then we get SMG's what does it matter and the I've died twice which turns a fun moment into a bittersweet moment.
Which does what a song should do - take you to all sorts of different levels. Great song, I really enjoy it.
Ooops - gotta go do a Kiersten run. I'm going to have to have a multi-part post on this because:
I LURVE ONCE MORE WITH FEELING.
Hope you don't mind Lola.
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Post by Moscow Watcher on Sept 7, 2005 13:52:59 GMT -5
I remember my first impressions on OMWF - I mentally compared the episode to All That Jazz, great Bob Foss film about the price of art.
Art (in OMWF's case, music) enhances life, elevates it on a level where dangerous things happen. Art reveals the ultimate truth about people. Art is not only entertainment - it can also bring pain. It can kill - the way it kills the protagonist in All That Jazz, the way it almost kills Buffy.
Because there are people who can survive in this enhanced world where they are confronted by the ultimate truth and people who can't. They're too driven, too emotionally fragile, too eager to give from the source of their strength - their souls. Like the character of All That Jazz. Like Buffy.
It's a wild speculation, but I wonder if Whedon wanted to explain to the actors (in his special, unique way) why he has to take their characters through all the pain and torture of season 6. Sure, actors (especially JM and SMG) went through many unpleasant moments and by the end of the season were emotionally burned. But, ultimately, the result is worth all the pain. Season 6 stands out as the most controversial, compelling, addictive season of BtVS.
JMHO.
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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 7, 2005 14:35:17 GMT -5
Well - it's musical theatre. Musical theatre is my life. (well musical theatre via television so technically a musical). Regardless - this is what MTers like me live and breathe for. I loved the opening credits. So Patty Duke sappy and sort of giddy and cutesy. All the little intermingling while Buffy just lies there. Then Going through the Motions. How much do I love Going through the Motions? Okay - the vampires and demons are dancing people. Hee, hee, hee. There's a Fabio guy trying to sweep her off her feet and she says Whatever. Whatever - hee, hee, hee. So great. SMG doesn't have a great voice so that takes some points off for me. She's straining for these notes and her breath control is way off but she does okay. It's not a run screaming into the night voice like AH has so I can ignore for the most part, the strain and the breathiness. I loved the visual where she hits the end note, explodes the vampire as her last notes rise into the air. Sigh! Then we get the magic shop and everyone talking at once about singing. Hee, hee. Loved Giles and his dancing room service guys. And then I've Got a Theory. The song rocks immediately with ASH's and Tara's terrific voices. They make beautiful harmony. So Giles guesses the answer right away, Xander is all witches, we get the reference to nightmare w/ cute little jazz hand hand gestures from Tara (hee, hee - love jazz hands) and then EC rocks out. Great voice, great moment and the funny or midgets and then we get SMG's what does it matter and the I've died twice which turns a fun moment into a bittersweet moment. Which does what a song should do - take you to all sorts of different levels. Great song, I really enjoy it. Ooops - gotta go do a Kiersten run. I'm going to have to have a multi-part post on this because: I LURVE ONCE MORE WITH FEELING.Hope you don't mind Lola. I love every moment you've pointed out here . . . so wonderful. Glad you commented on this Pixi, with your expertise. It was just a work of genius, wasn't it? So, so amazing.
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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 7, 2005 14:36:28 GMT -5
I remember my first impressions on OMWF - I mentally compared the episode to All That Jazz, great Bob Foss film about the price of art. Art (in OMWF's case, music) enhances life, elevates it on a level where dangerous things happen. Art reveals the ultimate truth about people. Art is not only entertainment - it can also bring pain. It can kill - the way it kills the protagonist in All That Jazz, the way it almost kills Buffy. Because there are people who can survive in this enhanced world where they are confronted by the ultimate truth and people who can't. They're too driven, too emotionally fragile, too eager to give from the source of their strength - their souls. Like the character of All That Jazz. Like Buffy. It's a wild speculation, but I wonder if Whedon wanted to explain to the actors (in his special, unique way) why he has to take their characters through all the pain and torture of season 6. Sure, actors (especially JM and SMG) went through many unpleasant moments and by the end of the season were emotionally burned. But, ultimately, the result is worth all the pain. Season 6 stands out as the most controversial, compelling, addictive season of BtVS.JMHO. Agree with all this; well put. And your last two sentences: Preach it, baby! I couldn't agree more.
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Post by Pixi on Sept 7, 2005 15:09:43 GMT -5
Once More with Feeling - Part 2:
Most of OMWF works seemlessly, one part leading into the other (with the exception of Dawn's dance which I'll rant about later) but, on the whole, it all flows seamlessly.
One of my favorite throwaway moments are when they look out the door to see if the spell is focused on them or everybody and we get David Fury's big mment "They Got the Mustard Out".
#rofl1#
First of all - hee, hee - he's singing about dry cleaning. And look at the dancing ensemble. They've got their dry cleaning bags, they're doing their one handed cartwheels and it's a big ending to a big production number. I can't stand it.
Fury is perfect for this as he has a big brassy voice and dominates the scene. He would be cast over and over again in musical theatre in the second lead parts (which are usually far, far more fun than the romantic lead) and audiences would adore him. He has quite a commanding stage presence.
Contrast this with Marti's scene. First of all - Joss take a bow. Singing a plea to the policeman writing her a ticket - hee, hee, hee. Great lines especially the I'm not wearing underwear which harks back to every classic sitcom where the cute girl tries to get out of the ticket by flirting (flashback to Ross and Rachel getting pulled over for speeding and Rachel flirting her way out of it and then Ross trying the exact same lines to a disastrous result)
But - Marti - who has a nice voice - has no stage presence whatsoever. She needed a better look, better hair and a stronger tude to carry it off IMO.
Anyway I kind of jumped ahead a little as thegang is researching after the I've Got a Theory and next we get Tara and Willow sneaking off to have a little afternoon delight.
(Just a note - costume department -hello? What were you thinking? I mean I can only believe that you were majorly pissed off at the gals this week because they look really silly. No guy is giving Tara an eye for being gorgeous - he's eyeing her because she and Willow look silly both in long dresses. Maybe one of them but both? What - were they were dressing alike today to be cutesy? I don't buy it and seriously their clothes really, really distract from their scene. Especially with the dancing extras dressed normally)
Anyway - Tara's voice is gorgeous and the song is lovely but again this scene loses me because Tara does not look like her passion is rising, she looks terrified to move in case the wires or board or whatever's holding her up drops her down.
Willow looks suitably frisky as she disappears from view but more passion would have been better. But then again - I know this is television.
Still beautiful song, perfectly suited to the characters and moving the story along nicely.
Ack - I better do some actual work. More to come.
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Post by Onjel on Sept 9, 2005 10:59:48 GMT -5
I love this episode. Hinton Battle did a fabulous job as Sweet, making him one of my fave baddies.
I have been thinking about Sweet's role. Sure there is an element of demonic malice in the effect he has on the population of Sunnydale and the Scoobies in particular. But, he serves a very important function. He is the catalyst for crucial honest revelation of the deep secrets our Scoobies have been keeping from each other.
The term honesty is the best policy is tested in this episode. While in some cases honesty can be very destructive of individuals and relationships (we see this with the people who combust from within) it can also be of immense benefit.
In the cases of our Scoobies, I believe that the honest reveal of their secrets should have been beneficial. Had they learned from what they heard, and confronted the issues raised by what they revealed, instead of sweeping them under the proverbial rug, we might not have seen the break-up of Xander and Anya's relationship, Buffy's increasingly self-absorbed and self-destructive behavior, her abuse of Spike and ultimately, Willow's attempt to destroy the world. All of these things happened because our heroes wanted to keep their negative feelings inside. That attempt ultimately failed because trauma and negativity bottled up always come back to bite you in the back side.
I do not suggest that the Scoobies should have confronted each other with recriminations, but with a sincere attempt to work through their problems. Their failure to do so, prolonged the growing process they had yet to complete.
Ultimately, their secret feelings were faced, but only during some very destructive occurrences. Had they taken the opportunity to discuss their feelings and work through their problems immediately after Sweet left perhaps the badness that happened would not have occurred.
Of course, had they done so we would not have had the knock-out, unparalleled season we had, which is what counts and I think that Joss wanted us to see them grow the hard way and to learn from their destructive secret-keeping, issue-ignoring behavior. In that he succeeded at a level that I feel has been unequaled since.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 11, 2005 15:13:59 GMT -5
Thank you all for great reminders of why I so loved this show. There is nothing on television right now that can compare with this great writing and casting. I cringe when I see what some of these actors have ahead of them on this Fall's lineup. Lynn
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Post by Lola m on Sept 12, 2005 7:33:57 GMT -5
Thank you all for great reminders of why I so loved this show. There is nothing on television right now that can compare with this great writing and casting. I cringe when I see what some of these actors have ahead of them on this Fall's lineup. Lynn Thanks for posting, Lynn! I always love any opportunity to wallow in the goodness that is the Whedonverse. ;D RL has been keeping me a bit busy, or I'd have already posted a longer version of my love for this ep. I guess I'll just have to keep re-watching and re-watching and post here in the future, eh? What a torture. ;D
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Post by Karen on Sept 12, 2005 12:16:31 GMT -5
Thank you all for great reminders of why I so loved this show. There is nothing on television right now that can compare with this great writing and casting. I cringe when I see what some of these actors have ahead of them on this Fall's lineup. Lynn Congratulations on making full-fledged S'cubie, Lynn!
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Alexandra
S'cubie
Founder
"You never had it so good as me. Never."
Posts: 108
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Post by Alexandra on Dec 3, 2005 2:46:26 GMT -5
If I had to choose just one season to watch and couldn't ever see the others again, I'd shed a tear for "Fool for Love", but I'd have to choose the 6th season. I actually started watching well into the 6th season so maybe I'm a bit "bent" in that direction. But the interaction of all the characters starts boiling in this season with a depth of character-driven story lines unparalleled in the series IMO. And this season has "Once More with Feeling" - an accomplishment also unparalleled in ANY series history. The character interactions come to a peak in this episode with all players affected. (The fact that Xander actually caused the malevolence has always made me wonder why his behavior and its consequences were just glossed over and not much brought up again in the series. He seemed to get no real backlash for his desertion of Anya at their wedding in "Hell's Bells" either. Maybe Rob can shed some Xanderistic light on this phenomenon.)
No matter how long it's been since I've watched an old episode, the minute I start watching any episode I'm immersed completely back into their world with all the nuances and shades of personality and environment I enjoyed the first time around. That definitely does not happen with other reruns I've seen. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I think having seen the entire series several times, it actually enhances my viewing enjoyment, knowing the full arc of the story of Sunnyvale.
Alexandra
P.S. And Spike in all his unclothed glory was well worth the wait.
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