# I don't get Buffy the Vampire Slayer, should I give it more time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104 "2008-01-19T01:17:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/81 "2008-01-22T21:19:03Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] …Yeah. Again, wrong assumptions. It’s a coming of age story, like _Great Expectations_ or _Jane Eyre_; the surface trappings are just postmodern context-tweakers, not at all what the show is about. It’s a show for people who love _Great Expectations_, not for people who love _Red Dwarf._… [/QUOTE] I know this is a late answer. But I hated\* Great Expectations\*. Got through High School English & a college course on The English Novel by using my class notes. And Cliff’s. And I love _Red Dwarf_. (And _Buffy_!) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/82 "2008-01-22T21:19:45Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] \*\*Angel \*\*(the episode) has been watched. [/QUOTE] _And?_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/83 "2008-01-22T22:12:40Z")
**Septima** , you know that a lot of us are vicariously reliving our first exposure to the Buffyverse through you, don’t you? A cryptic “ **Angel** (the episode) has been watched” isn’t going to cut it. Make with the feelings and analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/84 "2008-01-22T22:23:11Z")
Just testing 😃 I actually liked it. I was wondering about that guy (yeah, the whole vampire thing had been spoilered for me. I still call foul on **pepperlandgirl** for revealing details 😉 ) What a horrible fate. Anyway, as my boyfriend pointed out, “that’s a more vampire-like way of dealing with enemies”. I like my vampires dangerous and deceptive. And they finally showed more vampires with unmorphed faces, something not seen since the first two episodes I think. Was wondering if elder vampires lost that ability after a while. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/85 "2008-01-22T22:29:33Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] Was wondering if elder vampires lost that ability after a while. [/QUOTE] Apparantly so. We see a couple of really ancient vamps in later episodes that seem to become almost bestial in appearance, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/86 "2008-01-22T22:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] Just testing 😃 I actually liked it. I was wondering about that guy (yeah, the whole vampire thing had been spoilered for me. I still call foul on **pepperlandgirl** for revealing details 😉 ) What a horrible fate. Anyway, as my boyfriend pointed out, “that’s a more vampire-like way of dealing with enemies”. I like my vampires dangerous and deceptive. And they finally showed more vampires with unmorphed faces, something not seen since the first two episodes I think. Was wondering if elder vampires lost that ability after a while. [/QUOTE] Gah! Sorry! My bad. Really. I came to the series in S6, then back-tracked to watch the eps, so I always knew about Angel. It’s been a long time since I saw the first season, so I totally forgot that it was a big secret. At the risk of forgetting and letting even more details slip, I think I’ll probably duck out here. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/87 "2008-01-22T22:34:47Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] And they finally showed more vampires with unmorphed faces, something not seen since the first two episodes I think. Was wondering if elder vampires lost that ability after a while. [/QUOTE] I’m sure **pepperlandgirl** has cites ‘n’ stuff, but what I remember from interviews and commentaries was that Joss’ earlier vision of the vampire was that it was a sort of progressive disease like AIDS. Young vamps were often downright sexy when not in vamp-face, but older ones (like the Big Bad of Season One) are in perma-vamp mode, and the “disease” has progressed so it’s not just the forehead and cheekbones that are affected, but the whole face. He discarded that idea as things went on, but I don’t know if he’s said why, exactly. I seem to recall him simply saying it was “unworkable”. Hey, if we give this guy another arched brow and another line by his mouth, he’d make a cute vampire smiley, don’t you think? —\> :dubious: And, of course, I’m only posting here because it’s so rare that my sig is appropriate in threads. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/88 "2008-01-22T22:37:19Z")
You’re right, **WhyNot**. The Master is like that as well as a second ancient vampire in another season. (Details withheld so as to not spoil anything.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/89 "2008-01-23T01:27:15Z")
And then their mouths get all koolaid stained… 😃 \<----imagine some fangs in there ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/90 "2008-01-23T01:36:53Z")
I’ve been watching Buffy on DVD, and I’m now on the third season. I have to admit I was very skeptical well into the first season. The monster-of-the-week thing just wasn’t doing it for me. But then came the puppet episode. Near the end, when Buffy and the puppet are fighting it out and They both accuse the other one of being a demon, and then both go “Wait, WHAT?!?!?” at the same time. For whatever reason, that just KILLED me. After that, I was hooked. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/91 "2008-01-23T01:40:23Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Apparantly so. We see a couple of really ancient vamps in later episodes that seem to become almost bestial in appearance, all the time. [/QUOTE] I remember the Master, and Kakistos…I’m blanking on any other major oldies. (Spoilered because I can’t remember if he’s mentioned before the ‘ancient vampire’ reveal.) As to Buffy getting a paycheque from the city… They already have professional demon hunters in their employ. Some of them display a certain distaste for the Slayer, so I have a feeling they’d have just rolled their eyes at her offer. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/92 "2008-01-23T01:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] I remember the Master, and Kakistos…I’m blanking on any other major oldies. [/QUOTE] Well, the other one is on _Angel_. Season 5, “Why We Fight.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/93 "2008-01-23T20:24:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bridget Burke] I know this is a late answer. But I hated\* Great Expectations\*. Got through High School English & a college course on The English Novel by using my class notes. And Cliff’s. [/QUOTE] I hated the Cliff’s Notes too. I also hated GE in highschool, but rereading it in college literally changed my life. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/94 "2008-01-23T21:35:40Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] I remember the Master, and Kakistos…I’m blanking on any other major oldies. (Spoilered because I can’t remember if he’s mentioned before the ‘ancient vampire’ reveal.) [/QUOTE] Ooh! Ooh! I know!! [spoiler]The Prince of Lies!! Mr. “Thees bathysphere ees perplexing!” I love him.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/95 "2008-01-26T09:21:49Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] if the episode to which you are referring is **The Zeppo** , I think that defined Xander very well. Besides, the Scoobies had to have one non mystical in their ranks, otherwise who would be the normalcy compass? [/QUOTE] As far as Xander is concerened, by Season 6… He is just about the only Scoob with a steady paycheck and a job that actually _benefits_ from Buffy’s fights, being a contractor who does lots of construction and repair work. He also ends up doing general repair work around the Summers household in later seasons, and has the rarest of abilities in Sunnydale: The ability to observe and state the obvious, oft missed by everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/96 "2008-01-26T13:49:18Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] As far as Xander is concerened, by Season 6… He is just about the only Scoob with a steady paycheck and a job that actually _benefits_ from Buffy’s fights, being a contractor who does lots of construction and repair work. He also ends up doing general repair work around the Summers household in later seasons, and has the rarest of abilities in Sunnydale: The ability to observe and state the obvious, oft missed by everyone else. [/QUOTE] yeah, and that last part got him special notice by Caleb in season 7. BTW! - If you have cable, and get FX, they’re showing Buffy at 7:00am Saturdays and Sundays. They’re near the end of season 7 now we’ve just met Calebso they’ll be cycling back around to the beginning in a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104/97 "2008-01-26T14:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] yeah, and that last part got him special notice by Caleb in season 7. BTW! - If you have cable, and get FX, they’re showing Buffy at 7:00am Saturdays and Sundays. They’re near the end of season 7 now we’ve just met Calebso they’ll be cycling back around to the beginning in a few weeks. [/QUOTE] I’ll have to make a note to watch for when they start showing the first episodes again…I’ve never seen Buffy and I’ve heard so much about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-should-i-give-it-more-time/434104.md?page=4)