I like Buffy. I hate musicals. Would I enjoy OMWF?

Cafe Society
1

I am a minor Buffy fan. One of my exes (the abusive one) was a huge Buffy fan, and I was forced to watch the first few seasons (which I was also demanded to buy for him). So, though my experience was obviously soured, I have to admit - I liked the damn show. When I got away from the guy, I stopped watching Buffy, as it was one of those things I did to “liberate” myself from him.

But I* like* it. So sometimes, if I’m channel surfing and I find Buffy, I will stop and watch it. The characters are funny and sweet. The episodes are well written and interesting. The “special effects” are cringe-worthy, however, it is great for television, and doesn’t overdo anything. Okay. Cool.

I love “Hush”.

Now. Many people mention, as favourite episodes, “Hush”, and “Once More With Feeling”. I don’t hate musicals, as in Broadway musicals. They’re a little blah for me, but I don’t loathe them with the passion of a thousand suns. Some of them seem okay.

But when characters on a regular television show breaks into song? I loathe it. With the passion of a thousand suns. Oh, yes.

For example: When the Simpsons do it, I change the channel. And I love the Simpsons. Disney cartoons? I fear them, because though I may be interested in the movie, I just know, I know, they are going to start singing at some point. It seriously ruins the love I have for the Lion King, even though some of the songs are catchy as hell. Don’t get me wrong; I like some of the songs. But I loathe, despise, detest when characters sing them. It freaks me out. I won’t watch Moulin Rouge. Even though my father says it’s great (and we agree on pretty much everything else), I’m a little intimidated by it. They’re going to sing. Damnit. Why ruin a perfectly good movie by singing? It’s so rarely done right, and not forced or ridiculous.

With that in mind: Would I like “Once More With Feeling”? I like Buffy enough that I’m willing to chance it. Everyone says it’s not what I think it is, it’s very clever and it works.

Will I be worse off without having seen it? Is it really that different, that, even if I were dead set on loathing it, I might, at least secretly, like it? Does anyone else feel similar to the way I do about singing in TV/movies, but loved that Buffy episode?

2

OMWF is necessary to see because Buffy makes a major revelation in one of the songs. Why they are singing is a plot point (not a spoiler when I say they’re under a demonic spell) and they actually make fun of some of the musical cliches (“And suddenly our living room was like… huge!”). The whole episode is about people telling other people things that have been bottled up inside (Xander & his she-demon, Buffy and Willow, etc.), so I would definitely see it.

3

Hmm. Tough question. You might be spared the loathing of the singing in OMWF simply because there’s a whole “meta” conceit to it - the characters realize they’re breaking into song without conscious control, and it wigs them out. And the lyrics display the usual Whedon cleverness.

Watch it. Worst case, you lose an hour of your life.

4

I’m the same as you. I didn’t like it.

Listening to Sarah Michelle Gellar screech scarred me for…well…not life, but at least a week or two ;).

Yeah, you should endure it for the reason Sampiro put forward.

It’s slightly different and there are cute/clever moments I appreciated. I also think it was an experiment worth doing and it obviously was a smashing success for most.

But yes, I am in the minority that found it tedious. Of course I also change the channel when the Simpsons start singing :).

  • Tamerlane
5

It is done right in Moulin Rouge. Just so you know.

6

Didn’t like Moulin Rouge.

:stuck_out_tongue:

  • Tamerlane
7

Damn. These responses have intrigued me, at least enough to give it a shot. I may cringe, but it sounds like there are some worthy things to see.

I’ll give it a suffer-through next time I see it on.

Other opinions (from all) and advice from people like Tamerlane, someone after my own heart, welcome, as well. :wink:

8

I do like the little I’ve seen of Buffy, and I don’t like musicals. I did like this episode, even though as I remember it, a couple of them definitely can’t sing.

9

I love Buffy, I love musicals, and “Once More With Feeling” is not only my favorite Buffy episode, but without a doubt my favorite hour of any entertainment medium of all time. The episode is amazingly well-written (and is more than just a gimmick), Whedon’s songs are catchy and witty, most of the actors prove to be competent-to-wonderful singers (with Tony Head and Amber Benson as the best), and if you care at all about the characters, you should have a great time watching it. Plus, where else can you see long-time writer/producers Marti Noxon and David Fury singing on-camera?

10

It sounds to me like you’ll hate it. But if you’re interested in following Buffy, you should just suck it up. OTOH, if you follow Buffy only casually (and it seems like you do), then OMWF isn’t going to do all that much for you because it, more than many Buffy episodes, is dependent on you understanding the relationships amongst the various characters.

Instead, I’d recommend watching from the beginning if you like. Then you’ll really understand all the subtleties you’re missing as the casual viewer and, by the time you make it a third of the way through the sixth season, you’ll be so invested that the singing won’t bother you that much.

–Cliffy

11

I’m quite annoyed with musicals in a general sense, but OMWF is pretty amazing. It’s a brilliant concept episode within a brilliant series.

Still, episodes like “Hush” and “The Body” and “Once More With Feeling” are some of the best Buffy episodes ever. And uh, why not watch every episode of Buffy instead of picking and choosing? That’s what I say. Besides which, like others have said, OMWF advances important elements of the storyline. You might get less out of it without the episode “bookends” around it.

12

Well, I think I’ve seen, all the way through, to at least season five, and then it’s spotty from there. I *do * like the characters, and care enough about them to *probably * get a kick out of the episode.

I know at least about Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Riley, Buffy alone, Willow/Oz, Willow/Tara (which I absolutely cheered for when it happened, and almost cried), Willow/real magic, Doppelgangland, Xander/basement, Xander/Cordy, Xander/Anya, Anya/vengeance demon +her past, Spike/Dru, Spike/Buffy, Spike/Angel/Dru, Giles the Ripper, Giles/that other cool watcher chick, Buffy/Faith, Faith/kink (hehe), Buffy/death, Dawn/not real, Buffy’s Mom/tumour/death, Glory/God and all that, aaaand… I think that’s about where I left off. Somewhere in there. Is that enough dynamics to appreciate OMWF?

[sub] Damn, maybe I am a fan… I just recalled that all from at least four or more years ago. Last episode I watched channel surfing was “Hush”, and that was over a year ago, and I stopped because I recognised it. [/sub]

13

Anyone else confused as hell by the idea of an abusive boyfriend who’s a big Buffy fan? I mean, talk about missing the point!

Anyway, although I really loved the episode, it’s also pretty much the last Buffy episode that’s “must-see.” So, yeah, while it reveals some very important plot points, and does so in a fantastically clever way, the rest of the series doesn’t really do anything interesting or particularly intelligent with those revelations. And, from your reaction to musicals in general, it sounds like you won’t like the episode anyway. Still, I’d say you should probably check it out, anyway. If it works for you, it’ll probably work really, really well. And if it doesn’t, you can just turn it off early. You never know 'til you try.

14

OK, so it does seem like you have the Buffyverse down pretty good up to Season 5. I recomend renting or borrowing the season 6 and 7 DVDs and finish up the series. OMWF relies on things done in the earlier episodes of season 6 to really get a feel for the revelations that come out in the snogs.

15

He missed the point with a lot of things. You should have seen what he tried to do to me with his religious beliefs. Yikes. Also, he wasn’t really all there. When I broke up with him, he kept trying to tell me he was exactly like Angel. He was becoming seriously disillusioned. It was very creepy. So sadly, my experience with Buffy has been a little marred. However, I recognise it as a damn good show, so I want to give it more of a chance. The past is far enough behind me now that I’m comfortable with it. I liked those characters a lot.

16

OMWF is a great episode outside of the musical aspect. It contains a major development in the scooby dynamic. What makes it a favorite of mine is the writing and the further character development. The musical aspect is done better than I expected, and it works better than other musical episodes of non musical shows. It’s no Cop Rock. But it’s not my all time fave, as it for so many other Buffy fans.

Plus the demon is one of my least favorite. I get the Ben-Vereen-in-*Pippin *references, but aren’t they too obscure to be anything but annoying to anyone who doesn’t? Not a well done demon.

17

Honestly? No. :wink: OMWF really turns on understanding stuff that happens in most of the early episodes of S6, which started with a radically different status quo than the earlier seasons.

–Cliffy

18

I think in the time it took to write that post, you could have just watched it and found out for yourself!

Me, I loved Hush but I’m not big on musicals. Still, I watched OMWF and it was ok.

19

I type fast, and it’s not on right now. :wink:

20

The first counter-example to this assertion that I thought of is “Tabula Rasa”, the episode that immediately follows “Once More with Feeling.” That one’s just plain funny, gives some insight into the characters at their cores, and wraps up some of the loose ends from the musical.

There may be more must-sees after that, but I’m having trouble thinking of any right now.