h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Bud. It seems that we can no longer post to existing 'Cult' threads, so I hope you don't mind me starting a new thread on your page? I did actually try to respond to your Top 50 once before, as you might have gathered, but let's see if I can remember what on earth I was jabbering on about first time around..........

First off, I just about managed to predict your Top Episode , but I was also interested in your placing of Lover's Walk so highly. I think you've been vocal (well, as 'vocal' as an internet forum gets, anyway!) in the past about not particularly liking Spike's character, so I was surprised when you put what is basically a Spike-centric episode right up there. Am I right in assuming that the early Spike you were quite fond of, but it was just chipped/souled/angsted Spike that you weren't so keen on? Of course, I might have missed the point entirely, and you may like the episode for other reasons? For instance, I'm a big fan of Faith, Hope and Trick but, oddly enough, not for the Faith parts. Sure, she's an interesting addition at that stage, but I much prefer watching the scenes where Buffy tackles her emotions as regards the killing of Angel. Indeed, that scene where she tells Willow and Giles that "Angel was cured" is probably in my all-time Top 5 (Ooh, hang on, there's an idea.......)

I also seem to remember talking about The Body in my original post as well. I, like so many others no doubt, always find placing The Body in favourite lists a tricky task. When you're compiling a list of favourites, you tend to pick those that are 'of enjoyment', but it's difficult to watch The Body and really enjoy it. Sure, you can appreciate the outstanding acting and moments of gut-wrenching beauty, but I don't really think you get a sense of enjoyment whilst watching it. I really hope you get to see it in the near future......

Also, hurrah to both you and your brother for placing The Puppet Show so highly. After Prophecy Girl, this is my second-favourite Season 1 episode, and I think it manages to be one of the funniest while also being one of the creepiest. I'm a big fan of how well this is directed - in particular the scenes with Snyder. I just love the way it's suggested that he could be the villain, what with it being his first episode and all. A hugely underrated episode, and probably qualifies as being a good taster for anyone who hasn't seen the show before. Despite there not being any vampires in it. Ahem........

I might well modify my own Top 50 at some point, because I now place The Prom at No.3. I'm also not sure that I'd place OMWF so highly now. I do think it's a work of genius, but I do tend to enjoy rewatching the more conventional episodes than the gimmicky ones, if you know what I mean? If the list was a Top 50 'Best Of', however, I think I'd still place it in the Top 10.

Anyway, I hope this post doesn't get hidden this time, and it would nice to hear from you at some point. I hope everybody else manages to pass over to H2G2 smoothly, and look forward to reigniting the Buffy chat.

Staker Boi.

Hey, wow, it looks like I am now able to post! Hurrah!

Thanks for your commetns - they were very interesting. As to Lover's Walk, and my attitude to Spike, essentially it is a case of me not engaging with the character in s.7 alone.

I enjoyed him immensely as a straight-forward (well, as straight-forward as it gets on BtVS) bad guy, obviously loved his only s.3 appearance. I think s.4 Spike is probably my favourite - who knew he'd make such a great almost pure comedy character, not to mention him being a wonderful catalyst for the interaction between the Scoobies. And indeed, I actually found the direction the character went in s.5 and s.6 really intersting and well-handled. So, as I say, it is only really s.7 Spike I'm not such a big fan of.

And Lover's Walk is almost perfect - I say almost because the mislead about Cordelia dying - a little tacky, but still, an otherwise perfect episode.

And yes, The Puppet Show is great. I really like a lot of s.1 episodes as straightforward, fun, 'popcorn' for want of a better word, episodes - The Witch, The Pack are two that immediately spring to mind. And Nightmares and Angel are both great, slightly more complex episodes. And all this is, of course, without the outstanding Prophecy Girl.

Hi again Bud. I'm going to respond to both your posts here as I'm not sure it'll let me do so on my own thread......

First off, I think it's interesting that quite a few Buffy fans aren't that fond of Season 7 Spike. This is usually down to reasons such as The First's interference with his character, thus not seeing any consistence for the first half-season, or specific examples such as his arrogance in LMPTM and his treatment of Wood. Ironically, I think James Marsters gives his best performances in this season, particuarly in the Beneath You episode, and I cannot understand why on earth he wasn't nominated for an Emmy. Actually, I can - it's due to starring in a show called Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but you can bet your bottom dollar/last pound/final rupee that all the other nominees weren't nearly as productive. Sorry, I'm going off on a ranting tangent at the moment........where were we? Oh yes, Spike. I can honestly say that the character has never bored me personally, and that whether it was a chip implant, soul implant or personality implant he's always been interesting to watch. You're right in that Season 4 Spike was just pure comedy, and was utilised well without ever coming close to being a proper ally of The Scoobies.

Anyway, as for my ratings of Becoming, I really do prefer Part I to Part II. I absolutely love seeing the Angel backstory, and the way it's interwoven with the current day is genius. The fact that it ends on a cliffhanger (and my favourite scene of all) probably helps tip the scales as opposed to the second part. Of course, in essence I'm really giving Part I 10/10, whereas Part II gets 9.9/10, but I still have a definite preference, nonetheless.

Just had another look at your Top 10, and was interested to note that Blood Ties was so high. Anything particularly stand out for you, or are you just a big Michelle Trachtenburg fan? Can you remember watching that episode for the first time, and seeing the "Is this blood" line? A case of, whoa, this girl can act!

Re. The Cordy 'dying' scene - Sorry, however lame the funeral gag was, I loved it! A couple of things that strike me about this episode is the scene between Willow and Spike. Firstly, Alyson Hannigan looks absolutely terrifed doesn't she? I only hope JM gave a big hug afterwards cos I've never seen her look that way in any other scene. Secondly, how long is that monologue from Spike? Alyson has to stay silent for ages, and I'm sure she even gets distracted by the camera guys at one point! Sorry, not nitpicking, just observing.

Leaving now......

Yeah, the interaction between Willow and Spike in Lover's Walk was spot on. In fact, Marster's ability in this episode to switch effortlessly between being terrifying and hilarious and with neither undermining the other, but, if anything, complementing each other amazes me. Gotta be honest, for me, if he ever deserved an Emmy, it was for this episode - he's never been better.

That said, I don't mind Beneath You so much - actually, you're spot on with me in highlighting LMPTM - a big part of my problem with Spike in s.7 is his actions in this episode. I won't go into it here in any more detail - I've done that before on the dear departed Talk Buffy.

And my admiration for Blood Ties is partly to do with MT's acting - it is spot on, especially, as you noted, on the 'Is this blood?' line. What I love about that line (and other parts of this episode) is that it seems almost Shakespearian to me, in the sense it is such a powerful line it verges on melodrama, and yet it never even threatens to be unconvincing, which is what so much of Shakespeare's best stuff is like for me.