More BtVS season 1

[shapinglight]

Been trying to do some writing this morning. Have picked the easy option of editing the bits I've already written of a partially finished fic that I began way back in...2007, probably. Or maybe 2008. Anyway, if I do ever manage to finish it you'll all be the first to know.

I've also been surging ahead with my re-watch of BtVS from the beginning. Sorry, quinara. I couldn't wait, and Netflix just makes it too easy. If you're still going to do a re-watch, though, I will definitely join in.



Speaking of Netflix, does anyone know if it cuts things for violence/sexual content? I watched The Pack yesterday and have the distinct impression of Hyena!Xander's sexual assault on Buffy being a lot shorter than I remembered.

Anyway, I'm up to I Robot, You Jane now, and if anyone wants to know what I thought about the episodes, I haven't changed my mind much from when I last watched them. Reviews here.

What has changed is that -as mentioned in a previous post - my critical faculties seem to have deserted me recently, and when re-watching the episodes this time, my thoughts were pretty shallow.

For instance, I didn't find Teacher's Pet nearly as clunky this time around (except for the special effects, which are so awful as to be...well, kind of endearing). I also didn't catch DB out in any particularly awful acting (though I know I did last time). Instead, I found myself thinking, boy, he looks amazing! and searching LJ for BtVS season 1 (when DB was at his best) Angel icons.

I also really noticed the chemistry between SMG and DB - (not surprising, I suppose, if they were really having an affair (though not to their credit either, since DB was still married to his first wife at the time)), which makes it only too obvious why Greenwalt/the exec producers/ everyone involved/possibly even Joss by this stage wanted Angel to stick around.

One thing I don't seem to have mentioned last time, though, really struck me this time. In the episode Angel, how the hell does Angel justify to himself staying in Buffy's bedroom not only all night but all the next day too? Okay, I get he couldn't leave during the day, but come on. He had no business going in there in the first place.

Yeah, needs of the plot, I suppose.

Also, re: that episode, was struck again by how the Master's grief for Darla is absolutely genuine, and thought it quite sweet that the Annoying Anointed One tries to cheer him up (by telling him Darla isn't worth bothering about), then leads him off screen, as if he were the adult and the Master the child.

Aww, bless.

Or not.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Ah, interesting thoughts! I've never hated IRYJ as much as most people do -- yes, it's terribly dated now, but I still don't think it's an awful episode.

I had never heard that rumor about SMG/DB. It would make sense. They were both awfully pretty :)

[shapinglight]

I had never heard that rumor about SMG/DB. It would make sense. They were both awfully pretty :)

I think it was known in the fandom at the time - but of course, only rumours.

When I re-watched season 1 in 2008 I also quite enjoyed IRYJ. The computer stuff is dated of course, but there's plenty of good things in it. I think I decided that Teacher's Pet was the weakest episode of the season - along with the two part opener, which I didn't like much at all.

This time, though, I'm just uncritically enjoying all of them. ;)Pretty Giles, pretty Angel, pretty little Buffy, etc.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

If your Netflix is like our Netflix, then yes... the episodes will likely be edited. I gave up on watching the show that way and dug out my DVDs instead.

[shapinglight]

Damn, I didn't realise.

:(((

So much for not having to dig my DVDs out of storage.

[quinara]

God, at this rate I'm going to be wishing I'd kept my videos of everything off the telly! I've never been quite sure if the DVDs are entirely as they should have been (not that I've compared them to my VHS... Yes, at one point I did have three versions of the show in my possession; still have the VHS at home!).

Anyway, you are storming away!!! Clearly I will have to get my skates on with this rewatch (though no one should hold their breath).

[shapinglight]

God, at this rate I'm going to be wishing I'd kept my videos of everything off the telly! I've never been quite sure if the DVDs are entirely as they should have been.

Well, if you have the same versions as me, the Region 2 discs of the later seasons are certainly not as they're meant to be. For one thing, they were shot for 4:3, yet the Region 2 discs show from season 4 onwards in letterbox.

Anyway, you are storming away!!!

I am, but that was because of the Netflix effect. Now, I don't feel so much like watching that way.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

They look better, though. For some of the gaffes (like the animal trainer visible in Intervention), it's worth it for the added atmosphere, IMO.

[shapinglight]

I didn't notice the animal trainer. Have to say, the letterbox format always looked fine to me.

If I manage to get as far as Intervention without RL interfering (which it usually seems to), I'll keep an eye out.

Er...what animals are there in that episode?

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

In the desert, the guide is a puma. You can see it in a wide shot.

I don't care what Joss says, it looks better 16:9.

[shapinglight]

I'd forgotten about the puma.

Will keep an eye out when I watch this time.

And I thought it looked better too.

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

A proper rewatch should never be done via netflix as they do edit out a lot of crucial little bits. For instance in S6 in Older and Far Away, the cute little naughty dialogue between Tara and Spike is left out. Knowing how a lot of first time watchers only know the netflix editions is killing me!

(That being said, I often rewatch episodes via netflix because it's so darn easy).

[shapinglight]

I had no idea. Really annoyed now. :(

I suppose it won't really affect the early seasons so much, but yeah, I was sure I remembered that assault scene being longer. Long enough for it to look quite serious.

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Netflix often uses edited episode versions, that are cut from 43-42 minutes to 40. It's not intentional censorship, though. Editing was made long ago by TV channels to fit episode into channel's schedule (and accumulate more commercials), and Netflix simply doesn't bother to check the version. They occasionally restore uncut originals, if they gather enough complaints.

[shapinglight]

It's not intentional censorship, though.

Ah. Are you sure? I'm certain this is the only time I've noticed stuff missing, and it seems odd that it should be in a scene featuring sexual assault. Haven't noticed any obvious cuts in other episodes.

I suppose the version Netflix acquired could possibly have been cut for sexual content. I know Sky in the UK cut episodes for that reason, so that people who saw the broadcast version of the attempted rape in season 6, for instance, weren't really sure what all the fuss was about.

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't be sure about anything, obviously. But "netflix censorship" issue pops up on video/fandom forums quite often, and there seems to be no particular agenda from netflix side.
I agree that editing AR looks suspicious, but usually cut scenes are quite innocent.
Btw, if you want to make sure it was edited, here is 3 min fragment from "The Pack" (it's from Pivot broadcast, but aspect ratio and coloring aside it matches DVD version).

[shapinglight]

Okay, thanks.

I've watched it, and if that really is the same as on the DVD, and the next we see of Buffy is her bringing Xander's unconscious body into the library, then there wasn't anything missing after all.

Now I'm really puzzled. What am I thinking of? Are the Region 2 discs different?

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

For instance, I didn't find Teacher's Pet nearly as clunky this time around (except for the special effects, which are so awful as to be...well, kind of endearing).

I've found that season 2's bad episodes are still just bad to watch lol (Bad Eggs, Reptile Boy etc, well I'm sure you know the ones!), but that season 1 MOTW episodes are actually a lot more endearing on rewatch. Well depending on how nostalgic you are, I would imagine that they would still be pretty clunky for first-time watchers! But the character moments save all of the S1 episodes for me, it's just so cute watching the early Scooby interaction

[shapinglight]

Yeah, must admit I'm not looking forward to quite a few of the MotW season 2 episodes. Bad Eggs is the worst episode of the show ever, IMO, and I strongly dislike Ted. Inca Mummy Girl and the others are just a bit dull.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as others have already said Netflix censors, but I hope for your sake it's not as crudely done and extensively as that of the Sy Fy channel. :(

[shapinglight]

Well, apart from this one scene I haven't noticed anything at all so far.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Clearly this rewatch needs organising.

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm willing to do a rewatch if others tackle along. When, where, how?

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I offer fantas_magoria for a rewatch! The episode tags are already in place, and anybody can post.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

If this means I don't have to wrangle everyone, I'd be happy with that.

I was thinking of setting say 5 eps to watch for the week and then we all discuss on the Monday or something?

[shapinglight]

Yes, that sounds great. Count me in.

When are we starting?

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Isn't that up to rebcake now?

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily. How would you like to be a mod, darling? All the existing mods have given the project their approval.

As I say, the comm is open for posting — at least to members, I'll have to double-check — so you could start this off at any time you like.

Note: I would suggest a poll before beginning, just to see what sorts of frequency appeal to people. 4 a week? 5 a week? 1 a day?

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Me and my big mouth strike again!

Okay, then, but how does this affect your current purpose at the comm?

We have to leave room for people to have lives, not all of us can mainline a loads of eps at once, but we would also need to keep the pace up.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Oh, pshaw! Our "purpose", originally, was to do an episode-by-episode rewatch with prompts and whatnot, but we did that. Seriously. The whole thing: Angel AND Buffy. It's been over a year since we limped to the finish line. The comm is just waiting for a reboot.

Here's a link to the last time we asked what people wanted to do next:

http://fantas-magoria.livejournal.com/391159.html

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

So you didn't actually restart then?

I think I would want to do this quicker than one a week.

[shapinglight]

Agreed. I did a very detailed rewatch and review of season 1 a few years back. It took me about eighteen months. I'd rather watch more episodes and say less about each, if you see what I mean.

Overall impressions rather than detailed breakdown.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, I don't want to be enslaved to it.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Nope, we never did go back to the beginning, but that's what people seemed most interested in.

I definitely think the timing should be adjusted. And whoever has the most enthusiasm — that's you guys, I think — should do what suits them. Although tickys can help with the shape of things.

[shapinglight]

It could end up with people just randomly posting that they'd re-watched up to a certain episode and this is what they thought.

Have to admit, I didn't really have more than that in mind. ;)

[shapinglight]

I can help mod, if you like.

Umm...you don't think anyone will come along and shout, do you? I probably wouldn't be very good at handling that.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

That's not up to me.

Maybe, but if modding is done correctly, then they should be dealt with.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

You're on! And I don't think we had any shouting before, so I am optimistic it will continue along that way.

Of course, the discussion of specific eps was sort of hit-or-miss. I sometimes posted polls to get discussion going, and that was fun. There are a variety of opinions of various points, but people seemed to be respectful even if they disagreed.

[shapinglight]

I can imagine that discussion of some episodes (Some Assembly Required, for instance, which I've just suffered through for the first time in many years) could be quite brief. ;)

[gillo]

Excellent idea!

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I would love that, actually.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

and when re-watching the episodes this time, my thoughts were pretty shallow

you've sunk to my level.

[shapinglight]

Ah, I'm sure you have loads of great thoughts about the show. :)

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

SMG and DB had an affair? Does everybody know this? Why didn't I know it?

[shapinglight]

There were rumours, which must admit I thought everybody knew about. ;)

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

^^^Ditto.