Conversations With Dead People

[henzINNIT]

... is a really over-rated episode.

It has some nice bits, the Buffy scenes in particular; but it's so foofing confused. The Dawn scenes? WTF?

That should set the opinion wheels in motion.
Your thoughts?

[matthewblake]

This episode would have been so much better if they were able to get Amber Benson back to play Tara/First Evil to mess with Willow, as originally planned.

I think it's a good episode, a nice change of pace during season 7.

I thought it was weird that Xander was not in the episode.

[commandercool]

Are you kidding? Terrific episode, and the Buffy scenes are the best part. One of the better episodes of season 7, I thought.

Also, the ONLY episode Xander was not in.

[roguewarrior]

I love this episode. it's really funny when the vamp was giving Buffy advice, and acting like a physiologist.

[Lukee]

Loved this episode.
Was well strange not having Xander in it but dunno what they would have done with him if they did. No one he loved really died did they?

The Buffy part was really good, i enjoyed the talked they had was funny.

I loved the Dawn part it was well played and written. If i was her i would have mega been crapping my self.

I was kinda glad Tara didn't appear to Willow, it made it more sad knowing that Tara couldn't see her.

'Mothers milk is red today' loving it XD

[henzINNIT]

commandercool said:

Are you kidding? Terrific episode, and the Buffy scenes are the best part. One of the better episodes of season 7, I thought.

Also, the ONLY episode Xander was not in.

Nah totally serious hehe. I still like it. It used to be my fav but some aspects of it get to me now. You're right the Buffy bits are the best part; it nicely establishes where Buffy is going this season.

All the other parts are nicely executed, but the Dawn scene is filler, especially after you know where the season goes. The Joyce revelation never really plays out and it's just confusing. Why is Joyce all glowy if it's still only the first? It's nice and dark though, to it's credit. I can't help but think however that the good bits would have been just as effective with Anya in Dawn's place; with Halfrek haunting her like the writers were thinking about. The actress was unavailable though.

The Willow scene is nice n' mean but again when I watch it I'm questioning why Cassie is doing the talking. If Amber Benson refused, they should have gone for Jenny Calender or hell even Joyce. Evil Joyce would have been fun.

The lack of Xander was never a big deal to me. It would have been cool to see what they would have done with Jesse which was another early idea.

[commandercool]

I actually really liked the Dawn scenes, at least at the beginning. I think it really says something about her character that the best thing she can think of to do when she's home by herself is to listen to mariachi music and blow up marshmallows in the microwave. It's so lame it's cute. Then it got weird. The part with Joyce was really odd, maybe a bit too much.

By the way, monster standing over her on the couch is actually the skin-eating demon from the second episode of the season spraypainted black. I thought that was cool.

[Lukee]

commandercool said:

I actually really liked the Dawn scenes, at least at the beginning. I think it really says something about her character that the best thing she can think of to do when she's home by herself is to listen to mariachi music and blow up marshmallows in the microwave. It's so lame it's cute. Then it got weird. The part with Joyce was really odd, maybe a bit too much.

By the way, monster standing over her on the couch is actually the skin-eating demon from the second episode of the season spraypainted black. I thought that was cool.

I think the beginning of the Dawn thing just made her look normal which is what she wants. I really liked it XD
I really liked the Joyce part i think the first was trying to make Dawn doubt Buffy and she did. They all did. They all turned there backs on her. Kicking her out of the house taking her leader ship from her. Just what the first wanted.

Omg never knew that it was the Gnarl(sp?) demon sprayed black. Recycling the possibilities are endless...

[Rowan Hawthorn]

henz said:

The Willow scene is nice n' mean but again when I watch it I'm questioning why Cassie is doing the talking. If Amber Benson refused, they should have gone for Jenny Calender or hell even Joyce. Evil Joyce would have been fun.

IIRC, they couldn't get Robia LaMorte, either. Apparently, she signed on to do Jenny/The First in "Amends" before she really caught on to what The First was; after that, she wanted no part of playing an entity of pure Evil.

As far as using Cassie, not sure why they picked her, either, but, IMO, she did very well, and I think it worked even better having someone other than Tara appear to Willow. Willow's guilt and insecurity were always the weak points in her armor; thinking that her own actions were preventing her from being able to see Tara again had to be killing her.

[sagewoman]

I agree - Cassie made it even more eerie.

[commandercool]

Has anyone read the original script for the scene with Amber Benson? It would have been creepy as hell, especially the shot at the very end where the First teleports away, but I think it would have been too much.

[nikkifae]

I really enjoyed the episode, again going with the majority here and say buffys parts were the funniest... but dawns part with her mother was kinna confusing since it still feels like some of what was predicted may not have come to full fruition(sp). Plus i hate it when she starts doing the high pitched scream/whine *shudders*

[alycat7]

the episoed was one of best in season 7. everything was perfect, especially andrew and jonathon scenes.

[lee]

I just watched this one the other day. I enjoyed it when I saw it orginally, but now that I know how the season turned out it does seem like the Dawn parts were filler. I have to agree with that statement. Buffy's scenes were clever and ineteresting. Classic BtVS dialogue that I love - and it reveals things about changes that Buffy is going through. She always manages to confess things to strangers in some way or another. She never talks to her friends or anyone close to her. Hmm... Anyway, good ep, but not one of my faves.

[commandercool]

I think she stopped talking to her friends because EVERY time she talked to someone, they went boom. Actually, that kind of explains why she and Spike hooked up, now that i think about it. If you know your boyfriend will inevitably leave you and/or die, get a boyfriend you hate. Buffy's brilliant.

[lee]

That's true. Or maybe she just learned that a boyfriend you can hate - or one that you keep at a complete distance - can't leave you and can't hurt you - because you won't give him your heart. I don't think she ever loved Spike but I think she cared for him even when he was evil and chipped. She just never wanted to let herself get close to him. Plus she couldn't let him down like she could her friends. He wanted her no matter how she came to him. There is something to be said for that sort of unconditional affection that I would even take from a soul-less vampire. LOL