Getting others hooked

[fear the frogs]

Sooo I want to show Buffy to some of my friends. But everyone is REALLY resistant sine it's well... Buffy. They they're the kind of people who wont watch it purely by name. Is there any episode I should start them on? I know there's the first season, but honestly, the first season alone didn't get me interested in Buffy.

[CowboyGuy]

Just dare them to watch. Challenge them to watch a few episodes, and still say they don't like it. That's what I have done, and I have never failed!! Start with Welcome to the Hellmouth, maybe skip to Angel, then The Harvest and Prophesy Girl.

[Skytteflickan88]

Tell them how ignorant thay are.

Ask them "If a girl named Buffy became your collegue at work, would you immediatly disrespect her because of her name?"

Or, be sneaky. Start a conversation, talking about prejudice. Talk about the hatred towards people that are different, the former belief that the earth was flat, tell a story about something that happened in your, or your friends's lives, about how they were first very unwilling to do something, tried it, and loved it.

Then mention Buffy, and that it's bad to diss something you know nothing about.

[Whedon Fan]

Yeah take out the episodes that you thought were good in Buffy season 1 and show them those BUT if you think they mightbe distracted somehow by the lack of special effects then start with a later episode. Soemthing not to spoliery , probably from season 3. Like the one with Lord Balthazar, that has gooten a few hooked.

OR

If these are male friends they might take to "Angel" easier than Buffy. So try them out with S1. Whatever you chosse just make sure it has a a bit of action in it so they don't get bored and don't even want to finish the episode. Hope this helps.

[Wyndam]

I've said this a lot here, but go with Earshot if you don't want to show them an episode from Season 1. It combines everything that makes a great Buffy episode: Joss Whedon, comedy, action, drama, and romance. I know a few members here got introduced to the series with "Earshot" as well.

[Jsebold87]

I agree with trying Earshot. I'm attempting to get my mom to watch an episode, and that's the episode I was going to go with. I already had her watch some season 1 of Angel, which she liked, but she hasn't been watching anymore as of late because she's been hooked on Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer, and Ghost Hunters. I'll get her to pick it up again eventually

The first episode I ever saw was "Bad Eggs", which wasn't really enough to get me hooked, sure I watched an episode every now and then (when it was in the rerun format), but when I turned on the tv one day and "Bargaining" was on, that got me entirely hooked.

[Magician Named Gosh]

Earshot is definitely a good one.
City Of or Sense & Sensitivity are pretty good Angel episodes to show.
You could always make them watch Firefly and then be like "Well the guy who did THAT amazingness also did this...."
That one worked for me.

[Tyler Austin "tiewashere"]

Earshot is the one I always show people.

[Angelsgirl]

With my boyfriend I just skipped Season 1 all together and started with When She Was Bad...now what red-blooded (straight) man doesn't love Buffy and Xander's sexy dance?!?!!?

Anywho, I think you need to think about your friends likes and dislikes...there is an episode for everyone's tastes in Buffy so you just need to find the one that best suits him.

[amuk]

Earshot's not a bad choice but, like most of the better episodes of the series, can't be fully appreciated without a solid knowledge of what went before (several of the jokes depend on it, to be sure).

Hence, I think the best one to start with is the pilot. Get whoever you're trying to get hooked to commit to watching Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvest. All the elements that make Buffy the thing we love so much are there, the seeds for everything that comes after are planted there, and, of course, they're going to have to watch them eventually - if they have the predisposition to like Buffy, they'll like the pilot. Plus, as is often the case with pilots, they're good but not great episodes. The best is always yet to come.

It's worked for me in every case I've tried but one. And that one has kept watching (with growing interest), he just wasn't immediately hooked.

[darkdahlia]

Ive been trying to get my friend to enjoy just ONE full episode but she always makes some bull excuse to get up or leave the room. its really annoying since I watched twilight for her, watch I heart effing huckabees for her etc etc. I tried the first ep and she said she was tired and I was like "ok maybe season 1 is difficult cause its dated." then the other night I tried Lovers Walk and again "im going to bed".

I think season 4 will be better since we arent in high school. Fear, Itself is a good one I think. It kind of tells what each character is going through from season 4 and beyond. Buffy being drawn to death and the underworld, Xander being ignored and taken for granted, Willows significant others leaving her and her control issues with magic, Giles being left alone only to come and save the day.


I've got the box set now....so my friends are just going to have to lay down and TAKE IT!

[Rebecca]

I got my bf to watch all up to "Sleeper" in S7, and he STILL messes around on the computer while watching

Sigh, he's more of an Angel guy I guess.