Retro Review- Buffy, season 6, episode 7 'Once More, With Feeling'
October 31st 2008 04:33
Retro Review- Buffy season 6, episode 7 'Once More, With Feeling'
Thank God for DVD. One can delve into programmes they haven't explored in several years. Or get into ones they never caught in their first run(I still need to get the Firefly DVD box).
Season 6 of Buffy is the textbook definition of polarisation. There is simply no middle ground. Fans either loved it for its noticeably darker edge, and greater instrospective character focus (I'm in this camp, by the way). Or they loathed it for its lack of humour, and the depression of all the characters.
But even the naysayers can agree that the musical episode Once More, With Feeling was a marvellous hour of television. Whenever series creator Joss Whedon does an episode based upon a gimmick (like the dialogue free 'Hush'; the dream episode 'Restless', or the music free 'The Body') the gimmick doesn't define the episode. Rather, the plot serves the characters, not vice versa.
The songs in OMWF are all wonderful, and they actually advance the characters and the story. That's one of the many things I loved about this (much-missed) show. Even standalone eps like OMWF have subtle links to the ongoing seasonal arc. All of the songs reflect the inner turmoil of the character's psyches (Buffy's ennui with life; Xander's fear and insecurity about his upcoming nuptials; Giles' need to leave Sunnydale and let his Slayer fight her own battles; Tara's love for Willow). The latter is tragic, considering what happens in the very next episode 'Tabula Rasa', and in the succeeding episodes of Season 6.
The cast are surprisingly quite good singers. Everyone gets their little moment to shine (even Alyson Hannigan, who by her own admission cannot sing, but gets the hillarious line 'I think this line's mostly filler!'). Sarah Michelle Gellar carries much of the singing weight of the episode, with several numbers to her credit (Going Through The Motions, I've Got A Theory, Walk Through The Fire, and Something to Sing About). James Marsters gets a nice little slice of rock-balladry, whilst Anthony Head gets to show off his singing talents with the lovely 'Standing'. Amber Benson is very impressive, too. Michelle Trachtenberg doesn't get to sing much, but gets a nice ballet number (I had a bit of a crush on her when the episode originally aired in '02. Oh, shut up! She's only three years younger than me!)
Wonderful stuff, and one of the highlights of an already bloody brilliant show. OMWF has everything. Drama, humour, romance, action. During the more emotional moments, such as the finale in Sweet's lair, with Buffy's admission to her friends that she was yanked out of heaven, I found myself weeping. And I'm a guy! That's the effect this show had (and still has) on me.
Joss, you're one of the good ones, mate.
Thank God for DVD. One can delve into programmes they haven't explored in several years. Or get into ones they never caught in their first run(I still need to get the Firefly DVD box).
Season 6 of Buffy is the textbook definition of polarisation. There is simply no middle ground. Fans either loved it for its noticeably darker edge, and greater instrospective character focus (I'm in this camp, by the way). Or they loathed it for its lack of humour, and the depression of all the characters.
But even the naysayers can agree that the musical episode Once More, With Feeling was a marvellous hour of television. Whenever series creator Joss Whedon does an episode based upon a gimmick (like the dialogue free 'Hush'; the dream episode 'Restless', or the music free 'The Body') the gimmick doesn't define the episode. Rather, the plot serves the characters, not vice versa.
The songs in OMWF are all wonderful, and they actually advance the characters and the story. That's one of the many things I loved about this (much-missed) show. Even standalone eps like OMWF have subtle links to the ongoing seasonal arc. All of the songs reflect the inner turmoil of the character's psyches (Buffy's ennui with life; Xander's fear and insecurity about his upcoming nuptials; Giles' need to leave Sunnydale and let his Slayer fight her own battles; Tara's love for Willow). The latter is tragic, considering what happens in the very next episode 'Tabula Rasa', and in the succeeding episodes of Season 6.
The cast are surprisingly quite good singers. Everyone gets their little moment to shine (even Alyson Hannigan, who by her own admission cannot sing, but gets the hillarious line 'I think this line's mostly filler!'). Sarah Michelle Gellar carries much of the singing weight of the episode, with several numbers to her credit (Going Through The Motions, I've Got A Theory, Walk Through The Fire, and Something to Sing About). James Marsters gets a nice little slice of rock-balladry, whilst Anthony Head gets to show off his singing talents with the lovely 'Standing'. Amber Benson is very impressive, too. Michelle Trachtenberg doesn't get to sing much, but gets a nice ballet number (I had a bit of a crush on her when the episode originally aired in '02. Oh, shut up! She's only three years younger than me!)
Wonderful stuff, and one of the highlights of an already bloody brilliant show. OMWF has everything. Drama, humour, romance, action. During the more emotional moments, such as the finale in Sweet's lair, with Buffy's admission to her friends that she was yanked out of heaven, I found myself weeping. And I'm a guy! That's the effect this show had (and still has) on me.
Joss, you're one of the good ones, mate.
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