Episodes
Saturday Mar 31, 2018
Episode 4 - The Puppet Show / Nightmares (feat. Alexander Lester)
Saturday Mar 31, 2018
Saturday Mar 31, 2018
Alexander Lester, Graduate Student and Teaching Associate in the Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University, joins me this week for the penultimate conversation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season One. Together we discuss the Sid the Demon-Hunting Puppet series that could have (and maybe should have) spun out of 109, “The Puppet Show,” as well as just how perfectly sinister the introduction of Principal Snyder is. And 110, “Nightmares,” gives us some serious wiggins, but it’s not the killer clowns or forcible Chess Club recruitment practices that get to us — it’s the casual child abuse.
And what’s with all the Nazis in Season One?
Next: James South, editor of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale, joins me to take a look at episodes 111, “Out of Mind, Out of Sight” and the dramatic season finale, 112, “Prophecy Girl.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Intro / Guest (00:00 - 7:14)
Main Topic (7:14 - 1:14:25)
Outro / Next (1:14:25 - 1:17:40)
THE LIBRARY
Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” by Lily James, Cinderella (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2015)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
Saturday Mar 24, 2018
Episode 3 - The Pack / Angel / I Robot, You Jane (feat. Elizabeth Rambo)
Saturday Mar 24, 2018
Saturday Mar 24, 2018
She had so much fun talking with me last time, Elizabeth Rambo is back for more! This time around the Professor and I discuss the uncomfortable implications of Xander’s memory after 106, “The Pack,” Angel and Darla finally becoming themselves (perhaps a moment too late in Darla’s case) in 107, “Angel,” and how 108, “I Robot, You Jane” manages to overcome its terribly dated techno-props to be a much better episode than its reputation suggests.
Also, what exactly is the Sunnydale High School counseling protocol on cannibalism?
Next: Alexander Lester, Teaching Associate in the Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University visits the cemetery to talk about episodes 109, “The Puppet Show” and 110, “Nightmares.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Intro / Guest (00:00 - 4:08)
Main Topic (4:08 - 1:09:04)
Outro / Next (1:09:04 - 1:11:24)
THE LIBRARY
Buffy Goes Dark: Essays on the Final Two Seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Television, edited by Lynne Y. Edwards, Elizabeth Rambo, and James B. South
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“I’ll Remember You” by Sophie Zelmani, Sophie Zelmani (1995)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
Saturday Mar 17, 2018
Saturday Mar 17, 2018
Welcome back, everyone! This week, with the hard work of setting the stage and introducing the characters and concepts handled by last week’s premiere, we head into the more workmanlike episodes as they begin to lay out what Buffy the Vampire Slayer would look like on a weekly basis. I’m joined by professor and author Elizabeth Rambo to discuss 103, “The Witch,” where Willow may or may not dabble with her first cauldron, the slightly clumsy metaphors (and extremely clumsy papier-mâché) of 104, “Teacher’s Pet,” and whether Owen from 105, “Never Kill a Boy on the First Date” is actually just Riley v0.1.
Next: Elizabeth sticks around to continue the conversation as the first season truly finds its footing with 106, “The Pack,” 107, “Angel,” and 108, “I Robot, You Jane.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Intro / Guest (00:00 - 5:28)
Main Topic (5:28 - 1:09:04)
Outro / Next (1:09:04 - 1:13:08)
THE LIBRARY
Buffy Goes Dark: Essays on the Final Two Seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Television, edited by Lynne Y. Edwards, Elizabeth Rambo, and James B. South
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Let the Sun Fall Down” by Kim Richey, Kim Richey (1995)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
Saturday Mar 10, 2018
Episode 1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth / The Harvest (feat. Nikki Stafford)
Saturday Mar 10, 2018
Saturday Mar 10, 2018
Pull up a headstone and make yourself comfortable, because we have a lot to talk about over the next 100+ episodes! Joining me to get the conversation started is author, blogger, and fan-scholar (or is that scholar-fan) Nikki Stafford! Taking it from the top with Buffy the Vampire Slayer 101, “Welcome to the Hellmouth” and 102, “The Harvest” we discuss the show’s origins as a film, it’s unaired-but-very-available pilot, and trying to sell people on the goofy (but brilliant) series title. How well do these early episodes realize the potential of the characters and ideas that will be explored for years to come? Can we reconcile the Angel and Darla we meet in the beginning with the characters we know they will become? Is the supernatural biology of vampirism effectively established from the start? And what are Paul’s issues with Buffy Summers anyway? The long, long conversation begins right now.
Next: Elizabeth Rambo, Associate Professor of English at Campbell University and frequent contributor to Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies joins me to discuss episodes 103, “The Witch,” 104, “Teacher’s Pet,” and 105, “Never Kill a Boy on the First Date.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Intro / Guest (00:00 - 5:17)
Main Topic (5:17 - 1:08:55)
Outro / Next (1:08:55 - 1:15:02)
THE LIBRARY
Bite Me!: The Chosen Edition The Unofficial Guide to Buffy The Vampire Slayer ( Seven Seasons One Book), by Nikki Stafford
THE LINKS
Nikki Stafford’s Great Buffy Rewatch Archive
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Believe” by Sprung Monkey, Swirl (1995)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.