PhD student, Slayage contributor, and shadowy, mysterious Spuffy fanfic author Jessica Hautsch makes her Conversations with Dead People debut! Together we find the titular troublemakers in 407, “The Initiative” to be non-mixy things, possibly even a little bit world-breaky? In 408, “Pangs,” as is usually the case with Thanksgiving gatherings there are things we really love and things we really don’t. And finally, Spike pops the question to Buffy and is welcomed into the family with open arms in 409, “Something Blue.”

What is up with the creepy TA/student power dynamics? Did the show just blatantly foreshadow an important character development in Angel Season Five? And what is even holding Sunnydale up at this point?

Enjoy your ritual sacrifice with pie, everybody!

Next: my good, loud, punk rock friend Kenn Edwards unplugs and joins me to discuss episode 410, “Hush.” The entire conversation will take place via dry erase boards, which ought to make for a pretty interesting podcast.

THE CROSSOVER

Angel 107, “The Bachelor Party” and 108, “I Will Remember You”

THE BREAKDOWN

Intro / Guest (00:00:00 - 00:00:08:38)

Main Topic (00:08:38 - 01:49:30)

Outro / Next (01:49:30 - 01:54:40)

THE LIBRARY

Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow

THE MUSIC

“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)

“Something Blue” by Elvis Presley, Pot Luck with Elvis (1962)

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.

http://www.whedonstudies.tv/

Melanie Scala is back and we’re gettin’ all Clan of the Cave Beer in the cemetery this week. It’s a big overture, little show in 404, “Fear, Itself.” Nothing can defeat the penis in 405, “Beer Bad.” And 406, “Wild at Heart” should be considered an emotional hate crime. Somehow neither one of us were drunk during this recording.

Also, hashtag Beeranderthals!

Next: I’m joined by Slayage contributor and Spuffy fanfic author Jessica Hautsch to discuss 407, “The Initiative,” 408, “Pangs,” and 409, “Something Blue.” Things are about to get weird.

THE BREAKDOWN

Intro / Guest (00:00:00 - 00:07:50)

Main Topic (00:07:50 - 01:49:15)

Outro / Next (01:49:15 - 01:55:45)

THE LIBRARY

Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow

THE MUSIC

“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)

“Hooray for Beer” by Bowling For Soup, Sorry for Partyin’ (2009)

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.

http://www.whedonstudies.tv/

PhD student, author, and Mr. Pointy Award winner Stephanie Graves makes her debut on the podcast with a discussion of Buffy’s transition from the innocent days of high school to the bleak promise years of college. In 401, “The Freshman,” Willow opens herself to the thrusting, spurty knowledge of UC Sunnydale while Buffy makes what will prove to be one of the darkest, most brutal quips of foreshadowing possibly in the history of the series. 402, “Living Conditions” gives us...not a whole lot, actually. And in 402, “The Harsh Light of Day,” Giles has a TV! He’s shallow like us!

Also, Blondie Bear is back and can’t wait to see if he freckles; Xander isn’t awful; Riley isn’t awful either; but Parker is manipulative and shallow...and why doesn’t he want me?

Next: Melanie Scala is back for a three-peat appearance in the coveted guest host slot, this time discussing 404, “Fear, Itself,” 405, “Beer Bad,” and 406, “Wild at Heart.”

THE CROSSOVER

Angel 101, "City of..." and 103, "In the Dark"

THE BREAKDOWN

Intro / Guest (00:00:00 - 00:08:05)

Main Topic (00:08:05 - 01:41:42)

Outro / Next (01:41:42 - 01:45:07)

THE LIBRARY

Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow

THE MUSIC

“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)

“Believe” by Cher, Believe (1998)

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.

http://www.whedonstudies.tv/

The lovely and delightful Vickie Navarra joins me to discuss the rhetorical proficiency of evil, that dream sequence, and all the various graduations and ascensions that take place in the final episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s third season. Buffy is done with the Watchers Council; Oz panics with Willow; Anya feels barfy with Xander; Angel and Cordelia graduate to their own series; and the Mutant Enemy wears a mortarboard.

Also sex scenes, amirite?

Next: I’m joined by...a guest...to discuss episodes 401, “The Freshman,” 402, “Living Conditions,” and 403, “The Harsh Light of Day.”

THE BREAKDOWN

Intro / Guest (00:00:00 - 00:09:00)

Main Topic (00:09:00 - 01:39:59)

Outro / Next (01:39:59 - 01:46:10)

THE LIBRARY

Reading Joss Whedon (Television and Popular Culture), edited by Rhonda V. Wilcox, Tanya R. Cochran, Cynthea Masson, and David Lavery

At Home in the Whedonverse: Essays on Domestic Place, Space and Life, edited by Juliette C. Kitchens

Geek Rock: An Exploration of Music and Subculture, edited by Alex DiBlasi and Victoria Willis

THE MUSIC

“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)

“Graduation Day” by Chris Isaak, Forever Blue (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.

http://www.whedonstudies.tv/