Episodes
Saturday Oct 19, 2019
Episode 47 - Life Serial / All the Way (feat. Stephanie Graves)
Saturday Oct 19, 2019
Saturday Oct 19, 2019
“Mist...cemetery...Halloween. Should end well.”
Stephanie Graves is back with me to discuss two more episodes of the Happy Funtime Show, otherwise known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6. In episode 605, “Life Serial,” we get some genuine laughs as the show finds the humor in young adults struggling to find their way in the grown up world. There’s ANOTHER damn numbered shirt; Jonathan has a magic bone; and the second most important character in the entire series (after Spike) finally shows up: CLEM! And then, in 606, “All the Way,” Tara’s not much into timber; Giles cleans his glasses; and Dawn goes parking.
Next: it’s gonna be an all-singing, all-dancing podcast extravaganza as we finally get to the Big Show...episode 607, “Once More, With Feeling.” (Note: I will not actually be singing or dancing.)
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:21:20
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:04:06 - Main Topic
01:17:00 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Joss Whedon vs. the Horror Tradition: The Production of Genre in Buffy and Beyond, edited by K. K. Woofter and Lorna Jowett
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Around My Smile” by Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions, Bavarian Fruit Bread (2001)
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 Oct 12, 2019
Episode 46 - After Life / Flooded (feat. Faith Currant)
Saturday Oct 12, 2019
Saturday Oct 12, 2019
“Every night I save you.”
Clearly I’ve set my listener expectations in terms of my Season 6 feelings. So to keep myself honest, it seems I have decided to frontload those discussions of Depression: The Series with avowed superfans of said season. Following on the heels of last week’s talk with Season 6 expert Elizabeth Rambo, this week I’m joined by possibly the most passionate Sixer I’ve ever met, former Hollywood script doctor and Buffy scholar Faith Currant. After I get over the shock of her methods for introducing new fans to the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Faith and I go on to discuss Jungian psychology, the Buddhist idea of the bardo state, the disambiguation of “Normal Again,” and why, despite my troubled history with this era of the Slayer saga, “After Life” has always been and will always be one of my favorite episodes in the Whedonverse. (Hint: I like Spike. Surprise!)
Next: PhD student, author, and Mr. Pointy Award-winner Stephanie Graves returns to discuss episodes 605, “Life Serial,” and 606, “All the Way.”
THE CROSSOVER
Angel 305, “Fredless.” This episode ends with Buffy going to meet Angel. “Fredless” opens with Angel coming back from that meeting. At this point in production, direct crossovers, with actors appearing on both shows is forbidden by the competing networks.
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:38:45
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:10:42 - Main Topic
01:36:44 - Outro / Next
THE LINKS
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Hell” by Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot (1996)
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.
Tuesday Oct 01, 2019
Episode 45 - Bargaining, Part1 / Bargaining, Part 2 (feat. Elizabeth Rambo)
Tuesday Oct 01, 2019
Tuesday Oct 01, 2019
“Is this hell?”
We begin our 22 Stages of Season 6 Grief with the two-part season premiere “Bargaining.” Professor, author, and undeniable Season 6 expert Elizabeth Rambo makes her triumphant return to the Conversations graveyard to help us all get through these difficult times. We talk about the new Giles-less title credits, the amazing performance (again!) of Sarah Michelle Gellar, the clear difference in broadcast standards and practices between the WB and UPN, and how 9/11 may have played a role in the response some fans have had to this season.
Also, I wave the flag and light the fireworks to officially declare this and everything going forward Spike’s Time(™) at last!
Next: first time guest Faith Currant joins me to discuss episodes 603, “After Life” and 604, “Flooded.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:21:15
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:05:30 - Main Topic
01:18:10 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Television Finales: From Howdy Doody to Girls, edited by Douglas L. Howard and David Bianculli
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)
“Work Song” by Hozier, Hozier (2014)
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.