ThrowbackThursday - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 607

Written and directed by Joss Whedon


As it is 20 years since Buffy The Vampire Slayer appeared on our screens what better series to do for Throwback Thursday. In a time were Musicals are again appearing to be popular in television series. I looked to one of my favourite musical episodes. Buffy did it in style producing a theatrical type feel rather than an episode just singing along to any old tune. It had original songs and some crazy slaying dance moves.
Not many shows since have given us such an entertaining and rewarding Musical. Joss himself has admitted he followed in the footsteps of the season 3 Xena Musical episode, which like Buffy episode had the cast express their issues through song. So, let’s take another look at this song and dance number, Once more with feeling.

While Buffy certainly wasn’t the first television series to break out into song and it certainly wasn’t unexpected given the mystical world in revolved in. Some demon or spell was bound to have the Scooby gang breaking out into a melody. In fact, a musical episode was mentioned more than once, so I was told by a cast member not too long ago. It seems it was all about timing so in Season 6 when Buffy is still at a loss after the Scooby Gang resurrected her. Buffy tells her feelings through a song when someone unexpectedly summons a rather pesky Demon. Well, we are lead to believe its Dawn as she helped herself to a pendant at the magic shop.
Sweet, yes that is the demons’ name, has the ability is to force people to sing about their secrets. You can see the problems this can cause; the Scooby’s have been hiding things and the consequences of them being revealed will be echoed on throughout the rest of the season.

I do think the first few lines of Buffy’s song at the start set the tone, Buffy is ‘Going Through the Motions’. In fact, all the songs are about what they are all feeling.

Buffy
Every single night
The same arrangement
I go out and fight the fight
Still, I always feel the strange estrangement
Nothing here is real
Nothing here is right

I've been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping no one knows
That I've been going through the motions
Walking through the part
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart

It’s no surprise when all the Scooby’s gather at the magic shop they reveal to each other that last night they all burst into song and begin to do so again as they are talking about it.

‘I’ve Got a Theory’ is the next tune but the stand out for me in this part is Anya’s solo rocking out about bunnies.
The question asked is the rest of Sunnydale affected. Opening the door, A man is singing ‘They got the Mustard out’ with a chorus behind him. Yes, it’s everywhere.
Willow and Tara have their own musical number when they make an excuse to be together, Tara is unaware about the spell Willow placed on her. It’s fitting the song they sing ‘Under Your Spell’.
So, this singing is harmless right, no like all strange things in Sunnydale they usually are sinister. This is no exception, you dance until you spontaneously combust.

The next number ‘I’ll Never Tell' has Anya and Xander expressing their fears about their upcoming marriage. This showing the discord was there long before Xander bails on his wedding day later in the season.

Buffy tells the gang she is going to talk to sources at the demon bar, she isn’t however but goes to talk with Spike who just wants her to leave him alone, ‘Rest In Peace’ is all he wants to sing about.

Tara gets enlightened by Dawn that things were not all rosy between her and Willow of late. Leaving Dawn to go check something. Once again Dawn gets abducted.

We finally meet the demon in his own song and dance number ‘That’s What It’s All About’, he believes Dawn summoned him so she will be his queen. Dawn tells him her sister is the slayer.

Buffy is training with Giles who hopes their session doesn’t turn into an 80’s movie training montage. Too late, as it is Giles turn to pour his heart out in song, ‘Standing In The Way’.

Giles
I wish I could say the right words to lead you through this land
Wish I could play the father and take you by the hand
Wish I could stay
But now I understand
I'm standing in the way


When Tara realises what spell, Willow has cast she join’s Giles in song. These two were my favourite performers in the musical. ‘Wish I could stay’ as they both choose to leave.

The lord of the dance, Sweet wants Buffy before midnight or he will take Dawn to the underworld as his bride, Buffy once again must go save her sister. Giles tells them they need to let her go alone and when Spike offers to come, Buffy, shoots him down.

Buffy must walk through the fire and soon they all decide to go. This scene reminded me of west side story when all involved sing and converge on the epic battle. They all must ‘Walk Through the fire’.

Buffy sings to save her sister ‘Life’s A Show’. The first verse perfectly sums up the whole episode.


Buffy
Life's a show
And we all play our parts
And when the music starts
We open up our hearts


The last chorus is the big secret Buffy has been keeping
There was no pain
No fear, no doubt
Till they pulled me out
Of Heaven
So that's my refrain
I live in Hell
'Cuz I've been expelled
From Heaven
I think I was
In Heaven

It is Spike who stops Buffy dancing into flames singing to her to live. Dawn even offers time old advice which even today is so true.
The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.

In a twist, even though Dawn had the necklace it was Xander thinking it would be fun that summoned the demon. Sweet passes though as he really doesn’t want Xander as his queen!

As the words of Sweet’s last song say

What a lot of fun
You guys have been real swell
And there's not a one who can say
This ended well
All those secrets
You've been concealing
Say you're happy now,
Once more with feeling
Now I gotta run
See you all in hell!

As the gang sing out ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ This episode certainly didn’t give them a lot to sing about. Every relationship is strained but of course, the curtain should close with a kiss and Buffy searching out Spike obliges after all he did save her.

If you speak to fans most will put the musical amongst the top Buffy episodes.From start to finish, despite the upbeat nature of some of the tunes, the undertone was very dark. Secrets were revealed that shocked the core of the group and things would never be the same again.

So was it one of your favourite episodes?
What was your favourite song?

Please post in comments below