Question of the moment, inspired by the Fuffy quote I just got and the wine I've been drinking:

Why do I find SMG as Faith in Buffy's body SO much more compelling and believable than SMG as, say, Catherine in Cruel Intentions? They seem like pretty similar roles in a lot of ways, but I find one believable and one just... not. I guess it could be the writing, but I tend to find SMG so mediocre so much of the time that I'm just not sure. I really wish I consistently found her to be an amazing actress, as her performances in episodes like, say, The Body and the ones where she is Fuffy, tend to verge on the absolutely brilliant. Sad that she's generally so... boring. See also: The Grudge, which I thought was great, but not in any way because of her, specifically.

Please not to flame me too hard if you disagree. I do understand that YActressAppreciationMV.

I was just listening to the audio of the Buffy OMWF promo (I have it in iTunes for sime reason). I remember noticing it at the time, and I noticed again-- did it seem like Spike's Rest in Peace was mixed very differently? The guitar seem much stronger and the whole peice seemed rougher and I liked it a lot better. But maybe I am craxy.

Also, WRT to SMG, I personally like her best when she is doing sort of wacky romantic comedy Buffy-- like Something Blue and Intervention. I think she has a hell of a range to play that AND Fuffy AND the Body and Season one Buffy and Season 6 buffy.

Okay then, let's all throw down.

Top 10 SMG Performances in the Buffyverse

Becoming Part Two (absolutely credible as the kind of girl who could save herself)
The Wish (scarred up altnera-Buffy)
Once More With Feeling (I really respect that she worked so hard on the singing)
Restless (particularly her fast talk flapper)
I Only Have Eyes For You (the scene in the hallway with Angel, natch)
Prophecy Girl (she can break your heart)
I Will Remember You (...and she can still break your heart)
Who Are You (as Fuffy, though Eliza as Baith might've been better)
Intervention (Buffybot comedy)
Conversations With Dead People

I think the first 15 minutes of "The Body" needs to be in that list.

I'd suggest the last ep (putting over the "cookie dough" metaphor, plus that last shot) and, much as I hate the ep, the sex-with-Spike scene in "Doublemeat Palace."

How could you forget The Body, plus I have always loved the last scene with her and Angel in The Yoko Factor. Such chemistry.

My read has always been that, if she doesn't find what she's being asked to do especially interesting, she doesn't try very hard, thus the uneven-ness. This is also why I have less loyalty to her than to a lot of other actors.

Just rewatched "Smile Time" off my DVD, then, since it was on there, rewatched "Hole in the World." My god, watching Fred die was even more heart wrenching.

My slashy soul adores that, not long after telling Spike he has to get out of LA, Angel's depending on him as the go-to guy for tough, physical jobs. And I know the word is over used, but Angel even called him a champion. "Hold my hand." "St. Petersburg!" "I didn't think you remembered."

Sigh.

Hec's list is basically mine, but I'd replace "I Will Remember You" with "The Body" and bump off "Conversations with Dead People" in favor of her work in "Forever" or "Nightmares."

I still think "Prophecy Girl" is the best acting she's ever done.