The paranoia level would have been wonderful, if the Scoobies had to keep poking Buffy to see if she was the First or not. Everytime she walked into the room, people would sidle up and nudge her or something. Or she could start knocking on tables first thing, just to prove it.

I wanted that to happen, anyway. I would have loved for everyone to need to touch at the start of each scene. I think it would have done wonders for the group dynamics.

I would have loved for everyone to need to touch at the start of each scene. I think it would have done wonders for the group dynamics.

Yeah, I think I was even more surprised that this didn't happen as soon as they realized that the First was impersonating people. Just start touching each other at regular intervals.

That's one of the things the TWoP recappers were yelling about week after week, and, as bitter as they were, they were right. I mean, even after they tackled Giles to prove he wasn't The First, they never implemented a system. Did they realize it could be Buffy? I mean, when did they discover the fact that it could only take the form of someone dead?

Hell, even so, they should still be testing everyone the first new time they see them, because for all they know, they could have been killed recently.

Seeing the high post numbers on this thread is also sad, because it's the last Buffy thread, isn't it?

No reason we wouldn't start a new one. There's always been strong sentiment to keep a Buffy thread open. We're not called the Lostistas, after all.

We're not called the Lostistas, after all.

Yet.

No reason we wouldn't start a new one. There's always been strong sentiment to keep a Buffy thread open. We're not called the Lostistas, after all.

There will always be Buffy and Angel threads on this board. It IS our raison d'etre after all.

Besides, I just finished rewatching Buffy Season Five, and man did I enjoy it. A lot of my issues really floated away, and watched in rapid succession, it hung together well.

Besides, I just finished rewatching Buffy Season Five, and man did I enjoy it. A lot of my issues really floated away, and watche din rapid succession, it hung together well.

I like S5 for the most part, but as I rewatched it, I realized how much I'd forgotten about it, even though it was only a few years ago. The episode titles didn't ring any bells, and it was so hard to remember when Glory appeared and when she started doing things. In contrast to the earlier seasons, which, on the rewatch, I realized I remembered a ton from, even from only ever seeing them once, longer before.

Yeah, I had that happen to. Which, on a certain level, was nice. It meant a lot of it was a surprise.

I'd totally forgotten how much "business" Buffy had in her scene in "The Body," when she was alone with Joyce's corpse. Especially between when the paramedics left and Giles appeared. Gah. Heartbreaking.

Besides, I just finished rewatching Buffy Season Five, and man did I enjoy it. A lot of my issues really floated away, and watched in rapid succession, it hung together well.

If you get a chance, victor, I'd love to hear how you thought it played out better. I always suspected it might if watched in rapid succession - I thank half the mid-season slump/pacing issues were as much as a result of waiting between episodes (especially when there were hiatuses) as anything in the episodes themselves.

I'm also curious if you found Spiral redeemed on re-watch.