Nice to see this episode getting some love. It is, without a doubt, the comedic pinnacle of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (imo o'course).

Wyndam_ | November 23, 05:14 CET

Interesting that the blogger comments on folk seeing 'Pangs' as preachy because i've also read people opining that it's racist (so presumably not preachy enough ;). Personally i've always seen it more or less as the blogger seems to i.e. it raises the politically correct issue while at the same time (unusually for most TV shows) making an (at least) equally good case for the opposite perspective, all the while laying on the funny and the character interactions.

And anyway:

Spike: "A bear! You made a bear! ... Undo it! Undo it!"

In this way the merits of 'Pangs' are put beyond contestation ;).

Saje | November 23, 12:31 CET

The best of the BtS comedy-centric eps by a mile, Jane E's crowning funny. Also a comic timing masterpiece, by the entire cast.

Shey | November 23, 13:40 CET

An outstanding episode, and so creative and inventive in the ways the perspectives on Thanksgiving are explored. This blog offers a very good exploration of the character driven nature of the story, a Jane Espenson specialty. One of the points made about how the characters stay true to who they are without veering off in order to serve a writer's agenda is a great observation.

One of my favorite visuals from the episode is Spike tied to the chair throughout most of it, and his very entertaining, snarky, commentary at the ready. How many of us with not-so-jolly memories of quasi forced participation in family holiday gatherings can relate? Then during the pitched battle at the end when no one had the time to assist Spike, he was left in the middle of it all, still tied to the chair and helpless... and getting more and more arrows sticking out of him as the fight wore on!

All Buffy wanted was an old fashioned, idealized, Thanksgiving with her friends. Instead, she got all the historical baggage that goes with it invited to the party too. A very funny and brilliant episode!

11thHour | November 23, 15:07 CET

The author makes some great points but missed out on one: analyzing the "cavalry" scene. So important. So layered. So hilarious. Joss has said it's one of his favorite sight gags...

ManEnoughToAdmitIt | November 23, 22:25 CET

Enjoyed reading that, Pangs is one of my favorite episodes. And I'm with Saje - love Spike's "You made a bear! Undo it!" line.

Candace | November 24, 15:46 CET

"To commemorate a past event, you kill and eat an animal. It's a ritual sacrifice, with pie". Anya

One of my favorite lines from an ep *so* chock full of them.

Shey | November 24, 16:02 CET

I saw it first at the gym (with The Initiative, it was my first exposure to the series), and it's the episode that hooked me for Buffy. I almost fell off the treadmill with laughter. Love the episode. I play it every Thanksgiving.

palehorse | November 24, 17:32 CET

Well, to go along with the tradition of the ritual pie, since it's a "Thanksgiving Thread" here's the traditional yearly stock taking...

1. I'm thankful for my health. It seems like everyone around me is getting sick, having operations, and dying.

2. I'm thankful that that the dying aren't dead yet. Because no matter how much this part sucks, that part where they're just gone is infinitely worse.

3. I'm really thankful for all the fortunate underpinnings to my life that when added together mean... I can buy books! (And theoretically at least, whatever books I want.)

4. I'm thankful for my intelligently critical writers group whom I met through our love of Buffy. (Thanks, Joss!) Even though I've moved onto this weird thing called comics, they continue to support me and call me on my shit.

5. I'm thankful that I've finally found a model, a really great model who will sit for me! *dance of joy*

6. I'm thankful for Joss and all his creations. He and they have effected my life in such wonderfully concrete ways--not the least of which, is spawning my favorite site for procrastination. ;) 'Tis my favorite because it is filled with fellow fans (almost 10,000 of us!) who are witty, playful, observant, passionate, über intelligent, and (generally speaking) politely contentious.

BreathesStory | November 24, 18:30 CET

I'm thankful I noticed this topic before it fell off the page and will make sure to get my DVDs out tonight so I can watch Pangs tomorrow.

Mood lifter!

Tonya J | November 24, 18:48 CET

PANGS!!!!!!!!! It is one of my all time favorite Buffy episodes.

YouDriveLikeASpaz | November 24, 19:10 CET