For just one episode, C in V, I pretty much gotta go with Hush. It's got everything: it's smart - think of the opening sequence with Maggie Walsh talking about communication, - it's sexy, it's damn funny, it's bloody scary, it's incredibly creative storytelling, and, although knowing the backstory of each character obviously adds tons of layers, you can follow the story without any familiarity with BtVS whatsoever. I've found it to be tremendously successful in seducing, erm, converting new viewers.

SoddingNancyTribe | January 26, 20:46 CET

If you feel like helping us out a little, use the link to this article in our shop.

Caroline | January 26, 20:53 CET

I'd go with Hush as well. I converted an extremely reluctant and defensive thought-she'd-hate-Buffy person with it. Actually, after Hush melted the ice caps, I was given leave to follow up with one more episode. I went with OMWF and the rest is history. Said person is now a confirmed addict. (And this from a person who called me a "scary cultist" before her own conversion.)

phlebotinin | January 26, 20:57 CET

One follow-up: with Hush/OMWF, you've got an extremely smart two-part meditation on the nature of human communication and its failures. Perhaps if you explain this to your smarty-pants victim, C in V, you may be given leave to show two episodes.

[ edited by phlebotinin on 2005-01-26 19:00 ]

phlebotinin | January 26, 20:59 CET

Hush. So say we all. When I was introduced to Buffy during an F/X marathon, it was the episode that finally convinced me. I think it was due mostly to the scene with Giles and the overhead projector. Even my brother-in-law who freely admits to being a "cynical pr*ck" appreciates that episode. I think Something Blue also might work because it's not so important to know how the characters are connected since they aren't themselves. "Huh? I thought Buffy hated that blonde guy..."

bloodflowers | January 26, 21:58 CET

This thread is so amazing. When Sandy and I decided to show our 20-something daughter a taste of Buffy on her recent visit to Colorado, we chose Hush and OMWF. Now she sees why we obsess over Buffy (and Angel).

dcubed | January 26, 22:22 CET

Must agree, 'Hush' is the best stand alone episode for a newbie. The Gentlemen still creep me out. Joss' nightmares really hit an accord here.

Chris in Virginia, you're correct in posting this great price deal again. People, if you can afford to do so, please buy a DVD set and donated it towards your local library. Trust me, they will not set on the shelf long.

Madhatter | January 26, 22:29 CET

I have to go with Hush also. So many people have told me that that was the episode that got them hooked on the show. It's a great stand-alone, and it's good to bring a skeptic viewer in on one of the best Buffy episodes ever made.

I dont think OMWF is a good starter episode. Unless the person is a fan of musicals. I think you need to understand the characters to really get that ep, but that's just my opinion. Does anyone disagree?

But yeah, Hush, definitely. If someone is that skeptical, you gotta bring in the big guns. Someday I plan on making a last ditch effort to recruit my friend, who thinks Buffy is kind of silly (although she does admit that she probably doesn't get it because she never watched it from the beginning), using Hush. Although, I might also use OMWF on her, since she is already familiar with some of the characters (her girlfriend is a fan).

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-26 21:30 ]

electricspacegirl | January 26, 23:13 CET

Anyone got any suggestions for Angel and Firefly? I'm trying to make my friend a Whedonite. She already loves Buffy, but never got into the other two.

BlindHawkeyes | January 26, 23:20 CET

Phleb: Although I agree completely with your Hush/OMWF pairing, and I believe Joss has spoken several times of how the episodes are spiritually linked, I personally have resisted showing Once More With Feeling to newbies.

For me OMWF is a beautiful shiny treasure that is most rewarding and most wonderful to those who are already intimately familiar with our characters; not to say it would be absolutely wasted on novices - there's so much to admire, - but it should be a reward for those who have invested some time and thought in the show. Otherwise, I fear it would be too easy for someone to dismiss it as "fun" and "clever," without really getting what lurks beneath. Yes, I am somewhat compulsive, and I am seeing someone about it . . . ;)

and electricspacegirl seems to share my opinion, I'm happy to say.

(added) BlindHawkeyes: As far as Firefly goes, I've only ever recommended starting at the beginning, with Serenity. Just because it's such a beautifully-paced and luscious introduction to the characters and exposition of the world. The opening battle scenes are a bit off-putting to some, but give it 20 minutes, and most have been reeled in, flopping and gasping like [insert fish of choice here].

The other early episodes aren't quite as sharply written, IMO, and the later ones, such as Ariel, Out of Gas, The Message, Objects in Space, deserve a little introduction, just as OMWF does in BtVS. That's my take on it, anyway.

And I'm totally enjoying the fact that electricspacegirl and I are continuing to agree in leapfrogging posts . . . :)

SoddingNancyTribe | January 26, 23:24 CET

With Firefly, start with the 2-hour pilot. I can't imagine a better episode to introduce the characters and set up the story arc.

With Angel, either City of or To Shanshu in L.A.

SNT, thank you, but you said it much better than I. I agree, OMWF would be easily dismissable as cute but silly to the untrained eye.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-26 21:29 ]

electricspacegirl | January 26, 23:28 CET

Now I know what to get a friend of mine for his birthday! Moahahaha... :)

Djungelurban | January 26, 23:29 CET

I have to agree that Hush is a good introductory episode, even if we did have to explain who everyone was.
And I will echo Madhatter's suggestion that you buy a DVD and donate it to your local library. We have hundreds of holds on our copies! (Thanks Madhatter!)

Lioness | January 26, 23:29 CET

Thanks SNT and electricspacegirl, I would have to agree wholeheartedly with both suggesstions.

BlindHawkeyes | January 26, 23:39 CET

I just decided to order this now. I usually don't have the cash when these sales pop up, so I want to jump on this while I do. I want to give it to a friend as a gift for her birthday in May (if i can wait that long). She's my newest recruit into the fandom.

This one surprised me. She doesn't watch any TV (except Six Feet Under) and she never has the patience for TV watching (except Six Feet Under). But I gave her my spiel ("Joss created Buffy as a feminist statement, he wanted the blond girl in the alley to fight back, Buffy's iconic, it's an epic story about female empowerment, etc.") and that's what really interested her. I loaned her season 1 and sent her on her merry way. 2 seasons later, now she compares Buffy to her love for the Harry Potter books, which she can't put down until she's finished with them.

And now it's so much fun to watch Buffy with her and talk about it. She's my best recruit, hands down. I'm quite proud.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-26 22:07 ]

electricspacegirl | January 26, 23:53 CET

Fair enough, SNT and ESG. OMWF does have the "it's a musical" problem (a problem if people aren't into musicals, plus there's the "it's a musical it must be silly" issue) and it does indeed deserve to be earned by those who've stuck with the characters so far. That said, OMWF is what really did it for my convert. Sometimes you have to pull out more than one big gun. She loved Hush but it was after OMWF that she committed to watching BtVS in its entirety. She was blown away that the same show could put forth a chiller like Hush and a musical like OMWF while dealing so deftly with the same underlying issue of human communication.

I think it depends on the person, really. But after reading your posts, I'd agree that for many (if not most) OMWF perhaps may not be the way to go. And SNT, I like your emphasis on earning that episode. The same goes for The Body, in my opinion. And The Gift.

I agree wholeheartedly as well with the Angel/Firefly suggestions you both gave.

phlebotinin | January 27, 00:02 CET

My first season of Buffy began in Season 6 -- I had heard all the hype and marketing when it moved from WB, so I started watching, although not truly whole-heartedly. A friend of mine had also been telling me about Angel, so I watched that from the beginning as well (Season 3?). I missed a few of Season 6's Buffys before OMWF. Before that year, I had watched the season premiere of Season 5, I believe -- Buffy vs. Dracula, and thought I thought it was pretty good, I didn't really watch any more of it.

This was also the time (2001) when Buffy began on FX. I can say that for me, getting hooked on Buffy started with OMWF. I taped it and ended up watching it a few times in only a week or so and my wife thought that I was obsessed with SMG or something. I wasn't -- she doesn't really do anything for me, but I just loved the show. After that, I read every episode guide from Ep 1 on to get myself up to date, mostly at Buffguide.com, and also taped and watched all the episodes on FX.

After a full year of growing with the show, and searching more and more for information and a place to read about and talk about the Whedonverse I landed here in September of 2002 (thankful to be away from the bile at TwOP), and fell for the format and people here as well.

Long story short, I would have to say that OMWF is a pretty f-ing good jumping off point, although when my wife watched it she wasn't hooked. Of course, she did eventually magically and surprisingly become an Angel fan down the stretch (surprise, turns out she's a Spike fan), which I found out when suddenly she bit my head off for erasing an ep only I had watched off the DVR.

"You erased it? I hadn't seen it yet!"
(thinking) When the hell did you become a fan?
"My bad, I'll save all of 'em next time."
And the rest is history.

brother_grady | January 27, 00:06 CET

Sounds like Hush is the consensus...I'm not totally sure...will have to think about it...did buy 2 more copies of Season One (using this site's Shop function--thanks, Caroline, and sorry!)...tried to buy 3, but it appears that there is a 2 set limit.

Chris in Virginia | January 27, 00:58 CET

Although it was Pangs (on FX) that hooked me, imagine how delighted I was to see Hush the next day. I thought I had found a true treasure on TV -- and, of course, I had! So, I would concur with others with Hush as an intro to the series.

Regarding Firefly -- I sent my brother the series DVDs for Christmas. He had never heard of the series, and called me wondering why I would send it to him. I explained that I thought we had similar tastes and that he might enjoy it. He gave it a try -- started from the beginning -- and watched the entire set in a two-day period. He loved it. Another convert. And he immediately turned around and shared his set with friends. More converts. And, of course, more tickets for Serenity. So I would have to agree that people new to the series should start at the beginning.

palehorse | January 27, 00:59 CET

Yup. Hush.

Pretty much the perfect stand-alone episode, and I often refer to it as the "perfect" Buffy episode. It's got all the hallmarks of the series. Humor, horror, character development (in the space of that hour, the roots of the Tara/Willow relationship are actually set, not to mention the Anya/Xander stuff, Buffy/Riley, etc), thematic resonance, the genre shifts, really, it's got it all.

And, ditto to the Angel/Firefly suggestions...

k8cre8 | January 27, 01:03 CET

Okay, have to agree with Hush right off the bat but for an earlier way to get 'em hooked I'd try Surprise & Innocence and then top it off with Passion (unless the other two already hooked them). Passion all by itself would probably be enough to hook someone but it's more of a shocker to have realized that Angelus was once good. And totally agree with the Serenity pilot for Firefly. Fox should've tried that!!

Love, love, love the musical but as SNT said, that's too good a treat to show so early. It is much more fun to watch that if you know the backstory of the characters and what's going on in Buffy's life.

Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 01:41 CET

Agreed SNT and FFlan, especially since Buffy DIES and then reveals she was in heaven. HUGE plot thingy. I can't tell you the number of times I've been tempted to show my neighbor the musical. She's dying to see it too, especially since there's this big OMWF poster staring her in the face whenever we get together to watch.

But that one thing always brought me up short. Nope! Got to finish season 5! You just cannot see OMWF without seeing The Gift first.

She's almost there... can't wait!

Willowy | January 27, 02:01 CET

I sort of agree with you, Blwessels (yes, you'll always be Blwessels to me), but I think that Surprise and innocence is still too continuity heavy. I think you need to have been with the characters a bit longer before that plot twist has the emotional resonance for the viewer. Am I wrong?

Well, it sure doesn't hurt to try it. I just think that when first viewing the Buffy/Angel tragic lovestory, you need to get in earlier, for it to have the necessary impact. This is coming from someone who watched season 3 before seasons 1 and 2, and boy, I'm still kicking myself for that. I did, however already know the basic plot twists, as a late bloomer coming in to the show during season 7. But my journey through Buffy seasons 1-6 was retroactively spoiled, and I'll always wish I had been one of those people who got in on it in the very beginning.

electricspacegirl | January 27, 02:08 CET

Good points ESG - it would be even more of a shock knowing the characters and it would be better to wait.

For a funny episode to hook them, I always loved "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". One of my all time favorite humorous (and Xander) episodes. And I'm still "Blwessels" cause it is my name!

Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 02:20 CET

Willowy - I started my friend at S1, and we're now in S7, but I dealt with some whining about "cheating" to see the musical too. Nope. Forget it. Some of the build up of S5 to The Gift, and the emotional impact of her sacrifice would have been diminished by seeing OMWF out of sequence. So she waited, and ultimately said she was glad she did.

If I were picking two episodes, Hush is definitely one of them, but I might just start first with Welcome to the Hellmouth. You get that first introduction, and then moving directly to Hush gives you a glimpse of how the show evolves and grows. Some people have said to me that they are a bit put off by the thought of the first two seasons because of the age of the characters. So, you start with that, contrast it with Hush, and that may well show the person the reward for watching these characters grow.

I've thought about Something Blue before as a starter episode, but decided against it, because I just don't think a new viewer would get the all the funny out of Buffy/Spike, and the reaction of the others, without seeing at least some of the progression to that point.

Angela | January 27, 02:24 CET

I would have to say to start them from the very beginning. That's how I was hooked and how I hooked all of my friends. She said Buffy was a stupid show. I tried to stop myself from slapping her silly so I just casually slipped in Welcome to the Hellmouth. By the end, she was screaming "Next Episode, Next Episode!" We are currently on Season seven episode "Sleeper" and on Angel were on "Habeas Corpses"

BufSlyAngel | January 27, 02:40 CET

BufSlyAngel, she has consented to one hour, and one hour only. I have 18 minutes to brief her on characters, etc..I'm torn between "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "Hush".

Chris in Virginia | January 27, 02:51 CET

So let me ask what may be a stupid question - I'm tired today. The 18 minutes is part of the hour she has consented to? Your character brief is on place of what would be commercials?

If yes, you could skip a character brief, watch all of WttH, and then start Hush. Pause it at that hour mark and say, "Hour's up!". (Or don't and see if she notices.)

Angela | January 27, 02:57 CET

I have to go against everything you guys are saying, I think that Hush is a good episode, and that it is one of the best, but I think even for a newbie, one of the best has to be Checkpoint in Season 5. It gives a good overall dynamic to the Watcher's Council, the power that Buffy has, one of the best bad guys, and the relationships of the characters as they pertain to Buffy's life.

tnewebmaster | January 27, 05:09 CET

The ending of "Welcome to the Hellmouth" is a to be continued. If she gets hooked, she'll want to know what happened. Then also you don't have to worry about the character brief because the episode would explain all that stuff. If she's not getting hooked, bring in "The Harvest". Basically do what Angela says, only with "The Harvest".

BufSlyAngel | January 27, 05:11 CET

Ooh, good point BufSlyAngel. Make her watch a cliffhanger episode. Yes! That'll suck her in.

Hey, I think Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest is a great introduction to the series. I love those episodes so much. I think the dialogue is really great and the energy is good. However, I will also say that a newbie may be put off by the bad special effects. The first season was a bit hokey with the SFX. I'd take that into consideration.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 04:44 ]

electricspacegirl | January 27, 06:43 CET

Hush followed by OMWF is what hooked me, and although I didn't get a lot of it, I could still understand the emotions behind it.

However, when recruiting new fans, I like to put Welcome To The Hellmouth on, because it has all the exposition you need, the newbie doesn't feel out of the loop, and has usually watched a couple of episodes in the past and liked them, but now they might understand them even more.
I got my friend hooked on it on Monday, and we're now halfway through season 2. And she doesn't like anything! I honestly didn't expect her to like it, and just sort of put it on in the background, and mentioned "I'm just putting the first episode on in case your interested". It didn't take long. So maybe just tell them that it really gets much better after season 1 and they'll stay tuned.

Maybe if you find out the reason why the person your trying to introduce it to is not interested, you can judge by that. Do they feel like they don't understand anything? Put Welcome To The Hellmouth on. Do they think it's stupid? Put on Hush or The Body. I think if you can uncover the reason they don't want to see it, you can find something that will prove them wrong.

buffbuff | January 27, 07:09 CET

Can I suggest something that hasn't been suggested yet? On another site, there was a general consensus that "Lie to Me" -- early season 2 -- was a good choice. The plus points: it's pretty early, w/o the pesky problems of OMWF (which needs to be seen with foreknowledge of the previous events, I agree), it's not arc-heavy ("Innocence" and "Passion" are great eps too, but half the impact is the build-up of the B/A relationship), it requires no great knowledge of the characters (like Angel obviously likes Buffy, Willow and Xander and her friends), it shows Buffy in her role of Slayer front and center (showing how it's about sacrifice and duty) and it has Spike when he was dangerous and cool, Dru when she was kooky and a slightly broody Angel -- all things a new fan must be intrigued by -- rather than Riley. Plus it's a Joss-written episode with a beautifully emotional final scene with Buffy and Giles walking in the cemetary, and she asks him to "lie to me" -- then calls him a liar as the screen blanks out. It's the perfect Joss thing, of emotion plus humor.

dottikin | January 27, 07:37 CET

Oh, excellent suggestion, dottikin. And I agree. Lie to Me is an episode that made my newest Buffy convert call me up on the phone, all excited to talk about it. Other episodes that made her do that were Surprise & Innocence ("Buffy sucked Angel's soul out...through his penis!!!"), Passion, and Becoming, which was where she demanded that I immediately loan her season 3. Then she came to my house late at night jonesing for her Buffy fix. I felt like her drug dealer. Haha.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 06:44 ]

electricspacegirl | January 27, 08:40 CET

("Buffy sucked Angel's soul out...through his penis!!!")

Hmm, I guess I missed that scene. I guess the FCC missed it too! ;^)

[ edited by Firefly Flanatic on 2005-01-27 06:49 ]

Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 08:48 CET

Oh god, I wasn't even thinking she meant oral sex (i'm sometimes profoundly dense), but you know, since we didn't really see that scene...you never know...

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 07:40 ]

electricspacegirl | January 27, 09:38 CET

Can't let this thread go by without nominating The Prom for a first time ep.

There's so much Angel and Buffy, waking up (in Angel's bed), breaking up (in the sewers), and showing up (the prom, sporting a tux!). The accidental meet-up at the butcher shop couldn't be any cuter.

There's the Xander/Cordy stuff at April Fools, and the kind thing Xander does with the dress despite Cordy's venom. Rather than gloat, he understands her humiliation, and makes it better.

We get that great scene in Buffy's room with Willow, and when Buffy sobs into Willow's lap "Right now, I'm just trying to keep from dying..." , we feel her pain, and cry with her.

We get the focused, take charge Slayer, once she finds out what's going down. And the true essence of the girl, when she finally drags the last hellhound into the woods, pops open her valise, grabs her dress, and runs to fix her hair and join her friends. She's rewarded by the look of pride from Giles, the (highly unusual) recognition from all the Razorbacks in the form of her awesome Class Protector award (Jonathan!), and seeing her friends have a kick ass time.

There's my absolute favorite Giles line, and an incredibly bittersweet ending that speaks to the romantic in all of us. The use of Wild Horses by the Sundays is beautiful and appropriate.

I dare anyone with a beating heart to not come away from that episode touched, whether you know any backstory or not.

I'm going to go watch it now.

Willowy | January 27, 09:46 CET

I think it's way too spoilery to show Hush and/or OMWF as the first episode(s). I'd never consider anything later than mid-season 2. I myself have had great success with Angel (the episode from season 1, not the series) possibly followed by Prophecy Girl (if your convertee already knows Angel's 'secret', you may consider skipping right to Prophecy Girl). Both episodes are really terrific, they are scary, witty and dramatic. Plus Angel especially has an extremely short but inspired introduction to the main characters (at the pre-fumigation party at the Bronze), so your friend will jump right into the story. This has been a success in about nine out of ten times.

I think a lot of the romantic and tragic highs in season 2 (and 3) had been much less soul wrenching to watch had I known that Buffy'd have a spanking new boyfriends in season 4 (not that I disapprove of Riley - I just wouldn't want to have met him before saying goodbye to Angel).

sasja | January 27, 12:44 CET

Yeah, I think "Prophecy Girl" would work -- it's the highlight of the first season, and one that contains the message of the show right up and in front. Plus, while it's the resolution of the arc, it doesn't require a great deal of foreknowledge about that happened before. The Master needs to escape and Buffy is destined to die: that's all that a viewer needs to know and is contained in the ep.

And while I like "The Prom", 3/4 of the impact is based on all the stuff B/A had to go through to reach a mature resolution. Joyce's speech to Angel precipitating his decision doesn't make sense without explanation, and then you'd be spoiling them for one of the most important and wrenching things in all the Buffyverse, when Buff had to send Angel to hell. And that would be wrong, to paraphrase Faith-in-Buffy.

dottikin | January 27, 13:20 CET

'Prophecy Girl' would be good for a first view. But I can't recommend OMWF. One of the reasons it makes such a strong impact is the meaning behind the character's song. Buffy's disconnection from life. Anya's fear of bunnies. The double meaning of Tara's 'Under Your Spell'. Spike's pain of rejection. Willow's pain in Buffy's revelation. All of these points would be missed by a newbie.

Madhatter | January 27, 15:44 CET

OK - I haven't read all the posts above but wanted to quickly put my two cents in - Hush is a great introductory episode, but I also feel OMWF is appreciated much more once you are involved in the series. Since both Buffy & Angel refer to previous episodes it is hard to jump around and show someone one episode from season 4 and then one from 6 and expect that person to really appreciate the show when they have missed all the backstory in between those shows.

So if I started with "Hush" I would just continue with "Doomed". It picks up where "Hush" left off...exactly. It is a well written episode and it gives the newbie a chance to continue to learn about the characters hopefully peaking their interest to watch the season from the beginning.

Personally I really love season 4 - I find it it the season I go back to the most, I have heard all the arguments about season 4's arch not being very good but I love many of the episodes - Harsh Light of Day, Pangs, Something Blue, Hush, Doomed, A New Man, Faith cooming back, Superstar, Yoko Factor I loved the Initiative and the new relationships of Buffy/Riley and Willow/Tara. It's just a great season IMO

Passion | January 27, 16:07 CET

Welcome to the Hellmouth has to be the very first one....always start at the beginning. Although I started at series 4, then went backwards and forwards, you have to see Buffy at her young, nerdy best, in order to appreciate everything that follows. And it's such a witty episode; it'll pull the newbie right in. THEN follow up with Hush. Straight to the solar plexus.

Same follows with Firefly. I bought the DVD boxset for my Buffy-loving nephew for Christmas (as I don't have a DVD player myself, I thought it the perfect gift!) And there we were on Boxing night, watching episode after episode, each one followed by one of us saying "Another one?" "Go on then!". Only strained eyeballs and the demolition of the turkey sandwiches forced us to stop. Wonderful.

SweetMarilyn | January 27, 17:48 CET

dottikin, I disagree about Joyce's speech. I don't think its that spoilery, in fact if you had no idea who B and A were, it actually helps. There's cryptic mention of "what happened before...when I went bad...", but I don't remember much else being said about it. And I love when she says "You're all she sees of tomorrow..." because it acknowledges the intensity of their relationship. Also, yes, it would be nice to have backstory on these two beforehand, but like I said it isn't absolutely essential to enjoy the episode.

I've found, with few exceptions, if newbies (hate that word) don't understand something said (unless its a huge plot point, then I'm compelled to explain), they just gloss over it, then pick it up on repeated viewings.

OT: Love what Joyce is wearing in this episode. The first and only time. (Although that Juice Newton coat WAS kinda fly... ;))

Willowy | January 27, 18:22 CET

Hush tops out my list as well (and adds Tara to the mix, which can only be to the good). I would like to throw out for consideration Halloween and Dopplegangland as well, 'cause if Willow can't bring 'em in, no one can. Everyone loves Willow! :-)

Dana5140 | January 27, 19:48 CET

That Juice Newton coat was totally fly, Willowy. I certainly wouldn't have complained if Ripper had stolen it for me. Cuz also, mmmmm, Ripper...

It's true, newbies do gloss over things they don't understand. I certainly did. I watched random episodes from season 4 and 5 in syndication before I really started watching. If I was watching with someone (my brother) and had a question I'd just ask him, since he was more familiar with the show. I still fondly remember watching Hush for the first time with him, asking why The Gentlemen came to Sunnydale. "Because Sunnydale is on the Hellmouth." "What's a hell mouth?" Ah, those were the days...

electricspacegirl | January 27, 20:30 CET

Having read all the comments, I'd agree most with, well myself first, but also with buffbuff.

If Chris in Virginia's friend is already resistant in some way to watching BtVS, it would clearly be helpful to find out why, then tailor the hour to that concern. So, as buffbuff said, if they've tried and failed to get into it midway through, start at the beginning. That's the approach I usually favor, although I can't help but feel that if the person in question has seen bits of early BtVS and been scornful, that just wouldn't work. I love Season One, but I know people who tried it and didn't watch any more. Hush is the one for people who *think* they know what it's all about, but don't really. It'll knock their cotton-whites off, plus they really don't need any background, and it doesn't spoil anything - OK, you see Riley, but that doesn't hint at the Buffy/Angel past, and the meeting of Willow and Tara couldn't possibly mar the Willow-Xander-Buffy-Angel or Oz-Willow-Xander-Cordelia couplings of the first 2 seasons.

sasja: it sounds funny, but I actually consider Prophecy Girl and Angel to be more spoilery than Hush. I think that's because Hush is not a "revelation" episode (except perhaps in hinting at Willow's future with Tara) but a "character" episode. Certainly themes arise that will be developed later, but there's no great shock. If you show Angel first, you lose that oomph moment when he turns around in vamp-face and Buff screams, which, to me, sets up the whole Buffy-Angel relationship dynamic right there. (And, yeah, I suppose most people by now know that Angel is a vampire; even so, I just loaned Season One to friends, friends who watch a fair amount of TV, and that part took them utterly by surprise . . . ) Prophecy Girl is better, but even so, you've given up the Angel is a vampire shock, you've weakened Buffy's torment of "doing her duty as the slayer v. wanting to go to the dance and be a normal girl", and you've taken away the wonderful denouement of the entire season, in which the tone of the show very palpably shifts to a deeper and darker place.

Willowy: I personally adore The Prom, and I don't find it quite so spoilery. Still, I think I'd rank it with OMWF as a reward episode. Buffy has spent much of the first 3 seasons feeling as though she is carrying the world on her shoulders, that she is totally unappreciated, and she just wants to do normal things. See her outburst to Jonathan in Earshot, for example. In this episode, for just once, as Giles says, she finds a tiny moment of happiness. I think you gotta feel her pain first so that her pleasure acquires importance and meaning. And makes me all tingly. (Now, does that make me a sadist? Don't answer that . . .)

Sorry to go on - just really enjoying the discussion. :)

SoddingNancyTribe | January 27, 20:38 CET

Please go on, SoddingNancyTribe. You're making as much sense out of this as the rest of us. And I like your depth.

Also thought of 'Earshot'. Wonderful episode. So ironic it aired (or not) when it did. It held a positive message and I think it's a shame it didn't play in that time.

As for 'Angel', what about 'Waiting In The Wings'? There's a few moments such as the threesome love trilogy between Wes, Fred, and Gunn. But, there's some stand alone. OK, I'll hush now.

Madhatter | January 27, 21:29 CET