Despite the fantastic nature of the subject, which might turn off many people, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was great television. The characters were complex, the stories were well written, and there was some great dialog. The musical episode, “Once More with Feeling,” was one of the best episodes of the series. Some critics and fans complained that season six was too dark and depressing. Considering the events of season five, I think season six was exactly what it needed to be. The premise behind “Once More with Feeling” is that a charm has turned the town of Sunnydale into one big musical act. Everyone’s true feelings are revealed in song, but there can be deadly consequences to these musical sequences. What I love about this episode is how creative it is. Joss Whedon wrote the music and all the actors did their own singing. And the songs aren’t just placed in the show randomly; they advance the storyline and give us insight into the characters. It is one of the best musical episodes I have seen on television. There are certain songs in the episode that I’m drawn to because of the melody and lyrics, one of which I’m including below. There’s something about a song with minor notes that makes me sit up and pay attention. I think those songs tend to convey more complex emotions and appeal to a darker side of my psyche than songs done in major keys. If you have never seen the show, consider at least watching this episode (if you have Netflix, it’s available for streaming).
And I promise to do a post on something other than a musical next time:)