I was watching the season one DVDs for the first time late one night. I was debating about watching one more episode or going to bed. When I saw the subject matter for "The Puppet Show" I almost just went to bed. Ventriloquist's dummies give me the creeps. One of my earliest memories is of a Charlie McCarthy doll. Just sitting there. Staring at me...

I'm back.

For some reason I decided to go ahead and watch it. As it went along I expected a typical run of the mill story about a possessed dummy. I think I really started to appreciate Joss during this episode. The story never went where I expected it to. I loved that.

Plus it's just plain funny. Snyder's "I don't get it. Is it avant garde?" still cracks me up. Not to mention the scene as the credits roll.

I started watching Law and Order during its first season. Not the very beginning, but pretty close. I loved that it was like getting two shows in one. I loved that they didn't focus on the personal lives of the characters. You had to glean little bits of personal information over the years. It was well written, well acted and just plain held my interest.

I liked that the DAs didn't always win. I liked that varying points of views were heard. The cops weren't always the good guys and the system didn't always work. It was more realistic that most of what was, and still is, on TV.

I had a criminal justice class in college once that was taught by a former cop. He thought the investigation aspect of the show was pretty accurate for a TV show.

I never got into the spinoffs. They seemed the opposite of what I liked in the original. I gave them a shot, but they leaned more to melodrama than drama.

I'm not going to say I've loved every episode. I have drifted away from the show when I thought it was getting a little stale. I'd eventually catch up on the repeats on A&E (in the old days before TNT took them over.) I haven't been watching since Fred Dalton Thompson joined the cast. I used to like the guy as an actor. I honestly don't care about an actor's political affiliation. That's like voting for someone because you think they are cute. I don't care about their personal lives or religion either. That is, I don't care until that part of their lives is in the news 24/7. Then I get tired of looking at them.

I wanted to catch up on the show so I've been taping them. I just fast forward if Fred's in an extended scene.

I wasn't a fan of the Bratt years. As an actor I think he's a bit boring and it came through in his character.

I liked most of the old guard. I liked Chris Noth. I was sorry to see him leave. Jerry Orbach was great. Jessie Martin is one of my favorites. Jill Hennessey and Angie Harmon were the best of the ADAs, in my opinion. I guess it goes without saying that I liked Steven Hill over Fred Thompson.

I've always been a fan of Dennis Farina, but for some reason I didn't love his stint on Law & Order. Something didn't fit. I've never quite been able to put my finger on the problem. However, I caught an episode when Jessie Martin was replaced by Micahel Imperioli for a few episodes. Farina seemed to fit better in those episodes.

One of the great things about watching old episodes is seeing someone in a bit part who later went on to be famous. I won't even try to list them.

Seeing famous actors on the show is fun too. Unfortunately they always seem to end up as the bad guy. That sometimes ruins the surprise. I didn't love the series of episodes with Julia Roberts back in the Bratt days. That was just a train wreck.

If you watch the show long enough you'll also see actors get reused. It's a little confusing when a drug dealer from two years earlier shows up as a defense attorney.

For a show that's been on since 1990 it's held up remarkably well.

Hello. My name is Aunt Arlene and I liked "Beer Bad."

* crickets *

I'm sorry, but "Beer Bad" is just funny. It does seem like the humor in this episode is an aquired taste. Most of the people I know who find it funny are a bit older than the average viewer. Younger viewers seem to really hate this episode. I don't mean to generalize. It's just what I've noticed.

Let me just list some of the things I love in this episode.

The morning after Buffy's first night of badness she can't even manage to button her pajama top correctly.

When Buffy tells Willow she was out with four guys the night before Willow replies, "Oh. Ow."

Willow's little encounter with Parker. They had me fooled the first time I saw it. I thought she fell for his act. Instead she tells Parker, "Just how gullible do you think I am?"

Cave buffy getting a little revenge and hitting Parker over the head not once, but twice.

Xander telling Buffy, "I'm cutting you off" and her reply, "Did it hurt?"

It's just chock full of the funny.

I've never been a big fan of musicals. My mom always watched them, but I never liked when characters would start singing for no reason. I don't hate all musicals, but I could probably count them on one hand.

Let's see,

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Grease
Singin' in the Rain
Chicago

Yep. Even after that pesky shop class incident I can count them on one hand. I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple, but you get the idea. So when I started watching Buffy very late in the game I also started visiting message boards and forums. I kept hearing about "OMWF." Everyone kept raving how wonderful this musical Buffy episode was. I was more than a bit skeptical.

I had to wait a bit for the season 6 DVDs to come out. When I finally got to "OMWF" I was still skeptical. I watched it and it was better than I expected, but I still thought it was overhyped. I went on with the rest of my day and found myself thinking about parts of the episode more and more. I guess I liked it more than I thought. I just had to watch it again.

The music in this episode is just wonderful. It starts with Buffy in a graveyard singing "Going Through the Motions." She hasn't been entirely herself since she returned from the grave.

Buffy:

I’ve been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping no one knows
That I’ve been
Going through the motions
Walking through the part
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart

Back at the Magic Box Buffy discovers that the entire Scooby Gang had similar musical encounters that night. This discussion leads to a group number, "I've Got a Theory" where they try to decide what is happening.

Giles:

I've got a theory
That it's a demon
A dancing demon
No, something isn't right there

I love when Anya breaks in with "I’ve got a theory, it could be bunnies." You think that's where her part of the song ends. You hear crickets chirping as everyone just stares at Anya. Tara even starts to sing another line, but Anya breaks in with a heavy metalish verse.

Anya:

Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes
They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses
And what's with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies, bunnies
It must be bunnies!

Buffy has a theory that "it doesn't matter." Most of the gang quickly joins her in singing this part of the song, but Giles seems skeptical. He does get past his misgivings eventually and joins the song.

The song ends and Anya wonders if they are the only ones singing for no reason. Buffy opens the door to find David Fury singing, "They got, the mustard, ooouuuuuuttttt!!!!!!!" His backup dancers all hold a different colored dry cleaning garment. It's a very nice visual as they dance.

The amazing thing about the music is how many of the cast members have really good voices. When Amber Benson started singing "Under Your Spell" I was completely floored by her voice. It was amazing. I'll just skip the analysis of the lyrics of this song. The end gets a bit...blue.

Next Anya and Xander get a nice duet, "I'll Never Tell." We hear from both of them that they are very worried about their upcoming wedding.

Am I crazy?
Am I dreamin'?
Am I marrying
A demon?
We could
Really raise the beam
In makin' marriage a hell
So, thank god,
I'll never tell

They both end the song by falling into a chair and laughing. It always reminds me of Singin' in the Rain. After the song "Good Morning" Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds similarly fall while laughing.

Anya and Xander are next walking down a street complaining to Giles. They pass a woman (Marti Noxon) getting a parking ticket.

I've been having a bad, bad day
Come on won't you put that pad away
I'm asking you please no
It isn't right, it isn't fair
There was no parking anywere
I think that hydrant wasn't there
Why can't you let it go?
I think I've paid more than my share
I'm just a poor girl don't you care?

At this point the song trails off. You have to listen carefully to hear the next line, "Hey I'm not wearing underwear."

As they continue walking there are some great little dance numbers in the background.

Next we get to hear James Marsters sing. My favorite part of Spike's song, "Rest in Peace", is actually right as he starts singing. He gets this fleeting look of almost disgust as he realizes he's singing.

Tara next finds out that Willow really did put a spell on her. We think Dawn gets to sing next, but her abductors cut it short. Dawn does a little dance number and then we get to meet Sweet. (I know that's not officially his name, but most people refer to him that way. It's easier than the Dancing Singing Demon Guy.)

That red suit as he tap dances down the stairs is just great. His song is quite wonderful as well.

The next song is Giles'. Anthony Stewart Head also has a pretty good voice. In "Standing in the Way" Giles laments that Buffy won't stand on her own as long as he's around.

Giles:

The cries around you,
You don't hear at all
'Cause you know I’m here
To take that call
So you just lie there when
You should be standing tall

This leads into one of my favorite songs in the episode. Giles and Tara both sing together. Tara starts and Giles overlaps over the word "believe." It's hard to explain. You'll just have to give it a listen if you haven't already.

The gang finds out that Dawn is being held by Sweet. Giles makes Buffy go by herself in an attempt to wake her up. This leads to another great group song, "Walk Through the Fire." The best part is the fire engine that goes racing by as they sing the last line, "Let it burn." Spike also has a great verse.

Spike:

The torch I bear is scorching me
Buffy’s laughing, I've no doubt
I hope she fries,
I'm free if that bitca dies
I better help her out

Buffy makes it to the Bronze and confronts Sweet. She then starts her own song, "Life's a Show." I love how she takes off her black jacket to reveal a red shirt underneath. It's a nice contrast. I also love the beginning of this song. She sings the line "and you can sing along" as she looks right into the camera.

Then comes one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the show.

Buffy:

[i]There was no pain,
No fear, no doubt
Till they pulled me out
Of heaven.

It's Willow's reaction to this that's the heartbreaking part. The look on her face just kills me.

To explain everything in this episode would make this review twice as long as it is. To sum up the rest of the episode, there's a couple more nice little songs, Xander's a queen and then a little Spuffy action.

The End.

[Singing] Grr. Arg. [/singing]

I didn't start watching Buffy until its 7th season. Once I got hooked I started renting the DVDs from Netflix and then I bought the DVDs. I have watched the seasons repeatedly, but I always watched them in order and I rarely watched an episode twice in a row. I wanted the show to stay somewhat new for as long as possible so I forced myself to only watch episodes when they came around again in the rotation.

There were two episodes that caused my will power to crumble. One was "Once More With Feeling" and the other was "Doppelgangland". At the end of both of these episodes I felt compelled to rewatch them. It's safe to say these two rank highly on my list of favorite Buffy episodes.

"Doppelgangland" starts off with Anya being unhappy because she's stuck as a mortal 12th grader and she's flunking math. Willow is unhappy because she's being called "Old Reliable". Snyder is unhappy because his star basketball player (Percy) might fail history. Faith is unhappy because, well, she's nuts.

Everyone is trying to cure their blues. Anya is trying to recover her necklace so she can have power again. Snyder is making Willow tutor Percy so he's happy again. Faith finds a sugar daddy in the Mayor so she's happy. She's still nuts, but she's happy.

Willow decides that her reliability makes her boring. She figures some changes might make her happy. She also makes a powerful declaration about produce to boot.

Willow: Maybe I'll change my look. Or cut class. You don't know. And I'm eating this banana. Lunchtime be damned.

Willow runs into Anya inside the school. It seems that Anya needs some wiccan help for a spell to retrieve her necklace. Willow is thrilled to find out that Anya needs her help for a spell and not something boring and school related.

Anya doesn't tell Willow the whole story behind the spell and Willow sees some disturbing images. Willow's common sense kicks in and she questions Anya about the spell.

Anya: I swear, I am just trying to find my necklace.
Willow: Well, did you try looking inside the sofa in hell?

Willow runs off with her chicken feet and leaves Anya with her misery.

We soon discover that the spell inadvertently brought Vamp Willow (from "The Wish") to the present Sunnydale. She finds her way to the Bronze and of course everyone thinks she is our Willow. She beats up Percy and is downright rude to Buffy and Xander.

They realize that Willow is a vampire and therefore she is dead. This leads to a wonderful scene in the Library, one of my favorites from the entire series. Buffy and Xander have obviously told Giles about Willow. They are sitting around looking miserable about the loss of their friend when Willow walks into the Library. Buffy, Xander and Giles are understandably shocked. Xander leaps to his feet to repel the "vampire" with his cross. He's a bit surprised when his cross fails to do any good. He shakes it like it was a malfunctioning remote control and tries it again. No soap.

Buffy and Xander realize that this Willow is alive and well and they pull her into a bear hug while the typically restrained Giles hangs back. The hug breaks up and Willow looks to Giles for an explanation. Giles, however, rushes in to hug Willow as well. Good stuff.

Meanwhile, at the Bronze, Anya is vainly trying to order a beer. Vamp Willow is intent on making Sunnydale "fun" again and shows up with a gang of vampires. Anya quickly realizes that Vamp Willow is the key to getting her power center back. Anya sends Vamp Willow off to the Library to bring back Willow. This leads to another great scene worthy of The Parent Trap.

Vamp Willow: Well, look at me, I'm all fuzzy.
Willow: What do I want with you? Uh...

Vamp Willow: We could be quite a team, if you came around to my way of thinking.
Willow: Would that mean we have to snuggle?
Vamp Willow: What do you say? Want to be bad?
Willow: This just can't get more disturbing.
Vamp Willow: * growls *
Willow: Ack! No more! You're really starting to freak me out!

Willow manages to shoot her doppelganger with a tranquilizer dart. The Scoobies return and they stash Vamp Willow in the book cage. We then get to hear some of the most prophetic words on the show.

Willow: That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil, and skanky. And I think I'm kind of gay.

Buffy gets a really bad idea which leads to Willow dressing up as her vampire counterpart.

Willow: * looking down at her new outfit * Gosh, look at those.

Willow infiltrates the Bronze and has everyone convinced that she is the vampire version. She does manage to let Oz know that it's really her. (Watch for Willow's surreptitious, and genuinely funny, little wave to Oz)

Back at the library, Cordelia shows up to find "Willow" locked in the book cage. After a little talk about man stealing, Cordelia lets "Willow" out of the cage. Vamp Willow shows her true colors and invites Cordelia to a late dinner. A nice chase scene follows which clearly demonstrates the comic talents of Alexis Denisof.

Back at the Bronze, Willow is found out, but she still tries to play the part.

Willow: I'm a blood-sucking fiend. Look at my outfit!

A lovely little free for all ensues and Vamp Willow gets captured. A spell is performed that gets Vamp Willow back to her world. She is genuinely happy for about five seconds until, "Oh f..."

Grr, arg.