Buffy & Angel Statistics - part IV

[thalia_seawood]

Regarding Buffy: I took a viewing break after watching the season 6 episode Afterlife.
As for Angel, I completed watching season 2 yesterday.

I'm wondering how I should proceed.
I know the "proper" way to proceed would be to watch one ep of Buffy, one ep of Angel as it's the way the show was aired, but I noticed that this is very hard for me. E.g. I enjoyed watching the final episodes of season 5 in one go. It's much more intense than if I had watched an unrelated Angel episode in between.

So should I finish watching Buffy season 6 and then catch up with Angel? Or cover the two shows in bits, 5 episodes of Buffy, 5 episode of Angel for example?

I'm not indecisive? Or am I? *g*

Any suggestions from the experienced Jossverse viewers?

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Just my opinion, but there are some natural breaks in the seasons:

since you've already seen through "AfterLife" I would suggest watching:

Groups Angel : Hearthrob - Carpe Noctem (eps that in some way deal with Angel dealing with Buffy's death and his satisfaction with his place in the world.)

Fredless & Billy can both work as standalones

BtVS: Flooded - Tabula Rasa

then AtS: Offspring - Lullaby*

BTVS: Smashed - As You Were

AtS: Dad - Waiting in the Wings

BtVS: Hells Bells - Normal Again - Entropy can stand alone

AtS: Couplet- The Price*

BtVS: Seeing Red - Grave*

AtS: A New World - Tomorrow

You could shuffle the groups around as needed, or as they catch your interest, but I doubt you will want to break up the groups (I put *s next to the ones this particularly applies to). A lot of the eps in these arcs follow right after each other.

can't wait to see your thoughts on the end of S2!

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your advice! Your list is really helpful!

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

random: since you're starting season 3, and most of my AtS fic is set in season 3, I was going to give you a list of links with episode-spoilers indicated.

But I realized it's more complicated than that, b/c I wrote all of these after seeing seasons 4 & 5, so many are heavy with foreshadowing, etc, and only make sense if you've seen the whole series.

so I'll have to muse over it, but will eventually give you a list, for reference, in case you're interested :).

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

A ficlist would be lovely. (You could mark the stories with foreshadowing and then I'll just keep them for later - to comfort myself when I have to go without new Jossverse episodes. :-))

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

yay, new procrastination hobby.

i'll probably post this in my own LJ and tag it for reference.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

all right, here's the list.

I realize a lot of these revolve around a few key eps, so I can expand once you get there :).

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Unlike the first two seasons (when both were on the WB) there is very little that is going to spoil you for the other show. The only suggestion would be when you hit season seven BTVS and season four ATS, watch the finale of Angel before you watch the last two episodes of Buffy. Obviously, don't get into season five of ATS without finishing season seven of BTVS.

ETA: Or what Karabair said. ;)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

What Karabair said.*g*

With one added recommendation: skip Provider. Really. It's the most godwawful Angel episode ever and as opposed to the other GAAE of the season, Double or Nothing, is not important for continuity.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Is Provider so bad it's funny again? If it is, I might just use it as ironing or filing bills background. :-)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

EXCELLENT advice. I can't think of a redeeming quality in that ep . . .plus, watching it will lower your opinion of ALL of the characters involved.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Ok, in this case I better not even watch it to do the ironing.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

I'll echo everyone else, and say there is little overlap between the seasons from now on, as long as you get the finales of season seven and four in order. So I'd say watch whatever takes your fancy at the time.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks!