Episode you use to hate but now love

[MarieVampSlayer]

Hey all,

So I was wondering if you had any episodes of the Buffyverse that you hated at first but then later grew to love? Or maybe you didn't hate the episode but just didn't care for it until you changed your opinion on it because of a character or plot.

Personally, I use to not care for (or even hate) Dawn so everything Dawn centric was a chore to me. Now that I understand her character more I have found new ways to enjoy theses episodes:

Potentials
Lessons
Real Me

What are yours?

 

[thrasherpix]

Not much in this regard, but I recall the first time I got through the entire series, I then watched at least some of season 1 again and was blown away by the innocence of it, and how different they started out as. Going through the series ep for ep a second time gave me a different feeling overall, and sometimes surprised as I had completely forgotten some parts, and the characters were not as I had remembered them until I saw it again.

Offhand, the one major change for the better is the Loan Shark. That felt "Star Wars" to me, and unless it's a crossover then I like the tone to remain similar. But as I came to see how closely connected it was to the dream episode that ended season 4, it has grown on me, and now I appreciate that character and overall episode a lot more (though I personally prefer the Angel version of where everyone loses their memory, and yet there is no replacing Giles fighting a skeleton as Anya conjures more bunnies to her horror).

 

[Taake]

I used to really dislike "Gingerbread" and "The I in Team", I just thought the parental mob was boring and Buffy being involved with the Initative in any sense was a snooze. Now I really love those episodes. Gingerbread is, if nothing else, a lot of fun and scary (mob mentality); and the I In Team I'd now say was underrated! Love love loove Buffy showing Maggie Walsh that a Skayer ain't so easy to kill!

 

[Puppet]

Beer Bad. I used to think it was just way too silly and over-the-top, but the more I watch it, the more I love it. I would probably call it one of my 'candy' episodes, but that doesn't mean that I don't think it's a genuinely good and funny episode, even if it makes no difference to the overall arc of the season.

 

[LilyAnne]

Offhand, the one major change for the better is the Loan Shark. That felt "Star Wars" to me, and unless it's a crossover then I like the tone to remain similar. But as I came to see how closely connected it was to the dream episode that ended season 4, it has grown on me, and now I appreciate that character and overall episode a lot more (though I personally prefer the Angel version of where everyone loses their memory, and yet there is no replacing Giles fighting a skeleton as Anya conjures more bunnies to her horror).

The loan shark has a special connection to "Restless"? Tell me more.

I don't think I really have this with any specific episode, but for me, the first time I watched my way through the series, I had kind of a "meh" reaction to Seasons 6 & 7. Weirdly, I remembered the darkness of Season 6, but remembered Season 7 as being funnier, which... false. When I rewatched it for the second time two summers ago, I learned that Season 6, like Season 4, is much better than I remembered upon rewatch, and in fact has aged quite well. Season 7, on the other hand, has a few good episodes but overall is unfortunately my least favorite season. But who knows. Maybe this time around THAT will be the season that ends up being better than I remember.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

The loan shark has a special connection to "Restless"? Tell me more.

The only connections I can think of is that Spike wore the same suit in Restless and Tabula Rasa, and that in Restless, Dream Giles said "Spike is like a son to me" then in Tabula Rasa they actually think they're father and son.

Buffy should've taken the loan sharks' offer of work, even if it was just a temporary measure.

 

[Antho]

"Amends" I used to think that Angel was a bit too much melodramatic and too weak mentally speaking. I was a Bangel fan but even for me the speech at the end with Buffy was very heavy in the sense that I did not understand that Angel is getting to the point of wanting to commit suicide. And the snow was cheesy !
Now, I love this episode. I don't really have reasons, I guess that growing up and maturity gave me a new vision of things.
I also think Buffy's season 7 where we have The First as the main enemy and where we see how strong The First is to destroy people mentally, I think this season give a new light on "Amends" and on Angel's behavior.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

Once More, with Feeling -- I totally hated it...but now I love it. (Especially Amber's voice!)

 

[Mrs Gordo]

Beer Bad. I used to think it was just way too silly and over-the-top, but the more I watch it, the more I love it. I would probably call it one of my 'candy' episodes, but that doesn't mean that I don't think it's a genuinely good and funny episode, even if it makes no difference to the overall arc of the season.

This would have been my pick as well.

I will add Sanctuary. My feelings on Faith have evolved substantially since my youth. That episode used to be a thorn at my side.

 

[Mylie]

I wouldn't say I used to hate Gingerbread but I used to consider it the weakest episode of s3. Now I love it and find it one of the most underrated episodes of the show.

 

[Cheese Slices]

I wouldn't say I used to hate Gingerbread but I used to consider it the weakest episode of s3. Now I love it and find it one of the most underrated episodes of the show.

I never got why people would always put it at the bottom of the list. Gingerbread is awesome ! I love the atmosphere, and while the mob mentality theme didn't get a very deep treatment, what we did get was pretty good. Oh, and it's hilarious : "You will all be made into vermin. And some of you will be fish !" . Jane can do no wrong.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

Willow acting out in front of her mother is the best. Will and Xander's home lives should have gotten more attention.

 

[sosa lola]

Willow acting out in front of her mother is the best. Will and Xander's home lives should have gotten more attention.

I agree. I have a lot of appreciation for Gingerbread because of the Willow parts with her mother. There should have been more exploration regarding the Scoobies' parents, including Cordelia's and Oz'. Their background would have enriched their characters' more.

 

[thrasherpix]

The loan shark has a special connection to "Restless"? Tell me more.

I don't think I really have this with any specific episode, but for me, the first time I watched my way through the series, I had kind of a "meh" reaction to Seasons 6 & 7. Weirdly, I remembered the darkness of Season 6, but remembered Season 7 as being funnier, which... false. When I rewatched it for the second time two summers ago, I learned that Season 6, like Season 4, is much better than I remembered upon rewatch, and in fact has aged quite well. Season 7, on the other hand, has a few good episodes but overall is unfortunately my least favorite season. But who knows. Maybe this time around THAT will be the season that ends up being better than I remember.

On my first watch, I liked how both season 6 and 7 started, but after a couple of dvd discs I quickly grew aggravated with them both. I disliked season 6 more than 7, but upon the rewatch I decided season 6 was actually better than I remembered it (but didn't include it here as it went from "hated it" to "disliked" it rather than liking it), while season 7 was a challenge to get through (in part because on the second viewing I knew there would be no explanation to explain away the nonsense that I was sure would happen upon my first viewing, and I also caught a lot more on how lazy the writing was, both because I knew there was no justification, and because I'll just catch more details on the next viewing...in any case, I am resolved to never watch this season again).

But anyway, there were multiple visual references in Tabula Rasa to Restless, including how Spike is dressed and he and Giles think they're father and son. As for the shark specifically....without watching it again right now (there could be more), this is the part I recall:


XANDER
Gotta have something. Gotta be always moving forward.

BUFFY
Like a shark.

XANDER
A shark with feet. And much less… fins.

SPIKE
AND on land.

And Sunnydale is well known for a place where dreams (er, nightmares) can literally become true, as well as demons sometimes adopting forms that work for them (in extreme cases, even taking on the forms of puppets, though the puppets were actually in Los Angeles).

 

[MarieVampSlayer]

I use to hate Doublemeat palace before because I found it stupid and the penis demon nonsense. But then I grew older and got to do the horrible numbing job and I went ooooooooh! I get it now!!!

 

[Taake]

I used to really hate Life Serial, but last time I re-watched it I enjoyed it a lot more. It still kind of stresses me out a bit, lol, but I appreciate what the episode is trying to do (if that makes sense) whereas before I just thought it was terrible.

 

[thrasherpix]

I use to hate Doublemeat palace before because I found it stupid and the penis demon nonsense. But then I grew older and got to do the horrible numbing job and I went ooooooooh! I get it now!!!

I never worked fast food, but I liked that ep (and the demon was creative). I did feel sorry for people working fast food. Like on a road trip we stopped at one place in a heat wave and the inside was blistering hot from the hot grease and because they didn't allow AC. I kept the door open for the employees the entire time I was there. The callous treatment of the employees blew my mind.

One of the rare times I went into fast food (I think it was Burger King), the cashier guy gave me back a dollar too much in change. I tried to give it back to him but he about exploded on me so I took the dollar. I didn't get mad because not only was it a dollar off what I purchased for me and others, but figured he HAD to be exhausted, stressed out, and probably used to being told what a failure he was by his boss (also probably hating his or her life, and I imagine his boss as being like Principal Snyder) for him to blow a gasket over me trying to give a dollar back, even saying I didn't want him to get in trouble when his register came up short. He yelled at me quite rudely but I just felt sorry for him, and glad it wasn't me working there.

Though that and other reasons is why it is so rare for me to go to fast food. The abuse dished out on employees shouldn't be rewarded (and it also sabotages trust in how they'll treat customers beyond appearances), and I figure many of the workers are so upset that they might vent by doing things like spitting in the food.

I helped out a neighbor who worked for McDs, and they hired only for a time before other benefits kicked in as required by law, so they didn't care my neighbor was overqualified for them. Her months there were a horror story (as were other elements of it, but it's too long for me to go into), as in it was so sad that it was Buffy season 6 sad.

It all helps me to enjoy Doublemeat Palace though I never worked at such a place. To be forced to pretend you WANT to work there (as Buffy had to do) would be another level of degradation piled on top ("say you like it and want some more, say it!"), but I don't doubt some fast food franchise owners and managers actually try that.

 

[Athena]

Beer Bad has become a guilty pleasure. I wouldn't say I love it but I've definitely come to appreciate The Zeppo more too.

I remember hating Buffy vs Dracula, but now I think it's one of the strongest starts to the seasons.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I used to hate "Beer Bad", but now I enjoy it and appreciate it for the brilliant satire that it is.

 

[The Bronze]

I'm not sure that I've ever hated a Buffy episode actually. The one that I think has gone up a lot in my eyes though is Once More With Feeling. I always found it very average. Thought it was a middle of the road Buffy episode that everyone got over excited about.

Watching again with my headphones on I realised how great the whole sound track is and also the episode itself has a lot of good character moments and big reveals. Shame the ending is so awful but it's still one I like a lot more now.