Ben Blacker
@benblacker.bsky.social
The Writers Panel // Cut+Run: http://bit.ly/CutRunAudible // Hex Wives: http://bit.ly/HWtrade // Thrilling Adventure Hour // Dead Pilots Society
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
It is really fun seeing all of the elements of what would make the show great come together over this first season.
November 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
It is really fun seeing all of the elements of what would make the show great come together over this first season.
The gang is clicking, Cordelia is funny (not just mean), and introducing in Principal Snyder brings in a strong new antagonist in the school side.
AND the few emotional beats really work. The scene between Buffy and Sid is genuinely touching.
AND the few emotional beats really work. The scene between Buffy and Sid is genuinely touching.
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The gang is clicking, Cordelia is funny (not just mean), and introducing in Principal Snyder brings in a strong new antagonist in the school side.
AND the few emotional beats really work. The scene between Buffy and Sid is genuinely touching.
AND the few emotional beats really work. The scene between Buffy and Sid is genuinely touching.
“The Puppet Show” (along with “Never Kill a Boy…”) is probably the strongest indicator of what the show can be in this first season. Great character stuff, deconstruction of horror tropes, playing with markers of high school. And the twist is so strong. I recall being truly surprised in 1997!
November 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
“The Puppet Show” (along with “Never Kill a Boy…”) is probably the strongest indicator of what the show can be in this first season. Great character stuff, deconstruction of horror tropes, playing with markers of high school. And the twist is so strong. I recall being truly surprised in 1997!
All of that said, SMG gets to do some good worrying and some good comic performances. And I liked the tag a lot.
November 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
All of that said, SMG gets to do some good worrying and some good comic performances. And I liked the tag a lot.
I can’t help but think that the Jenny Calendar/Giles exchanges could have been directed more specifically to hit the rhythms of classic screwball comedies. As it is, they just seem to hate each other?
November 15, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I can’t help but think that the Jenny Calendar/Giles exchanges could have been directed more specifically to hit the rhythms of classic screwball comedies. As it is, they just seem to hate each other?
The Willow stuff is really good though, and it’s nice to see Hannigan play slightly different notes. Writers have locked into the general positivity of her character, and it’s fun to see her happy, even if it’s misguided.
November 15, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The Willow stuff is really good though, and it’s nice to see Hannigan play slightly different notes. Writers have locked into the general positivity of her character, and it’s fun to see her happy, even if it’s misguided.
“I Robot, You Jane” is… so dumb. But it can’t help it. Any episode of TV about then-current technology is just immediately dated. It’s actually a good idea, the way in, but it’s just all fluorescent lights and incels throughout.
November 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“I Robot, You Jane” is… so dumb. But it can’t help it. Any episode of TV about then-current technology is just immediately dated. It’s actually a good idea, the way in, but it’s just all fluorescent lights and incels throughout.
That’s because, I think, Buffy has such a strong central metaphor on which to hang the initial seasons: high school is hell. Works for the horror and for character stories. “Angel” is the first proof of that. It works despite its flaws. And Angel would turn into a good character, eventually!
November 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM
That’s because, I think, Buffy has such a strong central metaphor on which to hang the initial seasons: high school is hell. Works for the horror and for character stories. “Angel” is the first proof of that. It works despite its flaws. And Angel would turn into a good character, eventually!
But then the monster-of-the-week episodes spawned a whole different family tree that included Supernatural, Smallville, Fringe, and dozens of network shows that were quickly canceled.
X-Files did MOTW the best, of course, but Buffy blended episodic + mythology (soap) better than anyone.
X-Files did MOTW the best, of course, but Buffy blended episodic + mythology (soap) better than anyone.
November 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
But then the monster-of-the-week episodes spawned a whole different family tree that included Supernatural, Smallville, Fringe, and dozens of network shows that were quickly canceled.
X-Files did MOTW the best, of course, but Buffy blended episodic + mythology (soap) better than anyone.
X-Files did MOTW the best, of course, but Buffy blended episodic + mythology (soap) better than anyone.
Without “Angel,” there’d be no Twilight, True Blood, Charmed, Vamp Diaries, but also Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls… the soapy side of Buffy. And I LOVED the soap opera once it got rolling, especially as it drew in the supporting cast. Really fun.
November 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Without “Angel,” there’d be no Twilight, True Blood, Charmed, Vamp Diaries, but also Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls… the soapy side of Buffy. And I LOVED the soap opera once it got rolling, especially as it drew in the supporting cast. Really fun.
What’s most interesting to me in rewatch of this episode is how it’s kind of an inflection point for TV. Nighttime soaps were pretty much dead. X-Files was a hit + WB’s only other hit drama was 7th Heaven, and Buffy is kind of a combo of those shows. (Reductively)
November 15, 2025 at 9:43 PM
What’s most interesting to me in rewatch of this episode is how it’s kind of an inflection point for TV. Nighttime soaps were pretty much dead. X-Files was a hit + WB’s only other hit drama was 7th Heaven, and Buffy is kind of a combo of those shows. (Reductively)
The episode mostly works. The plot is a bit convenient in places but it moves along but you don’t really question it in the moment.
Production design, direction + especially make up are strong in this one. The Master (+ Mark Metcalf) are properly charismatic + scary. Buffy shoulda fallen for him.
Production design, direction + especially make up are strong in this one. The Master (+ Mark Metcalf) are properly charismatic + scary. Buffy shoulda fallen for him.
November 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
The episode mostly works. The plot is a bit convenient in places but it moves along but you don’t really question it in the moment.
Production design, direction + especially make up are strong in this one. The Master (+ Mark Metcalf) are properly charismatic + scary. Buffy shoulda fallen for him.
Production design, direction + especially make up are strong in this one. The Master (+ Mark Metcalf) are properly charismatic + scary. Buffy shoulda fallen for him.
And I get it! The “doomed lovers” story that is being set up is both a necessary engine and a brilliant hook that would lead to brilliant episodes. But Angel himself just sucks the life out of the room. I mean, I guess that’s what vampires do?
a man in a black shirt is saying `` i don 't accept that '' .
ALT: a man in a black shirt is saying `` i don 't accept that '' .
media.tenor.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
And I get it! The “doomed lovers” story that is being set up is both a necessary engine and a brilliant hook that would lead to brilliant episodes. But Angel himself just sucks the life out of the room. I mean, I guess that’s what vampires do?
107 “Angel” is of course an important episode to the series, but this is where I admit I’m not an Angel fan. They’re finally writing for Boreanaz in this ep + he pulls off dark and brooding more than he ever could be quippy. But SMG is doing ALL of the heavy emotional lifting here (and for a while).
November 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
107 “Angel” is of course an important episode to the series, but this is where I admit I’m not an Angel fan. They’re finally writing for Boreanaz in this ep + he pulls off dark and brooding more than he ever could be quippy. But SMG is doing ALL of the heavy emotional lifting here (and for a while).
I remember watching in 1997 and being so surprised they actually killed Principal Flutie. This show had teeth! Which I think shows that the writers were already thinking bigger—in story, metaphor, depth—than maybe the show was fully ready to execute.
Also, that tag btwn Giles + Xander is gold.
Also, that tag btwn Giles + Xander is gold.
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I remember watching in 1997 and being so surprised they actually killed Principal Flutie. This show had teeth! Which I think shows that the writers were already thinking bigger—in story, metaphor, depth—than maybe the show was fully ready to execute.
Also, that tag btwn Giles + Xander is gold.
Also, that tag btwn Giles + Xander is gold.
Still, there’s stuff that really works. Willow’s crush on Xander is codified, putting Buffy in the middle. And the scene between Willow and Xander when he’s locked up is really lovely.
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Still, there’s stuff that really works. Willow’s crush on Xander is codified, putting Buffy in the middle. And the scene between Willow and Xander when he’s locked up is really lovely.
I think many of the ideas were better in concept, maybe due to budgetary constraints and maybe not yet having a strong stable of directors.
Dodgeball scene is a fun idea but fails because it’s shot too… traditionally? Obviously? Likewise, when the show leaves its standing sets, it just feels off.
Dodgeball scene is a fun idea but fails because it’s shot too… traditionally? Obviously? Likewise, when the show leaves its standing sets, it just feels off.
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I think many of the ideas were better in concept, maybe due to budgetary constraints and maybe not yet having a strong stable of directors.
Dodgeball scene is a fun idea but fails because it’s shot too… traditionally? Obviously? Likewise, when the show leaves its standing sets, it just feels off.
Dodgeball scene is a fun idea but fails because it’s shot too… traditionally? Obviously? Likewise, when the show leaves its standing sets, it just feels off.
106 The Pack doesn’t really work, though not for lack of trying. Problem is that the metaphor is muddy. Is it about toxic masculinity? Cliques? Not helped either that Buffy is pretty sidelined.
Still there is some good stuff here.
Still there is some good stuff here.
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 AM
106 The Pack doesn’t really work, though not for lack of trying. Problem is that the metaphor is muddy. Is it about toxic masculinity? Cliques? Not helped either that Buffy is pretty sidelined.
Still there is some good stuff here.
Still there is some good stuff here.
Should we start a podcast? “Goop Group?”
November 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Should we start a podcast? “Goop Group?”
And in this week's Writers Panel pod, HUNTING WIVES creator Rebecca Cutter discusses why she thinks people have responded so positively to the show, hiring the writers’ room, regulating tone by instinct, quality without “prestige,” + more
benblacker.substack.com/p/rebecca-cu...
benblacker.substack.com/p/rebecca-cu...
November 6, 2025 at 11:32 PM
And in this week's Writers Panel pod, HUNTING WIVES creator Rebecca Cutter discusses why she thinks people have responded so positively to the show, hiring the writers’ room, regulating tone by instinct, quality without “prestige,” + more
benblacker.substack.com/p/rebecca-cu...
benblacker.substack.com/p/rebecca-cu...