Summary
Join us in this episode as we talk about Darla’s weapons of choice, how a mother has no name, and Laine’s most favorite word, “defenestration.”
Thanks for joining us for Season 1, Episode 7- Angel
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Music
Music for this episode is “Digging a Grave,” by Shadows from the Underground, and is used under license from Magnatune.
Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast 
Thank you for pointing out how over-the-top some of the acting was in this episode, Darla in particular, and how tonally it felt a bit off or different compared to other episodes this season. I always felt that watching this.
For the record, I’m team single!Buffy. But I do like the idea of her having a strong, lasting bond with Angel even if it’s not a long-lasting romance. I never shipped them, but I did like how much their relationship fed into the intensity of season 2. I completely bought into all of that drama. I’m surprised I didn’t go out and buy a claddagh ring, honestly.
I like Buffy and Spike’s dynamic, but season 7 was just rough, and I don’t like the way their relationship/connection in season 7 was positioned almost in opposition to Buffy’s familial and platonic relationships, because the writing for the latter was so weak in season 7 that it made everything seem really imbalanced. And (tangent) the whole situation with Robin Wood and Giles and the potentials just put a bad taste in my mouth that is best summed up by this video (which is an excellent video and also a larger commentary on issues of racism and violence against women if Buffy and Angel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLfG_-kTyx8.
I could see Spike and Buffy together down the line, but season 7 just negatively affected my view of pretty much all the characters. Seasons 1-6, though, I think they did such interesting things with both of those characters and came up with some amazing episodes of television because of it.
Riley… I don’t think he’s a bad character. I just never thought he was right for Buffy, and I’m not surprised with how their relationship crashed and burned. He didn’t want someone as independent as Buffy, and I never understood why she dated him in the first place.
I feel like I have to note here that for all my criticism, this is still one of my favorite shows, and was formative for me growing up, and I’ve seen each episode multiple times. I just like to critique media that I love. 🙂
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Re: Willow’s Judaism
I feel like in season 7 she puts crystals (?) on Tara’s grave, and I think putting stones on a grave is a Jewish custom, and if it were crystals in this instance it could be seen as both a nod to Willow’s Jewish heritage and her and Tara’s witchcraft.
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Late to the party here, but it’s always bugged the shit out of me that Buffy couldn’t sense that Angel was a vampire. Thought she was supposed to have some kind of spidey-sense about vamps and demons as the Slayer.
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