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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 6x7 Full Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-01-21 16:00:08
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

"Once More, With Feeling"

Files

Previews only

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 6x7 Full Reaction

Comments

Melissa

It's here!

Tim Goens

OH BOY!

Joel Butts

The logic in this episode of when the other people can and can't hear the song going on is a little flawed, but the episode is so good, that you just kind of have to ignore it.

Claire Eyles

Ah yes, the fun happy musical episode where Willow sexually assaults Tara by removing her ability to give informed consent, and Buffy attempts suicide. This wasn't the first TV show to do a full musical episode, I believe that honour goes to Xena Warrior Princes; however, it was the first to do it best so all of other musical episodes of TV shows have followed on from Buffy. Also the demon 'Sweet' is played by the late Broadway legend, Hinton Battle. He had an amazing career; the first African American male dancer to receive a scholarship to The School of American Ballet, where he trained under George Balanchine (roughly the equivalent of getting personal singing training from Taylor Swift); three time Tony Award winner,; starred as the Scarescrow in the 1975 Broadway production of 'The Wiz', a role that would later be performed by Michael Jackson in the movie adaptation. He was afforded the honour of having the lights of Broadway dimmed in memory when he passed.

Claire Eyles

Btw, I currently can't afford to pay for Buffy on streaming channels, and I have no way to play my Buffy DVD collection through my current computer, so I'm currently looking for other ways to watch along. Depending on how that goes (I at least found this episode) it might mean I have to subscribe on a month by month basis. So if I do disappear for a while, it's not because your reactions are not good.

Lime Pie

I’m so mad that I felt well enough to return to work today.

aeronitz

I've never been so happy to be a teacher with school canceled than I am right now.

aeronitz
>>161997293

I bought a dvd player that hooks up to my laptop with a usb port (it wasn't too expensive on Amazon).

Minister Kosh

I wish, cass would do a music reaction to the songs of this episode! *hopingavengeancedaemonlistens* PS: best TV episode of ANY series ever (and I say this as someone who doesn't like musicals usually)

James Smith

At work right now, will get a chance to watch at some point :)

Minister Kosh

Regarding a broadway Buffy musical ... there were once public watchalongs just like they still do for Rocky Horror Picture show. Unfortunately, because of unpaid residuals and licensing problems, 20th Century Fox pulled all licensings and efftively ended all public screenings. However, there are a LOT of "private" re-enactments by fans in all parts of the world and some recordings can be seen on Youtube. The huge influence of this episode can't be downplayed, though. Although it was not the first US show which included a musical (Xena did it first, twice!), it was the first one with specially composed songs and choreography and where the actors sang all the songs themselves. The episode had such a huge impact, that it started the trend in other shows to also include musical episodes (you named a few). Most of them failed (in my opinion).

Melissa

"But it's Xander, so at the end of the day you can just be like eh, alright" Yes. Except people actually died because of his little summoning spell.

Dan Hart

I've always felt like Lorne should've been in this episode.

Steveo

We knew a musical was coming from pretty much the start of the season. There was a lot of hype behind it. And then there were promos after All The Way that had snippets of them singing. The episode only aired once in its entirety on TV I believe because of the extra run time. Reruns after that were shortened to fit a normal hour length episode.

Andrea Frank

Dang it…..I have to get thru work before I can watch. Not EVEN going to read the notes, now….SOExcited!!! Woo!!!

Donna Anderson

We knew the musical episode was coming. Even if you didn’t follow online gossip sites/forums/tvguide It was heavily promoted on tv. They even ran little promos throughout the week (maybe weeks?) of them practicing songs. I was very excited for it, and it did not disappoint. I’m so happy you loved it! Your reaction was great! You got right away that it was like a proper musical with custom songs and not just characters singing pop hits. And how it was different from other musical tv episodes because there was an in universe explanation for the singing and they were aware. A thing that really sets this episode apart from other tv musicals was how much it moved the plot forward. I know Joss had wanted to do a musical ep since season 1…and decided it was possible in season 5. My memory is a bit fuzzy here, but I think he had talked about it in interviews years prior. So when it was announced it wasn’t a surprise, it was more of…it’s about time!

Minister Kosh
>>162007117

As far as I remember Joss originally wanted to do it in season 4. But Xena just did their musical episode and he didntt want to be seen as a copycat. So it was postponed.

aeronitz

Giles and Tara both toured in the Rocky Horror Picture Show...Spike was in a band; so they have singing experience. .

borednow

If I recall correctly, SMG said she rather would juggle chainsaws than sing, but did it in the end after some suffering. She also said she never would do something similar again. She did well though. Alyson begged on her knees not to have to sing, and more or less got out of it. Michelle danced ballet, and asked to dance more than sing, but the little she did sing sounded nice. ASH and James Marsters were both experienced and comfortable singers, while Amber really nailed the spell song and the duet with ASH. When I watched it for the first time I already knew everything about the episode, but was still blown away by how great the lyrics and music were. I kept listening to Going through the motions, Where do we go from here?, Standing, Walk through the fire, Under your spell, and the Standing/Under your spell reprise on repeat for weeks. Most of all the last three. As far as musical episodes go, it doesn’t get better than this. I really liked The Bitter Suite from Xena, but this was just different level entirely.

Gaius Frakking Baltar

The piercing schoolgirl squeal of delight that Cass made when Spuffy kissed was absolutely priceless, lol. The year before this episode aired, Anthony Head and Amber Benson sang a duet together in a Rocky Horror 25th anniversary special on VH-1. Head played the part of Frank-N-Furter (a role he also performed on stage during a London West End revival of Rocky Horror), and Benson played the part of Janet Weiss. If you ever had a secret fetish to see Giles dressed up in heels and fishnet stockings, then this is the video for you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LH43hTh5KI

Sam Alexander

There are certain episodes of Buffy that stand out to most fans of the show I promise there are some left that will blow your mind. Let me just say your shirt. 👚 Can’t wait to see your reactions to the rest of the series

Tim MacKay

I have been WAITING for you to get to this episode!! Like refreshing every day not even joking lol. But just to answer your question, I think they sing one more song at the end because the demon told them to "say youre happy now, "once more with feeling"' so I think that was like a spell to make them sing one more song

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

I think my favourite reactors are the ones who take the more 30,000 ft overview, writing focused view. Rather than passing judgment on whether Giles is "right" to want to leave or condemning every little thing that Xander or Riley or whoever do, that the magic doesn't always make sense, just come out and acknowledge that this is the decision the writers made to take us where they wanted to go. Just take whatever happens on screen and then it's our job to make it all fit, retconns and headcannon or whatever it takes. Keep doing you, C.

slypeartree

I'm glad you liked it, probably the episode I have rewatched the most. I've also listened to the CD a lot.

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

If you listen to the group's lyrics in the background just as Buffy is walking out to meet Spike there's a line about the curtain call being sealed with a kiss (paraphrasing) And then lo and behold...

Steve Mercier

Yeah, this is definitely a top-tier fan-fave holy fucking shit spectacular episode...it kind of sucks that it takes so long to get here from the beginning, except...it takes this long to get here, and we get to watch this amazing show again with you. So, yeah...good shit.

Logan Bruin
>>161997018

If my research can be trusted, the first musical episode was I on a show called Northern Exposure.

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

I promise not to ask you settle on Spuffy vs Bangel until after the series is over. Until then, though, I'll just keep this here seat warm on the Spuffy bandwagon for you 😉

Leon

Regarding your comment, "whatever weekday night they aired new Buffy." It aired on Tuesdays, which explains the joke Buffy makes in the episode when Dawn gets kidnapped: "It must be Tuesday."

Curtis Murphy

It's always entertaining watching people who come into this episode blind realize this episode is a musical.

spikeysnack

Fans love this episode, because of course they do, but they often overlook what Joss is saying, why the episode is like it is -- not all sweet songs and happy endings. The whole theme of this season is that everyone in the gang is way out on the edge, far beyond knowing what they are doing, letting their emotions run away with their good judgement, ragged and out of control, rushing headlong to disaster. The fire trucks are out, rushing lights and sirens blaring, that means the house is already on fire. Everyone's choices are made in emotional panic and desperate need, and Joss is telling you in no uncertain terms that they are all making the wrong choices.

David Allan

I live in Scotland, and if i remember Buffy at this point aired on a Friday night, and the only people i knew that watched Buffy were 2 of my friends, and I never read TV magazines or anything, so I can't remember knowing much or anything about it, (i'd need to check my journal from back then if i did actually know) but i remember every weekend i watched Buffy at least twice, the only episodes i watched more than twice over a weekend were this episode and the finale of Season 4.

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

I'm probably one of the rare few who can take or leave the actual musical episode aspect but I do love it for how they use that part to further the season storyline, everyone basically spilling their guts out.

JBK405

Cass you are a DELIGHT! The reason I watch reactions is to recapture that feeling of what it was like to experience something for the first time, and your glee was like getting this show for the first time all over again. Especially the fun you had with this episode. I love the songs themselves, and I actually have the soundtrack. This music is part of my regular daily shuffle rotation. A few episodes ago you asked us why we (your audience) think Buffy is drawn to Spike instead of her friends and loves ones. At the time I said it was because Spike doesn't "count". Nothing she says to him matters, so she can be mean and hurtful -- or honest -- and not worry about hurting him like she worries about hurting everybody else. Here, Spike says the SAME THING. That what she says and does around him isn't real, which is why she keeps coming back. He is desperate for it so he doesn't want it to stop, but even he can't ignore that it's not a healthy relationship.

Bud Haven

A "Once More With Feeling" Complete Stage Production https://youtu.be/1fVt4p5UM-Q?si=J6SsF5m0yXwhDzrA As you wondered why wasn't.

MG

Lol I'm glad that you enjoyed that kiss more than the one in the Buffybot episode. I also would really credit James Marsters for his acting in order to bring this enemies to lovers trope out. If anyone else was cast as Spike, he may have never lasted this long and given us this plot point. Also I absolutely love your interpertation of why Buffy was going up in smoke in the end. I've seen this series and this episode multiple times and literally never thought of it that way. So I really really realllllly appreciate your perspectives on these episodes and bringing a whole new depth to plots and scenes I would have never noticed before.

MG
>>162039211

I would also encourage Cass to read the synopsis of the comics after the series finale (if not the actual comics) to get even more info! And everyone who hasnt read them yet should since they are a continuation of the series.

DanielOrme

Terrific reaction! You catch so much of what makes this episode so great: the ingenious self-awareness, the way songs not only advance the story (and do so more skillfully than many orthodox stage musicals), but are essential to it. This grew out of dinner parties that Joss would have with members of the Buffy & Angel casts. After dinner they would do Shakespeare readings, but at some point musical performances were included. Joss decided there was enough musical talent to do the musical episode he had dreamed of, writing the songs himself, even though he had never(!) written music. But he was a great fan of musicals, as you can tell from watching. As I remember from the original airing, this was the farthest thing from a surprise. It was heavily promoted and advertised, with commercials and pieces on the infotainment shows featuring bits of the cast singing. There were even warnings that the show would run longer than an hour for people who were taping it. I guess the reason why nobody warns new reactors about it is because it's so fun to see how surprised you are.

G. Smith

Aaaah, I love it! Your scream at the end is the kind of stuff that gladly makes me pay for reaction content. So glad you didn't get spoiled. :) This is probably the most iconic episode of the entire show, only rivaled by HUSH and THE BODY. I like how all three of these episodes have something music themed going on. As far as I'm concerned, this is Buffy's and Spike's first real kiss. Your theory about when people start to burn up is interesting. You might be right. Never thought about that. I love how extra the demon is. Such a talented performer. He basically told them to keep on singing, once more with feeling, so they did until the curtains closed. Some great dancing, great acting, important reveals ... and Giles' singing voice is just chef's kiss. :) Whenever I start watching a new reactor, I'm just super excited to see them finally reach THE BODY and ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING. :)

James Smith

Its the musical episode! Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with getting your edited version up on YouTube.

SJ Lute

Now that you've seen it, I recommend buying the soundtrack. The entirety of each song plus some extras.

Matt E.

So to answer your question fr the beginning no, this is not the first musical episode, the first I know of and the one that most influenced this is The Bitter Suite from Xena Warrior Princess, but I do think, even though xena is my all time favorite show, that this is probably the most influential and important musical episode in TV history and definitely inspired all the ones you mentioned along with the musical episode of Scrubs (probably the other early groundbreaking one, the first I know of (unless you count cop rock) that did a diegetic musical episode in a non-supernatural fairly grounded in reality show)

Matt E.

My number one ship of all time comes from this episode: Lorne (from Angel) and Sweet (the demon from this episode).. Would they not be perfect for each other I guess bike is OK too :p

Whitney Mercer

Ah yes, the one a lot of us have been waiting for! This episode was so fun and I believe brilliantly done to move the plot as well as entertaining. Glad that everyone was able to do their own singing, no matter what their skill level was. A few tidbits that I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet was 2 of the writers had parts. David Fury played the mustard guy and Marti Noxon played the girl getting the parking ticket. Several choreographers were in some of the shots too. I remember buying a CD someone had made of all the music before an official release came out and I listened to it all the time! lol The next episode is another favorite and I can’t wait for you to watch it.

Robin Gibbons

The WB started airing teasers for the Musical about 3 or 4 episodes before it aired. I remember the hype being built up for it. I have the entire series on VHS (taped myself) and I used to rewatch there (before dvd and streaming) and I remember even though I'd pause on commercials, I recorded the teaser ones lol

Robin Gibbons

Also of note, TV Guide ranked this episode as #14 in the top 100 tv episodes of all-time list in 2021

A G

God i can’t wait for u to finish this season omg

nataly
>>161996445

it's honestly perfect musical logic in that it only works when it has to lol

nataly

i saw you posted all the way on youtube and had to race over here to watch this!! okay, i know what you mean about waiting until the end to truly decide who to ship, but that squeal at the end tells me you may be leaning towards spuffy... and who could blame you! buffy kissing spike after he was the only one who stopped her from dancing herself into a fire is just so *chefs kiss* do keep in mind her words as she goes in for the kiss, though! "this isn't real, but i just want to feel." we know spike is very much in love with buffy, but she is still denying its anything but lust.

Mayra Martinez

I believe someone made a comment that the reason Buffy does not hear Giles sing is because of her depression she is not present so she could hear but she just didn’t listen. Everyone else can and do listen to each other sing.

HollowMan

It’s hard to make this into a stand alone stage musical because it is so rooted in multiple seasons of back story and secrets and tension - occasionally someone will react to this as a stand alone episode, and they just don’t get it. From their perspective nothing happens, because they don’t know the history of what’s being laid bare, and the consequences of those secrets coming to light are mostly to come.

Jeremy J Nickurak

In case you missed it -- there's a very (very!) small post-credit bit on this one. An excellent excuse to re-watch the whole episode!

Jason palesa

Just signed up after waiting for a longggg time … anyone online to tell me how to watch this properly?

Markus E.
>>162191997

You need your own copy of the episode and watch it alongside her reaction. And the countdown at the start and the small part of the episode's image shown at the bottom is so you can synchronize your video to hers.

spikeysnack
>>162141686

Marti is such an amazing writer/producer -- she has written for so many shows. Whedon spent 6 months working out the musical, and the cast spent over 3 months preparing including voice coaches, dance rehearsals, etc. in addition to filming and rehearsing for the rest of the shows weekly. Sarah was having trouble with her singing for a while, but when Joss suggested they could have a pro do the voiceover, she broke down and cried, it was so important to her. She killed it as far as I can tell, the raggedness in her voice made the emotion come right out of the screen perfectly. There may have been some tone correction in post, but that only makes it a bit more magical. Amber Benson sounds like an Angel, and Tony Head's soft rock voice is so good. Even James Marster's nasally croon is excellent, but bit too "human", too full of soul, for a demon. He is so down bad for her.

Morgan Williams

Gotta love this episode! My favorite was Tara/Willow song Under Your Spell, Buffy's Going Through the Motions, and The parking Ticket song was just hilarious.

ThePowerDrome
>>162045111

Spike is wrong. He's learned a little about Giles, because he spent a lot of time with him in his apartment. He's learned a little about Willow, because he's had a heart-to-heart with her at least twice. He's learned a little about Xander, because he's also spent time with him and Anya. That's why he's so good at manipulating them in the Yoko Factor. But he's never really learned Buffy, there just hasn't been an opportunity. In two seasons (4 and 5), they've had one whole episode where they could discuss each other's feelings without a spell or anything -- it's Crush. But Spike hasn't been able to learn Buffy, he just doesn't know her, doesn't know what she really feels, what she wants when she doesn't admit it. He only sees the outside of her. Plus, the show itself doesn't really explore Buffy as a character.

ThePowerDrome

As Tim MacK rightly pointed out, "Once More, With Feeling" was a sort of spell from the demon Sweet to keep everyone singing and dancing, telling their secrets, for a while (probably not very long). Buffy doesn't hear Giles' song because she's too focused on training, first, and second, she's also in her own thoughts after Spike's song, which she's heard, of course, and which meant a lot to her. That's why when they find themselves in a grave pit on top of each other, she doesn't just walk away, she runs headlong.

ThePowerDrome

Season 5, Crash: Crypt+Evil+Vampire don't work well together from Buffy's point of view. Season 6. The first place Buffy goes when she's given free rein instead of being led to a certain location is the evil vampire's crypt.

madfem

I find it crazy that every reactor thinks it's gonna be a silent episode when to me it's so obvious it's gonna be a musical 😅 (the title card, the music in the intro is so theatrical,...)