How can you not?

I got chillls as soon as I realized that you were talking about.

You knew, I knew what it was right before I hit play. Spooky. Probably because it's the one thing I've watched multiple times that manages to get me every time. I have issues with it, it's all terribly illogical if I actually think about it, and yet: sniffle.

Clearly one of the best TV moments in history. I remember the first time I saw it, I was just crying like a baby (and my husband was a little teary-eyed too). It still gets me too.

Honestly, could it have been any better?

I wrote an essay for a Women's History class during undergrad entitled Are You Ready to Be Strong? Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Female Action Heroine's Will to Power

TV hasn't matched her yet! :)

Yeah, I could see Willow sitting there. I knew what it was. ;)

I don't know. I always found that episode anti-climatic (and illogical, and with a conclicting message, etc.). Of course it didn't help that I read spoilers but I had to after you could no longer trust that show once they pulled the Rape To Redeem the Badgirl Cliche'.

I dunno. It's a glorious moment, but it comes at the end of two seasons' worth of tearing the characters down as heroes. I'm not sure if this makes up for an entire season of showing Buffy clinging to her attempted rapist for comfort and support as she becomes increasingly more preachy and less functional.

Tearing them down as heroes? I always found the Scoobies to be self-righteous and insular-minded. I think Season 6 did a good job of ripping away their safety-net and letting them fall through the cracks that always existed. Not in a sadistic way, either - I’m just glad they were in a position to have more experience than the wishy-washy, vanilla early seasons allowed. I don’t think it was always executed well, but the themes such as “you and life are the Big Bad� is fascinating to me.

The entire premise of the show rests on the mythology that the soul gives a being the moral compass in the place a demon would otherwise have a driver’s seat. I certainly didn’t like the mechanics behind the decision the include the scene, nor the manipulative way in which it was shot, but Buffy seeking comfort in somebody who victimized her is nothing new.

As for preachy? Well, I never related to Buffy much. I liked the fringe characters. Buffy, to me, was too bubbly and compliant in the patriarchy. The facts that she could “like, kick ass and stuff� didn’t trump that.

Whoa. Would you guys believe that I was listening to the Sacrifice theme from the OST when I came upon this article in the feed a few min. ago? Freaky. Just... fuckin, high-fives for everybody on me.

*slap*

My brothers, my mom and I also like Buffy (and Angel). My bro's are huge on BitTorrent. We have the entire episode (And the musical episode) in HI-DEF .wmv formats.

I am a Buffy fanatic. I own every season except for 2 & 3. I admit that the last season made me roll my eyes more than once. Buffy definitely has a holier than thou attitude. But that last episode is a goody.

Heh. That was nifty!

I never watched Buffy (or Angel), because I've never managed to find UPN/WB on my cable box. One of these days, I'll start renting it season by season.

I never watched Buffy because Sarah Michelle Gellar was so bitchy and mean in Cruel Intentions and was too girly and patriarchal for me. But I'll keep this clip, *tear*.

Ah, Buffy's Empowering speech.. So women who choose to remain in chains need to hear that oration.

Durga:

I know this has been (and will continue to be) debated endlessly on more appropriate forums, but I just have to say that I really can't help but consider

1) Putting Buffy in a mutually-abusive relationship with an unrepentant mass murderer (who never showed an ounce of remorse even when he *did* get his soul back)

and

2) Turning Willow into a girlfriend-abusing junkie (once they turned magic, which the show had been using as a metaphor for lesbian sex until that point, into an addictive drug)

to be "tearing down" instead of "growing up".

Damn Jessica, you trying to get me slayed!

I love love love you for posting that. :)
"...Because a bunch of men who died thousand of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined."
*SIGH* Gets me every time.

I adore Buffy so much! Thanks for posting that! That is the singular most inspiring moment in television history (that I've seen). Every woman should watch this.

Joss Whedon is a hero!

I just cried too. Buffy is one of my favorite shows of all time. And that scene is just so... yeah, well you know. :)

Yeah, I love that scene. Thank you so much for posting it.

Oh man - best. scene. ever. That scene is why I so often watch that episode when I'm running on the treadmill. Adrenaline rush+teary-eyed feeling of triumph=awesome!

me too. i finished watching season 7 again a few weeks ago and i completely lost it. happens every time. damn you, Joss Whedon.

just as good is what comes a few minutes later -- when all the new slayers toss the scythe from one to the other. love the sharing of the power! I can't wait for joss whedon's wonderwoman to come out.