BAND CANDY

Russ and I have been watching Buffy together from Season 1 Episode 1, and at the moment we are barely at the beginning of Season 3. So lots and lots of goog stuff yet to come! First I have to mention what a great guy Russ is for turning me on to Buffy in the first place, and for making all this possible at all. This is totally all his doing. Thank you, sweetie!

So last night we watch Band Candy, and today I have watched it again. In fact, I’m watching it now, yet again. And why not? It is probably the funniest episodes yet! Except for Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Having said that, I realize that what these two episodes have in common is that they both play off the unique characterizations. Both episodes take what we already know about the characters and mess around with that, in a way that is truly, truly insightful and amusing.

Okay, so in Band Candy, we have all the grown ups reverting back to teenagers. As a grown up who too often feels like a teenager, I found this absolutely too wild for words! Here are my impressions…from the other side of 16.

Buffy’s mom, Joyce—never really liked her much. Way too serious, too much the disciplinarian. Her role as “mom” forces the fun out of her. But now she is totally fun, hanging with her new boyfriend Giles, drinking, listening to music, carrying handcuffs (!) and telling Buffy, “Screw you!” For the first time we really see her being more than just what is demanded by her role as “Buffy’s mom.” I like that. She’s…”very Juice Newton.”

Giles. What a riot. What does Buffy say about him as a teen? “Bad magic hates the world ticking time bomb guy.” He’s irreverant, irresponsible, so un-Giles. He smokes, with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in the sleeve of his undershirt. Even his accent descends. “Coppers go’ a gun!” He’s so cool. He’s like Burt Reynolds. hehe

But probably the most fun of all is Principal Snyder. What a riot! I can’t explain why I get such a kick out of him as a teen. Probably because he is even more of a weasel as a teen than he is as an adult. As an adult, he is mean spirited, but as a teen, he’s just so…so… mischevious. And there’s something about the way the actor portrays him, how he puts that glint in his eye. Despite the bald head, you almost believe he’s 16. Too funny! (“Whoa! There are some foxy laides here tonight!”)

Okay, I’m gushing enough. The idea that the teenager we once were is always still somewhere inside us is so intriguing, so appealing. I mean, hopefully, indulging that teenager now and then does not lead to quite as much trouble as it does in the Buffy universe—but then when is anything in the real universe anywhere near as intense and dramatic as anything in the Buffy universe?

Final thought. An episode like this, besides offering deeper insight into our favorite characters, also gives a greater respect for the talents of the actors. Sometimes, I think, we get so used to seeing them play their parts so well, that it seems second nature, we lose our sense of marveling over what a good job they are doing. Now we are reminded that they are in fact acting, they are not really these particular characters, but actors portraying these characters, and indeed portraying all the different levels of their characters so very well.

And now Russ tells me we are getting ready to delve into several very angsty episodes. Well, then, I guess it was good to have this little side trip to Laughland before we go there.