User Reviews

In my opinion the three greatest BTVS episodes ever are season two's "Becoming Part Two," season five's "The Gift," and season six's "Once More With Feeling." I'm never sure which one is the all around "best," but in terms of sheer creative force "Once More With Feeling" is probably the winner. This was an episode that easily could have crashed and burned. It's a musical, for crying out loud. When I first heard about it, I was definitely skeptical. I thought it sounded sort of embarrassing and cheese-y. But, I was dead wrong. In reality, this episode is an artistic triumph from start to finish. Now, I have all the songs on my iPod. (Seriously, I've got the whole album.) "Once More With Feeling" is the show's high water mark and, if you haven't seen it yet, you really need to give it a shot. Today.

"Once More With Feeling" revolves around a musical demon named Sweet coming to Sunnydale. He casts a spell on the town, so that the Sunnydale-ites are suddenly acting like it's a musical. Dancing in perfect synchronization and singing about their deepest feelings. Buffy wanders through a graveyard, killing demons and lamenting the fact that she's just "going through the motions" of life. She meets up with the Scoobies and they have a nice group number as they try to devise a plan. Really none of them are too worried, though. Willow and Tara sing about their love. Anya and Xander have a duet about their mutual doubts concerning their relationship. Then a someone dies from dancing too hard, burning down to cinders. Taking the situation more seriously, Buffy goes to Spike for help. Spike tries to resist, but he's under the spell too and breaks into song. He complains that Buffy's constant presence in his life is painful, since she won't really be with him. Hurt and confused, Buffy goes back to the Magic Box. Giles internally sings that Buffy will never really grow up if he's always there for her to lean on. His song becomes a duet with Tara, as she realizes that Willow cast a spell on her back in "All the Way." Both of them see that they will have to leave their relationships.

Meanwhile, Dawn gets kidnapped by Sweet and is taken to the Bronze. He tells her that she summoned him and now she has to be his queen. He and Dawn have a duet as she argues that she "so did not" call on him. When Buffy realizes that her sister is gone, she decides to rescue her. Giles refuses to help, wanting Buffy to stand on her own. As Buffy heads to the Bronze, she sings about her longing to feel again and her determination to save Dawn. Spike adds a chorus grumbling about how he wishes she would just die and set him free, then deciding that he has to help her. The Scoobies change their minds and also go after Buffy. They all meet up and the Bronze. Buffy offers Sweet a trade, her for Dawn. She sings about her dissatisfaction with life, finally admitting to the Scoobies that she was in heaven. Then she begins to dance faster and faster, burning up. Spike grabs her and forces her to stop. Then Xander admits that he's the one who called on Sweet, thinking it would be fun to have a happy ending for a change. Sweet doesn't really want Xander for his underworld queen and leaves. The Scoobies have on last song as they debate where they will go from here. The episode ends with Spike and Buffy sharing their first (real) kiss.

There are so many great parts to this episode. You really need to see it to appreciate that artistry of it all. It's so important that the cast really sings the songs and they all do a great job. I think the group numbers "Walk Through the Fire" and "Where Do We Go From Here?" are especially good. And I love Xander and Anya's song. ("His penis got diseases from a Chumush tribe," is one of the funniest lyrics I've ever heard.) Tara and Giles' duet is heartbreaking and really beautiful. The two of them are just spectacular. I also like Spike pulling himself out of the "big group sing" at the end, swearing in annoyance and stalking away. Another cool part is how the song lyrics all have hidden meanings that tell you where the season is going. Anya predicts disaster at the weeding. "Where Do We Go From Here?" promises at kiss at the end of the episode. And Sweet sings that the characters are all hurdling towards the "distant redness," which is an allusion to the episode "Seeing Red" that kicks off the season finale.

On the down side, I think Giles' is completely wrong about leaving Sunnydale. Buffy needs him. Sure, she'll have to eventually stand on her own, but she's too emotionally fragile right now. Most of the people that Buffy has loved have left her in one way or another. Angel, her father, Riley, her mother... Giles' should have foreseen how this would effect her. Personally, I think that Giles' leaving sends all the Scoobies into a tail spin and contributes to their self destructive behavior. His exit in "Tabula Rasa" also leaves a hole in the show that will never really be filled, even with his later return. Also, I wish Sweet had come back, maybe over on "Angel." I really liked him and I know he and Lorne would have had some good times. Plus, I just can't get enough of Angel singing "Mandy."

My favorite part of the episode: Spike jumping over that fence during the "Walk Through the Fire" number. Just once in my life, I want to look that cool.

I really loved this episode because it's not often we see many of Spike's or Buffy's feelings and you got to know what it's like to be Giles, about how unappreciated he feels because if you ask him to do something he'll do it and you don't often hear a thank-you. It was also good to see the real things that go through a soon-to-be-married couple's heads, the worries, the frustration, the confusion and it wasn't all about slaying a vampire that's trying to kill everyone, i think although he knew what he was doing the demon loved the entertainment of everyone's feelings coming out and ruining their lives rather then the deaths themselves, although he did seem to like that as well.

Anyone who complains about the vocal prowess of the cast has totally missed the point of this episode. The point being that ALL the residents of Sunnydale are being forced to reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings by being compelled to sing, regardless of their singing ability. None of the cast were hired as singers, and no one should be *expected* to do professionally what they are not trained to do; especially not in front of the viewing millions. You wouldn't hire a plumber and expect them to be able to fix your electrics too so why people expect these actors to be singers as well is totally beyond me. Even Anthony Head and James Marsters - who had sung before - were less than comfortable with it when it was first presented to them. To be honest, I'm not even sure what the complaints are on that score because as a classically trained soprano, I thought they all did really well. I've heard a lot worse from people who do actually call themselves singers. It is to the cast's eternal credit that they buckled down and made the best of it and, in doing so, made one hell of an episode.

This episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the best that I ever watched. The concept for it was very good. The singing from everyone was brilliant, and I especially liked Sarah Michelle Gellar's singing in this episode. The comedy in the songs, for example in the song I've Got a Theory when the group sing 'It's do or die!' and then Buffy adds 'Hey I've died twice!'. That was just hilarious. There was a lot of seriousness as well, and that was one point that balanced the episode out. The acting in this episode was very good. The actors and actresses had to spend around 10 weeks in vocal coaching for this episode, and the episode shows that the vocal coaching lessons payed off for all members of the cast. The ending to this episode was excellent. It was just wonderful to see Buffy and Spike finally get together.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!! I take exception to anyone who doesn't get "Once More With Feeling".

If you've watched and loved musicals over the years you know that a good one has certain elements and this episode is genius when it comes to getting it all right.

Just to have that many people in a series who can not only carry a tune (yes I understand that Allyson Hannigan is not a singer, but I still enjoyed the lines she had even with the limited amount of "alone" singing.)is almost impossible. Buffy fans know that Anthony Stewart Head and James Marsters are both singers, but who knew (be honest) that Sarah Michelle Gellar had such a good voice? Amber Benson has a gorgeous voice, I was blown away by her voice the first time, now I just enjoy hearing it every time I watch this episode - I think her voice is soothing and haunting.

The dancing - and dancing Demon was genius - thank you Joss - but why didn't Michelle Trachtenberg get more song time, what little that was heard was good. I think that Michelle's dance scene on the pool table was more important.

Joss Whedon wrote ALL of the songs - all of them and I am sad our society has nixed most Musicals as child's fare or Broadway dreams and not for the Silver Screen or even, for the most part, TV.

The sheer emotion when Spike comes to Buffy's rescue is palpable and can still evoke wrenching emotions - many of us can relate to many of the themes and emotions in this episode.

People who aren't Buffy or Angel fans to the Nth degree may not like the musical, but those of you who like a good musical (Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Wizard of Oz) will see a deeper meaning in the dancing and songs.

I find something new almost every time I watch and sometimes I just put it on and listen to the whole thing while I am doing more mundane things. This is a rare and enjoyable musical - TV or not.

This is a fun episode and absolutely one of the top ten in the series.

I'm fairly stoic. I'm not one who often gets one's knickers in a twist. But this episode made me jump up and down and spin right around...

There was just something about this episode that resonated. Having watched every episode of Buffy from day one and having followed the story of her and her friends, I found this episode to be incredibly moving. Deep on so many levels... This is pure philosophy masquerading as popular entertainment. Wheedon is masterful in asking the important questions. In pushing the discussion forward... What if one WAS dead and could be revived... but if in being dead one was in a state of bliss. Being "revived" to the real would would make one feel what, exactly?

Beautiful stuff, which is why Joss Whedon is one of the foremost bright lights in illuminating the modern morass that pretends to be entertainment.

This episode is so good.

Joss Whedon is a true genius. Having an episode completely silent and now a musical? And we're still captivated! As I was watching it I could see high shoolers doing this. The songs are fantastic, funny and cheesy, especially Xander and Anya's song about their fears and insecurities about their wedding, could have been taken directly out of a Stephen Sondheim musical. But the songs are not all funny. Buffy's grand soliloqy about her being taken out of heaven is really painful. Willow hopefully learns something from this, even though the damage is probably done. If the songs are truly how they feel, Tara has had enough of her wicca overload.

A definite 10/10. I really liked that it was the cast's own voices, it wasn't meant to pretty, but none of them directly sucked. Xander was probably the weakest voice, but it had it's charm. At least he was better than Russel Crowe in Les Mis. Oh and a final note: Michelle Trachtenberg showed some really sexy moves...and it's OK to say that as she's no longer 15.

What is the perfect companion to an episode where everyone loses their voice and can't express themselves? Once More, With Feeling. Joss Whedon adds songwriter to his ever growing label, next to writer and director with this episode where everyone can't stop expressing themselves. The story is typical Buffy, but the addition of catchy pop songs brings new life to a show that by this time was becoming a real downer. And the cast (mostly) rises to the occasion, with only Sarah Michelle Gellar's weak range making "Going Through The Motions" the to skip song and her piercing screams in "Walk Through The Fire" are annoying. The addition of Hinton Battle as the sweet baddie is inspired as he brings the house down with "What You Feel." The whole group gets in on "I've Got A Theory" and "Where Do We Go From Here." Spike fully confesses his love and hate to Buffy in "Rest In Peace" while Anya and Xander sing happily together about unhappiness being together in "I'll Never Tell." Tara's fluffy yet naughty ode to her willow tree and the silly song snippets "The Mustard" and "The Parking Ticket" are a hoot as well, but it the stuffy librarian that gets me every time. The solo "Standing" and duet with Tara in the reprise of "Under Your Spell/Standing" use the soft rocking Giles perfectly(tell me!). I have to mention nearly every song, because I like them all. Along with the songs comes the most glossily filmed episode full of group shots and a huge park with tiny bridge to give the full big musical effect. One of the most inspired episodes, fully displaying the goofy humor and effective drama.

*Xander: "You're the cutest of the scoobies with your lips as red as rubies and your firm, yet supple...tight embrace!"*