The Sunnydale Stacks: A Buffy Podcast

Kristen & Mike are back! They've teamed up with Chris from Hey, Do You Remember…? for a brand new podcast called Rogues Gallery. On each episode, they'll investigate pop culture's most memorable villains, antiheroes, and misunderstood monsters to figure out how they make being bad look so good. The first official episode will be released on Wednesday, July 17th, but you can subscribe right now anywhere you get your podcasts. After that, follow the show on social media to get more info on upcoming suspects, join the hosts for post-episode discussions, and a ton of other fun surprises!We missed you, stackers! And we think you're really going to love this new show! Subscribe to Rogues Gallery:Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | SpotifySocial Media Links:Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

When Firefly was cancelled after only 11 episodes aired (way to go, Fox), it was the fan response that convinced Universal to give the film the green light. Joss rewarded us with a story that would have served as the plot line for the mythical Firefly: Season Two. When an Alliance-devoted Operative learns that River was privy to a government-destroying secret, he sets out to capture her no matter the obstacle. But when River's "trigger" reveals her super soldier fighting skills, the Serenity crew has some questions of their own. Will the Operative capture the Tams before our crew can reveal the truth about Reavers? Kristen and Mike discuss the reception of the film for non-Browncoats, what Mal believes in, and which characters were under-served. PLUS! What's next for Kristen and Mike?

Kristen and Mike take bets on who would win in ten theoretical Mal match-ups.

In "Objects in Space", after River picks up a gun the crew discusses her danger to the rest of them. Meanwhile, a bounty hunter named Jubal Early sneaks onboard Serenity to apprehend the Tams. When River is not found on the ship, she announces that she has become Serenity. While Jubal tries to comprehend this, River forms a plan. Kristen and Mike discuss the existentialist themes of this episode, and compare and contrast River and Early. We round out our Firefly discussion with our series wrap-up. Topics include: Yearbook Awards, In Memorium, Biggest Damn Hero, Favorite Episodes, Favorite Characters, and why Firefly was cancelled. PLUS! What would we have seen in Firefly Season 2?

Kristen and Mike take bets on who would win in eight theoretical Buffy match-ups.

Kristen and Mike pitch their ideas for Firefly Crossovers.

Kristen and Mike pitch their ideas for Buffy Crossovers.

In "The Message", Zoe and Mal receive a crate in the mail containing the dead body of their former brother-in-arms, Tracy. As they try to return his body to his family, Serenity is attacked by feds demanding Tracy's corpse. When Simon attempts an autopsy, Tracy wakes up and explains that he's smuggling human organs. The crew must figure out how to save Tracy and themselves from the rogue feds. Kristen and Mike discuss Tracy's fatal flaw, and the more dramatic tone of this episode. In "Heart of Gold", Inara's friend Nandi asks for help. Her brothel is under attack from a wealthy customer looking to steal a prostitute's baby. The crew jump to action fortifying the bordello and defending the women. When Mal hits it off with Nandi, Inara feigns indifference but is privately heartbroken. We examine Mal and Inara's relationship (or lack thereof), the crew's distinct roles in the battle, Jayne's respect for the working girls, and Kristen mixes up Nandi and Tandi repeatedly. Sorry, Graham-t! I mean, Nandi!

When Wash gets jealous over Zoe and Mal's "War Stories", he insists on taking Zoe's usual spot on a job. Unfortunately, this happens to the be the day that Niska catches up with them. He's still sore over Mal giving back that black market medicine, and tortures Mal and Wash in retaliation. Kristen and Mike discuss the evolution of River's abilities, and Wash's growth as a character. In "Trash", the crew runs into an old foe - Saffron... or Bridget... or Yolanda? She proposes a caper to steal an antique laser pistol from a rich collector. The plan to ditch the pistol in the trash and retrieve it later is going well - until they run into Saffron's husband. But the real one this time. We address Kristen's memory of this episode (or lack thereof), and why Saffon feels so different this time. PLUS! Do you slice your grenades, I mean - apples?

In "Out of Gas", Serenity is crippled in deep space. With their oxygen running out, Mal orders the rest of the crew off ship to find help. While Mal attempts to fix his stranded ship, he remembers meeting each of his crew members for the first time. Kristen and Mike discuss the 3-timeline story structure, and the way the writers convey exposition visually. In "Ariel", while the ship is docked on an Alliance planet, Simon proposes a heist to sneak River into the hospital. While Simon runs tests on River, Mal and Zoe steal valuable medicine. But when Jayne turns in the Tams for the reward money, they'll have to break out of custody and outrun the Hands of Blue men. We analyze River's diagnosis, and explore Mal's decision to spare Jayne. PLUS! The Stackers share their stories of being lost or stranded.

As promised, this week we're taking Andrew's advice (7:9 "Never Leave Me") and giving Babe a second chance in his second film - Babe: Pig in the City. Although Babe is now a champion sheep herder, his troubles are not over. When an accident leaves the Farmer unable to work, his wife takes Babe on an exotic trip to earn some prize money and save the farm. But when they're detained on a layover in Metropolis (or possibly an alien planet), Esme and Babe find refuge in a strange hotel full of animals and a circus troop. While Babe attempts to rescue the farm and his new friends, Esme just wants to rescue Babe. We discuss critics' reception of this film, the director's history, and the heartwarming rescue that will leave everyone in tears.

Our top 5 most iconic spaceships in pop culture.

In "Our Mrs. Reynolds", after helping a barren town thwart bandits, the crew celebrates with a party and libations. The next morning, Mal discovers that he unwittingly participated in a marriage ceremony and meets his new wife Saffron. Mal admirably rejects the premise of a person being traded as payment, but eventually falls victim to her seducton. But Saffron has other plans. We discuss our reactions to Saffon's betrayal, and whether Jayne's trade for Vera is deplorable or a sign of growth. In "Jaynestown", when the crew lands on Canton - a planet populated by enslaved mudders - they find that the inhabitants have built a statue to commemorate Jayne. Years ago, Jayne stole from the Magistrate and dumped the money (and his partner) in the chase. The Mudders believe that Jayne was giving them the money as a charitable Robin Hood act. While Jayne basks in hero-worship, the Magistrate makes plans for revenge. We debate over Simon's behavior as respectful or insulting, and Joe teaches us how to make Mudder's Milk at home. PLUS! Joe from Wayne Manor Memoirs joins us in the Stacks.

When Inara lands a date to a fancy "Shindig", she's looking forward to a night of sophistication and culture. It's a shame that Mal's gonna crash the party so he can woo a potention client of his own. Kaylee is enjoying the festivities, but the night goes awry when Mal inadvertently challenges Inara's suitor to a duel. The gunslinger must learn to swordfight while his crew is trapped on Serenity. Kristen and Mike discuss Inara's dillemna to live with Atherton full time, and the production value of shooting in Disney's backlot. In "Safe", Mal encourages Simon and River to explore a new planet so he can sell his wares. When the deal goes sour, Book is injured and Serenity needs to leave the planet without the doc and his sister. Meanwhile, Simon is forced to treat the sick and injured of a small town, whose citizens don't taken kindly to River's abilities. We examine the Tam parents' indifference to their daughter's well-being, and the town's sudden yet ardent religious fervor. PLUS! The Stackers' favorite Firefly characters!

In "The Train Job, when crime lord Adelei Niska hires the crew of the Serenity to steal goods off an Alliance train, Mal doesn't ask many questions. He'll regret that, however, when the plan goes awry and him and Zoe find themselves stranded on an indigent planet. How will the crew get them out? And what to do about this much-needed stolen medicine? Kristen and Mike discuss how this episode would have functioned as a pilot, and Mal's dillemna over returning the loot.In "Bushwhacked", Serenity happens across a derelict and seemingly abandoned ship. While a closer inspection finds treasured goods inside, it also reveals evidence of a Reaver attack. The crew attempts to save the lone survivor, but he may be beyond help. And here comes the Alliance, ill-equipped and full of bad ideas. We look at the white-knuckle scenes that build tension in this ep, and examine the two Reaver origin stories.PLUS! Which Firefly character scares the Stackers? iTunes / Stitcher / RSS / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramAbout the Show

We're back! Firefly starts off with a bang in this 2-parter introducing us to the universe after Earth-that-was. Mal, Zoe, Jayne, and Kaylee live and work on a ship called Serenity, running less-than-legal jobs. When they're flagged by the tyrranical government The Alliance, their deal goes sour and they're forced to take on passengers. But at least two of the newcomers have secrets that could bring the crew's way of life to an end. Kristen and Mike discuss their histories with this series, the strange order in which these episodes were aired, and Mike's mysterious connection to Kaylee/Jewel Staite. In Part 2, the crew starts off in a bad spot. There's a lawman on board, Kaylee's been shot, the Alliance is coming, and Simon has smuggled his sister onto the ship. Mal chooses to follow through with his deal, however, and sell his smuggled goods to Patience. But when Patience predictably and metaphorically stabs Mal in the back, Serenity needs to hightail it out of there and... oh, look - Reavers are coming. We talk about Mal's specific brand of morality, and our evolving opinions about the super stuffy Simon Tam.

Kristen and Mike share a look back at all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In this post-mortem we discuss our favorite (and least favorite) episodes, seasons, villains, slays, and characters. And we share our listeners' stories of what Buffy means to them. PLUS! We announce what comes next for The Sunnydale Stacks.

In "End of Days", after Buffy removes the Scythe, she rescues Faith and the potentials from the blast site and an Ubervamp attack. While Buffy and Faith bond over the lonely position of the Slayer, Andrew and Anya loot medical supplies from the abandoned hospital. Willow's research into the Scythe's origins leads Buffy to meet the last Guardian, and to her final showdown with Caleb. We discuss emotional scenes without the need for speeches, and Caleb's big-bad takedown. In "Chosen", Angel gives Buffy a mysterious amulet, a backup plan for the upcoming battle, and hope for the future. Back at home, Buffy names Spike as her champion. When The First attempts to shake her confidence, Buffy forms a winning plan. The gang prepares for the final showdown at the high school, and the moment when Buffy's no longer the only Chosen One. We remember watching the finale for the first time, and delve into Anya's send-off. PLUS! Chris from Hey, Do You Remember...? joins us as we celebrate seven seasons in the Stacks!

In "Empty Places", as the town's citizens flee, Sunnydale's police force gets antsy for some Justice. When Faith takes the potentials for a night out, the group is forced to fight some overzealous law enforcement. Meanwhile, Spike and Andrew leave town to investigate a lead, leaving Buffy without backup when the rest of the group mutinies. Kristen and Mike discuss the townspeople's awareness of the apocolypse, and the culmination of events that lead to Buffy's explusion from the group. In "Touched", with Buffy ejected from the Summers home, the rest of the group doesn't find the easy peace they expected. Spike's fury at Buffy's banishment leads him to find her languishing in an empty house. The gang forces a Bringer to speak via Andrew, pointing them to an underground arsenal. While everyone prepares for the next day's battle, the Scoobies get frisky. We break down the different "coupling" milestones in this ep, and analyze the concurrent final assaults.

In "Lies My Parents Told Me", Giles is determined to deactivate Spike's trigger once and for all. But when Spike doesn't like the emotional baggage that unleashes, Giles is forced to team up with Principal Wood to take Spike out. When Robin locks himself in a room with a triggering Spike, he doesn't anticipate the psychological treatment he'd be giving the vampire. Kristen and Mike discuss the evolution of Spike's Mom and her relationship to her son. In "Dirty Girls", Sunnydale has two new visitors - Faith and Caleb! While Faith re-acclimates herself with the Scooby Army, Caleb has a cryptic message for Buffy. When the totally obvious trap turns out to be a trap, the gang suffers heavy losses. Kristen and Mike talk about the crowded cast list, the rejuvenation that Faith brings, and Caleb's proselytizing. PLUS! The Stackers reveal their fantasy BtVS relationships!

In "Get it Done", Robin, finally a member of the Scooby Gang, gives Buffy his mother's Slayer Bag-o-Tricks. Insides is a shadow puppet theater, and when Dawn reads the story of the First Slayer amidst the shadows, it opens a portal. While Buffy negotiates with the First Watchers, the gang must figure out a way to get her back. Kristen and Mike discuss Buffy's "Everyone sucks but me" speech, and Spike's magic coat. In "Storyteller", Andrew has appointed himself Scooby Documentarian. He narrates the Slayer's campaign against the First to hilarious inaccuracy. Meanwhile, the seal is heating up and possessing the students of Sunnydale High. Buffy has a plan to deactivate it, but it means Andrew will have to put down the camera and face his actions. We examine the device of Andrew as an unreliable narrator, and the dangers of possessed teenagers versus literal superheros. PLUS! Your unnamed character credits!

In "The Killer in Me", when Giles takes the Potentials on a vision quest, Kennedy stays home because of the "flu"... which is code for sexually pursuing Willow. But their first kiss backfires and turns Willow into Warren! While Willow attempts to reverse the masculine magic, the Scoobies get a call from England about Giles. Kristen and Mike discuss The Kennedy Complaint and look back on Giles' behavior now that he's definitely corporeal.In "First Date", Xander and Buffy both have first dates! When Principal Wood asks out Buffy she sees an opportunity for both romance and information. And when Xander meets Ashanti, he bumbles his way into a rendevous that definitely won't end in disaster because she's definitely not a demon. We look back on Robin's behavior now that he's a good guy, and review Ashanti's performance.PLUS! Our personal versions of the "sad overalls". iTunes / Stitcher / RSS / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramAbout the Show

It's "Showtime"! As the Potential Slayers continue to arrive in Sunnydale, the Scoobies still lack answers to their questions about The First. Giles and Anya seek out Beljoxa's Eye from their demon contacts. Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander go to greet another Potential, but instead find her dead body. With its disguise revealed, The First sends the Turok-Han to thin the herd. Kristen and Mike discuss the Kennedy controversy, and analyse The First's and the Slayer's respective plans. In "Potential", Buffy's becoming increasingly exhausted with the Potentials' excuses and timidness in their training. When Willow performs a spell to find the next newbie, it points the way to Dawn. Brimming with newfound confidence and purpose, Dawn attempts to help a classmate Amanda, and slay the vamp solo. But was Dawn really the target of Willow's spell? We examine Sunnydale's lack of fire safety, and the Season Seven Speech Phenomenon. PLUS! Who's your favorite Potential Slayer?

In "Never Leave Me", Buffy must restrain Spike during his blood withdrawal. Meanwhile, Willow runs into Andrew in town. The Scoobies hold him hostage to see what evil deeds he has planned. But The First is still able to trigger Spike into attacking. When the Bringers attack the Summers home, they kidnap Spike and reveal the Turok-Han. Kristen and Mike discuss Principal Wood as a red herring, and we say good riddance to the Watcher's Council. In "Bring on the Night", with The First finally revealed, the gang tries to research it without luck. Giles arrives to help - with three potential slayers in tow. He breaks the news about the council and divulges The First's plan to wipe out the entire Slayer line. When she and Giles search his last known whereabouts, Buffy meets the Turok-han and escapes by the skin of dawn breaking. But the sun has to go down eventually... Kristen and Mike review the Turok-han's design, Buffy's haunted dreams, and the first in a long line of speeches. PLUS! Your favorite Andrew quotes.

Our field trip to the Big Apple features the 1999 movie Simply Irresistible, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Just as Amanda's mother's restaurant is sure to close due to her terrible cooking, she receives a gift from a mysterious man at the farmer's market - a magic crab. Yes, you read that right. A magic crab. Once it sets up shop in her kitchen, it seems this crab can make Amanda's emotions affect her cooking - inducing feelings of satisfaction, lust, and friskiness. When major hunk Tom visits her restaurant, the two begin a whirlwind romance from meal to meal. But are Tom's feelings genuine? Or is he being magically roofied? Kristen and Mike look for the appeal of Tom, and what character development (if any) he and Amanda undergo by the end. And we discuss Mike's conspiracy theory of where the magic really comes from, and consider his dark sequel pitch.

Our top 5 most memorable moments in Buffy fashion.

In "Conversations with Dead People", the Scooby gals are each visited by strangely chatty corpses. When Buffy's slated foe turns out to be a former classmate, patroling turns into a therapy session. Willow is visited by an intermediary with a message from Tara. And Dawn saves her mother's spirit from a violent demon... or so she thinks. Kristen and Mike discuss the decision to reintroduce Cassie, and Buffy's decision to open up to Holden. In "Sleeper", reeling from Holden's news that Spike is feeding again, Buffy enlists the Scoobies to find hard evidence. When spying on him doesn't work, Buffy confronts him outright. And while he's adamant that he'd remember the taste of human blood, Spike decides to look for evidence of his own. When his memories lead them to a basement full of dead bodies, that's all the proof they need. We discuss reasons to not let a random dude push you into a dark alley, Spike's sleeping habits, and the duration of Dawn's mistrust. PLUS! The Stackers' updated trigger songs.

On the first day of Buffmas, my true love gave to me...

In "Selfless", while Anya's return to the vengeance fold has earned praise from her peers, her conscience can't keep up. When she sends a giant spider to settle the score with an entire fraternity, Buffy sees no choice but to slay her former friend. Kristen and Mike compare Anya's two death scenes this season, and interpret the origin of her bunny fear. In "Him", Dawn falls in love with RJ and loses all sense of self control and rationality. Is it normal teenage hormones or a wacky love spell? When Buffy goes gaga for the same meat-head, it becomes clear to everyone except the sisters that they're victims of some mystical mojo. Can the boys find the source before the lovesick girls do some real harm? Kristen and Mike discuss how to make the first half as entertaining as the second, and compare this episode's sense of humor to The Zeppo's. PLUS! The Stackers' favorite Anya moments!

In "Same Time Same Place", Willow returns to Sunnydale, but can't find her friends. Or the Scoobies are worried when Willow doesn't arrive in Sunnydale. Even though they're at the same place at the same time (see what I did there?), they can't see each other. But when everyone ends up investigating the same murder, the reason becomes more clear. Kristen and Mike discuss what makes Gnarl so memorable, the horror of his methodology, and the bureaucracy of demon-ing. In "Help", Buffy starts her new job as student adviser. When Cassie tells her that she's going to die on Friday, the Slayer enlists the Scoobies to prevent the prophecy. Is it the drunken dad? The friend-zoned boy? Or the greedy demon-worshiping cult? Tricky. Kristen and Mike examine possible color symbolism this season, and Spike's redeeming moment! PLUS! Did the Stackers want an eighth season?

Our top 5 recommended TV shows for Buffy fans.

In "Lessons", Sunnydale High has reopened and Buffy is aprehensive about Dawn's freshman year. Rightly so, because as Buffy creepily stalks the hallways, her younger sister is attacked by ghosts. When the Slayer follows her to the basement, she finds a basketcase Spike hiding there. Kristen and Mike discuss this season's upgraded technology, the uninspired baddies, and the mind-blowing ending. In "Beneath You", a Tremors-like worm is burrowing through the streets of Sunnydale, targeting innocent Nancy. As the depleted Scoobies assemble, a seemingly sane Spike arrives to offer his help. Anya confesses to turning Nancy's ex into a giant worm. So when Spike accidently stabs non-worm Ronnie, the guilt forces him into a confession. Kristen and Mike examine Spike's reaction (or lack thereof) to his Season 6 misdeeds, and offer ideas to fix the Spike-sanity-switch.

Willow has "Two to Go" in taking her Revenge on the Nerds (see what I did there?). The Scoobies break the Duo out of jail and go on the run. After Willow kills Rack to drain his power, she confronts Buffy in the Magic Box. We discuss the dillemna of stopping Willow without harming her, and the return of our favorite librarian. In the season finale "Grave", Giles has borrowed magics from a coven to bind Willow. But she escapes and drains his power. The dose of white magic overwhelms her, setting her on a path to end the world's misery by just ending the whole world. When no superhuman can overpower her, Xander saves the world with words. We discuss the nonviolent ending, and Willow's switch in motivation. PLUS! Your Buffy Saturday Morning Cartoons! And the Season 6 Yearbook Awards and In Memorium!

In "Seeing Red", while Willow and Tara bask in reconciliation, Buffy tracks down the Trio's new lair. The evil nerds are busy stealing the Orbs of Nezzla'khan (Gesundheit!) which give Warren strength and invincibility. After a disturbing encounter with Spike, Buffy foils the Trio's plans to rob an armored car - setting Warren on a mission of revenge. Kristen and Mike discuss Spike's mortifying behavior, and the tragic end of one of the series' most beloved characters. In "Villians", with her girlfriend murdered and her best friend clinging to life, Willow's pain and rage push her over the edge. After saving Buffy's life, the turbocharged witch tracks down Warren. The other Scoobies try to keep Willow from going over the edge, but they're too late and witness the flaying firsthand. We examine Buffy's insistance that she can't kill Warren, and Spike's regression and trip to Africa. PLUS! Which Whedonverse death shocked the Stackers the most?

Get your friends hooked on Buffy with Kristen and Mike's 5-episode recruitment plans.

In "Normal Again", while looking for the Trio's new hideout, Buffy is poisoned by a Glarghk Guhl Kashmas'nik. The poison causes her to hallucinate that Sunnydale isn't real and she's been in a mental hospital for 6 years. Or maybe she's really there? And Sunnydale is the delusion? While Buffy tries to determine what's real, the Scoobies brew her an antidote. We discuss the poison's medical effect, and what's really real. In "Entropy", freshly wounded after being left at the alter, Anya seeks vengeance against Xander. When she can't grant her own wishes, she enlists the Scoobies to wish terrible things on his intestines. Meanwhile Spike, definitively rejected by Buffy, seeks Anya's help in licking his wounds. Kristen and Mike discuss Xander's riteous indignation, and Dawn's growth as a character. PLUS! We poll your thoughts on the real reality in Normal Again.

Reeling from Anya's sad walk down the aisle, we needed to get away from Sunnydale for a bit. So Chris (from Hey, Do You Remember...?) hopped in the school bus to join us on a field trip to review the 1996 film The Craft. Sarah's just moved to a new school and catches the eye of the local coven. Recognizing Sarah's natural gift for magic, Rochelle, Bonnie, and Queen Bee Nancy recruit her to call upon the power of "Manon". They're still teenage girls, however, and at first they use their powers for superficial purposes. Sarah wants a boy to like her. Bonnie wants to be beautiful. And Rochelle was revenge on a bully. But when Nancy wants to "invoke the spirit" to gain "all the power of Manon", the consequences of these spells start catching up to them. When Sarah tries to convince the others to decelerate their witchcraft, she's ousted from the group. Will Sarah succumb to the torment of these supernatural mean girls? We discuss our nostalgia for this movie, the muddied motivations for Nancy's anger, the repetitive imagery, and write a love letter to Fairuza Balk. PLUS! The Stackers write their own spell books...

In "As You Were", just as Buffy's life can't seem to get any more miserable - Riley Finn returns to Sunnydale to really show her up. With his exciting job and his perfect wife, Riley barges into town tracking "The Doctor" - someone who's dealing in illegal demon eggs. When Riley's success drops Buffy's self esteem to an all-time low, she turns to Spike for consolation. Kristen and Mike discuss how our feelings toward Riley have changed since season 5, and try to find any fault with Sam. You're invited to Xander and Anya's wedding! In "Hell's Bells", as Anya practices her wedding vows, Xander is approached by a mysterious old man. He warns Xander that marrying Anya will only bring misery, and shows him glimpses of the future to prove it. As the guests and the bride get restless, Xander makes a life-altering decision. Kristen and Mike discuss Anya's wedding fashion, and other choices Xander could have made. PLUS! Your Spike autobiography titles!

In "Dead Things", the Trio combine their skills to create a cerebral dampener - a device that allows them to control the actions of whomever they want. And these geeks want girls. Warren specifically wants Katrina back. When the effects wear off, Warren accidentally kills Katrina, then frames Buffy for the murder. Kristen and Mike debate the grossest thing Warren says, and break down why we're so creeped out by Spike's actions this ep. It's Buffy's birthday! HIDE! In "Older and Far Away", Dawn's visit to the guidance counselor unwittingly traps Buffy's party guests in the house. Binging cartoons and Monopoly is all well and good until Tara accidentally releases a demon that can hide itself in the walls. Buffy must confront an angsty Dawn and free them from the house before one of the guests bleeds to death. Kristen and Mike discuss the stakes (get it?) in this episode, and Dawn's regression to toddlerish whining. PLUS! Your favorite minor demon characters!

In "Gone", Buffy is overwhelmed with raising a teenager, furnishing Willow's recovery, and managing her own indiscretions with Spike. After she fails to pass muster with Child Services, Buffy chops off the golden locks Spike loves so much. A chance run-in with the Trio outside the hair salon triggers them to shoot her with their new invisibility ray. While the Scoobies investigate how to re-visible her, Buffy enjoys a brief freedom from consequences. We discuss Dawn's level 10 whining, and what we'd do with the power of invisibility. Buffy solves her income dilemma with a job at the "Doublemeat Palace". High turnover. Employees disappearing. The smell. The secret ingredient. Manny. Is this a typical fast food job or is something nefarious afoot? When Buffy finds a finger in the meat grinder, she enlists the Scoobies to investigate what's really in the Doublemeat Medley. Meanwhile, Amy doses Willow with unwanted magic. Kristen and Mike discuss the adversities of working as a corporate cog, and suggest ways to improve Wig Lady's costume. PLUS! Your food-service horror stories.

In "Smashed", the gang is reeling from the consequences of Tabula Rasa. When Buffy rejects Spike (yet again), he punches her and feels no pain. He enlists Warren's help to find out why. Meanwhile, a depressed Willow transforms Amy into her own personal magic playmate. And a Buffy/Spike brawl turns titilating. We discuss Willow's denial of Tara's very real concerns, and the importance of consent when Buffy and Spike f... er... fight. In "Wrecked". Buffy is tormented by shame after her tryst with Spike. And Willow is burnt out after a magic marathon. When Amy wants to keep going, she takes a depleted Willow to meet Rack. This guy, amiright? Willow is quickly hooked, and her magic dependence puts Dawn in very real danger. We compare Buffy and Spike's reasons behind sleeping together, and we SAY NO TO DRUGS! PLUS! Your Whedonverse villian team-ups!

In "Once More With Feeling", the Scoobies find that the entire town of Sunnydale is magically bursting into song! Tensions rise as they each unwillingly reveal their melodic secrets. When Dawn is kidnapped by a dancing demon, Giles tries to push Buffy out of her apathy by forcing her to save Dawn alone. We invite Frankie and Dana from "Girl Gang" to help us discuss this episode and write some extra verses. Distraught over Buffy's revelation, Willow's casts a spell in "Tabula Rasa" to erase Tara and Buffy's memories. However, some poor housekeeping means she accidently zaps all of the Scoobies with amnesia. They awake unsure who they are, but certain that they're scared of the monsters trying to get in. We discuss Dawn's regression into "damsel" territory and how Spike's loss of memory would affect his soul/chip behavior.

In "Life Serial", the bills are due and Buffy needs a life plan. So she takes turns shadowing each of the Scoobies to see what fits. But when she audits Tara's class, evil lint sends her on a time jump to crazy-town. And while she excels at construction work, the damage caused by her fighting demons results in a swift termination. And at the Magic Shop, that dang mummy hand makes the tedium of retail even more repetitive. A woeful, drunken Slayer teams up with Spike to discover who's been messing with her all day. Kristen and Mike discuss this season's treatment of "nerd culture", and try to figure out what the evil lint actually does. Happy Halloween! In "All the Way", Xander finally announces his engagement to Anya. During the ensuing Engagement Party, Dawn leaves for some teenage mayhem with *gasp* boys! Their adventure quickly escalates from eggs throwing, to creepy old neighbors, and finally surreptitious smoochies. When the Scoobies learn that Dawn's gone AWOL, they rush to find her while she fights off the advances of a hormonal teenage vampire. We discuss the quickly discarded creepy neighbor, and how the script could have been altered to make it feel less formulaic. PLUS! Your kitten poker puns and "parking" stories.

Dampirs and Moroi and Strigoi, oh my! The YA novel Vampire Academy (written by Rachel Mead), about an elite boarding school for peaceful blood-drinkers and their guardians, was adapted for the screen in 2014. Written by Daniel Waters (Heathers), and directed by brother Mark Waters (Mean Girls), one might predict this team was perfectly tailored for a tongue-in-cheek vampire teen comedy/thriller. But then again... After surviving a car accident that killed the rest of her family, vampire Lissa runs away from St. Vladmir Academy with her guardian and BFF Rose. But they can't outrun Dimtiri and the other vampiric truancy officers sent to return them to school. It's not a happy homecoming, however, as someone seems to be threatening Lissa with cryptic messages and dead animals. Is it schoolyard bullying? Or is someone looking to exploit Lissa's unique powers. Kristen and Mike discuss pertinent information left out of the adaptation, structural issues, and suggest different ways to handle all that exposition. PLUS! Your vampire curriculums!

In "After Life", Buffy returns, but it's not the happy homecoming the Scoobies envisioned. While the Slayer attempts to acclimate herself to resurrection, a nougat-filled demon possesses the group. The ghosty will disappear in time, unless it succeeds in killing Buffy first. Kristen and Mike compare Dawn and Spike's approach to the newly-returned Slayer to the Scoobies' method of "bombard you with questions and then get over it." The Summers' home is "Flooded" (see what I did there?). To pay for the repairs, Buffy applies for a loan at the bank, where she chases off a demon-for-hire named M'Fashnik. But who hired him? Meet the Trio - Jonathan, Warren, and Andrew, who are on a mission to "take over Sunnydale". We delve into the Trio's masterful plan, and examine the foreshadowing of Willow's turn this season and the Spuffy relationship. PLUS! What did Anya do with her stock market earnings? And what did Giles do in England?

In "Bargaing Part 1", with Buffy recently deceased, the Scoobies have taken on her Slayer duties along with the Buffybot. Giles, his Watcher duties completed, leaves for England but he might have stayed had he known about Willow's plan to resurrect Buffy. Meanwhile, when Hanson's #1 fan damages the Buffybot, he reports the unprotected Hellmouth to a gang of biker demons. The gang arrives in town just in time to ruin Willow's spell... or do they? Kristen and Mike discuss the ethics of Dawn's guardianship, and Willow's traumatic encounter with a deer. In "Bargaining Part 2" - Buffy. Is. Back! But unfortunately,after crawling out of her own grave, she wanders the streets, unable to help with the demon hoard destroying Sunnydale. While the Scoobies regroup, Buffy witnesses the bikers 'kill" the Buffybot and the sight drives her to run literally into the Scoobies. While Buffy's heroic instincts kick in enough for her save her friends, she's still disoriented. She escapes to the Tower of Terror, but Dawn is able to talk her down. Kristen and Mike discuss Willow's reaction to death throughout the series, and Anya's compulsion to talk about her engagement. PLUS! Buffy's off Netflix - now what? and Stacker Surprise - your Sunnydale Tourism Slogans!

With "The Weight of the World" on Buffy's shoulders (see what I did there?), her mind takes a break. Willow steps into a leadership role and directs the Scoobies to help Giles and surveil Glory. She then steps into Buffy's brain to see if she can't guide her back to reality. Meanwhile, Glory prepares Dawn for the ritual and Ben must choose between the light and dark sides of the force. Kristen and Mike discuss Ben - his background, character, and morality. And we debate the efficacy of Buffy's mind-loop. To celebrate the season and network finale "The Gift", we share your Stacker Stories about watching the episode for the first time! In the ep, Buffy makes it clear to the Scoobies that even if it saves the world. no harm shall come to Dawn. Motivated and peppy, Anya cheerleads the "how to we stop Glory" plan. With the Dagon Sphere, troll hammer, and Buffybot in tow, the gang follows Tara to the Tower of Terror. They launch an all-out well-calculated seige on Glory. But Doc's presence throws their plans out the window, and the walls between dimensions break down. We examine Dawn's growth over this season, and Giles' solution to the Ben problem. And we bemoan the exasperating ways networks can ruin an amazing season finale. PLUS! Season 5 Yearbook Awards and Stacker Surprise - help Jinxy worship Glorificus!

In "Tough Love", Dawn's delinquency necessitates her big sister dropping out of school and transforming herself into a strict disciplinarian. Meanwhile, after a particularly bad argument with Willow, Tara storms off to the World Culture Fair alone where Glory attacks her. Hell-bent on revenge, Willow unleashes her magical rage upon the Hell-God. Kristen and Mike debate the efficacy of acting out geometry problems, and point out some problems with the super normal World Culture Fair. In "Spiral", Buffy and Dawn are able to flee Glory long enough for a tanker truck to slow down the Hell-God. With no other way to protect her little sister, the Slayer packs the gang into an RV and goes on the run. But it's not long before they're intercepted by The Knights of Byzantine and forced to hide out in a gas station. Giles is hurt, and Buffy calls the only doctor they know. We berate Ben for his lack of a backbone, and the Knights for their failure to compromise. PLUS! We answer Dustin's question: Who in the Buffy gang would you bang, marry, and kill?

In "Forever", the Scoobies continue to mourn Joyce. While Angel arrives to comfort Buffy, Dawn refuses to accept the loss of her mother. Aided by a very sneaky Willow, Dawn plans a resurrection spell. Spike acts as chaperone as they gather the various necessary ingredients. Kristen and Mike discuss Spike's motivation to assist Dawn, and Willow's imprudence. In "Intervention", Buffy leaves town on a quest to rediscover her humanity as the Slayer. Meanwhile, Spike is enjoying his new toy - the Buffy Bot. The Scoobies are quickly fooled by the double - and plan an intervention. But first they have to stop a kidnapped Spike from telling Glory about Dawn. Kristen and Mike discuss the purpose of the vision quest, and speculate about a robot's capacity for pleasure. PLUS! You name your "blood bag delivery" companies!

In "I Was Made to Love You", Buffy reels from her recent imprisonment at the hands of Spike. Meanwhile, another petite ultra-strong girl arrives in Sunnydale looking for her boyfriend, Warren. The gang immediately draws the only conclusion one can from a pretty, socially awkward girl with super strength - robot. As Buffy tracks down the elusive boyfriend/manufacturer, April accesses her "combat mode" file. Megan from Chaotic Neutral Adventures joins us to discuss the gang's immediate prognosis of "robot", what metaphor the writers are trying to make here, and April's yucky yucky programming. "The Body" easily ranks among the saddest hours of television history. After Buffy finds her mother's lifeless body, the entire gang must go through the excruciating process of mourning and caring for the deceased. Our favorite characters must all mourn in their own way - from shock, to anger, to confusion, and denial. We discuss the last of a score, the ultra-realistic cinematrography, and the purpose of the final vamp battle. PLUS! Which DC character should the Scoobies recruit?

In "Blood Ties", Buffy and Giles share Dawn's mystical origin with the other Scoobies. Burdened with this information, the gang's awkward behavior drives Dawn to snoop around the Magic Shop, where she reads about "The Key" in Giles' journal. On a mission to find out more about what she is and where she comes from, Dawn runs away from home and ends up at Sunnydale Memorial with Ben/Glory. Kristen and Mike discuss the Ben/Glory revelation, and Buffy's mishandling of Dawn's "secret identity". In "Crush", when a train arrives at Sunnydale Station packed with vampire victims, Spike's sure he knows which vamps are at fault. But soon his stakeout resembles a poorly planned date. After the Slayer shoots him down, a forlorn Spike finds comfort in an old flame - Drusilla. Will Spike actually follow through with their plan to kill the Slayer? (Hint: We have 2 more seasons after this) Kristen and Mike discuss Spike's misguided judgment when it comes to love, and why you should always opt for Bachelor Shackles over rope. PLUS: We explore Raven's question: Do you suspect that there is some kind of connection between Ben and Glory?