“Is this hell?”
We begin our 22 Stages of Season 6 Grief with the two-part season premiere “Bargaining.” Professor, author, and undeniable Season 6 expert Elizabeth Rambo makes her triumphant return to the Conversations graveyard to help us all get through these difficult times. We talk about the new Giles-less title credits, the amazing performance (again!) of Sarah Michelle Gellar, the clear difference in broadcast standards and practices between the WB and UPN, and how 9/11 may have played a role in the response some fans have had to this season.
Also, I wave the flag and light the fireworks to officially declare this and everything going forward Spike’s Time(™) at last!
Next: first time guest Faith Currant joins me to discuss episodes 603, “After Life” and 604, “Flooded.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:21:15
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:05:30 - Main Topic
01:18:10 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Television Finales: From Howdy Doody to Girls, edited by Douglas L. Howard and David Bianculli
Buffy Goes Dark: Essays on the Final Two Seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Television, edited by Lynne Y. Edwards, Elizabeth Rambo, and James B. South
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Work Song” by Hozier, Hozier (2014)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
