Buffy the Vampire Slayer Talk || s2e21 "Becoming: Part 1"

[@alleybox]

❗️we at the two part finale!! SOO, y'all have been super supportive recently and I can not thank you all enough. as a treat, I will be putting this episode's full length reaction public on my patreon! this means, even if youre not a patron, you can watch it if you want!! I haven't don't this since 1x04, my first full length one, so thought it might be nice to show newbies/old fans an updated version of my full length reactions :D so head over to my patreon: www.patreon.com/alleybox or use this link to get right to the 2x21 full length reaction! www.patreon.com/posts/buffy-vampire-40421985? thank you all again for subbing/liking/commenting! it means so much!

[@kazkitty7675]

This is actually so nice of you! I'm so excited!

[@barbarabaker1457]

"This show can do anything." Wise.

[@eric43085]

Thanks

[@jeanetteking434]

I love your channel and your awesome reactions, they are funny and different but you still pick up on the nuances! You have great observations.

[@angelcolin1738]

alley box. You should react to a show named Lucifer

[@MagusAgrippa8]

"It's a big rock. Can't wait to tell my friends... They don't have a rock this big." This line is gold and you cannot convince me otherwise.

[@MorganMalfoy13]

Spike has the best lines. "Someone wasn't woooorthy!"

[@lessismore8533]

LOVE Spike!..

[@miriam8376]

Not gonna lie, I think of Spike singing "Someone wasn't worthy," every single time someone in Marvel fails to pick up Thor's hammer.

[@rachelespiritu4215]

This is a fun time to go back and watch episodes like The Witch and The Pack and laugh at what you used to think was traumatic.

[@razycrandomgirl]

the witch being stuck in that trophy is still messed up. And so is what happened to Mr. Fluty ... D;

[@QuayNemSorr]

@@razycrandomgirl I love the call back to that when Oz is looking at the trophy remarking that it looks like the eyes follow you.

[@fasdaVT]

Yeah there is a lot sexual/family/incest imagery with vampires, which is why Angel motorboats/ is breast fed by Darla, he is both her son and lover. Freud would look at this with the biggest smile ever.

[@bloodycoffee9293]

Xander's problem is that he always hated Angel, even when he was good. Xander still carries a torch for Buffy and he only sees Angel as a scummy rival.

[@serenaperez5495]

Or he has hated all vampires because of the death of Jessie, someone he considered a brother. I think the death of Jenny just furthered his hatred

[@bloodycoffee9293]

@@serenaperez5495 He hated Angel before he knew he was a vamp, though it's possible he superimposed the two. He never saw Angel as a real person, and so he has no moral issues with getting rid of the man Angel was.

[@serenaperez5495]

@@bloodycoffee9293 He first hated Angel because he was jealous of Buffy liking Angel, but that stopped once Buffy used him to make Angel jealous. He still cares for buffy but he mainly hates Angel because he is a vampire and he killed a friend.

[@bloodycoffee9293]

@@serenaperez5495 I don't think so, there are repeated instances where he is shown to still crush on Buffy, to the point where he gets overly obsessed with her love interests. Just cause he may know logically that Buffy will never feel that way doesn't mean it went away. His hatred of vampires is obvious, but he's had special hatred for Angel in a way that he doesn't for others that kill those around him. Even before Jenny.

[@SNQ1989]

Yeah Xander always makes me upset in this episode because yeah Angel is taken over by a demon its not fair. Xander wasn't killed when he was a hyena, Mrs. Calendar wasn't killed when she was possed ( Thanks to Angel ).. so many examples... so yeah fuck Xander here which sucks cause I do love him but not this episode!

[@TimStCroix]

Shopkeeper in 'Passion': "One Thesulan Orb, spirit vault for the rituals of the undead. I don't get many calls for those lately. Sold a couple as new age paperweights last year." Giles in 'Becoming Part 1' when Willow tells him she needs a Thesulan Orb: "I've got one. I've been using it as a paperweight."

[@LivyRivy]

Such a fun callback! Edit: Though in retrospect it's some kind of cruel that all that time Giles had the very object that Jenny was killed over...

[@rikkepedersen407]

Yeah, I noticed that too :) does that make Giles a "new ager" lol.

[@RitsychServare]

It's so ironic how such a significant item was even used for something so banal or more like the other way around: mistakenly used for banal means which happens to have enormous use... then and now.

[@mooble1325]

@@LivyRivy dw jenny wasn't killed over the orb - she was killed bc she knew how to restore his soul!

[@Nicamon]

@@mooble1325 True,but(correct me if I'm wrong)if she didn't have to go to the shop to search for the orb,Angelus wouldn't have found out what she was doing and so he probably wouldn't have killed her...(?)🤔(I say"correct me if I'm wrong"because I can't remember _how_ did Angelus find out she was doing that...)

[@MorganMalfoy13]

Alley, "Aw, is Doctor Grant going to bite it?" *Dru accommodates your unintended pun 20 years in the past because psychic* Alley *makes no notice of this* Dru- "The little Ally cat doesn't like my joke..." :(

[@JustJames83]

I would like to give a shout-out to the true MVP of this episode... The yellow pencil!

[@wbrownshadow]

So bravo to random Buffy losinv pencils??

[@JustJames83]

Wesley Brown Keep on Rolling!

[@infjqueen8133]

Yellow...💛

[@DivaQuinzel]

@@infjqueen8133 Oh god... I just realised the importance of yellow writing tools in this show 🖍

[@erikohman2294]

Who would have tought a sharp piece of wood would be that important in this show =)

[@wbrownshadow]

Everytime i watch that final line from Angelus “and you fall for it everytime!!” i just want to add the word “ Run”

[@spacejack400]

On this re-watch I realized for the first time in E17 the magic shop owner said he was selling orbs as new age paperweights.

[@wbrownshadow]

Yeah that was a nice callback

[@Oxmustube]

Great catch.

[@Phoenixdark1]

Aw, we're almost done with the Spike "They see me rollin" moments. I'm gonna miss those.

[@markrankin1094]

as a wheelchair user, I'm not. Once was funny. The rest, increasingly less so.

[@LeshaAnn]

Not me. Not EVerything is up for jokes. I love this show.

[@jaycievictory8461]

"I'm wondering if this episode is just going to be build-up" Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa 🙈😭

[@stargazer1682]

I think Dru is a good example for making the case that vampire *are* the human they once were, just altered. She was driven insane as a human, because of the things Angel did to her *while human*; and that trauma and its effects carried over with her as a vampire, as did her visions. With Angel, if it were a demonic possession, then restoring their soul just punishes the human for something they supposedly shouldn't be held responsible for, if it "wasn't really them"; while suppressing the demon that was. Plus, I think just in general that it's much more profound if they are truly the same person; because from the perspective of the narrative, it could be any one of us, stripped of humanity and with a flick of a switch, you *are* the monster. The idea that it's not really you is just a comfortable lie, but it's you; capable of every inconceivable horror that vampires do. I think that makes vampires much more terrifying than a nice, neat demonic possession.

[@DivaQuinzel]

Also, looking a Spike and Drusilla, sort of goes against the idea that they're completely unfeeling monsters, Spike and Drusilla clearly have a sort of love for each other. Trying my hardest not to accidentally spoil anything 😂

[@stargazer1682]

@@DivaQuinzel I mean, just the Judge alone is indicative of that. If I recall correctly, he sensed humanity in them; and he was able to burn that other vamp they had working for them to translate things. Angelus seemed to be the outlier, to a degree; and I have thoughts on why that might be, but therein lies a potential minefield for spoilers.

[@lyannastark628]

Do we ever get a sense of Spike before he became a vampire? I can't remember.

[@stargazer1682]

@@lyannastark628 Spoilers

[@Darkrose517]

I agree that they retain elements of their humanity, but I also don't think Angel can be blamed for his actions as a vampire. He was not in control.

[@Ironoclasty]

"I just wanted a flashback." Well, it'll cost you a slayer.

[@DaDunge]

"One dies another gets called." -Buffy last episode of season 1.

[@shercahn]

Seth Green was entering the peak of his career at this point and doing lots of things, hence the changing hair color.

[@gazuki1352]

Seth didn't reach the peak until 2007, when he voiced Jeff "Joker" Munreau in Mass Effect.

[@shercahn]

@@gazuki1352 - key word - "entering". Mind you he had already done Austin Powers in 1997, then he did Can't Hardly Wait in 1998, Idle Hands in 1999, more Austin Powers . . .

[@SonicLamb]

@@gazuki1352 He peaked way before that. He was everywhere in the late 90's and early '00's.

[@sarahxo2317]

I love his changing hair color was made a normal thing in the show like when Willow says your hair is brown or Oz has his cool hair tonight😂

[@coffeeveins]

Heck, him and Willow worked together before as child actors in “my stepmother is an alien”. There’s likely clips on KZbin for anyone curious.

[@shay1390]

The big rock scene never fails to amuse me. Spike was so salty for no reason 😂

[@spookymia8135]

I already really loved Spike from the jump but that line immediately rocketed him to "favorite baddie" status the first time I watched the show

[@SolidSnake8295]

No reason? Isn’t it heavily implied Angel is banging Dru?

[@cerrobueno]

That line from Spike has legitimate claims to be the greatest one ever uttered in the Buffyverse!

[@RainasRoom]

I was DYING at that line the first time I heard it 😂😂

[@blacktronlego]

As the curse was ALWAYS designed to make him suffer remorse and grief, I think the moment of contentment is ALWAYS the clause that will take his soul.

[@chickflikguru]

"I call it Mr Pointy" "she has a name, it's Vera" iconic inanimate objects of the Whedonverse

[@Brandyalla]

And both are weapons

[@mooble1325]

mr gordo ❤

[@jesseclark3697]

"I don't know why my brain has been trying to convince me that Buffy is going to turn into a vampire." Your brain seems to be on the same page as Giles' nightmare from season 1 episode 10.

[@laerry1]

Finally, Julie Benz could do something with her character and not be just superficial cartoonish vampire like she was in season one.

[@lenr112]

Julie Benz as Darla reminds me of those 50's movie stars .

[@math9172]

"I love Kendra" Me : 😔😔😔

[@nomoresandwiches8011]

Gasps noises every 20 seconds would be a quote for this one 😂 loved the reaction and R.I.P Kendra you deserved better.

[@laurenfrey873]

So this is definitely one of my favorite season finales across the board, not just Buffy, I'm talking all shows. Whistler's line at the end, "so what are we, helpless, puppets? No." My heart... And good on you, you're learning to have tissues. :)

[@lepeke]

I've watched this show from start to finish several times. I still know I'll need a box of tissues for certain episodes.

[@lenr112]

I love the Whistler character. He nails it .

[@wbrownshadow]

@@lenr112 to bad what ive heard Whistler is alot worse in the canonical comics

[@corvus1970]

@@wbrownshadow you've heard correctly.

[@everuby1438]

One of the best quotes in the whole series! I find it inspirational in everyday life, especially when times are tough - "that's when you find out who you are" ❤

[@SNQ1989]

I love Spike in this episode so much and you editing him just makes me die laughing, thank you 🤣

[@zoesmith12]

i look forward to these every 5 days

[@alricaneshama]

@alley box. The reality of Dru is that she was born with visions, she has precog (you'd know it by the term premonition), etc, etc. By turning her into a Vampire, it heightened her natural abilities to be able to manipulate people, mentally. She's the ONLY Vampire that has these ailities. Yes, Vampires can learn magick but Du is magick. There's a vast difference.

[@annabellehe4307]

Dracula kinda has powers

[@eleanorshellstrop39]

I’m somewhat worried what would happen if Alley ever bumped into the actor who plays Angel 👁👄👁

[@alleybox]

depending on what happens to his character next, i may or may not throw hands

[@barbarabaker1457]

@@alleybox Watch Bones and You'll Love him. Great cast, Angela being my favorite character.

[@jeanetteking434]

Barbara Baker David Boreanaz is so attractive at any age lol. Omg I love him! I watched every season of Bones.

[@corvus1970]

If Allie ever bumped into David Boreanaz, I believe that she would likely squeeeeeeeeeeee herself into an alternate dimension.

[@corvus1970]

Ugh, I misspelled your name Alley. My apologies.

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

I love these flashbacks in the episode! Buffy used to be *JUST* like Cordy! No wonder she went with Willow & Xander instead of her

[@lessismore8533]

What do you mean. Buffy was just like Cordy? That was a TINY flashback. Not enough info. And I didn’t see her being mean to no one..

[@mooble1325]

hahahahah oh my god angel walking into the barbers to get a fresh trim... buying a whole new wardrobe... keeping a notebook full of wisecracks and mysticisms to look cool and mysterious in front of his crush... HILARIOUS

[@TabbyeLynne]

" I've been procrastinating because I'm scared " Alley at her most relatable. Also the demon in Angel is been there the whole time, Remember that episode where a demon was getting into dead people and they defeated it by making it go into Angel? It worked because Angel already had a demon in him and that demon was stronger, so it killed the other demon. It's just that now, without his soul the demon part has more control than before, vampires are basically human/demon hybrids, think of them like one of those two driver cars they use to teach people how to drive, the human and the demon both have their own wheel, but if they don't agree about where to go the demon can take over, what the soul does is that it puts the human part firmly behind the wheel so now the demon is in the passenger seat, but it's still there yelling at the human to change direction, the soul doesn't get rid of the demon, it only gives him a conscience, a moral compass, Angel has to chose to be good despite the demon, actively choose not to listen to that part of himself, everyday, because it is not going anywhere

[@yourfluffyvegancinnamonrol2772]

IKR! I remember being so excited to get the flashbacks!

[@ryan1976]

I’ve been watching a fair amount of Buffy reactions, cuz bored and quarantined,. Real talk, yours are the best. Your edits and musical stings and graphics are so delightful. I appreciate all the effort you put into making your videos so entertaining.

[@lenr112]

I've watched this show probably twice a year since it first aired and I'm still seeing things I missed and it's still feels fresh and exciting 20 + years later. That's some great writing .

[@barbarabaker1457]

Agreed.

[@wbrownshadow]

Me too finally took me rewatching/listening to Innocence to getting what the defeat of the judge meant after all this time “ Took an army to kill him”

[@angelaluckd1932]

And with great acting

[@elleblank8916]

Great reaction! I love everything about this (even the "Irish" accent). The flashbacks are so great at growing the characters. And, my favorite, Spike's sass. I still say the rock quote years later.

[@stinkingyeti]

Someone wasn't worthy....

[@serinas4465]

@@stinkingyeti anyone else singing this whenever someone fails at anything? Buffy: shaping my sassiness since 1997

[@itsmedino]

Season 2 Alley "Oz, best man ever" Season 3 Alley "What's this little bitch Oz doing coming back" Forgiveness thy name is not Alley

[@jesseclark3697]

General rule: if there's a flashback like where they showed us how Angel was turned, it is going to be a good episode.

[@StellaDonna88]

“Oh god not the slow mo” 😭😭

[@4everbuffylover]

As soon as the theme started playing and Buffy ran into the library I got chills and started tearing up just like I did the first time I watched this show 10 years ago. That’s how powerful this show is

[@shaynestewart9297]

This first part is real good. The flashbacks were spot on! The guy angel was talking to name is whistler. Poor Kendra. When Dru came in slow motion I knew something was gonna happen.

[@lessismore8533]

Dru can hypnotize?..

[@tiffanygreen7115]

So in this episode and the next, Xander really makes me angry. I love Xander, but he can sometimes be a real butt head throughout the show. I know that it's because in real life people aren't always likeable and so they really explorer that with Xanders character in particular. He still pisses me off in this finale even though I can see where he is coming from I feel like his jealousy with the whole Buffy and Angel relationship is a big part of how he is acting, even though he tries act like it's all about him being angry about what Angelus has done. There are a lot of reasons why it would be good for the team to have Angels soul returned and have him back on their side and Xander just would rather him be out of the picture all together because he hates him and Buffy being together.

[@rukbat3]

Not to mention the fact that, in a fight between Buffy and Angelus, there's no guarantee that Buffy would win. If they could restore Angel's soul, they not only regain a fighter for the good side, but they guarantee that they don't lose Buffy in trying to defeat him. I get so mad at Xander in this episode, but I'm also frustrated that no one else brings up this argument, since it's the best justification for doing it, and it has nothing to do with Buffy wanting her "boyfriend" back.

[@rainmaker8009]

I get the hate for Xander in these episodes, I do, but one thing many forget is Xanders' whole introduction to vampires. His best friend, since many years, perhaps childhood, Jessie, is killed by a vampire. Sure, it's in episode one, but still. Ad teenager to that, male or female, you are going to have some issues with vampires in general. Then the whole jealosy thing, which is never nice, but wuite common. Still not ok, understandable perhaps, but not ok.

[@MrFlashpoint1978]

I agree with rain. We guys at that age were all angsty and stuff. We were just as prone to emotional outbursts. Agree, not OK, but understandable and most grow out of it mid 20s. Xander was feeling betrayed as well as Buffy, they all were. If you look at the smart remarks count, they drop off (unless they're less childish i.e. less cereal references) Not only Buffy has a loss of innocence with the return of Angelus.

[@tiffanygreen7115]

@@rukbat3 Wow, that's a really good point about it being a good thing for Buffy's protection as well as just having Angel back on the home team. I never thought of it that way before now. Sadly this isn't the last time that Xander allows his personal issues to come before the good of everyone else.

[@tiffanygreen7115]

@@rainmaker8009 I totally understand what you are saying and I get it. I just struggle with liking Xander sometimes during the course of the show.

[@TheBehenaught]

I suspect watching your excitement and joy slowly sink into shock and despair each episode may become something of a guilty pleasure for me over the coming months 😂

[@LeshaAnn]

Despair? She's too busy laughing and doing exaggerated hand gestures.

[@Bartlebycs]

David Boreanaz is the Harrison Ford of the Buffyverse. He's gone on to play many different roles.

[@Majoofi]

Sometimes I wonder why they let Xander hang out with them. He has some real jealousy issues.

[@wbrownshadow]

Well considering Xander has his qualities like Shaggy from Scooby Doo you kinda finds trouble unintentionally or finds the answers that way thats why hes there plus he was the first to find out about Buffy or meet her even before Giles

[@lenr112]

I kinda think Xamder's character with all it's flaws are realistic and necessary.

[@serenaperez5495]

I don't think it was about jealousy. Xander hates all vampires since Jessies death and Jenny's death just made him hate Angel more, especially since the rest wanted to sweep her death under the rug

[@SS2Dante]

Xander is interesting because he's almost split into two people. One is a jealous, insecure wreck who lashes out at people, and the other is this really cool, very funny guy (seriously, I forgot just how quippy he is, he's got a bit of Peter Parker in him) who's really nice and a great friend. In the early seasons I do think they leaned a little too hard into the bad side of him, so a lot of people (justifiably, not making excuses) hate him. TBH I get it, I think a lot of guys look at Xander and remember being far too close to that in their teens. Still, when you look at basically the entire rest of the males in Sunnydale High (sans Oz, but he's basically Super-Boyfriend, which isn't exactly a fully-rounded character) who are all cartoonishly douchey and caveman-y, Xander suddenly seems like an angel by comparison (not in a "boys will be boys" way, just that I think that at the time the writers at least INTENDED to clearly mark him out as a good guy compared to most guys, but they didn't quite hit the balance right). Not sure if it's an artefact of the early seasons being more from the view of Buffy or...? *SPOILERS FOR SEASON 5* I think that's why I love that Dawn has a crush on him - he's not insecure around her, doesn't need to be macho or compete with other guys because he sees her romantically. He can just be...Xander. And the Xander interacting with her in those episodes is basically the pinnacle of the great side of him, the side with all the insecurity and toxic masculinity stuff removed. And that version of him is great, so it makes total sense for her to like him. I think that's a great piece of writing.

[@Blackpaco]

Well, if they wouldn't let him hang out with them, Buffy would be dead by now, so...

[@dashabrunclikova6975]

This got me thinking... Maybe Snyder knew what they were doing in the library and was waiting for the perfect moment to make his move against Buffy. I mean, somebody had to call the police.

[@alexh8613]

In the episode "Passion", the shopkeeper that sells Jenny the Orb of Thesulah, that Angel destroys. Says that he sold a few Orbs of Thesulah, as new age paperweights. That would be Giles buying one of those

[@Pumpkin3.14pi]

For everyone in the comments. A soiler isn't just spoiling exactly what going to happen. Spoilers can also be hints to what is going to happen, like get your tissues ready. Everyone needs to pretend that we have only seen what she has seen.

[@eleanorshellstrop39]

Rational Thought on Patreon, Alley just uploaded Season 3 episode 6, so nothing is being spoiled

[@Pumpkin3.14pi]

@@eleanorshellstrop39 Ok good. I can't afford patron. These are legitimate reactions though, right.

[@quinnsinclair7028]

@@Pumpkin3.14pi They're legitimate, they're just dated. She's recorded the reactions well into season 3 at this point.

[@Pumpkin3.14pi]

@@quinnsinclair7028 I wish I could watch it with her as she watches them.

[@donsample1002]

And Buffy's old school was in the same town as Marty McFly went _Back to the Future_ They filmed those scenes at her old school at the same location used for the clock tower in _BttF_

[@smac07]

I was hoping that you would watch this 2 episodes back to back cause I feel its better that way... I mean they're both awesome but it hits different when you see them all at once. This is my favorite season finale from the whole show and now I kinda wanna go do a rewatch cause your reactions remind how good this show is.

[@knowledge-girl]

Yeah, it was brutal having to wait an entire week for that one.

[@nhabib114]

I loved Kendra hugely and was very sad to see her die. There is sadness in this drama. It is unavoidable. Nor in life. Great reviews.

[@PumpkinStorm03]

I was literally rewatching your episode 17 reaction and I said "please, alley, I need to see you react to the finale", then I clicked on the KZbin homepage, and HERE THIS WAS LETS GO

[@margaretbonassar709]

Angel: “*I* will be the one to cause the end of the world” Demon sword: “no ❤️”

[@psychosoprano9259]

Seeing Kendra death made me curious, this is never mentioned in the show but the slayer before Buffy was a girl named India Cohen, who fell in love with her watcher! She was an American living in Japan when she was activated in 1993 and died in 1996

[@jaycievictory8461]

Only survived three years... And considering we know they are activated as teenagers, she was probably only 19... The Slayer's life is such a hard one 😥

[@pbiasizzo]

Dont forget she *also* encountered the Master!

[@joeypotter6051]

God please tell me she didn't have a relationship with her watcher because that is gross.

[@charlottegiles2050]

It's so funny how the 'one girl in all the world' is almost always American. If there are a 193 countries in the world - and most slayers last a year or two, statistically there should be about a 250 year gap between American slayers being called (or slayers of any one nationality). It makes me think of the line in the Big Bang Theory about Doctor Who: For an alien who can travel in time and go anywhere in the universe, he sure does spend a lot of time in modern day London.

[@joeypotter6051]

@@charlottegiles2050 I was just thinking about that the other day. Like, has New Zealand ever had a slayer? Or are the powers that be just like "meh that'd be a waste, nothing ever happens down there and there's only like 5 million people to save, plus we can't afford the airfare for her to keep flying to the USA" where all the hellmouths seem to be located. Looking at pics of the USA right now, they could probably use a couple of slayers.

[@belzorahollow3888]

The funkos are expanding 😭😭🖤

[@Bklyngurl85]

Becoming 1 & 2 should be watched together. It’s like Welcome to the Hellmouth 1 & 2.

[@nilesknives6484]

One major death that was very unexpected was the death of Kendra. Mostly when you think about it, it was someone that almost related to Buffy in the Slayer way.

[@lessismore8533]

Yah I teared up

[@quinnwilder6990]

RIP Kendra. You deserved better just like this show deserved better representation of peope of color. Flashbacks are really a whole thing on Buffy and Angel as you will see. The demon doing the voice over narration is worth listening to if you watch this episode again. I like the scene with Xander in the library. It was kind of like him standing up and demanding to be treated as an equal with Giles for the first time even if he was in the wrong. Awesome video as usual.

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

In the wrong? Please....where in what he said was wrong?

[@callumcambray2283]

@@AscendedXSaiyan thank u hes is definitely not wrong

[@quinnwilder6990]

@@AscendedXSaiyan Opinions vary.

[@lessismore8533]

Disagree. Nothing justifies Xanders BAD attitude towards Giles. I’m glad Xander matures throughout the show. Arguments don’t solve anything. He acts like a child at times in sessions 1-3. That “Jenny is dead” excuse was uncalled for. Xander should stand up for himself with more maturity and respect. And Xander isn’t an equal with Giles at ALL. He’s a young inexperienced teenager. Giles has years of wisdom behind him. Teenagers enjoy thinking like they know everything, especially boys. But Xander definitely DOES mature as the show progresses

[@Jcewazhere]

Sergeant Shultz: "I know nothing'k! I see nothing'k!"

[@evermoreisamasterpiece]

OOH! She got tissues! Ally is learning! 😂😂

[@TheTrmetzgar]

The actor that plays Snider also plays Quark on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. People love and hate him too. LOL

[@toshomni9478]

Who doesn't love Quark? He was the best.

[@imnickij]

I love vicariously reliving my own experience watching people react to these episodes. These are two of my favourite all-time Buffy episodes.

[@NORGCO]

Includes another interesting example of Xander Harris letting his ruthless side appear from behind the class clown mask. Occasionally it shows, sometimes it's even relevant.

[@mjtpli]

Shawn Dorca 9:10 this scene is the most annoyed I ever get with Xander, including [spoiler spoiler SPOILER spoiler spoiler spoiler]… I mean maybe just pause you’d selfish jealous bloodlust long enough to think that ensouled Angel fights on your side while soulless Angelus stands a good chance of killing more of your friends, including Buffy, plus lots of other people including you, you chucklehead.

[@PablitaOrtega77]

@@mjtpli i understand, but also remember that Xander had to kill his best friend Jesse in season one when he turned into a vampire. his hate of vampires blindside him but it may come from a place of guilt and pain, more than just envy

[@joeypotter6051]

@@PablitaOrtega77 Oh please like he even remembers Jesse.

[@PablitaOrtega77]

@@joeypotter6051 he should, even if nobody else seem to. (rip jesse) his time as an evil Hyena may also be in the way of his jugdment. i am not saying he is right of course

[@joeypotter6051]

@@PablitaOrtega77 I agree that he should but Jesse was killed off in the pilot for shock value, nothing more

[@Pumpkin3.14pi]

Don't make us wait til Sunday for the second part.

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

HERE WE GO! Part one of the first-ever two-part season finale, and it changes the fucking series. We love to see this reaction. "What are you becoming?" Addicted! You're becoming addicted to this series!

[@mlkj13]

Loved your reaction to this. Can’t wait to see your reaction to Becoming Pt. 2!

[@katiem2816]

clicking on your video i instinctively did a peace sign your impact

[@pirmaluco]

Did you recognized Darla from season 1, the vamp that turned Angel?

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

No matter how many times I watch the series it's still weird whenever anyone calls him "Liam". I'm always like, "That's Ang- oh, yeah." ;-)

[@subjectd6985]

I always find it funny because Liam is the Irish form of William, which means Angel and Spike have the same name.

[@lazybookworm]

ANGEL FLASHBACK EPISODE YAYY , gonna rewatch Becoming pt 2 for the gazillionth time in preparation for your reaction video

[@jaycievictory8461]

Angel 💯 got freshened up to see Buffy 😂 He also developed some serious swagger in-between

[@infjqueen8133]

" i never said i'm yours."😍😍😘

[@patrickholt2270]

There's some real questions about that. Like, what's he done for money to put himself together? Other vampires just thieve off their victims, which he doesn't presumably. Then there's Willow's question - "how do you shave?" But even more, who does your hair? Some after dark hair salon we don't know about?

[@jb888888888]

@@patrickholt2270 To quote out of context, someone who shall remain nameless pretending to be Angel: "Evil's still afoot. And I'm almost out of that nancy-boy hair-gel I like so much. "

[@patrickholt2270]

@@jb888888888 But who is cutting to the right length? You can't do that by feel. Even if he uses clippers, his hair is longer toward the top of his head.

[@RV-vx9ek]

@@patrickholt2270 I would guess that he goes to an indoor/in-mall hair salon and comes through the utility entrance from sewers maybe?

[@wembleyford]

So - what dolt is paying to see these via patreon - and is also voting it down. Weird - Alley, your reactions are brilliant - can't wait to see your edited version of the finale, and your season 2 wrap up.

[@alleybox]

yeahh idk why :( every one has a dislike from patreon, kinda sad.. but thank you!! it should be up tomorrow and im filming my wrap up soon!

[@eleanorshellstrop39]

alley box. I swear if I ever find out who they are 🤜🏼💥

[@barbarabaker1457]

My favorite comments are things like this "Angelus's pathetic little trenchcoat disliked this video." Makes me feel better about senseless dislikes.

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@barbarabaker1457 Angel is played as a teenage heart-throb, or one for teenage girls (e.g. Buffy): he's not going to be so attractive to other groups.

[@barbarabaker1457]

@@faithlesshound5621 Not sure if you commented on the right comment. I mentioned he's more attractive on Bones somewhere else. Did you mean to put this there? At least I don't understand what that has to do with this comment about dislike button jokes? Sincerely - Confused in Oregon.

[@LittleMissDivine]

imagine if snyder one day decides to go to the library... lol.. amazing point actually!

[@serinas4465]

Whatever you wish in Buffy, it probably is what you get. And then you hate it. And you love it nonetheless.

[@stoplisteningtothestatic7078]

9:35 i'm so glad u said that bc i felt like you really hated angel himself lmao i know some people don't agree but i don't think it's fair to hold "angel" responsible for angelus' actions since angelus is not angel he is the demon that inhabits angel's body with out a soul

[@TheRaventwilight]

I love this reaction edit. You're really showing all the "becoming" moments for so many characters: for Angel flashbacks, human to vampire, gaining his soul, finding his purpose. For Drusilla and Buffy. I love this episode. ❤️💕

[@Aysha3338]

This is definitely one of my favourite episodes! I even watched the full version on Patreon ty!!!! I had a rlly hard day so thank u for uploading this!

[@jaycievictory8461]

There is ZERO excuse for the way Xander goes off on Giles who is GRIEVING. Some Xander defenders think he was justified in what he said to Buffy (at the least I disagree with the way he did it). But the way he spoke to Giles and the things he said? Outrageous.

[@barbarabaker1457]

I only defend Xander when he's right, but here, the blood obviously rushed to his head, his prejudice clearly got to him and he deserved a slayer sized smack for what he did to Giles especially.

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

I'd normally agree...if he was wrong

[@jaycievictory8461]

@@AscendedXSaiyan "Curing Angel appears to have been Jenny's last wish." Xander: "Yeah, well, she's dead." You don't see anything wrong with that?!

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

@@jaycievictory8461 It technically wasn't hers, she was doing it for little princess Buffy. And yes I don't. There are certain points where people are beyond saving, Angelus was far beyond that point.

[@jaycievictory8461]

@@AscendedXSaiyan We're not talking about whether Angel deserves to be saved. We're talking about Xander's treatment of Giles. That little Princess Buffy remark suggests strong irritation/dislike. If that's the case, I'm surprised you watch the show.

[@Pauly00001]

I kept saying "don't watch this until part two comes out." Because I know I would want to watch it immediately, but did I listen ? No.

[@yesie8375]

Yes this episode was great. The flash back scenes gave such great insight

[@racafritz]

I don’t think I’m alone on enjoying watching you react the way we did when it first aired. BTW, flashback scenes have always been my favorite. 👍 hopefully no one has given spoilers at this point because so many of us are biting our tongues.

[@valeriem.8112]

It’s funny how angelus is always rockin leather pants ! Lol

[@SNQ1989]

@alley box. YOU ARE THA REALIST!

[@unrelatedcoma]

congrats on 1 million views btw.

[@bobbyclarkston8836]

I keep getting the feeling that you may not be aware that a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” movie exists. Kristy Swanson plays Buffy and even Donald Sutherland is cast. Joss Whedon wrote it but was never happy with what the studio put out so when he had the chance to bring it back in television form he jumped on it. It basically tells the story of Buffy getting called to be the Slayer, plenty of training montages and of course, the burning down of the school gym

[@vtopiia]

I’m not a very vocal viewer (but I do enjoy these a hell of a lot). I was just curious as to whether you were planning on watching Angel at one point? (A few episodes cross over so you may want to find the right order online if you do) 💕🥺

[@blotcho84]

This episode was A LOT - awesome reaction/review!

[@seanwardell846]

You probably already know, but Buffy was a movie before it became the TV show. The movie is all about what happened at her old school etc. A different actress plays Buffy in the movie.

[@knowledge-girl]

Even after twenty years (oh, God, it's been over twenty years), I still think some of my favorite quotes from television shows are the voice-overs in "Becoming Part 1" and "Passion" and Giles's speech at the end of "Lie to Me."

[@LEMON_STARFOX]

I hope the next reaction to the final episode of this series goes up real soon because it's such a good episode 🌈🤗✌

[@freezeraystop]

Absolutely loved your reaction. Can't wait for part 2! Also, thank you for putting the full episode out to watch, it was awesome to see your full reaction. Eventually I'd like to become a patron as well so I can watch all your full reactions :)

[@FireflyMALcontent]

Such a great reaction! If we were giving stickers I would totally give you a Gold Star~

[@Weyland_Yutani_Corp]

For Part 2, buckle up and batten down the hatches. Also watch all the way until the Mutant Enemy Inc logo plays. Godspeed.

[@GeorgiePorgie127]

Can't believe we're at the end of my (personal) favourite season already 😭😭 Also I see the buffy figurine collection is growing😆

[@vixxstan20]

My favorite season finally of the whole series. Great reaction. Can't wait for part two. Lo e the Quote of the Day. Lol.

[@joeypotter6051]

How have I seen this episode so many times and only now realise that Becoming pt 1 opens with Darla telling Liam - "Close your eyes" - and Becoming pt 2 ends with Buffy telling Angel the same thing? Oof. (Alley has already seen Becoming pt 2 hence the spoiler.) Also Snyder in this episode: "Just give me an excuse to kick you out, Summers." Snyder in pt 2: "These are the moments you want to savour. You wish time would stop so you can live them over and over again. You're expelled."

[@RubyDianArts]

I see where he's coming from, but Xander is still so frustrating. I used to like him as a character when the bar was lower, but I grew out of that and I appreciate all the first-time viewers who are also like "yikes" at him.

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

Is he? Frankly if you ask me he's right. Buffy always sided with Angel and her own feelings over everything that matters more, yet acts hurt when someone tells her off for it...you don't get that

[@serenaperez5495]

I personally like Xander and agree with his decision that Angelous should die

[@cymraegpunk1420]

@@AscendedXSaiyan idk, i think he lets his dislike for angle cloud his judgment. Its not angel with a souls fault that a demon driving his soulless body is doing terrible things, and yeah if push comes to shove angelus has to die but the idea that they shouldn't have tried to do the ritual at all is kinda ridiculous.

[@corvus1970]

While in many ways it was ahead of its time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still a product OF its time. If this show were written today, in addition to having a more diverse cast (the cast of Buffy is ridiculously white), Xander would almost certainly be written differently. 23 years after its debut, this is one of the things I keep in mind whenever I rewatch the show. Another thing to keep in mind regarding Xander, is at this point in the series he's only 17, not to mention the fact that all the characters on this show are flawed.

[@QuayNemSorr]

Xander is one of my favorites. He is the heart of the scoopies

[@russellward4624]

Im so giddy. Season 3 is almost here. This 2 perter is so epic. Just launches the show into its full pomp.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

A thought that occurs, is that the reason that this episode is so stuffed full of plot and exposition is that originally it might have been planned as a three part arc, then didn't quite stretch to it, so it got compressed here. That would explain why the brilliantly comic 'Go Fish' looks misplaced in the season just before this; it's a slot-in-almost-anywhere creature feature with Angel as a minor plot point. Having said that this two parter is still a great leap up from the perfunctory climax of Season 1, which plays out as almost throwaway. Part 2 awaits...

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

It's kinda messed up that they killed off the only black character, ngl

[@Figgy5119]

Yeah, but it's more like they wanted to kill off the other slayer and she happened to be the only black character because they didn't think of having a more diverse cast in the first place

[@davewolf6256]

It's kind of idiotic that 90s TV networks were so scared to put black actors in shows that white people watched. I mean, did they think it was a coincidence that Roots and The Cosby Show got such killer ratings??

[@n.j.5044]

You would think that they would stop doing it, but they literally never do until the last season. And even in that season, Buffy treats Nikki's son (I can't remember his name rn) so badly in the name of protecting Spike... SPIKE! After what he does in season 6, and she still treating him better than the only black character on the show at the time... smh

[@amandabaker4678]

​@@n.j.5044 Spoilers!

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

@A smoking ChickenFish a) it's set in southern California, so yeah, some diversity would actually make sense, and b) it's Buffy, a show widely hailed as one of the most feminist shows of the 20th century (and a groundbreaking series for LGBT+ representation). I don't know how you can watch Buffy of all shows and not see the value in diversity