The Rewatcher: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Every summer for the past seven decades, 50 high school seniors—one from every state—descend on Mobile, Alabama to take part in one of the country’s most lucrative scholarship competitions for teen girls. The Competition takes you behind the scenes of the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) program, and follows seven girls as they experience the highs and lows of competing for two weeks, away from home and under the most high-stress circumstances. Some girls enter for the money, some for prestige. All of them are used to being the best and the brightest. But only one will walk away with the top prize. Host Shima Oliaee (Dolly Parton’s America, Pink Card) was Nevada’s contestant in 2001. More than 20 years later, she returns to Alabama as a judge. What can two weeks with 50 of the country’s most ambitious teens tell us about girlhood in America? Listen to The Competition on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting Wondery.fm/The_Competition now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've reached another milestone — the end of season 4! This week, Buffy and the gang accidentally fall asleep and fall victim to their own subconscious AND are stalked by a fearsome figure who takes them out one by one. Shit gets DEEP! Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Joyce reacting to Giles being in her home, Adam's Oprah interview, and we invite YOU to let us know YOUR SPOILER-FREE theories & interpretations! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! Comment on our episode post to join the conversation! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've (almost) made it!! It's the penultimate episode, but it SURE feels like a season finale to us! Spike overplays his hand which gets Buffy's gears turning about how fucked up everyone was acting last week. Meanwhile, Neapolitan Adam has brother bonding time with Riley and Forrest, Walsh’s reappearance causes a jump scare, and The Scoobs reunite in a very much needed happily ever after moment. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about fertility vases, Adam's Oprah interview, and reaching into our central nervous systems. And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is brought to you by GAMES! Spike is playing Big Brother, Angel and Riley are duking it out to figure out who is going to be the next WWE superstar, and Adam is playing chess with people’s lives. Then, the Scoobs are forced to face the fact that shit is NOT okay in season 4 when Spike plants some seeds of discord that QUICKLY take root and force them to grow apart. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Xander's big mouth, Giles' drunken one liners, and the coat that made us feel ill! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the three elite headhunters from The Council show up to take out Faith, they attempt to seduce Wesley into helping them with promises of reinstatement into his role as watcher. The asshats at Wolfram & Hart attempt to tie up loose ends, and Buffy makes a surprise visit at a VERY unfortunate moment. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Angel’s sick side bang, our almost-bro, and crossbow usage in L.A.! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Oz arrives back to Sunnydale, Willow is torn between her past with him and her present “spellwork” with Tara. Buffy is getting fed up with Riley’s regimented behaviors, and Xander is vying to regain his spot in Oz’s good graces. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Miss Kitty Fantastico, The Great Barrier Reef, and Willow’s plentiful jaw drops! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re back in New Angeles with Ash & Angel! Faith shows up in town to unleash some hell upon the populace, and Wolfram & Hart seize the opportunity to hire her to do away with our boy Angel! Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Matt Rife demons, Alaina’s 1800s obsession, and Darla’s Mean Girls moment! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Buffy and Riley can NOT keep their hands off each other! Not only is this making the edgers uncomfortable, but it’s also summoning some highly unwanted poltergeists. And it’s not just the two love birds that are getting all hot and heavy — ALL the frat party guests are feeling something special…with the wall!! Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Ejaculation Joe, a haircut gone wrong, and the trials and tribulations of Mason the Edger. And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Scoobs turn to Johnathan for help when a nest gets nasty, and even though Buffy can’t get Faith’s fookery out of her head, she can tell something isn’t quite right with Jonathan. Meanwhile, Tara gets beaten by a grody beige demon, and Xander and Anya bicker over whether or not Anya moaned Jonathan’s name in a tender moment. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as Nanabob drops her second album, Ash has a sad first for the series, and Xander and Anya get a long overdue couple name! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Faith hijacks Buffy's body-ody-ody, she sets out to create as much chaos as possible — flirting with Spike, making Tara SUPER uncomfortable, and calling out Xander's lack of stamina. Buffy struggles to get people to believe that she's NOT Faith and to figure out a way to get Giles and The Scoobs on her side. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Riley's vanilla sex life and Ash’s spot-on predictions. Plus, we introduce a new segment called Alaina's alternate hopes! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Adam the Neapolitan Demon takes a short staycation to an undisclosed area, Buffy shifts focus to figuring out how TF to bust her man Riley out of The Initiative’s infirmary. Meanwhile, Faith is defying medical expectations, stealing people's ugly outfits, and evading Sunnydale's finest with relative ease. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Nana Bob's Grammy-worthy original songs, Terrycloth’s attempt at helping a displaced wraith, and Faith’s powerful accessory bequeathed by our FAVORITE big bad of yesteryear! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reeling from the fact that Walsh attempted to kill her, Buffy convinces the Scoobs to take shelter at Xander’s even though Giles is NOT stoked about the relocation! Riley struggles with the revelation of Walsh’s death, and Forrest fully transforms into a complete dickhole. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about hot-ass sub-terrestrials, titty CPUs, and Neopolitan Adam’s potential cover of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Buffy is welcomed with not-so-open arms into the Initiative, and spends her nights responding to conspicuous pager beeps and dodging The Scoobs. Willow has some confusing thoughts about her new friend Tara, Xander gets wrapped up in the hottest new MLM scheme, and Giles tries to recruit Spike to put his newfound demon-fighting abilities to use and help the Scoobs. Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about polishing gemstones, hipster demons at microbreweries, and Buffy and Riley’s episode on Dateline! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Buffy’s party, and Giles will cry if he wants to! Feeling a bit out of the loop and underappreciated, Giles attempts to find solace at the bottom of a pint glass with ETHAN RAYNE of all people! When Giles wakes up the next morning as a demon, he must figure out a way to undo whatever fuckery Ethan did! Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about spicy moments between Buffy & Riley, HOWL over Giles’ apology, and decide that Mama Walsh is definitely NOT our mom! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Things get tumultuous on the Hellmouth this week! Riley and Buffy try to figure out a path forward after seeing each other on the job last week, Xander is dealing with an insufferable roommate situation, Willow is adjusting to being sans Oz, and the San Andreas Fault SHAKES up Sunnydale which causes Buffy to feel like the world is coming to an end…again! And if that wasn’t enough, a shirtless frat boy gets murdered, marked, and drained of blood! Maybe Buffy’s anxieties might be coming to fruition?! Rewatch, listen, & laugh as we talk about Pauley Demon, curse Laurie with a case of the forever hiccups, and fully indulge in our Riley awakening! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've reached a MILESTONE in our rewatching experience: HUSH! We're celebrating The Gentlemen's arrival to Sunnydale by chatting with an absolute icon, Doug Jones! You may know him from his roles in Hocus Pocus, Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and of course Buffy. This week, Doug joins us for a debrief and analysis of this beloved episode and shares all of the juicy behind-the-scenes secrets that we know you are going to love! Rewatch, listen, and laugh, as we talk about A.I. witches, the elevator breathalyzer, and Douggie’s very own signal for an approaching apocalypse! And since it's a special occasion, join us on Instagram at @the_rewatcher on January 26th for a BRAND NEW art drop by @haleydoodledo ! IT'S SOOO GOOD! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Still reeling from Oz’s abrupt departure, Willow decides to end her day by dropping by his old room for some quality t-shirt sniffing time, but this routine is quickly cut short when she walks into his EMPTY BEDROOM and is absolutely gutted! Determined to skip past the hard part of grief, she casts a spell in an attempt to will her pain away. It seems like the spell was a dud until her off-the-cuff remarks start coming to fruition in HILARIOUS ways leading to an impaired Giles and a lovey dovey Buffy. Rewatch, listen & laugh as we talk about what an adorable hunk Riley is, question Giles’ and Spike’s showering situation, and once again ponder Buffy’s ability to be a supportive friend. And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's another Angel crossover episode! Haven’t watched Angel yet?? No worries, we’ve got your back! We fill you all in on all the deets you need to know. We start with Buffy rolling into New Angelus after the chaotic events of Buffy: Season 4 Episode 8 (Pangs) ready to have a conversation about Angel’s pathetic invisible man act in Sunnydale. While she’s there, an OSHA violation of demonic sorts turns Angel mortal, leaving him and Buffy to figure out what that means for their relationship. We know there’s lots of brooding involved! Rewatch, listen & laugh as we talk about why Cordi's hair is so sleek, oracles from Coachella, and one of the most heart-wrenching scenes that leaves us both on the verge of tears (props to Sarah for that one). And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving in Sunnydale without turkey, yams, a visit from your ex-boyfriend, and your dinner ruined by angry spirits! When Xander accidentally finds an underground historical building, a vengeful spirit of a Chumash warrior is unleashed and wreaks havoc on everyone he encounters. Meanwhile, Angel comes back to Sunnydale after learning about Doyle’s vision which led him to think that Buffy is in imminent danger. Plus, a sickly Spike wanders from place to place in search of shelter and a bloody meal! Rewatch, listen & laugh as we talk about experiencing elderly-ism together, give Xander and Anya a couple name, and question the point of Angel’s very presence! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With Buffy finally over that fuckboy Parker Abrams, it’s time for Willow to sub in as the token heartbroken college girl complete with never-ending sad girl music. Meanwhile, Riley has an epiphany and realizes that Buffy is a fucking beautiful weirdo! Willow does Riley a kindness and acts as an unofficial wing woman to get him her digies! If that wasn’t enough drama, Spike is back!!! After escaping a high-tech detainment center, he plans to wreak havoc in Hellmouth with his sights set on Willow and Buffy. Rewatch, listen & laugh as we reveal our new Buffy-inspired group chat name, crush on Riley and his slicked-back hair, and revel in Giles’s artistic skills! And don’t forget to follow us at @the_rewatcher on Instagram for special bonus content!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.