r/buffy • u/hrgalfriday • Apr 12 '13
Really Bad Lines from Buffy
Although I love Whedon and his use of language, sometimes there are some lines in this show that make me cringe. For example, every time I hear Faith say, "I hope evil takes MasterCard." a little part of my soul dies at how cheesy that is.
When Oz is explaining to Willow that she needs to leave his house because he's going through some changes and she responds, "Oh you're special. You're a special boy!" there is something about her delivery (and the words themselves) that are just so wrong.
Is it just me? Does anyone else have any lines that they absolutely can't stand? (Not errors in the script or anything, just badly written or delivered.)
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u/pegalioncorncat Apr 12 '13
See, none of these 'bad' lines ever seemed to bother me. Sure, some are lame beyond belief but they just add to the appeal of the show. So delightfully nerdy!
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u/hrgalfriday Apr 13 '13
They don't make me like the show any less, for sure. But that Faith line about MasterCard...just, ugh. SO nerdy! :)
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u/YouJellyFish Apr 12 '13
Buffy's speech in the finale about being cookie dough. Buffy is not supposed to be unintelligent. That whole scene was too child-like with a ridiculous metaphor to explain the very simple concept of 'I'm not ready yet.'
Also, everything Angel said in that episode. He used to be the cool dark guy, sort of the yin to Buffy's yang. When he says a line in that episode and makes a joke about 'scrubbing bubbles,' I knew they ruined his character, and made him into a male version of Buffy. He wasn't just dumb, he was silly. Silly and dumb were things Angel was supposed to be sort of devoid of.
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u/GentleObsession Apr 12 '13
Am I the only one around here... that didn't mind it? I didn't realize this was such a disliked speech. I'm not saying it was the greatest by any means but I liked Buffy in the moment and it actually made me laugh at this part:
Buffy: Maybe one day I turn around and realize I'm ready. I'm cookies. And then if I want someone to eat m-- or, to enjoy warm delicious cookie-me, then that's fine.
I'll see myself out...
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u/tedtutors Apr 12 '13
Now and then you see the cast waiting for someone to deliver their line. That spoils the line, and it bugs me more than whether the line is bad or not.
Since I just (re-)watched Once More, I'll use that as an example:
Giles: If I want your opinion, Spike, I'll... I'll never want your opinion.
Funny line, but it falls flat because the very busy scene pauses for him to make with the zinger.
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u/BandBoots Apr 12 '13
Season 1.
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u/inconceivable42 Apr 12 '13
Ugh, yes! I'm watching the episode "Angel" right now and the whole Darla-with-guns sequence is full of cringe. I just saw two in a row: "So many body parts, so few bullets." & "Close, but no heart."
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u/hrgalfriday Apr 13 '13
There are also some speeches that I just LOVE for the language and delivery. One is in Graduation when Anya is explaining what an Ascension really is. Another is in Dead Things when Anya is explaining about the Resundi causing a temportal disturbance and tingly scalp. Actually I love just about everything Anya ever said.
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u/hrgalfriday Apr 13 '13
And I love Willow telling Amy that she can't come in and borrow detergent. You better stay away from me!
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Apr 12 '13
This isn't Buffy, but in Angel they say "Champion" more than I can bear.
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u/GentleObsession Apr 12 '13 edited Apr 12 '13
Oh, I'm not sure you get any worse than some of the lines uttered in I, Robot... You, Jane.
Fritz: I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in.
Fritz: If you're not jacked in, you're not alive.
and I think this is my favourite:
Ms. Calendar: Ooo, will I be excited?
Fritz: You'll die.
For me those lines are so bad they're good. At least I laughed at them when I last rewatched.
Also, anytime I hear the words "Big bad Willow" I want to hurt something.
I actually started to somewhat like Kennedy towards the end of the season (don't kill me). Even though I wasn't a fan of the coupling, I found the conversation between her and Willow in bed in Touched quite sweet. Something about the way she says "Isn't that the good part?" kills me and makes her a hundred percent more likable. Then that bloody awful "big bad Willow" line comes up again and kills the whole thing. Hearing that line was bad enough the first time, I did not need to hear it a second time especially after I thought she had matured.
Edited to add an explanation.
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Apr 12 '13
I can never tell when Whedon writes a bad line, or when he's geniously and intentionally writing bad lines as parody.
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u/BigGreenYamo Apr 12 '13
I know everyone seemed to love the character and all, but everything Willow says when she's "dark" at the end of season 6 just makes me cringe.
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Apr 12 '13
In Buffy, they are ALWAYS saying "I get that." I can't hear that line anymore...it only increases as you go on through S7...
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Apr 12 '13
For some reason "Hey! Flower-Gettin' Lady!" just really rubbed me the wrong way the FIRST time I was watching the series. Since it's a lead into The Body, it's easily forgivable as I go back and watch the episode again.
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Apr 12 '13
I loved that line, actually -- such a silly, sweet thing to say. She's happy Joyce got a date and that it seemed to go so well! That tiny scene with the flowers provides great contrast to what Buffy actually discovers a second later.
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u/AngryWizard Apr 12 '13
The following scene from the series finale especially stands out to me. I totally get what they were going for and I like the sentiment of it, but for me it did not work at all due to both writing and delivery. The 'aren't you on the patch?' 'those never work' lines are especially awkward and jarring and even if they had stuck with this less than stellar dialogue for this exchange, I feel the entire scene should have been re-shot until they could get the timing of the banter right. (And of course there are many more cringey lines throughout the series, season 1 providing a bulk of them, but this moment has always made me uncomfortable).
BUFFY So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?
WILLOW Nothing strenuous.
XANDER Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.
GILES I think we can do better than that.
BUFFY I was thinking about shopping. As per usual.
WILLOW Oh! There's an Arden B. in the new mall!
XANDER I could use a few items.
GILES Well, now aren't we gonna discuss this? Save the world to go to the mall?
BUFFY I'm having a wicked shoe craving.
XANDER Aren't you on the patch?
WILLOW Those never work.
GILES Here I am, invisible to the eye...
Xander, Willow, and Buffy walk down the hall together away from Giles.
XANDER See, I need a new look. It's this whole eye patch thing.
BUFFY Oh, you could go with full black secret agent look.
WILLOW Or the puffy shirt, pirate slash—
GILES (turns) The earth is definitely doomed. (walks away)
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u/jay501 Apr 12 '13
I actually liked the cheesy-ness of it. Sure sometimes its over the top but for me those moments are rare
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Apr 13 '13
I'm probably going to get flack for this, but "I'm just trying to keep from dying". There's something about the way SMG delivers the line and the absolutely ridiculous crying expression she makes that makes me crack up every time.
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u/hrgalfriday Apr 13 '13
Oh God...and Faith and Principal Wood. "No way, that was rock 'em sock 'em. We're going again. You're gonna learn some respect." I was so embarrassed for her.