Dear 90s tv generation....

Boom_Bap · 16-07-2015 01:57PM

X-Files was and still is excellent. I must re-watch.

A funny Buffy yarn to tell. I used to work in a hostel, we seen some very odd and strange things there from phantom couch pee-ers to people who boarded up windows because the CIA was after them.

By far, the strangest guest was a guy who was kitted out in loads of Buffy gear, who refused my pen and whipped out his Buffy pen to complete his registration card and got into a massive hissy fit because.......... I didn't know what time Buffy aired at on national TV.
I think it was on the lead up to the finale, so I told him how to work teletext and let him at the TV in the lobby.
He spent nearly all his 5 or 6 day stay looking up the TV Guide or teletext.
He just talked about Buffy, he refused to let any other guests use the TV.
Good times.

Tony EH · 16-07-2015 02:07PM

Buffy was absolute cobblers.

Never understood the appeal of that bloody show.

I didn't watch 'The X Files' when it was on tele really, but watched them on DVD. I burned through series 1 - 6 about 10 years ago and only recently started to get back to it and finish it off.

Series 7 has some awful bollocks in though. Some terrible, terrible stuff. Series 8 so far has been great. I'm unsure as to why it's considered a bad one. I know nothing about series 9 yet, but I heard it's bad. But then again that was said about 8 and that's been proven wrong as far as I'm concerned.

They're making a new series, I hear, which is why I am finishing off the show, but they'll need to change out the format. Gone are the days of the one off self contained episode type show. I think 'The X Files' would lend itself to a 'True Detective' type format quite well though. 6 or 7 episodes of a running storyline.

seamus · 16-07-2015 02:12PM

Watched a couple of X-Files episodes every now and again, never really got into Buffy. X-files was decent in that you could watch an episode on its own without needing to know a whole pile of backstory or lore.

Was definitely more of a Star Trek/Stargate/Father Ted/Simpsons guy myself.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 16-07-2015 02:19PM

Turtyturd wrote: »

You're obviously a robot.

It's the cool thing to like Batman these days but Spider-Man is an infinitely better and more relatable character.

Batman's a great character.I'm pretty sure a lot or people would quite like to go out at nights and sort out the scum in the society.

Also Batman had no superpowers so you could realistically fantasise about being Batman.

I love both and I have very fond memories of the animated Spiderman show from the 90's which was top class (the theme tune is on of the greatest TV theme tunes of all time) as was the Batman animated show highlighted earlier.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 16-07-2015 02:23PM

Never watched Buffy but the X-Files was brilliant.

A lot of reviews I've read of the X-Files they always seemed to prefer the story arc shows rather than the Monster of the week episodes.I was the opposite the story arc although excellent in the early seasons but by about the 4th or 5th season it was obvious they were making it up as they went along.It just went on too long although The Smoking Man and Krycek were great characters.

Zombienosh · 16-07-2015 02:58PM

I still watch the x-files on a regular basis. Best TV show ever.

Turtyturd · 16-07-2015 03:25PM

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Batman's a great character.I'm pretty sure a lot or people would quite like to go out at nights and sort out the scum in the society.

Also Batman had no superpowers so you could realistically fantasise about being Batman.

I love both and I have very fond memories of the animated Spiderman show from the 90's which was top class (the theme tune is on of the greatest TV theme tunes of all time) as was the Batman animated show highlighted earlier.

I was talking more from the comics perspective, Spider-Man is a much more rounded character.

On cartoons, X-men (at least for the first 2-3 seasons) was better, and had a better theme tune.

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 03:32PM

Turtyturd wrote: »

On cartoons, X-men (at least for the first 2-3 seasons) was better, and had a better theme tune.

Yeeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh buddy!

Paramite Pie · 16-07-2015 03:35PM

The Golden Miller wrote: »

As a lad, how on earth can you relate to Buffy on any level? I certainly can't.

Let's see, a young character discovering their powers, living a double life which get's them into trouble both at school & home (the arguments with her mother we're very realistic!), is smart but not academically bright, fails many classes and ultimately drops out of University, ending up working in a fast food joint flipping burgers for a season. She has some serious financial struggles on top of that.

A character who has all this potential and most people don't even see it. She even admits that she has a superiority complex due to her powers and feels really guilty about it, which she thinks makes her a unworthy of being a hero -- ie an inferiority complex about her superiority complex. She also feels cut off from the world and buries her depression with mutually abusive sex.

As a college drop out who never fulfilled his potential, working a dead-end job who has suffered isolation & depression, yeah I sure as hell related to Buffy. You need to look past the 'girl' stuff and see the actual character arcs.

If I don't need to be a scientist to relate to Peter Parker, then I don't need to be a Valley Girl to relate to Buffy. Your post sounds very short-sighted.

lazybones32 wrote: »

And some men consider wearing foundation to be acceptable...anyway

A bit irrelevant yeah? What's acceptable for male grooming varies from culture to culture.

lazybones32 wrote: »

A young woman, chosen by fate, endowed with mystical powers by the calling and a splash of clairvoyance and prophetic dreams. Add in, iirc, a bad-boy vampire love-interest who overcomes his nature for Buffy's sake... sorry, you think this type of character isn't aimed at teenage girls? It's the same tried-and-tested formula, only the situations are different.

I never said it didn't appeal to girls, I was simply saying I felt there as enough appeal for me as well. Although the stunt doubles were pretty obvious, there were some good fight scenes and some interesting stories.

I do think the lesbian subtext between Buffy & Faith was definitely for the boys... and I don't think anal sex in a nightclub was for teenagers, the show grew up with it's fans;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ARM06xOoo#t=1m28s
from 1:28 onwards
^^ You can't tell me that's aimed at young girls!?! It's a bit rapey but hot at the same time O_o -- more of a young adult audience.

Angel was good before he met Buffy so he didn't reform for her (although he did go evil for a bit), so for the bad-boy I presume your talking about Spike? They were just **** buddies really. Buffy spent a lot of time single in the later seasons -- the show had enough legs to stand on.

lazybones32 wrote: »

I've seen bits of it because someone else watched it and when Charisma Carpenter was on-screen, I definitely paid more attention. I used watch Charmed too; not for the story line but because Shannon Doherty rarely wore a bra and often wore sheer tops. That's the kind of Women's Lib I support!

Couldn't stand charmed. Especially after Shannon Doherty left. The earlier seasons of Buffy were more cliche, I was glad when Angel left.

The Golden Miller · 16-07-2015 03:43PM

Turtyturd wrote: »

I was talking more from the comics perspective, Spider-Man is a much more rounded character.

On cartoons, X-men (at least for the first 2-3 seasons) was better, and had a better theme tune.

I'd have to agree on Spider-man. Before all these comic films where the characters popularity relied on the comics and cartoons etc, Spider-man was the only character transcending all that into popular culture. He was miles more popular than Batman and Superman and for good reason. Peter Parker was the everyman. I'd say for a time in the 90's Venom was more popular than Batman too. Burtons films kept Batman on par with Spidey for a while, but his popularity really began to wane again until the the Dark Night film. Since then it's become cooler to be into Iron man and Batman with all their tech and cars, but when the comic book films fatigue and blow over, and as history has shown us, the only character left standing will be Spiderman. Since his first appearance he has been infinitely more popular than any other character consistently. And I love both characters

Samaris · 16-07-2015 03:45PM

realies wrote: »

Doo do doo doo do doo

That reminded me of hearing a guy busking with a hang-drum, which has a very specific sound to it, a sort of haunting low whine (sounds awful, but it's actually rather pleasant played well). He did the X-Files theme on it and it sounded -awesome-.

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 03:56PM

The Golden Miller wrote: »

I'd have to agree on Spider-man. Before all these comic films where the characters popularity relied on the comics and cartoons etc, Spider-man was the only character transcending all that into popular culture. He was miles more popular than Batman and Superman and for good reason. Peter Parker was the everyman. I'd say for a time in the 90's Venom was more popular than Batman too. Burtons films kept Batman on par with Spidey for a while, but his popularity really began to wane again until the the Dark Night film. Since then it's become cooler to be into Iron man and Batman with all their tech and cars, but when the comic book films fatigue and blow over, and as history has shown us, the only character left standing will be Spiderman. Since his first appearance he has been infinitely more popular than any other character consistently. And I love both characters

IS this fact or your opinion? I don't follow comic books much, but I would reckon Batman at least was as popular as Spiderman through the 90s and early 2000s. At least he was among my mates, who would have been hitting our teens around 1998/99.

Medusa22 · 16-07-2015 06:05PM

FloatingVoter wrote: »

OP's missus wants the ride off David Duchovny. He'd oblige but in the meantime, buy her a boxset of Californication and a rabbit.

She said she'd do him alright, but only back in the day, he's too old for her now. I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crisps myself. As for the rabbit, well...we're both women so I won't comment further :P

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 06:12PM

Medusa22 wrote: »

She said she'd do him alright, but only back in the day, he's too old for her now.

David Duchovny 1994: http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/147865144-actor-david-duchovny-attends-the-fox-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QeiKDjTEp9sZ5zRmTPb6%2FewqavM7LeQnOVb01o0SRHF0OL3pzra3w2L5mEFp6HKTFw%3D%3D
David Duchovny 2014: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/aquarius-the-tv-show/images/f/fb/David_Duchovny.jpg

He's one of the un-ageing reptile people, how can he be 'too old for her now'??

Medusa22 · 16-07-2015 06:20PM

Billy86 wrote: »

David Duchovny 1994: http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/147865144-actor-david-duchovny-attends-the-fox-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QeiKDjTEp9sZ5zRmTPb6%2FewqavM7LeQnOVb01o0SRHF0OL3pzra3w2L5mEFp6HKTFw%3D%3D
David Duchovny 2014: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/aquarius-the-tv-show/images/f/fb/David_Duchovny.jpg

He's one of the un-ageing reptile people, how can he be 'too old for her now'??

This is what my woman tells me, I don't question it! That's a survival tip for you

Mister Vain · 16-07-2015 06:35PM

The X-Files was sheer class. Buffy was nothing more than a masterbatory aid during my adolescent years.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 16-07-2015 06:42PM

I was well into Buffy at the time, but now...gosh there really are a lot of things about it that are awful. Some seriously dodgy acting, and dialogue that can be BEYOND AWFUL. But I mean, it is what it is. An allegory of adolescence and young adulthood that's far more enjoyable once you stop expecting it to be subtle or serious. Fcuking Dawn was terrible though, what a terrible character and performance. At least she's not Reilly.

There are a handful of episodes that are genuinely good and I still enjoy watching them, they definitely hold up against any other TV from the 90s. There's the gender flippy one with the ghost who killed the teacher taking over the school, there's the one where everyone's worst nightmare starts coming true (Buffy's scene with her dad in that really is brilliant), there's the one where Buffy's just after getting back from L.A., there's the musical episode! The one where the first slayer is stalking everyone through their dreams is brilliant too. Sarah Michelle Gellar really is a pretty good actress, which was a mixed blessing because putting her in a scene with David Boreanaz and some of the others really showed them up.

Never really watched the X-Files but from the bits I've seen it seems pretty good, for pure nostalgia reasons I'd always prefer Buffy though

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 06:46PM

Mister Vain wrote: »

The X-Files was sheer class. Buffy was nothing more than a masterbatory aid during my adolescent years.

I was never big on Buff, but it's actually one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows probably ever, and it's on the syllabus of a lot of film studies courses. It also really out Joss Whedon on the map.

lazybones32 · 16-07-2015 06:48PM

Paramite Pie wrote: »

A bit irrelevant yeah? What's acceptable for male grooming varies from culture to culture.

I never said it didn't appeal to girls, I was simply saying I felt there as enough appeal for me as well. Although the stunt doubles were pretty obvious, there were some good fight scenes and some interesting stories.

I do think the lesbian subtext between Buffy & Faith was definitely for the boys... and I don't think anal sex in a nightclub was for teenagers, the show grew up with it's fans;

^^ You can't tell me that's aimed at young girls!?! It's a bit rapey but hot at the same time O_o -- more of a young adult audience.

Angel was good before he met Buffy so he didn't reform for her (although he did go evil for a bit), so for the bad-boy I presume your talking about Spike? They were just **** buddies really. Buffy spent a lot of time single in the later seasons -- the show had enough legs to stand on.

Couldn't stand charmed. Especially after Shannon Doherty left. The earlier seasons of Buffy were more cliche, I was glad when Angel left.

Anal?

We'll agree to disagree...on everything.

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 06:48PM

Medusa22 wrote: »

This is what my woman tells me, I don't question it! That's a survival tip for you

Your screen name makes so much sense now! :pac:

Mister Vain · 16-07-2015 06:55PM

Billy86 wrote: »

I was never big on Buff, but it's actually one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows probably ever, and it's on the syllabus of a lot of film studies courses. It also really out Joss Whedon on the map.

Ohh don't get me wrong, I'm well aware of its popularity. But then again I'm well aware of Justin Bieber's popularity too.

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 07:04PM

Mister Vain wrote: »

Ohh don't get me wrong, I'm well aware of its popularity. But then again I'm well aware of Justin Bieber's popularity too.

Justin Bieber is critically renowned and taught in most music degrees?

Medusa22 · 16-07-2015 07:05PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Your screen name makes so much sense now! :pac:

Ah I just threaten to hold a mirror up to her when she gets bitchy :pac:

Paramite Pie · 16-07-2015 07:27PM

lazybones32 wrote: »

Anal?

We'll agree to disagree...on everything.

We can disagree on whatever you like but you can't deny that the show matured with it's original audience of teens/tweens and as that audience got older, the later seasons moved onto some morally ambiguous themes.

Mister Vain · 16-07-2015 07:35PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Justin Bieber is critically renowned and taught in most music degrees?

That doesn't mean he's any good.

Billy86 · 16-07-2015 07:40PM

Mister Vain wrote: »

That doesn't mean he's any good.

Because he is neither, as best I am aware. Buffy was both acclaimed almost universally and is almost standard learning for film students probably more than any show in the 90s, outside of The Simpsons and perhaps Sopranos), and like I said I'm not even a fan of the program.

When the overwhelming majority of casual viewers, TV buffs, industry insiders (actors, directors, producers, cinematographers, crew, etc), critics of all walks of life and preferences, and educators in the medium agree that something is very, very good... you will tend to find that is because it is very, very good. Whether it is your cup of tea or not is an entirely different matter.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 16-07-2015 07:53PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Because he is neither, as best I am aware. Buffy was both acclaimed almost universally and is almost standard learning for film students probably more than any show in the 90s, outside of The Simpsons and perhaps Sopranos), and like I said I'm not even a fan of the program.

When the overwhelming majority of casual viewers, TV buffs, industry insiders (actors, directors, producers, cinematographers, crew, etc), critics of all walks of life and preferences, and educators in the medium agree that something is very, very good... you will tend to find that is because it is very, very good. Whether it is your cup of tea or not is an entirely different matter.

I've never seen it before so can you please explain why is it so highly thought of?

OneOfThem · 16-07-2015 07:57PM

Strange categorisation of the two shows. Buffy was by far the nerdier. It was a show written by a nerd about characters that were a bunch of nerds, but it was all ok because even though everyone thought they were nerds, super secretely they were all really really cool and did really cool stuff and even though they were nerds they could really like totally kick everyones ass and did way cooler things that no one knew about, than go to all the cool parties and stuff. And in every episode the cool kids were totally like the ones they were the real nerds because thier cool things were like way less important than the actual cool things. Written very much as a nerd escape fantasy.

I really liked the show. I thought it was witty, and interesting and original. But it's about the nerdiest thing that's ever appeared on a TV screen.

Capt'n Midnight · 16-07-2015 07:58PM

FloatingVoter wrote: »

The X Files a photocopy of The Twilight Zone. Both were watchable but nowhere near the first rank of TV in any decade.

I hope you aren't talking about the original Black and White Twilight Zone's.

Schism · 16-07-2015 08:08PM

X-Files was and is far better.

Dear 90s tv generation....

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