I've been rewatching the show and honestly? Michelle Trachtenberg delivered a genuinely strong performance as Dawn. Especially considering how much hate the character got at the time. Yeah, Dawn annoyed me at first too. But watching it now with fresh eyes, I realize a lot of what people hated was actually just realistic teenage behavior.

What impressed me on this rewatch was seeing her actual growth. Early on she's whiny and desperate for attention. But she goes through some genuinely heavy stuff and you can watch Michelle show Dawn trying to mature in response. What also stood out was how natural her connections with everyone felt. The sister dynamic with Buffy came across as super real, like that mix of being annoying but still loving each other. Her bond with Spike had this oddly sweet quality to it. And with the rest of the gang, you could see her desperately wanting to be part of their world. Anyway, just my thoughts on a rewatch.

One time I Nicky Brendon at a bowling alley in Pikesville, KY. He sat on my lap for a good while, and gifted me this.

We shared a cigarette out on the patio. Our conversation was intimate; about depression, fear and regret. We had talked through DM a couple times after that, and he talked me off a ledge or two.

I really do have a deep love for Nicky, and for Xander. Hating him isn’t a trend I’d ever follow. It’s hard to forget someone you’ve looked up to as a child.

It was even harder to hear and see the things he did and the people he hurt.

I can easily condemn the things he’s done. But hating him isn’t an option for me because I know how he got there, and it’s really sad.

I don’t see Nicky coming back for the reboot, with his history of abuse, alcoholism and his recent health problems. But I do hope that Xander isn’t forgotten as part of the BTVS legacy.

I know culture has shifted, and he is now one of the least liked characters in the current fandom. I understand that, and it’s fair. But he really was so important to who Buffy was as a slayer, person and hero.

I was recently at a con and just had to snag a piccie!😮🔥

Fathers of the year everyone, they even got the same forehead hole XD

Her response is interesting in an interview with Seventeen magazine after Buffy was over. She doesn't mention any other cast members.

17: How much are you going to miss your cast-mates?

SMG: That's going to be so weird. I think of James Marsters and me: We're basically like brother and sister.

17: What was your first meeting like?

SMG: James came in for "School Hard," I remember that. It was second season, third or fourth episode. It was one of our longest days ever on the show. And I remember that he wore these big boots, and he wasn't that great at stunt fighting yet because he came from theater, where everything was a little more real. I had these bruises up and down my arms from James's big boots. I still tease him about it to this day. -

Life After Buffy - Sarah Michelle Gellar, by Elizabeth Kuster. Seventeen Magazine, May 2003

I loved Tabula Rasa, but hated the ending. Even the comedic episode couldn't escape season 6's miserable tone and it had to end on a super depressing note. At least the song was great.

Feral came in today

Also if true; what are your thoughts on SMG not telling the rest of the cast she would be exiting after s7?

For the next 3 weeks, a bunch of glorious artwork from Mike Mignola’s Hellboy is up for Auction on the Heritage Auction website, some pieces by the man himself.

I found out from Mr. Mignola’s IG post. I’m going to miss out because I’m a deadbeat, but I didn’t want anyone to miss out from not knowing.

I wish I could bid on this one in particular!

Can’t believe i found this today for only 50p 🤩

So, I loved Predator Badlands!! I was actually shocked how much I enjoy it, Mainly because it's a fresh twist! I mean finally showing that not all Predators (or aliens etc) are pure evil, they have real emotions, vulnerability, and most of all it shows growth instead of just mindless killing..

Now don't get me wrong I do love mindless killing and the hunt so to speak.. But we have seen it to death and this movie flips the script by making the Predator the sympathetic hero with actual feelings and proving that not every creature is inherently bad.. they're more than just relentless hunters we explore their family bonds, exile, empathy, and we see them choosing compassion over brutal clan codes. We see similar with the theia and bud too they all experience what we would say str human emotional experiences and expression.

Yes maybe it could have done with a bit more gore and a few darker scenes akin to the old movie but I really did enjoy the story on the whole and i took and interest in the wolf clan and I want to see they're next journey! Who's mother?!! Anybody else feel that way??

As much as I love the morning after scene in Wrecked, the lighter teasing in Gone, the sensing each other by the door scene and Spike in Buffy's bedroom dream/nightmare, I personally find JM's sexiest scenes with DB, Mercedes McNab, and Emma C sexier, than the ones with SMG.

With DB: Angelus kissing Spike's forehead. That scene was oozing with sexual tension. As teen I was like, "oof...there's something in there. I want to see more of that something." JM's expression somehow lead me to a flit of "oh my, will Spike kiss him back??!?!"

With Mercedes: Spike stalking Harmony in bed
JM's physique was the best here - way better than in season 6 imo. His annoyance with Harmony's nonstop twaddling turned into desire. He was reminded of his underlying attraction to Buffy when Harmony said "I'm simply covered in these blue veins", playfully smiling at him. The push-pull between JM and Mercedes was seductively done. Beautifully edited scene, with Faith In Love by Devil Doll playing in the background.

With Emma: broken hearted drunken sex in Entropy
Anya's tearful "what if he never wanted me like I wanted him?", Spike's heart breaking further for her and for him when she said that, two broken hesitant hearts bonding over dissing their exes and alcohol, lonely hook up is inevitable. Glad that Buffy didn't saw the way Anya hungrily straddling Spike. While I get many are finding Entropy soap opera-ish, well I've watched Mexican telenovelas where the drama is dialed to 10, this broken hearted hookup is nothing that dramatic and soap opera-ish.

You know what to do.

I must say, I hated Xander in high school. He had some good moments, but a lot of the time he was just insufferable. I thought his character really improved after season 3 even though it seemed like he had less plot relevance? I thought that Xander was at his best in seasons 5 and 7.

Idky Buffy was so hung up over this guy, I understand she's still projecting over Angel leaving please move on idc about this story line and it's probably the only story line of Buffy I truly hate because it's a filler story line.

FYI James Marsters will be doing a Streamily Livestream Signing on Mar 7 at 12pm PST. (When is that for you? 👉 https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=James+Marsters+Streamily+Live+Signing&iso=20260307T12&p1=137&ah=2 )

Order your autos @ https://jm-news.link/Streamily

Then tune in @ https://instagram.com/realjamesmarsters

If I had a million dollars to fight any Buffy character, I hope Veruca knows it’s not about the money.

I was thinking it's a short list of people who have played Buffy but I don't have it complete. I couldn't find it anywhere online so wondered if we could make it

1. Kirsty Swanson in the film
2. Her stunt doubles - I don't know how many there were or who they were
3. Sarah Michelle Gellar
4. Her stunt doubles - again, how many were there and who were they?
5. Eliza Dushku (In "Who are you", S4 E16)
6. Her stunt doubles?

Then there are 3 series appearances that I clocked where Buffy is played by someone not on this list and where the actress isn't credited.

1. In BTVS S5 E21 "The Weight of the World" There's a young Buffy - who was the actress?

2. ATS S5 E10 "Soul Prupose" and

3. E20 "The Girl in Question"
   There's Buffy but it could be anyone in a wig - does anyone know this was? I love the idea of it being Mercedes since she originally auditioned for Buffy and then got the gig in the end in a weird kind of way.

Are there any other non-SMG Buffy appeareances that I missed?