Still Slaying: a Buffy-verse podcast

“So you bought the Magic Shop, and you were attacked before it opened. Who's up for a swingin' chorus of the "We Told You So" symphony?” Penny and Kara welcome guest host Anwen to talk about this Xander-centric episode, diving into the turn of the millennium history, twins, Sweet Valley High, yin-yang, Severance, imposter syndrome, realizations of mortality, The Vampire Lestat, Star Trek, modern r...

“Oh, this isn't mere dust. This is 'son of dust'. This is the kind of dust that spawns countless generations of little baby dust.” Kara and Penny agree, parts of this episode didn’t age well, but it still slays otherwise, and they get into all manner of topics, like billionaires, racial stereotypes, parties, Cordelia’s first aid skills, bullies, monster design, metal car keys, convertibles, gender...

“Which begs the question, what kind of an unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?” Penny and Kara get real about the two party political system, Gilmore Girls, voice over, sibling shenanigans, representation, board games, the cost of living, hoop earrings, Y2K decor, potato chips, laugh tracks, and The Vampire Lestat. Next time, we’ll be covering Angel, season 2, episode 3, “First Impres...

“Yep. It's not that vampires don't photograph, it's just that they don't photograph well.” Penny, Becky and Kara enjoy a trip to 1952 to experience some grade A paranoia in an overtly political episode with a film noir flashback. The conversation ranges from HUAC to iMac laptops and tangents include transparent Y2K tech, inflatable furniture, retro fashion trends, shame, Community, Film Noir trope...

NOTE: We had technical difficulties recording this episode.  You may hear glitches in the sound.  “I'm standing right here!” Penny welcomes Mark back to the ‘Cast and the two dig into the season opener and its visiting icon. The two talk comparative Draculas, fashion as character, hair aspirations, prestige TV and episode count, callbacks to Season 4, Blade, Howard the Duck, the MCU, side characte...

“Angel, it's been a long time. I'd love to see that boy.” Penny and Becky dive into the Angel season two opener, reveling in the new characters and broader world building and finding plenty of tangents along the way, like pay phones in movies, music licensing, karaoke, the Mos Eisley spaceport cantina, CD jewel cases, jousting, and records keeping for demon hunters.     Next time we’ll tackle BTVS...

“The world you live in is just a sugar-coated topping! There is another world beneath it: the real world. And if you wanna survive it, you better learn to PULL THE TRIGGER!” Note: For this R-Rated film, we’ve suspended our no swears policy.  Penny is joined by Jason and Renaldy to dive into the iconic vampire movie, “Blade.” The group has so much fun talking through vampire society and politics, W...

“Don’t believe everything you’re foretold.” Penny, Sam and Kara come together to talk about what’s in the box. Along the way, they veer into some great tangents, including Djo, Y2K makeup and fashion trends, To Live and Die in L.A., Doctor Who, Edna Mode and the impracticality of capes, Afroman, CPTSD, queer subtext, Buffyverse alums who appear on Supernatural, bystander effect, the Universal Sign...

“Evil white folks really do have a Mecca.” Penny and Sam have a lot of laughs digging into this Lindsey-focused episode about the struggle between morals and the pursuit of power. Along the way, the conversation ranges through computer tropes on tv, grooming, evil Sheldon Cooper, scarcity mind set, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, redemption versus escape, law firm culture, career tracks, Andor, and h...

“I don't need advice from some middle-class white dude that's dead!” The Scooby Duo revel in the reveal of Gunn, and the conversation includes stubborn refusal to adopt new technologies, adults cast as teens, Percy Jackson, Los Angeles neighborhoods, conflict styles, wealth inequality, coffee trends, character resurrections, and the Satanic Panic of the 80s.  Next time, we’ll be covering Angel sea...

“You’re not the source of me.” It’s full spoilers for most of the episode and Penny, Kara and Becky pick apart the interrelated dream sequences of the Scooby Gang. Insecurities are explored, future events are foreshadowed, and there’s lots of cheese. The wide-ranging topics include parenting styles, unrealistic beauty standards, Moira Rose/Catherine O’Hara, Joshua Tree National Park, pillow forts,...

“Xander, just because this is never gonna work there’s no need to be negative.” Penny and Sam dive into this plot and action heavy episode that wraps up most of Season 4’s stories. The conversation ranges from sadly relevant world events from the turn of the millennium, to sarcasm, favorite words, fascism, Andor, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Privacy Laws, the outrageous...

“You know, for someone who's got "Watcher" on his résumé, you might want to cast an eye to the front door every now and again.” Penny and Kara fully enjoyed this Spike showcase episode as we rush toward the conclusion of this uneven season. The Scooby Duo’s conversation ranges from villains, sarcasm, toxic romance, clown pants, Angel, Riley’s need to do more reading, hubris, power dynamics, The Be...

“For a taciturn shadowy guy, I've got a big mouth.” Dodie returns, and she and Penny sink their fangs into this meaty episode of pain and redemption. The conversation ranges from 12 step programs to words hurting more than fists and along the way takes some tangents into the U.S. foster care system, the unrealized Faith spinoff, Tru Calling, Dollhouse, Pluribus, and ancient pigments. Next time, we...

“I hate failure when there's no one else to blame it on.” Sam and Penny revel in the chaos of Faith in Los Angeles, appreciating the fashion, anger, sultriness, violence, anger and darkness while finding their way to a discussion of buses, danceclubs, what makes a great villain great, the depiction of lawyers, Christian Kane’s music, urban fantasy, torture, 24, Criminal Minds, Veronica Mars, and t...

"Talk later. Stealthy escape now." The Scooby Duo, Penny and Kara get political discussing this landmark episode and its themes of bigotry, anarchy and identity. The conversation stretches and bends to include moon phases, bi-erasure, coming out, words, Bigotry, Oz love, fatphobia, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, mature and healthy breakups, Anarchism, great on-screen villains, fantasy casting...

"Well, judging by the outfit, I guess it's safe to come in. Evil Angel never would have worn those pants." Penny, Sam and Kara find plenty to entertain them in these two episodes showing Angel really getting out into the community. The Slay Squad reminisces about the color of office equipment in the 80s and 90s, “Gladiator,” Lilah Morgan, Heated Rivalry, the Buffy reboot, Interview with a Vampire,...

CW: Discussion of rape.  “Did anyone else feel way too tall? I felt *way* too tall.” Penny and Becky enjoy the silliness of Superstar, diving into Mary Sues and FanFic, alternate realities, wish fulfillment, Penny incorrectly remembers Newton’s Laws (she was actually talking about the Law of Conservation of Energy and the Law of Conservation of Mass), the plusses and minuses of Riley, Danny Strong...

CW: Discussion of sexual topics and rape. “Because it's wrong.” Penny and Sam and Dina welcome Dina to Still Slaying and the trio get nostalgic about the TV landscape at the turn of the millennium. The wide-ranging discussion touches on The X-files, future robot selves, trauma, stevedores, porn stereotypes, queer subtext (and text), whether we would have sex with a clone of ourself, masturbation a...

“That was the funnest coma ever.” Penny and Kara welcome the return of Faith, diving into her psyche, her fashion, and her motivations as well as snakes, dream sequences, surveillance, order and chaos, freedom and responsibility, purpose and leadership, fashion hits and misses, and dated technology.     Next time we’ll be talking about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1, Episode 15, “Who Are You.”...

“What we once were informs all that we have become. The same love will infect our hearts, even if they no longer beat. Simple death won't change that.” Penny and Sam dig into the meaning of the word, “prodigal” and the parable of The Prodigal Son, with some diversions into webcams, relative height on screen, vampire mental health, gender roles, vampire jazz hands, mayoral fashion choices, fire saf...

“I am Ethros. I corrupted the spirits of men before they had speech to name me.” Trigger Warning: discussion of domestic abuse and childhood trauma Penny and Sam dive into this tale of exorcism with a twist. The wide ranging conversation touches on infomercials, TV advertising, grief, insecurity, our potential careers as exorcists, faith, sociopathy, misogyny, teacher burnout, “emotion mind,” demo...

“Poor Buffy. Your life resists all things average.” Penny and Sam discuss this plot development heavy episode of Riley’s world being turned upside down. The conversation ranges far and wide, covering Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, La Croix, child vampires, 3.5 inch floppy disks, swearing in other languages, the likelihood that the basement smells pretty bad, Sunnydale’s real estate market, drug with...

“That’s the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. That choice belongs to you.” Penny, Kara and Karen celebrate all things HUNTR/X, talking through the three main characters, the allure of the Saja Boys, the powerful draw of the music, the fun choreography, finding community through shared fandom, inspiring creativity in fans, the deeper meanings hidden behind the brigh...

"If you think that's enough to kill me, you really don't know what a Slayer is. Trust me when I say you're gonna find out." Penny, Becky and Steve joyfully dive into this heel turn episode, they learn that words can be hard, recall some iconic news items about The Sims and Diddy before he was Diddy, and Becky’s childhood dinner with Al Gore. The discussion goes on to include Jiffy Pop, knee replac...