Possibly my last post of the night...

[snick_backup]

What's the deal with fandom and "Doublemeat Palace"? In a season of Angst, Angst and Woe, it's an ep with silly hats, icky monsters, a cannibalism misdirect, and a sly sideways look at fast food appreciated by all of us who've stood on that side of cash register. It even has wall!sex, if that's your thing.

So why, when people talk about lameness in S6, does that ep always come up? Come on, Two to Go? Way lamer.

Comments

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can figure is that this is really Buffy at her lowest point. The insane drudgery is captured so perfectly that it sticks with a person, you know? Too, too real.

I'm with you, though. There is lots to love. Personally, I like the new manager at the end, and wish we'd seen more of her.

As I'm sure you know, this is the episode that finally got BtVS in trouble with the advertisers. Not for the sex, violence, or PG-gore. No, it was the unvarnished look at working in fast food (and eating fast food) that finally did the trick. Heh. I would love it just for that!

[snickfic]

I suppose, except I can think of at least three other times ("Dead Things," "As You Were," and "Normal Again") that could also be considered Buffy's lowest point, though in other ways.

That new manager had panache, didn't she? I'd have liked to have seen more of her, too.

Actually, I didn't know. It's one of those things, coming to the series this late - I've missed all the gossip!

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I think there were some parts of it that were meant to make it a more comedic episode amidst the season of Angst, Angst, Woe, but it just fell flat. There are only so many times we can laugh at Buffy in a funny hat before it becomes obnoxious. I think what happened is they were going for the cringe-awkward school of comedy, much like the British Office, where you really are laughing at the person, rather than with the person, and a lot of people were uncomfortable with seeing Buffy brought so low that she'd be mocked.

And Two to Go is only worthwhile when you see it in conjunction with "Villans" and "Gone." Otherwise? Totally lame.

[next_to_normal]

There are only so many times we can laugh at Buffy in a funny hat before it becomes obnoxious.

This. It's the same reason I get squirmy about As You Were. (Well, okay, and the plot makes no sense. But the Buffy mockage makes me angry.)

But also, I thought the penis monster was pretty cringe-inducing. (Really, Show? We're not even trying with the metaphors anymore, are we?)

It even has wall!sex, if that's your thing.

Ugh. That is probably #2 in my list of least pleasant Spuffy sex scenes (second only to the balcony scene in Dead Things). Buffy looks utterly bored - how is that sexy?

So yeah, all around, DMP's definitely not making the favorites list, lol.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I HATE AS YOU WERE.

But yeah, I see quite a bit of that in DMP, too.

Ugh. That is probably #2 in my list of least pleasant Spuffy sex scenes (second only to the balcony scene in Dead Things). Buffy looks utterly bored - how is that sexy?
Exactly.

But I agree with Snick that "Two to Go" is worse. ;D

And I'll admit that the last time I watched "Beer Bad," I enjoyed it. I haven't seen it in a very long time, but I giggled.

[next_to_normal]

I giggle at "Beer Bad", too. I admit it. I think the key is that a lame episode has to have some saving grace to it. Like "Him" has the rocket launcher scene, or WTWTA has Giles singing. I will put up with a lot to watch Buffy spinning in her chair or conking Parker on the head. :)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY. Those examples are perfect!

[snickfic]

Like I told eilowyn, I feel like we're laughing with Buffy at her coworkers, more than laughing at her. She still sees all the absurdities.

[next_to_normal]

Perhaps. I honestly haven't seen it in forever, so I don't remember if there's a notable difference between this and later episodes, where she's clearly not laughing anymore.

But I think, knowing what comes later, it feels cruel to laugh even when Buffy finds it absurd, because I know that she's going to hit rock bottom soon and this is just one stop on the way down.

[snickfic]

I guess I could see that. I dunno. Since I've worked fast food myself, I guess I tend to view it as laughing with Buffy, rather than at her. She is still quite aware of the absurdities in her job; I feel like if we're laughing at anyone, we're laughing at her coworkers, especially Mitch, he of the saddle shoes.

You know, even with Villains and Grave, Two to Go goes on forever. Ugh. Dark!Willow really didn't fulfill her potential.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything said in this thread, yep. Not a fan of Doublemeat Palace for all these reasons.