12/1 to 12/8 Episode Discussion: Ted

[SpikedBuffy]

Okay, let's get this ball rolling here!

It's time to discuss the episode Ted.

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Number of stakes: 3

I've never really had a problem with this episode, it's just not one that I rewatch a lot. I don't like what Buffy has to deal with in the episode, thinking that she had killed a human. It was horrible to watch.

I did like the cookies though, and how Willow found out that they had secret ingredient!

[Joyce Summers]

It's actually one of my favorites of the pre-angelus arc of season 2. I just love John Ritter in it- he gets like the right amount of too-good-to-be-true-dad and psychotic-no-cookies-make-ted-go-something-something plus I can't help but laugh after Buffy attacks him with a nail file and in the middle of his conversation with Joyce he keeps twitching his head to the side saying things like 'want a little gravy with that' and 'makes you feel like you're sixteen again'.
It was pretty unnerving though as well- for me it was mostly the bit where Xander looks in the cupboard to find the four dead wives. I think it's the fact that we *don't* see it that wigs me out the most. As though it's saying 'yeah its too awful for even the *audience* to see'.
Plus gotta love Xander's food obsession 'this is just terrible we have to find- ooh, cookies!'

[Kemy]

John Ritter was great in this episode, he had the part down perfectly. Looks like not many people rewatch this episode much but its always a good one to catch on repeats or going through the DVD's.

Its also a nice chance to see Joyce getting some screen time and having a storyline centre on her, well more than usual. I'd like to have seen more episodes like this in the earlier seasons.

Xander is hilarious and you have to love Willow squeeing over the computer upgrades, only she could do that and have it be cute.

And another interesting idea was Ted stumbling onto Buffy's Diary, we know how it turned out with him, but what if another boyfriend of Joyce's had discovered it? would have made for a good arc later in the season.

Definitely one of the better episodes in Season 2 and one of their better guest stars.

[Keanoite]

I think as stand alone eps go it is one of the better ones. Like evryone said John Ritter was brilliant to watch. The scene at the crazy golf when he keeps hitting the putter off his leg always sticks out in my mind for some reason.

[VisionGuy]

And another interesting idea was Ted stumbling onto Buffy's Diary, we know how it turned out with him, but what if another boyfriend of Joyce's had discovered it? would have made for a good arc later in the season.


The part that gets me is if Ted found the diary so easily, how did Joyce not stumble upon it? The reason might be that Joyce actually respected Buffy's privacy unlike Ted.

[Keanoite]

Her mother clearly new about the diary, remember in 'Angel' when Buffy thinks that Angel has read it but her mother had just moved it. So I would go along with the Joyce respected her privacy thing

[GATEGOD]

This is an episode I will dread to rewatch when I rewatch Buffy again. John Ritter is great, SMG is great, yet this episode ... and them together... and the whole Ted is a robot :lmao: big flop in my eyes. I did like the aftermath of what happened after Buffy accidentally.. 'killed' him the first time. But that was one of only a few great moments in the episode. Willow/Xander were hilarious as usually . The ep is okay... I just wouldn't want to sit through it again if I wasn't multi tasking/doing something else while I watched it ^.^ I would watch it ^>^ can't miss an episode that may have links to the next one ^.^

[Five]

When I first watched this ep, I had to stop in the middle of it as someone asked me to do something... I mean it was when Buffy wanders after thinking she actually killed a human being. I was so shocked, and sad for her... The high school scene when everything just seems too bright for Buffy who's become too dark for that, was particularly striking. The fact I watched it in two parts made me like it way more, since I had time to process the whole thing, worry about what was next, etc. I think only for this, it's a good episode. However I agree, the whole "i'm-a-robot" part was a teensy bit ridiculous, but who cares? ... It was clever of them to not re-do the whole "OMG! It's a robot!" when Warren's BotGirlfriend comes into town in Season 5.

[Giants Rule 04]

This is my least favorite episode of season 2, and probably one of my least favorite of the series. There was a good moment or two, but overall, I didn't see anything special about this one.

The one thing I did like was the casting of John Ritter as Ted. He was perfect for the role and played it to perfection.

[InsaneMystic]

I have the same issues with this ep as with "Gingerbread". It would have been a GREAT ep if Ted hadn't been a robot, just a human psycho... forcing Buffy do deal with the same thing that Faith would come to choose NOT to deal with a year later. Such a waste of potential.
Anyway, the moment when Xander opens the wardrobe is a classic moment of scariness, I can only agree with Joyce here... what you don't see is usually scarier than what you see... remember the first Alien movie?