****NOMINEE #1****
''Inner Battle''
(Angel S4 Ep15 ~ Orpheus)
~~~~
Angel: She's not who you're after.
Angelus: No kidding, rat boy. The slayer will just be gravy once I finish you off.
Angel & Angelus: I've been waiting a long time for this.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Now, that's something I had been waiting for! An Angel/Angelus fight. I always wondered how they could make that work. In "˜Orpheus', they finally found a way! Angelus is without a doubt the king of one liners. He was good in BtVS, but he's GREAT in AtS! Seeing him bicker with the souled Angel was hilarious. 😛
****NOMINEE #2****
''Your Shirt''
(Buffy S6 Ep19 ~ Seeing Red)
~~~~
Willow: Tara?! Baby?
Willow: Baby, come on! Get up!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Tara. Tara was a character that - very - slowly grew on me. When she was first introduced, I honestly never thought that she'd become an important part of the show. She always seemed too *nice* and too *sweet*. Also, she was always just... THERE. I know, you'll probably think I'm crazy; but when it comes to fiction, I always prefer dark, broken and flawed characters. I love seeing them find themselves again. Sure, Tara was not perfect, but she had this aura of goodness around her, as if she could never do anything wrong and that she was infinitely wise. Aaaaargh! It's as if she was just too damn perfect! 😛 OH and SHE made Oz leave. 🙁 KIDDING!
Anyhow, back to the scene where she drew her last breath. For me, the most shocking thing in it is how it happened! Buffy and Xander had just shared a beautiful moment and then out of nowhere comes Warren, sociopath extraordinaire, wielding a gun and firing at Buffy. The randomness of how Tara suddenly got shot was baffling. I ACTUALLY expected that Xander was going to get shot trying to protect Buffy, but never did I suspect a lost bullet would find Tara's heart... Everything that happens from this point on is what got the lump started in my throat. Not only is Tara apparently dead, but Buffy, who just died a few months prior, is badly wounded and looking entirely confused at how to take this: should she be happy that she'll go back to that warm, safe place, or should she be terrified to die just as she is beginning to find a purpose in life again?
AND THE EYES! Seeing red? Ooooh, I got it now. 😉
****NOMINEE #3****
''The Yellow Crayon''
(Buffy S6 Ep22 ~ Grave)
~~~~
Xander: First day of kindergarten. You cried because you broke the yellow crayon, and you were too afraid to tell anyone. You've come pretty far, ending the world, not a terrific notion. But the thing is? Yeah. I love you. I loved crayon-breaky Willow and I love ... scary veiny Willow. So if I'm going out, it's here. If you wanna kill the world? Well, then start with me. I've earned that.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: The yellow crayon speech. Who could forget that one?! This scene will forever remain in my mind as Xander's brightest moment. It's also, in my opinion, the most touching moment as far as displays of powerful friendships are concerned. Xand-man, despite having no super-powers, goes on Kingman's Bluff to try to stop his best friend from ending the world. It's crazy to think that even though the ''love conquers all'' routine has been done a thousand times over, it was still accomplished in a believable, powerful way.
Nicolas' acting in that scene was top notch, all the way to the sudden voice inflection of, ''If I'm going out, it's here.'' And what to say of Alyson Hannigan's performance?! Not much. 😉 Haha! By now, she had gotten us used to her gripping, believable, tearful breakdowns.
This was simply a great, classic scene from BtVS.
****NOMINEE #4****
''I'll Never Forget''
(Angel S1 Ep8 ~ I Will Remember You)
~~~~
Buffy: How am I supposed to go on with my life knowing what we had? What we could have had?
Angel: You won't. No one will know but me.
Buffy: Everything we did.
Angel: It never happened.
Buffy (shakes her head): It did. It did. I know it did! I felt your heart beat.
Angel: Buffy...
(They kiss)
Buffy: No! Oh God. It's not enough time.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Speaking of great, dramatic scenes... Angel and Buffy have theirs too! This one is definitely one of the more emotional (so much so that the actors themselves had trouble keeping it together). I mean, just put yourself in the same situation! That's horrible. Just knowing that you'll completely forget what you had with your lover. Obviously, the pain only lasted a minute or two for Buffy, but Angel is going to have to go on with the knowledge of what they could have had for the rest of his life. The man sure can carry a lot of crap on his back.
****NOMINEE #5****
''Cruelty''
(Buffy S2 Ep14 ~ Innocence)
~~~~
Buffy: I, I don't understand. Was it m-me? Was I not good?
Angelus: (laughs) You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro.
Buffy: How can you say this to me?
Angelus: Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal.
Buffy: It *is* a big deal!
Angelus: It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? (laughs) Come on, Buffy. It's not like I've never been there before.
Buffy: Don't touch me.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: This is the first time we REALLY see, first hand, how painfully cruel Angelus is. No wonder he was able to torture Drusilla into insanity: he's a master manipulator. In this scene, he expertly plays on Buffy's innocence and insecurities. That and, of course, the fact that she's endlessly in love with him (or actually Angel). I've read that Joss felt sick from writing this scene, and I can understand why. However, this obviously got Buffy questioning what was going on right from the start. Thus, I'm not certain it was such a good idea on Angelus' part, because, instead, he could have acted as Angel and worked his devious manipulations from the inside"”kind of the reverse of what Angel did in 'Enemies' with Faith and The Mayor. 😉 YES, I'm wicked.
Anyhow, David and Sarah were both great during this scene. I can't believe how gleefully evil DB was able to act there.
****NOMINEE #6****
''Heartwrenching''
(Buffy S4 Ep7 ~ Wild at Heart)
~~~~
Oz: Veruca was right about something. The wolf is inside me all the time, and I don't know where that line is anymore between me and it. And until I figure out what that means, I shouldn't be around you... Or anybody.
Willow (crying): Well, that could be a problem 'cause people... Kind of a planetary epidemic.
Oz: I'll find someplace.
Willow: Well, how long?
Oz: I don't know.
Willow: Oz... Don't you love me?
Oz: My whole life... I've never loved anything else.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: There isn't really any actress who so thoroughly made me feel their character's pain as Alyson Hannigan did in this scene. How freaking genuine were her tears? I seriously wondered how easy it must have been for Seth Green to act his part during this scene. How can you not have your own heart broken by her reaction? 🙁
I'll admit that I was also pissed on the first watch, because to me it made little sense for Oz to leave. Sure, he had realized he was far from being in full control of the wolf inside him, but Veruca was dead. He could have stayed in Sunnydale and learned to deal with it there. It's not like his trip around the world proved to be that useful anyway. Truthfully, if his love for Willow was really THAT strong, he would have found a way to balance his inner self and his inner wolf-y without having to break her heart a second time in a row.
****NOMINEE #7****
''That Was Real''
(Buffy S5 Ep18 ~ Intervention)
~~~~
Spike: And my robot?
Buffy: The robot is gone. The robot was gross and obscene.
Spike: It wasn't supposed to-
Buffy: Don't. That... thing, it... it wasn't even real.
Buffy: What you did, for me, and Dawn... that was real.
Buffy: I won't forget it.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: I was so happy to see Buffy finally give some credit to Spike. The guy took one hell of a beating to protect them (and in fact, the world). He deserved to be cheered up a little, at the damn least! 😉 I didn't expect her to kiss him, though. 😱 That's the part that made me start thinking that she might like him too!
But the look on Spike's face! Wow. I've never seen a vampire looking that bad, haha. I thought they healed fast? 😛 Anyhow, I don't know what else to say about this one"” another great Spuffy scene. I really don't know why I'm not more of a shipper, considering all the awesome moments that they've had together... Uh. Someone has an idea? 😉
****NOMINEE #8****
''We're Not Alone In This''
(Angel S2 Ep16 ~ Epiphany)
~~~~
Angel: In the greater scheme or the big picture, nothing we do matters. There's no grand plan, no big win.
Angel: If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Because that's all there is.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: This is a short scene, but it is so meaningful to Angel's show and to Angel himself. He realized that he isn't going to *win* anything fighting evil. That's not the point. He fights evil because that's what he thinks is right. He fights because that's what matters to him. After all, what really matters in our lives? People we care about, things we love, goals we want to achieve. Angel wants to help the helpless, protect others, kick some evil butts with style while he's at it; that's what he's going to do, and he's going to do it with a smile on his face (well he'll brood sometimes too, but that's to be expected)!
What I also liked in this scene is what Kate said about not being alone. For all the times Angel complained about how The Powers That Be didn't intervene, well they did there. But what I don't understand, is why exactly then? Why intervene to save Kate? Was she that important? Or was it simply to show Angel that he was back on the right path?
****NOMINEE #9****
''Not Like Us''
(Buffy S5 Ep22 ~ The Gift)
~~~~
Giles: Can you move?
Ben: Need a... a minute. She could've killed me.
Giles: No she couldn't. Never. And sooner or later Glory will re-emerge, and... make Buffy pay for that mercy. And the world with her. Buffy even knows that... and still she couldn't take a human life.
Giles: She's a hero, you see. She's not like us.
Ben: Us?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Chills are what I had while watching this scene. Here, Giles showed that he was ready to do anything for the greater good. Unlike some people, I didn't see Ben as innocent, though. He had made his choice when, instead of helping Dawn run away, he made a deal with Glory. Of course, Giles didn't know Ben had made that decision, and so, to him, this really was the killing of an innocent man. He knew that Buffy would never be able to kill Ben, and thus, he had to do the *deed* himself. In the end, I think that it affected and changed him. Killing another human being will irremediably affect a good person, no matter how emotionally strong they are. That's my opinion at least"”and the only reason I can attribute to Giles becoming somber and somber in the next seasons!
****NOMINEE #10****
''You Can't Leave Me''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Giles: Why did you come here?! This wasn't your fight!
Buffy: Are you trying to get yourself killed?!
Buffy: You can't leave me. I can't do this alone.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: When people ask me why Buffy and Giles are my favorite characters on this show, this is the one scene I love to bring up. Nowhere is Buffy more honest with Giles on how much she needs him beside her. It's no secret that Joss loves portraying fathers in a bad light. Giles, though, is the one, great father figure on BtVS. Here, he loses all reason and goes to avenge his beloved Jenny, forgetting that there are still people who need him. In dramatic fashion, Buffy reminds him of that. They are wonderful together. 😀
****EXTRA NOMINEE (Wildcard #3)****
''Phone Call''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Angelus: (narrating) Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: ''Passion'' is definitely one of the most dramatic episodes to ever air on television. This scene in particular is quite gripping. Not only is it incredibly moving to see Buffy and Willow's reactions when Giles give them the news, but Joss had the genius idea of having us watch them from Angelus' point of view. Wicked. It almost makes us feel guilty. Angelus on the other hand doesn't feel guilty at all, he's enjoying every single second of it. What a bastard! 😉
''Inner Battle''
(Angel S4 Ep15 ~ Orpheus)
~~~~
Angel: She's not who you're after.
Angelus: No kidding, rat boy. The slayer will just be gravy once I finish you off.
Angel & Angelus: I've been waiting a long time for this.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Now, that's something I had been waiting for! An Angel/Angelus fight. I always wondered how they could make that work. In "˜Orpheus', they finally found a way! Angelus is without a doubt the king of one liners. He was good in BtVS, but he's GREAT in AtS! Seeing him bicker with the souled Angel was hilarious. 😛
****NOMINEE #2****
''Your Shirt''
(Buffy S6 Ep19 ~ Seeing Red)
~~~~
Willow: Tara?! Baby?
Willow: Baby, come on! Get up!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Tara. Tara was a character that - very - slowly grew on me. When she was first introduced, I honestly never thought that she'd become an important part of the show. She always seemed too *nice* and too *sweet*. Also, she was always just... THERE. I know, you'll probably think I'm crazy; but when it comes to fiction, I always prefer dark, broken and flawed characters. I love seeing them find themselves again. Sure, Tara was not perfect, but she had this aura of goodness around her, as if she could never do anything wrong and that she was infinitely wise. Aaaaargh! It's as if she was just too damn perfect! 😛 OH and SHE made Oz leave. 🙁 KIDDING!
Anyhow, back to the scene where she drew her last breath. For me, the most shocking thing in it is how it happened! Buffy and Xander had just shared a beautiful moment and then out of nowhere comes Warren, sociopath extraordinaire, wielding a gun and firing at Buffy. The randomness of how Tara suddenly got shot was baffling. I ACTUALLY expected that Xander was going to get shot trying to protect Buffy, but never did I suspect a lost bullet would find Tara's heart... Everything that happens from this point on is what got the lump started in my throat. Not only is Tara apparently dead, but Buffy, who just died a few months prior, is badly wounded and looking entirely confused at how to take this: should she be happy that she'll go back to that warm, safe place, or should she be terrified to die just as she is beginning to find a purpose in life again?
AND THE EYES! Seeing red? Ooooh, I got it now. 😉
****NOMINEE #3****
''The Yellow Crayon''
(Buffy S6 Ep22 ~ Grave)
~~~~
Xander: First day of kindergarten. You cried because you broke the yellow crayon, and you were too afraid to tell anyone. You've come pretty far, ending the world, not a terrific notion. But the thing is? Yeah. I love you. I loved crayon-breaky Willow and I love ... scary veiny Willow. So if I'm going out, it's here. If you wanna kill the world? Well, then start with me. I've earned that.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: The yellow crayon speech. Who could forget that one?! This scene will forever remain in my mind as Xander's brightest moment. It's also, in my opinion, the most touching moment as far as displays of powerful friendships are concerned. Xand-man, despite having no super-powers, goes on Kingman's Bluff to try to stop his best friend from ending the world. It's crazy to think that even though the ''love conquers all'' routine has been done a thousand times over, it was still accomplished in a believable, powerful way.
Nicolas' acting in that scene was top notch, all the way to the sudden voice inflection of, ''If I'm going out, it's here.'' And what to say of Alyson Hannigan's performance?! Not much. 😉 Haha! By now, she had gotten us used to her gripping, believable, tearful breakdowns.
This was simply a great, classic scene from BtVS.
****NOMINEE #4****
''I'll Never Forget''
(Angel S1 Ep8 ~ I Will Remember You)
~~~~
Buffy: How am I supposed to go on with my life knowing what we had? What we could have had?
Angel: You won't. No one will know but me.
Buffy: Everything we did.
Angel: It never happened.
Buffy (shakes her head): It did. It did. I know it did! I felt your heart beat.
Angel: Buffy...
(They kiss)
Buffy: No! Oh God. It's not enough time.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Speaking of great, dramatic scenes... Angel and Buffy have theirs too! This one is definitely one of the more emotional (so much so that the actors themselves had trouble keeping it together). I mean, just put yourself in the same situation! That's horrible. Just knowing that you'll completely forget what you had with your lover. Obviously, the pain only lasted a minute or two for Buffy, but Angel is going to have to go on with the knowledge of what they could have had for the rest of his life. The man sure can carry a lot of crap on his back.
****NOMINEE #5****
''Cruelty''
(Buffy S2 Ep14 ~ Innocence)
~~~~
Buffy: I, I don't understand. Was it m-me? Was I not good?
Angelus: (laughs) You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro.
Buffy: How can you say this to me?
Angelus: Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal.
Buffy: It *is* a big deal!
Angelus: It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? (laughs) Come on, Buffy. It's not like I've never been there before.
Buffy: Don't touch me.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: This is the first time we REALLY see, first hand, how painfully cruel Angelus is. No wonder he was able to torture Drusilla into insanity: he's a master manipulator. In this scene, he expertly plays on Buffy's innocence and insecurities. That and, of course, the fact that she's endlessly in love with him (or actually Angel). I've read that Joss felt sick from writing this scene, and I can understand why. However, this obviously got Buffy questioning what was going on right from the start. Thus, I'm not certain it was such a good idea on Angelus' part, because, instead, he could have acted as Angel and worked his devious manipulations from the inside"”kind of the reverse of what Angel did in 'Enemies' with Faith and The Mayor. 😉 YES, I'm wicked.
Anyhow, David and Sarah were both great during this scene. I can't believe how gleefully evil DB was able to act there.
****NOMINEE #6****
''Heartwrenching''
(Buffy S4 Ep7 ~ Wild at Heart)
~~~~
Oz: Veruca was right about something. The wolf is inside me all the time, and I don't know where that line is anymore between me and it. And until I figure out what that means, I shouldn't be around you... Or anybody.
Willow (crying): Well, that could be a problem 'cause people... Kind of a planetary epidemic.
Oz: I'll find someplace.
Willow: Well, how long?
Oz: I don't know.
Willow: Oz... Don't you love me?
Oz: My whole life... I've never loved anything else.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: There isn't really any actress who so thoroughly made me feel their character's pain as Alyson Hannigan did in this scene. How freaking genuine were her tears? I seriously wondered how easy it must have been for Seth Green to act his part during this scene. How can you not have your own heart broken by her reaction? 🙁
I'll admit that I was also pissed on the first watch, because to me it made little sense for Oz to leave. Sure, he had realized he was far from being in full control of the wolf inside him, but Veruca was dead. He could have stayed in Sunnydale and learned to deal with it there. It's not like his trip around the world proved to be that useful anyway. Truthfully, if his love for Willow was really THAT strong, he would have found a way to balance his inner self and his inner wolf-y without having to break her heart a second time in a row.
****NOMINEE #7****
''That Was Real''
(Buffy S5 Ep18 ~ Intervention)
~~~~
Spike: And my robot?
Buffy: The robot is gone. The robot was gross and obscene.
Spike: It wasn't supposed to-
Buffy: Don't. That... thing, it... it wasn't even real.
Buffy: What you did, for me, and Dawn... that was real.
Buffy: I won't forget it.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: I was so happy to see Buffy finally give some credit to Spike. The guy took one hell of a beating to protect them (and in fact, the world). He deserved to be cheered up a little, at the damn least! 😉 I didn't expect her to kiss him, though. 😱 That's the part that made me start thinking that she might like him too!
But the look on Spike's face! Wow. I've never seen a vampire looking that bad, haha. I thought they healed fast? 😛 Anyhow, I don't know what else to say about this one"” another great Spuffy scene. I really don't know why I'm not more of a shipper, considering all the awesome moments that they've had together... Uh. Someone has an idea? 😉
****NOMINEE #8****
''We're Not Alone In This''
(Angel S2 Ep16 ~ Epiphany)
~~~~
Angel: In the greater scheme or the big picture, nothing we do matters. There's no grand plan, no big win.
Angel: If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Because that's all there is.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: This is a short scene, but it is so meaningful to Angel's show and to Angel himself. He realized that he isn't going to *win* anything fighting evil. That's not the point. He fights evil because that's what he thinks is right. He fights because that's what matters to him. After all, what really matters in our lives? People we care about, things we love, goals we want to achieve. Angel wants to help the helpless, protect others, kick some evil butts with style while he's at it; that's what he's going to do, and he's going to do it with a smile on his face (well he'll brood sometimes too, but that's to be expected)!
What I also liked in this scene is what Kate said about not being alone. For all the times Angel complained about how The Powers That Be didn't intervene, well they did there. But what I don't understand, is why exactly then? Why intervene to save Kate? Was she that important? Or was it simply to show Angel that he was back on the right path?
****NOMINEE #9****
''Not Like Us''
(Buffy S5 Ep22 ~ The Gift)
~~~~
Giles: Can you move?
Ben: Need a... a minute. She could've killed me.
Giles: No she couldn't. Never. And sooner or later Glory will re-emerge, and... make Buffy pay for that mercy. And the world with her. Buffy even knows that... and still she couldn't take a human life.
Giles: She's a hero, you see. She's not like us.
Ben: Us?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Chills are what I had while watching this scene. Here, Giles showed that he was ready to do anything for the greater good. Unlike some people, I didn't see Ben as innocent, though. He had made his choice when, instead of helping Dawn run away, he made a deal with Glory. Of course, Giles didn't know Ben had made that decision, and so, to him, this really was the killing of an innocent man. He knew that Buffy would never be able to kill Ben, and thus, he had to do the *deed* himself. In the end, I think that it affected and changed him. Killing another human being will irremediably affect a good person, no matter how emotionally strong they are. That's my opinion at least"”and the only reason I can attribute to Giles becoming somber and somber in the next seasons!
****NOMINEE #10****
''You Can't Leave Me''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Giles: Why did you come here?! This wasn't your fight!
Buffy: Are you trying to get yourself killed?!
Buffy: You can't leave me. I can't do this alone.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: When people ask me why Buffy and Giles are my favorite characters on this show, this is the one scene I love to bring up. Nowhere is Buffy more honest with Giles on how much she needs him beside her. It's no secret that Joss loves portraying fathers in a bad light. Giles, though, is the one, great father figure on BtVS. Here, he loses all reason and goes to avenge his beloved Jenny, forgetting that there are still people who need him. In dramatic fashion, Buffy reminds him of that. They are wonderful together. 😀
****EXTRA NOMINEE (Wildcard #3)****
''Phone Call''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Angelus: (narrating) Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: ''Passion'' is definitely one of the most dramatic episodes to ever air on television. This scene in particular is quite gripping. Not only is it incredibly moving to see Buffy and Willow's reactions when Giles give them the news, but Joss had the genius idea of having us watch them from Angelus' point of view. Wicked. It almost makes us feel guilty. Angelus on the other hand doesn't feel guilty at all, he's enjoying every single second of it. What a bastard! 😉
