Scott, I've been watching Buffy for a fews years now and have seen the ups and downs of the show (not to mention that the show served as name-sakes for my kitties: Buffy, Polly Angel, and Riley). I started watching in the 3rd season and caught up pretty quickly thanks to some comprehensive websites. To start watching it depends of how you see things (no pun intended). There's alot of history that can be referenced on the web, so you can watch and catch up all at the same time. But, if you have to know it all as it goes along then rent the DVD's. The earlier shows are pretty cool. The first season jump to UPN was bizarre, but they're holding their own now. It's a good show - give it a chance. You'll be hooked after 4 or 5 episodes!

Star Trek has definitely given people the wrong idea about what to expect from a TV series. Being able to watch any episode without knowing it's context is NOT a good thing. A good series should be contructed like a novel - you should have to watch them in sequence, from the beginning, just the way you'd read a book.

I tend to attribute this change to Babylon 5, but whatever the reason, most post-B5 series do have at least some over-arching narrative structure. Buffy and Angel both fit into that category.

Of course, Buffy actually starts with the film, but TBH you'd probably not watch any of the series if you've seen the film, so you might want to wait until you're a Buffy fan before you watch the movie!

The first three series of Buffy are wonderful, but series 4 is very weak. Series 5 got back in the groove, particularly towards the end where there are some very powerful stories. They're currently showing S6 here, but it looks good so far. Series 7 is in production and will be the last (although Series 6 was the last and so was Series 5...)

Series 4 of Buffy runs along side the first series of Angel. For the Full Effect you should watch the Angel episode immediately after the corresponding Buffy episode.

Buffy tends to get dismissed because it's a sci-fi thing set in a high school. However, the writers use the trials of high school life and the demons from the Hellmouth as a powerful allegory for the human condition. When they get it right it can be deeply moving.

Rent the DVDs. But be warned, most of the first season sucked. Watch the first two, the hyena episode, and the last two, and you can skip the rest if you like. I didn't. I like backstory.

It's really, REALLY good. Third season was the best. This season rocks, and you really do need some prehistory to get it completely.

A friend of mine let me borrow the DVD's of season one and two. Now I'm hooked and really want to see season three but the new ones are up to season seven(I think). So I'm torn, do I jump in now and suffer a five year jet lag or wait for all the seasons to be released on DVD? And there's the ANGEL spinoff. Are they showing the reruns in the proper order or is it hit and miss like the other syndicated shows? I'm trying like hell NOT to read anything about current the current Buffy status. I'm really torn. Jeez, I liked the show so much I'm almost sorry I started watching it...if that makes any sense at all.

Not much help, sorry...I do suggest that you give it a try, at least through season two.

If you're uncertain about the correct running order, try EpGuides. As I said, the first series of Angel runs concurrently with the fourth series of Buffy.

just skip it and buy the first three seasons of The Sopranos.

Pat, I'm with you. Buffy sucks. so does Angel, by the way.

Ellen now owes me $1 because I predicted exactly what Pat would comment. :)

Jim: I rented the first half of the first season of the Sopranos and liked it a lot. But not enough to plunk the $70 or so to actually buy the thing. I need to find a blockbuster so I can rent the rest of it.

If you run across video tapes of West Wing please buy them for me, now there is a terrific TV series. You only got a $1.00 you just haven't learned to bet with our girl. She gets cameras and good stuff. At least Jim and I have good taste! Buffy indeed!!

I'm not really a Buffy fan myself, *possibly* because I tried to jump in last season, which I found too soap-opera-esque for my taste. My understanding from my long-time fan friends is that the show has more or less jumped the shark. SO, I'd recommend renting the early stuff and watching it in order, if you're still interested. I'm sort of meaning to do that myself -- borrow the complete season DVDs from some friends and watch the good stuff.

I'm a long time Buffy fan and recommend starting with the DVDs for the first 2 seasons to get the core mythology, when the writing was strongest.
Then watch the Fox and UPN episodes. But beware, rumour has it the creators "fixed" some of the DVD episodes and cut lines. I know for a fact that the Fox reruns cut lines. But watch the DVD for the flavor...one taste and you'll be hooked.

I'm a long time Buffy fan and recommend starting with the DVDs for the first 2 seasons to get the core mythology, when the writing was strongest.
Then watch the Fox and UPN episodes. But beware, rumour has it the creators "fixed" some of the DVD episodes and cut lines. I know for a fact that the Fox reruns cut lines. But watch the DVD for the flavor...one taste and you'll be hooked.

Thanks for all the great comments! I think I'll start cruising video stores to see if they have these DVDs for-to-rent. :)

IF YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF ANGEL ON VHS OR DVD, I SHALL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!! PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU KNOW!! I'm a late comer, but a die-hard fan.

I did some cruising around but couldn't find even one mention of Angel on DVD. Are you sure it's been released yet?

I do not like Buffy