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Buffy Bonus

The Slayer gets her own awards show.

January 3, 2001

A happy New Year to y'all, Buffy Buffs. As you've probably heard by now, Ms. Sarah Michelle Gellar has gone and gotten herself nominated for a Golden Globe (Best Actress in a Television Series -- Drama, to be precise), and can I just say that it's about freakin' time? Go on, girl.
Anyway, this bit of news reminded me that everyone's pretty awards happy right now, what with it being a new year and a new day and all that. Our own little IGN Sci-Fi hosted the recent Bemmie Awards, and what a glamorous affair that was. Goop Buddy rented a tux, reviewer extraordinaire Rob Trevino wore his famed "Kevin Sorbo circa Hercules" get-up, and I think Ivan was actually sober for the first hour or so.

Since the Bemmies were such a success, and since Buffy and Angel shared "Best Series" honors this year, I thought it might be nice to give the Slayer and Co. their own little awards corner right here in Buffy Bonus Land. It is my honor to proudly present...The First Annual Goopies (yes, you-know-who made me name 'em after him).

Most Dynamic Duo: Despite the Buffy/Spike sparkage and the sheer adorableness of Willow and Tara, this one has to go to Anya and Xander (Emma Caulfield and Nicholas Brendon). This season, Regular Guy and Demon Girl started things off with a few hilarious babysitting-for-Dawn bits in Real Me and got some actual emotional development when Xand was split in two in The Replacement. But it was their teary, touching finale in the recent Into the Woods that truly brought things home -- at last, these two have gone from being a flingy punchline (remember, we used to call her "Cordy Lite") to the most mature, sexy coupling on the show. No mean feat, that.

Most Character Developed: Again, we could go with Spike, since he's got all of the flashbacks and that new Slayer crush-thang goin' on, but I'm quite partial to the gorgeous gut-wrencher that was Family, and Tara's (Amber Benson) evolution therein. Finally, we know here "secret," and it's no big. We know what makes her tick, we have a peek at who she really is, and her overwhelming shyness gives her an extra endearing edge, rather than merely making her a wallflower. And have you all noticed that she fits into the Scooby Gang quite nicely now?

Most Improved Character: (aka the OK, OK, We Like Him!! award) As with the Little Sister thing, we moaned and groaned up the wall and back when Wesley Wyndham-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) joined up with Angel. A year later, and Giles Jr. has outgrown that pesky moniker -- he's his own deal now, a guy with the best of intentions who is constantly being overshadowed by his too-cool boss. 'Twas a rare treat when we finally got to see Wes stretch his stuffy wings, wear cool clothes and get the girl in the tasty Guise Will Be Guise.

Best Twist That Shouldn't Have Worked But Did: The Little Sister thing. Oh, how we bitched, how we moaned... Buffy doesn't have a sister! Where did she come from? Why is she here?? Stupid Cousin OIiver Gimmick!! We should have known better. Not only has Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) become an essential part of Buffy's family life, but her origins -- the fact that she's "not real," yet believes herself to be a normal precocious chickie -- make her heartbreaking and potentially tragic. Her bickery, exasperating relationship with Buffy is an instant classic.

Most in Need of a Spin-Off: This has to go to Angel's dastardly duo of divas, Darla (Julie Benz) and Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Beautifully dressed and deliciously evil, these two serve in perfect, villainous contrast to one another -- Dru's insane, cackling glamour plays off of Darla's hard-edged sexiness, and vice versa. My dream scenario is a series of Harley-and-Ivy-esque episodes wherein they go on a colorful rampage in the name of vampy girl power. Maybe add Faith to the mix while you're at it.

Most Worthy of Joss (aka God) Status: Marti Noxon. The slaying second-in-command and co-exec producer resurrected Dracula and somehow made it funny, goth and cool, then proceeded to bring tears to our eyes by breaking up Buff and Backstreet in "Into the Woods." And as you can see, she's damn cool.

Best New Accessory: Love, love, love Buffy's hoop earrings. 'Nuff said.

Best Description That I Came Up With: Referring to Harmony's (Mercedes McNab) fake-o fabulousness as "plasticine aplomb." I mention this because none of you will let me forget it.

Best Description That I Did Not Come Up With: From reader (and Fabula's official Boywonder) Jeff: "Buffy and Backstreet doing the dirty dirty, DyNASTY-style (Buff actually has a moment at the tail of the pan that takes the scene to hand-over-mouth shocksville) [gets] my vote for hottest Buffyverse moment since the hot glowing spine lady made the atmosphere go melty on Angel."

Heh, DyNASTY. Wish I'd thought of that.

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Article by Sarah Kuhn

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Most in Need of a Spin-Off: This has to go to Angel's dastardly duo of divas, Darla (Julie Benz) and Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Maybe add Faith to the mix while you're at it.

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yes, yes, YES!!!! sarah kuhn is my goddess, even if she picked x/a...

I know I'd tune in every week.

But what in the world would you call it?

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Kirk B

"Even when I'm at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that?"

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"I tried to be unlovable/why couldn't you do the same?"

-(jewel)

Best Duo: X/A? I dunno that any couple has been developed very well this season. Most of the development has been for B/R, but we all knew that was doomed, so it just wasn't very dramatic. I think Spike's crush is the most interesting development, but that doesn't make a duo. W/T wins in a weak category.

Most Character Developed: Tara, yeah I can agree. Funny thing was that on first viewing I was sort of disappointed by 'Family', but as I look over the season it stands as one the best episodes so far. I thought the floaty dance was a little too cheesy though, I would have perfered just a non-floaty dance. I think Spike's flashback ep was a better episode, but I didn't come away with a lot of character development.

Most Improved Character: Wesley. I just don't find Wesley all that interesting a character. I might just go with Angel on this on, he seems more complex and interesting this season.

Best Twist: I'll agree on this one. I thought Dawn sounded like a really bad idea, but she has worked out IMO. I thought 'Real Me' was very entertaining.

Most Need for Spin-Off: Darla & Dru? They both seem like great-in-measured-doses characters. I don't think you can build a show around them. Something with the ever-popular Willow would be a better bet.

Oh, I also think Marti Noxon is uneven. I wouldn't elevate her above the other writers. I agree that she sometimes uses a heavy hand on trying to manipulate the viewers.