Still Slaying: a Buffy-verse podcast
Penny and Kara take you on a journey of appreciation, nostalgia and deep analysis of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Currently in BTVS Season 3 and we plan to rewatch the whole series (& Angel) in chronological order. New Episodes are published on Tuesdays. Why revisit the Buffy-verse? We think the show Still Slays. Buffy is both iconoclast and icon. 25 years ago she broke new ground for women characters as superheroes and women as people by subverting tropes, using kindness as strength and love as power. The cheeky vibe of the show provides a campy canvas for exploring some deep themes about trauma, societal ills and human nature all while delivering its signature witty dialogue. BTVS remains relevant and held in high critical regard 25 years later. For first time watchers of the series we try to avoid too many spoilers until the end of the podcast so it’s easy to skip. You can be a part of the discussion: Send us a text or voice message at stillslayingfeedback@gmail.com or comment at facebook.com/groups/podcastica and we'll respond on the air. Follow us on Instagram @stillslayingcast We're Podcastica, and we've been doing episode-by-episode deep dives into amazing TV shows for over a decade now. Check out our other shows at Podcastica.com.
Episodes
“I've seen honest faces before. They usually come attached to liars.”
Penny, Kara and Sam have almost too much fun discussing this pivotal episode where secrets are revealed, hair is pulled and everyone talks about cheese. The trio indulge in many tangents, including international travel, dating strategies, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, clumsiness, rape culture, Matilda, fashion trials and tribulations, character likea...
“My whole life... I've never loved anything else.”
Nobody’s favorite episode, but absolutely critical to plot and character development. Penny and Kara dig into the heartbreak of it all, while still finding plenty of time for 90s nostalgia and tangent topics like toothpaste flavors, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” lust, dating options for Giles, the puzzling allure of “Entourage,” daughters of Presidents, intimacy coord...
Content Warning: discussion of police brutality, acts of violence, and racism
“No, I don't think 'urgh' is the magic word, if one would *call* it a word. And even then it's certainly not a magic one."
The Scooby Duo rip into this episode that plays police brutality and sensitivity training for laughs. Kara’s background as a prosecutor really comes in handy illuminating some of the realities...
Content Warning: discussion of domestic abuse and abusive relationships.
“The man doesn’t have a mirror. Like it would kill him to not see himself?”
Penny, Sam and returning guest Becky go deeper than they anticipated about this relatively lighthearted Cordelia-focused episode about the difficulties of finding an affordable unhaunted apartment in Los Angeles. The trio cover a range of topics, as usual, such as ...
“Giles, don't make Cave-Slayer unhappy.”
The Scooby Duo is back and revels in this silly episode, with topics ranging from running into exes, the evolutionary purpose of beauty, elitism, Xander’s Hogwarts house, Freudian psychology, consent, Wedding Crashers, Xander’s best moments, aspirational hair, nasty cocktails, and reboot news.
Next time, we’ll be covering Angel, Season 1, Episode 5, “Rm w/a Vu.”
“Oh, yeah? Well... so's your face!”
Things are a bit lighter this week for the Slay Squad as they accompany the scoobies to a Frat House Halloween Party. This is Sunnydale, so the party is upended by an accidentally invited demon. Penny and Kara power through some tech problems to discuss the spooky antics of Gachnar. The conversation topics include Fight Club, the Yankees, confidence, cultural appropriation, the lack of d...
Content Warning: Discussion of torture and violence against women in many forms, including sexual violence, stalking, dometic and intimate partner violence and rape culture.
“I don't know about you, but I had a nice day. You know, except for the bulk of it where I was nearly tortured to death.”
Slay Squad is doubling down on the quest for redemption this week and covering two episodes at once. Penny and Sam dig into these d...
“Fabric Softener”
The Slay Squad starts off in the 90s discussing international gains for democracy and colonization then dive into the confusion of dating when you’re young… and when you’re old. Kara, Penny and Sam offer the wisdom of their own experiences and admit to each having fallen for their own Parker. The discussion also covers the fashion, red sheets, unwanted touching, toenails, pool, vampire rules, toxic relationsh...
Angel: “It’ll be out there. It’s got to keep trying to make a connection.”
Cordelia: “Why?”
Angel: “Because that’s what lonely people do.”
Kara, Sam and Penny dive headfirst into the dating scene in 1999 Los Angeles, swapping war stories from the the trials, tribulations and dangers of dating.
The trio’s conversation meanders through the episode and hits on tropes of Film Noir, pick-up lines, LGBTQ+ represen...
“Kathy's evil. I'm an evil fighter. It's simple. I'm gonna have to kill her.”
Sam joins the podcast and the trio dive head first into dorm life at UC Sunnydale. The conversation wanders through a series of topics, including gum, Cape Cod, coastal Maine and lighthouses, neurodivergent demons, aggressive milk-drinking, that Peloton commercial, the Boston Museum of Bad Art (link below), romantic gestures, NYC subw...
“I don't wanna share my feelings. I don't wanna open up. I wanna find the guy who killed Tina, and I wanna look him in the eye. Then I'm gonna share my feelings.”
Angel arrives in Los Angeles seeking redemption for his past sins, determined to help those in need. He rescues a woman named Buffy from a group of demons, showcasing his abilities and commitment to fighting evil. Angel meets Cordelia Chase, a former Sunn...
“I’m nice to meet.”
The Scooby Duo are back and happy to be diving into the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with “The Freshman.”
We accompany Buffy through her first few days at UC Sunnydale, buying overpriced textbooks, signing up for classes, being intimidated by mean professors and annoyed by a perky roommate, and Sunday. Penny and Kara are back to their tangents like not a day has passed, including:...
“Awesome, oh wow! Like, totally freak me out! I mean, right on!”
Becky joins the Scooby Duo to dig into this competitive cheerleading film from 2000. The three touch on topics from submarine safety, Vivarin, redheads, diet culture, 2000s fashion, homophobia, the need for more of the Clovers, aging, self-image, antitrust and business ethics, superstitions, libraries, spirit fingers, and of course, cultural appropriation, white ...
After numerous delays, Penny, Kara and Sam finally managed to get together to talk about this epic Season 3 finale. The trio dive deep into celebrity deaths, music festivals, pay phones, doctors of Sunnydale, collect calls, the neuroscience of pain and pleasure, HIPAA, dream logistics, our...
Welcome back, Sam! The trio gets into it about late 90s culture, yearbooks, gum, optimism and pessimism, that pink dress, the leather pants, the Mayor as father figure, The 100, changes in representation for queer characters on TV, tropes, mansplaining, sass, toxic workplaces, graduations, tanning, high school dances and hamster happiness. A wicked good time w...
Penny and Kara parse the big events of the episode as well as talking about the Backstreet Boys, The Greatest Generation, age differences in romantic relationships, prom fashion, prom music, Buffy’s fatalism, Joyce appreciation, word games, break-ups, Jonathan, Buffyverse tattoos, and personal prom stories.
Check out our Facebook page for the ...
Back after our hiatus and really excited to discuss the final episodes of BTVS Season 3. With Choices, Kara and Penny get into it about Kerouac, the college selection process, core trauma, how much Wesley should shut up, Cordelia’s senioritis, the multive...
Content warning: discussion of gun violence, school shootings, and suicide
If you want to skip the main discussion of the Columbine shooting, it starts at 00:04:50 and ends around 00:16:11. Additional discussion of school gun violence occurs from 01:19:38 to 01:41:56.
This episode holds up remarkably well. Along with some serio...
Welcoming Randy back to Still Slaying, Penny and Kara dive headfirst into this pivotal episode. The team talks through the betrayal, the performances within performances, the ongoing creepiness of older men and teenage girls, true happiness versus sexual satisfaction, parental figures, fence posts, room temperature milk, face punching, de...
Glad to welcome Jim back to the podcast to dig into this somewhat lighthearted episode about the return of Vamp Willow, the team has a lot of laughs talking about evil twins, licking, pool sharks, spin-off fantasies, what it’s like to work at The Bronze, the Bechdel test, the Duvernay test, Old Yeller, and that sweater. "Look at me. I'm all fuzzy."
Next t...
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