Fear Itself was the first episode I saw, and it instantly hooked me. There was really very little backstory I didn't get from context. (Unfortunately, the second episode I ever saw was Superstar, which just left me totally confused. It was all worked out by the end, but I totally thought I'd skipped a season until the third act.)

My favorite ep of all is The Wish, but that has the same problems as Superstar -- AU only works when you're already acquainted with the real U.

I think Prophecy Girl, Hush, or Fear Itself would all make good first eps. And then follow up with either Band Candy or Something Blue for a lighthearted semi-AU comedy ep.

I'm very pro-Hush.

I just noticed, on the character biographies on the S3 DVDs, it says Angel was cursed with a conscience and a soul. Has that been mentioned in the text?

This is a very timely conversation: my boyfriend is always saying, "You know that goes right over my head" when I quote Buffy. (I tell him I do it for my own amusement, but what are you gonna do?) He mentioned letting me show him a few episodes.

I was thinking "Hush" and either "Surprise/Innocence" or "Becoming I and II," complete with pausing the DVD to give rapid backstory. "Something Blue" would be good for a funny one. I'm dying to show him OMWF because I'm always singing it, but I don't think he's big on musicals, alas.

For me, Season One is the pinnacle of love for me. There are so many episodes I love from other seasons, but absolutely nothing matches that first watching.

In other news, Amber Benson appeared on "Totally Gay," a VH1 program I just finshed watching. From what I could tell, they didn't mention the Tara/Willow relationship in the show, but she did get some great commentary moments.

Sean, I probably have S1 and S2 on tape (from FX), if you want them...

Aw, that would be awesome, Tep. As long as it wouldn't be stupid expensive to get them out here.

No problem, Sean. I'll excavate them from my pile of "I don't know what to do with these but don't want to throw them away".

I'd say Hush or Prophecy Girl are good for conversion.

If Sean's friend thinks the show is juvenile, I'd stay away from Prophecy Girl. I love it with an unholy love, but until you care about these characters, if you think it's a stupid teen show, I don't think watching Buffy fighting in her fluffy white dress, and Cordy and Willow walking in on the rec room slaughter are going to strengthen the, "It's not a teeny bopper show" case.

Becoming - and I refuse to separate it into parts - is the episode that my dh first watched. I finally outed myself as a BtVS fan (I'd been watching when I was feeding an infant-Julia and he was bathing toddler Ben, and then quickly chaning the channel).

He mocked the hell out of me, watched Becoming to humor me, and became an instant, geeky Let's-Go-To-Amazon-And-See if There-Are-Any-Tapes-Or-DVDs-Fan.

It'll spoil the person of course, but that's their problem. :)

See, I think Prophecy Girl is when it went from slightly teenish to Holy Shit, This Show Just Ripped My Heart Out.

Cordy and Willow walking in on the rec room slaughter

Especially Cordy and Willow walking into the A/V room.

I caught my Mom sniffling during the "I Quit" scene. It's powerful stuff.

See, I think Prophecy Girl is when it went from slightly teenish to Holy Shit, This Show Just Ripped My Heart Out.

I think so too, but only because I cared about them by then. (Actually, I started watching in season 3, but by the time I saw PG, I cared about the characters.) I think PG was spectacular. I don't know if it would hook someone who thinks it's a teen show, only because it is still, teen-dance, save-the-world-let's-party-ish. But I didn't mean to deny PG its propers, because it's fanfuckingtastic.

It's a tough request, turning somebody on to the show in one episode.

Part of the problem is that what makes it a great show is how it unfolds across multiple episodes and seasons.

Tell us about your friend, Sean. Maybe that'll help with the recommendations.