Examining the Horrors of the ‘Tomb Raider’ Series [Safe Room Podcast]

Spontaneous Comburst.

We’re only a few weeks into November, but we’re not letting the post-Halloween doldrums get us down. After celebrating our 150th (!!!) episode last week with The Lost Boys, we’re dedicating this week to a whole different anniversary: Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s amazing musical episode, “Once More, With Feeling,” which turned 20 last week.

The season six episode takes place shortly after Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is revived from the grave by her best friend Willow (Alyson Hannigan), who mistakenly believed Buffy was in hell (she was, in fact, in heaven). When someone summons a demon who causes everyone to sing and dance their true feelings, Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang must confront all of the secrets they’ve been keeping from their loved ones.

This includes Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield)’s fears about their upcoming marriage, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg)’s kleptomania, former Watcher Giles (Anthony Stewart Head)’ concern that he’s over-parenting, Spike the vampire (James Marsters)’ love for Buffy, and Willow using magic on her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson) without her knowledge.

Of course, the show is much more than this special episode, so we try to capture the magic – and queer-friendliness – of the series and its titular character.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 151 – Buffy the Vampire Slayer ‘Once More, With Feeling’ (2001)

Give us something to sing about! In celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s greatest episodes, we’re revisiting the 2001 musical episode ‘Once More, With Feeling’ (S06E07) along with guest and musical theatre expert Joshua Tonks.

Buffy is an important text for women and queer viewers who see themselves represented in the Scooby gang’s Chosen family and Buffy’s strength. And while Joss Whedon is a POS (yes, we know!), we’re highlighting the work of everyone who stepped up IN SEASON SIX to make TV’s best musical episode.

Following a Buffy primer for the uninitiated, we go into a detailed production history about how this Very Special Episode got made. Then it’s a song by song break-down, complete with Karaoke renditions.

Plus: how the writing fails Dawn, praise for Tony winner Hinton Battle, a fun new way to troll Trace, Josh’s walks us through musical subgenres and the importance of the show’s lesbian relationship (and unsubtle ode to cunninlingus).

Cross out Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Coming up on Wednesday: We’re digging into found footage with Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass’ extremely homoerotic film, Creep (2014)

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for tons of additional content! This month, we’ll have episodes on Amazon Prime’s I Know What You Did Last Summer series, SyFy’s Slumber Party Massacre remake, and an audio commentary on the original Resident Evil to pair with the new Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City!