Customer Reviews

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Buffy & Angle Chronicles, Vol. 3 - Becoming, Parts 1 & 2 [VHS]

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Let me start off with a simple declaration: "BECOMING, PART 2," IS ONE OF THE TEN BEST TELEVISION EPISODES I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Both parts are written and directed by Joss Whedon, who finally received an Emmy nomination for writing this past year because of the changes in who gets to vote on such things. While we would expect more such nominations for him in the future, this is the apex of Whedon's work on this series. "Becoming, Part 1" sets up the whole experience with Angel's plan to resurrect the demon Acathla and includes several pivotal flashbacks in Angel's life: being turned into a vampire by Darla, being cursed by the Romany people, and coming to L.A. to see Buffy learn she is the Slayer. The episode ends with Drusilla's attack on the library where Kendra is killed, Willow and Xander badly hurt and Giles kidnapped. The "to be continued" part comes as the police discover Buffy over Kendra's body.

In addition to the stunning climax, "Becoming, Part 2" includes other key moments in the series: Joyce learning her daughter is the slayer, with a hysterical brief conversation between a stunned Joyce and a nervous Spike in the Summers living room; Angel tortures Giles, who finally breaks when Drusilla creates the illusion of Jenny Calendar in his mind, a scene which shows that brutality can be psychological as well as physical; and Willow's possession at the key moment during the spell to restore Angel's soul. Tragically, it is too late. Angelus has opened up the portal to hell and the only thing that will stop the end of the world as we know it is the death of the person who pulled out the sword, forcing Buffy to do the unthinkable.

I watch a LOT of television and I have taught Television Criticism courses for a couple of decades and in my "professional" opinion Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the best show on television today. I have described it as operatic and that term best applies to this culmination of the Buffy and Angel/Angelus plot line. The last act of this episode is a dramatic culmination of all that has come before, contains the best fight sequence (with swords) in a show that prides itself on innovative staging of its fights, and is an ultimately emotionally shattering experience captured beautifully by Sarah Michelle Gellar's slow dissolve into tears while the haunting Sarah McLachlan song "Full of Grace" is played. Joss Whedon had set this moment up from the first episode of the series. It is a payoff usually reserved for the final episode of a series and not simply the end of the second season. "Becoming" is truly an astounding accomplishment in the history of dramatic television.

"Becoming," parts 1 and 2, are two of the most intense episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Ending the show's second season, the episodes wrapped up a lot of story lines that had been building in the seasons before, and also created a beginning for storylines to come. Part 1 of "Becoming" focuses on Angel's past, showing how he became a vampire, how he made Drusilla a vampire, and how his soul was returned to him. Fastforward to 1996: Angel is living on the streets, near starvation, when he is found by a good demon named Whistler, who takes Angel to Los Angeles to see a pre-slayer Buffy. Part 2 returns to the present, where Buffy must make some life-and-death decisions. I won't give anything away, but the last 5 minutes of the episode are perhaps the saddest, most intense 5 minutes in Buffy history. If this episode doesn't bring tears to your eyes, nothing will. Superb performance by the entire cast in one--okay two--incredible episodes. Every Buffy should fan should have the Becoming episodes on tape.

Absolutely superb. Comedy and grand passion all in one. These are probably the best two episodes in the bunch. It's crushing that Buffy, who has been too sentimental to kill Angel all season, finally finds the strength to do him in after he's regained his soul. It will break your heart. But there's also tremendous comedy here. Teaming Spike up with Buffy, his mortal enemy, is pure genius. The wit of this is only surpassed by the scene when Spike is introduced to Buffy's mom, and the scene is which they're forced to sit together on the couch waiting for Buffy to explain everything. You'll laugh, too, when Oz says, "Well I guess the world didn't end because -- check it out."

The bit about Angel's history and spiritual torment is getting a bit old now, in light of the new spinoff show, but it seemed fresh at the time. You can bear it for a few minutes, but I hope the producers of the show lighten up on Angel's past sin in future sins.

Still, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is the best show on TV, and this was the creative highpoint of the series. Absolutely the smartest writing that I've ever enjoyed on the small screen. If I were still in grad school, I could do a cultural studies paper about this show.

This is the only T.V. show that has ever made me cry. I mean, more even than Titanic. From the very beginning of the Trilogy, you can feel Buffy's pain and broken heart, and yet also feel her determination to be strong in spite of it. Even though it's a bit extreme, it ultimately parallels very real situations one can find oneself in after a relationship turns sour. When the person you thought you knew suddenly shows an ugly side you've never seen before. This is one of the most poignant storylines I've ever seen.

I was so happy when my Buffy and Angel Gift Pack arrived- three cassettes! Since I'd only read BTVS books and none of the episodes (no cable), my expectations for these 6 episodes were quite high. Now, all I have to say is: It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

The Third and final part of the Buffy Chronicles contains the `Becoming Part 1' and `Becoming Part 2' and is dark violet in colour.

In "Becoming, Part 1', When a stone sarcophagus is discovered buried near the Hellmouth, Angel, Drusilla and Spike know they must have it. It contains the petrified body of a demon killed by a virtuous knight during the Middle Ages. If the demon is resurrected, he will open a vortex to suck every living thing on earth into Hell, to suffer eternal torture. Meanwhile, Buffy finds the disk containing the spell to restore Angel's soul, which raises the question whether to curse him, or kill him.

In `Becoming, Part 2', Angel captures Giles to torture him into revealing the secret of resurrecting the demon Acathla and opening the vortex to Hell. But Spike has other plans, and teams up with Buffy to prevent the destruction of the world he's grown so fond of. While Buffy learns the key to the vortex and battles Angelus to stop it from opening. Willow attempts to restore Angel's soul. But time is quickly running out.

B & A Chronicles Vol. 3 is the best among the three volumes. It's shocking to see Kendra killed by Drusilla, Buffy accused of the murder, Giles kidnapped, and Buffy's mother finding out the truth about her. The ending swordplay between Angel and Buffy is fantastic and the part where she sends him to hell (even though he now has a soul), to close the portal, is heart wrenching. You have to watch it yourself!

I still think it's better to get the Gift Pack than the individual tapes because the experience won't be the same. You're worth it so don't cut yourself short.

With 100 episodes already aired and the new series currently being broadcast, this TV show has only gone from strength to strength. But whatever you think about the later series, there's no denying that 'Becoming' parts 1 and 2 make for fantastic watching. Here we see in full evidence what Joss Whedon managed to create: a show that seems to be aimed at teens but actually has a lot more to it, a gothic-fantasy-comi-tragedy masterpiece.

In this episode Angelus plans the end of the world when he finds the tomb of the demon Acathla. Buffy has to keep her romantic feelings for the vicious killer under wraps and stop him before Acathla can destroy the world. Sounds silly doesn't it? Well, what most people don't realise is the genius of 'Buffy'. It uses overexaggeration to demonstrate the true trauma of adolescense, a horror unto itself. Here it literally is the end of the world when Buffy's boyfriend doesn't want her anymore. He changes, only literally.

Among this we also get a fantastic fight between Buffy and Xander, Kendra's return and some dramatic outbursts. There are some fantastic scenes, such as when Buffy's mother finds out about her 'identity'. We get mom on the side asking her daughter if she's 'tried not being a slayer' and the mutual frustration at loving one another but quite understanding each other. Then there's the end, which will blow the audience away. The acting from all concerned (but particularly Gellar and Boreanaz) is excellent, as we are led to a tragic conclusion. Sarah McLachlan's 'Full Of Grace' perfectly fits the end.

All in all, a real winner.

These two episodes are the best yet. Buffy gets her showdown with Angel and emotions are stretched to their boundaries. The finale is enough to make anyone weep. There are also a few surprises that you'd never see coming, plus the return of an old character.

This tape contains two episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer": the season 2 two-part finale "Becoming, Parts 1 and 2." Buffy's former boyfriend Angel, a vampire, is plotting the end of the world and Buffy must stop him. He's trying to revive a centuries-old demon named Acathla, who will suck the entire world into Hell. To stop him, Buffy must form some alliances with a new demon in town named Whistler and vampire nemesis Spike, who wants his girlfriend back. This is one of the best TV cliffhangers ever, and "Becoming, Part 2" is consistently rated as one of the top episodes by fans. If you're a Buffy fan, this is a must have video.

Becoming parts 1 and 2 are truly masterpieces. These episodes hold true emotion for the characters. Joss Whedon has truly outdone himself. buffy is forced to fight Angel when he resurrects a demon capable of sending the entire world into Hell. I love how Joss has the horror, comedy, and drama in perfect balence to make these incredible shows. You have to see this.

Of all the episodes of Buffy, this by far is the best. It's a pivital point in Buffy's life. She's forced to come to terms with everything in her life...school, love, friends and death. She must confess everything that's been in her heart since the serires first started. The viewer finally sees if not feels the isolation, loneliness and pain of the Slayer. Within one swope she has and loses all that is dear to her. Josh Whedon topped himself in so many ways one can not describe.