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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide #3
The Watcher's Guide, Volume 3
As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, to find them where they gather and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers.
From the first vampire staking to the last glimpse of Sunnydale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a genre-busting hit, attracting millions of fans worldwide. The last three seasons ran the gamut from an episode without music to a musical episode, from the arrival of a teenage sister to the death of Buffy (again).
Now the third volume in this best-selling series of companions will break down every episode of seasons five, six, and seven -- from the villains and the victims to quotables and love bytes -- as well as take a wide-ranging look back at the entire run of the show.
Additional features:
� Flashback Foreshadowing: A line-by-line deconstruction of the portents in the season four finale, "Restless"
� "Lost" lines of dialogue, stage directions, and descriptions cut from the original teleplays
� The Trio's Pop-Culture Explosion: Mastering the references of Geek Speak
� Critical (and not-so) essays from a variety of contributors on topics from Buffy's romantic optimism to Dawn's unfulfilled potential
Seven years, 144 episodes, 3 Slayers, 3 principals, 2 networks, 2 vampires with souls, 2 Watchers, 2 pigs, 1 Master, 1 Mayor, and 1 hit show (with tons of Potentials): It all adds up to one must-have volume!
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2004
3 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Paul Ruditis
113 books99 followersPaul Ruditis also writes under the name P.J. Ruditis.
I was born and raised in Philadelphia where I lived a typical childhood with a far more interesting fantasy life. I mean, how many other eight year olds were sticking their Star Wars action figures in Ziploc bags filled with water and putting them in the freezer to recreate the ice planet of Hoth? (Really? That many? Never mind.)
After college, I moved to Los Angeles and was very lucky to get a job as a page at Paramount Pictures only months after I got into town. I worked as a tour guide and usher, and I performed temp office work around the lot.
Eventually, I took a position working in the studio's licensing department where I quickly worked my way up to middle management.
After a while, one of my friends in the publishing industry offered me the opportunity to write a Buffy, The Vampire Slayer short story for a collection she was editing. Well, when I heard how little money I could make as a writer, I immediately quit my job to try it full time. (Stupid, I know, but it kind of worked for me.)
I started out by writing books based on such wonderful TV shows as Star Trek, Roswell, and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. I have since written over 30 books based some of the best shows on TV, adding The West Wing, Alias, and Prison Break to that ever growing list.
While I continue to work on these media tie-ins, I have also been focused more on my own original fiction, including my teen series DRAMA! and the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy Love, Hollywood Style.
- Abridged Bio - Official Website.
I was born and raised in Philadelphia where I lived a typical childhood with a far more interesting fantasy life. I mean, how many other eight year olds were sticking their Star Wars action figures in Ziploc bags filled with water and putting them in the freezer to recreate the ice planet of Hoth? (Really? That many? Never mind.)
After college, I moved to Los Angeles and was very lucky to get a job as a page at Paramount Pictures only months after I got into town. I worked as a tour guide and usher, and I performed temp office work around the lot.
Eventually, I took a position working in the studio's licensing department where I quickly worked my way up to middle management.
After a while, one of my friends in the publishing industry offered me the opportunity to write a Buffy, The Vampire Slayer short story for a collection she was editing. Well, when I heard how little money I could make as a writer, I immediately quit my job to try it full time. (Stupid, I know, but it kind of worked for me.)
I started out by writing books based on such wonderful TV shows as Star Trek, Roswell, and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. I have since written over 30 books based some of the best shows on TV, adding The West Wing, Alias, and Prison Break to that ever growing list.
While I continue to work on these media tie-ins, I have also been focused more on my own original fiction, including my teen series DRAMA! and the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy Love, Hollywood Style.
- Abridged Bio - Official Website.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 13, 2020
This was my bible when I watched Buffy and rewatched Buffy, over and over, it is full of trivia and great facts about the Scooby gang.
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January 8, 2016
Volume Three of The Watcher's Guide covers the final three series of the fantasy television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's a great accompaniment that gives you more information about the characters and monsters that feature in the episode, as well as background and in-depth synopsis' of each episode.
It's set out in a decent logical order which makes it very easy to dip in and out of. Whilst the photographs are again in black and white in general, there are inserts with some promos and behind-the-scenes photographs which adds to the occasion.
For any Buffy who wants to know more it's a good place to start and is a good addition to any collection, but since the advent of The Internet it's slightly redundant now.
It's set out in a decent logical order which makes it very easy to dip in and out of. Whilst the photographs are again in black and white in general, there are inserts with some promos and behind-the-scenes photographs which adds to the occasion.
For any Buffy who wants to know more it's a good place to start and is a good addition to any collection, but since the advent of The Internet it's slightly redundant now.
August 12, 2008
How I Came To Read This Book: I owned the first two Watcher's Guides and was always a fan of Buffy.
The Plot: The Watcher's Guide series have differed slightly across their 3 volumes, but generally have the same purpose - to give Buffy fans the inside scoop/a tome of memories for the show. This last volume covered the final 3 seasons of the show and was published once the show was completed. It included the standard episode guide (including plot summaries, memorable quotes, trivia), character guides (in terms of plots and quotes), screenshots and behind-the-scenes photos, and a new feature - a collection of ten essays on the show, including a potential analysis of Joss Whedon's infamous S4 episode "Restless".
The Good or Bad: The episode guide and other standard features delivered as usual - the book was as comprehensive as the others in that regard, however after the GIANT feat that was the second Watcher's Guide, this one felt a tad lacklustre. Essays? Seriously? But I recall after reading them I found most, if not all, enjoyable and interesting - and well worth including if only for the fact I felt a lot of my own thoughts on the show were mirrored by other fans out there. As in my Amazon review on this book, I give it some passing grace because I'd compare writing this book to graduating from high school - it's much harder to write a collection like this book when your show has been disbanded!
Anything Memorable?: Nope.
Bottom Line: Lacks the bite of Volume 2, but still a must-have for Buffy fans.
50 Book Challenge?: Nope.
The Plot: The Watcher's Guide series have differed slightly across their 3 volumes, but generally have the same purpose - to give Buffy fans the inside scoop/a tome of memories for the show. This last volume covered the final 3 seasons of the show and was published once the show was completed. It included the standard episode guide (including plot summaries, memorable quotes, trivia), character guides (in terms of plots and quotes), screenshots and behind-the-scenes photos, and a new feature - a collection of ten essays on the show, including a potential analysis of Joss Whedon's infamous S4 episode "Restless".
The Good or Bad: The episode guide and other standard features delivered as usual - the book was as comprehensive as the others in that regard, however after the GIANT feat that was the second Watcher's Guide, this one felt a tad lacklustre. Essays? Seriously? But I recall after reading them I found most, if not all, enjoyable and interesting - and well worth including if only for the fact I felt a lot of my own thoughts on the show were mirrored by other fans out there. As in my Amazon review on this book, I give it some passing grace because I'd compare writing this book to graduating from high school - it's much harder to write a collection like this book when your show has been disbanded!
Anything Memorable?: Nope.
Bottom Line: Lacks the bite of Volume 2, but still a must-have for Buffy fans.
50 Book Challenge?: Nope.
February 7, 2009
I couldn't find the 2nd Watcher's Guide so I got the third one instead. I really enjoyed the essays in the back, and it introduced me to one of my favorite blogs.
May 9, 2012
Great Episode Guides, Trivia, And Awesome Essays By Great Authors. A Must Read For Any Buffy Fans.
January 10, 2021
Quizás sea el más flojo de los tres, porque no vienen entrevistas sino solo la guía de episodios de las temporadas 5, 6 y 7, varios artículos y el guión de Restless con comentarios. No obstante, se entiende porque aborda tres temporadas y tampoco es cuestión de reiterar información.
Siendo tres temporadas geniales lo he disfrutado muchísimo y el guión de Restless con comentarios me ha parecido muy interesante al ser uno de los capítulos más críticos. Personalmente, los artículos no me han interesado mucho porque tampoco sabía ni quienes eran los que escribían.
Siendo tres temporadas geniales lo he disfrutado muchísimo y el guión de Restless con comentarios me ha parecido muy interesante al ser uno de los capítulos más críticos. Personalmente, los artículos no me han interesado mucho porque tampoco sabía ni quienes eran los que escribían.
April 9, 2022
When published, this was THE ultimate guide for all Buffy fans featuring episode guides for seasons 5, 6 and 7 of the show, interviews with cast and creators, behind-the-scenes photos and more!
This is my least favourite of the three Watcher's Guides - despite covering three seasons, this was the shortest guide. It's possible that thanks to the internet, there wasn't that much new content anymore?
This is my least favourite of the three Watcher's Guides - despite covering three seasons, this was the shortest guide. It's possible that thanks to the internet, there wasn't that much new content anymore?
March 15, 2019
Another book packed with information, behind the scenes tid bits and more! I didn't think I'd enjoy the essays at the back by I really did!! The Watchers Guides are books that will stay on my shelves always.
November 2, 2017
A great guide to the last three seasons of Buffy, I just wish I could get past the typos!
June 28, 2022
A very thorough look at the last three seasons, even though not all the essays were equally good, some of them very excellent.
July 19, 2015
This is the last and probably best book of The Watcher's Guide.
This book covers the final seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, seasons 5-7. They are in my opinion, the best seasons as soon much happens and if I'm being honest, because Spike has become a regular on the show instead of Angel. Go Spike and Buffy!!
This book covers the final seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, seasons 5-7. They are in my opinion, the best seasons as soon much happens and if I'm being honest, because Spike has become a regular on the show instead of Angel. Go Spike and Buffy!!
July 5, 2011
I've gone through a Buffy phase and after reading the other two watchers guides, I just had to finish off this third and final installment for the show. Like I've said with the other two guides, if you're a fan of the show, you'll love this!
August 14, 2011
it is not the kind of book you just read through . it's more like a book you just scan to check out what you maybe did not understand about an episode they also have some cool facts in the corner about the actors/actresses.
May 24, 2016
This book is perfect for Buffy fans, it has everything you could want, episode synopsis, fun facts, actors biographies etc
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews