The Sunnydale Diaries - A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast

Season Five is here and The Sunnydale Diaries is officially entering one of Sean's favorite eras of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In this episode, we kick off Season 5, Episode 1: “Buffy vs. Dracula,” an episode that somehow manages to be campy, creepy, seductive, and quietly huge all at the same time. From beach days and new opening credits to castles we’ve apparently never noticed before, this premiere brings us: 🧛‍♂️ Dracula himself — complete with capes, bats, wolves, and mind control 🖤 Buffy confronting the darkness and power inside herself 🐞 Xander fully embracing his Renfield era (yes,with bugs) 📚 Giles questioning his purpose (and finding it again) 🧠 Mind games, seduction, and Slayer autonomy 👀 And one of the biggest “WAIT, WHAT?” cliffhangers in the entire series We talk about what Dracula represents in Buffy’s journey, how this episode reframes Slayer power after the Season 4 enjoining spell, and how a wolf got on top of the Espresso Pump. Plus: pink leather pants, castle logistics, Joyce inviting strangers inside, and whether “Cow me” should ever have been a line of dialogue. And then — that ending. No spoilers, but if you remember the first time you watched this episode, you already know why this moment permanently changes the trajectory of Season Five.   Follow & Connect Find us everywhere as @TheSunnydaleDiaries, visit thesunnydalediaries.com, or email us at [email protected]. Join us next as we continue Season Five with “Real Me.”

In this very special bonus episode of The Sunnydale Diaries, that we recorded back in July, we step out of Sunnydale and into Los Angeles to revisit one of the most emotionally devastating crossovers in the Buffyverse: Angel Season 1, Episode 8 “I Will Remember You.” Recorded live from our hotel room during Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, this episode finds us reacting in real time to the unforgettable moment when Angel becomes human, giving Buffy and Angel the one thing they’ve always wanted, and the one thing they can never keep. We break down: Buffy and Angel’s long-awaited chance at a normal life The demon blood that changes everything Saltwater, regeneration, and the brutal cost of mortality The Oracles, the Powers That Be, and the heartbreaking reset The return of the Buffy/Angel theme at exactly the wrong moment And of course… that final goodbye We talk about the ethics of the reset, the cruelty of memory, and why Angel, alone, has to carry the weight of what could have been.  If you love: Buffy & Angel’s romance Emotional gut-punch episodes Or crossover events that actually matter Then this episode is required listening. Follow & Connect Find us everywhere @TheSunnydaleDiaries, visit sunnydalediaries.com, or email us at [email protected]. And tell us—which Angel crossovers should we cover next?

Get ready, Buffy fans, this is a big one! Sean and Melanie reunite in person for an action-packed, cheese-filled, season-spanning recap of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4. From college chaos and Parker-induced rage to Initiative secrets, dream sequences, and tiny fear demons, we break down every episode, every heartbreak, every discussion topic, and every floated rose. We revisit: Buffy’s rocky college transition (and her kooky roommate Kathy) The rise and fall of The Initiative Spike becoming Hostile 17 and the world’s grumpiest houseguest Willow’s heartbreak, Tara’s introduction, and Oz’s dramatic exit Faith’s return (and body swap!), Jonathan’s superstar moment, and Adam’s disk drive torso Our personal season rankings and what we think is coming in Season 5… including Melanie's hilariously confident predictions Plus: Cheese tastings! Guess that line! A mini Buffy trivia challenge! The Season Four Bio Bonanza winner announcement! And a surprise appearance from a gorgeous Buffy-themed bag by our friend Georgia from @scrapthecatwalk. It’s the ultimate Season 4 wrap-up: chaotic, heartfelt, and deeply Sunnydale Diaries. Grab your Maple Whiskey, you Long Drink (not a sponsor... yet), your turkey hat, your bag of oddly sweaty cheese, and come hang out with us!

In this episode of The Sunnydale Diaries, Sean and Melanie dive into Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s season four finale, 'Restless.' But before they unpack the surreal dream sequences and cryptic cheese-man prophecies, they take a delicious detour into all things cheese - from grilled cheese perfection and the great white vs. yellow American cheese debate to their shared dream of trying raclette. Join them as they explore how 'Restless' ties together dreams, fears, and future foreshadowing for Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles. It’s an episode filled with dreams, dairy, and destiny.

It’s Finale Eve in Sunnydale, and Melanie and Sean are throwing a Hulu pillow party for Primeval! In this pre-finale chaos, Buffy and the Scoobies have to put their friendship fractures aside and literally merge forces to take down Adam (and his questionable 2001 CGI). Along the way, Sean and Melanie talk about teamwork, communication breakdowns, and how it feels when the people you rely on most are out of sync. Plus: zombie professors, “cyber demons,” and the mystery of how anyone in Sunnydale gets electricity to their secret labs.