Once More, with Feeling 

In this musical extravaganza, Sunnydale residents find themselves bursting into song, and flame, when a demon attempts to make Dawn his bride.

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (created by), Joss Whedon

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield Ford

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Emma Caulfield Ford	...	Anya (as Emma Caulfield)
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Dawn Summers
James Marsters	...	Spike
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Hinton Battle	...	Sweet
Amber Benson	...	Tara Maclay
David Fury	...	Mustard Man
Marti Noxon	...	Parking Ticket Woman
Daniel Weaver	...	Handsome Young Man
Scot Zeller	...	Henchman / Tap Dancing Victim
Zachary Woodlee	...	Demon / Henchman
Timothy Anderson	...	Henchman

Storyline

Sunnydale is alive with the sound of music as a mysterious force causes everyone in town to burst into full musical numbers, revealing their innermost secrets as they do. But some townsfolk are dancing so much that they simply burst into flames, and it becomes clear that maybe living in a musical isn't so great after all.

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Plot Keywords:

dancing | slow motion scene | song | singer | sex | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Buffy comments, "So... Dawn's in trouble... must be Tuesday." This, of course, refers to the timeslot in which UPN broadcasts the show.

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Goofs

Tara's arms change position in each shot after the trio dance break in the "Life's a Show" number.

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Quotes

Anya: [singing] Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes. They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses. And what's with all the carrots? What do they need such good eyesight for anyway? Bunnies. Bunnies. It must be bunnies!
[everyone stares at her incredulously]
Anya: Or maybe midgets.

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Crazy Credits

Features a happy, lighthearted 1960's TV show-style opening sequence with the cast members' faces, and ends with the Mutant Enemy monster singing his trademark "Grrr Aargh!" rather than growling it.

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Alternate Versions

This episode originally aired at an extended length that ran over the hour-long format (approx. 8 minutes over) and was edited down to fit an hour long time slot for each re-airing. The footage cut included the title and overture, Buffy entering the Magic Box and some corresponding dialog, part of the song "I've Got a Theory", the entire song "What Can't We Face," dialog when Dawn enters the Magic Box, after the song "Under Your Spell," and before the song "I'll Never Tell," a verse of the song "Let Me Rest in Peace," some footage in Dawn's bedroom, Dawn's dance number with Sweet's minions, the end of the song "Why Don't We Dance Awhile," a verse of "Walk Through the Fire," dialog when Buffy first encounters Sweet and after the song "Life's a Show," and the song "Where Do We Go From Here" is shorter along with followed dialog between Spike and Buffy.

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Connections

References Anchors Aweigh (1945)

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Soundtracks

Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Joss Whedon
Performed by Michelle Trachtenberg, Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Marsters, Anthony Head (as Anthony Stewart Head), Amber Benson, Nicholas Brendon and Emma Caulfield Ford

User Reviews

Proof that Joss Whedon is a genius...if you still need convincing

OK, I'll admit I was really sceptical about this episode. I first caught the last 10 minutes of this episode and thought "Oh no, a musical episode, this has got to be it, Buffy has jumped the shark" but having since seen the whole episode in the context of the rest of the series, this episode is pure genius. The songs really moves the story on. Through-out the first few episodes of the 6th season a number of tensions are built up between the characters, feelings and events occur which the characters keep to themselves. All the musical numbers are used as ways for the cast to reveal to each other things they didn't, couldn't, or wouldn't say. Joss wrote all the lyrics and music, with his usual depth, intelligence, and character development, plus the tunes are catch. This is not just a filler episode, its a turning point in the season. Pure class!!