The Sunnydale Diaries - A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast
Watching Buffy with fresh eyes...and 25 years of baggage.
The Sunnydale Diaries is a rewatch podcast with a twist: one host has loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer since the 90s, and the other is watching it for the very first time.
Each week, Sean (the lifelong fan) and Melanie (the first-time viewer) revisit an episode and start by connecting its theme, or even a single scene, to their own lives, whether that’s family, relationships, eggs (yes, eggs), or the weird emotional baggage we all carry.
From there, they break down what holds up, what doesn’t, and why this show still resonates decades later. Part recap, part personal reflection, and part “wait, did that really happen?”, The Sunnydale Diaries is for longtime fans, curious newcomers, and anyone who likes their pop culture discussions grounded in real life.
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Episodes
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Monday Jul 15, 2024
We're back with another Scooby Snacks episode! This time around we're tasting various marshmallow foods, inspired by Xander's Moon Pie comment in the Buffy episode "Phases". We've got fluffernutter sandwiches, smores bark, Hostess Snowballs and a few other snacks. Our tastings led to comments like:"There should not be crunch in my marshmallow""I bought these because they sounded truly offensive." "I'm OK never having one of those in my mouth again."
We have more Scooby Snacks episodes planned! Got an idea for a Buffy related food we should try? Let us know at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com!
There's a video version of us doing this tasting on YouTube!
Monday Jul 08, 2024
Monday Jul 08, 2024
We took a different approach by watching the Season 2 Buffy finale together and recording our discussion in real time. Melanie performs some excellent fight scene analysis and Sean points out a fishy connection between this episode and the previous episode, "Go Fish".
There's double the amount of unique/bad accents with Angel flashbacks and Kendra's return. Check out our TikTok (@thesunnydalediaries) to see us reenact a fun scene between Angel and Drusilla and stay tuned for our season 2 recap!
Monday Jul 01, 2024
Monday Jul 01, 2024
Sean and Melanie open this episode by talking about how they both live close to the beach, but rarely go there. They also touch on going to the beach as kids and their experiences playing competitive sports in school.
Swimming through the plot of the Buffy episode "Go Fish", Melanie and Sean point out the plethora of guest starts in this episode. Melanie continues her protest of Prinicpal Snyder taking advantage of Willow's willingness to teach her peers and Sean expresses his concerns with the "toxicology lab" references (do your research people!)
Stay tuned for our upcoming Scooby Snacks Oreo-tasting episode!
Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
Melanie and Sean take on ghosts and spookiness in entertainment, including the movies Ghost and Poltergeist (still slightly scarred by that movie.) They also touch on the OG Ghostbusters, Paranormal Activity and the Blair Witch Project and discuss the concept of a Sadie Hawkins dance and how "promposals" have gotten outrageous.
In our haunted conversation about the Buffy episode "I Only Have Eyes for You", Melanie shares a personal anecdote about receiving a rose quartz, similar to what Willow gave to Giles. Sean and Melanie perform an in-depth analysis of the inside of Xander's locker - the contents are somewhat concerning. Sean questions the proper spelling of snakalicious/snakealicious.
The critical question - do you like Buffy's hair in this episode? Let us know at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com!
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Melanie and Sean remember the times that they've been hospitalized, including how a back massager recently sent Melanie to the ER and a waterslide led to a concussion. Sean recounts his ambulance ride after an unfortunate bowling injury and a potential anesthesia overdose as a child.
While diagnosing the Buffy episode "Killed by Death", Sean provides a connection between Der Kinderstod and the recent Halloween movies. Melanie has some strong opinions about Der Kinderstod's eye stalks (and the recycling of the related stop animation footage.)
Do you have a spooky hospital story to share? Send it to us at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com!
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Melanie and Sean open this episode by discussing stalking, their experience with it, and portrayal of stalking in movies and TV (remember Fatal Attraction and Single White Female?)
After a brief tangent regarding the unusual late 90s soap opera "Passions" they focus on the Buffy episode "Passion". Melanie points out how hypocritical Joyce is being towards Buffy and questions the legality of Willow teaching her fellow students. Sean drops a bit of knowledge connecting a song from Ed Sheeran's X album to the music in this episode and we say farewell to a recurring character.
Our Diorama Derby deadline has been extended! You now have until June 30, 2024 to make your Buffy season 1 or 2 diorama and send a pic of it to thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com.
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
In the second episode of our snack tasting series (named Scooby Snacks!) we try Animal Crackers. Inspired by Oz and Willow's conversation at the end of the Buffy episode "What's My Line Part 2", we try the classic animal cracker and frosted ones!
There's also a video version of us doing this tasting on Youtube!
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Sean and Melanie share their views on Valentine's Day as well as some memorable Valentine's day experiences .Hear when Sean got friend-zoned on Valentine's Day and when a flower delivery put Melanie in an awkward situation!
While Cupid's arrows fly, Melanie and Sean discuss the Buffy episode "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." There's slow motion strutting, angry mobs, people turning into rats, a lovestruck Joyce, and a scavenger hunt!
Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
Sean and Melanie dig into this episode, dealing with werewolves, by discussing their past and present pet dogs! Melanie shares her husband's future plans for having a pack of dogs and Sean reveals the one thing that Melanie's dogs do with him that they don't do with her.
Unleashing their thoughts regarding the Buffy episode "Phases", Melanie is enamored with the opening scene and the throwback to Season 1. This episode's snack discussion centers around the weird marshmallow filling in Moon Pies and Peeps (gross.) Sean compares the locker room scene between Larry and Xander to a scene from Glee and Melanie questions the sudden bond between Cordelia and Willow.
Check out our social media accounts (@thesunnydalediaries) for pictures of our dogs. We want to see pictures of your pets, especially your pets named after Buffy characters! Send them to thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com or post them on our Facebook or Instagram.
Monday May 13, 2024
Monday May 13, 2024
Melanie and Sean look back at the first half of Season 2 - comparing it to the first season, and how the show has progressed. While discussion the newer characters in this season, they go off on a brief tangent to discuss Danny Strong (who plays Jonathan) and his current screenwriting career and accolades, including several Emmys!
Navigating the aftermath of betrayal in the Buffy episode "Innocence", Sean wonders what was actually being produced in the factory that has become Spike and Drusilla's lair. Melanie questions the career of the random woman in the alley that approaches Angel (and how Angel can smoke when he has no breath??) Sean and Melanie also express appreciation of Willow and Oz's emotional maturity.
There's a few conventions upcoming this summer with several Buffy actors that Sean and Melanie plan on attending - Tampa Bay Comic Convention, FanBoy Expo (in Orlando) and Dragon Con. If you're also attending, keep an eye out for your 2 favorite podcast co-hosts!