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.

Find us everywhere as @TheSunnydaleDiaries, visit sunnydalediaries.com, or email us at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com. 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.

Find us everywhere @TheSunnydaleDiaries, visit sunnydalediaries.com, or email us at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com. 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.

Melanie and Sean discuss the two Angel crossover episodes that led up to this episode. They then take on the plot of 'The Yoko Factor', where Riley is passive aggressive, Angel's stirring the pot, and everybody is fighting or drunk!

Join Melanie and Sean in this episode of the Sunnydale Diaries as they dive into 'New Moon Rising' from Season 4, Episode 19 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brace yourselves for Oz's unexpected reappearance and the love triangle that follows. Melanie recounts her college pet saga and secret relationships, while Sean laments the Scoobies' notorious communication skills. They also announce the epic Season 4 Bio Bonanza contest, discuss Adam's plans with Spike, and highlight Buffy's dynamic with Riley. Get ready for emotional farewells, awkward reunions, and a walk down memory lane. Don't miss the fun and join the conversation at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com!

In this episode of the Sunnydale Diaries, Sean and Melanie delve into 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Season 4, Episode 18, 'Where the Wild Things Are.' Watch as Buffy and Riley's insatiable passion triggers a paranormal frenzy, making things in the frat house extremely... vine-y. Hear about the creepy ice cream truck, Giles' unexpected rock star moment, and the chaotic attempt to exorcise the lust-fueled poltergeists. Plus, find out about our Season 4 contest - create a dossier on any Season 4 character for a chance to win fabulous prizes! Email us at thesunnydalediaries@gmail.com with your entries by October 31, 2025. And stay tuned—based on Melanie's prediction for the following episode, we could be seeing a werewolf soon!