BTVS geek code
What a geek code is
A
geek code
is an ultra-abbreviated recital of your interests, likes, and
dislikes. The fundamental, non-BTVS-related geek code is
here.
There was
an earlier BTVS geek code
but it didn't cover the hot issues.
What BTVS is
The TV show Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. If you
don't know what that is, you're definitely on the wrong page.
Click here
to go back to my top page.
The code itself
Seasons
Code
|
What it means
|
1+++ |
Season 1 was the best thing on TV ever |
1++ |
Season 1 was great |
1+ |
Season 1 was good |
1- |
Season 1 was mediocre |
1-- |
Season 1 was actually bad |
1--- |
Season 1 stunk |
(Similarly, use 2, 3, and 4 for seasons 2, 3, and 4)
Characters
Code
|
What it means
|
B+++ |
Buffy is my idol |
B++ |
Buffy is my favorite character |
B+ |
I like Buffy |
B? |
I didn't know there was any "Buffy" on BTVS |
B- |
Buffy is boring |
B-- |
Buffy is far too mopey |
B--- |
Buffy is a disgrace. She totally squanders her gift of
Slayerness |
Code
|
What it means
|
A+++ |
Angel is my idol |
A++ |
Angel is my favorite character |
A+ |
I like Angel |
A? |
Who's Angel? When was he on BTVS? |
A- |
Angel is boring |
A-- |
Angel should not have made it past "Revelations" |
A--- |
Buffy should have staked Angel in the first season |
And similarly for...
Code
|
Character
|
B |
Buffy |
W |
Willow |
X |
Xander |
G |
Giles |
O |
Oz |
C |
Cordelia |
A |
Angel |
Ay |
Anya |
R |
Riley |
F |
Faith |
Minor but noteworthy characters:
Code
|
What it means
|
J++++ |
Let's set every episode in the _Superstar_-verse |
J+++ |
Jonathan is god! |
J++ |
Jonathan is my favorite character |
J+ |
I consciously watch for Jonathan's appearances |
J? |
Who's Jonathan? |
J- |
I don't like Jonathan |
J-- |
Enuff with this stupid running gag. |
Code
|
What it means
|
Dar+++ |
Darla was the best vamp ever |
Dar++ |
Darla was one of the best vamps ever |
Dar+ |
Yum. |
Dar? |
Who's Darla? |
Dar- |
Darla bored me |
Dar-- |
I hated Darla |
Code
|
What it means
|
Amy+++ |
Bring Amy back now! |
Amy++ |
I love Amy. |
Amy+ |
I liked Amy, but now she just likes cheese. |
Amy? |
Who's Amy? |
Amy- |
Get over her, she's a rodent now. |
Amy-- |
...and it serves her rite! |
'Shipping and slashing
Two characters' initials joined by an ampersand indicates that you
ship or slash a specific relationship (for plusses), or loathe it (for
minusses).
For instance, using Oz and Willow as an example, it goes like this:
Code
|
What it means
|
O&W++ |
Oz and Willow must be together |
O&W+ |
I like Oz and Willow together |
O&W |
(Don't care) |
O&W- |
I don't think Oz & Willow belong together |
O&W-- |
Willow (or Oz) must be with someone else! |
So if you are an Oz&Willow'shipper, an Angel&Xander slasher,
and don't like Buffy with Riley, your BTVS geek code would include:
O&W+ A&X+ B&R-
This extends to more than 2 initials, if that's your bag. For
instance, if you live to one day see a 3-way with Oz,
Willow, and Tara, it would be:
O&W&Tara+++
Hot topics
Xander's Lie
Code
|
What it means
|
XL+++ |
Xander singlehandedly saved the world in Becoming 2. |
XL++ |
Xander saved the day. |
XL+ |
Xander was justified |
XL |
No opinion on Xander's Lie. |
XL- |
Xander was more wrong than rite. |
XL-- |
Xander had no business withholding information from Buffy |
XL--- |
Jealous Xander got Angel killed |
XL---- |
One of these days Buffy's going to find out
and I'll laff when she eviscerates him! |
The Cruciamentum
Code
|
What it means
|
Cru+++ |
I am Quentin Travers |
Cru++ |
The COW was just testing Buffy, as well they should. |
Cru+ |
The COW was justified, on the balance |
Cru? |
What's the Cruciamentum? |
Cru- |
There should have been no cruciamentum. |
Cru-- |
The cruciamentum proves the COW is evil |
Cru--- |
The COW tried to murder Buffy that day. |
Cru---- |
I want to see WatcherFest '99 |
The Box of Gavrok
Code
|
What it means
|
Gav++ |
Buffy had to trade the box to the mayor; there was no other
choice. |
Gav+ |
Buffy was justified in making the trade |
Gav? |
What's the Box of Gavrok? |
Gav! |
OK, they traded the box, but the way they made the trade was
stupid. |
Gav- |
They should have at least listened to Wesley |
Gav-- |
They shouldn't have traded the box. |
Gav--- |
Oz, Buffy and Xander murdered people in "Choices". |
Restless, the season 4 finale dream episode
Code
|
What it means
|
Res+++ |
Restless was the best episode ever.
|
Res++ |
Fascinating episode! Joss Whedon outdoes himself again!
|
Res+ |
Restless was interesting |
Res? |
Restless totally confused me. Was it some sort of dream
sequence?
|
Res- |
Restless was rather weak
|
Res-- |
Restless was a second-rate Twin Peaks ripoff
|
Res---
|
Worst episode ever!
|
Is Faith Redeemable?
The issue: Whether rogue slayer Faith is redeemable. This is
not whether you like the character, but whether you think that
Faith can ever be a good person.
Code
|
What it means
|
FR+++ |
I am Angel.
|
FR++ |
Everything Faith did was just a cry for help.
|
FR+ |
Faith is guilty of crimes, but only because she cracked
under the terrible burden of being a Slayer.
|
FR- |
Maybe after she serves her time in jail. Maybe not.
|
FR-- |
She should be tried and fried.
|
FR--- |
I am Buffy Summers.
|
Is Spike redeemable?
The issue: Whether technologically defanged vampire Spike
(William The Bloody) is redeemable. This is not whether you
like the character, but whether you think that Spike can ever be
a good person.
Code
|
What it means
|
SR+++ |
He's already redeemed, he just doesn't know it yet.
|
SR++ |
Chip, soul, same deal. Spike is early Angel.
|
SR+ |
Spike said he could be a good man in Crush, and I basically
believe him.
|
SR- |
I don't think it's gonna happen.
|
SR-- |
Redeeming Spike would ruin too much Buffyverse mythology.
|
SR--- |
I am Lord Usher.
|
SR! |
Whether or not Spike is redeemable is irrelevant to whether
Buffy and Spike should be together.
|
The artists
Code
|
What it means
|
JW+++ |
Joss Whedon is god! |
JW++ |
Joss is da bomb! |
JW+ |
Joss is pretty good |
JW? |
Joss who? |
JW- |
Joss is overrated |
JW-- |
I don't like Joss |
JW--- |
Joss is BTVS' biggest problem |
Code
|
What it means
|
SMG+++ |
SMG is the best actress on TV today! |
SMG++ |
SMG is great. |
SMG+ |
She's a credit to Buffy |
SMG |
She is a serviceable leading actress |
SMG- |
SMG is overrated |
SMG-- |
I can't stand her soap-opera acting. |
SMG--- |
I am Susan Lucci |
And similarly for the other players, by their initials
Code
|
Actor
|
Character
|
SMG |
Sarah Michelle Gellar |
Buffy |
AH |
Alyson Hannigan |
Willow |
ASH |
Anthony Stuart Head |
Giles |
NB |
Nicholas Brendon |
Xander |
SG |
Seth Green |
Oz |
CC |
Charisma Carpenter |
Cordelia |
DB |
David Boreanaz |
Angel |
EC |
Emma Caulfield |
Anya |
MB |
Mark Blucas |
Riley |
ED |
Eliza Dushku |
Faith |
And the other talent behind the scenes
Code
|
Person
|
Role
|
JW |
Joss Whedon |
Creator/writer/producer |
SC |
Sophia Crawford |
Buffy's stunt double (S1 thru S4) |
JP |
Jeff Pruitt |
Stunt co-ordinator (S2 thru S4) |
MN |
Marti Noxon |
Writer |
JE |
Jane Espenson |
Writer |
DG |
David Greenwalt |
Writer |
DF |
David Fury |
Writer |
DP |
Doug Petrie |
Writer |
RDH+DB |
Rob des Hotel & Dean Batali |
Writers |
TF |
Tracey Forbes |
Writer |
MK+JR |
Matt Kiene & Joe Reinmeyer |
Writers |
TK |
Ty King |
Writer |
DV |
Dan Vebber |
Writer |
SdK |
Stephen DeKnight |
Writer |