I had been aiming to do this for a while, then Becca's Friends thread finally pushed me to doing it.
I've been recently been re-watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer, currently I'm halfway through Season 5, so there's plenty of space and time to do this. I'm not going to do episde by episode but rather a full season review and look at the opening and ending episodes and give what I feel is the best episode and what is the worst.
Spoiler Alert I will warn that endings to the seasons and episodes I give will be given away for anyone who hasn't seen it.
Now this is the season that sets everything up and despite it only being 12 episodes as opposed to the usual 22/23, Joss Whedon made the right decision in giving this a half season run. This was his first ever TV series and he wanted to test the waters with his product, because this was his made or break season. And it really does hit off well, he manages to create new plots and ideals and has them all keying up to the main event straight away. One interesting part about this series is how it plays on a virtual pattern that one week, it focuses on the Master as the villain, the next it will be a one off unique villain, this does provide something to give to show that Buffy is not just a one trick pony when it comes to facing the dark forces of nature.
Interesting facts to note, aside from the generic vampire fight, whenever the villain of the week is about vampires, it always links to the Master, just showing how a big a key role he really is and that despite him being stuck here, he has control over the underworld and he is as bad as they come.
While this might be slowed paced when you look at the later seasons, this is a good start up to Buffy, providing unique characters and giving all of them a good story to back them, showing them with a weakness but giving them a strength by the end. There isnt as much selfishness and focusing on just Buffy, they all have key elements in the series and this is a good place to start.
The one thing they didnt perfect until the second season was the teaser opening, these lasted about ten minutes and the titles come in, which does throw the episode off a bit as they could have put them in about 6 minutes earlier, but nothings perfect right on the first go at times.
First Episode
Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest
As much as the first episodes always have, they have the task of setting up the series and getting it into motion, this one does that, but instead of playing the introduction as if this is the very beginning, were treated to an opening of being involved in a world already in motion. This gives quite a special feel to opener of Buffy, straight from the go, theyre not going to tease it, they already show a vampire (Darla) within 30 seconds of opening.
We already set up ground, Buffys moved into Sunnydale after having to move from LA due to her Slaying antics getting caught up with her school life, we know Whedon is on to great comic moments from where the Principal rips up her record, only to realise he didnt pay attention to all the details and tapes it back together. We also establish all the characters defined by their school codes of skaters, preps, popular girls and nerds through the character of Xander, Cordelia and Willow, but the mystery evolves around Buffy and it gets even deeper the moment were introduced to Giles. Its where he comes in it shows that Buffy is not like original heroes, shes reluctant to take on her destiny but yet everyone else pushes her to.
Another establishment we get early on is the Big Bad, which is The Master, normally the villain doesnt find their feet until midseason, but with this only being half the amount of episodes, the timing is good and excitement is established that the finale will be Buffy vs. The Master, a 500 year old (at least) Vampire who follows the way of tradition.
By the time WTTH ends, were on a cliff-hanger and its this cliff-hanger that leads to Buffy accepting her destiny and we have the formation of the Scoobies who will be our regular features over the next 7 years. Already were thrown into the mix and already the main threat of The Master is thrown out there too with his return to the surface being part of it.
In short, a great two-parter to start us all off into Buffy and it stands out, not just being a different tale for vampires and slaying, but how introductions are given. It gives energy and excitement early on in two parts, setting up 10 more to go, as Giles said Its not just vampires were dealing with
Best line: Giles: The World is doomed!
She follows the Anointed One to meet The Master and they have a show down, which is show Buffy facing her fear of death and the Master. Its great for suspension and we see The Master becoming the first of three vampires to bite Buffy. But he also leaves her to drown. After being brought back to life, she re-engages him no the surface while the Hellmouth opens. The fight is short but sweet with one of the best villain deaths, with The Master getting thrown through a glass window onto a big chip of wood to kill him. The gang rejoice and Buffy stands over the fallen skeleton of The Master.
Now as weve been expecting this ending from the start, its quite an interesting ending to the season, given they were not expecting a renewal, but it tells about accepting death as a destiny and the best scene shows this (Master/Buffys first showdown), after Buffys revival, shes accepted that she died and she isnt afraid of her destiny given that shes died and come back to life. But it does feel like that the plan was to kill Buffy right there and then, to which they chose to keep her alive in case of a renewal. But it does weaken The Master as a villain, given hes been hyped up as quite a terrifying villain, he achieves his role and goal, but its once hes done those, hes left without a purpose and we just accept his death from the go.
Best line:
[an earthquake has hit the town]
The Master: Yes! Yes! Shake, earth! This is a sign. We are in the final days. My time is come. Glory! Glory!
[the quake stops]
The Master: What'd'ya think, 5.1?
Rating: 8.5/10
Best line:
Xander: [confronting his nightmare clown] Your balloon animals were *pathetic*. Everyone can make a giraffe.
In short, for anyone new to Buffy, Season One is a good start and gives us something new and exciting to start us off. While alot is held back, this was intended by Joss Whedon and Co. simply because he could give more, so he gave just something that is just right to keep our interests, but holds back so not all the resources are used up in the early going, but a solid start from the Slayer.
Final Season Rating: 7/10
Season Two coming soon.
I've been recently been re-watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer, currently I'm halfway through Season 5, so there's plenty of space and time to do this. I'm not going to do episde by episode but rather a full season review and look at the opening and ending episodes and give what I feel is the best episode and what is the worst.
Spoiler Alert I will warn that endings to the seasons and episodes I give will be given away for anyone who hasn't seen it.
Season One
Now this is the season that sets everything up and despite it only being 12 episodes as opposed to the usual 22/23, Joss Whedon made the right decision in giving this a half season run. This was his first ever TV series and he wanted to test the waters with his product, because this was his made or break season. And it really does hit off well, he manages to create new plots and ideals and has them all keying up to the main event straight away. One interesting part about this series is how it plays on a virtual pattern that one week, it focuses on the Master as the villain, the next it will be a one off unique villain, this does provide something to give to show that Buffy is not just a one trick pony when it comes to facing the dark forces of nature.
Interesting facts to note, aside from the generic vampire fight, whenever the villain of the week is about vampires, it always links to the Master, just showing how a big a key role he really is and that despite him being stuck here, he has control over the underworld and he is as bad as they come.
While this might be slowed paced when you look at the later seasons, this is a good start up to Buffy, providing unique characters and giving all of them a good story to back them, showing them with a weakness but giving them a strength by the end. There isnt as much selfishness and focusing on just Buffy, they all have key elements in the series and this is a good place to start.
The one thing they didnt perfect until the second season was the teaser opening, these lasted about ten minutes and the titles come in, which does throw the episode off a bit as they could have put them in about 6 minutes earlier, but nothings perfect right on the first go at times.
First Episode
Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest
As much as the first episodes always have, they have the task of setting up the series and getting it into motion, this one does that, but instead of playing the introduction as if this is the very beginning, were treated to an opening of being involved in a world already in motion. This gives quite a special feel to opener of Buffy, straight from the go, theyre not going to tease it, they already show a vampire (Darla) within 30 seconds of opening.
We already set up ground, Buffys moved into Sunnydale after having to move from LA due to her Slaying antics getting caught up with her school life, we know Whedon is on to great comic moments from where the Principal rips up her record, only to realise he didnt pay attention to all the details and tapes it back together. We also establish all the characters defined by their school codes of skaters, preps, popular girls and nerds through the character of Xander, Cordelia and Willow, but the mystery evolves around Buffy and it gets even deeper the moment were introduced to Giles. Its where he comes in it shows that Buffy is not like original heroes, shes reluctant to take on her destiny but yet everyone else pushes her to.
Another establishment we get early on is the Big Bad, which is The Master, normally the villain doesnt find their feet until midseason, but with this only being half the amount of episodes, the timing is good and excitement is established that the finale will be Buffy vs. The Master, a 500 year old (at least) Vampire who follows the way of tradition.
By the time WTTH ends, were on a cliff-hanger and its this cliff-hanger that leads to Buffy accepting her destiny and we have the formation of the Scoobies who will be our regular features over the next 7 years. Already were thrown into the mix and already the main threat of The Master is thrown out there too with his return to the surface being part of it.
In short, a great two-parter to start us all off into Buffy and it stands out, not just being a different tale for vampires and slaying, but how introductions are given. It gives energy and excitement early on in two parts, setting up 10 more to go, as Giles said Its not just vampires were dealing with
Rating
Id give this a 7/10. Its not the most memorable of episodes but sets up ground for the whole series and gives a friendly feel so people dont get lost in it.Best line: Giles: The World is doomed!
Finale
Prophecy Girl
After the excitement of the season with vampires, witches and living dummies, we come down to this, the showdown between the Master and Buffy. Giles finds out that The Master will rise at the expense of Buffys life, while he tries to protect her from knowing this, she eventually finds out and accepts her fate that she will die, despite not wanting to.Prophecy Girl
She follows the Anointed One to meet The Master and they have a show down, which is show Buffy facing her fear of death and the Master. Its great for suspension and we see The Master becoming the first of three vampires to bite Buffy. But he also leaves her to drown. After being brought back to life, she re-engages him no the surface while the Hellmouth opens. The fight is short but sweet with one of the best villain deaths, with The Master getting thrown through a glass window onto a big chip of wood to kill him. The gang rejoice and Buffy stands over the fallen skeleton of The Master.
Now as weve been expecting this ending from the start, its quite an interesting ending to the season, given they were not expecting a renewal, but it tells about accepting death as a destiny and the best scene shows this (Master/Buffys first showdown), after Buffys revival, shes accepted that she died and she isnt afraid of her destiny given that shes died and come back to life. But it does feel like that the plan was to kill Buffy right there and then, to which they chose to keep her alive in case of a renewal. But it does weaken The Master as a villain, given hes been hyped up as quite a terrifying villain, he achieves his role and goal, but its once hes done those, hes left without a purpose and we just accept his death from the go.
Rating
Id give this a 7/10. It delivers and gives a great metaphor message about death, but a lot of it is rush and this could have been easily a two-parter to explain things. But it managed Buffy gets renewed for Season Two.Best line:
[an earthquake has hit the town]
The Master: Yes! Yes! Shake, earth! This is a sign. We are in the final days. My time is come. Glory! Glory!
[the quake stops]
The Master: What'd'ya think, 5.1?
Best episode
Episode Ten - Nightmares
While I favour the episode prior to this (The Puppet Show), I had to give the best episode to Nightmares, purely because it was such an original and brilliant concept. A kid in a coma is able to make everyones nightmares come true and it wreaks havoc on Sunnydale. From tarantulas in book to scary clowns and being buried alive, this really breaks the mode because its so chaotic but tells about facing fear, even right before the episode breaks under way. I love this episode because it tells a lot from different perspectives such as how children see adults when theyre violent towards them and how fear can be so powerful that it becomes the thing that controls us and stops us from doing certain things. A great episode and showed that even the mode they already made so far in this series can still be broken.Episode Ten - Nightmares
Rating: 8.5/10
Best line:
Xander: [confronting his nightmare clown] Your balloon animals were *pathetic*. Everyone can make a giraffe.
Worst Episode
Episode 4 - Teacher's Pet
Simply put, Giant Preying Mantis! While there were some good focuses on Xander in this episode, this is just one of the bad ones because of the ridiculous factor, even when the paranormal is going on.Episode 4 - Teacher's Pet
Overall
In short, for anyone new to Buffy, Season One is a good start and gives us something new and exciting to start us off. While alot is held back, this was intended by Joss Whedon and Co. simply because he could give more, so he gave just something that is just right to keep our interests, but holds back so not all the resources are used up in the early going, but a solid start from the Slayer.
Final Season Rating: 7/10
Season Two coming soon.
. 
