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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode Guide

Season:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

01

Welcome to the Hellmouth

W: Joss Whedon   D: Charles Martin Smith

Summary  It's Buffy's first day at Sunnydale H.S. and a dead body shows up at school.  Buffy was trying to get away from her responsibilities as the slayer, but her destiny as the chosen one will be something she can't deny or suppress. 

Best Line  "Truth is, I thought you'd be taller." - Angel

Critique  The opening sequence of the episode gives us a good idea that this is not going to be a small-screen version of the campy movie.  It's full of sharp dialogue and creates a realistic view of high-school life (at least what is truly important).  As an introduction to all the characters, it remains very entertaining.

Grade   A-

W: Joss Whedon   D: John T. Kretchmer

Summary  The Master is trying to ascend and Buffy must stop him.  Willow and Xander are sucked into Buffy's world where they will each find their niche and form a loyal friendship to the slayer.  Buffy also must deal with her mom, who is trying to be a little stricter for Buffy's own good. 

Best Line  "The Earth is doomed." - Giles

Critique  The Master's right-hand man is a tad too long-winded and slows things down too much.  The one complaint about these early episodes is that the action sequences seem a little forced and the stunts are not real fluid or seamless.  This, along with the quality of the already-impressive dialogue, is where the show constantly improves as it ages.

Grade   B

W: Dana Reston   D: Stephen Cragg

Summary  Buffy tries out for the cheerleading squad, but one by one the cheerleaders on the team suffer one debilitating malady after another.  Buffy and the group suspect a witch. 

Best Line  none

Critique  There is more to the vampire slayer's world than vampires, and this is our first taste.  Buffy's not much of a cheerleader and suffers from a little overacting.  The high school metaphors were a little too neat and obvious in this season, but this one works to a certain extent.

Grade   B-

W: David Greenwalt   D: Bruce Seth Green

Summary  Science teacher Dr. Gregory turns up missing, and the new good-looking substitute Miss French has quite an effect on all the guys at school.  Her ability to scare off a menacing vampire with a look causes concern for Buffy.  Oh, and Angel shows up again to give Buffy another cryptic message. 

Best Line  "I wonder what she sees in me? It's probably the quiet good looks coupled with a certain smoky magnetism." - Xander

Critique  Great fantasy sequence for Xander where he kills the vampire, gives a guitar solo and gets the girl is the one high-point of the episode.  The monster is a bad effect (it looks like the result of a union between an alien and a cat).  The ending is weak with its shadow-fight scene.  It isn't much of a premise to begin with, and therefore, the execution suffers.

Grade   C

W: Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali   D: David Semel

Summary  The Master talks about the Anointed One who will rise from the ashes of the five fallen.  Buffy, frustrated by Angel's lack of advances, goes out on a date with Owen.  But slaying, naturally, gets in the way. 

Best Line  "So, Buffy, how'd the slaying go last night?...I mean, how'd the laying go last night? No, I don't mean that either." - Xander

Critique  The first episode that really demonstrates the show's multi-layered stories (season story arc, character development, meshing of high school and slaying themes).  It's a nice look at how Buffy must balance her slaying and her personal life.  There is also great interaction between her and Giles as that relationship grows.

Grade   B+

W: Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer

D: Bruce Seth Green

Summary  The class takes a field trip to the zoo.  Afterwards, Xander and his new friends act a little too strangely. 

Best Line  none

Critique  An uneven episode at best as the show deals with the subject of bullies.  The show will soon find a way to create episodes like this that can stand apart from the main story arc, but remain relevant.  Consider this an early failure, as the writers are still feeling their way.  And the "silent" dodgeball game is just a little too weird for my tastes.

Grade   C+

W: David Greenwalt   D: Scott Brazil

Summary  The Master sends three "The Three" (warrior vampires) after Buffy and Angel comes to her rescue.  Buffy and Angel eventually share a kiss, revealing a frightening surprise that sends Buffy into a tailspin. 

Best Line  none

Critique  The most tension and drama of any episode yet.  The surprise reveals what Angel is and we learn a little history on him.  This is the classic example of falling for the wrong guy.  For those that couldn't see it coming, the Angel-surprise is a good one and the motives behind his actions become a little clearer. 

Grade   A-

W: Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden

D: Stephen Posey

Summary  A demon who has been trapped on the pages of a book is unleashed in the school's computer system after being scanned in by Willow. 

Best Line  "To read makes our speaking English good." - Xander

Critique  I know there is some suspension of belief that is necessary with Buffy, but this is too much.  Jenny Calendar is introduced here and serves as a nice foil to Giles' English stuffiness.  There is a lot here that is thrown together - cults, technology, online dating, etc. - and it falls apart.  Easily the weakest episode of the season.  

Grade   C-

W: Dean Batali & Rob Des Hotel

D: Ellen S. Pressman

Summary  It's time for the annual talent show.  Giles is in charge and Buffy, Willow and Xander are forced to perform.  A murdered girl missing her heart raises questions while a kid and his ventriloquist dummy start acting strangely. 

Best Line  "Does anybody else feel like they've been Kaiser Soze'd" - Xander

Critique  A solid episode that throws you a nice little twist about halfway through that, I admit, I could not see coming.  Xander's interaction with the dummy is pretty funny and the play put on by the three as the credits roll is absolutely hysterical.

Grade   B

W: David Greenwalt, story by Joss Whedon

D: Bruce Seth Green

Summary  Everyone's nightmares are coming true and manifesting themselves in school.  Buffy's dad is coming to visit. 

Best Line  "I was, uh, dressed a minute ago! It's a dream. It's gotta be a dream. Ow! Wake up. Ow! Gotta wake up." - Xander

Critique  A creative premise that works as the nightmares become more real and more potentially dangerous.  The powerful nature of fear is palpable and this episode demonstrates that nicely.

Grade   B+

W: Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden,

story by Joss Whedon   D: Reyza Badiyi

Summary  Buffy's feeling out of place as Cordelia runs for May Queen.  A boy is attacked by a baseball bat with the message "Look" written on the lockers.

Best Lines  "This is all about me. Me, me, me." - Cordelia  "Wow, for once she's right." - Xander

Critique  The student who is constantly ignored and invisible to all, actually becomes so.  Again, more forced high school metaphors with certain episodes just revolving around a particular schtick.  Fortunately, later on, the series will get more adept at incorporating these things within shows.  Cordelia won't really shine until next season, but she does a nice job here.

Grade   B-

W: Joss Whedon   D: Joss Whedon

Summary  An earthquake hits Sunnydale as the signs point to something ominous - including the fate for the slayer.

Best Line  "On a scale of 1 to 10 - it sucked.." - Xander

Critique  Whedon wrote this season to be able to stand alone in case it wouldn't survive past these 12 episodes.  Thankfully, it continued on, and this finale is the best barometer of what Buffy will become.  Xander listening to Patsy Cline and a bloody hand print on a TV screen playing cartoons are examples of how comedy and horror blend so well with the drama in this show.  Sarah Michelle Gellar gives an incredible performance in this episode as she comes to grips with her destined fate.

The season ends on a high note, and, while it may eventually stand as one of the weakest seasons of Buffy, that only proves how great the show really was.

Grade   A