Buffy: The Vampire Slayer S:01 Ep:07

“So many body parts, so few bullets. Let’s begin with the kneecaps. No fun dancing without them.” – Darla

So this week it’s an episode I wasn’t looking forward to having to revisit as part of this ongoing series of episode reviews. For this is the episode which made the girls swoon and the guys wondering what else was on…yes it’s time for the first Angel-centric episode of the series as we finally find out the truth about Angel, who until point in the series has just been playing the role of the mysterious stranger, helping out Buffy with advice and generally being aloof as to his real interest in her slaying activities.

Ok just in case you’ve not seen the episode already, let’s just start by warning that spoilers lie ahead.

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:01 Ep:06

Episode title: The Pack

Original air date: April 7, 1997

“I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to Scully me. There is something supernatural at work here. Get your books! Look stuff up!” – Buffy

This week it’s another vampire free episode and that’s completely, there’s not even a background vampire in sight. Instead Buffy has to deal with a case of animal possession, when Xander and several of his fellow students are possessed by a hyena spirit.

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:01 Ep:05

Episode title: Never Kill A Boy On The First Date

Original air date: March 31, 1997

“All right, I’ll just drop in my time machine, go back to the twelfth century, and ask the vampire to postpone their ancient prophecy for a few days while you take in dinner and a show.”

If there could be a moment when the show writers finally cracked the secret to writing the show it would be with this episode as here the show certainly seems to find its groove as the blend between humour and horror is found. Plot wise it’s equally important as Buffy continues to try and balance her slaying duties and having a normal high school life in particular landing a date with Owen. The Master meanwhile searches for a powerful vampire known as “The Anointed One”. Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:01 Ep:05

Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:01 Ep:04

Episode title: Teacher’s Pet

Original air date: January 24, 1998

“No, you’ll just give me a cryptic warning about some exciting new catastrophe, and then disappear into the night. Right?” – Buffy

Am I wrong in thinking that this show has always been at its strongest when it ironically doesn’t feature vampires? I know a controversial opinion especially when vampires are currently riding high in the fantasy charts alongside cowboy’s, firemen and medieval stable boy (you know depending on what works for you) meaning that they are always treated with way more fanfare than I felt they deserved. Still you only have to look at some of the best episodes of the series to realise that a large quantity only featured vampires as a background threat if at all. I guess the fact that the show never limited itself to just vampires is where it strength lied and again we get another week free of the fanged menace as well as one of the first stories to put one of the group other than Buffy as the lead as here we get a Xander-centric story.

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