I’ll get square eyes

God, I’m so mentally challenged!

- Buffy Summers

It is one hell of a decision to start your show with a 2 parter.

Little toesucker story continues with him missing with Darla and Luke – Willow and Xander get briefed on the vampire reality of the world, without breaking a sweat.

How can a ditz like Xander say, all so matter-of-fact “there is an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town”. What did he do before Buffy arrived to know that? Dare we ask…

The Master creeps me. The make up effects on this show are amazing at times (some vamping moments deserve a chuckle as well!). The Master was very much achieved, the mouth and teeth… ick. When’s the Annoying One coming up?

A piece of trivia that real movie and tv buffs enjoy is THE high school. Buffy’s High School is  90210, She’s All That, Thirteen, Bring it On… I have toyed with the idea of actually going there if I ever visit La la land. Wouldn’t it be cool to get your pic taken at those stairs, come on!

As I mentioned before, Xander is the one character that I believe has the best evolution while remaining the same. For example, him showing up when Buffy is looking for Jesse toesucker and he shows up. She pushes him away (see every single episode from now to the end of the series for repetition), he’s always there.

On a very last note – no single image can describe Buffy the Vampire Slayer as that blue shaded scene after she kicks ass in the Bronze  after the lock in.

- Know your losers

- Cordelia Chase

Sometimes I wonder what on Earth attracted me to Buffy.

I love the premise of this episode. The petite blonde being scared of sneaking into school at night with her crush because… she’s a killer vampire! Run!!! (let me just say I only like Darla in this episode)

The character design for the first season of Buffy was so cliché it makes you cringe. Buffy, big blonde puffy hair, wonderbra, in miniskirt wide belt and knee high boots, just your average tease. Dumb as a brick. Xander, clumsy, overacting in silliness to hide his low self esteem. Willow, white tights, curtain dress, centre parting. Nuff said. Cordelia, one of those characters that look 30, are 30 and as much as they try, can’t look 16 (see Dylan McKay and Judd Nelson circa Breakfast Club).

sidenote – Willow/Xander’s first conversation referring to the “shiny nickel”. Watch “The Real Me” (season 5)

It’s strange how the very first episode contains some of the most memorable quotes of the whole series “don’t you have an elsewhere to be” “what’s the stitch” “could you vague that up for me”, “it’s carbon dated” etc. I get the feeling that from moment numero uno, Whedon and his team of writers set for an inner outcast achievement. Buffy is a cult series, yet a tremendously one at that.

That first encounter between Buffy and Angel has a bite that few first encounters have. Minus that shiny coat he’s wearing. Anyway, one thing that does not apply is the “I thought you’d be taller, stronger” chat. Later on we learn Angel has been watching over Buffy since she became a slayer, so it’s one of those things. That cross he gives her looks fit for BA Baracus as well, jeez. The first and second season of Buffy display the best example of a man at his prime. Never was David Boreanaz as drop dead gorgeous as in these 2 years. My mother is attracted to him in Bones. Just as wrong as me being attracted to Hugh Laurie in House.

While Welcome to the Hellmouth gives us a pretty good insight into the Buffyverse, and we had to learn to love the characters, I wish they had taken Jesse out of the picture earlier, or not introduced him at all. I mean, as a toesucker in Six Feet Under he was SO good I wish they had studied him further. In here, best to leave him. Willow’s total helpless moment with Darla and her minion made me shake to the core, but the one who went to town on this ep is Xander. Willow, Buffy, Angel… even Darla change throughout the series. Xander started like he ended, same personality, evolving towards maturity but keeping the same emotion.