The Dark Horse Comic, Buffy Season 10 was released earlier in March, and that's as good of a reason as any to look back at the start of the heroine's journey. (Also note that James Marsters and Nicholas Brendon are also a part of the Buffy Season 10 team, as writers. Ohmygodsoamazingwhat!)
During its run on television, and after, Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired the creation of philosophical books, college courses, Joss Whedon's equally profound and fun spin-off series Angel, and countless Buffy-like fictional characters. Buffy herself became an icon of epic proportions. The show also changed the way people viewed television – not just in the experience of watching it, but how it was considered as a medium for telling powerful stories.
Season One is where it all began (well, actually ... it all began with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, but I digress) and it's interesting to see how some of the other seasons were foreshadowed in those first episodes, even though much was changed over the course of time. Looking back, one can also marvel at the grand scheme of things, as well as the organic evolution of the characters and their relationships with one another.
Rather than give summaries of the episodes, here are a few notes and thoughts on the first half of the first half of Season One (Though it will be as spoiler free as possible … Warning! Possible Spoilers!):
S1, E1/S1, E2: “Welcome to the Hellmouth” and “The Harvest”
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is the new girl at Sunndydale High school, with new girl problems. But, alas, she still has a job to do.
When Buffy meets Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) it's difficult not to think about how their relationship progressed, from his simply being her Watcher to him being more of a father to her than her own ever cared to be. And Willow's (Alyson Hannigan's) wide-eyed wonderment of Giles and his vast knowledge brings to mind how things played out between them in Season Six. Talk about an epic smackdown (more on that, and Giles, later).
When Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) meet for the first time, you can carve the sexual tension with a knife…or a Slayer Scythe. Of course, the scene played up his mysteriousness and even hinted at what fans soon learned was just below the surface. Angel's change during the two shows was beautifully subtle, brutal, and at times hilarious. “Oh, Mandy! Well you came, and you gave without taking ...”
The introduction of Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) brings to mind her evolution as a character, not just over the course of the show, but on Angel as well. Cordy 1.0 is vastly different from the woman she became during Angel– someone who would learn to adore weapons and fighting to save her friends, rather than adoring shiny pieces of jewelry and shopping (though she never lost her sense of style). Not to mention other ways she evolved.
Willow's quip at the end of “The Harvest” about Buffy maybe being able to “blow something up” on a future adventure is even funnier, considering how things turned out. And, of course, the scene also brings to mind one of the best scenes at the end of Season Seven. “The Earth is [definitely] doomed.”
S1, E3: “Witch”
Amy! Poor, innocent, soon-to-be-evil Amy (Elizabeth Anne Allen). She never stood a chance. Much like she never had a chance at being a cheerleader. With a mother like hers, who needs enemies?
Despite the episode being pretty heavy on Amy, it's difficult to say that much of the future situations and relationships (especially the pivotal one she would have with Willow) were really foreshadowed. Except for the fact that during the show she eventually turned into her mother, so to speak.
However, it's also interesting to note that this episode features a bit of foreshadowing about Spike (James Marsters), with Xander's (Nicholas Brendon's) line about railroad spikes. In contrast, Spike's change was the complete opposite of Amy's, and even more drastic. From “Big Bad” to admirable self-sacrifice for the woman he loves to selfless fighter of the good fight. As a side note, one (of many) of my absolute favorite scenes in all of the Buffyverse occurs in S7, E2: “Beneath You”. “Can we rest now? Buffy? Can we rest?”
Overall, though, this episode really shows the struggles of trying to live up to others' expectations, something that is still a central theme in Buffy's life, in the comics.
Speaking of the comics, did I mention that Buffy Season 10 is on shelves now? I did? Okay, good.
Stay tuned for more.
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Nancy O. Greene started writing at the age of nine. Her short story collection, Portraits in the Dark, received a brief mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2007. Other works have appeared or will appear in ChiZine; Lovecraft eZine; Cemetery Dance; Tales of Blood and Roses; Haunted: 11 Tales of Ghostly Horror; Shroud Publishing's The Terror at Miskatonic Falls; Dark Recesses; Flames Rising; Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore! and others. She has a BA in Cinematic Arts (Critical Studies) and a minor in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Southern California, and is a former Fellow of Film Independent's Project: Involve.