Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Complete 1st Season (DVD)

"Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" is, quite simply, the only show of its kind and calibur. It follows the likeable 16-year-old Buffy Summers who recently found out that she is destined to fight the forces of darkness, mainly vampires, but other demons as well. Upon arrival at her new high school, she meets the cute but stuck-up cheerleader Cordelia, the witty and overly self-involved girl-chaser Xander, a sweet nerd named Willow, and her new watcher, the librarian Giles.

In this the first season, the main villain is an uberly powerful vampire called the Master. After many thwarted attempts, the Master rises in the season finale, "Prophecy Girl." Buffy kills him... but only after a few witty quips and phrases.

Overall, season one is probably the strongest in story and character, despite being the shortest. Its heros are all fun to watch and its villains are wonderfully hateable (that's not a word). And (not a pro or con), due to its cinematic style, it doesn't seem like a TV show, but more of a twelve-part epic film.

I own seasons 1-3 of Buffy, because I feel that they were the "standout" seasons. Season 2 had the most emotional depth, with the Angel and Buffy love angle, while season 3 had the most complexity in its characters and in its story, with the scoobies (main characters) stepping into their last stage of high school.


Season 4 turned me off, only because certain storylines and characters seemed superfluous (Riley).

However, in season 5, Joss Whedon returned to form and created some of the best episodes of the series, including "the Body" (which has been hailed as the most realistic death in a tv show..EVER), and "the gift" (which seems a more fitting series finale than the one actually given in season 7).

It's easy enough to see why season 6 and 7 failed. Season 6 was simply too dark for Buffy fans to cling on to. Sure, there were stand out episodes ("once more with feeling"), but there were a LOT of clunkers ("Doublemeat Palace").


As for Season 7, it simply had no focus. Not only that, but the actors just didn't seem to be themselves. Instead, they appeared to be shadows of their former selves. Anyone who wasn't Buffy of Spike, was given very little screen time and the addition of Kennedy, Willow's new lesbian lover, was beyond irritating and messed up Willow's character arc. Well...these are my thoughts, just thought i'd get them out in the open