Tags
1990's, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar
After the success of my Lost reviews, I decided to turn my attentions to another one of my favourite TV shows. This time it is the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Created by Joss Whedon, Buffy went on to become a cult hit with its mix of humour, horror and action. Even now, Buffy ranks as one of the top TV shows I’ve ever seen, it just never seems to get old and I always find something new when I watch it again. I hope these reviews go down well with everyone. Be warned, spoilers will follow in this review.
Buffy Summers(Sarah Michelle Gellar) just wants to be a normal teenager. Kicked out of her old school in Los Angeles, she moves to the Californian town of Sunnydale to make a fresh start. There’s just one major hitch with Buffy, she is the Slayer. According to the prophecy “In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.” Buffy is well aware of this and wants to escape it, but it just so happens that Sunnydale is located on the Hellmouth, which means that all things evil are drawn to it. Try as she might, there is no escaping the prophecy. With help from new friends, the goofy but lovable Xander Harris(Nicholas Brendon) and sweet and shy computer geek Willow Rosenberg(Alyson Hannigan), Buffy reluctantly chooses to accept her duty and take down the forces of evil that threaten Sunnydale, all while surviving the traumas and dramas of high school, mainly by popular fashion plate Cordelia(Charisma Carpenter). Also aiding Buffy is Giles(Anthony Stewart Head), the stuffy Watcher and school librarian who trains Buffy and keeps an eye on her. Adding to the confusion in her life is the mysterious figure of Angel(David Boreanaz), who she falls for but realises his dark secret. Witty lines and scary thrills follow as the strong and lethal Buffy fights against the dark forces of vampires and demons, headed this season by an ancient vampire known as the Master, who wants to rise from the underground and feed on humans. This leads to a kick ass showdown between him and Buffy.
Basing a TV show off a movie that didn’t do that well was risky business, but Joss Whedon pulls it off amazingly with Buffy. He has crafted relatable characters, menacing villains and kick ass action that would lead the show to reaching seven seasons. Praise should be given to the sparky dialogue that populates this season. Taking aim at high school conventions and life or death moments, Buffy will have you laughing as well as frightened in equally effective measure. The mixing of high school drama and supernatural horror is an acutely observed one that complement one another. I mean as many people say, high school can be horror in more ways than one. This is certainly the case for the gorgeous Buffy and pals. Also the supernatural forces that threaten Buffy are fun to watch, especially the creepy Master who sends shivers down the spine. I mean just listing some of the evils faced is enough to make you want to watch the show, such as savage students possessed by demonic hyenas, a demon who filters his way through the computer system and a seductive teacher who is actually a deadly Praying Mantis in disguise.
The acting in this show is definitely in need of praise. I can’t think of another actress to play Buffy except Sarah Michelle Gellar because of how great she is in the role. She encapsulates the sarcastic and self-assured persona of a teenage girl having to fight the forces of darkness whilst navigating her way through high school. Kick ass, sexy and feisty, she is an all out heroine who you really don’t want to mess with. Gellar also shows depths to Buffy, and the way in which she has to obey the prophecy but at the same time just wants to live a normal life which in her case seems to be intangible due to her circumstances. Nicholas Brendon adds goofy charm to the role of Xander, who is often bumbling his way into disaster whilst trying to attract Buffy’s attention. Alyson Hannigan provides warmth and humour as the clever Willow, whose computer skills and knowledge often come in very handy when finding out who the enemy is. In the role of Giles, Anthony Stewart Head exudes authority and stuffy conservatism all whilst trying to help Buffy survive. He really does have some excellent scenes in which he disagrees with Buffy’s tactics for taking out the enemy or commenting on her sarcasm towards him. Charisma Carpenter is great as the shallow Cordelia, who takes aim at Buffy and her friends but soon finds herself drawn to the group because of the strange occurrences in Sunnydale. David Boreanaz is effectively used as Angel, who becomes Buffy’s love interest. The twist of this romance is the fact that Angel is in fact a vampire, but also is cursed with a soul. This device is used well as we watch Buffy wrestle with her feelings for him, whilst knowing that he possesses great danger to others. This romance will later have a profound effect on the seasons after.
Buffy Season 1 may only be short, but it’s well worth the watch because of great performances, witty dialogue and chills a plenty. Watching this season again has got me super excited for season 2.
Writer Loves Movies said:
Great review Vinnieh. I love Buffy and agree with you that it’s one of the best TV shows of all time. The verbal sparring, the language, the character chemistry, it’s all top notch. You’ve encouraged me to get the DVDs out and watch it again!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, it’s one of those shows that never gets old.
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Paul Bowler said:
Awesome review! I think Buffy is a brilliant series as well. Right from the start it got everything just right, the characters are superb, and the stories were really exciting. About time I revisited these early episodes again 😀
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, I always love revisiting Buffy.
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lauren said:
I love going back and watching the show. In so many ways it shouldn’t work but it does! The cast is brilliant, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar. Buffy is such an iconic character. Great review!
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vinnieh said:
Agreed, such an iconic character.
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KittNoir said:
I still watch Buffy even now. Lost count how many times!
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vinnieh said:
Same here, can’t beat this show.
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Abbi said:
Awesome review. Love love love Buffy.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks Abbi.
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Thom Hickey said:
Thanks. Amazingly this really now is a TV classic. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox. (Where music classics abound).
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting on this post.
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sidekickreviews said:
I’m so excited you’re reviewing Buffy, that’s my fave show! So many great characters and I love the humour. Great review!
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vinnieh said:
Stay tuned, more Buffy reviews will follow in the near future.
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sonea scissorhands said:
I loved this show alot amongsst others which I once wrote about in my favourite tv shows list. Some of the scenes or episodes rather, were quite scary. Once episode in particular “Hush”. That was a very creepy watch and memorable.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, Hush is a classic episode.
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Russel DDK said:
I’ve heard so many amazing things about this show, but have never got around to seeing it. One of these days, when I have some time off from work, I’m definitely going to have myself a “Buffy” marathon.
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vinnieh said:
You should, it’s such an enjoyable show.
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Russel DDK said:
Will certainly do so, it’s right up there on my to-do list. 🙂
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Pingback: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 | vinnieh
Carl said:
This is fantastic! Nice post, I absolutely love this series. Did a retrospective of all seven myself awhile back if you fancy checking it out!
http://somefilmsandstuff.com/2013/02/24/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-retrospective-season-one-2/
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the positive comment, will check out your retrospective.
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returntothe80s said:
I loved Buffy! I noticed that at least Season 1 is free on Amazon Prime, so I plan on rewatching the series again.
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vinnieh said:
Great idea, thanks for the comment.
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emmakwall said:
Buffy never looked better than season 1 🙂 I call her ‘Bouncy Buffy’ in the earlier seasons, she looked so much more strained and older as time went on. She was such a teenager in the earlier ones!!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks Emma, she was such a gorgeous girl who you couldn’t take your eyes off, especially in those leather mini skirts.
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emmakwall said:
They were so short they were ridiculous!!! Hahaha.
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vinnieh said:
How she managed to fight demons in them was beyond me, but she looked so hot.
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emmakwall said:
I ALWAYS remember the episode where she fought Dracula, the real Dracula (when the big castle appeared in Sunnydale lol) and there was this ridiculous shot of her rolling round in these pink leather trousers and her bum was right on the camera for ages!
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vinnieh said:
That shot sure lingers long in the memory.
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emmakwall said:
You know what I mean!! I suppose you do love bums 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Haha, you know me so well.
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emmakwall said:
I do, I do!
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vinnieh said:
I guess I’m not exactly the most secret guy out here.
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emmakwall said:
And I’m not the most secret girl!
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vinnieh said:
True you did make me laugh earlier when we were discussing bums and you mentioned you boyfriend’s being hairy but peachy.
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emmakwall said:
Good! I like making you laugh 🙂
It’s more on the hairy side, but perfectly round! Ha ha ha (sorry bf if you ever read this!! Please don’t hate me!!! Lol)
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vinnieh said:
Nothing wrong with giving your bf credit for his attributes Emma.
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emmakwall said:
Lol 🙂
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vinnieh said:
If you got it flaunt it.
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alexraphael said:
Keeping to series 1, am loving the writing. One of my pet hets in TV shows/films is good looking characters who are not seen as attractive within the show. Having Xander fancying Buffy as well as others liking her at times too makes it wonderfully believable. The love er square, with Buffy, Xander, Willow and Angel is brilliant. And the episode of Nightmares is just superlative. Really imaginative. Seeing your biggest fears come to life, and seeing those of others, was such a fascinating insight into the characters. Cordelia’s biggest fear being unpopular was so shallow but believable.
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vinnieh said:
That’s what makes this show amazing, the writing and the subversion of genre tropes.
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Alex said:
Buffy has been and always will be my favorite show of all time. I even do like the movie (but prefer the TV show). Did you ever see the unaired version of the pilot that did NOT have Alyson Hannigan cast as Willow? Thankfully they chose NOT to go with that casting call. Also, did you know that SMG and Charisma Carpenter initially auditioned for each others’ roles? Lots of people auditioned for different roles that ended up being on the show in another form, and I cannot imagine those actors playing ANY other characters! Love love LOVE this show!
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vinnieh said:
I had heard about SMG auditioning for Cordelia and vice versa, really interesting. Thanks for checking this review out.
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jeromesdiary said:
I love buffy the vampire slayer, but I haven’t finished the whole series, I’m on season 6.
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vinnieh said:
Buffy rules, hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
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jeromesdiary said:
Thank you!
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jeromesdiary said:
hey, here are my favourite charmed demons☺️https://jeromesdiary.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/my-top-ten-favourite-charmed-demonsvillains/
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the link.
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