7 Harsh Realities Of Buffy’s First Episode: Rewatch 29 Years Later

Often considered a landmark fantasy series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains enjoyable even today, though revisiting its first episode reveals some aspects that haven’t aged well. Created by Joss Whedon, the show debuted on The WB in 1997 and continued for seven seasons, concluding in 2003.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer centers around Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is part of a long line of young women chosen to fight vampires, demons, and other evil creatures. The show begins as Buffy moves to Sunnydale and meets her mentor, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), as well as her friends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon).

Thanks to her friends, Buffy manages her responsibilities as the Slayer and all the challenges that come with it. Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains a truly exceptional TV show, and the first episode successfully set the stage for its unique atmosphere and approach. However, revisiting it 29 years later reveals some aspects haven’t aged as well.

Sunnydale High School Should Have Been Closed Already

Buffy, a sixteen-year-old, starts the series having just relocated from Los Angeles to Sunnydale with her mom, Joyce. She was kicked out of her previous school because of problems stemming from her secret life as a Slayer. At Sunnydale High, it soon becomes apparent that something isn’t right with the school itself.

The very first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer features a teenage boy killed by a vampire and hidden in a gym locker at school. After the body is discovered, Cordelia casually mentions that gym class is canceled, but otherwise, life at Sunnydale High goes on as usual. It’s strange that the school didn’t close completely – they only canceled gym, seemingly because it was an inconvenience.

Strange and dangerous things are just starting to happen at Sunnydale High. Normally, the school would have shut down after even one of these incidents. Surprisingly, students and teachers seem to quickly forget about the disturbing events, but we’ll explore that more later.

Vampires Are Quick To Die

Throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy faces a variety of monsters, but vampires are consistently the biggest danger. The show quickly establishes what these vampires are like, showcasing how attractive, persuasive, and ultimately dangerous they can be. Fortunately, Buffy is always prepared to defeat them with a well-aimed wooden stake.

While staking is the classic way to kill a vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer enhanced the effect for dramatic purposes. In the show’s first episode, vampires don’t just die – they instantly turn to dust and vanish, creating a more visually striking scene.

Later in the series, the depiction of vampires briefly showing their skeletons before turning to dust was added to their death scenes. Although seemingly minor, this change is noticeable, especially compared to how they previously vanished instantly, and it’s even more apparent when watching the earlier episodes.

Xander Is Actually More Likable

Many fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer agree that Xander is the least likable of the core characters. He often acts entitled and immature, and while he presents himself as a “nice guy,” he’s frequently hypocritical, rude, struggles with rejection, and can be manipulative.

Xander’s personality in Buffy the Vampire Slayer doesn’t really grow or change much, and some might even argue he gets worse. However, revisiting the first episode reminded me that he wasn’t always seen as the frustrating character many remember.

From the very first episode, Xander displays the qualities he’s known for – his clumsiness, his attempts to get Buffy’s attention, and his sarcastic wit. However, he initially comes across as quite likable and easy to identify with. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when things started to change for Xander; his decline wasn’t a sudden event, but a slow process.

Angel’s Twist Is Subtly Set Up

The show Buffy the Vampire Slayer quickly introduces a potential love interest, but in a low-key way. Angel (David Boreanaz) appears in the very first episode, secretly following Buffy and giving her a protective necklace with a cross. Initially, Buffy assumes he’s a friend of her Watcher, Giles, because he seems so knowledgeable about vampires.

Okay, so from the very beginning, Angel arrives as this incredibly intriguing figure – handsome, charismatic, and clearly making an impression on Buffy. What’s really clever is how the show slowly builds the mystery. It wasn’t until the seventh episode that we find out he’s a vampire, but rewatching the pilot, you can see the hints were there all along. It’s a really subtle setup that pays off brilliantly.

When Angel tells Buffy he “doesn’t bite,” it initially seems like a typical vampire joke. But on a rewatch, the line takes on a deeper meaning. Because Angel has a human soul and doesn’t need to kill to survive, he’s being truthful – he really doesn’t bite people for food.

The Fight Scenes Are Much Simpler

A standout feature of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is its action. Throughout the show’s seven seasons, the fight choreography is excellent, and Buffy frequently takes on multiple enemies at once. However, the action sequences in the very first episode weren’t quite as polished as those that followed.

The fight scenes in the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer aren’t terrible, but they feel a bit clumsy, especially when you compare them to later episodes. The choreography isn’t as smooth, the movements are basic and slow down the action, and the actors don’t quite seem comfortable with the fighting – which is understandable, since it’s the beginning of the series.

Buffy’s lack of combat skills in the first episode is understandable because she hadn’t started her training yet. Giles becomes her teacher throughout the series, so the initial episode shows a Buffy who is still developing her abilities.

The Dialogue Feels Forced Sometimes

As a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I’ve always loved how people talked on that show. The dialogue is just so quick, funny, and full of sass – it even got its own nickname, ‘Buffy speak’! But if you go back and watch the very first episode, you can tell that distinctive style hadn’t quite fully developed yet. It’s still great, but it wasn’t the lightning-fast, witty back-and-forth that the show became famous for.

The dialogue in the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer includes all the key elements of the show, but it occasionally feels unnatural and the acting a little stiff. This is understandable, though, since it was the beginning of the series and the actors were still becoming familiar with Joss Whedon’s writing, their characters’ voices, and how to portray those personalities through conversation.

Giles Explains Sunnydale’s Biggest Problem

The first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is actually two parts long, and it’s in the second part that Giles reveals the main issue with Sunnydale. For years, the townspeople have experienced strange events, creatures, and disasters, but they don’t seem to remember any of it.

After the vampire attack at The Bronze, Giles observes to Buffy, Willow, and Xander that people tend to explain away things they can understand and simply ignore what they can’t. This pattern continues throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer; many significant events are quickly forgotten or downplayed, allowing life to return to normal.

Even though making the show wasn’t easy, the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still a thrilling way to meet Buffy and enter her world of vampires, demons, and other creatures. It successfully grabs your attention and makes you eager to see what happens next.

2026-03-12 16:12