Where do I start? The 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' edition
Published: 12/20/2012 7:00 AM
Last Modified: 12/19/2012 8:09 PM
There are two kinds of nerds in the world: those who love Joss Whedon and appreciate everything he does, and those who’ve never seen anything from the writer-director.
Whedon’s masterpiece “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” helped him break out into pop culture back when bangs were big and Luke Perry was the epitome of hotness. The movie starring Perry and Kristy Swanson gave way to the TV show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular teen superhero, and magic was made. The series ran from 1997 to 2003 on the WB and UPN, and in 2007 Whedon and Co. brought the slayer back for an eighth season in comic book form.
This week marks the release of what you could call episode two of season nine, and in honor of the success of the franchise across the two media, I want to offer newbies some help becoming fans of one of the best superheros of all time.
My list is chronological, as so much of what makes this show great are the story and character arcs. And, as great as the latter seasons are, I stop my list at season four, hoping you’ll be hooked enough to delve into TV seasons 5-7 (and the graphic novels for seasons 8 and 9) on your own.
S1E1/2: “Welcome to the Hellmouth”/"The Harvest"
I have to recommend new viewers start from the top. Whedon introduces the series’ main characters brilliantly and sets up the campy comedic tone for which the show will become known. You’ll meet the four founding members of the “BtVS” Scooby gang and enjoy some giggles and chills along the way.
A bit of fun: Cordelia the cool gives new-girl Buffy an in-or-out test. The correct answer to the question “James Spader?” is apparently: “He needs to call me.”
S1E7: “Angel”
David Boreanaz may seem like just a hunky, mysterious love interest, but the truth about the poof comes out in this episode.
S2E3: “School Hard”
Forget about old fruit-punch mouth… Spike and Drusilla, now that’s the kind of villain that keeps viewers interested. Spike’s love for his sire is just as strong as his desire to hunt and kill slayers, but there’s a lot more to this bleach-blond hottie than bloodlust.
A bit of fun: Buffy’s mom proves to be a bamf when it comes to protecting her daughter. She knocks Spike in the melon with an ax, and he retreats with a curse of “Women!”
S2E13/14: “Surprise”/”Innocence”
There are several two-parters in this series, but this is the best. Lots of story arc stuff is crammed into these two episodes in which Buffy is forced to grow a little older and wiser in a hurry. In “Innocence,” viewers get to see another side of Angel — and it’s finally a side that doesn’t annoy me.
A bit of fun: Buffy is and always will be staunchly anti-gun, but in this episode, it’s rocket launcher for the win!
S3E6: “Band Candy”
By now, we’ve gotten to know Giles and Joyce as responsible parental figures in Buffy’s life ... but enter Giles’ oldest frenemy Ethan Rayne, and viewers get to see what happens when the adults act like teenagers. Sure, there’s mayhem, but plenty of hilarity, too. There is nothing about this episode that isn’t awesome.
A bit of fun: I fall even more in love with Giles when he busts out his vinyl collection and jams out to Cream's “Tales of Brave Ulysses."
S3E16: “Doppelgangland”
To understand this episode, you may want to check out S3E9 “The Wish.” In an alternate universe (just go with it), The Master was never killed and most of the Sunnydale crew are dead or turned. Whedon loved the Vamp Willow character so much, he wrote “Doppelgangland” to bring her back after “The Wish.” Aly Hannigan (with help from three body doubles) does great work in this brilliant episode that smacks of fanfic in the best way possible.
A bit of fun: A bit of sexy foreshadowing in which Vamp Willow hits on pink fuzzy Willow gives all the fanboys their jollies.
S4E10: “Hush”
What other series could create such brilliance while leaving its characters unable to speak during more than 75 percent of the episode? A fantastic score from Christophe Beck helps, but (as with nearly all the Whedon-written-and-directed episodes) the genius is in the storytelling. This episode also features one of the creepiest villains in the entire series: The Gentlemen.
A bit of fun: Giles holds a Scooby meeting during which he uses an overhead projector to prep the team for its typical research-then-battle strategy to defeat The Gentlemen. Here’s the presentation, but to enjoy the hilarity in full, you must watch the episode.
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Written by
Anna Codutti
Scene Writer
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