Product: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Witch - Never Kill A Boy On The First Date [VHS] (1997)
Rating: 3.0
Sets the direction for the show
These are two season 1 episodes which early on sets out the intentionof the show's creator, Joss Whedon. Even though the most commonadversary faced is vampires and each series has an overall theme thatis developed during the series in various episodes and a supervillainto be defeated by the end; he also wanted episodes that could standalone and be a totally self contained story.Witch (Season 1 episode3): Those who have seen the feature film would remember Buffy was acheerleader. In this episode, she decides to give it another go andtry out for the team in her new school. However, it becomes veryquickly apparent that someone has it in for those trying out as theystart to be struck blind, dumb and spontaneously combust. It's a veryexciting episode and with a very good twist just everyone thinksthey've worked it all out and quite an action packed finale in a raceagainst the clock. This is a hallmark of the show, many episodes havesurprises that come completely out of nowhere. Also, as part of theepisode, the recurring characters are further developed.... This is another attraction of the show,which progressively develops the characters over the course of severalseries even in a self contained episode like this one.Never Kill aBoy on the First Date (Season 1 episode 5): This is an episode whichties into the overall theme of the series, that of Buffy's battle withThe Master. However, it can be watched as a self-contained episode inits own right, not too much information is required. It alsohighlights another theme of the show, that of Buffy having to dealwith the supernatural on the one hand and growing up, school anddating on the other and the difficulty of trying to keep the twoseparate.In this episode, Giles has a warning of a vampirewarrior's coming that can help The Master defeat Buffy and they haveto try and stop him. ....A good episode, only let down by the poor ending,....Overall, two good episodes but there is actually anepisode in between these two that was televised called "Teacher'sPet". .... ...good introduction to the show.