Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 302 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 302 Ratings

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Becoming: Part 2

Now Playing: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Becoming: Part 2

Season Details & Credits

WB | The WB | Season Premiere Date: March 10, 1997

Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Green, Alyson Hannigan

Summary: 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.
Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Buffy Summers, The Chosen One, the one girl in all the world with the strength and skill to fight the vampires. With the help of her close friends, Willow (AlysonIn 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.
Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Buffy Summers, The Chosen One, the one girl in all the world with the strength and skill to fight the vampires. With the help of her close friends, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and her Watcher Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), she balances slaying, family, friendships, and relationships.
For five years Buffy slayed vampires on the WB; then for her last two seasons she went to UPN.
Theme music by Nerf Herder.… Expand

Creator: Joss Whedon

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Suspense, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E12. Prophecy Girl
Air Date: June 2, 1997
tbd
S1:E12. Prophecy Girl
Air Date: June 2, 1997
tbd
S1:E11. Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Air Date: May 19, 1997

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

John Levesque

Feb 25, 2013

Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Buffy to perfection in this witty, intelligent and thoroughly entertaining series based loosely on the 1992 film, and if she isn't the next closet-door poster queen - or the Internet-shrine equivalent - I'll be stunned. [10 Mar 1997, p.C1]

Matt Roush

Feb 25, 2013

The winsome Sarah Michelle Gellar is a huge improvement over bubblehead Kristy Swanson as the new Buffy, moving with her mom to the "one-Starbucks town" of Sunnydale, Calif. She's cute and pert but nobody's fool. [10 Mar 1997, p.3D]

Steve Johnson

Feb 25, 2013

The performances are generally strong, but the devilishly clever, culturally hyper-attuned dialogue (by executive producer Josh Whedon, who wrote the original and worked on "Speed" and "Toy Story") is what makes this stand out. [10 Mar 1997, p.C8]

Frederic M. Biddle

Feb 25, 2013

The only objection to this well-made comedy is overfamiliarity. [10 Mar 1997, p.C10]

David Okamoto

Feb 25, 2013

Think of it as My So-Called Afterlife or Nancy Drew Blood: Despite some lapses into acute self-awareness, Buffy is a biting, stylish high-school drama masquerading as a vampire-movie spinoff and cleverly combining the dark humor of Heathers, the homeroom angst of Beverly Hills, 90210 and the goofy, mystery-solving camaraderie of Scooby Doo, Where Are You? [10 Mar 1997, p.15A]

David Bianculli

Feb 25, 2013

For fans of youth shows, occult shows and action shows, this new, weekly Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the right program at the right time. [10 Mar 1997, p.70]

Hal Boedeker

Feb 25, 2013

The results are mighty ragged in the series opener. The show takes strange shifts in tone, the dialogue isn't campy enough, and the violence grows tiresome. Read full review

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User Score

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8.2

User Reviews

SirIsaacBrock

Oct 8, 2017

Great show to binge watch for Halloween! Interesting villains and heroes. Glad it ended before it became tired and boring like some shows still going.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ayamz

Dec 5, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, and Alyson Hannigan, has many developments throughout the series. The special effects and cinematography are dramatically improved throughout the 7 seasons, and the relationships between characters is always developing. The small, blonde, 16-year old vampire slayer, Buffy Summers, moves to small-town Sunnydale, CA after burning down her old high school gym in Los Angeles. Unknown to her is that Sunnydale is located on a Hellmouth, one of the only gateways to Hell on Earth’s surface. Throughout the series, Buffy and her “Scooby Gang”, primarily made up of her best friend, who becomes a powerful witch as the series progresses, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), the boy who had a crush on her in the beginning of the series, Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and Sunnydale High School’s librarian, who is also Buffy’s watcher, a mentor for vampire slayers, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), fight against the evil beings that are drawn to Sunnydale by the Hellmouth.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer puts a new spin on “teen drama”. On top of facing the forces of darkness, they also have to face the forces of adolescence like relationships and high school. The show is well-balanced in showing the “Scoobies” trying to balance fighting vampires and demons, as well as different aspects of high school life. In the first episode of the series, Buffy tries to leave school to look around a crypt she fought vampires at the previous night. As she is about to walk out of the school gate, Principal Flutie (Ken Lerner) tells her she can’t leave school grounds. Despite this regular high school setback, she jump the gate when he leaves and carries on with her plan.
There are many times in the series where the relationship of the “Scoobies” is the only thing that can defeat the evil they’re facing. In the season 5 finale, “The Gift”, Buffy sacrifices herself to save her younger sister, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) in order to close a portal that will lead to the apocalypse. In the beginning of season 6, Willow and Xander make attempts at resurrecting Buffy, based on the belief that she is suffering in hell. They unexpectedly succeed in bringing her back, although Buffy reveals in the 7th episode of season 6, “Once More, with Feeling” that she was actually in Heaven after she died. Her friends are distraught by this development, and Buffy works through the emotions of being dragged out of Heaven, which she comes to terms with by the end of season 6. Possibly the most monumental example in the importance of the characters’ relationships is when Willow becomes overtaken with dark magic after the death of her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson) in season 6 episode 19 “Seeing Red”. When she becomes intent on destroying the world in order to end everyone’s suffering, she is too strong for even Buffy to stop. The one thing that stops her from carrying out her plan is Xander. He reminds her of their first day of kindergarten, when she cried after breaking a yellow crayon, and tells her that he loves that Willow, as well as the dark magic Willow who wants to destroy the planet. After repeatedly telling her he loves her as she uses her magic to attempt to stop him, she eventually falls into his arms, sobbing, and reverts back to her normal self.

Although the special effects in the start of the series, that are bad to society’s movie standards today, may be the reason viewers are off-put by the show and makes them feel unable to watch on, they do get better. Like most things, this series only gets better with time. As the seasons go on, many aspects that add to the viewing experience are improved, such as the makeup and effects done on the vampires and demons to make them look more realistic. With there being fight scenes to some extent in every episode, it is also important to mention that the fight choreography improves as well, eventually seeming to come across as real, unchoreographed fights. The series develops in many ways as it goes on, showing how deserving it was to carry on for seven seasons.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ComandanteCobra

Jan 12, 2022

Great start, it gets even better in season 2.
It was relevant in his time and does stand well the test of time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

drlowdon

Aug 11, 2013

The majority of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would likely tell you that the show’s first season is its weakest and it’s hard to argue with that. Many of the elements that would make Buffy such a fantastic show in later seasons, such as its clever dialogue and ability to take plots in anThe majority of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would likely tell you that the show’s first season is its weakest and it’s hard to argue with that. Many of the elements that would make Buffy such a fantastic show in later seasons, such as its clever dialogue and ability to take plots in an unexpected directions, can be seen on occasions but this was very much a show still finding its feet. Several of the twelve episodes on offer here are simply ‘Monster of the Week’ focused and none of them could be considered amongst the series very best. To be honest some could even be described as extremely flawed with poor productions values and cheesy (not in a good way) plots that don’t hold up well when viewed today.

This is still worth a watch to see where it all began but there was much better to come.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

Rox22

Mar 17, 2013

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite show, and I've watched every episode of every season at least 10 times. So here are my thoughts to Season 1: Season 1 acts as a decent start to the show doing a great job of introducing us to the main cast. The effects, for the most part, were a bitBuffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite show, and I've watched every episode of every season at least 10 times. So here are my thoughts to Season 1: Season 1 acts as a decent start to the show doing a great job of introducing us to the main cast. The effects, for the most part, were a bit cheap at times but for the first season, and when it came out, this was forgivable. Sarah is highly believable as Buffy and I highly doubt anyone else could have played her as well (even though she looks nothing like Kristy Swanson from the movie that the series followed.) Alyson Hannigan does a great job with Willow, to the point that I actually had a huge crush on the character (not the actress.) She's incredibly sweet, but also has such great potential. Nicholas Brendon was initially perceived as the comic relief, but his character developed some real depth and there was allot more to him. Anthony Head just came across as a bit of a cliche and a little out of place in the first season, but seamed to settle into his role in later episodes. Overall: Not the best season, but a great start none the less.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

heromoder

Apr 27, 2015

A weak beginning to what would become a rather brilliant show. I think the story ideas just weren't big enough to elicit any real scares, and the villain was rather weak, but the acting and chemistry between the actors really elevates this. Not my favourite season, but a promising start.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

jnbayridge2288

Apr 13, 2019

Stupid plotline, boring show. Don't know why people give this show a high rating.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

85

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 2002
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: October 2, 2001
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2000
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: October 5, 1999
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 1998
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 15, 1997
Season 1

80
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 10, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E12. Prophecy Girl
  Air Date: June 2, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E12. Prophecy Girl
  Air Date: June 2, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E11. Out of Mind, Out of Sight
  Air Date: May 19, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E11. Out of Mind, Out of Sight
  Air Date: May 19, 1997
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  S1:E10. Nightmares
  Air Date: May 12, 1997
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  S1:E10. Nightmares
  Air Date: May 12, 1997
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  S1:E9. The Puppet Show
  Air Date: May 5, 1997
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  S1:E9. The Puppet Show
  Air Date: May 5, 1997
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  S1:E8. I Robot, You Jane
  Air Date: April 28, 1997
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  S1:E8. I Robot, You Jane
  Air Date: April 28, 1997
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  S1:E7. Angel
  Air Date: April 14, 1997
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  S1:E7. Angel
  Air Date: April 14, 1997
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  S1:E6. The Pack
  Air Date: April 7, 1997
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  S1:E6. The Pack
  Air Date: April 7, 1997
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  S1:E5. Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
  Air Date: March 31, 1997
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  S1:E5. Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
  Air Date: March 31, 1997
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  S1:E4. Teacher's Pet
  Air Date: March 24, 1997
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  S1:E4. Teacher's Pet
  Air Date: March 24, 1997
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  S1:E3. Witch
  Air Date: March 17, 1997
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  S1:E3. Witch
  Air Date: March 17, 1997
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  S1:E2. The Harvest (2)
  Air Date: March 10, 1997
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  S1:E2. The Harvest (2)
  Air Date: March 10, 1997
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  S1:E1. Welcome to the Hellmouth (1)
  Air Date: March 10, 1997
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  S1:E1. Welcome to the Hellmouth (1)
  Air Date: March 10, 1997
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  S1:E0. Unaired Pilot
  Air Date: unknown
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  S1:E0. Unaired Pilot
  Air Date: unknown