Episode reviews from a first time watcher
POSTED BY: fredgiblet
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 07:40
VIEWED: 16323
PAGE 3 of 10
Episode 109: Puppet Show
Ah talent shows and ventriloquism can the smell of cheese get any stronger? I liked the thought of Principal Snyder torturing the kids by forcing them into the talent show, it immediately shows off his sadistic streak. The dummy was an interesting character, and it was funny that the dummy was the smarter of the duo, but that joke has played itself out before.
I thought it was interesting that Sid thought that Buffy was the demon, since she and the gang were quite obviously looking for the demon (and it would seem obvious to me that Buffy wasn't a new addition either). But the plot must be driven on regardless of logic. The ending scene was great "I don't get, is it avant-garde?".
A solid if not great episode.
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Episode 110: Nightmares
A head-trip of an episode. We start with an arachnid invasion of a classrom, a fun event to liven up any occasion. We proceed to see people get attacked, Buffy utterly bomb a test, Giles can't read. Everyone is forced to face their fears and some of them come of a little worse for wear.
It is interesting to see in the end how this was all brought about because a coach couldn't stand losing. A little heavy-handed but a pretty nice condemnation of the obsession with winning that some people have.
The plot was a little off, but for the head-trippiness, and the comedy of some of the fears (clowns, singing a song you don't know the words to), I say it's a pretty good episode.
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Episode 111: Out Of Sight...
Ah yes Cordelia, I can't bring myself to like Charisma or Cordelia, so the focus on Cordelia in this episode is a detriment.
I liked the idea, unpopular girl (who was made invisible by her popularity issues) seeks revenge. I liked the way Buffy has to rely on perception instead of raw power in the end fight. I liked the fact that Angel is taking a hand in the happenings instead of just giving cryptic warnings.
I don't like Cordelia.
A fairly good episode, but not great by any stretch.
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Episode 112: Prophecy Girl
In the intro, the whole thing with the Master going "Glory! Glory!" was slightly overdone (especially given the Masters personality up till now).
I thought is was harsh to have Xander rejected by both Buffy and Willow, but then he is the punching bag of the show. I thought the scene with Giles and Ms. Calendar was a little overdone with Apocalypse stuff (especially considering that we see a world where the Master rises later), but appropriately dramatic.
The Buffy dying thing was done very well IMHO, with her reaction to finding out about it and subsequent acceptance of her fate, the death (and the realization of what it meant) and resurrection. I didn't like how they telegraphed the ending though "oh hey, when Giles broke that table it made a HUGE pointy wooden thing, I wonder what's going to happen next". The Hellmouth turning out to be in the Library (where the gang spends most of their time) was a nice tough though.
I also liked the Angel/Xander interaction ("aren't you?"), but I'd like to see Xander lay off of Angel a little.
This ep does show one of the things that I I have been a little dissappointed in so far, the fights, I can understand a redshirt fight taking 10 or 15 seconds, but a boss fight should take a little longer (and be a little more damaging). But that's a nitpick coming from a hormonally challenged male so pay little attention.
A good ending to a mediocre season.
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Quote:
Originally posted by fredgiblet:
Episode 106: The Pack
A strangely fun episode. The whole "Evil Xander" thing was very well done. I liked the interaction between Xander and Willow (though it was painful to watch), the acting of the pack was very funny (though a little overdone). The death of Principal Flutie was unexpected and kinda gross. And last but not least, Xander's little talk with Giles at the end was great. The premise was a little weak but Nicholas Brendan (Xander) was great enough to lift the episode up.
A pretty good ep, but I've been too spoiled by later seasons to think it anything better than good.
this is definitely my favorite of all the first season, and one of my favorite Xander episodes.
I think the extreme preditory behavior of the 'pack' was necessary so that the eating of Principal Flutie seemed believable...
The dodge ball scene was actually my very favorite, when I was in school we always played dodge ball on rainy days and it was vicious... a real opportunity for the jocks to pound weaker students (including the girls) with impunity...
I really feel that they did a good job of presenting a number of broad metaphorical examples of High School being Hell...
which is actually a great set up for the more subtle complications of the the future seasons.
I'm introducing a friend to BtVS for the first time and at first I thought I should skip the first season and go straight to the good stuff, but then I realized that there was so much introduced and foreshadowed that it would be a shame to miss out on it.
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Quote:
Originally posted by embers:
I'm introducing a friend to BtVS for the first time and at first I thought I should skip the first season and go straight to the good stuff, but then I realized that there was so much introduced and foreshadowed that it would be a shame to miss out on it.
I don't disagree, but if your friend doesn't show much interest early on you might want to skim Season 1, I didn't really get into the show until season 2.
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Episode 201: When She Was Bad
Starts off slow, but the scene where "Giles" tries to kill Buffy was a shockingly sudden change of pace.
I would have thought that they would have buried the Master's bones deeper, but that's just me.
Buffy being a bitch was a new development, and one that was out of character and quite strange. Blowing off Angel (twice), the bump and grind with Xander, I mean when Cordelia is telling you to stop being a bitch...
Also I didn't really like the reason for it either, admittedly I've never been killed, but come on. After all, the Master is dead, she's alive (and still pretty too), move on.
A decent episode, but I'm really glad Buffy gets back to normal by 202.
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Episode 202: Some Assembly Required
The little talk that Buffy has with Angel to start the episode is pretty funny, to think that Xander can make Angel jealous. It was nice to see Angel making Buffy jealous later with Cordelia too.
I thought it great that Giles is finally getting a social life (sort of), and I must say he can choose the ladies.
As for the monster of the week, I thought that the story was kinda good, genius trying to make a girlfriend for his re-animated brother, but Darryl's acting was a little overdone and cheesy IMO.
Once again I feel compelled to express a dislike for Cordelia that goes deeper than the character, I've seen Charisma act better than this and I just have to wonder if it's the writing or directing that is at issue. But either way...
A solid though not great episode.
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Episode 203: School Hard
Principal Snyder is an ass, I hope he gets what's coming to him eventually.
Of course no discussion of this episode could be complete without mentioning that SPIKE HAS ARRIVED!! WHOO HOO!!! Spike is funny, and a badass (at least until his appearance in Season 3), and is a much better villan than the Anointed One (who had potential that was wasted by poor acting and an abundance of insignificant lines), I don't really mind his bumping off the Anointed One, but I thought it was a waste of the half-hour or so of screen time he's (Anointed One) taken up.
Drusilla is cool in her own spaceily evil way, but still not as cool as Spike.
We find out a little about Angel in this ep, not only does he know Spike, but Spike knows Angel well enough to see through Angel's ruse. Interesting developments are ahead.
I thought it was interesting how no one seemed to notice that Buffy took care of the "Gang members on PCP" seemingly by herself. I would think that that would warrant a little bit of attention from the survivors, but then I don't live in wierdness central.
One of the more interesting developments is that the local officials seem to know more than they are letting on (foreshadowing for Season 3's villan?).
A great ep that kicks starts Season 2 (finally).
P.S. I've stopped watching new eps (3 left to go in Season 3) until I catch up, since I'd like my reviews to be made after a fresh watching without knowing whats going on 2 seasons ahead of time.
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Episode 204: Inca Mummy Girl
I've met a lot of retarded people in my time, none of them would hang around in a mueseum longer than they had to. I just don't see redshirt guy hanging out there, but the plot must move on.
Poor Xander, he has such crappy taste in women, first a giant mantis, now a ancient mummy. Can't the guy ever get a break? There is a moral to Xander's story people: DATE THE NERDS! It was nice that this time the person Xander fell for actually did care about him, but all the same.
We meet Oz for the first time, though we receive little indication of his later importance to the gang. Is it just me or does Seth Green start out looking vampirically pale? It's nice to see that someone normal (or at least as normal as Oz gets) is interested in Willow.
The story was decent and I'm glad they made the mummy more than just a shambling monstrosity.
A decent episode, higher marks for people who really like Xander (just because I identify doesn't mean I have a particular fondness).
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