Mark here... this episode is called "Witch" and it establishes that there's another supernatural world out there that Buffy needs to fight. As Giles describes, Sunnydale (the town Buffy lives in) is a hotbed of supernatural mischief. It sits atop a Hellmouth, a sort of vortex of evil. So in this episode Buffy is looking to try out for the cheerleading squad as a way of maintaining a normal life. Of course, cheerleading is evil, so we know that can't end well... We're introduced to Amy, whose Mom is pushing her to make the squad. Turns out Mom is a witch casting spells to get Amy on the squad. The episode also serves to show us the role Buffy's friends will playing in fighting evil. Giles shows himself to be adept in understanding spells and ends up casting one to break the witch's.
Laurel here... I like this one. For one we really see how Willow is going to be a valuable aid for Buffy, in this one she makes a potion that verifies that Amy is a witch...You assume it's Amy's mom casting spells and causing bad things to happen to cheerleaders who stand in between Amy and making the squad, then Willow proves it is Amy herself, then it tuns out AMY IS HER MOM because her witchy mom thought she was wasting her youth and made her switch bodies. Good twist actually.
Quotes of note:
Giles saying "Pardon Me for finding the glass half full"...it was funny when we heard it...
Saturday, August 4, 2012
The Harvest
Mark here... this episode, "The Harvest" is a continuation of the last, basically a two-part pilot. I'd like to note the fun theme song here. Good tv shows have a theme song that makes you look forward to what's coming, and the rockin' totally 90s theme here fits the bill. This episode's not quite as fun as the last but serves to lay some groundwork. For one, the school library serves as team headquarters for Buffy and her friends. Which brings to another, Buffy's friends are in on her being the Slayer from the beginning and by the end of the episode, so is school bitch Cordelia. The premise of the episode is Buffy preventing Head vampire "The Master" who's trapped in another dimension, from being able to enter ours. The character stuff is way more relevant...Cordelia making fun of Willow while in computer class, then asking how to finish her assgnment. Willow responds, "hit Deliver"...meaning Delete.
Laurel here...I continue to be surprised/impressed by how the characters who I know from later are introduced in these early episodes. They all acknowledge the importance of Buffy's mission (even if she doesn't) and are all down with keeping her secret. The only one who has been introduced so far that we dont know about yet is angel, who seems to understand about buffy's role as the slayer and it is unclear to us at this point what his role is...but the sexual tension between him and Buffy is already building...
As a side note it is interesting to me how many actors playing vampires on this show I have met as extras working on commercials. For those of you who don't know, I make my living as a teamster/set dresser on tv commericals and it is nice to see so many extras that I have worked with on commercials being cast as principal (vampires) in this early stage of the show. It means way more money for them as working actors, right on!
Quotes of note this episode...
Cordelia to Willow: "Who gave you permission to exist?"
Cordeila to her shitty friends regarding not dating high school guys: "It's like when I go shopping, I have to have the most expensive thing, not because it's more expensive, but because it costs more."
I love what a bitch she is.
Laurel here...I continue to be surprised/impressed by how the characters who I know from later are introduced in these early episodes. They all acknowledge the importance of Buffy's mission (even if she doesn't) and are all down with keeping her secret. The only one who has been introduced so far that we dont know about yet is angel, who seems to understand about buffy's role as the slayer and it is unclear to us at this point what his role is...but the sexual tension between him and Buffy is already building...
As a side note it is interesting to me how many actors playing vampires on this show I have met as extras working on commercials. For those of you who don't know, I make my living as a teamster/set dresser on tv commericals and it is nice to see so many extras that I have worked with on commercials being cast as principal (vampires) in this early stage of the show. It means way more money for them as working actors, right on!
Quotes of note this episode...
Cordelia to Willow: "Who gave you permission to exist?"
Cordeila to her shitty friends regarding not dating high school guys: "It's like when I go shopping, I have to have the most expensive thing, not because it's more expensive, but because it costs more."
I love what a bitch she is.
BUFFY!
Mark here...Laurel and I are switching gears again and watching Season 1 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I've made us Steak with Bernaise, French Fries and a Beet Salad, to keep with a "blood" theme. This first episode is called, "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and I was surprised at how entertaining this show is right out of the gate. We're introduced to Buffy who has just moved to town after being involved with burning the school gym down at her previous school. She's also a Slayer, the one girl in all the world who is given extra abilities to slay vampires and demons. She also has to attend high school. We're also introduced to her supporting cast...bitchy Cordelia, nerdy Willow, and outcast Xander...and mysterious Angel. Also, we meet the school librarian, Giles, who coincidentally is her Watcher. Each Slayer is given a Watcher who trains and guides her.
This episode deals with a coming disaster called the Harvest, but more importantly shows the wit of the show. There's a whole lot of 90s going on here, but its not as annoying as Dawson's Creek was and holds up in a more fun, nostalgic way.
Hi Laurel here...I agree with Mark, this show is super 90s in a fun way, not in an annoying existential teenage Dawson's way. I have only watched Buffy sporadically before. It's interesting to see how some of the different characters are introduced and what roles they play in the very beginning compared to how things pan out later. I like in this episode how Buffy wants to move on and be a normal kid but she is sort of reluctantly forced into being the slayer again. I love a reluctant hero. Also I like how perfectly nerdy Willow is, and Buffy still seeks her out as a new friend anyway.
Mark here...its also interesting to note how this show was sort of on a cusp of a teen renaissance in tv and movies, and making the WB the go-to station for a while. It's easy to see why with the snappy writing. But I remember how odd the pickup of this show was in the beginning, basically a spinoff of a B-movie on a station no one watched...but whoever made the decision, it was the right one.
Quotes of note this episode: Cordilia to Buffy when she see's her talking to Willow and Xander: "I don't mean to interrupt your downward mobility but..."
Also Buffy to Giles when he questions her ability to "sense" vampires when she ends up judging a book by it's cover, a supposed vampire who has clearly been underground for several years wearing a super dated cub outfit: "I mean, deal with that outfit for a minute, it's like he's from El Debarge."
This episode deals with a coming disaster called the Harvest, but more importantly shows the wit of the show. There's a whole lot of 90s going on here, but its not as annoying as Dawson's Creek was and holds up in a more fun, nostalgic way.
Hi Laurel here...I agree with Mark, this show is super 90s in a fun way, not in an annoying existential teenage Dawson's way. I have only watched Buffy sporadically before. It's interesting to see how some of the different characters are introduced and what roles they play in the very beginning compared to how things pan out later. I like in this episode how Buffy wants to move on and be a normal kid but she is sort of reluctantly forced into being the slayer again. I love a reluctant hero. Also I like how perfectly nerdy Willow is, and Buffy still seeks her out as a new friend anyway.
Mark here...its also interesting to note how this show was sort of on a cusp of a teen renaissance in tv and movies, and making the WB the go-to station for a while. It's easy to see why with the snappy writing. But I remember how odd the pickup of this show was in the beginning, basically a spinoff of a B-movie on a station no one watched...but whoever made the decision, it was the right one.
Quotes of note this episode: Cordilia to Buffy when she see's her talking to Willow and Xander: "I don't mean to interrupt your downward mobility but..."
Also Buffy to Giles when he questions her ability to "sense" vampires when she ends up judging a book by it's cover, a supposed vampire who has clearly been underground for several years wearing a super dated cub outfit: "I mean, deal with that outfit for a minute, it's like he's from El Debarge."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)