S1.10 – Nightmares
Teleplay by David Greenwalt
Story by Joss Whedon
Directed by Bruce Seth Green
First and Last Frames
First Joss Whedon story by credit since the 2 part pilot, with the Teleplay by David Greenwalt. And this episode has a lot of meat to it. Hank Summers, Buffy’s dad appears, and there is a lot of solid divorced parent fears. His performance is just cruel, and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s response is amazing. I would have said that this was a one off appearance by Buffy’s dad, but apparently he appears 4 more times. I’ll be looking out for that.
Xanders fear of clowns, mentioned in The Puppet Show, comes to a head, with Xander over coming it. Willows fear of performing on stage, also from The Puppet Show, is bought to life. Again.
Billy quotes The Wizard of Oz. The Master quotes Cinderella.
Favourite Lines
Wendell: They’re not insects. They’re arachnids.
Xander: They’re from the Middle East?
Buffy: I’m glad you showed up. You see, I’m having a really bad day.
The Ugly Man: Lucky 19.
Buffy: Scary. I’ll tell you something though. There are a lot scarier things than you… And I’m one of them.
Favourite Shot
Buffy coming up from the grave as a vampire made a big impact.
Ranking at Time of Watching
Lots of heartfelt stuff. 2nd overall.
Recap Song from Buffering the Vampire Slayer by Jenny Owen Youngs & Kristin Russo
S1.11 – Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Story by Joss Whedon
Written by Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden
Directed by Reza Badiyi
First and Last Frames
The only episode for this director, Reza Badiyi. He was born in 1929, and started directing in the 1960’s, on shows like “Get Smart”, “The Doris Day Show” and “Mission: Impossible”. Then “The Six Million Dollar Man”, “The Rockford Files”, “The Incredible Hulk”, “Cagney & Lacey”, etc. 88 shows in all.
An interview with Clea DuVall, has her reaction when her agent talked to her about this guest spot. “I was like, ‘They’re making a TV show of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)? That’s insane.'” She went on to become a big fan, like us all.
Giles is not knocked out this episode. This is worth highlighting, because everyone else gets rendered unconcsious.
And Cordelia takes her first steps into becoming part of the Scooby Gang. Which means more fun dialogue and interaction with our core four than in the past.
Favourite Lines
Giles: Uh, I’m, um, it’s a bit of a puzzle, really. Um, I’ve never actually heard of anyone attacked by a lone baseball bat before.
Xander: Maybe it’s a vampire bat. [no response from the others] I’m alone with that one, huh?
Cordelia: Hey, you think I’m never lonely because I’m so cute and popular? I can be surrounded by people and be completely alone. It’s not like any of them really know me. I don’t even know if they like me half the time… People just want to be in a popular zone. Sometimes when I talk… everyone’s so busy agreeing with me, they don’t hear a word I say.
Buffy: Well, if you feel so alone, then why do you work so hard at being popular?
Cordelia: Well, it beats being alone all by yourself.
Cordelia: Somebody is after me! They just tried to kill Ms. Miller, uh, she was helping me with my homework… and Mitch and Harmony. This is all about me! Me, me, me!
Xander: Wow! For once she’s right.
Buffy: So you’ve come to *me* for help.
Cordelia: [nods] Because… you’re always around when all this weird stuff is happening. And I know you’re very strong, and you’ve got all those weapons. I was kind of hoping you were in a gang.
Xander: Oh, hey, do you wanna come to our place tonight for dinner? Mom’s makin’ her famous phone call to the Chinese place.
Giles: How exactly do you propose to hunt someone you can’t see? You may have to work on listening to people.
Buffy: Very funny.
Giles: I thought so.
Snyder: Dead? Of course not. Dead. What are you, ghouls? There are no dead students here… this week.
Favourite Shot
The crown falling lower and lower over Cordelias face when she is tied up really added to the realism.
Ranking at Time of Watching
Just under “Witch”. A solid 6th out of 10. It seems a little low, but then I remember this is a great show with a lot of good episodes.
Recap Song from Buffering the Vampire Slayer by Jenny Owen Youngs & Kristin Russo
S1.12 – Prophecy Girl
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon
First and Last Frames
Sarah Michelle Gellar is just amazing. She has a great arc from “normal life”, and through the 5 stages of grief after discovering she is due to die. And that is just the beginning.
The “Just Say No” poster on the wall, highlighting Xanders rejection by Buffy and Willow, is a nice touch. Cartoon of the 3 little pigs singing “Who’s afraid of the big bad (wolf)?” is also cute. Cordelia literally drives to the library, which is then trashed by the evil, being spawned by the Hellmouth. And Giles is knocked out for the 4th time; this time by Buffy.
Favourite Lines
Cordelia: Willow, I really like your outfit.
Willow: No, you don’t.
Cordelia: No, I really don’t, but I need a favour.
Jenny: You know, the part that gets me, though, is where Buffy is the Vampire Slayer. She’s so little.
Giles: Buffy, I’m not gonna send you out there to die. Now, you were right. I-I’ve waded about in these old books for so long, I’ve forgotten what the real world is like. I-It’s time I found out.
Buffy: You’re still not going up against the Master.
Giles: I’ve made up my mind.
Buffy: So have I.
Giles: I made up my mine first! I’m older and wiser than you and just… just do what you’re told for once, all right?
Buffy: When he wakes up, tell him… I don’t know. Think of something cool. Tell him I said it.
Xander: How could you let her go?
Giles: As the soon to be purple area on my jaw will attest, I did not *let* her go.
The Master: Welcome.
Buffy: Thanks for having me. You know, you really ought to talk to your contractor. Looks like you got some water damage.
The Master: Oh, good. The feeble banter portion of the fight.
The Master: You’re dead.
Buffy: I may be dead, but I’m still pretty. Which is more than I can say for you.
The Master: You were destined to die. It was written.
Buffy: What can I say? I flunked the written.
Buffy: Oh, sorry. It’s just… been a really weird day.
Xander: Yeah. Buffy died and everything.
Willow: Wow. Harsh.
Giles: I should’ve known that wouldn’t stop you.
Favourite Shot
Is there anything greater than Xander bringing Buffy back from the dead?
Ranking at Time of Watching
Season Finale’s should be the best episode of the season, right? It is in this case. #1. You can see the current rankings for the first Season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer HERE.