S1.04 – Teacher’s Pet
Written by David Greenwalt
Directed by Bruce Seth Green
First and Last Frames
David Greenwalt is a producer on an awful lot of Buffy and a co-creator of Angel. Bruce Seth Green will direct 7 more episodes of Buffy after this one. All in all this is a monster of the week episode, which seems to stray a little too far from “High School is Hell”. The idea of sex between a student and teacher is already icky, without the supernatural element. And the Xander dream/fantasy, and the guitar riff when the teacher asks him to come to her house that night has not aged well. The highlight of the episode is the teacher who believes in Buffy, who dies before the opening titles. R.I.P. Dr Gregory. You were too good for this episode.
Favourite Lines
Xander: It’s funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to.
Xander: Oh, forgiveness is my middle name. Actually, it’s LaVelle, and I’d appreciate it if you guard that secret with you life.
Willow: I don’t think it’s bad. I think it’s really **Xander pulls machete from bag** sweet. Certainly nothing I’ll ever bring up again.
Favourite Shot
Buffy capturing a vamp and using its fear to find Ms French’s house was unexpected and clever.
Ranking at Time of Watching
Despite this writing/directing duo, this is the weakest episode so far. It is 3rd from 3.
Recap Song from Buffering the Vampire Slayer by Jenny Owen Youngs & Kristin Russo
S1.05 – Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
Written by Rob Des Hotel
Directed by David Semel
First and Last Frames
Rob Des Hotel is story editor of Season 1, so it’s no surprising that this is a solid script. I don’t think it’s executed especially well. The lines seem clunky, and the casting of the Anointed One seems to have been a mistake. You can think that it might be hard to get a child to play evil, but Kirsten Dunst rules in Interview with a Vampire. Obviously harder to get someone of that calibre for a small part in a TV show.
David Semel directs another couple of episodes, and goes on to have a career of directing pilots. Maybe he just likes to start new shows and move on.
Giles gets knocked out for the second time. Though he does fire up the burners on the way down.
Favourite Lines
Giles: You know what they say. 90% of the vampire slaying game is waiting.
Buffy: You couldn’t have told me that 90% ago?
Willow: Xander, we should go with Giles. He could get in trouble.
Xander: Oh, he’s gone. He’s gonna be alright. He’s like super librarian. You know, everyone forgets, Willow, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon.
Owen: He tried to bite me. What a sissy.
Favourite Shot
Owen lending Buffy his pocket watch seems to be a bit over the top, but it turns out to be a great set up for Xander looking at his Tweety bird watch.
Ranking at Time of Watching
The best thing to say about this episode is that it’s better than Teacher’s Pet. Actually that’s too harsh. But at the moment, it is slotting into 3rd place.