Buffy Season 1 Retrospective: Join your hosts Cal MacDonald, Rhiannon, Alena, and Graham—your unofficial Scooby gang—for the highly anticipated launch of our Buffy the Vampire Slayer retrospective, covering everything from “The Hellmouth” to “The Harvest!” What started as a casual backstage chat quickly escalated into a full-blown series dedicated to dissecting one of the greatest supernatural teen dramas of the nineties. Tonight, we kick off the conversation with a deep dive into the season that started it all.
Season 1 had the monumental task of introducing us to Buffy Summers, her calling as the Slayer, and the high-stakes, metaphor-laden world of Sunnydale, California. We begin by sharing our favorite moments, from sentimental first watches to iconic, quote-worthy scenes.
Iconic Moments and Fan-Favorite Episodes
The consensus is clear: the first episode, “Welcome to the Hellmouth,” immediately sets the tone with a perfect blend of high school melodrama and gothic horror. Rhiannon highlights one of the show’s most iconic and scene-setting images: the massive, ancient vampire book slammed down on the library desk—a moment that instantly confirms the universe you are in. This scene is immediately followed by a quote that defines the series’ dark humor: “If the apocalypse comes, beat me”.
Our panellists picked a few “monster-of-the-week” episodes that stand out for different reasons:
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“I Robot… You, Jane”: Graham’s sentimental pick, purely because it was the first episode he ever saw, back when it aired on BBC Two.
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“The Witch”: Alena loves this episode for its exploration of “woman power” and for a moment that remains one of the scariest bits of TV she’s ever seen—the cat jumping out of the box.
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“Nightmares”: This episode resonated for its emotional depth, allowing the audience to see a different, more vulnerable side of each of the main characters, reminding us that they are just normal people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
A special mention goes to the introduction of Rupert Giles, Buffy’s Watcher and the panel’s favorite character. Graham notes that the entrance of Giles, standing by the library desk with that very same giant vampire book, “sealed that entrance” for the character. The group also praises the layers of the Watcher, referencing his hinted-at “Ripper” backstory which was “rumoured to be a spin-off”.
The Big Bads and World-Building of Buffy Season 1 Retrospective
The first season’s big bad, The Master, is discussed in detail. The general consensus is that he makes for an excellent introductory villain—the “first big bad,” as Graham puts it. Unlike the more insidious, hidden threats that appear in later seasons (like a certain brooding vampire), The Master is “old school” and clearly evil.
Critically, his existence, constrained in a ‘bubble’ and with his own set of rules, is essential for the show’s structure. It means the “threat is not imminent,” giving the writers and the audience the space to breathe and enjoy the character development, the humor, and the crucial world-building necessary in the early episodes. The Master’s central plan, The Harvest, is mentioned in the very first episode but doesn’t happen for a while, providing the show with an overarching narrative hook. The hosts also touch on the creepiness of his henchman, Luke, a surprisingly “genuinely threatening” figure despite his short tenure.
The Veto List and Nineties Nostalgia
Of course, no Buffy Season 1 Retrospective is complete without airing some grievances. The “veto list” includes some notorious “monster-of-the-week” entries that simply “didn’t age well”. Alena and Rhiannon agree to put “Never Kill a Boy on the First Date” in the bin, noting that the plot and the love interest felt out of step with the rest of the season. Graham added “Teacher’s Pet” and “The Pack” to the list, feeling they were emblematic of the weaker, non-serialized episodes.
The episode also features a fun meta-discovery, confirming a canonical nod to The X-Files in the dialogue of “The Pack”: Buffy exclaims, “I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to scully me!”. The conversation also moves to the spin-off, Millennium, with the hosts making a bold claim that it is “way superior” to The X-Files—a challenge viewers are encouraged to take up! If you enjoy deep dives into iconic female-led sci-fi/horror, make sure to check out our previous Aliens Retrospective
That wraps up our Buffy Season 1 Retrospective! Tune in next time as our Scooby gang moves on to discuss the incredible Season 2.
Full Transcript Outline (Quick Jumps)
00:00 Introduction to the Buffy Retrospective
01:02 Favorite Moments from Season One
10:57 Character Development and Iconic Scenes
17:08 Critique of Season One Episodes
26:34 Villains and World-Building in Buffy
33:54 Exploring Villains: The Master and Luke
38:58 The Bronze: A Hub of High School Life
43:09 Buffy as a Coming-of-Age Heroine
51:08 Character Dynamics: The Scooby Gang
53:59 Season One Recap and Reflections
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Cal (00:01.358)
past your island gateway to all things geek. am your host tonight, Cal MacDonald, though I won’t be doing very much else apart from introducing my Scooby gang for tonight. And we’ll go to new, two new people, the newest person, Alaina. Welcome to the show. Great to have you on.
Hi, thanks for having me on.
And welcome back, Graham. What’s happening, dude?
No, I’m much excited to do this.
All right. And of course, it’s your third time now, Rhiannon, so that means you’re now perished.
Alena & Rhi (00:35.52)
times the opposite.
You’re never escaping this.
Third time’s the charm, Gal.
Tonight it’s the start of a, this ignited the chat, the backroom chat when I suggested doing a Buffy retrospective. tonight’s all about season one of Buffy. And with that, I will hand the reins over to, as it says on the screen, slayer for tonight, Brianna. Take it away.
Amazing. Well, when we first started spitballing this idea, I mean, the excitement was palpable. I think everybody was in firm agreement that this needed to happen. And so when we thought, we’d do one episode, now it’s starting to look like we’re going to do a couple. So we thought we would pick our way through some of our favourite bits of Buffy just to get us started, which was an idea presented by our very wonderful Graham. So, and it was favourite sleighs from the season.
Alena & Rhi (01:30.176)
So I think we’re all kind of just going to share the bits that we love the most or maybe some iconic moments or things that just, you know, really stand out to us from the show for all the different reasons. So Graham, as you are the person that introduced this topic, would you like to get us started?
So I think starting with season one, mine, I’m going to pick one that’s probably not hugely well thought of episode, but it was my very, very first episode, which was I robot you, Jane.
interesting.
And how come this stands out? you’re like, obviously you say it’s your first episode. is that?
It was the first episode I ever saw. Way back at the time when it was airing on, I think it was BBC Two at the time. A family friend was recording 24 on a tape. On an old VHS tape back in the day. And you know, for the longest time I was just watching 24. And then I was just watching and I let the tape run on one day and this.
Graeme (02:40.512)
show came on and it was…
Graeme (02:47.672)
The effects were good, but still had that same that same campaign quality that Star Trek had. Yeah. The character seemed like an old people, apart from being a weapons grade hacker, but she was a nerd. was the late nineties. We were all weapons grade hackers apparently.
Yeah.
Alena & Rhi (03:07.918)
Yeah
So even though it’s not my favourite episode of the season for sentimental reasons, it’s my favourite episode of the season and I will go back to every soft and it’s it’s not great, but at the same
What’s that?
But it’s yours and that’s what’s important. But the thing is, isn’t it, it’s so cool to kind of all the things that, you know, stand out to you about a show. That’s why I kind of was talking about like these individual slay moments because they’re going to be so different. Like, so for me, even from a, from a sort of watching and being introduced to Buffy perspective, confession, I wasn’t born until the late nineties. So I wasn’t, I know.
I know. So I wasn’t watching it in real time. I came to Buffy as a humbly, as a humble pie, many moons after the, probably the final season had started. so yeah, I know, I know. So, but this was because now, and I’ll tell you this, we had, well, say we, my auntie Catherine had all of the, all of the Buffy VHS box sets.
Alena & Rhi (04:22.318)
on my grandma’s like dresser in the living room. And when I tell you that I looked at these like, like peeping up over the side, like a little gremlin until I was told I was allowed to watch Buffy. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I hit the, I’m sure we’ll touch on this later actually in another episode, but I had seen Buffy beforehand, but when I was finally given the chance to the game.
Like, I can’t tell you. it’s like, it’s just, but that for that reason, so season one, even in of itself, season one for me, it’s just like, it’s filled with so much delight. And it’s just, it’s nice hearing about how, and sort of the episodes and things that just catch us. So that’s, that’s really fun. love that. Yeah. Totally amazing. Any, any others, any others or should we all do a little bit and then come back?
I think if we all do a little bit and then come back.
Okay, yeah, sure. Alina, what about yourself? Tell us. So I was born before 90s, so I had to rush from school to catch a buffet. I feel like that’s a different type of dedication. I didn’t have to wait for it, know, but I have to always go quickly. And I think like what Graham said, you know,
like your favorite moments are not necessarily episodes you would say are the best. And I think that’s really the case for the first season. Yeah. I guess like if you to like the first season, you have to love buffing to like appreciate the silly stuff. So
Alena & Rhi (06:08.352)
Again, like not an episode I would recommend to someone if they only had time to watch like one or two from the first season. I quite like The Witch. Just because it was like both creepy and just like a lot of different takes on woman power, I guess. But then I also noticed when I was… Oops. I was going to say also had…
The moment which, I am spoiling this for anybody, I’m sorry, were many decades since it’s been released, but the cat, can I add, still probably one of the scariest bits of TV I’ve ever seen. The cat jumping out of the box. I was like, Blew my mind.
Another one that I didn’t appreciate until later is the nightmares. I think they show you a good, interesting side of each of the main characters. And then Baffé turning into a vampire and slaying as a vampire.
Yeah, I guess you’re totally right. It kind of lets us see that like a totally different side of the character. You know, we’re introduced to these people as sort of like, it’s either they’re fun loving or they’re not quite like, you know, the sidekick vibes or that, you know, you’ve got all this stuff, but actually to then kind of circle back and see them as people and these vulnerabilities that so many of us can relate to, it’s like kind of just as Graham was saying earlier, it kind of reminds you that these characters are supposed to be
us, they’re supposed to be normal people, like obviously elevated in ways, but I think a lot of the things in Buffy, and as I’m sure we’ll continue to talk about, like there’s so many metaphors, like so many metaphors. And actually it’s nice to kind of have that grounding aspect. Yeah, I think Nightmares is great episodes. It’s kind of, I understand why you think it would kind of be like one of those, not like overlooked, but like, I also think it’s really good.
Alena & Rhi (08:28.022)
Yeah. Let me think, like, if I was gonna say, so I think just before, obviously for folks at home, you won’t hear this, but just before when we were doing a bit of a tech gremlins chat, I kind of said, if I was thinking about iconic moments, first thing I think about in season one is vampire book, smack, on the library desk. How many of us have a notebook that looks like that? Say I.
It’s just, it’s such, I mean, honestly, I’m still and all about getting it as a tatting. Like I, I love it. I just think it kind of what we were saying earlier about that sort of, what Graham was saying about the sort of the slightly campy aspect of some of the sort of the props and the sets and stuff. It’s like all of a sudden you go from going, okay, Americanized, call this thing to like, bam, this is the universe you’re in. And I’m like.
Say more! Tell me more! So I love it because it’s just without anything else that gets the ball rolling and it really tells you where you are. so I’ve always loved that. think similarly along the same lines, think is it like, know, if the apocalypse comes, beat me. It’s just a time and a place and a moment and a vibe.
Who even says beat me now? Probably no one, but like, you know, it’s, it’s kind of, it just has it all for me. Those little, those little bits from, from really early on. welcome to Hellmouth. know, just what it says on the tin. Absolutely. I feel like it’s nice doing a bit of a round robin. Graham, do you, are you, what’s your next, next point?
We have lost them temporarily.
Alena & Rhi (10:30.037)
Okay Elena. Okay. It’s me and you. was going to say, oh, Graham is back. Our watcher has returned. Hello, Graham. Hi. I was just saying we were having a lovely time. Hello. Hello. Hello. I was just thinking maybe we kind of just do this as a bit of a round robin. will be you again next, if that’s okay, if you have another season one favorite.
Graeme (10:57.198)
Well the season one favourite, I’m not sure, I think season one favourite is just that kind of introduction to Giles actually, who is one of my favourite characters in all of literature. Sorry.
Did he inspire your title of The Watcher today?
He did. did. with hindsight, you know, my kids have said that I do have a habit of wearing tweed at times and they have stated on a couple of occasions that I’ve went from trying to be a spike type when I was young to a pound shop Giles. like, I’m going to take that as a compliment actually.
Yeah, actually, I think you’ll find that’s really cool. Absolutely.
Yeah
Graeme (11:50.446)
You’re not too old to put over my knees, Sonny. To quote a later episode.
Alena & Rhi (12:01.293)
That’s not like first season, right? But we fairly early find out that Giles kind of had a spike-like past. He had a backstory.
Graeme (12:16.844)
which was rumoured to be a spin-off.
Yeah, I know. Maybe one day. Maybe one day. As we all know, and I mean, I’m pretty excited about Reboot. We will get to that, I am sure. But like, if they were to tell me they were going to give me a Ripper spinoff. Take my… Take all of it. Take all of my money. I can actually spend it. was like, I will give… I can buy it. Give me…
all the money. I’m an adult not a teenager so yeah.
I can buy things.
and I will come and watch. whose cat is this? Is there a cat?
Graeme (12:52.302)
That would be mine. He’s… He’s threatened to come up.
I was going to say, Miss Kitty? No, Kitty unfortunately. was like, Mr Kitty, making an early appearance. Kitty Fantastico. up. Aww. But that’s, it’s all right. I’m just jealous. haven’t got my cats here with me today, so I’m getting cat envy. Anyway, that also reminds me of- As he should. He’s like, excuse me, I have things to say about Buffy and we respect it. We respect that.
They’re his way into the room.
Graeme (13:24.546)
Morning, everyone.
Amazing. So Giles being such an amazing character is that like what, know, round it up for us. Tell us who he is.
I think, why does he stand in season, in episode one, season one, because you walk in, Buffy goes into the library and Giles is standing there with the giant vampire book.
Yeah, that’s literally I’m not sure if you were with us. Yeah, I’m not sure if you were with us, actually, you might have dropped off the call. But that was literally what I talked about before I was like the vampire book set in the scene is the business. just like it’s just it just it completely you go into the school. It’s this all American high school, you think you know what it’s about and whack that book is like, ha, no, we’re telling you a story about this. And I love it. It’s great. Yeah.
Yeah, that was the bit that kind of sealed that entrance, if you like. It was just that total subversion, which is probably something that will come up again and again about how with Buffy, all the things you expect are subverted and played with.
Alena & Rhi (14:32.128)
Metaphors everywhere. We’d love to see it. But I love that. I love that Giles stands out to you. I have to say as well, it’s like that bit of the end of the first episode when they’re like walking away and it’s just like, the world is doomed. It’s like, like, it’s, it just, I don’t know. Then whilst all these serious themes and all these things going on and obviously, you know, I remember
My auntie Catherine, again, I will talk about her a lot, I imagine. And I’m talking about Buffy because to me they are both entwined. And maybe I’ll even see it at some point she can come on because honestly she knows more about this than I do and she’s amazing about her knowledge. yeah, the… Totally lost my train of thought there, sorry. It’s a total tangent. No, but like when…
talking about like sort of favorite characters and things that stand out to you and it’s like she would always say that you know when you’re 16 you feel like the world’s ending every day right? Right and that’s kind of what it is it’s all these like sort of big sort of life event moments for them and you’ve just got Giles who as she rightly said the older we get we are all Giles all of us are Giles and we’re looking at these sweet young wee things going it’s gonna be okay
Tomorrow will continue. The world ended today. You are right. But tomorrow will happen and it will be okay. It’s just funny how you kind of go into, we’re all giles. We’re all giles.
Yeah, and the popular shows round about then, so you’re kind of Party of Five, Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, but maybe slightly later, My So-called Life, all the kind of teen dramas, they were all the same things, but without the supernatural element. So you had not only did the Scoobies have all of the things all the other teenagers in every other show are facing, but also Monsters, also actual Armageddon.
Alena & Rhi (16:23.692)
Mm.
Alena & Rhi (16:39.712)
And what, could ask for Who could simply ask for more? And this is why at some point I’m going to ask Cal why he thinks Buffy is simply all right. Cause I want to, this is something that our fantastic host, Cal was saying that Buffy isn’t necessarily the thing that wasn’t, it wasn’t the highlight of the nineties for yourself. And it’s, it’s interesting cause it’s like, again,
It works so well. Hello?
Alena & Rhi (17:08.887)
how all of us can love so many of the same fandoms. And yet there’s some kind of either cliches or notions or plays that just really stand out more than others. And I love X-Files and Buffy and it’s kind of like, but then in between like all the other, you know what I mean? It’s just like the bits that catch you. And I say I fall hook line and sinker for the story of five kind of layout with monsters. Definitely. Yeah.
Amazing. Elena, have we got another season one standout? Well, can I say in a bad sense, like the one that is to be slapped? Yes, of course you can. It’s a controversy. Let’s do it. Yeah, well, like I said, like I feel quite fuzzy about all of them, even the awkward ones. But I think if I had to pick one to get rid of, it would be…
That’s not fun.
Alena & Rhi (18:06.666)
never kill a boy on the first date. because, well, the guy is quite off-putting and also it just doesn’t make sense why Bafte would want to date him. So I guess like maybe it started as a joke of like never kiss a boy on a first date. And then they kind of…
I also have to agree and so far as to say that I think I sometimes forget that episode exists. actually, you know what I mean? Like I think I actually forget about it. And then when I do my, I was going to say annual rewatch, but probably like weekly rewatch of Buffet. I actually do it every time I see it and I’m like, Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I like, Oh, I kind of felt not really in keeping with the
pace and the theme and the people and the story, it always just feels slightly like kind of out here. Like as if the, as you kind of say, they kind of played with the title and then somebody wrote it and they went, yeah, all right, we’ll do that. And it doesn’t feel very in keeping. Yeah. No, totally. Okay. So I’m definitely on team. We can put Never Kill a Boy on the first date in the…
in this sort of, I don’t want to say the bin, it feels harsh. I was quite saying the bin, but you know what mean? I feel like I would happily, if I had to pick one, that is the one I would veto. That is the one I would veto from season one. That is great. a veto. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Maybe we’ll have to, as we do this, we should do like a veto episode. That’s good. That’s good. I love that. Anything else? Any other negatives actually guys?
and anything else that really stands out.
Graeme (20:04.142)
As a no. I’m not a fan of teacher’s pet.
Mmm.
In fact, I think there was a couple of back to back there that it was that similar kind of…
That and then the pack?
yeah.
Alena & Rhi (20:20.204)
Like, like Also like a category of episodes that didn’t age well. No. Which actually is really typical for buffets. Yeah. Actually, I wonder who was involved in writing them. I’m doubt we could find out. Yeah, I have to agree. Didn’t age well. Not at all. Not a bit.
Yeah, they were just so very much that kind of monster of the week format without the overarching narrative that we end up getting. I’m just really not a fan of those ones.
Yeah, no, I think that’s a really, really good point. I think that Teacher’s Pair also, and again, as we were saying about sort of like, know, things that will come up again in later episodes, I’m sure. like the fact that obviously the eggs are growing at the end, right? I kind of like that. I kind of enjoyed that. But I’m sad we never saw it again. Like, why was that not part of the creatures or beasties that came out?
late, you know what mean, like something that kind of harked back and then you can all have that kind of giggle. Whereas I think that a lot of the times there are repeating jokes that happen later seasons where you go, huh, yeah, I remember that episode. And that’s fine. But you also kind of go, I wish we’d seen that monster again or in a different way. Just to of clean it up.
one line, even if they put one line into the I’ll never tell song.
Alena & Rhi (21:59.338)
Yes, I’ll never tell you. something.
Poor Anya’s, Vigil and all the things, all the negatives that Xander had in the past. Let’s chuck him, they you know, nearly got eaten by.
Yeah.
Alena & Rhi (22:11.488)
Yeah, I think, feel like, I feel like, forgive me for, I feel like there is some, there must be some kind of heart in some way where he makes like a joke about his taste in whip, like something about to do taste with women that they’re always trying to get him. And I think that’s to do with Inca Mummy girl. But other than that, I can’t remember. Yeah, well, I’m sure we woke up with that. But it’s like one of them well, yeah. Yeah. It’s, it’s just kind of like.
same episode.
Alena & Rhi (22:40.32)
interesting that we have done this format. I see. But yeah, the pack. The only thing that really stands out to it is just the fact that obviously with the eating part and they’re like, surely Danda would be absolutely traumatized from that. Well, I feel like we don’t sit with that for long enough. Like that is, that is heinous. Like of all the things that happen, like in all of Buffy, they’re going, I’m sorry.
These, these teenagers just ate like surely, surely someone needed to ask them if they were okay. Like I realized the pastoral care in Sunnydale High is limited, like crikey, you know, good Lord. Yeah, it was gross. Yeah.
Is it the pack that’s got the line by Buffy something along the lines of I can’t believe that you are trying to sculling me and your love of X-Files and I can’t just attire it.
Thanks.
Graeme (23:48.076)
I’m sure that Giles is trying to convince Buffy of the supernatural element and she’s, hang on, you’re trying to scully me here.
You’re trying to, let’s see, you’re trying…
Sorry, I flipped that round. Let me see.
Let me have a look. I’m trying to see if that, can’t remember.
Alena & Rhi (24:18.186)
I’m not entirely-
I remember there was something on the first season.
I’m sure you’re probably right. I mean, it would make sense. Like, I think that, but I guess what’s interesting about that then is when we’re talking about like, know, universes and stuff, like where Buffy exists, X-Files also exists. That’s fun. Like, I’m sure you’re right. I’m sure there must be a reference because if there is, then that means that the X-Files is a show where Buffy is. Yes.
So, right.
I love this fact check in real time. Look at this guys. This is, this is, you know, duty, duty with a strength and honor. Yeah. Absolutely. Like fact checking in real time, but no, that would be so fun. I like the idea that those two would exist.
Graeme (25:11.446)
Yeah, of all places, Urban Dictionary apparently has a transcript here.
We take it word for word.
Oh, know. Xander begins acting strange. explains it simply. Xander acting like a normal 16 year old. Buffy says, it’s devastating. He’s turned into a 16 year old boy. Of course you’ll have to kill him. Buffy says, him serious. He says, so am I, except for the part about killing him. Testosterone is a great equalizer. Turns all men into morons. He will, however, get over it. And Buffy replies, cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to scully me. There is something super natural about Get your book.
No way!
And I’m also almost certain that the… I don’t know if it’s that part or earlier, but the book he looks up is actually, which I it, it’s a real book, Malleus Maleficarum, which is an actual like historic witchcraft tome.
Alena & Rhi (26:07.106)
Yeah. Amazing. love that. So that means that somewhere, somewhere, I mean, it is definitely a hundred percent confirmed through that, that Canon, they’ve seen X-Files. I love that. That is great. That means actually my love of X-Files and Buffy comes together. Amazing. super fun.
You
Alena & Rhi (26:34.016)
Okie dokie. Right, so we’ve had a couple of our favourite moments from season one, we’ve had a couple of moments of our absolute don’ts from season one. I’m trying to think, I’m trying to think, what else can we… I can see him.
I’d to put a question to you tonight. The Master, as a villain, does he work for you? Because he was the early villain or does he pale compared to what came later?
Okay.
Bye!
Yeah. I mean, it’s interesting because I think, I I think the master for me is like, kind of, he looks like what you imagine your worst nightmare to be. Like if you were going to just be like, what is the worst thing that you could possibly think of? It’s this, you know, like this real kind of cooked turkey looking evil H dude who’s out to get you. and grr, but like.
Alena & Rhi (27:37.266)
I… At the same time, I think what’s interesting about that is that he’s almost, in a way, not, I don’t want to say like a noble villain, because obviously that doesn’t really work, but like, as the characters go on, they start being slightly more insidious or they start being things that you don’t expect to see, or they start being, you know, kind of more hidden, you know, even the way the angel, again, massive spoiler if you’ve not seen Buffy, I do apologize.
Angel obviously becoming the villain at one stage. It’s like, that is a whole, you know what mean? It’s like this guy, you see him and you go, he nasty. He is a scary dude. He is out to get you. I’m like, it’s like, it’s almost, you know, in a, I remember, actually this is personal story, but as a kid, way back in the day and they were like, draw us what you think, like a, you know, a.
someone who would commit a crime looks like, like in a class that’s girl. And so everyone draws what they think a person would commit a And then a girl in my class at the time drew just like a regular person. And then they were like, yes, see? And it’s like, it’s this kind of thing, isn’t it? It’s like, you look at him, you go bad dude. Whereas as Buffy goes on, you obviously learn that these things can come in many different forms and very much for worse in many cases. So I think the master works because he sets you out.
where you know where you are. You’re aware of what the master is and that works. I don’t know, what do you guys think? Yeah.
Yeah, I guess like if
Alena & Rhi (29:08.814)
we were to make a chart of the main baddies from all the seasons, he would be in… Yeah, top half. Top half. Yeah. I think it’s well suited for the first season because he kind of won introduction. I like that he’s kind of… When you look at his styling, he’s a little bit like Second World War Germany, coded with his leather jacket.
Hope half definitely for me.
Alena & Rhi (29:38.382)
I think that probably was a little bit of like conscious decision on the wardrobe style. Yeah, and I find that also like…
He can remain real.
He was serious and like a big threat. So he has comic moments. Yeah, that’s okay. kind of that. He’s got that kind of slight relief. And there are parts when I kind of saying like a noble villain, like he kind of almost has his own rules as well. know, he’s quite a, he’s quite a sort of… old school. Yeah, he’s old school villain. And he’s also got his bubble, quite literally has his little bubble that he stays in. Like he’s detained. Like, but yeah, I have to agree. I think he kind of has that.
even
Alena & Rhi (30:22.516)
And when you say old school villain, like you were talking about, so the costume is very deliberate, the styling and everything is very deliberate and the rules around him, I think means that rather than the whole time, us as an audience going, threat, threat, you know, we’re aware that this threat exists, but we’re actually, we have the space.
to be able to enjoy the rest of the world and the character development and the introduction without thinking, the threat is imminent and this is now. It’s like, it’s, you know, harvest. Like it’s like, oh, you’ve got to wait for that. Like it’s not a threat yet, which is kind of helpful, I think, actually, for telling the story and getting you warmed up. Yeah, getting you into it. What do reckon, Graham?
here.
I can’t disagree with any of that. think, you know, he is a very good introductory villain. My first big bad, if you will. And then, yeah, it does grow from there. I think the beauty of the Master, like you say, his own rules, his own existence, is that it does allow, because there is so much world building that goes on.
Not even just in the first season, in the first episode. And I think that’s maybe something we should go into in a bit more detail, but you know, straight away you learn about, you get the bit of the Slayer backstory. get that Buffy is, Joyce says, this is happening again. So there’s something else going on there. You get the first couple of episodes, you get the Sunnydale’s on Helmeth, well, what’s that?
Graeme (32:03.938)
got high school to deal with every day, like we said earlier. The whole thing just allows everything else that space to breathe. Because like you said, the harvest, it’s first mentioned in episode one, the harvest doesn’t happen for a while.
Yeah.
Alena & Rhi (32:13.74)
Yeah.
Alena & Rhi (32:21.294)
Yeah, it’s not outrageous. Yeah, totally. think I like that, that you mentioned about the story, the world building. Because as we talking earlier about the book, it’s such like a, you know, that’s like a complete pivot moment. But actually, right, when a mum drops her off and she’s going like, oh, like, you know, when, and she’s kind of like, oh, you know, have a nice day at school, honey. Like, try not to burn it down. And you’re like, don’t burn it. You’re like, you’re like, excuse
Circle back to that please. You know that in itself, you’re absolutely right. What a simple vehicle and a simple and efficient vehicle, which is like, okay, it’s not raw because they’ve obviously had to sit in this and deal with this and heal as a family. But it’s happened and it’s been pretty transformative to their entire life. it’s such a…
Well, not maybe simple is the wrong word, but it’s a whittled down material, like the way of sort of transporting this whole story that we can come back to at our own pace, like at their own pace and their own leisure. And you realise that it’s going to come. You just need to kind of need to stick around to find out. And I like that. It’s very welcoming. Yeah, totally. Totally agreed. Absolutely.
there’s kind of like a secondary baddie, which is the anointed one. What do you think about him? What do reckon, Graham? What do you think of the anointed one? The annoying one?
I was gonna say it’s fine. It’s fine.
Alena & Rhi (33:56.364)
Just like the annoying one. Yes. I really like- Again it’s- sorry. No, no, no, sorry. You carry on, Graham. You carry on.
You sure? It’s good to It’s almost very, very quickly. It’s just that subversion that the secondary body is in fact a small child.
No, no, please.
Alena & Rhi (34:17.964)
Yeah, totally.
So you’ve got old, old evil in the master, small child.
Yeah. And they were… Yeah. And like the whole time, when he like first appears, you’re like, is Buffy like kill a child eventually? What’s going to happen with that? know, quite disturbing actually. I think I actually really enjoyed, and this is what I going say before. I think I really enjoyed Luke actually. And that…
You know, for actually, it was quite scary. I was like, I wasn’t, I’m watching this, you know, I can’t remember how old I was when I watched it, but let’s say I was just about age appropriate to be watching season one. though I’d obviously definitely watched it without telling people before this point. Don’t, sorry, confessionals. But like, Luke was, Luke was a bit scary. And I was like, I’m not sure. You know, obviously the master, as we say, like he’s kind of the bad guy, but…
You know, the fact that this dude was like out in the world and with his human face kind of looks like a regular person. And he professes to be, you know, man of the cloth. He’s a holy dude. That’s his bit. And actually mega scary. the bit when he jumps into the, like, when you think at the end of the episode that she’s going to get got in the two, you know, when she’s in the mausoleum and she’s in the stone thing.
Alena & Rhi (35:54.286)
felt claustrophobic man and it felt like genuinely threatening, like genuinely threatening. And actually it’s like, know, when she kind of, she’s peeping up over the edge of the, of this like stone tomb thing. And then he’s like, amen. And you’re like, whoa, that was deeply unsettling. So yeah, I think that he actually, despite being only there for a couple of episodes or whatever was actually quite a striking villain.
to me, a bit of a nasty, nasty, nasty. Yes. Yeah. And effective, effective of making the master have a creepy arm out in the world.
Yeah.
Which I don’t get at all with Darla. She just kind of is like annoying. I I guess is it because of their outfits and they’re like Catholic schoolgirl styling? don’t know. But it seems like almost like a wasted potential there. Yeah, I wonder it.
There’s a part of me, and I think I agree with you though, I think I wonder sometimes if it’s almost, and I don’t know if this is maybe given, I don’t want to say it’s like not given any credit to that, or maybe this was their kind of like their vision was to kind of make you feel like she had kind of looked like, I’m like, Darla, you could have been so much more than what you were being, sis. You were simply a kind of second rate puppet to this man dude, evil dude thing when
Alena & Rhi (37:37.774)
You were like, top of your game. You were like, peak evil. And you kind of just then went and followed this guy. And I was like, DOLLA, I would have loved it if you had terrified me. And I don’t know. Like, it’s true. I would. I would have enjoyed that. And actually it was kind of me going, wow, you just kind of, you you’ve lumped in with these lot and you’re a lot less scary than you could have been. Should have lived up to that potential. Like, and actually I think…
putting her in like a sort of a schoolgirl outfit was almost like a con to send to her. You know what I mean? was like a… Later in the season, you see her in all these amazing cuts and these cool hats and stuff when they’re like at the turn of the century in the revolution and things. And then she’s like been put in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit to like hang around a club and kind of pick up a couple of teenagers and take them back. you go like… It’s just, I wonder if it’s almost a way of being kind of rude about her.
Like, I don’t know. don’t know. But yeah, I agree. Would have loved to have seen more.
that is the first vampire we see on screen though. useless information.
Yeah.
Alena & Rhi (38:50.774)
Are you.
No, like, yeah.
I’m glad you mentioned the club because not to sound all Seinfeld, but what’s the deal with the bronze?
deal with them.
It’s a nice place, but it’s also a place where high schoolers go to hang out. We see the faculty hang out there. Although GILES does qualify that with it’s the best place to the vamps.
Alena & Rhi (39:23.406)
Yeah. But maybe that in itself is a bit of a mess. Do you know what I mean? not to, as we say, Buffy has a lot of metaphors, a lot of metaphors. And actually, you go, I don’t know about you guys, I’m from a very small town and there was certainly only one club. So it’s like, everyone is going there. And like, I have said, I have seen teachers on nights out, like that is, that is, that is, you know, like in, in years gone by, if I was like in sixth form or whatever, like.
And you go, we’re in the same club. Like that is deeply questionable. it’s like, also it’s like actually small town vibes. Like they’re probably not far wrong. There’s probably one place and that’s the place. Cause it’s not whole, whereas it’s kind of next to the next block of town, not a whole roll out of town around here. So it’s probably just also means they don’t have to have more than one set. It’s efficient. cheap. Yeah.
Peace.
Graeme (40:22.734)
Cursed with logic.
If we go for like paranormal sociology, right? What does it do to a small town that it’s on a helmet? would it just have been like a fairly normal coffee shop or whatever, but it’s just, or like whatever, nightclub, but it, you know, like, it’s just like, how does it, what,
We know.
No, from our small towns. yes, we also had that one club. Excellent. Wasn’t the same one as mine, I don’t think, but I’m glad to know. don’t know, maybe. Maybe. When like, during certain planetary alignment, they were the same. Maybe they connect and it’s all one club. It’s funny you say that. I love that. And that actually separate fandom. Sorry to break the buffy chat.
Maybe, maybe we’ll-
Alena & Rhi (41:19.202)
But in Supernatural, there is an episode where there’s like demons rocking out in a town and basically because they’re there and they’re getting everybody just to do little sins and generally acting a bit bad so that they all get, they said instead of getting people to do big evil, they just want people to do little evil. so that, and you know, and so they have like a bar nightclub kind of thing there. And it’s like, actually, if the demons weren’t there, maybe that was just like a wee little coffee shop that was quite nice. Angel orders a lot of coffee in the bronze.
people order a lot of coffee in that building. Could just be that it’s the spooky things making it all big, bad and ugly. I would love to go there though, as a side note. Just once, I would love to go to bronze. I would love to be that cool. Although I’d now be like, we arrange? Can we arrange?
change.
I was just going to ask Cal if we can arrange for afterwards for Ocon to actually be called the Bonds.
I
Graeme (42:17.998)
And we got there first.
Okay, I speak to Kathleen about that.
before.
Alena & Rhi (42:26.986)
Amazing. I’ve always wanted to go to the bronze, please. Although we would now all be maybe sort of between 10 and 30 years older than the clientele depending. We can sit there and drink coffee. would be really nice.
I’ve enjoyed this food at least once.
I was going to put a question. This might be more for Rhiannon and Elena, but Graham might have taken it. So what Buffy’s quite well known for is it tells the teenage girl coming of story. Like how important was that to you guys in your loving of the show and does it reflect your experiences as growing up as teenage girls?
Elina, you take the floor on this one, mate. You were running home from school for this. You tell it. You tell it,
Cal (43:15.47)
Well, I was actually thinking like, what were the other
Thanks for the question.
shows I really liked and it was as a teenage girl. And it was Charmed and Zina the warrior princess. And it’s almost like kind of like Buffett brings both of them together because you have the like modern world supernatural, but also kicking buttocks. yeah, definitely. just, as I remember like already as a teenager, I just
love watching a woman or young woman being efficiently violent towards someone. And I also find that they do it really well. Like Rhiannon, when you were talking about when Buffy’s fighting Luke in the tomb, it’s not like she’s always strong, like this flawless hero.
But what’s amazing is that you see that she’s vulnerable and she’s also afraid. But she’s, you know, in the end, still pretty.
Cal (44:32.786)
And Rhiannon has just vanished, think. No, she’s back. Graham, I’ll take your perspective. It’s quite unique, this show, like, because when we were growing up, obviously, it was very male-dominated. And so there’s this one show. Yeah. And like, it didn’t affect your viewing of it at all, did it? That’s what I find quite interesting. Yeah.
Not in the slightest. mean, I genuinely rank it in the top three TV shows of all time. Yeah. But it’s, I think because you’re getting that story where it’s not your typical hero, it’s that everyone in it is a bit of an outsider in their own right. think if you take a bigger look at it, you’ve got the kind
big themes of chosen family in there as well, or found family. Because the Scoobies very much are, Giles becomes the defacto dad for everyone.
And I think it’s just the whole story is so well told. You don’t notice that this might seem like a strange thing, but you don’t really notice that the hero isn’t your classic 80s, 90s action hero when you’re watching it. Buffy is as big as army. know, she’s her Kung Fu karate certainly to me appears to be better than
Jean Claude Van Damme. So all these kind of action movie tropes and things that we grew up watching, again, it’s a subversion of that by having it, the small blonde girl who historically would be afraid of the monsters, the monsters are afraid of her. It’s all of that flipping the story on its head. That just makes it more watchable because everything else is cookie cutter. Thank you.
Alena & Rhi (46:21.23)
you
Alena & Rhi (46:29.862)
Yeah. No, I think you’re absolutely smart on. think you’re absolutely smart on.
If you wanted the traditional, for want of a better way to put it, then there was Hercules. Hercules was, no offence to that world, but Hercules was awful. I didn’t enjoy Hercules at all. Kevin Sorbo was not in any way believable. He was just a meat planet.
Well, safe to say he’s lived down to his reputations very well.
Cal (47:02.478)
You have the perfect answer to my question. Now you’ve had the chance.
Yeah, now that I’ve had the brain space to think on it. What was the question again, guys? So, looking up to as a of a hero of mine, I think because, as I kind of said earlier, I had waited to watch Buffy. was ready to accept all of the goodness that Buffy had to give and…
I genuinely think that I have held what would Buffy do as an entire thought and concept growing up. Like I started watching these when I was in my early teens, well like properly watching them when was in my early teens. And so, and because of the ratings and I was very sensibly parented by my aunt Catherine watching these, I watched them as they were supposed to be watched.
age rating wise. so actually, I kind of got the, you know, I kind of, I watched up to maybe up to season, the back end of season three. And then I didn’t watch anything else for a couple of years. And then obviously I only watched the rest of it. So it’s kind of nice because I had quite a sheltered clumps of them as I was, as I was growing up. And I just, I just always saw myself.
in the characters and I saw things that I was coming into contact with in them and as I got older I saw a lot of myself in Faith who obviously we will come to at some point and me and Faith there’s a lot of things that I resonated with very deeply with her story as I was a little bit older and then what’s nice now is that actually I watch it now and
Alena & Rhi (48:58.42)
I, for the first time, and even when I was in my teens, I didn’t, I didn’t resonate with Buffy. I wanted to be Buffy. I wanted to be Buffy so badly. and on the, and I’m watching it, I just felt like I was on the outside watching Buffy being like, my God, you’re amazing. And now as an adult, I watch it and I go, you’re all a bit Buffy. And I love that because actually I now, you know, it’s kind of, it’s, it’s a beautiful thing being able to grow up with these and you get into watching them at different points in your life and resonate with different bits.
And now that I watch it back, go, I feel like Buffy season seven, you know, we will, we will get there. So, you know, it’s that look on her face. I don’t want to give it away, but it’s that bit right in the end. It’s the look on her face of just like, yeah, that to me actually sums it up. It’s like, it’s not about getting everything perfect because she doesn’t. It’s not about making the right choices all the time because she doesn’t.
And it’s actually not even that all the good guys are all the good guys because Giles and Joyce and everyone else makes some pretty… and Willow as well, they make some pretty terrible decisions all along the way. But everybody still comes together as we were talking about, you know, chosen family, people come back together, they make their choices, they make together. There’s some really big themes, some really hard hitting concepts, but at the end of the day, they’re all stood there. Right by each other going, okay.
We got through, we did that. We did that and now it’s okay. It’s okay to be safe. And like, just, yeah, I admire Buffy. Despite the fact that I’m wearing leopard pajamas, I actually have, you know what’s sad? I sadly, I actually, have many Buffy t-shirts, many, and I packed my bags, took away this weekend and I was like.
But Buffy would definitely wear a leopard pyjama. she would! I’m so glad you thought that because I literally said that to my partner before I came on and went, Buffy would be okay with it. She’d be like, play your space buns and your leopard jammies. I haven’t got Mr Gordo, what if I did?
Speaker 4 (51:08.6)
She would have been sure.
So thank you, Elina.
Graeme (51:17.39)
think with you saying there about we’re all a little bit buffy. Do you see parallels in a way with the likes of the Breakfast Club then? at the end of it, you know, we’re all a nerd, a princess, a jock, a cheerleader, a weirdo, a goth, whatever. It’s almost like a long-form version of that in a way then because you know, you’ve got buffy, hero, girl, blah blah blah. Willow nerd who, I don’t know.
Mm-hmm.
Alena & Rhi (51:27.349)
Mmm.
Graeme (51:46.124)
What’s going on in Sunnydale that Willow is considered as not hot?
Yeah, I am deeply confused every day. Were they… I was like, yeah, not sure. Not sure.
And you know, we haven’t even touched on Xander or Cordy to any real extent.
Yeah. And I love Cordie. I am not on the… I love Cordelia. Yeah, same. I mean, the comic… I mean, obviously, for all of the reasons in the first season where you’re just like, wow, you are what you are, Cordie. You are what you are. But, and honestly, you know what? That’s a really good point, Graham. Maybe when we do another episode, maybe we can come back and even just talk about, you know, sort of the supportive roles and what they do because…
Um, as much as I know that there’s, there’s issues within the fandom regarding Xander. Um, and I’m sure we will come across that. Um, but there’s also great bits and there’s also, I love Cordelia. I just love her. I think she’s amazing. She knows no fear. mean, but I just, ugh, love. But yeah, sorry.
Graeme (53:06.082)
No, that’s fine. And even, we’ve touched on Angel, who’s such a…
that guy! That old chestnut! I think we’ll do supportive characters, we’ll do romances, we’ll do the big bads. This is a whole series, my friend. We’re gonna, you know what? After this day, we’re gonna go home, we’re gonna brainstorm, and we’re gonna work it out. After we’ve done the season slays, what our big topics are gonna be, because my goodness, I could genuinely talk forever on these. I get you. I feel you.
100%. Carl, is there anything else you would like to put to us before the end of our line?
We’re coming up for five minutes, so I think this would be just your recap of season one then for Amitra. It’ll be a good way to end it.
Sure, amazing. do you want to start?
Graeme (54:03.355)
sure.
Major points from tonight. Major points to season one that stood out.
Yeah, major points from season one would be world building, giving the characters a bit of time to develop and just setting the scene for what’s to come. I don’t think we’ve hit on probably the objectively best episodes, which for me is Prophesaga, also the season one finale, but we can get into that another time.
We will.
But it’s got everything that you want in a show. Even in that first season, you can see the seeds of what’s to come. There’s humor, there’s romance, there’s little bits that will make you slightly scared. There’s little bits that are going to tug at the heartstrings a little bit. You can see the family starting to come together and just where it goes from there. And it just, leaves you wanting to see more.
Alena & Rhi (55:02.519)
Uh-huh.
I think that’s the best thing that either a pilot or an opening season of any show can do is leave you wanting to see where this goes.
Absolutely. That is, that was very eloquent. I hope my put together is half as good as that. That was pre-written, surely. That was excellent. Thank you, Graham. That was wonderful. Alina, it wasn’t, I swear. It’s okay. It’s all right, Giles. We believe you. sure. Wasn’t pre-researched. I’m kidding. kidding. But yeah, Alina, yourself, please. Yeah, I would say like while…
wasn’t.
Alena & Rhi (55:40.238)
As with many other TV shows, the first season can be a bit odd. It definitely makes you want to continue watching. And what I really appreciate is that the characters are already really well fleshed out. They’re not looking for themselves or they don’t change weirdly. You can see from beginning to the end what their girl is.
their attractiveness is, I guess that’s also what makes you wanna watch it further because you connect to them. No, totally. think you’re absolutely right. I think it’s, you’ve connected with them, you know who they are and actually the character arc situation for the most part is entirely believable and reasonably and pretty consistent, obviously. I’m sure we will touch on a couple where you just go, huh, as we did earlier today as well, when we’re looking at, know, Never Kill a Boy in a First Date, things like that where you just go…
Interesting choice. But anyway, but like, you know, actually as an overarching whole, pretty consistent. Like, you know, got to, got to say that. I think my sort of roundup points would be. I just, you know, the absolute nostalgic adoration, the really excellent vehicles for stories, characters, vampire book. Bang.
Well, at the end of the day, like, you know, as you say, the formula was right. The cast was engaging and just a whole lot of love for the not quite, not, I don’t want to say like simplistic, like, and then they just did, they did, and yeah, just, and some great, may I say great outfits, which I also hope
we will be able to do an episode on at some point because the amount of like excellent combos of shoes and like trench coats needs to be studied.
Cal (57:46.914)
Yeah, at length. Branchco length. So, Sevilla, last question. Where do you rank out of the seven seasons? Where would season one sit?
Thank
Alena & Rhi (57:58.074)
High. High. Ooh. Maybe even, maybe even second for me? Maybe even second? Yeah, I was going to say third, yeah. Yeah, second or third. think it’s a bit of a toss. I think I’d maybe have to think on it, but I think third or second is a, yeah, third could be a right choice. Third could be the right choice. But fondly, a fond third. Third or third?
No pressure, no pressure, Greenberg.
Can you say seven? I’m gonna cry.
You’ve got to decide. Yeah, I no pressure. You’ve got to decide in both. It’s going to decide everything forever here.
Well, that’s a shame because I’m controversial. not seventh, but it’s lower for me. With everything that I’ve said, when I go back and quite often when I do my rewatch, I will skip bits of season one for my shame. Some of these episodes where it’s the, again, teacher’s pet, never kill a guy, first date and so on. I’ve seen it.
Graeme (59:06.51)
despite the little Easter eggs in there, the little lines here and there. It doesn’t do it for me in the same way that later seasons do.
Okay. I think with that, I will concur. I think that’s a fair argument. I think I’m going to look, I think I’ll go with third. I think, I think you have brought me back down to planet earth. I’ve been on season one hype for the last hour and I’ve, I’ve maybe with rose tinted glasses given it second. Maybe third is correct.
Yeah, there’s definitely a few ahead of it for me and very much one so far behind.
So I feel like we may have the same one. I wonder. I wonder now.
Here’s just one last one to throw at you guys. you’re, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, if you’ve listened to our previous episodes, are you aware of the connection this podcast has to Buffy existing?
Alena & Rhi (59:57.592)
No, but please tell us.
Do you know of us an indie sci-fi film called Coherence?
Yes, yes, because it’s.
Yeah, who have we had on this podcast, but the writer director of that film and he directed the Xander actor in that. So yeah, there you go. we’ve got a little bit. Yeah. So there you You guys all now have a almost direct link to Buffy.
Other than the direct link. You do. are, are a master magician and coordinator. Well, this has been an absolutely. sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Graham.
Cal (01:00:36.096)
You bring people together.
Graeme (01:00:48.974)
I was just going to pay Cal back for that one and ask him if he realises that means he’s got a second degree link to Deep Space Nine.
Yes, I know as well, Yes. Yep. I know that one.
One of my favourite things about the next season’s…
Mom.
Alena & Rhi (01:01:09.072)
my goodness, guys, this is so sweet. As I saying, this has been a delight.
Well.
Yeah, and the other takeaway is Rhiannon, if you’re an X-Files fan, really have to watch Millennium now and… Yeah, no. That’s fine.
Don’t worry about it. will get that on the… You will leave the watch list and enter the watch list.
Yes. It will, I’m almost guaranteed you’ll flip your opinion on the X-Files once you watch Millennium. is… Will I? Way superior, I think.
Alena & Rhi (01:01:38.697)
That’s a large claim. That’s a large claim, Gal, but I’m willing to make that bet. I’m willing to take that I’m so excited. That’s the best news I’ve
Yeah, it obviously is.
Cal (01:01:48.108)
Well, thank you, my Scooby-Gun for this. that ends that’s part one of goodness knows how many till we come for the whole Buffy version.
much fun!
Alena & Rhi (01:01:57.774)
We can keep this going.
So thank you everyone for joining and tune in on Saturday because we’re talking to Klingon Pop Warrior and I can confirm everyone in that show is going to be in full cosplay and we’re joined by the lovely fulcrum, the Scotts Klingon podcast. So it’s going to be the nerdiest of nerdfests on Saturday.
I cannot wait to and see more. That is fabulous.
Sounds amazing.
Cal (01:02:28.961)
Thanks to the three of you and I think I don’t need to ask of you so we’ll be back now for to talk season two sometime soon.
Yeah, definitely. We’ll get that in the calendar. honestly, guys, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much. And can’t wait to do this again.
Yeah, so just everyone like follow subscribe leave us a review all that good stuff helps us out a lot and Thank you to my three course and thanks everyone who tuned in tonight and we’ll speak to you all again soon. Bye
See you then, bye!
