|
Post by PreachCaleb on Mar 23, 2017 19:01:10 GMT
During my latest rewatch of the series, it's recently dawned on me just how unique certain elements are to season 1.
One of those is Darla. Even though she and Buffy are arguably the two most important characters in Angel's life, this is the only season in the entirety of the Buffyverse where they both interact. Other than Welcome the Hellmouth and Angel, they have absolutely no scenes together. It is cool that Darla is present for Buffy's very first fight scene of the series.
On another note, I believe Dr. Gregory was the first truly sad death of the series (sorry, Jesse). Buffy is visibly sad about his passing.
|
|
|
Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Mar 24, 2017 9:28:58 GMT
Things that randomly come to mind when thinking back to Season 1 (which, like with the rest of the show, as well as AtS, I haven’t watched in a LONG time – so my memories might be a bit vague here):
Xander riding a skateboard as his introduction on the show – I always get a laugh out of Joss mentioning in the commentary that they had Xander carry it for one other episode (for continuity’s sake), but he never rode that thing again.
I know some have noted the ‘difference’ in the Darla's character from Season 1 of BtVS compared to her appearances on AtS, but I think she might’ve seemed different because The Master was still around back then. Like, I think he was someone even she feared (and Luke, by extension, who was his ‘vessel’), though The Master did claim that Darla was always his favourite.
I never chalked up her characterization in Season 1 of BtVS and then later on AtS as ‘bad continuity’ or anything. I think she was super confident (and like the Darla we got to know real well on AtS) mostly in the BtVS episode ‘Angel’ – when she was shooting/taunting Buffy, and even earlier with Angel at his place – that felt like who Darla truly was (she just didn’t act that way around The Master).
Anyway, that’s^ just my interpretation.
I think the best example of Buffy’s Slayer strength growing more powerful throughout the years was how in Season 1’s ‘The Harvest’, when they were trying to get into the Bronze and Xander asked her, “Can you break it down?”, she answered, “No, not that thing.”, but in Season 6’s ‘Once More, With Feeling’, she smashed the door of the Bronze to pieces with one kick.
I do love the ‘feel/atmosphere’ on the show during Season 1. A lot of the time everything was very dark, and I liked that they at least put some effort into trying to keep some elements of ‘horror’ in the show (that window smash that opens the first episode always gets me – especially if I have the volume turned up) – and what a way to open the show, with the seemingly ‘stereotypical’ situation that was quickly turned on its head (as Joss always liked to say, he wanted ‘subvert the obvious’) and the not-so-helpless blonde girl chowing down on the guy.
I know some people didn’t like the use of the BtVS theme that was briefly played in the Season 1 final, but I felt that it was ‘fitting’ for just that one episode (it certainly wouldn’t have felt 'right' in any of the later seasons) and didn’t mind it. I also thought the end shot of the episode slowly drifting out from The Master’s skeleton and then the cut to credits was kind of ‘haunting’ in a way.
My favourite episodes of Season 1: ‘Welcome to the Hellmouth’, ‘The Harvest’, ‘Angel’, ‘I, Robot...You, Jane’, ‘The Puppet Show’ and ‘Prophecy Girl’. Season 1 might have had some 'cheesy' moments/effects/lines according to some, but I still loved it. I didn't know what to make of the show when it first aired on TV here (though I'd seen previews and it looked interesting). It was different from pretty much anything else I watched, but I was hooked in no time.
|
|
|
Post by PreachCaleb on Mar 24, 2017 13:42:57 GMT
I actually chalk it up to the presence of Luke, not the Master. Once Luke has been eliminated, the next we see Darla in the episode "Angel," she's much more in line with the Darla we will get to know better later on. She's confident. She's sassy. Not afraid of Buffy. Heck, she even back talks a little to the Master. It's only when Luke was around that she didn't act that way. I guess she figured she'd been replaced since leaving the Master for Angelus, and she knew Luke was the new number 2 guy. She knew how to play him. Be the scared subservient subordinate. Then when he was gone, she could ascend.
I concur about the dark, horror atmosphere. Season 1 really is the only season that plays that up. There's heavy use of dark shadows and several uses of jump scares. One even involves a cat ("Witch"), a classic.
Another thing I've really taken notice of is the instant chemistry between David Boreanaz and Julie Benz. It's astounding to realize the scene in Angel's place was the first time they'd ever interacted on the show, yet you can feel the history between the characters. There's a love/hate between. Something that didn't technically exist until we get to explore it on Angel's show; however, David and Julie make you feel all two hundred years of it in that one episode. They really knocked it out of the park with their performances.
|
|
|
Post by Raimo47 on Mar 24, 2017 14:29:42 GMT
I do love the ‘feel/atmosphere’ on the show during Season 1. I agree. Season 1 has the best atmosphere.
|
|
|
Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Mar 26, 2017 8:48:55 GMT
I actually chalk it up to the presence of Luke, not the Master. Once Luke has been eliminated, the next we see Darla in the episode "Angel," she's much more in line with the Darla we will get to know better later on. She's confident. She's sassy. Not afraid of Buffy. Heck, she even back talks a little to the Master. It's only when Luke was around that she didn't act that way. I guess she figured she'd been replaced since leaving the Master for Angelus, and she knew Luke was the new number 2 guy. She knew how to play him. Be the scared subservient subordinate. Then when he was gone, she could ascend.
Good point. I guess I just remember that part where the Master grabbed her and had his clawed fingers underneath her chin (speaking of, I also recall the 'power of suggestion' that was implemented in, I think, the second episode, when a lackey failed the Master and you could tell that he jabbed one long-nailed finger into the guy's eye, but all you got was the squishy sound and the Master's one-liner. I appreciated that. Cut to Season 7, where Xander was getting his eye jabbed in detail - bleh), and she struck me as being quite afraid of him there. I do think your explanation for how she acted in BtVS Season 1 makes a lot of sense.
There's heavy use of dark shadows and several uses of jump scares.
Oh, how I missed those 'dark shadows' in later seasons when everything seemed so 'bright'. It was the same for another show I watch (Supernatural), where the early seasons had a lot more 'atmosphere' thanks to the use of shadows and everything being lit dimly. I do understand people who complain about shows being 'too dark' at times and them unable to see things properly, but I think for shows like this it works.
Another thing I've really taken notice of is the instant chemistry between David Boreanaz and Julie Benz. It's astounding to realize the scene in Angel places was the first time they'd ever interacted on the show, yet you can feel the history between the characters. There's a love/hate between. Something that didn't technically exist until we get to explore it on Angel's show; however, David and Julie make you feel all two hundred years of it in that one episode. They really knocked it out of the park with their performances.
I also agree with this^. Like I've mentioned in another thread, 'Angel' was the first episode of BtVS where I felt it reached its full potential and became the show I 'loved' (at least for the first three seasons). Everything just felt like it had so much more 'depth' in this episode, the 'drama' and 'danger' aspects felt legitimate (given what Buffy was going through with falling for Angel, their first kiss, the reveal of his being a vampire, her learning just how bad he'd been, his curse, and dealing with Darla and the relationship she'd had with Angel/us).
And that ending - to me it was classic BtVS (looking back on it now, I can deem it 'classic', whereas back when first viewing Season 1 it set the standard for just how excellent the show could be, for me, and what I would come to expect from the show). The ending had humour (Xander and Willow - her facial expressions are a riot, especially when Xander's says, "Well, as long as they're not kissing." in reference to Buffy and Angel), and also great drama/angst, as Buffy and Angel reached the same conclusion about them being together.
David and Julie were indeed so great in their scenes together, and they did convey the complicated history between their characters with only a minimal amount of of time onscreen together. I loved learning about Angel's curse and his history with Darla so much, that I was bummed that it didn't look like we were going to explore it any further (of course, at that stage, I didn't know Angel would be getting his own show which would delve deeper into their history). The one thing we never did get on either show was interaction between Buffy and Darla again after she was brought back. I would've loved to have seen that (obviously Darla still held a grudge and referenced Buffy a few times on AtS).
I agree. Season 1 has the best atmosphere.
While I can understand some people not liking Season 1 much because it felt 'campy' or 'low budget' with the effects - I think that was part of its charm. Just look at all the classic movies that have those aspects to them, but nevertheless they're beloved by many. Lack of effects or whatever else needn't matter if you're drawn into the show or movie you're watching. So I never really let any of that bother me when watching Season 1. It's hard to describe the 'feel' that season had, but 'atmosphere' is about the best I can come up with. It was only 12 episodes, but they were twelve episodes that managed to get me hooked on this show that would become one of my most favourite television series ever.
And I previously mentioned this on the IMDB board for AtS, back when the boards were still around, but I kind of loved the fact that a twelve episode first season for BtVS, followed by four 22 episode seasons, allowed Season 5's final to not only be the season final, but also the 100th episode of the show at the same time. I wish more shows would wind up having this happen. I don't know why. It just feels 'neat' to me.
|
|
|
Post by PreachCaleb on Mar 27, 2017 13:39:29 GMT
Another thing I just noticed: the show's very first flashback was in "I, Robot, You, Jane." Moloch in 1418, I believe it was. Not Angel, The Master, Spike, Dru, or Darla. Moloch, a monster of the week, gets the first flashback on the show. Kinda makes me laugh.
Speaking of Moloch. I actually really like the design of that demon. The reptilian look, the big horns, the nasty teeth. I'd say it was the best designed demon of season 1.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Season 1
Mar 29, 2017 22:12:28 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2017 22:12:28 GMT
Season 1 is my favourite season together with season 2. The dark atmosphere is one reason for that.
|
|
|
Post by PreachCaleb on Mar 30, 2017 13:17:01 GMT
"Nightmares" seems to be the only episode in the entire series where Giles and Hank Summers interact (even if it's not the real Hank Summers). Buffy's father and her father-figure together in the same scene. This never happens again.
|
|
|
Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Mar 31, 2017 0:02:37 GMT
"Nightmares" seems to be the only episode in the entire series where Giles and Hank Summers interact (even if it's not the real Hank Summers). Buffy's father and her father-figure together in the same scene. This never happens again.
I liked that they brought the same actor back to play Buffy’s father in Season 5’s ‘The Weight of the World’ and Season 6’s ‘Normal Again’. Most shows would’ve just assumed everyone forgot about the actor who played Hank Summers, considering his role in one episode of Season 1 wasn’t that big, but I always appreciated the fact that, no matter how brief his screentime was, they kept the consistency of the two actors who played Buffy’s parents (I’ve watched other shows where they recast parent roles and it was rather distracting).
I know it’s probably an ‘unpopular’ opinion, but ‘Nightmares’ wasn’t one of my favourite episodes from Season 1. I mean, I didn’t hate it, it’s just that there were other episodes I liked more. Still, it had some good parts to it (Xander finally having had enough of that annoying clown and just punching its lights out, for one), but I’ll always remember this piece of dialogue from the episode:
Willow: “So, why is this happening?" Giles: “Billy." Xander: “Well, that explanation was shorter than usual. It's Billy! Who's Billy?"
And...
Xander: “And he brought the nightmare world with him. Thanks a bunch, Billy."
Those^ two lines from Xander always amused me (and I always remembered that bit of dialogue whenever the name Billy was mentioned on either show – like in the AtS Season 3 episode where the name was the title of an episode, for example).
Also good was this part at the end:
Willow: [to Xander] “Personal question?" Xander: “Yeah, shoot!" Willow: “When Buffy was a vampire, you weren't still, like, attracted to her, were you?" Xander: “Willow, how can you...I mean, that's really bent! She was…grotesque!" Willow: “Still dug her, huh?" Xander: “I'm sick, I need help." Willow: “Don't I know it."
I guess I’m just as messed up as Xander, as I too didn’t think Buffy looked that ‘bad’ in vamp face (I also liked the bit where she said, “Well, we better hurry...'cause I'm getting hungry.” and Xander responded, “That is a...joke, right?”).
|
|
NileQT87
Sophomore
Billowy Coat, King of Pain
@nileqt87
Posts: 532
Likes: 60
|
Post by NileQT87 on Mar 31, 2017 1:01:00 GMT
One of my favorite aspects of Nightmares is the fact that Buffy's nightmare is becoming a vampire. It's just one more way in which Buffy is completely the opposite of all the other vampire show heroines who end up becoming or want to be a vampire because they're romantically linked to one. And likewise, Angel most certainly would be horrified by the idea, himself. It's a big mythology difference and one that is hit on again hard in Lie to Me. Though Buffy notably doesn't act like a real vampire in her nightmare. She actually acts like she still has her soul. Another favorite bit is that Buffy's nightmare includes being buried alive, which foreshadows Bargaining where she was left in her grave and had to dig her way out. Buffy and Angel actually have a discussion about this where Angel comments about digging his way out of his grave being a weird experience.
|
|
ag25
Sophomore
@ag25
Posts: 194
Likes: 44
|
Post by ag25 on Apr 26, 2017 23:20:50 GMT
Good thoughts you guys, I agree. Season 1 is underappreciated and deserves more love (even if it is not my favorite season, lol).
About Darla, good explanations about Luke and The Master for her differing personalities in between The Harvest and Angel. I agree that she and David had great chemistry and convey their long relationship on screen very well. And it is a shame that this is the only interaction between Buffy and Darla; I wanted to see more. I actually think she was much more interesting and had more agency as a minion to the Master than the Anointed One. I also wish she had been seen more in the following seasons, especially in season 2 with Spike and Dru...can you imagine how that would have been, the three of them and then of course the four when Angelus come back to the fold...it would have been epic! Even if that obviously couldn't happen for plot purposes, I still wish we had flashbacks with Darla throughout season 2 other than in Becoming part 1...although that may have diminished the greatness of the episode.
Nightmares is a good episode, I just don't watch it very often for some reason.
|
|
lnoland
New Member
@lnoland
Posts: 44
Likes: 15
|
Post by lnoland on Apr 27, 2017 3:29:31 GMT
While I can understand some people not liking Season 1 much because it felt 'campy' or 'low budget' with the effects - I think that was part of its charm. Just look at all the classic movies that have those aspects to them, but nevertheless they're beloved by many. Lack of effects or whatever else needn't matter if you're drawn into the show or movie you're watching. So I never really let any of that bother me when watching Season 1. It's hard to describe the 'feel' that season had, but 'atmosphere' is about the best I can come up with. It was only 12 episodes, but they were twelve episodes that managed to get me hooked on this show that would become one of my most favourite television series ever. I didn't have any problem with Season 1 feeling campy or low-budget -- I just found some of the episodes rather groan-worthy (though I think I liked several of them better on my current rewatch than in previous iterations). With only 12 episodes to get up to speed it doesn't help to have episodes which make one question whether it is worth one's time. It was my favorite series ever, as well, but I'm lucky that I started watching in season 3 as, frankly, even as great as the first two episodes were, if I'd started on season 1, I might not have ever made it past "Teacher's Pet".
|
|
|
Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Apr 29, 2017 1:12:51 GMT
I didn't have any problem with Season 1 feeling campy or low-budget -- I just found some of the episodes rather groan-worthy (though I think I liked several of them better on my current rewatch than in previous iterations). With only 12 episodes to get up to speed it doesn't help to have episodes which make one question whether it is worth one's time. It was my favorite series ever, as well, but I'm lucky that I started watching in season 3 as, frankly, even as great as the first two episodes were, if I'd started on season 1, I might not have ever made it past "Teacher's Pet".
Sorry if I made it seem like I was saying that everyone who disliked Season 1 only did so because of the “campy/low-budget” feel – that wasn’t my intent. I just know that previously I have read some comments from people that have listed those two things as part of the reason why they didn’t enjoy Season 1, but I realise it isn’t the same for everybody.
While I do get that some episodes of Season 1 may have felt a bit ‘groan-worthy’, the type of show BtVS was felt very ‘new’ to me, as I hadn’t ever really watched anything like it (nothing that was equal parts drama/action/horror/comedy), so I guess I didn’t really take a lot of notice of the more ‘groan-worthy’ parts (or rather, they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the show).
I agree ‘Teacher’s Pet’ was indeed one of the ‘weaker’ episodes, but even the ‘weaker’ episodes in the early seasons usually had at least had some parts of them which I enjoyed (unlike the later seasons, where there were numerous episodes where I couldn’t find even *one* thing I enjoyed about them).
I started watching BtVS when I was in my later years at school, and not very many people seemed to be into it, but it was fun to find people who were, as I distinctly remember having to leave my house partway through ‘I Robot, You Jane’ and going to someone’s place and finding they were watching it too – so they were able to catch me up on what I had missed. I’ve never really experienced that with a TV show since.
|
|
|
Post by louise on May 10, 2017 20:03:56 GMT
season 1 is my favourite, it's the most amusing.
|
|