My First Episode of Buffy: A Response

Firstly, I would like to say that Whedon's employment of the usual "die first in every horror movie blonde" as a vampire destroying protagonist is quite novel. I think the core idea of Buffy is quite strong and has massive potential. With regards to the episode that we saw in class today (my first, as stated in the title of this post), I was most impressed with the character of Willow, who came across almost flawlessly as the kind, loyal, and nerdy friend of the protagonist. She (Willow) is, at least for the moment, my favorite character in the show. Another aspect of this episode of Buffy that I found engaging was the portrayal of the "hell" underneath the school. Let me clarify that when I mention the "hell" I am not referring to its denizens (the people/ vampires? with the scarred faces), but to the appearance of the actual place. The candlelit setting, strange refreshments, and moody atmosphere meld together beautifully to create an otherworldly feeling that contrasts sharply with the show's usual high school environment and give the show's antagonists a suitably "evil" lair.

While I did enjoy today's episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there were some things that, to say the least, got on my nerves. I think the biggest one of these (and judging from the reactions of several classmates I am not alone in this sentiment) was the overload of sappiness, seen in the noisy and all too frequent "kissing sessions" that occurred between Buffy and Angel. I am sincerely hoping that these "sessions" become less frequent in future episodes, lest the show's protagonist and her boyfriend become, at least for me, its most irritating characters.