UK Mall 1 - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season 1 (Box Set) [1998]

My favourite episode is The Puppet Show. Sid is a great character and I can understand why they used him in the game. I also like the season finale.

Definitely worth buying!

Despite the quality of the episodes, I feel that for a special edition the boxed set is rather thin on the ground with only the basics biographies and a couple of interviews. On the plus side, however, the episode guide included in the boxed set is both informative and humorous, with comments on the continuity of each episode as well as notes on some of the background and in-jokes of each episode. All in all a great boxed set despite the lack of extras.

Many of the strengths of the series can be seen in the first season. The dialogue is sharp and the acting is generally strong. The show intelligently modernises some of the conventions of the Gothic genre: possession, invisibility, nightmares coming to life, etc. Here, however, they are used to tackle 1990s issues including the dangers of internet chatrooms, domineering parents and child abuse. This latter theme is central to the season. The show is about schoolchildren forced to deal with dangers caused not only by the supernatural but also by the everyday world around them (see 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight' and 'Nightmares', for example). Buffy is both the protector of the innocent and an innocent in need of protection, a tension that creates much of the show's dramatic effect.

The season is visually impressive. From season 2 onwards, the graveyard scenes were shot in a studio carpark, but here they are filmed on location and are effective enough to make the move to a set seem like a mistake. The special effects aren't bad, though do seem dated: at this time, vampires turning to dust was still the big dramatic effect.

There are weaknesses in the season. The friendship between Buffy, Willow and Xander is never developed: they meet in the first episode and by episode 3 are lifelong friends. Compare this with the later introduction of characters such as Oz, Anya and Tara and we can see the ways in which the writing matured as the season progressed. The action sequences seem a little tame, particularly in the first two episodes; again, this improved in later seasons.

Despite its faults, however, this season comes alive in the final episode, 'Prophecy Girl'. This is beautifully acted and gives a clear glimpse of what the show would become. It captures the reality of death in a way that few episodes would: only 'Passion' and 'The Body' (seasons 2 and 5 respectively) really match it. Alyson Hannigan conveys the real horror of murder, while SMG hits the perfect balance between acceptance of fate and the struggle to resist it.

BtVS season 1 is a good start to a great series. It's a good introduction to the characters and to the themes of the show and sets things up nicely for the better seasons that followed.

For the first time, Whedon has provided us with all the terrors of high school in a horror genre setting. Not only that, but he provides a confident, cool FEMALE character to trounce the bad guys. Whether you're a fan of the genre or a teenage feminist, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) provides a niche for the unpopular misfits in high school, but looks upon them as heroes. Were you as uncomfortable as Xander (Nicholas Brendon)? As geeky as Willow (Alyson Hannigan)? As quick with an aphorism as Oz (Seth Green)? The series proves that high school is indeed survivable no matter who you are, even if you're cliquish Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). And in the end, the more unpopular you were - possibly the more important you were to your teenage community.

Mix in your favorite teacher (or librarian) played by Anthony Stewart Head to be the requisite horror genre British pseudo-scientist, and Buffy's single mom (Kristine Sutherland) and you're all set to go with the most intelligent sci-fi TV series possibly written for this age group.

I'm not kidding. It's amazing how quickly these characters grow in the first season and their responses remain true to life despite the extraordinary situations they're thrown into. Creator Joss Whedon has become one of the most talented writer/directors working in the industry today, despite the fact that "Buffy" is most of what he's been doing for the last ten years.

As far as what you get in this box set, you're in for a treat. This is the full first season, not just the half previously released on VHS; including the season finale "Prophecy Girl" - where we see just how heroic Buffy really is, despite her adolescence and fear of death. Also present throughout the series are teenage issues of emotional/sexual conflict ("Teacher's Pet") and problems with acceptance ("The Pack"). Specific highlights also include Whedon's commentary for the two part premiere as well as the first appearances of Angel (David Boreanaz) and Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte).

Remember, Buffy's not JUST about vampires. In fact I think it's safe to say that vampires are secondary to the emotional undercurrent of the show, if not a particular episode's plot. This is the one for the adults.

My favourite episode is The Puppet Show. Sid is a great character and I can understand why they used him in the game. I also like the season finale.

Definitely worth buying!

Despite the quality of the episodes, I feel that for a special edition the boxed set is rather thin on the ground with only the basics biographies and a couple of interviews. On the plus side, however, the episode guide included in the boxed set is both informative and humorous, with comments on the continuity of each episode as well as notes on some of the background and in-jokes of each episode. All in all a great boxed set despite the lack of extras.

Many of the strengths of the series can be seen in the first season. The dialogue is sharp and the acting is generally strong. The show intelligently modernises some of the conventions of the Gothic genre: possession, invisibility, nightmares coming to life, etc. Here, however, they are used to tackle 1990s issues including the dangers of internet chatrooms, domineering parents and child abuse. This latter theme is central to the season. The show is about schoolchildren forced to deal with dangers caused not only by the supernatural but also by the everyday world around them (see 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight' and 'Nightmares', for example). Buffy is both the protector of the innocent and an innocent in need of protection, a tension that creates much of the show's dramatic effect.

The season is visually impressive. From season 2 onwards, the graveyard scenes were shot in a studio carpark, but here they are filmed on location and are effective enough to make the move to a set seem like a mistake. The special effects aren't bad, though do seem dated: at this time, vampires turning to dust was still the big dramatic effect.

There are weaknesses in the season. The friendship between Buffy, Willow and Xander is never developed: they meet in the first episode and by episode 3 are lifelong friends. Compare this with the later introduction of characters such as Oz, Anya and Tara and we can see the ways in which the writing matured as the season progressed. The action sequences seem a little tame, particularly in the first two episodes; again, this improved in later seasons.

Despite its faults, however, this season comes alive in the final episode, 'Prophecy Girl'. This is beautifully acted and gives a clear glimpse of what the show would become. It captures the reality of death in a way that few episodes would: only 'Passion' and 'The Body' (seasons 2 and 5 respectively) really match it. Alyson Hannigan conveys the real horror of murder, while SMG hits the perfect balance between acceptance of fate and the struggle to resist it.

BtVS season 1 is a good start to a great series. It's a good introduction to the characters and to the themes of the show and sets things up nicely for the better seasons that followed.

For the first time, Whedon has provided us with all the terrors of high school in a horror genre setting. Not only that, but he provides a confident, cool FEMALE character to trounce the bad guys. Whether you're a fan of the genre or a teenage feminist, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) provides a niche for the unpopular misfits in high school, but looks upon them as heroes. Were you as uncomfortable as Xander (Nicholas Brendon)? As geeky as Willow (Alyson Hannigan)? As quick with an aphorism as Oz (Seth Green)? The series proves that high school is indeed survivable no matter who you are, even if you're cliquish Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). And in the end, the more unpopular you were - possibly the more important you were to your teenage community.

Mix in your favorite teacher (or librarian) played by Anthony Stewart Head to be the requisite horror genre British pseudo-scientist, and Buffy's single mom (Kristine Sutherland) and you're all set to go with the most intelligent sci-fi TV series possibly written for this age group.

I'm not kidding. It's amazing how quickly these characters grow in the first season and their responses remain true to life despite the extraordinary situations they're thrown into. Creator Joss Whedon has become one of the most talented writer/directors working in the industry today, despite the fact that "Buffy" is most of what he's been doing for the last ten years.

As far as what you get in this box set, you're in for a treat. This is the full first season, not just the half previously released on VHS; including the season finale "Prophecy Girl" - where we see just how heroic Buffy really is, despite her adolescence and fear of death. Also present throughout the series are teenage issues of emotional/sexual conflict ("Teacher's Pet") and problems with acceptance ("The Pack"). Specific highlights also include Whedon's commentary for the two part premiere as well as the first appearances of Angel (David Boreanaz) and Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte).

Remember, Buffy's not JUST about vampires. In fact I think it's safe to say that vampires are secondary to the emotional undercurrent of the show, if not a particular episode's plot. This is the one for the adults.