Buffy the Vampire Slayer

:

Season 1
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 303 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 260 out of 303
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 303
  3. Negative: 35 out of 303
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User Reviews

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  1. SirIsaacBrock
    Oct 8, 2017
    10
    Great show to binge watch for Halloween! Interesting villains and heroes. Glad it ended before it became tired and boring like some shows still going.
  2. jnbayridge2288
    Apr 13, 2019
    0
    Stupid plotline, boring show. Don't know why people give this show a high rating.
  3. heromoder
    Apr 27, 2015
    7
    A weak beginning to what would become a rather brilliant show. I think the story ideas just weren't big enough to elicit any real scares, and the villain was rather weak, but the acting and chemistry between the actors really elevates this. Not my favourite season, but a promising start.
  4. Rox22
    Mar 17, 2013
    7
    Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite show, and I've watched every episode of every season at least 10 times. So here are my thoughts to Season 1: Season 1 acts as a decent start to the show doing a great job of introducing us to the main cast. The effects, for the most part, were a bit cheap at times but for the first season, and when it came out, this was forgivable. Sarah is highlyBuffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite show, and I've watched every episode of every season at least 10 times. So here are my thoughts to Season 1: Season 1 acts as a decent start to the show doing a great job of introducing us to the main cast. The effects, for the most part, were a bit cheap at times but for the first season, and when it came out, this was forgivable. Sarah is highly believable as Buffy and I highly doubt anyone else could have played her as well (even though she looks nothing like Kristy Swanson from the movie that the series followed.) Alyson Hannigan does a great job with Willow, to the point that I actually had a huge crush on the character (not the actress.) She's incredibly sweet, but also has such great potential. Nicholas Brendon was initially perceived as the comic relief, but his character developed some real depth and there was allot more to him. Anthony Head just came across as a bit of a cliche and a little out of place in the first season, but seamed to settle into his role in later episodes. Overall: Not the best season, but a great start none the less.… Expand
  5. AndyUK
    Jun 30, 2013
    7
    The first season of the show isn't quite up to the standard the show would set in the future but it is still very fun. It focuses on a ''high school is hell'' theme and is very much a monster of the week series. However, the great cast, characters,dialogue and humour that would make the show so beloved are all there from the start and the episodes that do form an arc, such as Angel,The first season of the show isn't quite up to the standard the show would set in the future but it is still very fun. It focuses on a ''high school is hell'' theme and is very much a monster of the week series. However, the great cast, characters,dialogue and humour that would make the show so beloved are all there from the start and the episodes that do form an arc, such as Angel, Nightmares and Prophecy Girl all show the potential that the show had in the future.… Expand
  6. drlowdon
    Aug 11, 2013
    7
    The majority of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would likely tell you that the show’s first season is its weakest and it’s hard to argue with that. Many of the elements that would make Buffy such a fantastic show in later seasons, such as its clever dialogue and ability to take plots in an unexpected directions, can be seen on occasions but this was very much a show still finding its feet.The majority of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would likely tell you that the show’s first season is its weakest and it’s hard to argue with that. Many of the elements that would make Buffy such a fantastic show in later seasons, such as its clever dialogue and ability to take plots in an unexpected directions, can be seen on occasions but this was very much a show still finding its feet. Several of the twelve episodes on offer here are simply ‘Monster of the Week’ focused and none of them could be considered amongst the series very best. To be honest some could even be described as extremely flawed with poor productions values and cheesy (not in a good way) plots that don’t hold up well when viewed today.

    This is still worth a watch to see where it all began but there was much better to come.    … Expand
  7. lukeparkes26
    Jul 12, 2017
    7
    While Season One isn't the best out of all the seasons in Buffy, it's still a great, solid introduction to the Buffyverse. We meet Buffy, our witty, strong-willed heroine who is the Slayer. We meet her watcher, Giles. We meet her friends, geeky Xander and shy, intelligent Willow. We meet the snarky, popular Cordelia. Though much of it seems dated now (including the technology and some ofWhile Season One isn't the best out of all the seasons in Buffy, it's still a great, solid introduction to the Buffyverse. We meet Buffy, our witty, strong-willed heroine who is the Slayer. We meet her watcher, Giles. We meet her friends, geeky Xander and shy, intelligent Willow. We meet the snarky, popular Cordelia. Though much of it seems dated now (including the technology and some of the special effects), it is filled with such memorable one-liners, some that make you laugh, some that will even motivate you (for instance, "Seize the moment 'cause tomorrow you might be dead"), and it has such great storylines with intriguing premises. Personally, it isn't my favourite, but I still think Season One is a gem!… Expand
  8. ForReals13
    Sep 15, 2018
    7
    Welcome To The Hellmouth B. The Harvest B-. Witch B-.
    Teacher's Pet C-. Never Kill A Boy On The First Date C+. The Pack C+.
    Angel B+. I Robot You Jane C-. The Puppet Show B-. Nightmares B.
    Out Of Mind Out Of Sight B-. Prophecy Girl A-.
  9. kieranallan0074
    Jun 30, 2018
    8
    Season 1 is a fantastic start, it does what season 1 of any show should do, i introduce us to the cast, now although it isn't the best season overall, it most certainly isn't the last, and a great tv show must come with a kick-ass super villain, and season 1 of Buffy the vampire slayer delivered. Buffy season 1 comes with an intriguing cast, for example, Angel and the master. It also comesSeason 1 is a fantastic start, it does what season 1 of any show should do, i introduce us to the cast, now although it isn't the best season overall, it most certainly isn't the last, and a great tv show must come with a kick-ass super villain, and season 1 of Buffy the vampire slayer delivered. Buffy season 1 comes with an intriguing cast, for example, Angel and the master. It also comes with an intriguing story line, that being Buffy must overcome her fear of the the demonic vampire "The master" in order to kill him. And of course it comes with an intriguing villain. Also, let's be honest, Sarah Michelle Geller totally nailed the role of Buffy Summers. All and all, a great season and a great start to a great TV Series.… Expand
  10. Kai82
    Feb 20, 2020
    8
    The first season set the foundation for Buffy but while still being good it is not as good and polished as the later seasons. Even Joss Whedon had to start somewhere and I will say he started real good. It is a well done set up for the things to come and introduces the characters in a solid manner. Buffy, Angel, Willow, Giles and Xander are some of the best cast in TV (Spike and othersThe first season set the foundation for Buffy but while still being good it is not as good and polished as the later seasons. Even Joss Whedon had to start somewhere and I will say he started real good. It is a well done set up for the things to come and introduces the characters in a solid manner. Buffy, Angel, Willow, Giles and Xander are some of the best cast in TV (Spike and others also but he was not in season 1). I always cared about them and they stay interesting over the whole series. The character development, interactions, interesting ideas, dialogue (humour) and stories are the reason I watched all episodes. While there are more “Monster of the Week” episodes here you still see the ideas of Joss Whedon and that he wants to do something new. He started the overarching story arcs and bad guy plotting without the characters (mostly) knowing about it here. He avoided the bad guy has to be beaten in each episode stuff that leads to villain decay (TV Trope). Also the big bad guys (and girl) are always good and interesting in each season and that is always a plus. What would Batman be without the Joker;-). The humour is also really good. There are so many good jokes, irony and parody in this series. Overall a solid start and you should know that it only got better with the next seasons.… Expand
  11. ComandanteCobra
    Jan 12, 2022
    9
    Great start, it gets even better in season 2.
    It was relevant in his time and does stand well the test of time.
  12. ayamz
    Dec 5, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, and Alyson Hannigan, has many developments throughout the series. The special effects and cinematography are dramatically improved throughout the 7 seasons, and the relationships between characters is always developing. The small, blonde, 16-year old vampire slayer, Buffy Summers, moves to small-town Sunnydale, CA after burning down her old high school gym in Los Angeles. Unknown to her is that Sunnydale is located on a Hellmouth, one of the only gateways to Hell on Earth’s surface. Throughout the series, Buffy and her “Scooby Gang”, primarily made up of her best friend, who becomes a powerful witch as the series progresses, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), the boy who had a crush on her in the beginning of the series, Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and Sunnydale High School’s librarian, who is also Buffy’s watcher, a mentor for vampire slayers, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), fight against the evil beings that are drawn to Sunnydale by the Hellmouth.

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer puts a new spin on “teen drama”. On top of facing the forces of darkness, they also have to face the forces of adolescence like relationships and high school. The show is well-balanced in showing the “Scoobies” trying to balance fighting vampires and demons, as well as different aspects of high school life. In the first episode of the series, Buffy tries to leave school to look around a crypt she fought vampires at the previous night. As she is about to walk out of the school gate, Principal Flutie (Ken Lerner) tells her she can’t leave school grounds. Despite this regular high school setback, she jump the gate when he leaves and carries on with her plan.
    There are many times in the series where the relationship of the “Scoobies” is the only thing that can defeat the evil they’re facing. In the season 5 finale, “The Gift”, Buffy sacrifices herself to save her younger sister, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) in order to close a portal that will lead to the apocalypse. In the beginning of season 6, Willow and Xander make attempts at resurrecting Buffy, based on the belief that she is suffering in hell. They unexpectedly succeed in bringing her back, although Buffy reveals in the 7th episode of season 6, “Once More, with Feeling” that she was actually in Heaven after she died. Her friends are distraught by this development, and Buffy works through the emotions of being dragged out of Heaven, which she comes to terms with by the end of season 6. Possibly the most monumental example in the importance of the characters’ relationships is when Willow becomes overtaken with dark magic after the death of her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson) in season 6 episode 19 “Seeing Red”. When she becomes intent on destroying the world in order to end everyone’s suffering, she is too strong for even Buffy to stop. The one thing that stops her from carrying out her plan is Xander. He reminds her of their first day of kindergarten, when she cried after breaking a yellow crayon, and tells her that he loves that Willow, as well as the dark magic Willow who wants to destroy the planet. After repeatedly telling her he loves her as she uses her magic to attempt to stop him, she eventually falls into his arms, sobbing, and reverts back to her normal self.

    Although the special effects in the start of the series, that are bad to society’s movie standards today, may be the reason viewers are off-put by the show and makes them feel unable to watch on, they do get better. Like most things, this series only gets better with time. As the seasons go on, many aspects that add to the viewing experience are improved, such as the makeup and effects done on the vampires and demons to make them look more realistic. With there being fight scenes to some extent in every episode, it is also important to mention that the fight choreography improves as well, eventually seeming to come across as real, unchoreographed fights. The series develops in many ways as it goes on, showing how deserving it was to carry on for seven seasons.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best TV Season of 1997
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 1997
3
#3 Most Shared TV Season of 1997

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Jun 26, 2013
    83
    All in all, this looks like one of the brightest new shows of the season.
    Read full review
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Steve Johnson
    Feb 25, 2013
    90
    The performances are generally strong, but the devilishly clever, culturally hyper-attuned dialogue (by executive producer Josh Whedon, who wrote the original and worked on "Speed" and "Toy Story") is what makes this stand out. [10 Mar 1997, p.C8]
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Feb 25, 2013
    90
    The winsome Sarah Michelle Gellar is a huge improvement over bubblehead Kristy Swanson as the new Buffy, moving with her mom to the "one-Starbucks town" of Sunnydale, Calif. She's cute and pert but nobody's fool. [10 Mar 1997, p.3D]
See all critic reviews »