Buffy the Vampire slayer had a shaky start in life.

Joss Whedon, co writer of Alien Resurrection and Toy Story, wanted to invert the idea of the blonde horror movie victim, instead turning her into the heroine.

The first incarnation for Buffy was Joss Whedons 1992 *Buffy the Vampire slayer* the movie, featuring Kirsty Swanson, and Donald Sutherland.
Whedon says of the film,
"I had written this scary film about an empowered woman, and they turned it into a broad comedy. It was crushing."

The movie was critically panned.


Whedon was approached several years later to do a tv version of Buffy. He created a 25 minute pilot, featuring Sarah Michelle Geller as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brenden as Xander Harris, Riff Regan as Willow Rosenberg, and Anthony Stewart Head as Giles.

The show was eventually picked up the the WB network, and aired in The US on March 10th, 1997.


The character of Willow was recast, the part given to Alyson Hannigan.


Series one was a 12 part series, shorter than every other series by ten episodes.

Series one introduces Buffy Summers to Sunnydale.

Buffy and her Mother Joyce have moved from Los Angeles to the small town of Sunnydale.
Buffy is a vampire Slayer, something she learned in LA, and, after burning down the high school gym to kill the vampires that were infesting it, she was expelled.
Hoping to escape her slayer calling, Buffy is eager to leave, with a new start in Sunnydale.
Unfortunatly, things dont go to plan.

Sunnydale is built on a hellmouth, a demon magnet. Rupert Giles, Buffys Watcher (each Slayer has a watcher, to help them in the fight against evil) is already there, having taken the Job as high school librarian, to welcome her.

Although initially indignant, Buffy finally accepts her role as slayer and fights season ones *big bad* the Master, an ancient and evil vampire.

So. Here is a rundown of the 12 episodes of season one.

1~Welcome to the Hellmouth.
written by-Joss Whedon.
directed by-Joss Whedon.
16 year old Buffy moves to Sunnydale, hoping to escape her life as the Slayer, but when she realises her new friends, and new home are in danger from vampires, she accepts her calling.



2~The Harvest.
written by-Joss Whedon.
directed by- John T Kretchmer.

Buffys new friend Jesse has been kidnapped by vampires. Giles and Buffy reveal Buffys identity to Xander and Willow, who want to help.
Buffy tries to rescue Jesse, but is too late. He is already a vampire.
Meanwhile, Sunnydales vampires prepare for a dark ritual *The Harvest* in Sunnydales nightclub, and only Buffy and her friends can stop it.


3~Witch.
written by-Dana Reston.
directed by-Stephen Cragg.

Trying for a normal life, Buffy tries out for Cheerleading.
When cheerleaders begin getting injured in freak accidents, Buffy and the gang suspect supernatural intervention.
A witch is trying her best to get on the cheerleading squad, and Buffy needs to find her, and stop her quickly.


4~Teachers Pet.
written by-David Greenwalt.
directed by-Bruce Seth Green.

Xander has fallen in love with his new teacher, but Buffy suspects she is not all she seems.
In fact, the teacher turns out to be a giant preying mantis, who wants Xander only for his virgin sperm.
Buffy needs to rescue Xander before he is forced to mate with the teacher, who would then kill him.

5~Never kill a boy on the first date.
written by-Rob des Hotel/Dean Batali.
directed by-David Semel.

Yearning for normality, Buffy accepts a date with romantic mysterious Owen.
Unfortunatly for her, keeping Owen safe is too dangerous, and when he seems more interested in her exciting life, than her herself, she ends things.


6~The Pack.
written by-Joe Reinkemeyer/Matt Kiene.
directed by-Bruce Seth Green.

During the school trip to the Zoo, Xander, and a group of school bullies are possessed by the spirit of hyenas.
They continue to wreak havoc, even eating the school principle, until Buffy Giles and Willow figure out who is behind the possesion, and stop him.


7~Angel.
written by-David Greenwalt.
directed by-Scott Brazil.

Angel, a handsome stranger rescues Buffy from a group of vampire warriors.
She discovers she has feelings for him, but questions them when Angel reveals a dark secret.


8~I Robot, you Jane.
written by-Thomas A Swyden/Ashley Gable.
directed by-Stephen Posey.

Willow likes a boy she has found on the internet.
Unfortunatly, he turns out to not be a boy at all, but a centuries old demon, who has become stuck in cyberspace.
Xander Buffy and Giles have to get him back where he belongs, before Willow gets hurt.


9~The puppet show.
written by-Rob Des Hotel/Dean Batali.
directed by-Ellen S Pressman.

Xander Buffy and Willow have been forced to perform in Sunndale highs talent show.
when one of the other performers is found dead, with her heart removed, Buffy and the gang have to find out who is behind it.


10~Nightmares.
written by-Joss Whedon/David Greenwalt.
directed by-Bruce Seth Green.

In Sunnydale, peoples nightmares are coming true.
The clock is ticking before nightmare and reality merge, and Buffy and the gang must find whoever is causing the dreams.


11~Out of mind, Out of sight.
written by-Joss Whedon/Thomas A Swyden/Ashley Gable.
directed by-Reza Badiyi.

Something, or someone invisible is attacking Sunnydale students.
Buffy and the gang track down the attacker, an ex student who felt so lonely, she literally disapeared.

12~Prophesy girl.
written by-Joss Whedon.
directed by-Joss Whedon.

Buffy is going to die....or at least, thats what the prophesy that Giles has discovered says.
Buffy is frightened, and tries to abandon her duties, but steps to the plate to fight the master, when she accepts its her calling.



Buffy works well as a series, because the supernatural elements are basically metaphors for high school life.
Everyone fights demons in high school....its just that in Buffy they are literal.

Whilst some of the plots are silly, its the message beneath them that are important.
Buffy and her friends are not the most popular kids in school, but they help each other through.



Along with the 12 episodes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer series one has some extras.
These include,
Audio Commentary
Interviews
Music Video - 1. Hepburn - I QUIT
Trailer
Photo Gallery
Biographies - 1. Cast


Buffy the Vampire Slayer, series one can be brought from Amazon.co.uk, but only used versions, for around £15.00.