Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth Review by BlackTequilaKiss

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth Review

Written by: BlackTequilaKiss

Most of you that know me, know that I am a big Buffy fan. I have loved the show for the last 10 years and it's been one of few TV shows I cherish. When I heard they were thinking of making a movie a sly thought crossed my mind. This is the thought.

Over the course of a long time I am going to over the weeks to follow devote my reviews to former episodes of Buffy. Ones that made an impact, some that just missed the mark and those that deserve full attention. For those who are unacquainted to Buffy, this is my way to let you know what the show can offer as well as anything else pivotal to the episode.

With pleasantries out of the way, I will begin with the episode that started it all:

Welcome to the Hellmouth:

It opens with a school at night being broke into by a guy and girl looking for some 'fun'. However the girl gets skirty when they are finally alone. Once the guy convinces her all is well we see her true intentions, blood. The first vampire we are to see on the show. And cut to the opening credits of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The almost too perfect Sunnydale High school is shown in the beam of sunlight and we see hustles of kids walking, riding and hovering around the campus on their day back at soon.

Very quickly we are introduced to who will be pretty much the main characters.

First there is of course Buffy who starts the show off. Her vivid dreams of things to come shows us what to expect and we see a girl who's relatively taken aback by everything new around her. The quintessential blondie at this point there is not much to assume of her.

Then of course there is Xander who sails into the episode doing a very funny bart scene on a skateboard with equally hilarious consequences, Cordelia who is all about materialism but very quick to put those down who do not share her sense of fashion etc, the librarian, Giles, who is a stiff upper lipped british man. Also a watcher who cares deeply about his vocation and of course the mysterious Angel who will not say who he is or why he is helping Buffy, hiding in the shadows but a great source of contact for any information about the evil that can and will happen. Last but not least, Joyce, mother of Buffy who tries to fit her busy schedule around her daughter and keep her safe from harm, not knowing her daughter's true destination. It's the naivety that keeps these characters fresh-faced and a joy to watch.

With all introductions done, this episode revolves many around that of The Master (a truly ugly vampire) and his sidekick, Luke. With plans to open the Hellmouth, it is up to Buffy to stop them, if she will admit she is a slayer and cannot escape her fate. With Willow and Xander both in the known, she finds herself no longer alone and more accepted.

This is a work in progress. Yes there are flaws. It looks rather dated, some of the pop culture references are a little past tense and it can drag at some intervals but overall this a fun ride into the world of Buffy, kind of a glimpse of what is to come.

The music is actually rather mediocre and not all that memorable under the guise of Bob Thiele Jr. For the show the vampires look pretty convincing and remain of the best things of this episode whereas the vampires when they look dusted don't look quite right, shadows and darkness are really what makes the story work. That tension flickered throughout stops it from being a shambles.

The actors: Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), Giles (Anthony Head), Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) all did a nice job. Not brilliant. In this they were not as eased as they could have been and sometimes felt a little stiffened in the role when it should have come across as natural but since this is the beginning we can excuse the off nature as nerves. Things will get better.

Jokes are witty, not necessarily always laugh out loud funny but straight to the point and funny. The pace of the plotline works well enough, a few jump moments you don't expect a few surprises, one of the things I didn't like were the fight scenes, they didn't look authentic but far too staged. It took my focus out of the show during those moments and that I didn't like.

The finale is fitting and we are left wondering. But of course we all know she has to be ok, right? She's Buffy!

Overall the first episode is rather sedated. It gives us a look into all the characters but any action is shortlived and quick, but nevertheless it might be a rather drawn out episode but it is still fun. The characters, especially that of Xander keep the quirky humour and horror alive and kicking and make this worth watching and we have gotten our first glimpse into the world of Sunnydale. The vampires that frequent it and the horror that happens everyday in this small town. This warm season opener is a decent enough one to get everyone ready for the horrors to come and return to the world of Buffy...

Now you have seen the basics of Buffy, don't worry I will be back for Part.2

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is alive and kicking, let's hope the vampires are scared...

See you next time everyone.

xoxox

This is a community member review and not a staff member review. We appreciate and respect the opinions of our readers and are gratefull that they took the time to contribute it.