Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Episode 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth

At long last we made it! The episode that started it all by airing on the WB, back when the CW was the WB. It rebooted the failed movie and gave us an ever expanding universe that was true to Joss Whedon's vision and gave us Sarah Michelle Geller as the blonde with a stake.

The episode, of course written by Whedon himself, starts off by throwing us for a loop. A young couple breaks into Sunnydale high late at night. A troublemaking boy, who only has his mind on one thing and his sweet date who clearly wants to be anywhere else. She's a good girl who fell for a bad boy and is going along for the ride as he takes her through the dark empty hallways. Or at least that's how she wanted it to look like. She shows her true face, her vampire face and kills the boy. Darla is back!

Buffy herself is dreaming of the Master and all the crazy things that are to happen this year. It's a lot, including the Vampires storming the school when the Master rises. Joyce calls out to Buffy and tells her she can't be late for her fist day at. . . You guessed it, Sunnydale High.

It's here that we meet Xander for the first time, riding a skateboard of all things, the only time that will ever happen and you can see why. He is not good at it. He quickly finds a quirky looking Willow and his best friend Jessie. The trio's conversation is all about the slayer herself.

Principle Flutie rips up Buffy's records to show her that she has a fresh start, as soon as he reads that she burnt down the gym he starts to tape it back up. He wants to be everyone's best friend but at the same time he is very by the book. Not nearly as cool or understanding as he let's on.

Xander finally meets Buffy and the first thing he says to her is "Can I have you?" He is so smooth. Even points out that they both go to school. He is Jon Don if I've ever seen one. He finds a stake that fell out of her purse, that isn't normal. Buffy is in a history class that thinks the Black Plague being used for germ warfare is fun. That is the type of school she has entered.

She quickly makes fun with one of the most beautiful women who has ever lived. Charisma Carpenter, or Cordelia Chase as her character is named. She tells Buffy all about the town and the bronze. They become fast friends, how the show could have been if Buffy stuck with her. She is so beautiful. Beyond words.

She dropped Buffy off in the library where we meet Giles, guess he won the job in the comics. He gives Buffy a book on vampires and Buffy runs out of there. She wants no part of her old life. I guess Pike ditching her left it's mark on her.

Buffy becomes friends with Willow so that they could study together. Willow suggests the library but Buffy vetoes that idea. She is creeped out by that place. Xander and Jessie show up moments later and returns the stake. She says it's to defend herself and Xander and Jessie try to figure everything out about her they can. Cordelia tells Buffy about the dead guy in the lockers. Jessie tries to hit on Cordelia but gets shot down dirty. Buffy and Cordy's friendship is already falling apart and it just started. Damn the luck.

Buffy finds the bite marks on the body and goes to yell at Giles, as if it is his fault. Giles tells her he is to be her watcher but she wants no part of it. The job of slayer is just too much for her. She can't do it again. She storms out and Xander walks out, he over heard all of it Giles chases after her and tells her that something major is coming to Sunnydale and only she can stop it.

We see underneath the high school a cavern full of vampires. One named Luke is reading from the vampire bible over a pit of what looks to be blood.

Back at Buffy's house she is trying on clothes to go to the Bronze. We see Joyce talking about making it work and her gallery. She is over doing it with the whole good mom thing. She is trying to relate to Buffy but keeps making her feel worse and worse. She heads to the club but a mystery man starts to follow her. She spots him and leads him towards a back alley, where she gets the drop on him. Literally drops down on him. The mystery man turns out to be Angel!

He knows all about Vampires, we all know how and why! Buffy on the other hand has no idea who he is or how he knows about any of it. He wants to help her with the vampires but she wants no part of it. He hints at the hellmouth down below and tells her about the harvest, but not really. He is the king of vague.

We enter the Bronze and see just how lonely Buffy really is. It isn't long before she finds Willow and we learn that at age five her and Xander dated till he stole her doll. Buffy tells Willow that her life is short and she should go out and seize the day. Buffy spots Giles upstairs and goes to talk to him, leaving Willow alone.

Giles had never heard of the Harvest. It worries him. She also tells Giles about the mouth of hell. He tells her that everything might be fine as long as she isn't having the nightmares, you know the ones from the start of the show. Jessie gets shot down once again by Cordy so he moves on to. . . .Darla! Buffy says she doesn't have warm feelings for vamps, now that is funny. The slayer who falls for vampires over and over, she does have warm feelings for them. 

While watching the crowd Buffy spots a vampire talking to Willow and she rushes to her aid. Willow leaves with the vamp before Buffy can get there. Buffy makes a stake and goes through the back halls of the bronze where she attacks Cordy by mistake, thus ending their friendship, at least for the time being. Although they never do become as close friends as they could have.

Back at the pool of blood the Master rises. He is a vampire but looks more bat than man. We learn that the Harvest is to restore him to health and free him from being trapped underground. Willow and Jessie are being taken to the Master. Willow's date is taking her through the cemetery, why would she go with him?

Buffy runs into Xander while looking for Willow and Xander tells her that he knows she is the slayer but doesn't believe her. Buffy doesn't care she tells him that Willow is in danger and he goes to help. She is one of his best friends after all.

Speaking of Willow, her date throws her into a crypt. She is finally scared but can't escape. Darla shows up and Jessie runs in after her. She already fed off him a bit. Buffy and Xander show up in time to save them. Buffy makes a joke about living in the crypt, something that Spike will do in a few years time.

Buffy slays one vamp quickly before going after Darla. Xander gets Willow and Jessie out of there. Buffy starts to kick Darla's ass. She is messing with the oldest of the whirlwind, not cool slayer. Luke comes and saves Darla, tossing Buffy aside like a ragdoll. Darla takes off as Luke and Buffy fight. He is stronger than her. Not something many vampires can say.

Xander and co are surrounded by vamps as Giles reads up on the Harvest and Luke starts to move in on the kill. Buffy is doomed and that is how they ended the first episode of the greatest show ever!!! Is Joss Whedon great or what?