Poll!

[next_to_normal]

Quite a while back, snickfic posted about her season 1 rewatch, and there was talk about "The Pack" being the first really effective episode of the series. And that got me to thinking.

It seems pretty generally accepted that season 1 is in a different category than the rest of BtVS - Buffy with training wheels, almost. It doesn't get much fandom love. Full series rewatches usually begin with a grumble about slogging through season 1 in order to get to the good stuff. I've even heard plenty of people suggest NOT starting at the beginning in order to get new viewers hooked on Buffy, or at the very least, assuring people, "Just keep watching! It gets much better, I promise." It's shorter, it's campier, the metaphors are really anvilicious, the monsters are really cheesy (okay, that doesn't totally change), and it features less of the long-term arcs and emotional character moments that become the touchstone of the show.

But where, exactly, does the "real" BtVS begin? What's the first episode that makes you sit up and say, "THAT'S the show I know and love!"

[Poll #1494098]

Comments

[clevermonikerr.livejournal.com]

Probably Prophecy Girl. It's where I tell my friends to start watching the show. I watched WTTH and wasn't interested, then gave Prophecy Girl a chance when it popped up on a download community I frequent, and have been hooked ever since. Season One as a whole isn't my favorite, though some episodes are so fun to rewatch.

When She Was Bad is one of my top 10 episodes. I think I'm weird in that I prefer that to School Hard.

P.S--I've seen you around in different Buffy journals/communities. Friending you if that's okay.

[next_to_normal]

Yep, Prophecy Girl was it for me, too. :) I must admit, I never gave much thought to WSWB, except as it parallels Buffy's much longer post-death depression in S6, but there is definitely some good stuff in there.

And of course friending is okay! :) Friended you back.