Poll!

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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

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For me, it's The Witch. I found the two parter WttH/The Harvest a bit cringeworthy in parts, plus the vampires were boring. The Witch was the episode that made me sit up and think there was more to this show than first seemed.

The Witch is just a great little episode and rather than repeat why I think so, I'll just link to my review. I was a bit rude about cheerleading. Sorry.

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I can see that. I always thought it was cool that the show so quickly moved away from vampires as the MOTW. For a show called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," that's a risky move when they're still trying to define what the show's about. But I like shows that take risks. :)

And LOL, I have no problem with being rude about cheerleading.