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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Re-Watch
Welcome, Buffy fans and fellow elder millennials! If you’re here for a nostalgic stroll down the Hellmouth, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m breaking down my recent rewatch of Season 1, complete with my episodes ranking, a quick recap, and reflections on how my perspective has evolved over the years. Spoiler alert: some things were just as great as I remembered, while others… well, let’s just say time hasn’t been kind.
Buffy Season 1 episodes by ranking
After watching all twelve episodes, here’s my ranking from favorite to least favorite:
Episode 7: Angel
What is it about? Buffy’s budding romance with the mysterious Angel takes a complicated turn when she discovers he is a vampire with a soul, cursed to atone for his sins. Meanwhile, a trio of vampires arrives in Sunnydale, and Buffy must face the fact that Angel's past is darker than she imagined.
My Thoughts? Classic brooding vampire vibes, plus that first real deep hint of the chemistry and connection with Buffy.
Episode 3: Witch
What is it about? Buffy tries to balance her Slayer duties with the desire for normal high school activities and tries out for the cheerleading team. When a series of mysterious accidents occur during tryouts, Buffy suspects witchcraft is at play. The team uncovers a deeper conspiracy involving body-swapping.
My Thoughts? Loved the mix of supernatural and high school drama, plus it gave us a fun twist on the typical “mean girl” story and the pressure of living up to expectations.
Episode 5: Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
What is it about? Buffy struggles with balancing a normal dating life while being the Slayer. When she catches the eye of a sensitive boy named Owen, Buffy tries to have a normal date, but duty calls when a prophecy from the Master’s minions threatens Sunnydale.
My Thoughts? A charming mix of romance and Slayer duty clashes. Loved seeing Buffy struggling with keeping her normal teenage life but knowing she also has to save the world. Plus Angel jealous!
Episode 9: The Puppet Show
What is it about? When strange deaths occur in the school talent show, Buffy and her friends suspect a ventriloquist’s dummy, Sid, might be responsible. However, Sid reveals that he’s actually a demon hunter trapped in a puppet’s body, and the real threat is something even darker.
My Thoughts? Surprisingly creepy and oddly touching for a “possessed dummy” episode.
Episode 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth
What is it about? Buffy Summers, a high school sophomore, moves to Sunnydale hoping to escape her past as a Slayer. She meets new friends Willow and Xander and soon realizes Sunnydale is a hotspot for supernatural activity. When a body turns up in the locker room, Buffy learns that her role as the Slayer is far from over, and the Hellmouth beneath the town is opening.
Episode 2: The Harvest
What is it about? As Buffy struggles with her destiny, she must stop a vampire known as Luke, the Master's vessel, from feeding enough souls to free the Master from his mystical prison. With the help of her new friends and her Watcher, Giles, Buffy faces her first major battle in Sunnydale.
My Thoughts? I consider this the two-part series opener and it pulls you right into Sunnydale and its Hellmouth. Great setting up of the storyline.
Episode 4: Teacher's Pet
What is it about? A mysterious substitute teacher, Miss French, catches the eye of the male students, especially Xander. Buffy grows suspicious of her after realizing that Miss French isn’t human—she’s a giant preying mantis that lures young men to mate with. Buffy and her friends must save Xander before it's too late.
My Thoughts? A giant praying mantis? It’s super campy but very Season 1. And honestly wished Xander would get eaten.
Episode 6: The Pack
What is it about? Xander and a group of other students are possessed by the spirit of hyenas after a trip to the zoo. As Xander becomes aggressive and dangerous, Buffy and Willow must find a way to save him before his primal instincts take over completely.
My Thoughts? Animal possession in high school? Definitely a bit of a weird one and oddly enough the first time I liked Xander’s character. It felt like we got to see the real Xander lurking deep in his soul. LOL
Episode 12: Prophecy Girl
What is it about? Buffy learns of a prophecy that foretells her death at the hands of the Master. Initially terrified, she struggles with the burden of her Slayer destiny and even contemplates quitting. However, she chooses to face her fate, battling the Master in an epic showdown to prevent the Hellmouth from opening.
My Thoughts? Season finale with some serious emotional weight, though not my top pick.
Episode 11: Out of Mind, Out of Sight
What is it about? A student named Marcie becomes invisible after being ignored by her classmates for too long. Using her new ability, she seeks revenge on those who overlooked her, targeting the popular students at Sunnydale High. Buffy must stop Marcie before she hurts anyone, reflecting on the isolation and pain of feeling invisible.
My Thoughts? A thoughtful take on feeling invisible in high school, but was still missing something to grab my attention.
Episode 8: I, Robot... You, Jane
What is it about? Willow falls for a boy she meets online, but when it’s revealed that her online crush is actually a demon named Moloch who has been unleashed into the internet, Buffy and the gang must figure out how to stop him before he becomes too powerful.
My Thoughts? The computers and emails 🤭 Giles not wanting anything to do with tech was so much fun! But the online demon premise just didn’t click with me.
Episode 10: Nightmares
What is it about? Buffy and the others begin experiencing their worst nightmares coming to life, from spiders to public humiliation. As Buffy investigates, she learns that a comatose boy is causing the nightmare world to bleed into reality. Buffy must help him confront his trauma to restore balance.
My Thoughts? Fun idea, but the execution didn’t hold up as well. This one I was actually bored with.
Buffy Season 1 in a Nutshell
For those who haven’t watched in a while, Season 1 is all about Buffy trying to escape her Slayer destiny, only to realize she can’t leave her powers — or the vampires of Sunnydale — behind. She’s joined by her new friends Willow and Xander, along with her mentor, Giles, as they form the “Scooby Gang” and face the ancient vampire known as the Master. Together, they battle various supernatural foes every week, while an overarching storyline builds towards a showdown with the Master, who’s desperate to break free from his mystical prison.
