Buffy – Reflections on Season 1 + Spike Intro Ep.

Having watched the entirety of first season, and Episode 3 of second season (they run Buffy on FX at 7AM, thank you TIVO) I can definitely say I totally dig this series. It’s got everything that makes for great entertainment: quality characters, good plot, humor and a touch of angst. Oddly enough, as I was watching each episode, my mind kept returning to the results of the Buffy sociological study I heard at Phauxcon. I wonder what my current character opinions will say about me.

Buffy – I really like Buffy. She’s being a Slayer b/c she really has no choice, just wants to be normal, but when faced with the idea of: if you do this, you will die but if you don’t the world will be destroyed, she stepped up to the plate. Two scenes (so far) really defined her character for me. The nightmare scene with her father telling her that he doesn’t really love her and that it’s her fault her parents broke up (her deepest fears), and the scene where she throws the cross on the ground and says she quits being the slayer b/c sixteen is too young to die.

Xander – Xander rocks. Seriously. He’s a nice guy, dumb to an extent, but basically good. And funny. What’s great about this character is he could easily cross the line into pure clownishness, but he doesn’t because it’s obvious that the actor and scriptwriters want to show that Xander is a person. He’s got real guts. He’s also got a real brain, as shown when he suggested CPR in the season finale, and then did it (not easy), and succeeded!

Willow – It’s nice to see good support staff for your support staff. Also, I like the hacker angle, and it’s good to see in general how the usual stereotype that guys are more techy is shattered in this show. One thing I’m not getting yet is how Willow is possibly going to turn lesbian. She seems awfully straight to me. Not even a hint of bi-ness. Hanging out with Buffy should bring out the bi in anyone breathing, but it’s not working here.

Giles – Rocks. Totally rocks. Also, he’s so utterly cute, in that absent minded professor way. Again, this is a character that could very easily play to complete stereotype, but doesn’t, due to great writing and acting.

Angel – So far for me (and I’m going to get flamed for this, I’m sure) Angel is the wussiest character in the whole show. When it comes to taking action, every other character besides him jumps into the fray, then Angel decides, okay, maybe I’ll do something. He’s always the first to say, this is impossible. The most guts he showed was in Spike’s intro episode. Even then he spent a lot of time running. That being said, I’m itching to learn more about this curse thing.

Spike and Druscilla – I love Spike. It’s so nice to see a great villian. He’s a real planner, taking his time to observe Buffy fight the other vampire before showing himself. And the one liners…priceless. Of course, I know he switches teams sometime (though not in the same way as Willow), but as for now, I’m enjoying the sheer mayhem. In addition, Druscilla is positively eerie, and I love the sort of weirdly sexual/parent-child thing Spike and her have going on. And the dolls, yikes!

Cordelia – Hysterical. Love the absolute selfishness. "When I hit that girl on her bike with my car, she kept crying about her leg. What about my pain?" Beautiful. And the episode with the invisible girl gave her some depth, but not too much, which was good.

Sundry Others – I love the new principal. "Understanding? That’s fuzzy liberal minded thinking that leads to being eaten." Perfect. Also, Buffy’s mom is just the right note of what a real mother would be like in that situation. Finally, the computer science teacher and Giles are super cute.

Overall, can’t wait for more!