Getting Buff with Buffy

Season 1, Episode 2: "The Harvest"

Original Air Date: 3/10/97

Buffy and her new friends must stop The Master from completing "The Harvest," opening the hellmouth, and bringing about the apocalypse.

Wow, this is a well-done episode.
Admittedly, I did not see BTVS when it first aired. I came upon it in later seasons, then caught up watching in syndication. As a result, I've always shrugged off first season episodes and anything involving "The Master" as sort of hokey and "before it gets good". Totally wrong in this case. This is a perfect hour of television. It's amazing how quickly the show found it's rhythm.

"I know, if you don't go out it'll be the end of the world."

In this episode, we see all the markers that would go on to define the first few seasons: a little Vampire and Demons 101 with Giles; Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles working together for the first time; idiots who have no idea the fate of the world lies in the balance; some Buffy/Angel sexual tension; Buffy being a total badass (stake a vamp with a pool cue, decapitate another with cymbal); and all those clever quips in the face of danger. It really hooks you.

My only criticism would be that Willow's tepid "Well, at least you guys are okay" reaction to learning that her close friend had been killed and turned into a vampire is out of character. Miss Rosenberg should not be so blasé about such things just yet. But maybe I underestimate just how unbearable Jesse was a human boy. I mean, I only had to spend an hour with him- Willow had to put up with him for years.

4/4 Mr. Pointy's and a great end tag...

"The Earth is doomed."

Most Dated Line/Reference:
Willow tells Cordelia to submit her computer class assignment by hitting "Deliver", causing Cordelia to Delete the assignment.

The joke still works, but it'd be absurd to think of today's mean girl not knowing her way around a keyboard- how is she supposed to cyber-bully fat girls on Instagram?

Favorite Retro Fashion Moments: