On March 10th, 1997  a little show aired on the WB that would ultimately change Pop Culture as we know it. Yes folks, I’m talking Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

After a tiny bit of insomnia, and a deep tidal wave of nostalgia, I’ve decided to start a rewatch of everyone’s favorite blonde badass to see how it stands the test of time, okay, maybe I just wanted an excuse to rewatch and share thoughts.

Spoilers obviously.

Episode: 101 “Welcome to the Hellmouth”

Air Date: March 10th, 1997

Plot: Buffy Summers, a high school sophomore, faces her destiny as a slayer of the undead.

Highlights:

– Xander’s bumbling introduction to Buffy. The perfect mix of bumbling adorableness that would inspire a generation of gals to adore him.

– Jesse. Leave it to me to become emotionally attached to a bit character. Though maybe if I had been more astute the very first time I watched the episode I would have realized he wasn’t in the opening credits so his days were probably numbered. [FUN FACT: Joss Whedon has said that originally he wanted to include Jesse in the opening credits for this episode, but the idea was eventually having to create a whole alternate opening credits for one episode was deemed too time-consuming and was dropped.]

– The tease of an introduction we are given to Angel, makes me wish I could forget everything I know about Angel, so I could experience the mystery all over again. Also-ly on a totally shallow level, Yum.

– Buffy-speak, no argument, Buffy had a language all its own. The quick witted banter which would define the show is prevalent in this first episode.

Fave Quote:

Buffy to Giles: “It’s the weirdest thing. He’s got two little-little holes in his neck and all his blood’s been drained. Isn’t that bizarre? Aren’t you just going, “Ooooh”?”

Lookie Who’s Hiding Out in Sunnydale:

Does it Hold Up:

The first aired episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, provides a brilliant introductions to each of our characters, and while it alludes to events that happened in the 1992 feature film, it very early on establishes that it is its own beast.

To this day, “Welcome to the Hellmouth” is one of the best “pilots” I have ever watched. I put pilots in quotes as although this was the first episode to air, a different, lesser quality pilot was used to sell the show.

What are your thoughts on this Classic Buffy episode?  Hit Up the comments and let us know.  Up Next: “The Harvest”

-EM