You two are one of the FEW reactors (at least on RUclips edits) that catch the Aphrodesia line. It is so subtle/quick (almost throwaway) but also so much the way Buffy dialog is set up throughout the entire series. You gotta pay attention to some of those little things to get even more enjoyment.
Antony Stewart Head, the British librarian, yes he's a British actor, he was the 'gold blend' advert man in the early 90's. You may also know him as the king in Merlin.
You guys are diving into one of the best and highest regarded shows of all time. It did things that no show before or since has done and it holds its own against any of the best shows you've ever seen hands down. The first season is a little rough but still enjoyable enough, but from the second season onward it just gets better and better until it's delivering some of the best episodes of television ever made. You won't regret sticking with this one!
A lot of people are hyping it up a lot, didn't realise how active the fanbase would still be! We're really enjoying season 1 so if it only gets better from here, I don't think there's any worry about whether or not we'll stick with it :)
This! So many new reactors watching this show compare it to newer shows.. not realizing that those new shows did what they did precisely because Buffy did it first! Some stuff feels cheesy now because its been copied so many times, but if you can keep in mind that in this show it was often the first time things were done like that - ie. certain TV tropes, you can really marvel at the genius of this show and its impact on all of pop culture. Season 1 has its ups and downs but like every hard core fan says - it more than pays off by the end of the 7 seasons.
I’ve watched a lot of TV shows over the last few decades and Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains my personal favorite. Every few years I rewatch it expecting it to be not as good as I remembered but I’m always blown away. It has humble beginnings in the first season but reaches some truly impressive heights later on. Other shows since have combined fantasy horror with character drama but in my opinion it’s never been done this well again. The way these characters develop over the course of the series has rarely been matched by any show.
I love that feeling with a show!! When you rewatch it and the love comes flooding back, and you remember why you loved it so much in the first place. Very excited to see if we fall in love with the show as much as everyone else :)
I hope you make this a regular show to keep watching. Even in todays society that role reversal of Darla being the vampire over the boy is still a surpise to those who don't know Julie Benz's acting resume.
New Buffy reactors! I'm ready to watch more people take the ride. It's a masterclass in storytelling. The first season is a bit campier as they're still finding their rhythm, but it gives some hint as to what's to come and is a fun ride in its own right.
The "to be continued" actually continued after a commercial break on the original airing (1x01 & 1x02 were aired together, as were 6x01 and 6x02). All of the other two-parters did make the viewer wait at least one night, however. The show lives up to its hype, but takes a while to find its groove.
Actually, there's one other two-parter that aired as a two-hour block. Although these first two episodes aired together, this was the "pilot", the one that sold the series. The second episode was filmed months later, once they had an official contract. (Sarah Michelle Gellar, who plays Buffy, gained about a pound over the break in the filming.. She's still totally tiny, but you can spot the difference.)
I love seeing younger generations getting into this journey. That just proves the power of good story writing, acting and original concepts. A lot of shows and movie franchises have been inspired by this show.
Please DO NOT LISTEN to all the complainers! Season one is just that, the first season. All the whingeing on about how “bad” it is, is mostly fandom nonsense. Enjoy it for what it is! And her name really is Buffy. No spoilers. IYK, keep quiet.
In case nobody has mentioned, Buffy is an archaic nickname for Elizabeth, but in this context it’s accepted as a sort of ditzy blonde airhead name, that being the joke - Buffy was initially an airhead cheerleader who ends up finding a surprising depth as she explored her destiny as the Slayer
A show that succeeds on so many levels, from thrilling action to genuinely horrifying horror to amazing humor. The first season is a mid season, low budget dark horse effort. It is enjoyable on its own, but the second season really finds its...fangs. There are enough unforgettable moments, bits of dialogue and astounding characterizations to fill a dozen other shows. The Slayer will win your heart. She is a character of enormous stature, and she elevates every other character around her. Sometimes even the most evil.
technically, buffy is short for elizabeth. queen elizabeth 2nd used buffy as a nickname when she was a teenage princess. but this character was actually named buffy by her mother.
YES! *Does the dance of happiness* welcome to the Hellmouth. The first season was made on a budget, it was given 12 episodes on a brand new network not knowing if it would even get a second season nevermind world wide success. You will get used to the aspect ratio. Never watch it in HD (like Georgia said) I am genuinely so ridiculously excited for both of you 😀
This is great. Oh, and yes, the remastered version only exists to be laughed at because it messes up the lighting and several parts are almost like a bloopers reel. 😅
I’m excited you’re reacting to Buffy. Don’t worry the quality does start to improve next season because it has a bigger budget (way better prosthetic/monster makeup). A lot of Buffy fans don’t like season 1 because of its writing. Season 1 had a limited budget and only 12 episodes compared to the other seasons. Just think of this season as a way to get to know the characters. The writing is way better in season 2 that’s where the show really starts. This was a groundbreaking show in the late 90s and early 2000s. Without Buffy other shows like Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries wouldn’t have existed (it set the standard). The reason vampires are unattractive is because Joss Whedon (the show runner) wanted them to be hideous monsters like in the original vampire mythology. The sexy vampire trope didn’t start until novels like Dracula and Carmilla were published.
It wasn't that the network didn't have confidence in the show, it was a midseason replacement so they came in with half the budget of a full 22 season order AND they came in at late notice to fill in a slot and didn't have a lot of the preparation work (for things like sets) done.
Season 1 has been a lot of fun so far, so it's looking good if it's only upwards from here. A lot of people have said that Buffy set the precedent for supernatural shows of today, so I'm definitely glad it blew up like it did for a last-minute replacement!
While Joss says that the ‘Buffy’ movie is not connected to the television series you can’t deny that the first season has numerous call backs to the film. Also, it can be viewed as a sort of primer so that the viewer is familiar with “watchers” and the like.
@@TheCornerverse It's kind of silly but gives you a tiny bit of additional lore, I'd say it's worth watching after you get a little more into the series.
Joss Whedon hated the movie. The studio made HUGE departures from the original script. While elements of the film are present in the Buffyverse, the movie is not cannon, and there are differences between the film and the Buffyverse lore. Buffy's backstory, as alluded to in this episode, is based on the original screenplay that Joss wrote, not on the end product of the movie, so none of the films changes are cannon. Joss did eventually release a comic book based on the screenplay that tells the story as it is in cannon lore.
buffy is actually short (more like a pet name) for elizabeth (elizabeth - beth - bethy - beffy - buffy) but this buffy is actually just named buffy. i read somwhere that names like buffy/muffy were known as "valley girl" names in the 80's)
There is a character named Buffy in an old TV show called Family Affair. First time I heard the name. Later on, I heard of Buffy St. Marie, a songwriter who wrote Up Where We Belong for the movie Officer And A Gentleman.
There are about 20 derivatives of Elizabeth, but plenty of people have one of those derivatives as their legal name. My sister's middle name is Beth, and we have a cousin named Elise, for example.
Subscribed for more Buffy! I actually poked my head on to your channel for Bridgerton, but Buffy will make me subscribe! It is truly an excellent show that grows so much as it continues. Can't wait to see you two learn to love it!!
Ugh the wait for Bridgerton season 3 has been far too long, don't remind me :( Glad you've decided to subscribe now, I hope we grow to love it as much as everyone else!
This is exciting! 1000% they’re going to fall in love with Buffy, but it takes quite a journey to get there. Always fun to get to join in on the journey of a new viewer.
Not like they have a choice. This was the industry standard of the day. CGI was still in its infancy. DVDs and flat screens still 5-10 years away. Buffy and Babylon 5 set the stage for serialized arc-driven TV that we see today. Even in those days, the TV execs were trying to limit serializations.
‘Buffy’ was still shot in 16x9. But Joss has commented that it was never meant to be seen in anything other than 4x3. So when watching the upscaled HD version, cameras and unfinished sets can be seen at the left and right borders of the screen. The contrast has also been lightened which destroys some shots or whole scenes when the makers want to keep the viewer in the dark, so to speak.
@@Darkstar72SR Babylon 5 was also shot in 16:9, but all the editing and effects were 4:3 due to lack of good CGI processing power of those days. They prepared for future upgrades, but apparently, the original files are now lost.
I think because the show is so dark, the black borders make it even harder to see when watching it in daylight. Haven't got a problem with 4:3 generally speaking :)
just found ur channel and subscribed for buffy good reaction wanna see more dont give up it gets alot better after series i ,the quality gets better aswell as it goes from series to series with a bigger budget the show was a mid season replacement and didnt even know if there was going to be a season 2,theres always room for more buffy reactions
Yay! Welcome to the Buffyverse! You've chosen one of the best shows ever, and my personal favourite! As we like to say, enjoy season 1, get to know your characters, and the lore, and don't pay attention the low budget effects XD Season 2 takes the show to a different level ;) Too bad there's already spoilers in your comments... I hope you have a moderator to control that
The low budget effects can be quite funny though haha, but the characters are definitely the shining stars. We have a lovely moderator who has cleaned everything up thankfully, but thanks for the heads up!
The bronze is probably an all ages club! They weren't terribly uncommon in the 90's, there was one in my town (in Ontario Canada, so lower drinking age - 19 - than the US). People who were of age got a hand stamp or a bracelet, I think it changed a few times through the age, in order to drink. The one in my town had a few other things in the building: a bowling alley, a roller rink, and arcade, and an area to eat/drink in that had a stage. You couldn't bring the alcohol out of the eating/drinking area. It was a wild time in history. lol
You've unlocked it for me now! I definitely recall seeing these in 90s movies now, Never Been Kissed being one of them although I think it was people underage had to wear the stamp. That building sounds so cool, it would probably cost a bomb in this day and age!
An early 90s movie called Buffy the Vampire Slayer was released with a different actor playing Buffy. It tells the story of her learning she is the slayer in Los Angeles. This continues the story, but in a TV show. Season 1 is kind of slow but starting Season 2 they find their groove and the show gets better and better. The fighting looks more intense and more professional, and the special effects drastically improve. Buffy was critical in pop culture and a lot of the slang used in the show caught on and was used by teens and adults watching the show. I know you get confused about who is popular and who is not, because those considered geeks or nerds are now what's popular. They did do a remaster in widescreen, but it was horrible and a couple of scenes you obviously see the camera crew off to the side because FOX was too cheap to do a proper remaster. Stick with it because it gets a lot better. I've watch every episode at least a dozen times. It premiered when I was 25 years old and now, I'm 52 and it makes shows today look amateur.
Regarding the "to be continued" at the end, this was originally aired as a 2 hour special so there was no "to be continued" when we watched it live the 1st time. There was a commercial break and then right back. It was split into 2 episodes for syndication when they wouldn't be able to block off 2 hours for it. So when you watch episode 2, you are actually watching the second half of episode 1.
Still one of my all-time favorite shows! It put Joss Whedon on the map. Looking forward to your reactions - it's great that neither of you knows much about the show. There was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie before this show but, apparently, the movie went through a lot of changes before making it to the screen and ended up not being great. The movie starred Kristy Swanson as Buffy and Luke Perry (of Berverly Hills, 90210). The movie tells how Buffy became a slayer but it is not necessary to watch the movie before watching the show. The show does a good job filling you in on any important details.
I know a lot of fans don't care for S1, but I love it. I like the campiness of it, the smart dialogue, the slow build up, all that. And, of course, the finale is just terrific. Enjoy it for what it is, a little silly sometimes but also really entertaining and charming. It will get its hooks (fangs?) in you before you even realize it's happened.
Welcome to the show that literally changed my life. I'll explain as we go.I was living in NJ when this debuted. I missed the first two episodes (aired together) as I was in Daytona with my younger fraternity brothers and got the nickname the Old School Btonzers* would get to know me by. I started watching with either The Witch or Teacher's Pet. I stuck around thinking I knew Alyson from high school or college. (Nope. We wouldn't meet for another year.) Tony Head was in Merlin and the recent film Upgraded, among other things. *Old School Bronzers: The show used to advertise its official website over the end credits. The Posting Board (PB) was called The Bronze. Regulars were called Bronzers. Amoung the dans on the PB were Joss Whedon and Alyson Hannigan. Many writersceould become regulars as well as the first stunt coordinator, the head of make up an a couple of other crew. Random trivia no one cares about. I was born on the same day and in the same state as David Boreanaz (Angel). Trivia that sort of matters. They filmed the entire first season before a single episode aired. They had no idea how the show would be received until later. Note. Watch the end credits. There are onlt two or three scenes during the ebd credits. And thrre are a couple of episodes where the "Grr Argh!" Mutant Enemy guy has been alteted in some way. Warning which may be a spoiler.
I got the notification and i was like : 😝😝🤗🤗 Two reactors that i follow for a long time and love watching videos from watching my favorite show ever !!! I say YES please ❤❤
My favorite (non-Kdrama) show of all time! Buffy is so good and revolutionized storytelling on TV. Season 1 is campy but gets incredible starting from end of season 1 - just hang in there for a few 😉
Welcome to the club. First time here but not new to this show by any means. Just remember , everything matters and everything has a reason. Willow is always reactors favourite character from the very start. Enjoy! And pay attention. It pays off, believe me!
The way I’d give my left arm to getting watch Buffy for the first time again 🥰 Buffy ran so that pretty much every genre show could walk (and yes, I meant that backwards lol)
OKAY EVERYONE, here we go! You are entering the Buffyverse! You are exactly correct in watching the ORIGINAL format - the HD edit is widescreen TOO BRIGHT. Ruins the tone of each scene. You should look into finding moderators. The buffyverse is full of spoilers.
I'm also working my way through BTVS, and Willow has been my favourite pretty much since this first episode ❤ When Cordelia sent her away, I just wanted to follow and give her a hug!
There's 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' for younger viewers. And then there was 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' from a few years ago which followed the comics and was pretty much full-on horror. It also happened to be really good - check it out if you haven't seen it.
I know it doesn't seem like it from the first episode (or the first season, in fact) - but this is one of the most infliential TV shows made in the last 30 years. You'll probably love it if you keep watching into season 2. I've already subbed and am looking forward to your reactions - hope you do keep going! *and* happy new year.
The first series is a little ropey. It takes a bit to find it's feet - but trust me it turns into one of the wittiest, smartest and most groundbreaking programmes ever made. You're going to love it.
You talked about the 4x3 (or box screen as you called it) aspect ratio as if was made that way because people were stupid back then and thought it was the cool thing. It was "the thing to do in the 90s" because that was the shape of most televisions - it was made to fit the screens people were watching.
Before he was Uther Pendragon in Merlin, Anthony Stewart Head was Rupert Giles in Buffy. And I must say, I much prefer his character in Buffy. I watched Buffy way back when it originally came out (I'm in the same general age range as the young cast members and was in university when it premiered), and I had seen the Buffy film a few years before the show debuted, and I quickly fell in love with the show, which I have since watched countless times over the years. Willow was easily my favorite character from the start, and the whole show really draws its strengths from its strong character development and the relationships between all of the characters, including the villains. This show also popularized the phrase "the big bad" to describe the main villain of the season. Some of the "Buffyspeak" that you'll hear throughout the series has influenced the way we still use language and slang today, though thankfully not all of it! And this is a show that has everything from action & adventure to mystery to camp comedy to drama to romance to, obviously, the paranormal, and even science fiction. It has characters you'll love and characters you'll love to hate. And at the heart of it all is the relationship between our main cast of characters as they learn and live and grow over the 7 year run of the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as we (those of us who are already fans) do, and I look forward to seeing your reactions to this fantastic series.
"God, he's awkward for a cool guy." Uh, yeah, about that.... 🤣 Buffy's already being a slayer (and being expelled from her previous school) is the only acknowledgement, really, of the feature film of the same name that came before. Joss Whedon was REALLY unhappy with the direction the studio took with his property when they made the film. For the series, he demanded creative control so that he could realize HIS vision. As others have noted, the first season is particularly rough and uneven. But it has its own charms and the show rapidly gets better as it goes.
Huh, I wouldn't have thought that a 4:3 aspect ratio would actually be painful to watch for someone only accustomed to newer shows/movies. What pisses me off is seeing stuff presented in an aspect ratio that's different from what was originally intended.
One thing about all Joss Whedon shows, they subvert expectations. Like Darla being the predatory vampire and not the victim in the opening sequence. Buffy, the diminutive girl being stranger than any of the much larger men, and so much more to come.
The first season is very good, but also very campy. If you can enjoy it, there are treasures ahead. Many of the shows you seem to enjoy will have been inspired by this show, though perhaps that's not the way you'll see it. I hope you stick with it as I really enjoyed your reaction.
i also agree the dialogue on buffy is kind of cringey and weird, but i ended up growing to really love it. english isn't my first language and i wasn't alive in the 90's so i had no idea if this was the actual way teens talked back in the day lol. but it's charming i think
No, the show used a unique twisted version of teen talk that Joss Whedon and the writers invented. When the show came out in the 90s it got attention and was called Buffyspeak.
Also, the reason the vampires burst into dust is because they didn't want to have Buffy and her friends have to deal with a whole bunch of bodies to dispose of.
As was already mentioned, Season 1 is a bit rough. It still has some decent episodes, but Season 2 is a *LOT* better. Turning point is S02E03, and the 2nd half of Season 2 is very good. The best thing about this show is the relationships between the main characters. Everyone has a satisfying character arc throughout the seasons. This is not a show where everyone stays the same, but there's natural progression in character development and relationships. My favorite seasons are 3 and 5, followed by 2.
Character development is my all-time favourite thing when it comes to TV shows so this is a great selling point for me personally haha. Although season 1 doesn't seem as bad as people have made it out to be, but I guess it just means the rest are even better!
Welcome to the Buffyverse it’s a wild ride may it be spoiler! Hold tight… the show gets a lot better in season 2 and the fandom really kicks in around then.
Thank you so much for reacting! Subbed! _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ is much better than _Sabrina_ . It was something of a groundbreaking series when it aired; there were books and academic papers and college classes on its feminist aspects, irony, and the creative dialog, which was called Buffyspeak. The show is focused on character development. The characters grow and become more complex as a result of their experiences.
OMG what? There were college classes on it? That's so cool, and so lucky of people who get to take that as a course haha. Character development is what I watch shows for so I'm glad to see it focuses on that :)
New subscriber thanks to the yt algorithm - react to Buffy and the will come 😂 As many have said already, hang in there for season 1, enjoy the campiness and wait until the ride that is season 2 onwards; you won’t regret it!!
I'm a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I loved it from the very first episode sorta--I came into it late but went back immediately and grabbed it from the beginning). And while the first part is good (better than most of the stuff I've seen on television) it really takes off from about the middle of season 2. Expect subverted expectations. And, yes, the 4:3 aspect ratio is the version to watch. The 16:9 remaster was, in many ways, botched.
I love aswell that this is a show that both girls and guys seem to really love! It really is for anybody. Everybody seems to really love season 2 haha :)
Wow, it's wild to see this again so many years later and see how the characters changed. Giles is uncomfortably intense, especially for someone interacting with a minor he just met. And Angel looks like a fetus.
I¨m so happy you deciided to watch Buffy! But I want you to know: The first season isn¨t all that great. Even us die hard Buffy fans admit that. But please just hang in there, because somewere around the midle of season 2 you will be completely hookt. I promise! 🙂
Stick with this show.....the first season was done on a very limited budget and there are only 12 episodes for season 1 because it was a mid season replacement for a cancelled show so this is why eveything feels rushed.....this is the show that started it all without Buffy there's no Supernatural,Vampire Diaries,Grimm,Once Upon A Time or any other modern horror based tv drama and yes everything improves with every season....the stories,the writing,the acting and the overall production quality.....This show has some of the greatest episodes of television ever made and you will feel every emotion while watching this show.....Welcome to the Buffyverse,once you're in there's no getting out
Lots of people keep warning new viewers that S1 is bad. Maybe by modern standards for a 1st season, but what people keep missing is that the show was good enough to get a second season with a budget boost. A whole fandom had already started and were eager for more. The reason was there was nothing like this show on TV at the time. The writing was snappy and it resonated with young people. These days, there are hundreds of shows that try to capture that lightning in a bottle. As much as I liked Game of Thrones, I can't watch it again after a terrible finish. So many modern shows can't keep up the pace. As the ladies said at the beginning of their video, the found "nothing interesting" out there so they decided to try a 27 year old show. Isn't that interesting....
Immediate affection for Willow = First Buffy reactor level unlocked. :-)
I don't trust anybody that doesn't immediately love Willow!
You two are one of the FEW reactors (at least on RUclips edits) that catch the Aphrodesia line. It is so subtle/quick (almost throwaway) but also so much the way Buffy dialog is set up throughout the entire series. You gotta pay attention to some of those little things to get even more enjoyment.
Antony Stewart Head, the British librarian, yes he's a British actor, he was the 'gold blend' advert man in the early 90's. You may also know him as the king in Merlin.
You guys are diving into one of the best and highest regarded shows of all time. It did things that no show before or since has done and it holds its own against any of the best shows you've ever seen hands down.
The first season is a little rough but still enjoyable enough, but from the second season onward it just gets better and better until it's delivering some of the best episodes of television ever made.
You won't regret sticking with this one!
A lot of people are hyping it up a lot, didn't realise how active the fanbase would still be! We're really enjoying season 1 so if it only gets better from here, I don't think there's any worry about whether or not we'll stick with it :)
This! So many new reactors watching this show compare it to newer shows.. not realizing that those new shows did what they did precisely because Buffy did it first! Some stuff feels cheesy now because its been copied so many times, but if you can keep in mind that in this show it was often the first time things were done like that - ie. certain TV tropes, you can really marvel at the genius of this show and its impact on all of pop culture. Season 1 has its ups and downs but like every hard core fan says - it more than pays off by the end of the 7 seasons.
I’ve watched a lot of TV shows over the last few decades and Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains my personal favorite. Every few years I rewatch it expecting it to be not as good as I remembered but I’m always blown away. It has humble beginnings in the first season but reaches some truly impressive heights later on. Other shows since have combined fantasy horror with character drama but in my opinion it’s never been done this well again. The way these characters develop over the course of the series has rarely been matched by any show.
I love that feeling with a show!! When you rewatch it and the love comes flooding back, and you remember why you loved it so much in the first place. Very excited to see if we fall in love with the show as much as everyone else :)
I hope you make this a regular show to keep watching.
Even in todays society that role reversal of Darla being the vampire over the boy is still a surpise to those who don't know Julie Benz's acting resume.
I've read some Plato. Things haven't changed much since then...
Make this a regular thing and trust me, you won't regret watching this show.
It's so exciting that you two are going into this show completely blind. It has so much to offer and does live up to the hype! Have fun watching!
I love going into a show not really knowing anything about it, just hoping we don't get spoiled!
You guys might be the first ‘Buffy’ reactors I’ve watched who thought Xander was the “cool” guy, lol!
How wrong we were..
To be fair, we first see Xander interacting with Willow, and SHE thinks he's cool, at least.
New Buffy reactors! I'm ready to watch more people take the ride. It's a masterclass in storytelling. The first season is a bit campier as they're still finding their rhythm, but it gives some hint as to what's to come and is a fun ride in its own right.
We're having a lot of fun with season 1 so far :)
The "to be continued" actually continued after a commercial break on the original airing (1x01 & 1x02 were aired together, as were 6x01 and 6x02). All of the other two-parters did make the viewer wait at least one night, however.
The show lives up to its hype, but takes a while to find its groove.
Actually, there's one other two-parter that aired as a two-hour block.
Although these first two episodes aired together, this was the "pilot", the one that sold the series. The second episode was filmed months later, once they had an official contract.
(Sarah Michelle Gellar, who plays Buffy, gained about a pound over the break in the filming.. She's still totally tiny, but you can spot the difference.)
@@Jessica_Roth Oh good catch, I somehow missed 6x21 and 6x22 airing the same night.
It has a rough start, but if you stick with it, it will mercilessly rip your heart out over and over again.
OMG GIRLS im also watching buffy for the first time!! i'm currently on season 5 and I'M OBSESSED. cant wait to watch your reactions
Oh wow, what a coincidence!! So glad you're enjoying it :D
I love seeing younger generations getting into this journey.
That just proves the power of good story writing, acting and original concepts.
A lot of shows and movie franchises have been inspired by this show.
Most of what you enjoy now from TV/Steaming shows actually was inspired by this series. Welcome to Buffyverse.
Please DO NOT LISTEN to all the complainers! Season one is just that, the first season. All the whingeing on about how “bad” it is, is mostly fandom nonsense. Enjoy it for what it is!
And her name really is Buffy. No spoilers. IYK, keep quiet.
And it's ridiculous that the fandom still does this, considering how many first-time reactors really enjoy the first season out the gate...
In case nobody has mentioned, Buffy is an archaic nickname for Elizabeth, but in this context it’s accepted as a sort of ditzy blonde airhead name, that being the joke - Buffy was initially an airhead cheerleader who ends up finding a surprising depth as she explored her destiny as the Slayer
A show that succeeds on so many levels, from thrilling action to genuinely horrifying horror to amazing humor.
The first season is a mid season, low budget dark horse effort. It is enjoyable on its own, but the second season really finds its...fangs.
There are enough unforgettable moments, bits of dialogue and astounding characterizations to fill a dozen other shows.
The Slayer will win your heart.
She is a character of enormous stature, and she elevates every other character around her. Sometimes even the most evil.
And most of all drama!!!
technically, buffy is short for elizabeth. queen elizabeth 2nd used buffy as a nickname when she was a teenage princess. but this character was actually named buffy by her mother.
Oh wow, didn't know that!
I always figured her mom named her after Buffy Saint Marie.
4:3 was more than "the thing to do", it was the shape of the TV's that existed in most homes.
Thanks for reacting to this. It’s my favorite show of all time. Hope you get through all the seasons.
YES! *Does the dance of happiness* welcome to the Hellmouth. The first season was made on a budget, it was given 12 episodes on a brand new network not knowing if it would even get a second season nevermind world wide success.
You will get used to the aspect ratio. Never watch it in HD (like Georgia said)
I am genuinely so ridiculously excited for both of you 😀
It's crazy to think that a replacement show got so big and successful!
You have just embarked on a wonderful journey
Welcome to Buffy fandom, your lives just got so much better. And your channel will certainly get a lot more hits. Love your kitty, what's his name?
Thanks for the welcome! His name is Simba :)
This is great.
Oh, and yes, the remastered version only exists to be laughed at because it messes up the lighting and several parts are almost like a bloopers reel. 😅
Definitely glad we chose the correct version then! Though I am interested to see the difference haha
I’m excited you’re reacting to Buffy. Don’t worry the quality does start to improve next season because it has a bigger budget (way better prosthetic/monster makeup). A lot of Buffy fans don’t like season 1 because of its writing. Season 1 had a limited budget and only 12 episodes compared to the other seasons. Just think of this season as a way to get to know the characters. The writing is way better in season 2 that’s where the show really starts. This was a groundbreaking show in the late 90s and early 2000s. Without Buffy other shows like Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries wouldn’t have existed (it set the standard). The reason vampires are unattractive is because Joss Whedon (the show runner) wanted them to be hideous monsters like in the original vampire mythology. The sexy vampire trope didn’t start until novels like Dracula and Carmilla were published.
i'm on season 5 and season 2 has been my favorite up until now :) it really made me love the show so much
It wasn't that the network didn't have confidence in the show, it was a midseason replacement so they came in with half the budget of a full 22 season order AND they came in at late notice to fill in a slot and didn't have a lot of the preparation work (for things like sets) done.
@@Teeklin Well, midseason replacements are the shows that network don't have much confidence in. They didn't get picked up in pilot season.
Season 1 has been a lot of fun so far, so it's looking good if it's only upwards from here. A lot of people have said that Buffy set the precedent for supernatural shows of today, so I'm definitely glad it blew up like it did for a last-minute replacement!
Welcome to the Buffyverse! ❤
Thank you!
While Joss says that the ‘Buffy’ movie is not connected to the television series you can’t deny that the first season has numerous call backs to the film. Also, it can be viewed as a sort of primer so that the viewer is familiar with “watchers” and the like.
We didn't even realise there was a film beforehand! But everybody says it isn't great :/
@@TheCornerverse It's kind of silly but gives you a tiny bit of additional lore, I'd say it's worth watching after you get a little more into the series.
Joss Whedon hated the movie. The studio made HUGE departures from the original script. While elements of the film are present in the Buffyverse, the movie is not cannon, and there are differences between the film and the Buffyverse lore. Buffy's backstory, as alluded to in this episode, is based on the original screenplay that Joss wrote, not on the end product of the movie, so none of the films changes are cannon. Joss did eventually release a comic book based on the screenplay that tells the story as it is in cannon lore.
buffy is actually short (more like a pet name) for elizabeth (elizabeth - beth - bethy - beffy - buffy) but this buffy is actually just named buffy. i read somwhere that names like buffy/muffy were known as "valley girl" names in the 80's)
There is a character named Buffy in an old TV show called Family Affair. First time I heard the name. Later on, I heard of Buffy St. Marie, a songwriter who wrote Up Where We Belong for the movie Officer And A Gentleman.
Oh okay, I've never heard it short for Elizabeth before. I guess it's one of those names like Richard that has quite a random nickname haha
you’re in for a crazy ride
Buffy is usually short for Elizabeth, but here it's her official name. She's not Elizabeth, she's Buffy.
There are about 20 derivatives of Elizabeth, but plenty of people have one of those derivatives as their legal name. My sister's middle name is Beth, and we have a cousin named Elise, for example.
Subscribed for more Buffy! I actually poked my head on to your channel for Bridgerton, but Buffy will make me subscribe! It is truly an excellent show that grows so much as it continues. Can't wait to see you two learn to love it!!
Ugh the wait for Bridgerton season 3 has been far too long, don't remind me :( Glad you've decided to subscribe now, I hope we grow to love it as much as everyone else!
This is exciting! 1000% they’re going to fall in love with Buffy, but it takes quite a journey to get there. Always fun to get to join in on the journey of a new viewer.
Give 4x3 a chance. It works really well for up-close character dramas. It can be immersive in ways widescreen can't.
Not like they have a choice. This was the industry standard of the day. CGI was still in its infancy. DVDs and flat screens still 5-10 years away. Buffy and Babylon 5 set the stage for serialized arc-driven TV that we see today. Even in those days, the TV execs were trying to limit serializations.
‘Buffy’ was still shot in 16x9. But Joss has commented that it was never meant to be seen in anything other than 4x3. So when watching the upscaled HD version, cameras and unfinished sets can be seen at the left and right borders of the screen. The contrast has also been lightened which destroys some shots or whole scenes when the makers want to keep the viewer in the dark, so to speak.
@@Darkstar72SR Babylon 5 was also shot in 16:9, but all the editing and effects were 4:3 due to lack of good CGI processing power of those days. They prepared for future upgrades, but apparently, the original files are now lost.
I think because the show is so dark, the black borders make it even harder to see when watching it in daylight. Haven't got a problem with 4:3 generally speaking :)
The reason she can do that is because Slayers have supernaturally enhanced strength, speed and agility so they can fight monsters.
Always happy to find a new Buffy reactor, or two.
just found ur channel and subscribed for buffy good reaction wanna see more dont give up it gets alot better after series i ,the quality gets better aswell as it goes from series to series with a bigger budget the show was a mid season replacement and didnt even know if there was going to be a season 2,theres always room for more buffy reactions
Yay! Welcome to the Buffyverse! You've chosen one of the best shows ever, and my personal favourite!
As we like to say, enjoy season 1, get to know your characters, and the lore, and don't pay attention the low budget effects XD Season 2 takes the show to a different level ;)
Too bad there's already spoilers in your comments... I hope you have a moderator to control that
The low budget effects can be quite funny though haha, but the characters are definitely the shining stars. We have a lovely moderator who has cleaned everything up thankfully, but thanks for the heads up!
The bronze is probably an all ages club! They weren't terribly uncommon in the 90's, there was one in my town (in Ontario Canada, so lower drinking age - 19 - than the US). People who were of age got a hand stamp or a bracelet, I think it changed a few times through the age, in order to drink. The one in my town had a few other things in the building: a bowling alley, a roller rink, and arcade, and an area to eat/drink in that had a stage. You couldn't bring the alcohol out of the eating/drinking area.
It was a wild time in history. lol
You've unlocked it for me now! I definitely recall seeing these in 90s movies now, Never Been Kissed being one of them although I think it was people underage had to wear the stamp. That building sounds so cool, it would probably cost a bomb in this day and age!
In the first scene you pretty much get the mission statement for this show, subvert your expectations.
Keep watching, you won't be disappointed.
An early 90s movie called Buffy the Vampire Slayer was released with a different actor playing Buffy. It tells the story of her learning she is the slayer in Los Angeles. This continues the story, but in a TV show. Season 1 is kind of slow but starting Season 2 they find their groove and the show gets better and better. The fighting looks more intense and more professional, and the special effects drastically improve. Buffy was critical in pop culture and a lot of the slang used in the show caught on and was used by teens and adults watching the show. I know you get confused about who is popular and who is not, because those considered geeks or nerds are now what's popular. They did do a remaster in widescreen, but it was horrible and a couple of scenes you obviously see the camera crew off to the side because FOX was too cheap to do a proper remaster. Stick with it because it gets a lot better. I've watch every episode at least a dozen times. It premiered when I was 25 years old and now, I'm 52 and it makes shows today look amateur.
Regarding the "to be continued" at the end, this was originally aired as a 2 hour special so there was no "to be continued" when we watched it live the 1st time. There was a commercial break and then right back. It was split into 2 episodes for syndication when they wouldn't be able to block off 2 hours for it. So when you watch episode 2, you are actually watching the second half of episode 1.
Still one of my all-time favorite shows! It put Joss Whedon on the map. Looking forward to your reactions - it's great that neither of you knows much about the show.
There was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie before this show but, apparently, the movie went through a lot of changes before making it to the screen and ended up not being great. The movie starred Kristy Swanson as Buffy and Luke Perry (of Berverly Hills, 90210). The movie tells how Buffy became a slayer but it is not necessary to watch the movie before watching the show. The show does a good job filling you in on any important details.
I know a lot of fans don't care for S1, but I love it. I like the campiness of it, the smart dialogue, the slow build up, all that. And, of course, the finale is just terrific. Enjoy it for what it is, a little silly sometimes but also really entertaining and charming. It will get its hooks (fangs?) in you before you even realize it's happened.
Welcome to the show that literally changed my life. I'll explain as we go.I was living in NJ when this debuted. I missed the first two episodes (aired together) as I was in Daytona with my younger fraternity brothers and got the nickname the Old School Btonzers* would get to know me by. I started watching with either The Witch or Teacher's Pet. I stuck around thinking I knew Alyson from high school or college. (Nope. We wouldn't meet for another year.)
Tony Head was in Merlin and the recent film Upgraded, among other things.
*Old School Bronzers: The show used to advertise its official website over the end credits. The Posting Board (PB) was called The Bronze. Regulars were called Bronzers. Amoung the dans on the PB were Joss Whedon and Alyson Hannigan. Many writersceould become regulars as well as the first stunt coordinator, the head of make up an a couple of other crew.
Random trivia no one cares about. I was born on the same day and in the same state as David Boreanaz (Angel).
Trivia that sort of matters. They filmed the entire first season before a single episode aired. They had no idea how the show would be received until later.
Note. Watch the end credits. There are onlt two or three scenes during the ebd credits. And thrre are a couple of episodes where the "Grr Argh!" Mutant Enemy guy has been alteted in some way. Warning which may be a spoiler.
Here in the U. S. We have some clubs for teens to dance and listen to live music as long as no alcohol is served.
Welcome to the Buffyverse!!! I can't tell you how many buffy reactors I'm subscribed too😅🤣 you're in for a treat!!
I got the notification and i was like : 😝😝🤗🤗
Two reactors that i follow for a long time and love watching videos from watching my favorite show ever !!! I say YES please ❤❤
Yay!! Thank you for the support
@@TheCornerverse happy to be here ❤
My favorite (non-Kdrama) show of all time! Buffy is so good and revolutionized storytelling on TV. Season 1 is campy but gets incredible starting from end of season 1 - just hang in there for a few 😉
It's really good so far! I wonder if it will end up being one of our faves too, time will only tell :)
Welcome to the club. First time here but not new to this show by any means. Just remember , everything matters and everything has a reason. Willow is always reactors favourite character from the very start.
Enjoy! And pay attention. It pays off, believe me!
Thank you!! I feel like a lot of people probably relate to Willow more, that's definitely the case for us. We hope you enjoy our reactions :)
Best show ever!! Welcome to club!!
The way I’d give my left arm to getting watch Buffy for the first time again 🥰 Buffy ran so that pretty much every genre show could walk (and yes, I meant that backwards lol)
Thank you for reacting to my all time fave show.
No problem!
Welcome to the Buffy family 😊
OKAY EVERYONE, here we go!
You are entering the Buffyverse! You are exactly correct in watching the ORIGINAL format - the HD edit is widescreen TOO BRIGHT. Ruins the tone of each scene.
You should look into finding moderators. The buffyverse is full of spoilers.
If you enjoyed Vampire Diaries, this will be fun for you to see where they “borrowed” many of their ideas.
Buffy is excellent.
Xander is like, the cool guy... hahaha!
Thankfully by the end of the episode we soon realised the error of our ways... the more he appeared, the more we discounted that theory
I'm also working my way through BTVS, and Willow has been my favourite pretty much since this first episode ❤ When Cordelia sent her away, I just wanted to follow and give her a hug!
Please dont give up! This show gets really good towards the middle of season 2!❤
omg so excited to see y’all experience this masterpiece 🥰
Yay! Can't wait to see what the hype is all about :D
Welcome to one of the best shows ever made!!! the 1st season had a very small budget but gets better and better
Thank you!
Never watched before? Buckle up because you are in for one HELL of a rollercoaster. Welcome to the Hellmouth
Actually, Buffy is short for Elizabeth. It's a bit obscure in the way Dick is short for Richard lol 😅
Buffy!!! One of my favorite shows of all time!!! Ive seen it multiple times! Agree with the others it improves a lot after season 1
the show premieres as a two hr episode back in 1997. Hence the strange cut
We figured that out by the end of episode 2! Thankfully we watched them together anyway :)
There's 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' for younger viewers. And then there was 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' from a few years ago which followed the comics and was pretty much full-on horror. It also happened to be really good - check it out if you haven't seen it.
Ooh, new Buffy reactors! I’m enjoying your thoughts, I hope you watch the whole thing :-)
Thank you, we hope to finish it too :)
Welcome to the hellmouth yall!
Thank you!!
I know it doesn't seem like it from the first episode (or the first season, in fact) - but this is one of the most infliential TV shows made in the last 30 years. You'll probably love it if you keep watching into season 2. I've already subbed and am looking forward to your reactions - hope you do keep going! *and* happy new year.
Welcome to the _Slayervverse_ and hope you continue on! Kudos to you both for watching the 4:3 non-"remaster", which ruined the series.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is that girl. Enjoy the ride! It’s worth it!
Already proving queenworthy status!
The first series is a little ropey. It takes a bit to find it's feet - but trust me it turns into one of the wittiest, smartest and most groundbreaking programmes ever made. You're going to love it.
4:48 It doesn't necessarily apply to the series, but generally Buffy is a nickname or is short for Elizabeth.
You talked about the 4x3 (or box screen as you called it) aspect ratio as if was made that way because people were stupid back then and thought it was the cool thing.
It was "the thing to do in the 90s" because that was the shape of most televisions - it was made to fit the screens people were watching.
Before he was Uther Pendragon in Merlin, Anthony Stewart Head was Rupert Giles in Buffy. And I must say, I much prefer his character in Buffy.
I watched Buffy way back when it originally came out (I'm in the same general age range as the young cast members and was in university when it premiered), and I had seen the Buffy film a few years before the show debuted, and I quickly fell in love with the show, which I have since watched countless times over the years. Willow was easily my favorite character from the start, and the whole show really draws its strengths from its strong character development and the relationships between all of the characters, including the villains. This show also popularized the phrase "the big bad" to describe the main villain of the season. Some of the "Buffyspeak" that you'll hear throughout the series has influenced the way we still use language and slang today, though thankfully not all of it! And this is a show that has everything from action & adventure to mystery to camp comedy to drama to romance to, obviously, the paranormal, and even science fiction. It has characters you'll love and characters you'll love to hate. And at the heart of it all is the relationship between our main cast of characters as they learn and live and grow over the 7 year run of the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as we (those of us who are already fans) do, and I look forward to seeing your reactions to this fantastic series.
"God, he's awkward for a cool guy."
Uh, yeah, about that.... 🤣
Buffy's already being a slayer (and being expelled from her previous school) is the only acknowledgement, really, of the feature film of the same name that came before. Joss Whedon was REALLY unhappy with the direction the studio took with his property when they made the film. For the series, he demanded creative control so that he could realize HIS vision.
As others have noted, the first season is particularly rough and uneven. But it has its own charms and the show rapidly gets better as it goes.
Huh, I wouldn't have thought that a 4:3 aspect ratio would actually be painful to watch for someone only accustomed to newer shows/movies. What pisses me off is seeing stuff presented in an aspect ratio that's different from what was originally intended.
The first season is a little rough & cheesy, but manageable as its short. The show really takes off in season 2.
Technically Slayers are supposed to maintain a secret identity
One thing about all Joss Whedon shows, they subvert expectations. Like Darla being the predatory vampire and not the victim in the opening sequence. Buffy, the diminutive girl being stranger than any of the much larger men, and so much more to come.
The first season is very good, but also very campy. If you can enjoy it, there are treasures ahead. Many of the shows you seem to enjoy will have been inspired by this show, though perhaps that's not the way you'll see it. I hope you stick with it as I really enjoyed your reaction.
i also agree the dialogue on buffy is kind of cringey and weird, but i ended up growing to really love it. english isn't my first language and i wasn't alive in the 90's so i had no idea if this was the actual way teens talked back in the day lol. but it's charming i think
No, the show used a unique twisted version of teen talk that Joss Whedon and the writers invented. When the show came out in the 90s it got attention and was called Buffyspeak.
I do tend to feel this way when starting older shows, it can feel a little dated at times but I'm sure we'll get used to it like you did!
Buffy didn't talk like teens, but after the show became popular, teens started to talk like Buffy.
Hello lassies from the cornerverse.
Welcome to Sunnydale.
Might you stay a spell.
~ Rubert Giles
Oh, dont you worry girls.. you too will be sucked into the vortex of shipping over the course of this show - we all were.
Can't wait! We've always been shippers at heart :)
new Buffy reacters? Subbed.
Thank you!
They wanted the vampires to look like monsters because they didn’t want Buffy killing a bunch of people that were too human like.
It makes sense! It's also a reminder that they are monsters because sometimes you forget that factor if they don't actually look scary
Also, the reason the vampires burst into dust is because they didn't want to have Buffy and her friends have to deal with a whole bunch of bodies to dispose of.
As was already mentioned, Season 1 is a bit rough. It still has some decent episodes, but Season 2 is a *LOT* better. Turning point is S02E03, and the 2nd half of Season 2 is very good. The best thing about this show is the relationships between the main characters. Everyone has a satisfying character arc throughout the seasons. This is not a show where everyone stays the same, but there's natural progression in character development and relationships. My favorite seasons are 3 and 5, followed by 2.
Character development is my all-time favourite thing when it comes to TV shows so this is a great selling point for me personally haha. Although season 1 doesn't seem as bad as people have made it out to be, but I guess it just means the rest are even better!
Subscribing with the hope of you fully continue the show
Welcome to the Buffyverse it’s a wild ride may it be spoiler! Hold tight… the show gets a lot better in season 2 and the fandom really kicks in around then.
Thank you! Everyone keeps hyping up season 2 but we're really liking season 1 thus far haha
@@TheCornerverse so glad you two are liking it, that just means you are going to love the rest of the show!
Thank you so much for reacting! Subbed! _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ is much better than _Sabrina_ . It was something of a groundbreaking series when it aired; there were books and academic papers and college classes on its feminist aspects, irony, and the creative dialog, which was called Buffyspeak. The show is focused on character development. The characters grow and become more complex as a result of their experiences.
OMG what? There were college classes on it? That's so cool, and so lucky of people who get to take that as a course haha. Character development is what I watch shows for so I'm glad to see it focuses on that :)
@@TheCornerverse More academic papers have been written on this show than any other.
New subscriber thanks to the yt algorithm - react to Buffy and the will come 😂
As many have said already, hang in there for season 1, enjoy the campiness and wait until the ride that is season 2 onwards; you won’t regret it!!
Thank you for subscribing! We don't have any intentions of stopping so don't worry :)
I'm a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I loved it from the very first episode sorta--I came into it late but went back immediately and grabbed it from the beginning). And while the first part is good (better than most of the stuff I've seen on television) it really takes off from about the middle of season 2.
Expect subverted expectations.
And, yes, the 4:3 aspect ratio is the version to watch. The 16:9 remaster was, in many ways, botched.
I love aswell that this is a show that both girls and guys seem to really love! It really is for anybody. Everybody seems to really love season 2 haha :)
Wow, it's wild to see this again so many years later and see how the characters changed. Giles is uncomfortably intense, especially for someone interacting with a minor he just met. And Angel looks like a fetus.
It's interesting to see Head trying out the "vaguely sinister English guy" approach beloved by so many British actors on American shows.
No wonder Buffy was so creeped out revisiting the library again at first lol
What is Bovril?
The best way to describe it is that it has the same consistency as Marmite, but is made from beef extract rather than yeast.
@@TheCornerverse What is Marmite?
I¨m so happy you deciided to watch Buffy! But I want you to know: The first season isn¨t all that great. Even us die hard Buffy fans admit that. But please just hang in there, because somewere around the midle of season 2 you will be completely hookt. I promise! 🙂
FYI: Season one is..... rough.
We're really enjoying it!
@@TheCornerverse He's grading on a curve. Most like S1 for what it is. However, for those who have watched the whole series, Season one is...rough.
I liked Season 1 when I originally watched it but when you do watch after watching later seasons it does appear lesser, but it's still a fun ride.
Hell yes!!!
Stick with this show.....the first season was done on a very limited budget and there are only 12 episodes for season 1 because it was a mid season replacement for a cancelled show so this is why eveything feels rushed.....this is the show that started it all without Buffy there's no Supernatural,Vampire Diaries,Grimm,Once Upon A Time or any other modern horror based tv drama and yes everything improves with every season....the stories,the writing,the acting and the overall production quality.....This show has some of the greatest episodes of television ever made and you will feel every emotion while watching this show.....Welcome to the Buffyverse,once you're in there's no getting out
Lots of people keep warning new viewers that S1 is bad. Maybe by modern standards for a 1st season, but what people keep missing is that the show was good enough to get a second season with a budget boost. A whole fandom had already started and were eager for more. The reason was there was nothing like this show on TV at the time. The writing was snappy and it resonated with young people. These days, there are hundreds of shows that try to capture that lightning in a bottle. As much as I liked Game of Thrones, I can't watch it again after a terrible finish. So many modern shows can't keep up the pace. As the ladies said at the beginning of their video, the found "nothing interesting" out there so they decided to try a 27 year old show. Isn't that interesting....
@@samsonau8205 Absolutely and yes you're right....but comparing Buffy Season1 to the other seasons is like comparing Iron Man 1 to Endgame
We will definitely be sticking with it, don't you worry :)