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Season 1 – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Buffy the Vampire Slayer Mar 1997 Drama Horror Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Sarah Michelle Gellar takes on the role of Buffy Summers in this TV version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," based on the film of the same title, which starred Kristy Swanson. Buffy is a Slayer, one in a long line of young women chosen for a specific mission: to seek out and destroy vampires, demons and other forces of darkness. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy establishes a group of supportive friends who aids her in her battles with evil, including Willow, Xander and Cordelia. Her battles with evil are frequent, since Sunnydale, where Buffy and friends live, sits atop a gateway to the realm of the demons.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season 1

Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Buffy slays her way into the pop-culture lexicon in a debut season that lays the groundwork for one of TV's greatest supernatural teen dramas.

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Critics Reviews

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Riese Bernard Autostraddle 10/05/2021
I think I'd like Seasons One and Two a lot better now than I did at the time because it would be more hilarious. Go to Full Review Guardian Staff Guardian 03/24/2021
Buffy is a sassy, spine-tingling treat for those weaned on such saccharine horrors as Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Go to Full Review Jonathan Romney Guardian 03/24/2021
I'm not sure Buffy is what you'd call rich in subtext, but in its flip, know-it-all way -- and few young stars are quite as know-it-all than Gellar -- it's a textbook example of horror as a device for exorcising adolescent anxieties. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 03/12/2022
... the essential mix of supernatural weirdness, sharp writing, snappy dialogue, and high school heroes saving the world from evil on a weekly basis is fully formed from episode one. Go to Full Review Jim Rohner Battleship Pretension 04/15/2021
The title that first made us all aware of both Joss Whedon as a unique creative voice and Sarah Michelle Gellar as a badass... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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LAUREN G @LittleGeezus 6d After all this time, it’s still the best show I’ve ever watched. More than iconic, epic, the Fandom is still growing after 25+ years. See more Jeffrey T @RT94382428 Jul 5 I can't believe I used to love this show as a kid. Corny and over the top. See more esther d @VikingQueen Jan 22 A lot of people say season one is bad I don't think it is at all it's super fun and exciting because it's set in the 90s baby!! I love that time💜💙 looking at the clothing🛍👒🧥🥼 the makeup💄💅🏻💋 the time so perfect💛💚 now on to the characters I really don't like buffy's character at all sorry she wasn't the right choice for that role. she also looked to old for her age. the buffy from the movie looked younger and prettier then her. See more Ryan N @RT25803235 Sep 28 I got into this show from playing the Xbox Buffy video game, I really like it and started to watch the show (it was starting season 4, but I have to start a show at the beginning. I like the first season (there were a couple of episodes that were crap, but overall it was great. See more Brandon T. @SweetBabyBrando Aug 16 A great start and foundation that only gets better from here. The cast chemistry and witty writing hold up after all these years. See more Macayla B @RT24598018 05/28/2025 If you haven’t watched from the beginning, you need to. See more Read all reviews
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Joss Whedon

Creator

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Buffy Summers

Nicholas Brendon

Alexander "Xander" Harris

Alyson Hannigan

Willow Rosenberg

Charisma Carpenter

Cordelia Chase

Anthony Head

Rupert Giles

Episodes

Episode 3 Aired Mar 17, 1997 The Witch Cheerleading candidates are being struck down by a variety of catastrophes, so Buffy sets out to unmask the witch she suspects is at fault. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 25, 1997 Teacher's Pet Buffy tries to protect Xander after he falls for a substitute teacher; Angel warns Buffy of a claw-handed vampire. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 31, 1997 Never Kill a Boy on the First Date As Buffy tries to behave like a normal girl on a date, the Master calls on a warrior vampire to destroy her. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 7, 1997 The Pack Xander and a group of obnoxious students start acting strangely after entering a quarantined hyena exhibit at the zoo. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 14, 1997 Angel Buffy can't deny her obsession with Angel, while Xander's frustration over his feelings for Buffy intensifies. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 28, 1997 I Robot, You Jane Buffy and Giles face a demon spirit that has been trapped since the Dark Ages; Willow falls for a cyberbeau whom she met online. Details Episode 9 Aired May 5, 1997 The Puppet Show Buffy sets out to catch a thief who steals human organs; the principal forces Giles to run the school talent show. Details Episode 10 Aired May 12, 1997 Nightmares People in Sunnydale begin living out their worst fears, including Xander, who comes to school in his underwear, and Giles, who discovers he can't read. Details Episode 11 Aired May 19, 1997 Out of Mind, Out of Sight Buffy and Cordelia become allies to combat an invisible spirit; Angel warns Giles that Buffy could be in danger. Details Episode 12 Aired Jun 2, 1997 Prophecy Girl Buffy's plan to live a normal life goes awry when the Earth cracks open and an army of demons emerges. Details

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Bruce Seth Green, Stephen Cragg, Reza Badiyi, David Semel, Stephen L. Posey
Creator
Joss Whedon
Executive Producer
Joss Whedon, Gail Berman, Sandy Gallin, Fran Rubel Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui, David Greenwalt
Screenwriter
Rob DesHotel, Ashley Gable, Matt Kiene, David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon, Dean Batali, Thomas A. Swyden
Network
The WB
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Drama, Horror, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 17, 1997