Discussion of 1.01 "Welcome To The Hellmouth" - Aired 3/10/1997 (WB-US)

You're probably right, Blondie Bear, I just have this weird memory of her saying it. I think I sort of meshed the line from All the Way that that vampire says (what is your malfunction, man?) and Cordy saying what is your childhood trauma is Welcome to the Hellmouth.
 
No she definitely said it, or well it was definitely said on the show. I did a search in google for it and the first result that came up was a thread set up by N4H about 4 years ago on Buffy quotes that could be worked into everyday conversation.
 
If I hadn't lost my entire collection of transcripts in a drive crash a few months ago, I could have searched them. 🙁 I'm hoping I can recover the data from that drive, but no luck so far. (Almost twenty years hammering it into my clients' heads that they need to do regular backups, and what happens? Ay yi yi...)
 
After seeing Cordelia for so long on the Angel series I'd forgotten how stuck up and snobbish she started out being. I watched the first episode again and was repulsed but also laughed at her. The classic scene of Cordy's snobbish attitude was after Buffy mistakenly attacked her. Cordelia whips out her cell phone and says, "Excuse me. I have to call everyone I know right now!" I couldn't help but laugh at that one.
 
Yeah, girl has grown up a lot since leaving SunnyDale. In my turn, I was surprised with Cordy being not so nasty, when I began watching Angel.
 
UlaGan said:
Yeah, girl has grown up a lot since leaving SunnyDale. In my turn, I was surprised with Cordy being not so nasty, when I began watching Angel.
Click to expand...

after everything she went through with the Scoobies and with her Dad going bust, well she how could she not change?
 
white avenger said:
Generally, the first few episodes of any new show devote a certain amount of time to developing the stars' "look." By mid season, it's not uncommon to actually find it changed completely. I remember someone saying once that Whedon wasn't really sure just what he wanted to do with Angel at first, so the velvet coat might've been an idea that just didn't work out. Buffy started off with those mini skirts and boots, great for showing off shapely legs, but a high kick filmed from the wrong angle, and the Moral Majority is calling for the show's cancellation. White nail polish and purple ring, I didn't notice (did I mention those short skirts), but I do seem to recall Angel looking like he was wearing eye shadow, which sort of goes with the aforementioned velvet coat...
Click to expand...

I watched the commentary on this episode yesterday and Joss pointed out that a few things were changed with the characters. One was Xander and his skateboard. They found out that it was too difficult to show him on the board so I think he mentions that Xander is only ever seen a total of 2 times after that with the board and he's just holding it in his hands. Joss also pointed out that Willows wardrobe changes right after the first episode because the producers wanted her in something cuter...
 
Jules said:
I watched the commentary on this episode yesterday and Joss pointed out that a few things were changed with the characters. One was Xander and his skateboard. They found out that it was too difficult to show him on the board so I think he mentions that Xander is only ever seen a total of 2 times after that with the board and he's just holding it in his hands. Joss also pointed out that Willows wardrobe changes right after the first episode because the producers wanted her in something cuter...
Click to expand...

Oh, that's really interesting. Alas, I don't have commentaries recorded, only for season 5.
 
Okay just finished watching the pilot, took me back to 1997.


When this show premiered, think it was a Monday night.

upon 2nd viewing, I now realize that Eric Balfour played Jesse.

everyone looks so young!!!
 
I will never complain about "Welcome To The Hellmouth" ever again because I got to see the unaired pilot.
I'm so thankful that they decided to change it.
Though in most cases the start of any show is going to be a bit choppy.
A few episodes in usually determines the characters personality and style.
 
Will be doing a review of the entire series bit by bit, my review of the movie is now in the Inside Out column if you'd like to look

WTTH


The Good; Great opening scene, straight from every slasher flick ever but with a Joss twist. Brian Thompson is an excellent villain with a real sense of menace about him as anyone who saw him on the X-files can tell you. He plays a very similar role in the excellent Fright Night pt2. The Master is pretty OTT but like Darth Vaders first appearance in Star Wars you really get the sense this is the baddest guy in the universe and no mistake.

The bad; not much although it's early days yet. The one thing they could have improved upon is putting Eric Balfour in the opening titles, when you don't see him it's a big clue that Jesse isn't going to make it

Best lines; Instantly fell in love with Giles when he states that "You didn't hone". Also a good one from Xander when he recovers Buffy's stake "All I can think of is that you're building a really small fence"

Observations and questions; And here we have the REAL Willow although we'll never again see her so nerdy, from now on she dresses more like Cassandra from the movie. We also never see Buffy wear either her Jehovah Witness dress or her PVC number which is a shame on both counts. Nonetheless both Buffy and Cordy dress scandalously in these early eps, obviously going for the ratings. Darla is also lovely although she really does look too old to be a schoolgirl. But everyone looks SO young. SMG is a little more voluptuous and DB is a lot thinner and it suits both of them
We see Buffy's vamp sense again but it now seems more based on her fashion taste than cramps. Presumably Aura who has the dead guy in her locker is the same girl who calls Cordy in the Angel ep 'Rm w/a vu'? (Do the Cordettes stay constant or do they change over time?)
Cordy has a mobile phone! We won't see one of those again until season 1 of Angel and the Sunnydale Scoobies won't have them until season 7
Another point against Normal Again, Buffy doesn't want to be the Slayer and is trying to leave her past behind her. Presumably either the council or PTB arranged Joyce's job in Sunnydale? Buffy/Cordy fancy James Spader presumably for Pretty in Pink (although that's an 80s film when Cordy and Buffy would both have been toddlers). You wonder what they thought of him in S&M fest 'Secretary' although considering what both get up to in later seasons maybe that would be ok with them (or they'd like him MORE?). Still I guess Buffy is over her Christian Slater phase?
Who's John Tesch?
A strong opener that hints at great things to come but not overtly brilliant in itself, I'll give it 3/5
 
I have huge problems with the first episodes... They´re kind of old now, so they look trash-y. I don´t have the DVDs and, really? Don´t have the urge to watch them.. maybe just a couple of episodes, maybe.
About telling the story I think the first episode did a good job, explained the basic stuff, showed the basic features of the characters... There are some pilot that sux cause you feel like you´re entering a story in the middle. Buffy don´t cause this feeling cause there no "last summer" comments about things you don´t now, cause the characters don´t know each other until then 😀
 
It's early days for the show, I watched it then but wouldn't have described myself as a fan and wouldn't have started buying the videos (my it WAS a long time ago!) until season 2 kicks in, then it becomes great
 
yeah it was nice although he looks better in the leather. Worst thing he ever wears is that tan jacket in Some Assembly Required
 
Oh I loved that episode.I mean it's not my favourite but it's the very begining and I like to remember her like that.That was very good episode for the begining,with a lot of humor 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom