"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Never Kill a Boy on the First Date (1997)

Director:

David Semel

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Rob Des Hotel (written by) ...

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

31 March 1997 (Season 1, Episode 5)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Yearning for a normal life, Buffy agrees to a date with Owen. Giles discovers a prophecy of coming danger...

Plot Keywords:

Female Protagonist | Heroine | Library | Demon | High School

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Mark Metcalf	...	The Master
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Christopher Wiehl	...	Owen Thurman
Geoff Meed	...	Andrew Borba
Paul-Felix Montez	...	Mysterious Guy
Robert Mont	...	Van Driver
Andrew J. Ferchland	...	Collin

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

Throughout the entire series, Buffy has a habit of beginning episodes fighting vampires in a graveyard. The trend borders on classic. This episode features the first of that type of opening sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the conclusion of episode #1.5, "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date", Owen is trying to set up another date with Buffy. In the background a woman in a red and black jacket carrying a red bag walks up the stairs. Seconds later, in the next shot of Owen, the same woman is walking up the stairs without the bag. Seconds after that, in the next shot of Buffy, the same woman with the same red bag on her shoulder is walking by at ground level.

Quotes:

[after Buffy slays a vampire, Giles picks up a ring off the ground]
Buffy: Oh, that's great! I kill 'em, you fence their stuff.

Movie Connections:

References Soylent Green (1973)

Soundtrack:

Junkie Girl

Buffy has a date at the funeral home

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This episode illustrates many recurring themes in BTVS. (1) Buffy trying to be a normal girl, despite her job as Slayer, (2)that prophesies tend to come true, one way or another, no matter how people try to stop them, (3)that Buffy needs Xander, Willow and Giles to help her fulfill her destiny. Basically, the episode centers around the Master's new sidekick the Annointed One being created, on the same night Buffy has a date. This leads to some pretty funny moments including Giles and Buffy sitting in a graveyard while he lectures her on the importance of keeping her Slayerness a secret from boys. (Buffy responds that it's not like she's wearing a button that reads "I'm the Slayer, ask me how!" a line that always makes me laugh no matter how many times I hear it.) Also, Xander, Willow and Angel all crashing Buffy's date at The Bronze is a lot of fun.

A downside to the episode is Buffy's inexplicable attraction to this Owen guy. I mean, granted I'm a bit biased, but with Angel standing right there, why in the world would she look at some nobody teenager? (I get the same amazed feeling when she starts seeing Riley in season four. Spike's evil and plotting to destroy the Scoobies, Angel's living in LA and will lose his soul if she sleeps with him, but I'd STILL rather date either one of them than Riley. However, I'm digressing.) Really, it's not that Owen is all bad. His morbid fascination with Emily Dickenson and his doofy excitement over a double date to a funeral home are pretty funny. He's just no Angel.

My favorite part of the episode: Cordy seeing Angel for the first time at The Bronze and drawling, "Hello, salty goodness," a line that she'll repeat in the episode "Spin the Bottle" over on "Angel." Cordy and Angel will develop such a complex and beautiful relationship in the years to come that it's fun to see them before they even know each other.