Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Becoming: Part 1 (1998) User Reviews

A near perfect episode

[katierose295 · 10/10 · 29 July 2006]

Oh, where do I even begin? This episode is so beautiful and compelling and flat-out brilliant that it just about melts the TV. It's the first half of the two part season finale. If you're watching BTVS on DVD, you flat out CANNOT skip "Becoming" parts one or two. I don't care if your house is on fire, you need to sit there and see these episodes. (Well, unless it's a really big fire, in which case, evacuate, but take the DVDs with you.) They're that good.

"Becoming Part One" is all about Angel. Through a series of flashbacks we see his life (and un-life) unfold. How he became a vampire back in 18th Century Ireland. Playing mind games with a human Drusilla. Regaining his soul in Romania. Living in New York alleyways. The first time he saw Buffy. (I have a real soft spot for vampire flashback episodes. "Fool for Love" in season five of BTVS and "Darla" & "Orpheus" in seasons two and four of "Angel" add a lot to "Becoming Part One's" back story.) Watching the flashbacks, we're reminded of the sweet, caring guy that Angel really is under Angelus' evil smirk. Is it any wonder that Buffy's been so reluctant to kill him? Time is running out, though. Angelus and Buffy are heading for a final showdown. The Acathla demon has been unearthed in Sunndydale. Basically, it's a big rock monster that can swallow the world into hell if someone triggers it. And Angelus and Dru are eager to wake it up. They just have to figure out how it works.

Meanwhile, Willow and Buffy have discovered Jenny's spell to re-curse Angel, which immediately starts an argument in the Scoobie ranks. Xander and Cordy think that Angel is gone for good. Even if his soul could be restored, they don't believe that Angel can ever be forgiven or trusted. Giles' is feeling equally as conflicted. Jenny's last wish was to re-curse Angel, but he's also the one who killed her. On the other hand, Buffy wants Angel back and Willow knows that she can work the spell. Objectivly, you can see everybody's point of view, (Even if a big part of me wants Xander to just shut-up.) Honestly, what it comes down to is Buffy and Willow are the strongest. Willow's just coming into her powers, but Xander has already been following her lead for years. Buffy's the Slayer and Giles loves her, so he usually tries to give her what she wants. Neither one of them can hold the hard line for long. They agree to proceed with the plan to re-ensoul Angel.

Things go terribly wrong, though. While Buffy meets with Angelus, Dru attacks the Scoobies. She and her henchmen kill Kendra and knock out Willow and Xander. Angelus and Dru believe that Giles can awaken the Acathla demon, so Drusilla kidnaps him right out of the librarian. Buffy comes rushing back to find the carnage and that's when the police arrive. The slow-mo scene of Buffy running and Whistler's voice over is just a perfect way to end the episode.

There are so many great parts to this episode. Like I said, the flashbacks are wonderful. Angel's face when he first sees Buffy just breaks your heart. He's enthralled with her right from the start, he only wanted to help her. Now Angelus has completely taken his place and is out to destroy the world. Speaking of plots to destroy the world, Spike is less than thrilled with this new Acathla plan. (His "I can't wait to tell my friends" speech is hilarious.) He and Angelus/Angel have an interesting love/hate relationship. Angelus absently whacks Spike on the back of his head as he walks by and torments Spike by coming on to Dru, but he doesn't try to really hurt Spike. Even though Spike is (or was) injured and weak. Spike snickers when Angelus fails to awaken the demon and is plotting to bring Angelus down, but he not willing to just stake Angelus when his back is turned. Even though, he could easily catch Angelus off guard and dust him. They're so complicated and I love watching them together.

The name of the episode, "Becoming," is also interesting. In the flashbacks, Whistler, Angel's guide, tells him that he has to "become" someone. Stand up and make himself count. Angelus, meanwhile, says he'll "become" by awakening Acathla. He wants to be the one to "make history... End." Metaphorically, forgetting everything that's happened to him as Angel and, as an added bonus, destroying all the humans on the planet once and for all. They both want to become something more: Angel a better "person" and Angelus a "purer" demon. It's very cool.

The only downside I can think of in this episode is Kendra. I still don't like her accent and I'm not real sorry to see her go.

My favorite part of the episode: Buffy considering the consequences of being sucked into hell. "At least I won't have to take that chemistry final... Or maybe I'll be taking it forever..."

Perfect lead-in to a Dynamite Finale

[kellyq12 · 10/10 · 5 June 2022]

Showing the back story of Angel reminds us of who he is and what's at stake... pun intended. Great suspense building and character stuff and anticipation for the finale is building!

Superb pt 1 of the finale

[Joxerlives · 10/10 · 4 February 2012]

Becoming pt1

The Good; The glimpses of Liam and Drusilla in their human forms are just too tragic for words, especially Dru. Good scenes with Whistler and of course Kendra back. Angelus' suicide telegram for Buffy (would they allow that post 9/11?). Snyder's chair shortage gag

The Bad; David's accent. Where is it supposed to be from exactly? Are they after his lucky charms?

Best line; Spike; "It's a big rock. Can't wait to tell my friends, they don't have a rock this big"

Character death; yep, byebye Kendra, making it one recurring character dead every 8 eps or so. A shame to lose her but I think most would agree that Faith is better as both a character and a Slayer. And if she hadn't died? I figure Faith would have turned up as one of the potentials in season 7 and she rather than Kennedy would have hooked up with Willow.

Knocked out; yep, Xander, Willow and Giles

Questions and observations; We get to see pre-Slayer Buffy in LA and a different version of Merrick. In this version Buffy does indeed miss the heart first time out as she later tells Dawn. The 'Do you know what time it is?' line is very clever, the same words as Joyce says in the movie but with a completely different meaning. Presumably Angel as a tramp is following the diner incident in the 70s we later see in season 4 of Angel. Willow once again play's the bashful virgin for comic effect. Whistler's 'puppets' speech is interesting when you consider Jasmine manipulating the Fang Gang over the course of Angel. Willow attempts her first spell.

10/10 no contest

A great lead-up to the season finale

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 26 September 2017]

Throughout this episode we see flashbacks to key moments in Angel's past; the moment when he first becomes a vampire, his first meeting with Drusilla, his cursing by the Gypsies and how he found purpose and decided to help Buffy… long before their assumed first meeting. Away from these flashbacks we get the episode's main story; an ancient stone has been discovered in Sunnydale; it emerges that is contains a demon who was defeated long ago. Angel is determined to raise this demon knowing that if he is successful the Earth will be dragged to Hell! Meanwhile Buffy is getting frustrated by the fact that Angel won't face her; that is until she stumbles upon the floppy disc that contains Jenny Calendar's work on restoring Angel's soul. Opinions are divided on what to do next; Xander thinks she must kill him while Willow offers to try the spell.

This was a great opening instalment to a story which will conclude with the series finale. I really liked how flashbacks to Angel's past were interwoven with the main story; it was particularly interesting to learn that Drusilla's prescience predates her becoming a vampire. The main story was solid; it was great that the disc containing the knowledge required to return Angel's soul has been found and Willow's interest in magic is introduced. We also get to see Kendra the other Vampire Slayer again although her character arc does end in a rather shocking manner. The way Buffy is lured away from her friends has been done many times before but at least this time Angel points out just how often she falls for the ploy. The ending, as is often the case in the first part of a two episode story, is a little downbeat; Kendra is dead; Willow is trapped under a book case, condition unknown; Giles is captured by the vampires and Angel is little closer to getting his soul restored… I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Becoming us

[Realrockerhalloween · 22 September 2016]

The episode is beautifully elegant as Angel starts the process to sick the world in to hell and Buffy must put her feelings aside to take him out before hand. What makes this different from any finale is the passion Buffy still feels for Angel, unlike The Master, since they shared a bond before he lost his soul until he pushes her to accept the man she once knew is never coming back and cause an apocalypse if she lacks on her slaying duties. David Bronze shows how sexy, clever and psychopathic vampires can be. Through flashback you see him turn Drusilla insane, torments Buffy by ruining her life as he sends his minions to kill her friends leading to her being outed to her mother, kicked out of school and in trouble with the law.

Another side story is you get to see how Buffy became a slayer by being called outside of school and slaying her first vampire before heading home to hear her parents argue. All these scenes best anything the movie offered as you feel emotional for the slayer as vulnerable and still just a kid who didn't t ask for this job. She doesn't seem like the type to rise above expectations defeating every foe she came across and became the best slayer to ever live.

Big moments are going to come

[ossie85 · 10/10 · 9 August 2022]

This episode treats us to a series of flashbacks showing us how Angel and Drusilla became vampires and Buffy's calling. But in our time line, Angelus has found a statue that can send the world into hell he just needs to know the ritual. Buffy and the gang are then strengthened by the return of Kendra. Willow decides to attempt the ritual to give Angel his soul back.

Why It's So Good - Flashbacks are on the menu for this tale with an incredible array of scenes providing us with a great insight on Angel's, Darla's and Drusilla's history. The return, and subsequent death, of Kendra is a nice climax for part one of this episode and not knowing whether Xander, Willow and Giles are alright is heart stopping.

Watch Out For - Xander's summary of Buffy's latest battle.

Quote - "It's a big rock. I can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big." - Spike, after Angelus gets a hold of Acathla.

The One With Angel's Past...

[taylorkingston · 9/10 · 23 June 2015]

I really enjoy this episode. It's a great first part of the season finale. I love that we get to see more of Angel's past and that we get to know him more.

In this episode, Angelus reminisces about how he was turned into a vampire by Darla, how he turned Drusilla, how he was cursed by the Gypsies, and when he first saw Buffy. Meanwhile, everyone is preparing for final exams and Buffy gets a rather unique invitation for a confrontation with Angel. Angel, Drusilla and Spike steal a tomb that houses a demon that will suck the world into hell, and Angel plans on releasing it. When Buffy meets with Angel, she realizes that it's a distraction. Because while she was there, everyone in the library was attacked. Willow gets a concussion and Drusilla kills Kendra. When Buffy sees what has happened, the police try to arrest her, thinking she is the murderer.

Fun Fact: The clock tower from Back To The Future is used as a set for Buffy's high school in Los Angeles.

Best part of the episode: When Buffy finds out that everyone had been attacked.

Worst part of the episode: When Kendra is killed. And the fact that Drusilla didn't even drink her blood. What's the point?

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Amazing.

Angelus: I didn't come here to fight. Buffy: No? Angelus: Gosh. I-I was hoping we can get back together. What do you think? Do we have a shot? All right! We'll fight.

[bombersflyup · 9/10 · 28 August 2019]

Becoming: Part 1 is about an ancient demon being discovered, that if revived will suck everything on earth into hell itself.

The episode's up and down, though setting up nicely for the finale. While most of the flashbacks strong, much of the present day dialogue's weak. The only joy amidst the sombreness is in Angelus's antics and in Sarah running, it's so cute. Giles seems to give in to Willow performing the spell promptly, I don't like that. If he really believes it's a danger, he should be fighting this. Max Perlich as Whistler, I find annoying and Kendra's still awful. Drusilla's a saint. Also Xander has earned the right to voice the opinion he does in the library, that Angel should be destroyed not restored. Xander's put his life on the line and saved Buffy so many times, he would very well take a bullet for her if someone were to enter and fire upon her right there and then. Anyone who doesn't think so is dead wrong.