Unaired Pilot

Episode aired Sep 30, 2011
25m

7.1/10

S1.

Buffy Summers arrives for her first day at a new school, and already weird things are happening. She investigates a dead body that is found in the girls' locker room, and, with the help of h... Read allBuffy Summers arrives for her first day at a new school, and already weird things are happening. She investigates a dead body that is found in the girls' locker room, and, with the help of her new friends Willow and Xander, she fights a gang of vampires. Also, she meets Cordelia ... Read allBuffy Summers arrives for her first day at a new school, and already weird things are happening. She investigates a dead body that is found in the girls' locker room, and, with the help of her new friends Willow and Xander, she fights a gang of vampires. Also, she meets Cordelia and her friends, and Giles, her new Watcher, tells her more about her destiny.

7.1/10

1.7K

Top credits

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Anthony Head in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Anthony Head in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicholas Brendon in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Stephen Tobolowsky in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Buffy Summers arrives for her first day at a new school, and already weird things are happening. She investigates a dead body that is found in the girls' locker room, and, with the help of her new friends Willow and Xander, she fights a gang of vampires. Also, she meets Cordelia and her friends, and Giles, her new Watcher, tells her more about her destiny. —page8701

superhero reference to home depot reference to martha stewart unaired tv series pilot

Genres
Parents guide

Trivia
This pilot was directed by Joss Whedon and financed out of his own pocket to sell the show to the networks. The plot is fairly similar to "Welcome to the Hellmouth", though Angel, Jesse and the Master don't appear. Also, it's only half an hour long. The main differences from the show as aired are the sets and casting. While most of the principals are in place, Riff Regan plays Willow and Stephen Tobolowsky plays Principal Flutie. They were replaced by Alyson Hannigan and Ken Lerner, respectively in the actual show. The library that appears is not the set from the show, rather it is the actual library from Torrance High School where much of the Sunnydale High material was filmed.

Quotes
Buffy Summers: I don't suppose you'd be sweeties and attack me one at a time?
Vampire: You watch too many movies.
Buffy Summers: You can never watch too many movies!

Alternate versions
The episode was remade into Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Episode 1, "Welcome to the Hellmouth" in March 1997.

Connections
Featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Unaired Pilot Reaction (2021)

Soundtracks
See A Little Light
(uncredited)
by Bob Mould

Top review

8/10

An interesting titbit for the hard core fans.

A very interesting "alternative" to the version which aired, with a few members of cast that were replaced before the show aired.

It was clear that JW already had a fairly clear vision for the show and I think this was an excellent pitch to the networks to show them what he was aiming for.

As a sales piece to the broadcasters of the day, I think it was as good as could be expected and did its job well to sell the rather odd sassy yet gritty plus vampires concept the execs.

As an actual episode, the pacing and dialogue were improved upon for the actual pilot that aired and IMO this show would have been a lesser affair without Hannigan's Willow.

All in all, a rather interesting slice of history for Buffy aficionados if not for the casual viewer.

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