The Freshman
- Episode aired Oct 5, 1999
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Buffy feels like a fish out of water in her first year at college, but the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student puts her back in her element.Buffy feels like a fish out of water in her first year at college, but the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student puts her back in her element.Buffy feels like a fish out of water in her first year at college, but the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student puts her back in her element.
Anthony Head
- Rupert Giles
- (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Pedro Pascal
- Eddie
- (as Pedro Balmaceda)
Denice Sealy
- Student Volunteer
- (as Denice J. Sealy)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn 2023, Sarah Michelle Gellar posted on Instagram a photo of her scene with Pedro Pascal, who played Eddie in this episode (credited as Pedro Balmaceda). Pascal learned about this post during a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight (1981)'s Ash Crossan; though Crossan just mentioned it in passing and was clearly interested in moving on to other questions, Pascal kept bringing the conversation back to the post. Pascal was clearly surprised and moved that Gellar even remembered him from their brief scenes together, so Crossan asked what he remembered from his experience working on the episode. He responded, "Everything! Absolutely everything. I remember she had ice cream in her trailer, and she gave me some. She went back to her trailer, she got me some ice cream and she shared--'cause it was a night shoot, it was in the middle of the night, and we were on the UCLA campus. They hadn't built their college sets yet. I actually had to--I was doing a play in Long Beach, and I had to miss opening night because we had to shoot this very, very short moment. I remember everything. I could go on and on and on. I could give you step by step, every detail. I had to have lunch in the vamp mask--in the vamp face. And she was incredibly kind. She taught me how to use a sandbag to hit my mark. She was the best." Later, on the same red carpet, Access Hollywood asked Pascal about the same post, and he said, "What I just found out - which I am very excited about, and I can't wait to get my phone back so that I can look it up myself - is that Sarah Michelle Gellar remembers me. I remember every moment of shooting that episode, as brief as it was, she was such a kind scene partner and we had the best time." The interviewer showed him some stills from the episode, and he enthusiastically discussed them: "this is Eddie and the episode is 'The Freshman.' It's the season 4 premiere. It was a super big deal. I hang out with her for a little bit and, as soon as she says goodbye to me..."
- GoofsAt about 28 min As Joyce greets Buffy she says "Honey, how are you?" but her mouth doesn't move.
- Quotes
Buffy Summers: When you look back at this, in the three seconds it'll take you to turn to dust, I think you'll find the mistake was touching my stuff.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Gift (2001)
Featured review
A decent starter for the start of Season 4!
This episode from season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a fantastic episode that explores the challenges of starting college, specifically the feelings of uncertainty and isolation that many students experience during this transitional period. Through powerful metaphors and relatable storytelling, the episode captures the essence of what it means to be a freshman in college.
One of the most prominent metaphors in "The Freshman" is the idea of the "big fish in a small pond" syndrome, which is represented through the character of Buffy. Having been the Slayer for several years, Buffy is used to being the biggest and baddest person in the room. However, when she starts college, she quickly realizes that she's just a small fish in a big pond, and that the challenges she faces are much greater than she anticipated.
Another key theme in "The Freshman" is the concept of fitting in and finding one's place in the world. This is exemplified through the character of Oz, who is struggling to adapt to college life and find a sense of purpose outside of his relationship with Willow. The episode also explores the idea that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that it's important to reach out for help when we need it.
The episode's use of metaphor is particularly effective in conveying these themes, from the labyrinthine campus that represents the confusing and overwhelming nature of college life, to the demon that Buffy fights at the end of the episode, which symbolizes the challenges that she must overcome in order to succeed in this new environment
This episode is a relatable and positive episode that captures the essence of what it means to be a freshman in college. It's a powerful reminder that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that these feelings are a natural part of the process of growth and change. The writing is sharp and insightful, and the performances by the cast are excellent, with Sarah Michelle Gellar delivering a nuanced and emotionally charged portrayal of Buffy's struggles. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Freshman" is a must-watch episode that you won't want to miss!
One of the most prominent metaphors in "The Freshman" is the idea of the "big fish in a small pond" syndrome, which is represented through the character of Buffy. Having been the Slayer for several years, Buffy is used to being the biggest and baddest person in the room. However, when she starts college, she quickly realizes that she's just a small fish in a big pond, and that the challenges she faces are much greater than she anticipated.
Another key theme in "The Freshman" is the concept of fitting in and finding one's place in the world. This is exemplified through the character of Oz, who is struggling to adapt to college life and find a sense of purpose outside of his relationship with Willow. The episode also explores the idea that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that it's important to reach out for help when we need it.
The episode's use of metaphor is particularly effective in conveying these themes, from the labyrinthine campus that represents the confusing and overwhelming nature of college life, to the demon that Buffy fights at the end of the episode, which symbolizes the challenges that she must overcome in order to succeed in this new environment
This episode is a relatable and positive episode that captures the essence of what it means to be a freshman in college. It's a powerful reminder that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that these feelings are a natural part of the process of growth and change. The writing is sharp and insightful, and the performances by the cast are excellent, with Sarah Michelle Gellar delivering a nuanced and emotionally charged portrayal of Buffy's struggles. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Freshman" is a must-watch episode that you won't want to miss!
helpful•01
- buffysummersapologist
- Mar 28, 2023
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