Despite the ever-changing world of television, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still seen as the definitive supernatural teen drama 25 years after its release. Buffy Summers was a strong female role model who subverted the damsel in distress trope, Willow proved that nerdy BFF could be a powerful force without her friends, and Giles is still one of television’s most endearing mentor figures. modern.
Considering how much she is loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it comes as a shock to learn that his roots weren’t exactly the strongest. The show’s first season was heavily influenced by 1990s clichés and awkward gender politics, to the point where many aspects of the first season were unrecognizable by the end of its seven-season run.
10 aspects of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayercompletely different in the end
1. The opening credits changed from season one to season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
It’s not unusual for the opening sequence of a TV series to change over the course of a program’s broadcast, and this is especially true for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Each season had changes to the opening credits as new clips were added to showcase the cast and action, and even the main song was recorded after the show’s second season.
Beyond the updates to the visual component of the show, the most visible change to the title sequence has been the loss of the initial narrative. Almost every episode of Season 1 began with the line, which has become a classic “In every generation there is a chosen onebut by Buffy’s conclusion, the narrative was gone.
2. The cast
While the core trio of Buffy’s Scooby gang remained consistent from start to finish, many characters have come and gone throughout the series’ seven seasons. The show only boasted 5 main characters and a handful of supporting roles, while the final season of Buffy it had a recurring cast of over a dozen characters.
Characters like Cordelia Chase and Angel may have brought color and drama to the original season of Buffy, but the roles of the characters were replaced by others such as Spike and Anya after their departure at the end of the third season. Secondary characters such as Principal Snyder and Joyce Summers were also killed off to make room for new personalities within the series, such as Buffy’s sister Dawn.
3. Giles’ presence was less as Buffy the Vampire Slayer continued its programming
Although Anthony Stewart Head was present throughout the series’ run, the actor was given less screen time during the show’s final two seasons. He had an essential role in the show’s first five seasons, but was demoted to a recurring actor following Buffy’s death and revival due to the actor’s desire to spend more time with his family.
While Giles was largely portrayed as a comedic presence during the show’s first season, he gradually evolved into a father figure and one of the characters of Buffy fan favorite as the show progressed. Fans may have missed the character’s constant estrangement from the Scoobies during the show’s final season, but his absence was key to the character’s maturation and empowerment.
4. The tonality
When Buffy the Vampire Slayer first started out, the show was largely a cheeky action comedy based on ’90s clichés. It was a landmark program of his time, and just the season finale,”Prophecy Girl“, he hinted at the depth that would come.
While Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the show evolved, it kept its signature sense of humor, based on colorful pop culture references and quick witticisms from its characters. The last two seasons, however, have significantly reduced the sense of fun in favor of a more serious adult drama, with the tone at times rather somber.
5. The setting of Buffy the Vampire Slayer she changed at the end of the series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is set in the fictional town of Sunnydale, California, and over the course of the series’ seven seasons, the show’s characters have never moved. Even though the Scooby Gang was especially busy protecting their home, their base of operations changed considerably from season one to season seven.
While most of the time was spent at Sunnydale High School (particularly in the high school library) during the first three seasons of the series, the building is blown up in one of the show’s best episodes. At the end of the series, the Scooby Gang’s main headquarters becomes the Summers’ living room, a location rarely used prior to season 3.
6. The fight choreography
During the first four seasons, the lead character’s stunt work was provided by stunt double Sophia Crawford, with action scenes choreographed by Jeff Pruitt. The two performers were instrumental in developing the show’s aesthetic and ensuring that the action scenes were fluid and dynamic.
After Crawford and Pruitt’s exit at the end of Season 4, the show’s fight scenes were different. Buffy’s fighting style was less based on martial arts like jiu-jitsu and more inspired by brawling, while the editing was much more choppy.
7. The villains were different at the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The Master was the first big villain of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and he was largely a basic villain who seemingly posed little threat to the world at large. He may have wanted to rise from his crypt beneath Sunnydale to feast on the blood of the innocent, but his plans were largely ineffective and secondary to Season 7’s monster narrative.
By season 7 of the show, the stakes were much higher. The Scooby Gang are pitted against the First, a disembodied force threatening to consume the Earth with its army of Turok-Hans who have kept Buffy on her toes while the First’s sadistic servant Caleb has maimed his closest friends.
8. Willow’s sexuality
For much of the first series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow’s character was defined by her meek demeanor and inability to express her feelings for her best friend Xander. The latter character eventually breaks her heart when she hooks up with Cordelia, though Willow herself outgrows her crush when she bonds with Oz.
As the series enters its seventh season, Willow changes drastically as a character. She is now a competent sorceress (largely) confident in her abilities, and also a strong and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, something viewers couldn’t have predicted during season one.
9. The death of main characters
While Principal Flutey was eaten by a pack of possessed students and Buffy herself was drowned by the Master during the show’s first season, some notable characters were killed off in the program. The ever-controversial Joss Whedon was quick to bust out that innocence in later seasons.
When Buffy’s final season aired, the show was prone to tugging at viewers’ heartstrings left and right. Innocent teenagers like Cassie Newton have been busted in standalone episodes like “HelpLong-term recurring character Jonathan was killed in cold blood by Andrew, and characters like Anya and Spike made great sacrifices in the series finale.Chosen“.
10. The protagonist’s attitude changes in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
At the start of the series, the protagonist was a courageous teenager who found the responsibility of battling the forces of darkness an annoying burden that got in the way of her social life. This made her a captivating character and one that young audiences could relate to with ease.
At the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy Summers had grown considerably. Her sense of optimism and playfulness was largely smoothed by the trauma of having died on multiple occasions, and her character became dictatorial under the pressure of having to lead her friends into battle against the ultimate evil. .