This episode rocked!! I don't understand what everyone else is saying about it being a suckfest - I thought it was a brilliant beginning to a fresh new show, and certainly one of the better season premiers we have seen so far. In this assessment, I guess i have the benefit of others' retrospect. Before watching, I had read thoughts of the ep by cyberfans and got the impression that the Freshman was a major disappointment, and with that in mind I went in expecting to be bummed. So the opposite. This episode has left me liking Buffy and - gasp - even Xander, a whole lot more, and realising that there is life after Angel, and having a laugh enjoying it all. Yup, total thumbs up.
Let's analyse:
Willow: Very couply with Oz, but not so cutesome. :( Willow is looking good, but so un-Willow-like. The hair, the make-up, the being cool. Dislike begins.
Giles: On the absolute other end of the scale, mark this one too: I seriously did NOT like Giles. Not only was he giving me a total ick with barely wearing anything and standing nonchalantly with his bed partner while speaking to his almost daughter, but he was being so incredibly un-Giles-like. I couldn't believe how non-caring he was when BUffy asked him for help. Sure, she's independent from the Council now, but shouldn't he have an interest in her life as her father figure now? Bastard. A man can change, but not that much, and not Giles. And no, running to help at the end in completely un-Giles clothes doesn't make up for the ickness. I doubt anything can. I think he needs to get a life, but I think it needs to be a believable one. Your bad, Joss.
But oh - one thing that got to me: OK, I get that Buffy's going to move on - but so quickly? *Come on*, she can't be thinking guys without some qualms - I mean, she's just left a very angsty dramatic true love situation with an immortal enemy - things just don't change so easily. Hmmm.
The Baddies: Joss does it yet again - kills off the wicked hot blonde vamp who has major potential for evilness. (The other being Darla, s1) Arrgh!! This blondie was awesome - and a real match for Buffy, so that it was unrealistic how she was so easily disposed of. Humph.
Memorable mentions: The roomie is a cack! I can see she's gonna be a luv to hate one, hehehe. I really liked the scene with Buffy and the pre-vamp guy trying to find their way around the uni; very cute. Some really awesome fight scenes against the blonde evil vamp, although I kinda wished Buffy hadn't made her clutzy move through the roof until after they'd read the gory details about Achmed the foreign exchange student in her diary, hehehe.
All up, a very entertaining and enjoyable episode, great start to a fresh season.
OK, let's just get straight to it: the Angel lackage thing. Yeah, I was a bit disappointed that Buffy did not mention her former love even once, but I guess that was to be expected. I mean, she's had all summer to moon over Angel and now she's focussed on the normal life ahead. She's stronger than the girl who left home after sending her ex to Hell, and she knows it's high time to move on. All the same, I have to say that I got a lot more out of that phone scene knowing that Angel was the mystery caller. (Sigh, Angel).
Buffy: Wow, the girl was finally given some really laugh-inducing lines this episode, yay! Loved the beginning scene with the "reknown" confusion, hehehe. OK, for someone who REALLY doesn't like Buffy, I was amazed to discover myself (metaphorically) reaching out to give her a hug. Yay, finally the writers give their main character some depth! Out with high school's arrogant suave Slayer, in with college's confused and klutzy Buff. With every knock she endured (feeling lost and lonely on campus, being stuck with the roomie from Annoyingdale, getting kicked out of class, being a ditz in front of a potential boyf, getting kick-assed by vamps...), I jsut found myself liking her more and more. I was getting so tired of the 'I'm the Slayer, I know the know' routine. This new Buffy has weakness and is beginning to find her footing in the outside world alone. This is the sort of girl I want to support.
Xander: OK, this may be the once and only time I ever say this, so mark it in your diaries now: I love Xander. He was like Buffy's white knight with a bad hairdo - he totally saved her from the depths of despair. Go Xand man, you rock! I just felt like going up and giving him a hug, I swear - he was so sweet! Hope it keeps up - but if they're gonna do a Buffy/Xander thing, I'm going to hurl.
Riley: I hate myself for saying this, but... I *liked* Riley!!! Ewww, ewwww, I'm gonna go and wash my mouth out with soap now.
OK, I'm back. But not cured. Look, I was all prepped to hate the guy, but Joss anticipated our bias and made him something totally different from what we were expecting. Firstly, he wasn't that bad looking, I do have to say - (ick!!!) - kinda cute acutally - (ewww, ewww, did I just say that?!!). Angel-like in appearance (tall, dark, older, huge and manly), but that's as far as the comparison goes. Whereas Angel fell in love with Buffy at first sight, Riley couldn't even remember her name. And while she injured them both upon first encounter, with Angel she played Miss cool and suave, and with Riley she was a complete blonde. So I figure the writers are setting up a whole new playground for the relationship to run. It's not going to be a tragic immortal love at all, but just a college 'normal life' thing that won't be very fanfic-inspiring. 