1.1 Welcome to the Hellmouth

Plot Synopsis (Display)

Highlights

Principal Flutie's "inspirational" welcome talk, where he ostentatiously tears up Buffys previous record, then, as he reads bits of the text, gradually tapes it together again, while trying to sound positive
Buffy's whole "I don't care" scene in the library with Giles
Buffy and Giles "honing" discussion in The Bronze, including Giles's rather ineffectual attempt to work out what to do as Buffy takes action

Firsts

There are too many to go through in detail - since this is the first ever episode, everything is a "first", but some seem worthy of special mention:

First (oblique) references to the Hellmouth. Giles describes Sunnydale as a "centre of mystical convergence" and Angel tells Buffy that she "is standing at the mouth of Hell".

Buffy's first comments about Angel, "Dark. Gorgeous, in an annoying sort of way...I really didn't like him".

Quotes

	Joyce :	Have a good time. I know you're gonna make friends right away, just think positive.
	(Buffy nods and turns away)
	Joyce :	And honey?
	(Buffy looks back)
	Joyce :	Try not to get kicked out?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Cordelia :	Oh, I would kill to live in L.A. That close to that many shoes?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	(Buffy trying to avoid a meeting in the libary after her first, rather confusing, encounter with Giles)
	Buffy :	Or not. Or we could meet someplace quieter. Louder. Uh, that place just kinda gives me the wiggins.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	(Xander returns a dropped stake to Buffy)
	Xander :	The only thing I can think is that you're building a really little fence...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Cordelia :	I don't want to interrupt your downward mobility, but I just wanted to tell you that you won't be meeting Coach Foster, the woman with the chest hair, because of the extreme dead guy in the locker.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Buffy :	It's my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would have last month's hair. I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus. And I don't care.
	Giles :	Then why are you here?
	Buffy :	To..tell you that...I don't care. Which...I don't, and...have now told you...so...bye
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Buffy :	Who are you?
	Angel :	Let's just say, I'm a friend. (starts to leave)
	Buffy :	Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend!
	Angel :	(turns back) I didn't say I was yours....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Willow :	When I'm with a boy I like, it's hard for me to say anything cool, or, or witty, or at all. I-I can usually make a few vowel sounds...and then I have to go away
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
	Buffy :	I didn't say I'd never slay another vampire. It's not like I have all these fluffy bunny feelings for them, I'm just not gonna get way extracurricular with it.

Pop Culture References

Giving a "coolness test" to Buffy, Cordelia refers to John Tesh, eliciting a response of "the Devil" from Buffy. John Tesh is an evangelical musician and radio show host in the States.

Cordelia: Willow! Nice dress! Good to know you've seen the softer side of Sears
This was an advertising slogan of American hardware giant Sears, as they attempted to move into the textiles market

When Giles asks Buffy what she knows about Sunnydale, her only response is "it's two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus?"
Neiman Marcus is a fashionable American clothing store, and Buffy is implying that Sunnydale is a far cry from civilisation as she knows it

When Buffy is trying to decide what to wear for her first visit to The Bronze, she considers and rejects a blue floral dress, with the comment "Would you like a copy of the Watchtower"
The Watchtower is the Jehova's Witness' religious magazine

What We Learn

Buffy is the Vampire Slayer (well, duh!)
How vampires reproduce ("it's a whole big sucking thing")
Xander has a crush on Buffy
Willow has been in love with Xander since childhood.

Nitpicks

As Buffy walks towards the Bronze for the first time, she digs a banknote out of her pocket and hands it to the doorman without a glance. How does she know how much it costs? She's never been there before!

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