Product Details

• Actors: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, James Marsters
• Writers: Joss Whedon
• Producers: James A. Contner
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: WB Television Network, The
• VHS Release Date: September 15, 1998
• Run Time: 285 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305076588
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,922 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #4 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Television > Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  #5 in	Video > Horror > Things That Go Bump > Vampires
  #42 in	Video > Television > Fox TV

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's no secret that Buffy creator Joss Whedon was unhappy with the hilariously campy and charming 1992 film about his vampire-slaying heroine. When the opportunity for the Warner Brothers series came along, he set out to present his complete vision of the teen dream. This set is a nice introduction to Buffy (petite and pretty Sarah Michelle Gellar); her watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head); her best friend, the computer whiz Willow (winning Alyson Hannigan); their devoted but slightly goofy friend Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and the self-involved beauty Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). Also featured is Buffy's angst-ridden, 240-year-old beau-to-be, Angel (David Boreanaz). Sunnydale, where former Los Angelean Buffy now resides, just happens to be at a Hellmouth opening, allowing for the presence of not only vampires, but all kinds of beasties and demons. This keeps Buffy and her posse very busy.

The two-part opener, "Welcome to Hellmouth" and "Harvest," introduces Buffy and audiences to her new high school, her friends, and her enemies. Most importantly, the episodes introduce a demon who'll plague her through the series' first season: the Master. She also meets Angel, the most beleaguered vampire this side of Lestat's Louis. Together, the newfound friends and the watcher battle--and win (for now)--against the Master's minions. "The Witch" is an early example of the demons Buffy faces--it's not just about staking vamps. Here Buffy meets Amy (a recurring character), whose mother is a cheerleader-obsessed--you guessed it--witch. "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" explores a recurring theme: Buffy's thwarted attempts for normalcy in her life. As viewers come to expect, demons get in the way. Here, the Anointed One (a kiddie vamp) is crowned. Buffy learns the true identity of the mysterious and handsome Angel, who's spent the last 80 years without a kill. The couple agree not to pursue a relationship (yeah, right). Another episode that explores the demonic is "The Puppet Show," which borrows from the familiar theme of the possessed ventriloquist's dummy. Some episodes are quite graphic ("The Puppet Show," for example, features a potential brain removal), but there's always the inevitable triumph of good over evil. This justifiably popular phenomenon serves up healthy messages of loyalty and friendship, complete with hip, dead-on funny dialogue and great clothes. It's also a celebration of the quirky and the odd(balls). --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Vampires, Blade, And Every Other Vampire Movie!, July 5, 1999

By A Customer

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer Special Value Slayer Pack contains the two part first ever premire episode,The Witch,Never Kill A Boy On The First Date, Angel, and the uncut version of The Puppet Master. Here's a breakdown of each episode:

Welcome To Hellmouth-(5) The first episode introduces you to Buffy and the rest of the cast and to theroy that there are vampires and that Buffy is the only one who can stop them.

The Harvest-(5) The second part to the premire episode is one of the best episodes ever. It shows that Buffy really can defend herself and take care of others at the same time.

The Witch-(5) This episode lets you know that Buffy will face creatures other than vampires. It starts off when Buffy saves a cheerleader who bursts into flame and goes from there.

Never Kill A Boy On The First Date-(4) This episode introdues you to the fact that Buffy longs for a normal, teenage life and focuses more on that than creature slaying. A nice change.

Angel-(5) Introduces you to the character Angel and the fact that he is a vampire. It's where Buffy has to make a decision- kiss him or kill him? Suprising episode.

The Puppet Master (uncut)-(5) An episode in which Buffy fights a dummy. A black comedy-type episode. This is the only place to see the full, uncut version that never aired.

If you're a Buffy fan, this is a great deal!

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, December 26, 1999

By	Jaime (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

The Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Special Value Slayer Pack is the best video set on the earth. It contains the first 6 shows and also has interviews with the creator of the show. It is the absolute best and if you are a Buffy fan then I recamend you buy it.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best television series ever made., June 15, 2000

By	Shan Wickremesinghe (Randwick Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

..."Welcome to The Hellmouth" and "TheHarvest"
(Season 1 ep 1 & 2) is the beginning of the show andpicks off
where the movie left off, with an unanswered question or two (what
happened to Pike?) and a little tweaking....

It
introduces the characters and it is really quite amazing how quickly
they have taken to the roles they have. The jump from the unscreened
pilot for Fox to this is nothing short of phenomenal. There is some
great action as Buffy and the rest have to foil the attempts of The
Master as he attempts to rise to surface from the underground, ....

(S1 ep 3)
"Witch" is a good episode where Buffy finds that someone
will do anything to get on the cheerleading squad....

(S1 ep 5)
"Never Kill A Boy on the First Date" shows the difficulties
of trying to juggle a social life with the night-time job of fighting
demonic forces - and showing that it's going to be a work in
progress.

(S1 ep 7) "Angel" is a very good episode which
finally reveals the biggest secret behind one of the characters who
has been mysteriously appearing in the previous episodes and gives
some important background information.

(S1 ep 9) "The Puppet
Show" is about some particularly nasty murders at Sunnydale High
and twists keep coming left right and centre. Really very good as to
who actually is responsible. ....