- Air Date – March 10th, 1997
- Writer – Joss Whedon
- Director – Charles Martin Smith
- Producers – Joss Whedon
Summary
The series opens with Buffy Summers in Sunnydale, having left Los Angeles and her first encounter with vampires behind her (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie). Still the Slayer, Buffy soon runs into Rupert Giles, her new school librarian and Watcher. Like all Watchers, Giles is sworn to train his Slayer in the fight against evil and keep her alive long enough to do some good. Buffy quickly makes friends with Willow Rosenberg and Alexander (Xander) Harris who remain for the remainder of the series.
True to Sunnydale form a student is found dead in a locker with “strange” marks on is neck, and completely drained of blood. In a feeble attempt to retire from Slaying, Buffy resists investigating the incident. After a lengthy lecture from Giles Buffy gets back n the game and checks it out. Unknown to both at the time Xander overhears that Buffy is the Slayer. Cut to an underground pool of blood where Luke, an enormous vampire, predicts that soon “the sleeper will awaken”.
Buffy heads to the Bronze, the local Sunnydale hangout that will remain a meeting place for the primary characters until the end of season 3. On the way Buffy meets a mysterious stranger who warns her to be ready for The Harvest, and gives her a necklace with a gold cross. The stranger is later revealed to be Angel, and becomes Buffy’s love interest for the season.
Once at the Bronze Buffy sees Willow leaving with someone who appears to be a vampire. Concerned Buffy attempts to track the two with help from Xander. Meanwhile at the pool of blood The Master rises to lead his army of vampires. The Master requires blood to strengthen himself and break free of his underground prison and charges Luke with the task of getting him some.
Buffy and Xander track down Willow who has been taken by a vampire to an abandoned mausoleum. Willow finds her friend Jesse there, already weak from having his blood drained by Darla, one of The Master’ “favorites”. Darla, the unnamed vampire, and now Luke all duke it out while Willow and Xander freak out. Darla drags off Jesse while Willow and Xander run leaving Buffy to deal with Luke. Luke corners Buffy and begins to slowly descend upon her, growling and baring his fangs.
TO BE CONTINUED!
