Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Watching From the Beginning

We’re excited that Buffy the Vampire Slayer started airing reruns last week on ABC Family. They began by airing five fan-favorite episodes, including “Hush” and “Once More With Feeling” (obviously). Starting tomorrow, they’ll air the entire series in order, beginning with the pilot.

If you’ve never seen the show before, this is the perfect time to start. Even if you have, re-watching on an actual television network is exciting, whether or not you also have the entire DVD collection and can watch the show on Netflix (I might be speaking personally, here).

For those first-time viewers (or those who haven’t seen the show in years), here are a few things you should know before watching the series.

1. Pay attention to details.

Seriously. Don’t cook dinner, do your homework, or text your friends. Especially for the pilot episode, pay attention to every character that’s introduced, listen carefully to Buffy’s backstory, and take note of what it means to live on top of a Hellmouth.

There’s a scene between Buffy and Giles that gives a lot of important information, including some of the lore.

2. Much of the mythology is based on classic lore.

Speaking of the lore… vampires turning to dust? The processing of turning someone into a vampire? Stakes? All of that comes from the classic stories and mythology (and not just Dracula). And these vampires do not sparkle.

3. The series is not the same as the movie.

Joss Whedon’s initial concept was turned into a comedy for the 1992 film, which Whedon wasn’t happy with at all. Years later, he had the chance to develop it into a television series instead, staying more true to the way he originally envisioned the story. The concept of the “Slayer” is the same, but the vampires and overall feel of each are completely different.

4. It’s the ’90s.

Keep in mind that Buffy The Vampire Slayer originally aired in 1997. The show pretty clearly embodies high school in the ’90s. Note the fashion, the slang, and the use of technology.

5. You’ll see familiar faces.

In addition to immediately recognizing Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, you’ll see some other familiar faces. Fans of How I Met Your Mother will recognize a young Alyson Hannigan playing Willow, and Bones fans will spot an adorable David Boreanaz as the mysterious Angel.

Nicholas Brendon (Criminal Minds, Private Practice) plays Xander. Later in the series, Seth Green (Austin Powers, Dads) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Gossip Girl) also play recurring roles.

6. The series only gets better after the first season.

That’s pretty typical of any show, but some of the episodes in the first season are ones you’ll just have to power through. The story gets more complex as the series moves forward, as do the characters. It also gets a little darker.

7. It’s ahead of its time.

The show deals with some pretty difficult issues as the series progresses. I won’t give anything away, but expect something more than surface-level stories. Again, it gets darker, and it follows Buffy and her gang as they grow older.