Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Re-Watch Panel

Rate The Master as a Big-Bad on a scale of 1-10. What did you like about him or hate about him?

Allison: I really loved The Master as a Big Bad, I’d probably give him a 9-10 out of 10. We had a good built up with him, and he was always enjoyable to watch. The sass he brought was amazing. I also just loved that he was this terrible evil, but for the majority of the season, he was trapped. It made things interesting, and he proved that he should still be feared even though he was underground.

Lizzie: I’m going to give him an 8, because those were the young and innocent days where we were scared by things that sort of made sense. He was evil, but he was a simple evil, with a somewhat simple purpose. I almost miss him.

Caralynn: He was actually one of my least favorites, but every Buffy villain is still a pretty great villain, so I’d give him a 6-7. He gets points docked for having been basically useless, trapped all season until the events of “Prophecy Girls” (so basically, the opposite of what Allison said). He was just directing his minions and giving orders. The best part of the Master’s reign of terror was when Buffy distracted him by saying he had fruit punch mouth and killed him.

Christine: I really hope that you were calling back to the Master talking about Angel, Lizzie, because that’s how I heard it! I’d give him a 9 or 10, because he’s the original. He’s physically frightening, he’s got a great backstory, and even in episodes where he’s not mentioned, you just know he’s there, biding his time. And like Allison said, the fact that he was physically trapped and didn’t REALLY  pose a huge threat kept things interesting. We KNEW we should be afraid of him.

Ashley: I rate him a 6. I think he was the perfect choice as the first big bad, because he’s kind of obviously an evil monster. But I strongly dislike any scene with him in it. He grosses me out, for starters, and to me seems one-dimensional. Maybe that makes him a great big bad, and he should really be a 10, but I this this show has much more frightening villains as the series goes on, and in more unconventional ways.

Who would you choose as the MVP of Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Allison: You gotta go with Buffy! I mean she found out she was prophesied to die, and yet she went willingly. We learned so much about the kind of woman Buffy is in this first season. She struggled not only to fit in, but to continue on being the Slayer when it ruined her life back in LA.

Lizzie: Buffy is always the MVP of Buffy. That’s why the show is named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I don’t see myself answering this question differently for any other season. That’s the reason why I love this show so much. I like many characters, but Buffy was always my absolute fave.

Caralynn: Buffy, always. Her character is always growing and changing, which makes her such a dynamic, loveable character, but her arc this season in particular was fantastic — the way she changed as a person from the silly, rather aloof girl in the premiere to the strong, selfless warrior in “Prophecy Girl,” thanks to her friendships with Willow and Xander, her fatherly bond with Giles, and her relationship with Angel.

Christine: Yeah, agree. Season 1 is all about Buffy. I don’t think it’s ALWAYS Buffy as we go through the series, but Season 1 is some of Buffy’s best work. We learn so much about this former valley girl who got pulled into this world she never knew existed and saw her grow up tremendously in just a few episodes. But I do toss honorable mention to Cordelia, for providing us with hilarious snark in the background of every serious moment!

Ashley: It’s unanimous! And rightly so. The first season’s MVP should be Buffy, and she certainly is. I agree that she won’t be for every season, only because other characters really start to shine later on.

What do you think Buffy fans? Share your thoughts with us below, and stay tuned for the next installment of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Re-Watch as we dive into Season 2!