Xander falls for a new substitute teacher in school called Miss French, who, amazingly, seems to like him too. It turns out she’s a man-eating Praying Mantis in human form and is after Xander’s virgin sperm for fertilization. No, really. Xander is saved by Buffy, but his pride is lost somewhere in the process

Directed by: Stephen Cragg
Original Air Date:25 March 1997

Guest Stars:
Ken Lerner (Principal Bob Flutie)
Musetta Vander (Natalie French)

Trivia:

• Xander reveals to Mrs. French that his middle name is Lavelle
• The accent that Mrs. French has is South African, not ‘The Land of Sexy’ as stated in the podcast
• Mrs. French received a split vote between “Smoking hot” and “Meeeh” in this episode of the podcast
• A serial box can be seen displaying a promotion for the movie “The Mask” in the grocery bags Mrs. French is carrying

Quotes:

Xander: “It’s funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to.”

Giles: “Recording bat sonar is something soothingly akin to having one’s teeth drilled.”

Key Events:

• This is the episode where Angel gives Buffy his jacket
• It’s established that Xander is a virgin
• There are somethings that even vampires are afraid of
• It becomes obvious that Willow has feelings for Xander, if it wasn’t already obvious

Images:

Special thanks to all the positive feedback we’ve received on the podcast. You keep subscribed and we’ll keep doing the episodes. “Yay Buffy!”

Also check out the Does My Geek Look Big In This podcast and the Lipstick Aliens podcast

 

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The first non vampire episode where a witch tries to take out cheerleaders to get on the squad. Oh and since Buffy tries out, it just get’s kind of Freaky Friday.
Written by: Joss Whedon

Directed by: Stephen Cragg
Original Air Date:17 March 1997

Guest Stars: Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy Madison)

Trivia:

• The sign in the gym reads 1996 Cheerleading Tryouts” but the show wasn’t aired till 1997.
• Amy’s mom gets trapped in the trophy and since the first school blew up…
• Xander’s first draw to magic is the partial nude woodcuts in the magic books.

Quotes:

Giles: “But that’s the thrill of living on the Hellmouth! There’s a veritable cornucopia of, of fiends and devils and, and ghouls to engage… Pardon me for finding the glass half full.”

Xander: “I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away.”

Key Events:

• We see Giles’s car a crappy Citroen
• The first bit of Witchcraft shows up and establishes that when you are doing bad magic your eyes go all black
• Railroad spike through the head makes it’s first appearance

Images:

 

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The second half of the pilot for Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Buffy and the soon to be Scoobies learn of the Harvest and the Master.
Written by: Joss Whedon

Directed by:John T. Kretchmer

Original Air Date:10 March 1997

Guest Stars: Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall)

Trivia:

• An earthquake did hit the Torrance High School in 1933.
• Brian Thompson who plays Luke makes a return to Buffy as The Judge in episodes Innocence and Surprise. He’s truly a ‘working actor’ staring in such blockbusters as The Terminator, The Xfiles, Dragonheart, Alien Nation, and scores of others.
• If it’s no cover night at the Bronze… why is the bouncer taking money at the door??

Quotes:

Giles: “A Slayer hunts vampires; Buffy is the Slayer; don’t tell anyone.”

Giles: “Maybe you could wrest some information from that dread machine. That was a bit, um, British, wasn’t it?”

Joyce Summers: “The tapes say I should get used to saying it… no.”
Key Events:

• Giles lays down the ground work for the entire Buffyverse mythos.
• Everyone’s roles are set within the group by the end.
• The master’s goal is revealed.
• Cordelia wears a very short skirt to the Bronze.

Images:

 

 The Watchercast Episode 2 The Harvest [37:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1683)

The first episode of season one!

Quotes:
“What is your childhood trauma?” - Cordillia

Trivia:

The unaired pilot stared a different principal and a different Willow.

The High School that was used for Sunnydale High is Torrance High School. The courtyard seen throughout the series is actually the Senior Patio. Uber-Buffy fans will also note that there is no ‘bell tower’, the one where Johnathan was confronted by Buffy. The school is very popular with film makers as it has been used in all of the following:

• Beverly Hills 90210
• The Wild Life
• Not Another Teen Movie
• Bring It On
• Whatever It Takes
• Cursed
• Less Than Zero

The area around Torrance High did experience a real earthquake in 1933, a fact that made it’s way into the story of The Master.

The school charged around $7,000 a day for filming.

 

 Standard Podcast [63:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2004)