Today on Buffy and the Art of Story: Season 1, Episode 2, The Harvest.
For writers and other story creators interested in looking at Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes one-by-one to see how plot, characterization, and other story elements work (and very occasionally don't).
Every discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).
Story Elements in The Harvest
In this podcast episode we'll look at how Buffy handles these story elements in the second half of the 2-episode pilot:
The commitment and reversal at the story mid-point (where the episode begins)
How the plot turns at the three-quarter point
The way characterization affects plot, particularly leading to the final battle
The Climax
Falling Action
Story questions that keep us watching
In the Spoiler section, more on Darla, Angel, Giles, and a little bit of misdirection
Also some highlights from the Buffy DVD commentaries by Joss Whedon on Willow and Darla.
The 7 Season Plan
Two down and too many episodes left to count!
Buffy and the Art of Story plans to cover every episode of Buffy in order and spoiler-free -- except at the end so I can talk about foreshadowing, but I'll give you plenty of warning.
Down the road there'll be a Patreon account where you'll be able to get a free story structure template. As a patron, you'll also get access to bonus episodes.
Those episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Also films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.
Requests will be welcome.
Next Up: The Witch (S1 E3).
Story Structure
For more fiction writing tools you can check out my non-fiction books, which cover story structure, finishing a novel in one year, and character development.
FYI, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.
Episode Transcript
Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story.
If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories — or just taking them apart to see how they work – you're in the right place. I am Lisa M Lilly, author of suspense, mysteries, and supernatural thrillers and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.
Each week I'll talk about one episode of Buffy in order, covering plot turns and other story elements.
The discussion will be spoiler-free except at the very end, and I'll give you plenty of warning.
This Week: The Harvest
This week we'll be talking about The Harvest, the second half of the pilot episode. So in terms of plot points, we’ll pick up at the Midpoint and go through the turn at the three-quarter mark of the story, into the climax and the falling action. We’ll also be talking more about character development because I didn't get to do as much of that as I would have liked in the first episode, and a bit about story questions and how that keeps us coming back even though the main plot resolved.
Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.
The Midpoint
The Harvest picks up right at the Midpoint. So remember the protagonist at the Midpoint typically throws caution to the wind, goes all in on her quest, or suffers a reversal or both.
We saw both last time. Buffy embraced being the Slayer both in her words and her actions, doing her first dusting and saying, “Don’t you know who I am?”
She then immediately suffers a reversal when Luke comes from behind her. She doesn't hear him. He says “I don't care.” He doesn't care who she is. And he throws her into this coffin. He's about to kill her and — cut.
So we pick up right there.
And Buffy is able to push Luke away partly because of that cross she's wearing that that Angel gave her that she chose to wear. But I like to think regardless she would have found a way to get Luke off of her.
However, she isn't able to kill him or pursue him.
