This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Buffy Season 1 Overview.

Along with best and favorite plot turns from Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this episode covers my favorite (1) One-Off Villain; (2) Red Herring;  (3) Single Episode Character Killed & more.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Sorry, no Season 1 DVD commentary for the Buffy Season 1 Overview.  

In 2 Weeks: When She Was Bad S2 E1

Last Week:  Prophecy Girl S1 E12 

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Bio

Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries. She also wrote the short-story collection The Tower Formerly Known as Sears and Two Other Tales of Urban Horror, the title story of which was made into the short film Willis Tower.

In addition to fiction, Lilly writes non-fiction under L.M. Lilly.

Her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year; Creating Compelling Characters From The Inside Out; Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Happiness, Anxiety, and Writing: Using Your Creativity To Live A Calmer, Happier Life.

She is also the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Season 1 Overview

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 the Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

I'm so excited to be talking about the whole of Season 1, including some favorite moments and what I think are the strongest plot turns in the story. Also, I’ll cover:

the best villain in a one-off episode

the best red herring

my favorite single episode character who gets killed and

a few more favorites and bests

As always, there will be no spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I'll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Opening Conflict: Out Of Mind Out Of Sight

Starting with of course, my favorite opening conflict.

I want to say that it is Xander asking Willow out in Prophecy Girl, where he isn't really asking her out. He is practicing to ask out Buffy. It's such a wonderful character moment for Willow in particular, and I really enjoy that.

However, probably the strongest opening in the sense of truly signaling our main plot and bringing us into Buffy's experience, is the one in Out Of Mind Out Of Sight. That was the episode about the invisible girl, Episode 11. As you probably remember, other than that it wasn't my favorite episode. Or the one I thought was the strongest. But I was surprised how often it came up in particular moments.

And this is one.

Because in the very beginning we have Cordelia with her popular friends talking about the Spring Fling. She's so excited about her dress she's having made. And so certain, shall be Queen, she's already planning for it. And then we have Buffy almost crashing into the scene.

She stumbles. She falls on the floor in front of Cordelia and her fr...