Episode Summary

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8.6
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EPISODE RATING: Great
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Buffy rescues Willow and Xander, but Jesse is left in the hands of the vampires. Buffy no longer resists her calling, but immediately begins to plan a rescue. Because they are already involved, Giles tells Xander and Willow about vampires and demons, and that Buffy is the Slayer.

They are overwhelmed by it all, but they insist on helping Buffy. Meanwhile, Luke and the other vampires are planning to begin The Harvest, a dark ritual that will free the Master from his underground prison. Needing to slaughter innocents for the ritual, they descend upon The Bronze to feed. And only the Slayer stands in their way.moreless
  • The Harvest

    8.0
    "Great"
    The Harvest

    The Good;
    Never suspected they'd turn Jesse and was shocked when they killed him (Xander bags his first vamp, it'll take Willow and Cordelia 2 whole seasons to kill their first). The fight at the end is terrific especially Buffy's trick and 'give me the Speilberg (such a shame that there are no more commentaries on season 1, roll on Buffy Special Edition DVDs). Love Willow's trick on Cordy and we have Harmony for the first time (here unnamed). Willow hacks for the first time.
    Great scenes with the hand trying to pull Buffy back into tunnels (Xander saves her for the first time?) whilst the sun going down has never seemed quite so menacing not to mention Darla skipping along to the Bronze.

    The bad;
    The vamps seem affected by the all too common slow moving monster syndrome. Also all the bodies disappear from the Bronze at the end whilst considering they're supposed to be lifelong friends Willow and Xander seem to forget about Jesse awfully quickly. Also considering we later establish what a formidable vamp Darla is Willow seems to overcome her awfully easily with just a jar of holy water

    Best line;
    Willow; I need to sit down
    Buffy; You are sitting down
    Willow; Oh, good

    Questions and observations; the vamps look slightly different to what we later see, their skin more mottled and talons more pronounced. We later see in The Wish that whilst the Harvest would have been bad it wouldn't have been the end of the world. Is it Cordy who bumps into Jesse and forces him onto Xander's stake? I must say I'd never seen the supposed gay subtext between the Master and Luke until it was pointed out by Joss but now it seems impossible to miss
    8/10 solid Buffy
    moreless
  • Buffy manages to rescue Willow and Xander, but it's sadly too late for Jesse. Slowly, a plot emerges about a ritual that will release an ancient being from his limbo prison. A little less gripping than the first half, but still a very good episode...moreless

    9.0
    "Superb"
    (...Review continued from Part 1, 'Welcome to the Hellmouth').

    Not much more to say on this one that I didn't cover in WTTH really.

    The story continues onwards keeping up the interest, though I did feel that in this second half things weren't quite as pacey. Don't get me wrong, things are still pretty great, but the first half is better.

    As others have commented, Xander and Willow don't seem all that sad about their friend Jesse being turned into a vampire and later dusted, but I like how Joss Whedon's intention was to trick viewers into thinking Jesse was to be a regular, only to have him killed off. (In fact, Whedon wanted opening credits containing Jesse, to build on this more, but there wasn't enough time or the budget at this early stage).

    It's also how fun how the fate of Sunnydale lays in Buffy's hands, yet she has to sneak out and not tell her mother, Joyce. This was great in the first season or so, though later, when it verged on getting a bit samey and limiting plots, they had Joyce find out.

    All-in-all, 'Welcome to the Hellmouth' and 'The Harvest' set up the seven season run perfectly. No, it might not meet the giddy heights of some future plots, but even with this first tale, I feel the bar is significantly raised above most other shows around at the time.

    Maybe I enjoyed 'The Harvest' slightly less than the first part, but I still like it enough to give it a very reasonable 9 / 10.moreless
  • 2 part series opener

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    Another day at Sunnydale school and another evil plot to kill people. Some harvest to bring the master to the surface.

    And his followers turn Xanders friend in to bait. and chain him to the wall only to find he has turned into a vampire as well. great rescue attempt. I think the vampires put on a pretty poor show to get them. they just sort of hang in the back ground with funny glowing eyes. Buffy finally got to kill Luke another soldier on the vampire team but she let lots of them live. Always why she doesn't just kill them while she has the chance. you know they will just come back again. And the Julie Benz vampire could have been killed off as well but was allowed to hang around for a few more episodes.moreless
  • The second part of the series premier.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    The continuation of the first ever episode of the best show in the world... Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It continues where the last episode left off, with Luke about to kill Buffy, where Angel, saves Buffy, for the first time out of millions. This episode also shows Buffy's resourcefulness when she tricks Luke into thinking that it was sunrise and distracting him so that she could stake him. The only thing I didn't like about the episode is that they killed off someone who could have been a good member in The Scooby Gang, Jesse, Xander and Willow are good for the Scooby Gang, but it would have been nice to have Jesse in the Gang.moreless
  • The Harvest

    10
    "Perfect"
    The Harvest was the second episode of the first season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The story picks up where it left off in the first episode. Buffy eventually over comes the vampires, only to find new friend Jesse is missing. All of the main and future regulars have been pretty much introduced by now, and we are starting to really get to know the characters. They sort of fall into their roles, Buffy the Slayer, Giles the Watcher, Willow learning from Giles but being a Computer Savvy Whiz Kid too, and Zander the Gentle Heart and Helping Hand. We are also seeing Buffy and Angel developing a relationship. The enemies are evil, and fun to watch in action. This episode is a classic.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (11)

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    • When the episode begins and Luke goes to bite Buffy, he stops because of the cross that she is wearing. When the camera shows the cross it is not actually around her neck, it is only sitting on her neck. Later when she runs out into the cemetery we cannot see the cross.

    • Luke feeds on several people on stage at the Bronze, then lets them fall lifeless to the floor. Yet after Buffy kills Luke, an overhead shot of the stage area shows no bodies lying on the floor.

    • In the scene where Principal Flutie stops Buffy at the school gate watch Buffy's left arm. When the camera faces Buffy, her arm is bent with her hand on her hip. When the camera is behind Buffy, her arm is straight. Also, when Buffy says "Mr. Giles", her left hand is on her hip, but is suddenly held away from her body when seen from behind.

    • In this episode when the vampires underground are after Buffy and Xander, they move very slowly, like zombies. This is one of many things that apparently changed after the pilot. In every other episode vampires are far faster, and all seem to know at least some rudimentary fighting style. Joss Whedon himself mentions this inconsistency on the DVD commentary.

    • In this episode, we learn from Giles that demons came before man.

    • Mr. Flutie locks a gate in an attempt to keep Buffy on school grounds. But the entire school isn't fenced in, so anyone could still leave school grounds by going around the fence or leaving by the front of the school.

    • After Buffy drops from the rafters in The Bronze onto the pool table, she cartwheels to the floor, picking up a pool cue. As she grabs it, the pool cue visibly bends.

    • Cordelia says that she wants to go to The Bronze because there is no cover. But we see people giving the bouncer money at the front of the club.

    • In this episode, Darla is very complacent, almost deferential towards both The Master and Luke. This seems very unlike the Darla we get to know as the series progresses.

    • When Xander accidentally stakes Jesse, his stake clearly isn't aimed for the heart.

    • When Jesse and Cordelia begin dancing, the song "Ballad for Dead Friends", by the Dashboard Prophets starts playing. Outside The Bronze, a group of vampires approach in slow motion, while the first line of the song is played. The music stops while the bouncer hassles the vampires, but once they are inside, the first line of the song plays again.

  • QUOTES (41)

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    • Cordelia: So she comes running at me, screaming: "I'm gonna kill you!" I swear! She had this stick and attacked me with it! Boy: Who? Harmony: Buffy!

    • Giles: For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. Buffy: (to Willow and Xander) He loves doing this part.

    • Xander: Jesse, man. I'm sorry. Jesse: Sorry? I feel good, Xander! I feel strong! I'm connected, man, to everything! I can hear the worms in the earth! Xander: That's a plus.

    • Luke: (to Jesse) I thought you nothing more than a meal, boy. Congratulations, you've just been upgraded. To bait.

    • Willow: Buffy, I'm not anxious to go into a dark place full of monsters. But I do want to help. I need to. Giles: Well, then help me. I've been researching this Harvest affair. It seems to be some sort of preordained massacre. Rivers of blood, Hell on Earth, quite charmless. I'm a bit fuzzy, however, on the details. It may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine. (Everyone stares at him) That was a bit, um, British, wasn't it? Buffy: (smiles) Welcome to the New World.

    • Xander: Okay, so, crosses, garlic, stake through the heart. Buffy: That'll get it done. Xander: Cool! Of course, I don't actually have any of those things. Buffy: Good thinking. Xander: Well, the part of my brain that would tell me to bring that stuff is still busy telling me not to come down here.

    • Xander: You've done some beheading in your time? Buffy: Oh, yeah. There was this time I was pinned down by this guy that played left tackle for varsity... Well, at least he used to before he was a vampire... Anyway, he had this really, really thick neck, and all I had was a little, little Exact-O knife... (Xander laughs nervously) You're not loving this story. Xander: No, actually, I find it oddly comforting.

    • Harmony: Are we going to the Bronze tonight? Cordelia: No, we're going to the other cool place in Sunnydale. (Harmony looks confused) Of course we're going to the Bronze. Friday night? No cover?

    • Xander: We can't fight our way back through those things. What do we do? Jesse: I got an idea. (vamps out) You can die!

    • Master: Ah, Colin... You failed me. Tell me you're sorry. Colin: I'm sorry! Master: There. That wasn't so bad, was it? Hold on... (putting out Colin's eye) You've got something in your eye.

    • Buffy: This is really, really important. Joyce: I know. If you don't go out it'll be the end of the world. Everything is life or death when you're a sixteen-year-old girl.

    • Cordelia: I just am not the type to settle, you know? It's like when I go shopping. I have to have the most expensive thing. Not because it's expensive, but because it costs more.

    • Angel: I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner. Buffy: Sorry you had to wait. Okay, look; if you're gonna be popping up with this cryptic wise man act on a regular basis can you at least tell me your name? Angel: Angel. Buffy: Angel. It's a pretty name.

    • Buffy: What exactly were you expecting? Xander: I don't know, something. I mean, the dead rose. We should have at least had an assembly.

    • Buffy: Ok vessel boy. You want blood? Luke: I want yours, only yours. Buffy: Works for me.

    • Xander: We gotta get in there before Jesse does something stupider than usual. Giles: You listen to me, Jesse is dead. You have to remember that when you see him, your not looking at your friend, you're looking at the thing that killed him.

    • Xander: This is just too much. I mean, yesterday my life's like, "Uh- oh, pop quiz." Today it's "Rain of Toads."

    • Luke: You forget, metal can't hurt me. Buffy: There's something you forgot about, too. (she throws a music stand through a window behind Luke and bright light pours in) Sunrise! Luke: Aaaaaarrrrg... (he sees that the light is just a streetlight) Huh? Buffy: (driving a stake into Luke's back) It's in about nine hours, moron.

    • Luke: (onstage at the Bronze) Ladies and gentlemen… there is no cause for alarm. Actually, there is cause for alarm. It just won't do any good.

    • Buffy: So, Giles, got anything that can make this day any worse? Giles: How about the end of the world? Buffy: I knew I can count on you.

    • Cordelia: (to Willow) Excuse me? Who gave you permission to exist? Do I horn in on your private discussions? No. Why? Because you're boring.

    • Angel: They'll be expecting you. Buffy: I've got a friend down there. Or at least a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend? That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.

    • Willow: And everyone else thinks it's just a normal day. Xander: Nobody knows. It's like we've got this big secret. Willow: We do. That's what a secret is, when you know something the other guys don't.

    • Willow: I'll put it on the computer search. If it's in there, it'll turn up. Anything that'll lead us to vampires. Xander: And I, in the meantime, will help by standing around like an idiot. Willow: Not like an idiot, just… standing.

    • Buffy: The access to the tunnels is in the mausoleum. The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after I got out. God, I am so mentally challenged.

    • Giles: So all the city plans are just open to the public? Willow: Uh, well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally decrypted the City Council's security system. Xander: Someone's been naughty.

    • Willow: Uh, this may be the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police? Giles: And they'd believe us, of course. Willow: Well, we don't have to say vampires. We could just say that there's a bad man. Buffy: They couldn't handle it even if they did show up. They'd only come with guns.

    • Buffy: Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken. Xander: That's not true. Willow (to Buffy): If you hadn't shown up, they would've taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out? Buffy: Breathe. Willow: Breathe. Buffy: Breathe.

    • The Master: I'm your faithful dog. You bring me scraps.

    • Xander: Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it. Willow: Isn't that what we saw last night? Buffy: No. No, those weren't vampires. Those were just guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies. It could have been rabies. And that guy turning to dust? Just a trick of light. That's exactly what I said the first time I saw a vampire. Well, after I was done with the screaming part.

    • (In the computer room) Harmony: Ok, I think the program's done. Cordelia: Finally the nightmare ends! Ok, so how do we save it? Willow: Deliver. Cordelia: Deliver? Where is that? Oh! (she pushes "DEL" and the program is deleted)

    • Cordelia: Guys from our grade, forget about it, they're children. Y'know? Like Jesse. Did you see him last night, following me around like a little puppy dog? You just wanna put him to sleep. But senior boys, they have mystery. They have...what's the word I'm searching for? Cars!

    • Giles: You have no idea where they took Jesse? Buffy: I looked around, but as soon as they got clear of the graveyard, they could have, voom! Xander: They can fly? Buffy: They can drive.

    • Giles: The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need. Xander: Except for one thing: how do you kill them? Buffy: You don't, I do.

    • Angel: Don't... go down there. Buffy: Deal with my going. Angel: You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, The Master walks. Buffy: Well, if this Harvest thing is such a suckfest why don't you stop it? Angel: 'Cause I'm afraid.

    • Willow: Oh, I, I need to sit down. Buffy: You are sitting down. Willow: Oh. Good for me.

    • Xander: I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good.

    • The Master: A Slayer! Have you any proof? Luke: Only that she fought me, and yet lives. The Master: Hmm, very nearly proof enough. I can't remember the last time that happened. Luke: 1843. Madrid. He caught me sleeping.

    • The Master: I have waited. For three score years, I have waited. While you come and go, I am stuck here, here in this house of... worship! My ascension is almost at hand. Pray that when it comes... I'm in a better mood.

    • Buffy: I don't suppose you've got a key on you? Angel: They really don't like me dropping in. Buffy: Why not? Angel: They really don't like me. Buffy: How could that possibly be?

    • Giles: We're at the center of a mystical convergence here. We may, in fact, stand between the Earth and its total destruction. Buffy: Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school! Xander: Oh, yeah, that's a plan. 'Cause lots of schools aren't on Hellmouths. Willow: Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that. Buffy: I was thinking of a more subtle approach, y'know, like excessive not studying. Giles: The Earth is doomed!

  • NOTES (13)

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  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • The Master: My blood is your blood. My soul is your soul. Similar words are used in many religions, and the ritual enacted here bears a striking parallel to the Christian ritual of Communion.

    • Buffy: Don't go all wild bunch on me. The Wild Bunch is a 1969 Western directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Ernest Borgnine and William Holden. It was one of the first films to feature excessive violence as it is known today. Buffy warns her friends not to attack the vampires.

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