Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Slayer Pack [VHS]

It's no secret that Buffy creator Joss Whedon was unhappy with the hilariously campy and charming 1992 film about his vampire-slaying heroine. When the opportunity for the Warner Brothers series came along, he set out to present his complete vision of the teen dream. This set is a nice introduction to Buffy (petite and pretty Sarah Michelle Gellar); her watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head); her best friend, the computer whiz Willow (winning Alyson Hannigan); their devoted but slightly goofy friend Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and the self-involved beauty Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). Also featured is Buffy's angst-ridden, 240-year-old beau-to-be, Angel (David Boreanaz). Sunnydale, where former Los Angelean Buffy now resides, just happens to be at a Hellmouth opening, allowing for the presence of not only vampires, but all kinds of beasties and demons. This keeps Buffy and her posse very busy.

The two-part opener, "Welcome to Hellmouth" and "Harvest," introduces Buffy and audiences to her new high school, her friends, and her enemies. Most importantly, the episodes introduce a demon who'll plague her through the series' first season: the Master. She also meets Angel, the most beleaguered vampire this side of Lestat's Louis. Together, the newfound friends and the watcher battle--and win (for now)--against the Master's minions. "The Witch" is an early example of the demons Buffy faces--it's not just about staking vamps. Here Buffy meets Amy (a recurring character), whose mother is a cheerleader-obsessed--you guessed it--witch. "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" explores a recurring theme: Buffy's thwarted attempts for normalcy in her life. As viewers come to expect, demons get in the way. Here, the Anointed One (a kiddie vamp) is crowned. Buffy learns the true identity of the mysterious and handsome Angel, who's spent the last 80 years without a kill. The couple agree not to pursue a relationship (yeah, right). Another episode that explores the demonic is "The Puppet Show," which borrows from the familiar theme of the possessed ventriloquist's dummy. Some episodes are quite graphic ("The Puppet Show," for example, features a potential brain removal), but there's always the inevitable triumph of good over evil. This justifiably popular phenomenon serves up healthy messages of loyalty and friendship, complete with hip, dead-on funny dialogue and great clothes. It's also a celebration of the quirky and the odd(balls). --N.F. Mendoza