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watcherscouncil2024-02-04 08:25 am
wearing_tearing) wrote in watcherscouncil2024-02-04 08:25 am
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BtVS - 1.04: Teacher's Pet
Original Air Date: March 25, 1997
Writer: David Greenwalt
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Dr. Gregory is so nice. I would also expect great things from a student who previously burned down their old school’s gymnasium. Sometimes we need a little entertainment in our teachers lives and Dr. G gets it. Too bad we don’t get to have nice things in this show.
Shoutout to Superfine for being this episode’s band!
Not a big fan of the “guy talk” right after the opening credits, but those were the times or whatever. Angel looks really good lurking around wearing a white tank and a smirk. Him taking off his jacket makes me want to scream at how cheesy it is and I love it. And Buffy wears it the entire episode!
Giles saying there are too many guys in Buffy’s life, please. And then complaining about every day in Sunnydale being the same. So grumpy in this episode!
Natalie French’s introduction is a complex thing for me. I do understand what they’re established here with her being the “hot” new teacher, but as a real life teacher? Watching this from the perspective of a male student, Xander, gives me the ick. Which is a feeling that will for sure stick with me throughout the episode.
I remember the first time I watched this, thinking: this lady is way too into bugs… I bet there’s something going on there. Very proud of myself for picking up all the clues they drop.
Buffy really comes for Miss French’s entire self in that cafeteria scene, damn. Not sure I appreciate the comment about plastic surgery, however.
Cordelia finds Dr. G’s body in the freezer which brings up a bunch of sanitation questions. I don’t think I’d ever be able to eat there again knowing someone found a body in the kitchen. What else could be hiding in there?
I do like that this episode opens up the possibility of the gang dealing with more than one supernatural baddie at the time. We have Fork Guy and whatever killed Dr. Gregory, and Buffy makes sure to mention and remind everyone that Sunnydale sits on a Hellmouth. That means all sorts of creatures will gravitate towards that… at the same time.
Okay, that vampire at the park got me. I was a little startled. I may have jumped a little bit. And then him hissing like a cat at Miss French and dipping into the sewer? Incredible.
Ick ick ick ick on Miss French and Xander. Ick ick ick.
Buffy is right on the money when it comes to Miss French, which means Dr. Gregory was right about her! She can excel if she puts her mind to it. We already know that about her as the Slayer, but it’s also good to know that about her when it comes to academics.
Oh, Xander. Buffy is just looking out for you. She doesn’t want you to become a big bug’s meal.
More icks with Miss French and Xander.
I don’t like that Miss French inviting students to stay after school to help her with something is seen as a normal thing. No one bats an eye at it. I’m not sure if this is common, or was back then, at USAmerican schools? Here that would be extremely frowned upon.
Miss French being a giant evil bug does serve as a contrast to this, though. It frames her as a predator and that is right on the money! Even if she wasn’t a bug. The threat of sexual assault is ever present as soon as she grabs Xander despite the show only ever referring to what she does as “mating”.
There’s also a conversation to be had about the concept of virginity and how being a virgin is seen as shameful to boys. I’d say that mostly enforced in the scene after Xander and Blayne get rescued. I would like to think that has changed a little bit throughout the years.
We see Angel again basically saying he’ll be around, lurking and smirking. Buffy offers to give his jacket back and he tells her it looks better on her. I think this is when Buffy realizes she’s in trouble.
And the episode wraps up with more questions about how Sunnydale High keeps up the school since a dead teacher’s belongings are still there! And there are eggs in the closet that never get mentioned again. \o/
Vampires Slayed: 2.
Series Total: 8.
Giles Taking Off/Putting On Glasses: 2.
Series Total: 6.
Episode Quote:
Buffy: You’re just going to give me a cryptic warning about a catastrophe, and then you’re going to disappear into the night.
Writer: David Greenwalt
Director: Bruce Seth Green
A substitute teacher's infatuation with Xander is flattering to the lovesick teen, but alarming to Buffy.That opening scene, literally out of a (presumably) straight boy’s fantasy. Buffy’s dress is gorgeous, I’ll give them that.
Dr. Gregory is so nice. I would also expect great things from a student who previously burned down their old school’s gymnasium. Sometimes we need a little entertainment in our teachers lives and Dr. G gets it. Too bad we don’t get to have nice things in this show.
Shoutout to Superfine for being this episode’s band!
Not a big fan of the “guy talk” right after the opening credits, but those were the times or whatever. Angel looks really good lurking around wearing a white tank and a smirk. Him taking off his jacket makes me want to scream at how cheesy it is and I love it. And Buffy wears it the entire episode!
Giles saying there are too many guys in Buffy’s life, please. And then complaining about every day in Sunnydale being the same. So grumpy in this episode!
Natalie French’s introduction is a complex thing for me. I do understand what they’re established here with her being the “hot” new teacher, but as a real life teacher? Watching this from the perspective of a male student, Xander, gives me the ick. Which is a feeling that will for sure stick with me throughout the episode.
I remember the first time I watched this, thinking: this lady is way too into bugs… I bet there’s something going on there. Very proud of myself for picking up all the clues they drop.
Buffy really comes for Miss French’s entire self in that cafeteria scene, damn. Not sure I appreciate the comment about plastic surgery, however.
Cordelia finds Dr. G’s body in the freezer which brings up a bunch of sanitation questions. I don’t think I’d ever be able to eat there again knowing someone found a body in the kitchen. What else could be hiding in there?
I do like that this episode opens up the possibility of the gang dealing with more than one supernatural baddie at the time. We have Fork Guy and whatever killed Dr. Gregory, and Buffy makes sure to mention and remind everyone that Sunnydale sits on a Hellmouth. That means all sorts of creatures will gravitate towards that… at the same time.
Okay, that vampire at the park got me. I was a little startled. I may have jumped a little bit. And then him hissing like a cat at Miss French and dipping into the sewer? Incredible.
Ick ick ick ick on Miss French and Xander. Ick ick ick.
Buffy is right on the money when it comes to Miss French, which means Dr. Gregory was right about her! She can excel if she puts her mind to it. We already know that about her as the Slayer, but it’s also good to know that about her when it comes to academics.
Oh, Xander. Buffy is just looking out for you. She doesn’t want you to become a big bug’s meal.
More icks with Miss French and Xander.
I don’t like that Miss French inviting students to stay after school to help her with something is seen as a normal thing. No one bats an eye at it. I’m not sure if this is common, or was back then, at USAmerican schools? Here that would be extremely frowned upon.
Miss French being a giant evil bug does serve as a contrast to this, though. It frames her as a predator and that is right on the money! Even if she wasn’t a bug. The threat of sexual assault is ever present as soon as she grabs Xander despite the show only ever referring to what she does as “mating”.
There’s also a conversation to be had about the concept of virginity and how being a virgin is seen as shameful to boys. I’d say that mostly enforced in the scene after Xander and Blayne get rescued. I would like to think that has changed a little bit throughout the years.
We see Angel again basically saying he’ll be around, lurking and smirking. Buffy offers to give his jacket back and he tells her it looks better on her. I think this is when Buffy realizes she’s in trouble.
And the episode wraps up with more questions about how Sunnydale High keeps up the school since a dead teacher’s belongings are still there! And there are eggs in the closet that never get mentioned again. \o/
Vampires Slayed: 2.
Series Total: 8.
Giles Taking Off/Putting On Glasses: 2.
Series Total: 6.
Episode Quote:
Buffy: You’re just going to give me a cryptic warning about a catastrophe, and then you’re going to disappear into the night.
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