The Best Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.9/10(6155 votes)

   #1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth (1)

   S1:E13/10/1997

   When teen vampire slayer Buffy tries to start a new life at Sunnydale High, she discovers that the school sits atop a demonic dimensional portal.

   Director:Charles Martin Smith

   Writer:Joss Whedon

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   Director:Charles Martin Smith

   Writer:Joss Whedon
2. 

   7.7/10(5318 votes)

   #2 - The Harvest (2)

   S1:E23/10/1997

   Buffy and her friends encounter a powerful vampire bent on opening a portal to a dimension inhabited by demons.

   Director:John T. Kretchmer

   Writer:Joss Whedon

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   Director:John T. Kretchmer

   Writer:Joss Whedon
3. 

   7.5/10(5254 votes)

   #3 - Witch

   S1:E33/17/1997

   Buffy suspects she has a witch on her hands when the cheerleading squad falls victim to sudden blindness and spontaneous combustion.

   Director:Stephen Cragg

   Writer:Dana Reston

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   Director:Stephen Cragg

   Writer:Dana Reston
4. 

   6.7/10(5041 votes)

   #4 - Teacher's Pet

   S1:E43/24/1997

   Buffy's biology teacher is killed by a giant praying mantis that assumes the form of a beautiful substitute teacher.

   Director:Bruce Seth Green

   Writer:David Greenwalt

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   Director:Bruce Seth Green

   Writer:David Greenwalt
5. 

   7.2/10(4804 votes)

   #5 - Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

   S1:E53/31/1997

   With Buffy preoccupied by her date with Owen, Giles is trapped by a group of vampires seeking to raise a powerful leader.

   Director:David Semel

   Writers:Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel

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   Director:David Semel

   Writers:Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel
6. 

   7.2/10(4965 votes)

   #6 - The Pack

   S1:E64/7/1997

   Xander and several other students are possessed by the spirit of a demonic breed of hyenas that wreak havoc at the high school.

   Director:Bruce Seth Green

   Writers:Matt Kiene, Joe Reinkemeyer

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   Director:Bruce Seth Green

   Writers:Matt Kiene, Joe Reinkemeyer
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7. 

   8.3/10(5154 votes)

   #7 - Angel

   S1:E74/14/1997

   Buffy discovers Angel's dark secret and hesitates to do anything about it, which could spell danger for someone she loves.

   Director:Scott Brazil

   Writer:David Greenwalt

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   Director:Scott Brazil

   Writer:David Greenwalt
8. 

   6.5/10(4780 votes)

   #8 - I, Robot... You, Jane

   S1:E84/28/1997

   Willow's new Internet chat buddy turns out to be a powerful demon electronically unleashed from a centuries-old, newly digitized book.

   Director:Stephen L. Posey

   Writers:Ashley Gable, Thomas A. Swyden

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   Director:Stephen L. Posey

   Writers:Ashley Gable, Thomas A. Swyden
9. 

   7.5/10(4810 votes)

   #9 - The Puppet Show

   S1:E95/5/1997

   Buffy suspects that a ventriloquist's dummy may be harvesting organs from classmates performing in a talent show.

   Director:Ellen S. Pressman

   Writers:Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel

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   Director:Ellen S. Pressman

   Writers:Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel
10. 

    8.0/10(4767 votes)

    #10 - Nightmares

    S1:E105/12/1997

    A series of strange occurrences lead Buffy and her friends to discover that their worst nightmares have literally become reality.

    Director:Bruce Seth Green

    Writer:David Greenwalt

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    Director:Bruce Seth Green

    Writer:David Greenwalt
11. 

    7.5/10(4587 votes)

    #11 - Out of Mind, Out of Sight

    S1:E115/19/1997

    When an invisible menace starts attacking students and faculty at Sunnydale High, the Scooby Gang traces the problem back to Cordelia.

    Director:Reza Badiyi

    Writers:Ashley Gable, Thomas A. Swyden

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    Director:Reza Badiyi

    Writers:Ashley Gable, Thomas A. Swyden
12. 

    8.7/10(5123 votes)

    #12 - Prophecy Girl

    S1:E126/2/1997

    Buffy's life may hang in the balance as Giles uncovers an ancient book that foretells not only her death, but also the end of the world.

    Director:Joss Whedon

    Writer:Joss Whedon

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    Director:Joss Whedon

    Writer:Joss Whedon