7.9/105,630 votes#1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth (1)
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 3/10/1997
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
7.7/104,860 votes#2 - The Harvest (2)
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 3/10/1997
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
7.5/104,813 votes#3 - Witch
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 3/17/1997
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
6.7/104,632 votes#4 - Teacher's Pet
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 3/24/1997
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
7.2/104,414 votes#5 - Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 3/31/1997
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
Writer: Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel
7.2/104,579 votes#6 - The Pack
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 4/7/1997
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
Writer: Matt Kiene, Joe Reinkemeyer
8.3/104,764 votes#7 - Angel
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 4/14/1997
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
6.5/104,402 votes#8 - I, Robot... You, Jane
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 4/28/1997
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
Writer: Ashley Gable, Thomas A. Swyden
7.5/104,436 votes#9 - The Puppet Show
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 5/5/1997
Buffy suspects that a ventriloquist's dummy may be harvesting organs from classmates performing in a talent show.
Director: Ellen S. Pressman
Writer: Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel
8.0/104,400 votes#10 - Nightmares
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 5/12/1997
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: N/A
7.5/104,223 votes#11 - Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 5/19/1997
When an invisible menace starts attacking students and faculty at Sunnydale High, the Scooby Gang traces the problem back to Cordelia.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: N/A
8.7/104,723 votes#12 - Prophecy Girl
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 6/2/1997
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
The Best Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1
Every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1!
Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to...
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyComedyDramaAction & Adventure
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Welcome to the Hellmouth (1)" is the best rated episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 5630 votes. Directed by Charles Martin Smith and written by Joss Whedon, it aired on 3/10/1997. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The Harvest (2)".