Re: 'Welcome To The Hellmouth' Discussion

["Howard Russell" <howardrussell2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Everybody!

Guess what!  It's Tuesday!  So here's my take on "Welcome To The Hellmouth."

Personally, this is one of my favorite episodes and I think it's one of the Wiffiest.  Hmm.  Perhaps there's a connection.  You be the judge.

Overall, the cinematography and the effects leave a lot of room for improvement.  And, as this is the replay, we all know that they do improve a lot over the years.  That first dusting?  *Groan*  Okay, they did establish the sound effect, but the visual...  Ick.  Eventually they will learn how to shoot the series in the dark much better.

The acting is top-notch.  I mean, considering that the actors are all so young, they're phenomenal.  Nicholas Brendan in particular.  He'd done a few things as an unnamed extra-such as "Basketball Player One" in "Children of the Corn III"-but this was his first featured role.  He kept up with the seasoned professionals very well.

And you can see that everyone is in character.  Often, they change after the first few episodes as the actors develop their characters.  But here, they're well established right away.  Well done.

There's a reason this became one of the most popular shows.

The only disappointment is Angel.  Is it just me or was he playing Angelus here?  Less brooding, more cocky and smirking.  Could be that the character was changed in later episodes, but this Angel doesn't fit the tortured soul character he later becomes.

Okay, on to the Wiffy!

Well, before we check in on our girls, let's look at when Buffy first met Xander.  He's helpful and says stupid things-as boys tend to do with pretty girls-and Buffy says, "Nice to meet you."  Then she walks away with a blank face and without looking back.  Obviously, no impression made.

Now let's look at our girls when they first get together.  Looking at each girl's actions, I gotta say that Buffy makes the most Wiffy moves in this episode.

Buffy first sees Willow in the famous water fountain scene.  Look how Buffy reacts to Cordy's taunts.  Now, it isn't established until "The Witch" but Buffy was a cheerleader at Hemrey High.  That's also from the movie and Joss knew he was keeping that for the series when he wrote this episode.  So, cheerleaders tearing into those they consider "losers" is nothing new to her.  Why the surprise?

Then there was the look as Willow walked away.  Granted, Buffy looks more confused than lusty, but still, you have to wonder what she's thinking.  Why would a-sorry, Willow-poorly dressed girl like that get Buffy's attention?  Why the look?

And notice that she stares twice.  When Willow starts walking away, Buffy is staring at Willow while Cordy is talking.  She has to visibly tear her focus off her to look away.  She gives Cordy a polite chuckle and nod, then goes right back to staring at Willow.  She's obviously quite effected by the girl.

Then there's the fact that Willow paused to look back at Buffy.  Why?  Normally, when publicly mocked and belittled, you don't try to make eye contact with the witnesses.  You don't want to connect with whoever saw the verbal abuse, you just want to leave.  Yet she pauses and looks back.

There's an obvious connection between them, established right then and there.  But I think Buffy was effected the most.  First Wiffy point to Buffy.

Next up, the quad scene.  Buffy, even after being warned away by the popular cheerleader, walks right up to Willow.  She asks for a favor that involves hanging out with her for a while.  She claims to want to fit in, yet she knowingly sets herself up to hang out with Willow.  She was a popular cheerleader herself at Hemrey so she knows full well what associating with someone that's considered a "loser" will do to her social standing.  She seeks out Willow anyway.

And what's her reason for hanging out with Willow?  She doesn't want to flunk all her classes.  Which is funny because she later tells Giles that she was afraid that she'd be behind in her classes.  She listed that along with being afraid that she wouldn't make friends or that she'd have last month's hair.  Now, those weren't true, so that kind of indicates that the third thing wasn't true either.  But when she talked to Willow, she said she needed the help.

I love how quickly Buffy reassures Willow that she isn't dull.

And what does Willow do during this scene?  That's right, she looks at Buffy's cleavage.  Not once, not twice, but an incredible three times!  Well, several seasons from now, it'll be established that she's a breast girl, so it's totally in character for her.

I give Buffy a point for seeking out Willow; Willow a point for checking Buffy out.

Next up, The Bronze.  Again, Buffy goes to Willow.  True, she's the first person she had screen time with that she sees there, but this is a club that most of the school goes to.  She had to have met someone other than Cordy, her future Slayerettes, and Jesse "Bait" McNally.  She was in school all day.  A pretty girl has no shortage of people willing to introduce themselves.  But somehow, Willow is the first person she recognizes.  Despite her knowledge of social politics, she goes to Willow anyway.

They have a pleasant conversation where Willow reveals that she is single.  Seems she has trouble talking to guys.  Well, that's her problem right there!  Eventually she'll learn.

Another point to Buffy.  Seems she just can't stay away from Willow.

Then Buffy spots Giles.  She goes to leave and assures Willow that she'll be back.  Willow would've been much safer if she'd believed her.  But no, she has to let herself get picked up by a vampire.

While Buffy and Giles are chatting, they spot said vampire.  Buffy points it out to Giles but makes no move to slay it.  She just stands there, leaning against the railing as if it's no concern to her.  Until she notices that the intended victim is Willow.  Then it's suddenly a huge deal.  And Buffy is off to slay those that threaten her Willow.

And how does she find Willow anyway?  I mean, she's outside The Bronze, asking Xander where Willow would go, then suddenly she's in a cemetery, in the crypt where Willow is.  The first in a long series where Buffy always shows up where Willow is when she's in danger.

Bonus point to Buffy for rescuing her fair damsel in distress.  That's four points for Buffy to Willow's one.  The hacker has to make some moves to catch up.

This is one of my all-time favorites for Wiffiness, mostly because it's Buffy that makes all the initial efforts.  There are several fics out there that start the Wiffy story right here with an already gay/bi Buffy because of it.

But don't just take my word for it.  Watch it yourself and tell us what you think.

Your fellow 'shipper,
Howard

Simulcast on BWW and The WD.


--
'I don't want a nice Jewish boy, I want a pretty gentile girl that burns down school buildings!'

http://www.geocities.com/howardrussell2000/


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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     --'Choices'

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