Buffy Season One Episode Three: Walter Brennan
What's working for me through three episodes: the banter. That's the show, really. The high school world is referred to rather than actually created. The vampires/witches so far are so what. The relationship between Buffy and her mom is played for laughs (Mom thinks Buffy is a typically inscrutable teen, whereas Buffy can't let Mom in on what's happening since it's all about vampires and witches and dead people); it's potentially touching but isn't something I feel yet.
The banter, done with a light touch, is developing a theme: Buffy needs more help from others than she's willing to admit. But whether the "help" that Willow and Xander provide actually helps her more than harms her is going to be a question for a while. As Episode One - and several hundred westerns, detective stories, and action-adventure movies - have already determined, friends make you vulnerable, friends can be used by your enemies as bait. But your concern for your friends also commits you to the world, commits you to the fight. And friends can actually help you, at times. See To Have And Have Not and Rio Bravo for the relationship between Humphrey Bogart and Walter Brennan in the first and John Wayne and Walter Brennan in the second (and the gang of losers they hook up with in each). And The Far Country with Jimmy Stewart and Walter Brennan.
Of course, Xander and Willow need to help Buffy. Their psyches demand it. Helping Buffy gives them purpose. This is mostly communicated through wisecracks. In the wisecracks, Buffy tends to denigrate her situation, Xander and Willow tend to denigrate themselves.
Potential danger: if she rejects their help, they'll want to help someone, 'cause they need to.
(No spoilers, please.)
The banter, done with a light touch, is developing a theme: Buffy needs more help from others than she's willing to admit. But whether the "help" that Willow and Xander provide actually helps her more than harms her is going to be a question for a while. As Episode One - and several hundred westerns, detective stories, and action-adventure movies - have already determined, friends make you vulnerable, friends can be used by your enemies as bait. But your concern for your friends also commits you to the world, commits you to the fight. And friends can actually help you, at times. See To Have And Have Not and Rio Bravo for the relationship between Humphrey Bogart and Walter Brennan in the first and John Wayne and Walter Brennan in the second (and the gang of losers they hook up with in each). And The Far Country with Jimmy Stewart and Walter Brennan.
Of course, Xander and Willow need to help Buffy. Their psyches demand it. Helping Buffy gives them purpose. This is mostly communicated through wisecracks. In the wisecracks, Buffy tends to denigrate her situation, Xander and Willow tend to denigrate themselves.
Potential danger: if she rejects their help, they'll want to help someone, 'cause they need to.
(No spoilers, please.)