Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1, Episode 6: The Pack
Written by Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer; Directed by Bruce Seth GreenThe duo of Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer only wrote two episodes of Buffy. The second was Inca Mummy Girl, one of the biggest clunkers of the second season, but their first, The Pack, is actually not too shabby. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that, when it originally aired, it was the best so far. Elements of the plot are clunky, to be sure, especially in the pre-credits teaser, but the overall concept works quite well, and Xander, for the first time, gets to be something other than the wisecracking comic relief. Buffy's most enjoyable episodes, I've found, are often the ones where characters get to act in ways they normally wouldn't, such as Season 3's The Wish and Doppelgangland, where we get to meet Vampire Willow and learn that she's kinda gay. The Pack isn't anywhere near as good as that particular pair of episodes, but it's a step up from the series of generic monster outings we've had thus far. It also features a good deal more character development than in any prior episode, and, in retrospect, hints at some of the directions in which they will go in future episodes.
By the way, am I the only one who finds it strange that, every week, Sunnydale High School seems to be populated by a completely different set of students?
7/10
This time next week: Angel. No, not the spin-off, the Buffy episode of the same name.
4 Comments:
I have often wondered myself, and I've also wondered about the bodycount. I'm surprised Sunnydale High has any students left; they should either all be dead or have gone far, far away.
Didn't like this one. The mental image of hyena-possessed students eating a live pig was simply too much for me.
By Baron Scarpia, at 19:08
Actually I thought the sheer nastiness of this episode was one of its strengths.
By the way, Baron, how are you getting on with Season 2?
By Whiggles, at 19:53
Passed halfway point - have finished off Innocence and found out to my amazement that David Boreanaz can actually smile.
By Baron Scarpia, at 19:57
He can just about act, too. Prepare to be amazed.
By Whiggles, at 20:00
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