First of all, Buffy and Angel. Buffy is clearly trying to work through her feelings here. She feels something for Angel, only, she admits, she barely knows him. Meanwhile, she thinks she might have feelings for Owen, a kid at school. (Side note: Cordeila also has feelings for him.) All of this causes some serious awkwardness when Cordeila tries to steal Owen on their date, followed by Angel showing up with "work stuff" - followed by Willow and Xander sent by Giles for, yes, "work stuff." In the end Buffy sadly breaks up with Owen. He sees her as a wild person who runs around picking fights - and he wants to join in. She sees herself as performing a sacred duty to the world - and she can't share her secret with him. However, there is something to be said for she won't. Despite seeing a vampire - despite being almost killed by a vampire - Owen didn't see that. He saw a wild time where he felt truly alive - and he even admits to wanting to date Buffy to feel that way again. Despite her feelings for him Buffy says she has to break up with him for his own safety - but she is also hurt by his assessment of her. Willow and Xander know her secret - even Angel who she barely knows knows her secret - but she doesn't even consider telling Owen the truth. A short time later Buffy has to confront her feelings for Angel. They kiss and she discovers he is a vampire. This leads to Darla (who is Angel's ex) trying to pit Buffy and Angel against each other by attacking Joyce. Buffy assumes that Angel attacked her and sets out to kill him. She does discover the truth, and witnesses Angel killing Darla when Darla tries to kill Buffy, but now she has to sort through her feelings for him. She's in love with him yet he is a vampire - her mortal enemy. Yet, Angel also killed his ex in front of her to save her.
Then there is Xander and Willow. Willow is in love with Xander. Xander is in love with Buffy. Buffy knows Willow is in love with Xander and is constantly pushing her to tell the seemingly oblivious Xander the truth. Except Xander is not oblivious. While possessed with the spirit of a hyena, he confronts Willow and mocks her feelings for him. Later on he tries to rape Buffy but she stops him. After the possession is lifted he sees Willow in danger and immediately tries to save her with no worry for himself. Afterwards, Xander claims amnesia and Buffy and Willow forgive him and decide to leave him in the dark about his worst behavior. They tease him about eating the school pig mascot but leave out his cruelty to Willow and his attempted rape of Buffy. Yet, end of the day, Xander knows how Willow really feels about him. Perhaps because he does not return the feelings he instead chooses to ignore them. But despite this, he does very clearly care for Willow - even willing to sacrifice his own life to save hers.
Then there is Angel and Darla. Not much is established now and their relationship is more fleshed out in the future, but a few things are established. Darla is loyal to the Master and she loves Angel. The Master favors Darla and wishes Angel was there with them. And Angel used to love Darla - but killed her to save Buffy. When given a choice between Darla - the woman who turned him and spent lifetimes with him - and Buffy - a woman he barely knows and who kills his kind - he picks Buffy.
Lastly there is Giles. He is firmly established as a father figure to Buffy, Willow, and Xander. When Buffy has to break up with Owen he is there to comfort her. When Xander claims to have no memory of his time possessed by a hyena Giles tells Xander that he knows the truth but will lie for him. When Giles finds out that it was not Angel who attacked Joyce he sets out to tell Buffy before she kills the wrong vampire. His job is to teach Buffy, to instruct her, and to give her the tools to fight the demons of the world but he clearly cares for her and seeks to protect her and comfort her. To him she is not just another weapon in the Watcher's arsenal. And his care even extends to Willow and Xander - and not just because he is trying to care for Buffy. He keeps Xander's amnesia secret. And when Willow is in danger - once from Xander while he is a hyena and once from the demon Willow is dating - he becomes concerned for her and her safety.
My favorite episode? Honestly, "The Pack." This episode was different for quite a few reasons. One, it's the only time (that I can think of) where we see Xander as the bad guy. His cruelty towards Willow? That dodge ball scene where instead of attacking Buffy they attack their own team mate? Eating the pig? All of that. The only other time Xander is a bad guy is in the alternate reality. Yes, he was possessed, but he was the bad guy. Two, animal possession. Buffy is filled with vampires and other demons and the fight against them is never ending. And yes, sometimes a human is the bad guy like in "The Witch." But this episode the bad guys are possessed and need saving, not slaying. Plus, animal possession is weird. Three, Xander redeems himself in the end. After doing all of that shitty stuff he becomes unpossessed and tries to save Willow. Four, we see real friendship here. Between saving Xander, saving Willow, forgiving, and moving on we see the real group and the depths that they care for each other. Five, I like hyenas. Did you know they are actually cats and not dogs? Hyenas are awesome. Probably insane, but awesome.
And now, the four episodes:
Never Kill a Boy on the First Date - Season 1, Episode 5
Synopsis - Buffy tries to be a normal teenager and go on a date with Owen, a boy from school, but a prophesy about an anointed one rising and her slayer duties keep getting in the way.
The Pack - Season 1, Episode 6
Synopsis - Xander, along with a group of kids from school, become possessed by the spirits of hyenas after a field trip to the local zoo.
Angel - Season 1, Episode 7
Synopsis - Buffy discovers Angel is a vampire and Darla tries to pit them against each other. However, Darla's plans result in her death.
I, Robot... You, Jane - Season 1, Episode 8
Synopsis - Willow meets a boy online but he's really a demon. This is also Jenny's first appearance.
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