Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Angel

(S01E07) Unfortunately for me, I didn't start watching Buffy until the latter part of season two. So obviously when I went back to watch season one on DVD for the first time, this episode didn't deliver the shock it should have. I'd really like to hear from day-one fans and what their reaction was to finding out Angel was a vampire. Did earlier clues give it away? Did you assume it all along?

I think I might have caught onto Angel being a vampire about when he says he's "much older" than Buffy. Then again, it was maybe 30 seconds later when he vamps out on Buffy, so it's hard to say.

Xander once again shows his pure distaste for Angel. Now he's given a true reason to dislike Angel and call for Buffy to hate him as well.

Darla's mentions of her past with Angel -- like the happenings in Budapest -- are something referenced again later in flashbacks. Continuity is a good thing, and it's always amazing to me how they've been able to keep everything in line and not stray too far from what we already know. What's also interesting about Darla is how little we get to see of her until she's brought back in Angel (in a very jump-the-shark sort of way, I have to say).

One really unusual thing n this episode was Darla using guns. I'm not sure you saw guns all that often in this show, never mind vampires using them. Actually, wouldn't that have made a lot more sense for them to use guns against Buffy? I mean, it's what takes her down so easily in season six.

Main points of interest in this episode:
- Angel's true name is Angelus.
- Angel and Darla were once a couple.
- Buffy and Angel's first kiss.
- Angel's approximate age (240 years).
- Joyce meets Giles for the first time.
- Darla is dusted.

Quote of the episode:
Darla: "Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?"
Buffy: "That hair on top of that outfit?"