Buffy pilot question

[Deja Q]

Was it a 2 hour premiere or a genuine 2-parter?

The DVD has it as a 2-parter; could it be a syndicated chopped-up version?

[liontamer]

1. I think it was a 2parter

but I don't remember. The first season was a tentative half season so I don't think there was a big flashy 2 hour premiere

[robbedvoter]

2. Never saw it as a 2 parter on TV (only caught reruns though)

I did see the original pilot though - not the aired one - stunk on ice!

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. I think the pilot was the actual film

Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Donald Sutherland, Kirsty Swanson, Rutger Hauer, and Paul Rubins. If I remember the first ep of the show correctly, they referenced why Buffy came to Sunnydale as the events that took place in the film.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

4. No, it was a real movie.

Big screen release and everything. I don't think Whedon hit on the idea of making a TV series out of it until a few years later.

And yes, the pilot does briefly mention the movie, citing the climactic prom-battle as the reason Buffy left LA. But there were some substantial changes made to the universe, such as the Watchers being an ancient organization instead of one guy being reincarnated over and over. Plus the vampires in the movie were much more supernatural than the mooks SMG went up against.

[BigMcLargehuge]

5. I knew it was a theatrical release

I saw it in the movies. It was produced by the same people too, the Kuzui's.

[Deja Q]

7. Yeah, season 1 is starting to lose its touch...

And that's after the first two-part episode, which was a little corny yet eminently entertaining...

"Witch" is atrociously trite... and "Teacher's Pet" is unintentionally hilarious. Camp on acid.

Still, there's enough "Whedonism" in the show to convince me later seasons are probably worthwhile...

[Feron]

6. I think robbedvoter is referring to the original TV pilot..

It has a different Willow in it. And I agree, it is horrible.

Copies of it are always circulating on IRC especially in the TV channels if you are interested.

[Horus45]

8. Are you referring to the original Kristy Swanson movie?