The Freshman (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
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| "The Freshman" | |
|---|---|
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
| Production code | 4ABB01 |
| Original air date | October 5, 1999 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
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"The Freshman" is the fourth season premiere of the WB Television Network's drama television series Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. It was written and directed by show creator Joss Whedon, and aired on October 5, 1999.[1]
The episode focuses on Buffy and Willow first few days studying at UC Sunnydale. It marks the beggining of a shift in the show, since the main charecters are no longer attending Sunnydale High and introduces new recurring characters, Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) and Maggie Walsh (Lindsay Crouse). Although not being a direct crossover, there is a phone call between Angel and Buffy that is shown from different perspectives in this episode and in Angel's premiere, "City Of".
Plot[edit]
During a stakeout session, Buffy tells Willow that her identity as the Slayer is going to be secret again, at the beggining of the semester, at the advice of Giles.
The next day, while Willow is very excited with her classes and Oz already knows a lot of the people at university, due to playing there often with his band, Buffy begins to feel overwhelmed with the new college setting. During a visit to the library with Willow, Buffy inadvertedly drops a book on the head of Riley Finn, who introduces himself as the teaching assistant of Maggie Walsh, Buffy and Willow's "Intro to Psychology" professor.
After being kicked out of a class and having a ruff first impression of Maggie Walsh, Buffy deepens her overwhelmed state. That night, she meets Eddie, another student who is just as lost as Buffy is in the new setting. After separating, Eddie is ambushed by a group of vampires, led by Sunday. They also break into Eddie's room and take his stuff, leaving a note behind.
The next day, Buffy becomes worried about Eddie, after his absense in class. Going up to his dorm room, she finds Eddie's favorite book, "Of Human Bondage" in his nightstand. Based on the conversation they had the night before, she knows he wouldn't leave a place without that book, and begins to suspect there's something more about that disappearance.
Back in Sunday's lair, Eddie's eyes open, revealing he has turned into a vampire.
Buffy goes to Giles's house to look for help in investigating Eddie's absense. She finds an old friend of Giles with him, Olivia. Giles tells Buffy he no longer is her watcher, so she has to learn to rely on herself. He ends the conversation by making clear he will always be there for her anyway.
Back at the campus, Buffy finds Eddie and has to stake him, after learning he is a vampire. She is then defeated by Sunday and runs away. The next day, she visits her mother, who is turning Buffy's old room into a storage space. Buffy receives a call and answers it but the caller hangs up.
When Buffy returns to her dorm room, she sees that her stuff is no longer there, and that a similar note to the one she found in Eddie's room is placed in her bed. Feeling lost, she goes to the Bronze. She thinks she sees Angel there, but it turns out to be someone who resembles him. Xander shows up, and tells Buffy the big trip he did that summer turned out to be stopped prematurely after his car broke down. He is now back at linving with his parents, while paying rent to be sleeping in their garage. Buffy tells him her reluctance in telling Willow and Oz her problems with Sunday, while also feeling she's incappable of adjusting to college life. Xander tells her she is her big inspiration for the dark times and agrees to investigate Sunday and her gang with her.
They both find the location of Sunday's lair. While Xander goes back to Buffy's room to find Willow and Oz, Buffy falls down from her stakeout hideout. Buffy angerly fights the vampires and ends up killing Sunday, right when her friends arrive. Althogh some vampires escape, the gang retrieves a lot of Buffy's possessions. Giles arrives ready to help Buffy but realizes he's a little late. He apologizes for leaving Buffy on her own. Buffy reaches the conclusion her college experience isn't that different from her high school one after all.
One of the vampires who escape, Tom, is caught by three masked military men, who tase him.
Reception[edit]
The change of main location to the Sunnydale University Campus was well received in a review by a BBC author.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ "The Freshman". Buffyverse Wiki. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
- ↑ "BBC - Cult - Buffy - Episode Guide - The Freshman". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
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