The Freshman

Revenge is fun, but it is a bit cheap. So Buffy is off to college but seems totally out of it. Her general knowledge is pathetic. She starts a class but speaks for a second in one class and gets thrown out. The professor is a horrible man. She meets a guy who gets bitten by vampires, then appears as one himself. It seems that a group of these guys is hold up in an abandoned frat house, led by a female who is full of herself. At first Buffy gets tossed around by these guys but when the overstep their bounds things get much better. The whole gang is together eventually, including Giles. Only Cordy is missing. Decent beginning.

I remember what it was like starting at University. I was a mature-age student and it was still big and scary and disorienting. Whedon and Gellar do a good job of portraying the fish-out-of-water feeling we get when exposed to big changes in our lives.

Her wavering confidence makes Buffy more human and thus more likeable.

Buffy may not be worried about the various creatures of the night but starting college is intimidating. Willow takes to college life as this is where she has always been waiting to be and Oz seems to know everybody thanks to his band. Her other friends have left Sunnydale. Buffy feels out of her depth; unsure what courses to take, not knowing where to go and being generally awkward. One night she meets a boy and has a brief chat but he promptly vanishes. A note suggests he just left but Buffy fears it is vampires. She seeks help but it looks as if she will have to deals with things on her own; till an old friend returns.

This was a good start to the fourth season and more importantly to the next stage in Buffy's life. After a humorous prologue most of the episode is about Buffy's introduction to college life; this impressively captures the shock for most new students who are suddenly strangers in a large new world after years of the familiar world of school. The vampires she faces are quite funny but still present a genuine threat. The story plays out well and ends with hints of things that are likely to be important in later episodes. The cast does a solid job; particularly Sarah Michelle Gellar who really impresses as Buffy, making us really feel for her characters sense of not belonging and abandonment. Guest star Katharine Towne was a lot of fun as Sunday, head of the local vampire gang. While there are downbeat aspects to this episode there is also a good amount of humour, solid action and a feel good ending. Overall a welcome return for Buffy and friends.

This episode from season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a fantastic episode that explores the challenges of starting college, specifically the feelings of uncertainty and isolation that many students experience during this transitional period. Through powerful metaphors and relatable storytelling, the episode captures the essence of what it means to be a freshman in college.

One of the most prominent metaphors in "The Freshman" is the idea of the "big fish in a small pond" syndrome, which is represented through the character of Buffy. Having been the Slayer for several years, Buffy is used to being the biggest and baddest person in the room. However, when she starts college, she quickly realizes that she's just a small fish in a big pond, and that the challenges she faces are much greater than she anticipated.

Another key theme in "The Freshman" is the concept of fitting in and finding one's place in the world. This is exemplified through the character of Oz, who is struggling to adapt to college life and find a sense of purpose outside of his relationship with Willow. The episode also explores the idea that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that it's important to reach out for help when we need it.

The episode's use of metaphor is particularly effective in conveying these themes, from the labyrinthine campus that represents the confusing and overwhelming nature of college life, to the demon that Buffy fights at the end of the episode, which symbolizes the challenges that she must overcome in order to succeed in this new environment

This episode is a relatable and positive episode that captures the essence of what it means to be a freshman in college. It's a powerful reminder that it's okay to feel lost and uncertain, and that these feelings are a natural part of the process of growth and change. The writing is sharp and insightful, and the performances by the cast are excellent, with Sarah Michelle Gellar delivering a nuanced and emotionally charged portrayal of Buffy's struggles. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Freshman" is a must-watch episode that you won't want to miss!

The whole college atmosphère was great and a fresh thing, 3 seasons was enough of the old stuff, time for a New Buffy, lets see if it can be even better than the first 3 solid seasons.

This episode 8.5/10 , hype me to watch whats next.