"THE PACK" Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Episode 6 REACTION

[@spamfilter32]

This was a really good episode; Nicholas Brendon shows his acting chops in this one. Willow shows she is not just book smart but also has some trickery in her with the cage keys gambit. Buffy shows her supernatural perceptiveness with quickly and accurately diagnosing what is wrong with Xander before anyone else can. Notice that the Zookeeper, as soon as he took on the hyena possession, he dropped the knife and went to try and eat Willow, showing that there was no humanity left in him, otherwise he would have used the knife.

[@DudeLongcouch]

Ahhh, The Pack, a quintessential season 1 episode. Perhaps the most "season 1" episode of all the season 1 episodes. It gets some hate, but I kinda love it for being different, and having the balls to do something that horrific to a person on network TV lol. RIP Principal Flutie, we hardly knew ya.

[@chrisallen19821982]

One of my favs of season one was the 1st episodes (apart from the very end of episode 3 "witch") that shows BTVS was a little different compared to most shows that was on air at this time and it had no problem going with dark storylines

[@UTU49]

Yeah, I have noticed that this is a fairly unpopular episode... But I like it a lot. How many shows of any era would go from fun, supernatural comedy to this dark in Episode 6? I love that some students ATE the Principal. One of the big lessons I learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is that you shouldn't eat your Principal. I also love that one of our main characters was so mean. Xander wasn't himself, obviously, but he was really horrible to both Willow and Buffy. One or 2 reactors really liked Principal Flutie and were sad that he died. I thought that was a little heart-warming. Justice for Principal Flutie.

[@disneytoysr4fun975]

This is one of my favorites because it deals with the typical high school tropes (bullies) and I love when teen 90s shows did very special episodes on bullying and popular kids!

[@mrwhyt]

yeah this one of my faves from season 1.

[@AshLee92490]

It's one of those episodes that people either love or hate. It's one my Top 3 for ths season...

[@spamfilter32]

"Were did you read that?" Giles and the zookeeper geeking out over books on the mystical.

[@Haveaniceday80]

Buffy my favorite tv show of all time, it just has everything. When they aired the first episode i was hooked right away and could not wait for the next one to air. Watched it so many times trough the years lol. Here to see it trough your eyes for the first time, enjoy ❤

[@itsreeeshaaa7560]

RIP Principal Flutie. He just wanted to be there for his students.

[@feudist]

What an insanely brutal episode. Pigs(and principals) eaten raw on school grounds, sexual violence, small children and moms surrounded by cannibal teenagers, Giles knocked out(again), major structural damage to the school and a zookeeper torn apart by hyenas while Buffy watched. After she threw him in the pit. Annnd we're back to school the next day. Ah, Sunnydale. A small, quaint upper middle-class town with a murder rate that makes Juarez look like Mayberry.

[@greigclement9081]

A lot of metaphors for high school life in this show. Hanging out with the wrong crowd and changing your own behaviour to fit in is definitely the big one in this episode

[@NythicalReacts]

You do become a product of your environment 🍵

[@somerotter]

Never mind what HE remembers, the rest of those kids remember *killing and eating their principle*. Beyond that I don’t know why so many people dislike this one, I think it’s one of the best of season one. It leans into the horror vibe in a way most don’t, and bullying and peer pressure are a fine fit for Buffy’s “make the horrors of high school literal horrors” thesis.

[@rayharley597]

Wrote a fanfic where one of The Pack turns up in LA pre-Hero, kerk

[@Jessica_Roth]

What really sucks is that Kyle and Tor and Rhonda and Heidi (Heidi's the blonde) probably get away with it. The official explanation is "wild dogs"; I doubt the Pack are going to randomly confess to murder and cannibalism. And if Buffy starts going on about hyena possession, she'll earn herself a nicepadded cell, so no to that. I suppose it's for the best. It was the zookeeper's fault and he got his just deserts…by becoming just dessert :). Crunchy!

[@phueal]

@@Jessica_Roth do you think they shouldn't get away with it? It's not like they were in their right minds when it happened.

[@NythicalReacts]

😭😭😭😭

[@rumrunner23]

Love your enthusiasm, energy and quick insightful comments. I'm sure your scribs will grow fast!

[@NythicalReacts]

Thank you so much!

[@BenBanjo87]

Xander as a bad guy works strangely well. But when Willow cries, the world's heart breaks 😢❤

[@NythicalReacts]

She deserves the world 😭

[@ThePharaz]

Yes, you got the X-Files reference. Jennifer Sky the light brown-haired girl taken part in the pack had a starring role in the short-lived Sci-Fi series Cleopatra 2525.

[@UTU49]

... With Victoria Pratt and Gina Torres!

[@Jessica_Roth]

I'm watching Jennifer's episode of "Charmed" ("The Power of Three Blondes", also starring Jenny McCarthy) right now!

[@RossWrock]

Jennifer Sky is my kryptonite.

[@andreduarte8372]

My first ever episode of Buffy! Plus, I love hyenas so I was doubly hooked!

[@testfire3000]

"The Pack" is a fan favorite from season one. We really get to see a new side of Xander and I think Nicholas Brendon does an amazing acting job! RIP Principal Flutie. You seemed like a nice guy.

[@adamdavis1648]

17:50 - 17:52 Worse yet, the kids who ate the principal remember doing so! Can you imagine having to live with the knowledge that you did something like that?

[@rfresa]

According to the Sunnydale High Yearbook, at least one of them became a vegan.

[@adamdavis1648]

@rfresa Interesting

[@NythicalReacts]

Stop i didn’t even think of that OMG

[@UTU49]

@@adamdavis1648 Can you imagine trying to live with yourself if you thought the principal tasted really good? Mmmm. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yummy principal flesh. My sense humor is just awful, even to me. 😩 😄

[@davidterhune8277]

"Why couldn't Xander be possessed by a puppy or...or some ducks?"

[@NythicalReacts]

Imagine him as a duck tho LMAOOO

[@adamdavis1648]

@@davidterhune8277 And then he could go on adventures and swim through money.

[@frugalseverin2282]

I like how this episode shows how high the stakes can get. We knew principal Flutie and liked him. "The Unauthorized Guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Dusted" keeps a running total of the Slayer's kill-count and the Sunnydale High body count. So far this season: 1 student, 2 staff.

[@phueal]

For clarity: that's the Sunnydale High body count not the Slayer kill-count!

[@mathias6185]

Yes, post-credit scene is in episode 9.

[@CJ77777]

What gets me on the Xander haters, is this is one of the episodes they reference all the time saying that he assaulted Buffy and 'got away with it', conveniently forgetting that he was possessed and fixating on the fact that he didn't own up to anything he did...most teenagers wouldn't... and that Buffy is fully aware that he acted the way he did because he was possessed. But they seem to ignore what Xander does at the very beginning of the episode when he is fully himself. He goes into the exhibit alone to face off against 4 bullies to protect a kid. And as soon as the possession lifts he immediately protects Willow. That's Xander.

[@disneytoysr4fun975]

I didn’t know people disliked him for this episode. I would think they didn’t like him for peeking at Buffy when she was changing a few episodes back. But even that isn’t too bad, I mean its pretty bad but its expected of a teen boy who has a crush.

[@lance9249]

@@disneytoysr4fun975 I've noticed Xander haters really are not too rational. He gets blamed for being possessed as if he had any control like he goes around eating live pigs sniffing people and bullying people on the daily. As CJ7 said the real Xander was seen when he charged in to save Willow and when he went to save the character with an awesome name from the bullies.

[@becca1189]

@@disneytoysr4fun975 It is not "expected of a teen boy who has a crush" or, at least, it shouldn't be. That anyone would is a sad commentary on our society. By the time anyone (girls included) are teens, they should be well aware of the basic concept of respect. Peeping is disrespectful & violates a person's autonomy (which is why it's illegal). That it's considered by some as not being "too bad", is a large part of why it's a problem in the 1st place. Misbehavior is promoted in two ways: taught & permissiveness. Being permissive isn't any better than encouraging it outright. It's just turning a blind eye & not taking any responsibility. While Xander isn't responsible for what he did while he was possessed, he is for the rest of his questionable behavior & rarely, if ever, does anyone correct him or call him out on it (in the show). It's aggravating primarily because of how often it happens in real life. Mostly it leads to grown ups who continue to display the same attitudes & behaviors, or in some cases escalate to something worse. If respect is never taught or simply not enforced, they won't learn or take it seriously. I've said this before, & I'll say it again: downplaying Xander's faults in the early seasons is an insult to his growth as a character over the course of the show. I think it does him a disservice. As if to say that he didn't really grow much. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@ceceliam9014]

What?! We can love Xander and appreciate that he wanted to help with the bullies and also recognize that the healthiest decision after something like this would be to allow the people you hurt an open dialogue. He tried to sexually assault Buffy while he was under the influence of the Hyena possession (which didn't completely replace his personality like a full demon possession, it just changed him and enhanced certain "animalistic" instincts, it was more like being on drugs than just not being there at all), and he also was incredibly cruel to Willow... If we were to expect a vampire to attone for their sins while they were *completely* possessed by a demon, then we can expect Xander to at least take some accountability for harm or hurt to his friends... Without "Xander hating". He's a teenager, he gets a lot of passes, but he's got some major issues with coming to terms with his masculinity and becoming secure rather than toxic in certain ways. Pointing that out isn't wrong nor hateful, it's just aware.

[@ceceliam9014]

​@@becca1189Well said. I didn't notice until after I read your comment that someone had essentially just did a "boys will be boys" to dismiss when Xander intentionally violated consent by peeking on his friend who'd just expressly asked him to turn around.

[@ceceliam9014]

It's actually generally a good idea to watch post credits just because then you get to know the "grrr, arrgh" little guy, and sometimes he changes a little on certain episodes, lol.

[@disneytoysr4fun975]

I hope I don’t get you in trouble, but I love that you can laugh at the non pc parts of the show lol. As a plus sized gal I always feel bad when reactors think they have to get stone faced during the fat jokes. Like its ok to laugh! Anyway I laughed more at the audacity, like damn he really said that lmao.

[@zemoxian]

Those kids are all going to need good therapy. They all remember eating the principal. I wonder what therapists think about the kinds of stories their Sunnydale patients bring them?

[@lance9249]

130/80 blood pressure for a 16-year-old male would be classified as stage 1 Hypertension good thing Willow is constantly checking poor Xander

[@NythicalReacts]

LMAOOOO you’re so right 😭😂

[@stevenalexander6713]

DISCLAIMER: No pigs were harmed in the filming of this episode. RIP Principal Flutie.

[@wootcat]

This is a really good episode. It's a monster-of-the-week used often in the first couple seasons to set up the series, showing that it's not all about vampires and demons. We get some more character background on our Scoobies. We also discover that it's not afraid to go dark in subject matter.

[@migmit]

And that's your warning: nobody is safe in this show. Nobody. I love how they made a fat joke actually funny. If they had dodgeball in my school, I'd probably love it. You catch a ball once, and then you can sit and relax.

[@sadfaery]

Yeah ... catching the ball isn't what gets you out in dodgeball, though. Getting HIT by the ball is. And it hurts. It's school-sanctioned violent bullying, and kids don't play nice when they throw the ball at someone. And it's not like it's a beach ball. It's more like being hit by a basketball or a volleyball. Hard. So I think not having dodgeball at your school was probably a good thing.

[@migmit]

@ Doesn't seem as if there are broken bones though. Bruises I can handle - I actually bruise easily and usually pay them no attention.

[@lance9249]

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!

[@sadfaery]

@@migmit If getting hit by a ball was the worst of it, that's one thing, but like in this episode, it is often used as a socially sanctioned way for bullies to bully people, so if you are the target of that bullying, it's not just physically painful, but can be humiliating and emotionally damaging as well.

[@NythicalReacts]

Dodgeball is fun if you’re cool and athletic but i wasn’t either so balls to the face at a crazy speed isn’t a good time LMAO

[@lenr112]

I don't know why this episode gets so much hate . For me it was the episode that showed they were willing to go over the line and I adored it .

[@lance9249]

I don't get the hate at all I'd put it in the top 5 episodes this season sure there only 12 but it's really good.

[@Buffy8Fan]

RIP Flutie.

[@phueal]

Ah yes, Principal Flutie, who has a picture of himself smiling into the camera on his desk for some reason!

[@BenChanNYC]

That portrait just screams, "Hey kids, I'm your Princi-Pal!"

[@Jessica_Roth]

Yeah, seriously Bob, if people want to know what you look like, you're right there behind the desk. And if you forget, mirrors exist. (We know Bob's not a vampire, since we see him the daylight.)

[@NythicalReacts]

LMFAO

[@migmit]

Well, he probably didn't have a family to put up a picture of. That's a small relief.

[@lance9249]

He loves Flutie how could he not?

[@MatthewLangley-e7q]

Can't wait for the next episode

[@NythicalReacts]

I watched it today!! It’ll be edited and up for Monday 👀

[@MatthewLangley-e7q]

@NythicalReacts yay

[@Dilzik]

this episode is where you literally go "oh people can die"

[@NythicalReacts]

Oh great 🫠

[@spamfilter32]

I was going to wait until after work to watch this, but... Here I am.

[@seanmcmurphy4744]

Love this episode, the high school kids turning into a pack of hyenas was so camp. The pack walking across campus slo-mo 8:20 to pretentious guitar riffs is just so 90s. Also, love Xander atoning for treating Willow mean by saving her life at the end.

[@warrengday]

"It was a very well written episode" - oh just you wait...

[@NythicalReacts]

Oh i just know it’s gonna get better!!

[@becca1189]

❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@pixy-onewing]

❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍 Disclaimer: This ep is not based on actual facts about hyenas.

[@NythicalReacts]

LMAO THANKFUL FOR THAT, GOT ME FEARING NEXT TIME I SEE A HYENA LOL

[@punishedfist]

Yay team veggie ❤

[@houghi3826]

I got hungry watching this. Bacon and some pork chops for me.

[@jay32183]

Are you familiar with Chekov's Gun? This show does tend to follow that, as you seemed to have figured out

[@ernesthakey3396]

Although sometimes it sort of does a delayed version, something might not be used in the same episode but could be referenced in a later episode, so you gotta pay attention to everything just in case! 😉

[@alexh8613]

Knockout #3 of Giles

[@allocat586]

Lets go!

[@80smoviesfan]

They ate Principal Flutie? Poor Flutie, he didn't even made it to the 2nd half of season Yes Episode 7 is a very good and important Episode, a bit of a game changer, Episode 9 has a little scene in the after credits. After having binge watched your first 6 reaction, i can really see that your Enjoying this show, you pick up on a lot of things like Clues and referenced like Scully from the X-files.

[@danwiesdamageinc]

Someone told you episode 7 was their favorite? Which season? You will realize that episode 7s in this series tend to be standout episodes.

[@michaelgustafsson5920]

Peter pan 2003 The da Vinci Code Alita battle angel The mask of Zorro 1998

[@joselopezforque8745]

I don't know why so many people hate this episode, it's one of my favorites this season😅

[@NythicalReacts]

I really enjoyed it!!

[@stevenalexander6713]

It's one of my favorite "filler" episodes of this season.

[@steveowen3155]

Each season gets better and better!

[@christophergries6648]

Not sure why people dislike stand alone episodes. As long as the writing acting is good I don't need a soap opera to keep watching. The stand alone episodes in X-Files are much better than the conspiracy laden ones. Maybe that's why Buffy referenced Sculley. Anyway, another fun reaction. This show gives you all the feels.

[@cruelangel8689]

I just think it's ironic that back in this era, most tv series were episodic. Serials were shunned by the networks who thought the audience did not have the attention span/ memory to stick with a series from week to week (as if no one was addicted to soap operas or wrestling) or the show would not be able to pick up new viewers... but nowadays serials and arcs are expected and regular episodes are shunned as merely filler and unimportant.

[@Edward-j4q4f]

Giles thinking that Xander's hyena-like behavior is typical of teenage boys is soooo insulting........to the hyenas.

[@Jessica_Roth]

Episode 9 doesn't have a "post-credits" scene per se; there's a scene going as the credits roll. The first time we get anything POST credits is when they start playing with the cartoon monster that goes "Grr, arrgh", but that doesn't happen for over a year from now. Man, these even-numbered episodes are rough on the recurring players (non-regular characters who appear more than once), aren't they? We lost Jesse in episode 2, Dr. Gregory in episode 4 and now Principal Flutie in Episode 6! Angel better stay the heck out episode 8 if he knows what's good for him! (also, Buffy's mom.) (also, Adam the recurring kid. [We saw him in episode 2 in computer lab with Cordelia, and here he's the guy talking to Xander about guitars.]. Not that we much care about him, but he doesn't deserve to die, I don't think.) I love this one, I think it's the hidden jewel of Season 1. You get some people who think it's too creepy or don't like Xander being mean to Willow or attacking Buffy (or faking the amnesia, even though I think Giles is right to agree that Buffy and Willow don't need to know Xander remembers this; it's rough enough on him), but I love it. Nick Brendon really shows his acting range. I love how even his smile is different when it's the hyena-grin: it's wider and points up at the corners. And I really love how you caught on about the Zookeeper ("Dr. Weirick", if you read his badge) being bad just when Giles did…and just when every other reactor does, too! In retrospect, people should figure it our right away, since SOMEONE had to paint the symbol and the Zookeeper is the only one who had the opportunity (we even see him keeping Buffy and Willow out in the teaser)…but The Pack makes such a LOVELY red herring, don't they? I also like how when Willow says "you'll pretend to slice my throat and put the evil in the hyenas?", the Zookeeper goes "something like that". Yes, Willow, "I'll REALLY slice your throat and put the evil in myself" IS rather similar to your idea…but details matter, lol. Really beautiful at points (Willow being heartbroken always gets me, as does Giles going from almost laughing in Buffy's face to that ashamed "Get my books…look stuff up) and at the end of the day, Xander gets to be the hero and all is good again. Did you notice that Xander signs "I love you" to Willow at the end? Nick used to stutter, so he knows ASL. And so does Xander, apparently. (Occasionally, I collect random facts about the characters. Buffy used to carry a security blanket, Xander knows ASL, and so on.)

[@ernesthakey3396]

It is hard to pick my favorite recurring characters...

[@smkfet]

Episode 7s are special. Not necessarily always good, but sometimes REALLY good. Not my favorite in Season 1 tho. This episode is a contender for season 1

[@pjcornelius]

I thought this one was good too. The young actors did do a good job of acting like animals. Sad about the principal though, he was a good man.

[@NythicalReacts]

He was funny too!! I thought it was a fun episode

[@zachharris3040]

While Giles keeping the secret at the end is cool, he is so dismissive with certain theories and people. Don’t want to spoil anything, but his character saying that testosterone makes anyone dumb is pretty lame. I get it’s a joke but IDK I feel like I wouldn’t like Giles irl. His judgmental attitude borders on condescension.

[@robertdarger9773]

Not associated to the show(glad your enjoying Nythical) had a funeral today, not related to this channel or show but I'm hurting, this was a mom of my sisters ex husband, she was always there for me no matter what, I'm sure some of you care some don't but this hit me hard(alcohol don't help but I've been drinking) I'm sure Nythical don't wanna see her viewers in pain, but me and alcohol and my depressions are not good, but I enjoy her reactions to this show and hope she enjoys future season, I apologize I'm just sad right now, death sucks you guys, it hits all of us different, so enjoy the show Nythical, we will keep watching.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Hugs... 2 days ago was the 6th anniversary of my mom's passing, so I spent some time remembering her. I'm 67, she was 82 when she passed so she lived a good long life, but there's still the feelings of loss and sadness. Death does suck, even when it is naturally time. ❤️‍🩹 More hugs, and hang in there, you'll get through it.

[@NythicalReacts]

Sending love your way 💜

[@killianlpc]

Flutie went out way too early. An interesting episode mirroring gang culture and pressure that comes with it. One of the best episodes of S1 but stick with it, this show just matures into an incredible show in later series. We see Xander as a really nasty person once under the influence of the pack, turning on Willow with very hurtful remarks, once again showing how this can happen with peer pressure to maybe impress others. A pretty decent episode for S1. On small technical criticism of the title is Hyenas are usually referred to collectively as a Clan, not a Pack. Anyway great X-Files reference in this episode when Buffy says to Giles 'stop trying to Scully me'.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Flutie was too good for Sunnydale...but the next principal... I'm looking forward to their appearance and her reaction!

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

It's season 1, so the bar isn't too high. Without spoiling too much... 2 out of the remaining episodes are real duds. So please please please... keep watching, don't drop the show because of them! 🤣 The rest, however, are quite good. Episode 7 isn't my favorite of the season (not telling you which one is, though), but I can see why it would be for many people. 🙂 PS: and yes, episode 9 has a brief post-credit... mid-credit... during-the-credits scene?

[@Jessica_Roth]

Hah! One of those you want to bag on was one of my favorites…so much that when the started the syndicated reruns (in 2001) and I had just gotten my first DVR, I kept it in there for a good long time over it's more-popular predecessor! (No DVDs until 2002, remember.) Which is why we shouldn't impose our preferences and prejudge…everybody's tastes are different.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Given how she is enjoying the show so far, I expect she'll enjoy even the ones some people think are duds. Rolling Stone has an article ranking the entire 144 episodes of Buffy from worst to best liked, and two of the 3 worst are in season 4, and one of those two I actually like a lot despite the view of most fans, so ..

[@BenChanNYC]

I don't think this episode is bad, it's just not special. If I had to guess why some people outright dislike it, it's that the "cool kids as a pack of animals" metaphor is pretty on the nose and this show is known for being smarter than that, especially in terms of finding a deeper emotional truth of some kind, which this one lacks.

[@DaveH82]

So he remembers the sexual assault and Giles is just going to cover for him?

[@johnolexa1543]

Was & still is my least favorite episode of the entire series.

[@mrmassacre3366]

Ok, now you're past the WORST episode buffy wise.

[@ernesthakey3396]

The worst in your opinion, not necessarily in everyone's. Rolling Stone has an article ranking all 144 episodes from worst to best, and sure, it's just their take, and I haven't compared their list to the IMDB ratings or anything, but this one didn't even make the worst 44 episodes, though some other season one episodes did, after that I stopped scrolling. 🤷‍♂️ This was part of their intro before ranking with commentary: "To mark the 20th anniversary of this extraordinary show ending, on May 20, 2003, Rolling Stone has ranked the 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from worst to best. We look at how the narrative was moved forward, how well characters were developed, how well the episodes tackled the core themes of the show, and so much more. She saved the world. A lot. This is the least we could do in return." I liked this episode better than the two previous - which I didn't dislike, exactly. The show is still finding it's feet. But there are some episodes in future seasons I like even less. Everyone has different tastes...

[@mrmassacre3366]

@ernesthakey3396 fair enough. To be honest where the wild things are is actually worse in my opinion.

[@ernesthakey3396]

@mrmassacre3366 totally agree, Wild Things is way, way down on my list.

[@Jaxar_S]

I think this is the worst episode of the entire series so if you liked it, you will love the later seasons.

[@NythicalReacts]

Not it being my fav one so far 😂 idk why i liked it so much LOL

[@mathias6185]

Haha, not sure if it's the worst episode of the entire series, but surely one of the weaker ones. So clearly, this TV show seems like the perfect fit for Nythical!

[@Jaxar_S]

Yeah I was not meaning its bad, I like basically every episode, this is just a weaker motw episode imo

[@T-ON-x5h]

I think this is the 3rd best episode of the first season with 9 being the best then the season finale being the second best

[@Marvel_vs_Capcom84]

This episode is definitely not the worst episode in this season let alone the entire series. 🤦