Buffy Summers, 18, resides in Sunnydale, California. She moved here with her mother, seemingly at age 16, after being kicked out of her old school (for reasons we later learn - she burned the old school gym down). Upon her arrival, Buffy meets some new friends, who seem to be of the complete opposite crowd. Cordelia Chase is the first, although once she notices Buffy's "weird habits" she is sure to run off. The two other friends, coming into her life as a pair (even back then) are Xander Harris and Willow Rosendale.
Now, having been a Season Three "Buffer" I missed a whole lot of the early history of the show and its characters. Luckily, the premiere Buffy episode has been novelized (of which I've read), and there are millions of great Buffy sites out there, just oozing early Buffy info.
However, I did grasp a few things. Angel first comes into Buffy's life when she is actually at danger of losing this life. He is the "mysterious stranger", who saves her, and then vanishes. Now, it's quite obvious that Buffy wants to know more, whether it be her curiosity, or her desire to meet this dashingly handsome, tall, and dark guy. The two do meet again, and again. However, as Buffy often says to Willow: "We only see each other when my life's in danger."
That changes in the "Angel" episode (of which I HAVE seen). Angel once again comes to Buffy's rescue, this time saving her from "The Three", three very evil vampires, sent by the Master himself to dispose of this nasty slayer.
"You're a vampire slayer, he's a vampire. I think what you have to do is clear."
So, to keep the story rolling, Buffy figured things out, and Angel thinks he's blown his whole chance of ever being close to Buffy. However, even though they do decide to end things, they are far from "over". The two keep meeting, in "slayer" circumstances, and I think (never saw this actual ep!) Angel gives Buffy a Claddah ring for her 16th birthday, and the two of them ... well, get happy. Now is when things go psycho. Apparently Angel goes whacko after having this "one true moment of happiness", and his soul is taken from his body, making him a ruthless killer. He terrorizes Buffy and her friends, I believe tries to kill Xander, put Will in a coma, and kills Giles' girlfriend, Jenny Calendar. Pretty rotten stuff, huh? Maybe this is why I'm a huge Angel-Buffy romantic, since I've never really seen "Angelus" in action, other than a few repeats that I've seen from season two.
So anyhow, now where the two are (May 9th,1999) Faith has gone psycho and turned to the other side, working with the Mayor. In the "Enemies" episode (bah! Sad one!) Angel must "pretend" to turn into Angelus in order to trick Faith into believing she could use him. This is terrible, and horrid for Buffy, since she obviously regresses back to the whole "boyfriend went psycho and tried to kill me" phase, and at the end tells Angel "she needs some time."
Now, as for Xander and Will, as far as I understand, the two have grown up together, being just best buds. Willow is the shyish bookworm, while Xander desperately tries to get into the "in" crowd, but ends up farther away from that. From the start of the show, or so I assume, Willow has had something special for Xander Harris. I guess it's one of those "Dawson and Joey" type things (sorry, big DC fan too!) where she has this huge crush on him, but he just sees her as a friend.
When Buffy comes, she is obviously the first to realize this huge crush that Willow has on Xander, but decides to keep it hushed (besides telling Will that she should just go for it, and let him know what she's thinking). In season three, Xander and Willow finally get their moment, when the two are going to their Prom, and are trying on clothes together, as any typical "best buds" would do. But something strikes Xander when he sees Will in her beautiful black gown, and he sees her as more than just a "pal". The two share a heated kiss, but vow to never let it happen again, since Will is involved with Oz and Xander with Cordy at the time. However, later into the season, when the two are captured by Spike, both assume they will die in their situation and give in to that last passion, not counting on what happens next.
So I figure where we are now, the two are feeling horrid about what they've done, and Willow and Oz are even getting back together.
Are things over for these two star-crossed couples?
Think again!!
Hugs,
Iphigenia
*guardian of "the couples"*