<P> Certain scenes, such as the argument between Giles and Buffy in the library, and Buffy's first meeting with Angel, were re-shot eight months after the first episode was recorded with both Whedon and Gellar feeling that Buffy was too angry in the original takes . Whedon subsequently teased Gellar that they were going to reshoot the scenes a third time . The high school used for external and some internal scenes in the series is Torrance High, the same school used for the series Beverly Hills, 90210 . </P> <P> Joss Whedon created the idea of "vamp faces," which was to have vampires' human features distort to become more demonic . Whedon wanted normal high school students that the other characters could interact with normally, only to have them turn out be vampires, therefore creating a sense of paranoia . He also wanted the vampires to be "clearly monsters," as to not make it seem like a high school girl was killing normal (looking) people . The vampires originally appeared "very white - faced, very creepy, very ghoulish". This was toned down in later episodes as the makeup was too time - consuming . Whedon claims that people thought the white faces to be "funny looking" but personally found it creepier, comparing it to the monsters in zombie movies such as Day of the Dead and The Evil Dead . The character of the Master was designed to be in vamp face permanently to highlight his age and make him appear more animalistic; make - up artist John Vulich based the Master's appearance on a bat, reasoning that the character has devolved to a more primal, demonic state over the years . It was decided that vampires and their clothes would turn to dust after they died . This was done for practical storytelling reasons, so the characters would not have to spend time cleaning up bodies . This episode introduced the idea that vampires' clothes would resemble the era in which they died, with Buffy identifying one by his dated outfit . Joss Whedon felt this concept was a "charming notion" but ultimately rejected it for the most part because he believed that, if every vampire in the show was dressed in old - fashioned clothes, they would cease to be scary . </P> <P> "Welcome to the Hellmouth" first aired in the United States on March 10, 1997 on The WB . On the original airing of this episode, The WB provided a teaser advertisement briefing the history of past Slayers . It revealed horrific events in towns that were halted when a particular woman arrived . This promotional teaser does not appear in syndication or on DVD . "Welcome to the Hellmouth" earned a Nielsen rating of 3.4, meaning that roughly 3.4 percent of all television - equipped households were tuned in to the episode . It was the 100th most watched episode of television that aired during the week ending March 16 . </P> <P> The episode received largely positive reviews from critics . Noel Murray of The A.V. Club wrote that the episode was "a good introduction to the show, establishing the characters and the premise quickly and cleanly, before ending on a cliffhanger". Murray, however, did note that it contained a "dialogue that sounds more faux - clever than actually clever" and that there was "an overall flatness to the action / horror sequences" that would continue until the second season . John Levesque, writing for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, called the fledgling series "witty, intelligent and thoroughly entertaining" and dubbed it "the best thing I've seen on The WB". He praised the acting of Sarah Michelle Gellar, noting that she "plays Buffy to perfection". Phil Kloer of The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution called the show a "kicky little mix of camp comedy, high school hi - jinks and monsters" and likened its plot to the Fox sci - fi series The X-Files and the Nickelodeon horror - themed anthology series Are You Afraid of the Dark? . He ultimately gave the episode a B. Nikki Stafford, in her book Bite Me!, called the first episode "excellent" and complimented the strengths of the main cast as well as the show's unique approach . She contrasted it with the earlier movie, noting that "the movie version (...) was like Clueless, but near the end suddenly tried to be a serious film . The television show carries comedy, action, and drama simultaneously and features a far superior ensemble cast ." </P>

Buffy the vampire slayer season 1 episode 1