Buffy The Vampire Slayer: S1E2

We finally learn Angel's name and we learn a little bit more about the Scoobies.  I'm struck by the differences between Angel and Xander at the moment.  When Buffy starts to break into the Vampire lair she is stopped by Angel.   He gives her a few cryptic warnings about the Harvest.  My first impression of Angel is kind of mixed this time.  I don't know how I felt about him the first time I saw him, but I am a little upset with him just leaving her in the mausoleum like that.  He's clearly the dark and handsome soon to be love interest, but I think he may also be a little cowardly.  He knows what is down there, the dangers she will face, and still won't join her.

It's Xander who's willing to follow Buffy into the dark tunnels and put his own un-supernatural life on the line for his friend.  Unlike Angel, he doesn't know the dangers that lurk in the dark.  But perhaps this makes it easier for him to join Buffy.  He knows it will be dangerous, but he really has no concept of how dangerous.  Yet he goes, has it in his mind to be there for his friends and won't be talked out of it.  Of course, he did help the Vampires in the graveyard so he has to have some idea of what he's up against.  This level of bravery is unmatched in any of the characters thus far.  Buffy is, of course, brave but she knows she has super powers to back her up.  What does Xander have? 

Finally, I just love the scene where Willow exacts her revenge on Cordelia while in computer class.  Cordelia and Harmony are gossiping about the previous night's events at the bronze and speculate on Buffy's sanity.  Willow stands up for Buffy when the conversation stats to get really nasty and is immediately dismissed by the popular girls.  She is willing to back Buffy up no matter what, whether that's on the internet doing research or standing up for her when she's being run down by others. Willow, in this way, proves herself to be a stronger person than we think she is.  She also knows her strengths and how to exploit the weaknesses of others as evidenced by  her telling Cordelia the way to save her computer program is to hit the "DELiver" key.