A review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
 

On May 20, 2003, the final episode of the television show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was aired. The episode, ‘Chosen’, signalled the end of its seventh season, and it remains a critically acclaimed program that remains popular with fan groups around the world. The franchise was developed in 1992 with a film of the same name, which has been described by the series creator as ‘a start, but it’s not quite the girl’. The intention with the series was to subvert the typical horror movie, in which the petite, blonde-haired girl would be the first to die (incidentally, the actress who played the title character also starred in 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', in which she did die). Buffy was therefore endowed with supernatural abilities and an obligation to save the day (which she does, often in ‘stylish yet inaffordable boots’ or prom dresses. Since its production, the show has created a cult following and an extended universe, known as the ‘Buffyverse’, which includes a spin-off series ('Angel'), several comics, and numerous video games.

The show follows the life of Buffy Summers, part of a long line of ‘Slayers’ (supernaturally-gifted women who are charged with the task of protecting the world from the forces of darkness). Unlike many other young superhero shows, where the main character keeps their true identity secret even from those closest to them, Buffy quickly surrounds herself with a circle of friends, who become known as the Scooby Gang or the Scoobies. These include, at various points, a werewolf, a vengeance demon, witches, and various non-supernatural ‘Slayerettes’.

Throughout her high school and early adult years Buffy battles many demons, both literal and metaphorical. One of the guiding ideas behind the show is the ‘high school as hell’ metaphor, which leads to many of Buffy’s foes being metaphors for various trials and experiences of adolescence. The supernatural element emphasises these trials, making them both dramatic and relatable to the audience. The show, however, is not all about subtext and metaphors. It has a cheekily self-deprecating note: Buffy scoffs, in reference to herself: ‘some kind of super girl, chosen to fight demons and save the world. That’s ridiculous.’

The show has elements that are sure to please everyone: romance, humour, action, suspense, and mystery. It plays around with formats, including an episode shown mostly through the eyes of an amateur filmmaker (season seven, ‘Storyteller’), as well as a musical episode (season six, ‘Once More, With Feeling’). It subverts conventional ideas and changes genres, and it does it all while maintaining its focus on character development and plot believability.

The show spans seven seasons, each one comprising numerous story arcs as well as a major villain, known as the ‘Big Bad’. Villains range from vampires and demons to gods and even friends. Although it does follow the monster-of-the-week format that many supernatural-themed shows opt for, it mixes in enough ongoing plot that it doesn’t seem formulaic or dull.

The show has become part of pop culture, with many other shows (including 'Saturday Night Live' and 'How I Met Your Mother') making references to it or parodies of it. It has also become very popular with academics, some of whom go so far as to work in an area they have labelled ‘Buffy studies’ or ‘Buffyology’, which explores concepts like gender, morality, and philosophy, and how they’re represented in the show. The series is also notable for its use of dialogue – the characters have such a distinctive way of speaking that it has become known as ‘Buffyspeak’. Entire essays have been written on the subject.

The series was popular and influential when it originally aired, and it remains so now. Its mission statement was always ‘the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it’, and its strong female characters have provided role models for both the original audience and the new generation of fans. 'Buffy' combines elements of the supernatural with real-world issues like sexuality, identity, and growing up, blending them together to create a series that is both visually appealing and relevant for the audience. As series creator Joss Whedon said: “I loved the idea of a girl going into a dark alley, and a monster comes, and then she just aces him. It’s like, you want to see the tiny person suddenly take control. God, my whole career is basically about that!”