Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Review

“If the apocalypse comes, beep me” – A review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

Created by Joss Whedon and airing between 1997 and 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a seminal TV show which blended supernatural horror, witty dialogue and coming of age drama to create something absolutely iconic. As someone who adores shows such as Supernatural, let me now play tribute to one of the shows that started it all and influenced countless series that followed.

Set in California in a fictional town named Sunnydale, the show follows teenager Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is a seemingly ordinary girl who comes from a long line of “slayers” – young women who are destined to fight vampires, demons and a whole host of supernatural entities and threats. With the help of her friends, lovingly nicknamed the “Scooby Gang”, Buffy learns to balance the ordinary trials of being a teenage girl alongside the more pressing matter of being a protector of humanity.

Sarah Michelle Gellar was born to play Buffy. Her performance is strong, conveying strength, defiance and vulnerability, making her a completely believable teenage girl and monster hunter. The supporting cast, such as Alyson Hannigan as Willow, provides rich and relatable characters, and they all go through so much character development and growth throughout the series. A special mention must go to James Masters’ Spike – a controversial fan favourite who was portrayed with so much charisma and charm that it’s easy to see why fans love him, despite that scene in season six.

I really love the writing on this show. Witty, subversive and self-aware, the show is applauded for its sharp dialogue and the way in which it intertwines themes such as addiction and bullying into supernatural storylines. The show follows a monster of the week format, which I really enjoy, but its also complemented by overarching storylines which explore themes like identity, love and sacrifice.

You can’t ignore the impact that Buffy had. Since Buffy aired, there have been countless shows that clearly took direct inspiration from it, and it also led to a rise of strong, complex female protagonists in TV shows. It’s also groundbreaking in the way it represents LGBTQIA+ issues, especially when considering Willow’s storyline.

As much as I love Buffy, I know its not without its flaws. Some seasons feel a bit uneven, with story arcs and certain characters feeling less interesting than others. It’s also a show that hasn’t always aged overly well, especially when considering modern attitudes towards representation and diversity.

Despite this, I really love Buffy. Thrilling, thought provoking and entertaining, the show blended emotional moments with supernatural adventures, which were full of sharp humour and emotional resonance. Whilst not perfect, this was one of the best shows of the 90s/early 2000s, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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