10 Reasons I Adore Buffy the Vampire Slayer
If you've ever read any of my blog posts, or if you follow me on Twitter (@Katheryn97T), you'll probably know that I adore Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. Fierce women
Joss Whedon came up with the idea for Buffy after wondering what would happen if, in a horror film, the blonde woman killed the monster for a change. But it's not just that Buffy kicks ass (and she really does), but she's also strong enough to never give up, to always fight for what's right, and to look after her friends and family. She's also far from the only fierce woman in the series.
2. Everyone's a hero
Buffy might be the vampire slayer, but she wouldn't get far on her own (I love The Wish (3.9) where we see a solo Buffy, capable but heartless and physically scarred). In season 3 the entire graduation class take on the Mayor, and in season 4 Xander, Giles, and Willow merge their psyches in Buffy's form to defeat Adam. Most of Buffy's friends have powers of their own...except Xander, who saves the world at the end of season 6.
3. The social messages
Just because this series is about people repeatedly saving the world doesn't mean it's not relatable. Willow becomes addicted to magic; when Buffy has sex for the first time, she causes Angel to lose his soul and turn evil; Willow realises she is gay; Marcie eventually vanishes because everyone ignores her; Willow's grief causes her to try to end the world; and Xander's quest to be cool leads to trouble in the shape of zombies who try to blow up the school.
4. It's hilarious
I know what's coming, and it still makes me laugh.
5. It has the best characters
Anya is a thousand-year-old ex-demon with a love of money, a fear of rabbits, and a habit of taking everything literally; Giles is Buffy's watcher and a librarian-turned-magic-shop-owner, who is stereotypically British (loves tea, is uncomfortable with shows of emotion) and has a dark past; Spike is everyone's favourite villain, with platinum-blonde hair and a leather jacket he took from a slayer he killed in 80s New York; Oz is a werewolf of few words; Angel a broody vampire with a soul (literally); Joyce, Buffy's mother who can't quite get her head around the whole slayer thing; and Willow a lesbian witch with a talent for hacking. How can you not love it?
6. 90s fashion
Think chokers, mini-skirts and boots, butterfly clips, animal prints, dungarees, crimped hair, PTA-inspired outfits, and more leather than you can shake a stick at.
7. Real problems to solve
I love books/films/TV programmes where there's a real problem to solve, and the characters have to sit down and work it out. Whether it's the entire town losing their voices, a demon who can't be killed, a vampire Buffy has to kill without her slayer powers, or yet another apocalypse, there's no shortage of real problems in Buffy.
8. Emotional power
Prepare to cry. The Body (5.16) is heartbreaking, especially Anya's speech, as is The Gift (5.22), and Grave (6.22). Even many of the lighter episodes pack an emotional punch.
9. Real villains
Buffy has to face truly dangerous villains, including the Gentlemen (in possibly my favourite and certainly the creepiest episode, Hush (4.10)), Dracula, a goddess from a hell-dimension, a rogue slayer, and the First Evil itself. She also has to deal with friends and lovers who have turned evil.
10. It's empowering
Whether they're tackling demons or simply day-to-day life, Buffy and her friends never give up, and always empower me to do the same.
1. Fierce women
Joss Whedon came up with the idea for Buffy after wondering what would happen if, in a horror film, the blonde woman killed the monster for a change. But it's not just that Buffy kicks ass (and she really does), but she's also strong enough to never give up, to always fight for what's right, and to look after her friends and family. She's also far from the only fierce woman in the series.
2. Everyone's a hero
Buffy might be the vampire slayer, but she wouldn't get far on her own (I love The Wish (3.9) where we see a solo Buffy, capable but heartless and physically scarred). In season 3 the entire graduation class take on the Mayor, and in season 4 Xander, Giles, and Willow merge their psyches in Buffy's form to defeat Adam. Most of Buffy's friends have powers of their own...except Xander, who saves the world at the end of season 6.
3. The social messages
Just because this series is about people repeatedly saving the world doesn't mean it's not relatable. Willow becomes addicted to magic; when Buffy has sex for the first time, she causes Angel to lose his soul and turn evil; Willow realises she is gay; Marcie eventually vanishes because everyone ignores her; Willow's grief causes her to try to end the world; and Xander's quest to be cool leads to trouble in the shape of zombies who try to blow up the school.
4. It's hilarious
I know what's coming, and it still makes me laugh.
5. It has the best characters
Anya is a thousand-year-old ex-demon with a love of money, a fear of rabbits, and a habit of taking everything literally; Giles is Buffy's watcher and a librarian-turned-magic-shop-owner, who is stereotypically British (loves tea, is uncomfortable with shows of emotion) and has a dark past; Spike is everyone's favourite villain, with platinum-blonde hair and a leather jacket he took from a slayer he killed in 80s New York; Oz is a werewolf of few words; Angel a broody vampire with a soul (literally); Joyce, Buffy's mother who can't quite get her head around the whole slayer thing; and Willow a lesbian witch with a talent for hacking. How can you not love it?
6. 90s fashion
Think chokers, mini-skirts and boots, butterfly clips, animal prints, dungarees, crimped hair, PTA-inspired outfits, and more leather than you can shake a stick at.
7. Real problems to solve
I love books/films/TV programmes where there's a real problem to solve, and the characters have to sit down and work it out. Whether it's the entire town losing their voices, a demon who can't be killed, a vampire Buffy has to kill without her slayer powers, or yet another apocalypse, there's no shortage of real problems in Buffy.
8. Emotional power
Prepare to cry. The Body (5.16) is heartbreaking, especially Anya's speech, as is The Gift (5.22), and Grave (6.22). Even many of the lighter episodes pack an emotional punch.
9. Real villains
Buffy has to face truly dangerous villains, including the Gentlemen (in possibly my favourite and certainly the creepiest episode, Hush (4.10)), Dracula, a goddess from a hell-dimension, a rogue slayer, and the First Evil itself. She also has to deal with friends and lovers who have turned evil.
10. It's empowering
Whether they're tackling demons or simply day-to-day life, Buffy and her friends never give up, and always empower me to do the same.
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