Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a drama about a young girl who inherits the powers to fight the demons that threaten the Earth. She lives in Sunnydale, California which happens to be the Hellmouth and must learn to master her powers while also trying to have some semblance of a normal life. The WB 1997 - 2001. UPN 2002-03.

Seasons

Top episodes

ORIGINS

Joss Whedon wanted to subvert the traditional Hollywood image of the petite blonde being chased down a dark alley by a monster and instead turn that woman into the hero. This subversion formed the basis of his screenplay called Buffy the Vampire Slayer which was made into a movie in 1992. Several years later FOX executive Gail Berman suggested that he develop the idea into a television show. Whedon developed the idea into high school as hell and helped fund a non-broadcast pilot.

CONTENT

The show was sold to the WB and premiered in March 1997. It gained the highest Monday night ratings in the network's history and soon drew critical acclaim as well.

THETVCRITIC

The absence of any more "Content" or even a "Legacy" section on this page are because of my own project "The Buffy Rewatch." When I launched Thetvcritic.org in 2009 one of the first shows I covered was Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. Indiana native Cordia got in touch and volunteered to co-host the podcasts I was producing. We enjoyed recording the podcasts but were less keen on our subject matter. With the end of Dollhouse we agreed that it would be a good idea to record a podcast about Buffy.

Back in 1998 I began watching Buffy after some of my school friends told me how good the show was. My own experience of American network drama shows was based around the various incarnations of Star Trek, Lois and Clark and Due South. My interest in television was already growing but Buffy was the first drama show that generated a strong emotional response in me. After years of watching procedural, episodic, emotionally bland television, Buffy broke all the rules. The ongoing stories and character arcs based around genuine emotion combined with the intriguing science fiction made me a huge fan.

Naturally I was very keen to give Buffy the same review treatment that I was giving contemporary shows. With The Buffy Rewatch I now had my excuse. In November 2010 we finally began to release reviews of each episode and an accompanying podcast. It has been a real joy to return to such a quality show.

As the Rewatch reaches its conclusion I will fill in the rest of the description of Buffy and its many influences on other TV shows. For now though I would prefer to keep my mind fresh and not delve into it ahead of the Rewatch. The reviews and podcasts are all here on the site but the majority of discussion takes place here at the Rewatch's official home.

November 2011

Podcast

Open the Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast in iTunes or in your favourite RSS reader:

Latest Epiosodes