Fangirl Friday - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

„Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer."

Here is the jist of it according to imdb: A young girl, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.

I chose this concise description because everyone knows what Buffy the Vampire Slayer is about. If you don't then what the hell are you waiting for, watch it!! Have you been living under a rock?!

Anyway, this show is a part of my life. It's on the list of my top favourite shows of all time, and I can watch it today and still not find it boring.

Come with me through the jump as I tell you all about my love for Buffy and the gang!

Warning: spoilers abound!

The show's creator is Joss Whedon. It had 7 seasons. (There are comics but I won’t be discussing them here.) The main characters were: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, James Masters, Seth Green, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Tachtenberg and many others that complemented the show.

The slayer is gifted with the powers of strength, resilience, agility, speed and advanced senses. These powers are mythical in origin and we learn (in season 5) that the first slayer came from Africa. She is a loner by nature and has a Watcher to help her navigate the supernatural world. But things change with Buffy. 

Unlike previous slayers, she shares her secret with a few friends and finds the necessary emotional support in that friendship. Willow and Xander bring balance into Buffy’s life and keep her grounded and connected to the human world. Even though Willow’s character goes through some big changes (from season 4 onward), both of them are a crucial part of Buffy’s life.

These three, along with Giles, form a forever loved Scooby Gang.

Joss created an amazing story for an amazing heroine. He kept us entertained with weekly episodes and in the end delivered an amazing finish for an overall storyline. 

Buffy as a heroine has done it all. She is who you cheer for and cry with. You have complete faith in her ability and you never doubt her strength or her ability to save and protect. Buffy thinks fast on her feet and is very resourceful in her choice of weapons. Even though she’s extremely proficient in her knowledge of martial arts, she isn’t shy about using crossbows, knives, a rocket launcher, magic, the slayer’s scythe (her favorite), and others. She is always brave, resilient, lethal and vulnerable. She is the most powerful slayer to have surfaced so far. 

What amazes me the most is the fact that this type of a character was never (or rarely) seen on tv before this show. We see a young, tiny, blond, teenage girl who, instead of dying in the first few minutes of the show, is actually saving the world all the time and not taking shit from anyone. She understands her responsibilities and realizes she can’t escape them. 

She is constantly thrown into dangerous situations, fighting supernatural creatures while other girls go on dates, study for tests or annoy their parents.

Through the show you see Buffy adjusting to fit her everyday life with her slayer “gig”. She needs her friends and loves them dearly, and even though they work with her and help her, the ultimate fight is always on Buffy and she doesn’t want them in any danger. Buffy is witty and full of funny comebacks, but she’s also giving and kind, she’s young and wants to do what kids her age take for granted and when she cries, you cry. It’s heart-breaking and you feel her sadness. She is basically always alone.

Even when it comes to relationships, Buffy is ultimately alone. Angel seemed like a true partner for her. He accepted her strength and destiny. He fought alongside her and aided her when she needed him. She loved Angel, but she still killed him when he tried to end the world. Angel wants to be with her but he can’t, he loves her too much and risks losing his soul. Through the ups and downs of their relationship they accept they’ll always love each other but will never be able to be together. They stay in contact and help one another when necessary. 

Riley, on the other hand, couldn’t accept the fact that he was no match for Buffy’s strength. He leaves her because she’s stronger than him. Buffy is left alone again.

And finally, Spike. Over the seasons Buffy grows to care for him, an eventually love him. She did use him for sex, however. They brought the house down while having sex. Literally, they destroyed it.

I love Buffy because she’s THE slayer. She fights for justice and goodness; she protects the weak and the world. Buffy isn’t just a girl, and she never portrays herself as one. The fact that she’s a girl is powerful. Even though she isn’t widely accepted in her school she fights for them, she wants to save them and the world from ending. She fights authority and isn’t intimidated by powerful figures. She’s willing to sacrifice herself to save everyone. She’s a snappy dresser and full of witty remarks and puns but she’s never sexually objectified in the show. She’s respected for her strength and power.

Next to Buffy, the show brings a variety of amazing and complex characters. One that stands above others is probably Willow. She’s the character that goes through the most change. Willow has always been the smart one, the book/computer geek with all the answers. Willow has been friends with Xander her whole life and she’s Buffy’s only real girl friend. She knows she’s a geek and isn’t bothered by it much. She’s aware of her own intelligence and worth. She dabbles in magic from the end of season 2, but actively pursues it from season 4 onward. She also comes out as lesbian in season 4. Her connection to her first girlfriend, Tara, was deep and Willow suffered an emotional breakdown after her death. She turned evil and her friends did everything they could to get her back but, ultimately, it was Xander that managed to get through to her.

Why is Buffy the Vampire Slayer awesome? Amazingly connected storyline. Seemingly bubbly stories that subtly reflect real life issues.  Fantastic growth and change of characters. Great portrayal of women and men and their friendships/relationships. Grate fight scenes, witty and snappy interactions, and great actors. So, if you haven’t started to watch it yet, do it now. And if you have watched it already, what’s the harm in a little re-watch!?