Review Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Doctor Omega

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an American supernatural drama television series created by Joss Whedon under his production tag, Mutant Enemy Productions, with later co-executive producers being Jane Espenson, David Fury, David Greenwalt, Doug Petrie, Marti Noxon, and David Solomon. The series premiered on March 10, 1997, on The WB and concluded on May 20, 2003, on UPN. The series narrative follows Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply "Slayers". In the story, Slayers are "called" (chosen by fate) to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Being a young woman, Buffy wants to live a normal life, but as the series progresses, she learns to embrace her destiny. Like previous Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang".


The series received critical and popular acclaim, frequently being listed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and usually reached between four and six million viewers on original airings.[7] Although such ratings are lower than successful shows on the "big four" networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox),[8] they were a success for the relatively new and smaller WB Television Network.


The success of Buffy' has led to hundreds of tie-in products, including novels, comics, and video games. The series has received attention in fandom (including fan films), parody, and academia, and has influenced the direction of other television series.[4][10] The series, as well as its spinoff series Angel, and extensions thereof, have been collectively termed the "Buffyverse".



 
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Carol

Carol

Member: Rank 5
Hi Doc - thoughts, memories and opinions a-plenty - all on tap and all yours for the asking. Huge joy of the first show I ever totally bought on VHS. Not sure I'm completely word-perfect, but any time you wanna go, give it your best shot from Amy-Rat to the Zeppo...
 
Doctor Omega

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reunion: The Cast & Creator Reflect On the Show's Legacy | PEN | People


Go behind the scenes of a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" cover shoot and watch the long-awaited reunion between creator Joss Whedon, Sarah Michelle Geller, David Boreanaz and the rest of the cast -- 20 years after the show's debut.



 
Simian Jack

Simian Jack

Member: Rank 1
Buffy is a show that makes me wonder at the whole concept of 'target audience'. I sure didn't think I was, what with the "teenybopper" premise, the title itself, and coming in the mist of a whole wave of shows aimed square;y at teenage girls. I was certain it was gonna be populate with snarky characters whining in Valleyspeak about how those, like, totally lame vampires were ruing their quality mall time. I successfully avoided the thing for five and a half seasons. But then I was on a forum fullof guys in their fifties and sixties who kept on about Buffy week after week. They were addicted. One of the cable biggies, TBS or something, had just picked it up and was going to start from the beginning, so I had to find out what the fuss was.

First impression, it was amiable camp with a good sense of humor (Whedonspeak rubs some people the wrong way), and I'd be able to watch for awhile until the charm wore off, then I could easily drop it. There was a smattering of stringer, more mature, more dramatic material mixed in, but something surprising happened at the finale off season 1. I discovered I'd become emotionally invested in these characters, I cared about them and needed to know what happened to them. Didn't see that coming.

Some of Buffy is up there with the very best Tv has had to offer. I'm a huge fan of seasons 3,4, and five, and some of season 2. I've rewatched the first four seasons a few times but always quailed at seeing S5 again for (no spoilers) the death of a major character. It's such an emotional blow (if you've seen it, you who I mean) that...ummm...facing the same thing I've avoided it almost superstitiously.

And I bought each season's boxed as they came out, even the lesser S6 and dismal S7. They're all in storage now, I hope someday I can retrieve them.

I've seen the spin-off Angel just once and want to go through that again too. Never was overly fond of the character Angel when he was on Buffy but when they got him away from her the writers were able to open up and have a lot more fun. The best of it was at his expense.
 
Simian Jack

Simian Jack

Member: Rank 1
One thing I did think was rubbish was Whedon's explanation of vampires as being 'without inhibition'. So, they act on their desires and impulses but without the filters that would make them weight their actions. Doesn't add up. That would suggest that humans are only decent to each other because of inhibition, that we have no natural desire to see others happy, no innate empathy, that we all desire destruction, darn it if it weren't for those darn silly limitations! If a vampire is just a superpowered human freed to pursue it's desires...well, most people don't desire to torture and kill the people they love. Whedon didn't think it through.
 
Doctor Omega

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
FOX Open To A “Buffy” Series Revival


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FOX has been no stranger to the idea of revivals, resurrecting the likes of “The X-Files,” “24,” and “Prison Break” in recent years. However, there is one show the network has thought about bringing back – “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

Speaking at the INTV Conference, Fox TV group chair Gary Newman says: “‘Buffy’ is probably the most ripe show we have for bringing back. It’s something we talk about frequently, and Joss Whedon is really one of the greatest creators we ever worked with. When Joss decides it’s time, we’ll do it. And until Joss decides its time, it won’t happen.”

Though airing on both The WB and UPN, Fox produced the series and thus retains the rights. There was previously a film reboot in development at Warners but that never got off the ground.

At the same presentation Newman also said that chances are good that “Gotham” will get a fifth season as the show “should have a place in our schedule” and its move to the super competitive Thursday night this year “did a pretty good job of opening up that night for us”.
 
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