Are You Due For Another ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Binge-Watch?

Written by contributor Daphne Asir

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show that forever changed the horror genre, is one of the most-loved shows of all time. The series premiered on March 10th 1997, and immediately went on to become a cult favourite. Now there are several reasons for the success of the show; one of them being is that the show will absolutely change your life. Well, even if it doesn’t actually change your life, you still get 144 episodes of great television!

Here’s the 411 on the show that defined a decade.

Remember those old horror movies in which the pretty blond girl is attacked in the alley by the big scary monsters? Well, this scenario is a little different. The pretty blond girl, aka the slayer (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), is the one stalking the dark alleys or ‘patrolling’ them, and she well, she does more than just attack the big scary monsters, she turns them to dust.

The series originally aired on The WB as a replacement for Savannah and the series was created by Joss Whedon with this particular idea in mind.  And needless to say, it was revolutionary.

The Plot

In every generation, there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

In the generation we are looking at, it’s Buffy. Buffy moves to Sunnydale, Califonia after a series of unfortunate events at her old town and begins high school at Sunnydale High. Desperate to have a normal life, she tries hard to deny her role as the slayer, but that’s pretty hard to do with all the vampires and evil teachers and evil computer boyfriends. This is where she meets Willow and Xander, who later on form the ‘Scooby Gang’. The slayer is mentored by a watcher, Giles, the school librarian or as you’ll come to know the personification of everything British. Add to this a cryptic brooding stranger named Angel as Buffy’s love interest and we’ve got an unforgettable watch that none of us will be able to get over any time soon.

Every season features a big bad and the first one is The Master, a vampire who is trapped underground as a result of an earthquake caused by his previous attempt at opening the Hellmouth. Buffy is the only one standing in the way of him turning Sunnydale into a town overrun with even more vampires and creatures of the night. The show doesn’t stop there, it goes on to feature many more ‘big bads’, each more formidable than the previous one.

While each episode has its own story, there is an overarching plot that spans the entire season which finally gets tied up in the finale. The show has seven seasons with a total of 144 episodes, plus there was also a Buffy the Vampire Slayer film in 1992 with the same characters and an eighth season in the form of comic books.

Now that you have an idea of what you are signing up for, let’s look at why this show has to be at the very top of your ‘to be binged list’ (I know, it’s probably endless, but this totally deserves to be your next watch or re-watch).

The Incredible Characters

The characters in this series are ALL well developed with nuance and care. They all have their individual storylines and it ties up beautifully together. Apart from the original Scooby gang, there are several characters who join later on in the series, like the demon turned human Anya or the Vampire who turns good, Spike or….um the cosmic key which turns into a sister. This ensures you will have a character you can completely relate with!

All of The Emotions!

The show handles a multitude of emotions starting with friendship, loyalty, heartbreak, fear, and everything in-between, and it does this masterfully. YES, it’ll probably result in you rolled up in a ball and crying on the ground, but……what good show doesn’t?

Humour and Drama

The series is also equally funny, thanks to its amazing writing and characters. Buffy also features one of the best human-vampire relationships, and then there’s Angel and Buffy delivering that ‘we shouldn’t be together but we can’t stay away from each other’ drama.

The Show Is Steeped In Subtext

The monsters in most cases are metaphors for people or situations we face in real life. It employs myths and legends combined with real-life monsters to take the horror element to the next level. It’s quite unique in this aspect and unmatched by any other show and hits you differently with every re-watch, completely eliminating the chance of boredom.

It Is Relatable Even Though It’s A Paranormal Series

This has to be the most important aspect of the show. It mostly deals with issues faced by teenagers, along with a number of valid fears like what the future has in store, relationships, and so on. I mean, the show basically draws a parallel between high school and hell. Need I say more? Let’s also mention the fact that this series features one of the best queer relationships onscreen!

In an age when young girls are still not given the respect and opportunities that are due to them, a series celebrating the power and potential of women will always be relevant. Go on, give it a watch, a fifth rewatch, you know you want to…

Do you love Buffy? Tell us in the comments below!