Every girl who could have the power... will have the power... can stand up, will stand up. Slayers... every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?
Chosen, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 7.
The first time my husband caught be watching Buffy, I was embarrassed. How cheesy. The second time I was defensive. The third time I was too in love with the show to care. (That's he subversive charm of the show — it lures you in slowly but surely.)
If you are a non-convert, I know what you're thinking: Something called Buffy, The Vampire Slayer is bound to be silly and marginal...and why must people that like a show make it seem more than it is?
I'm here before you are a relatively non-stupid human being to tell you that I love this show because it has depth, humor, intelligent writing, and quality acting. I'm standing slayer-like to defend a show that, even with it legions of fans, is still underrated.
Even the name has a subversive brilliance when you consider the show is largely about underestimating women. Who could take a show with that name seriously? Who could take a little blonde girl seriously? But if you take the name or the girl at face value, you're missing a lot.
Joss Whedon got the idea for the show because he was sick of some little blonde girl always getting killed in some dark alley in horror movies. He said he wanted the blonde girl to "take back the night."
That's right — Buffy at heart is a show about girl power. (Jennifer Garner, and every other woman in Hollywood playing kick-ass women, need to thank Joss.) It was also a show that made it clear that with power comes responsibilities and choices. And that no matter how strong you are...you could use a few friends.
It was a show that dealt in the supernatural, but also used it as a metaphor for real life challenges...loving the wrong guy, physical abuse, sexual assault, death, first jobs, growing apart from friends, finding out your parents liked to you... In an episode called Weight of The World,, Buffy saves someone and they say to her, "But you're just a girl!" Buffy wearily replies, "That's what I keep saying." Who hasn't had that feeling?
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great thoughts, Nicolette. I got hooked on Buffy circa Season Two (just about the best Joss season ever... Firefly is very close, truncated and all) and never looked back.
I slowly sold the show on my wife, who still likes to tease me at times for being smitten with SM Gellar. Now she watches it on FX more than I do!
In the end it's a show about great characters, with great writing, great direction, and usually with something interesting to look at. That's what makes great television. So in a weird way, as you've alluded to, all of the sci-fi and horror elements are peripheral.
I like what you've said about Girl Power as well, and I realized Joss is still exploring that theme through the character of River in Firefly and now Serenity.
2 - swingingpuss
Nicolette, if you like nocturnal creatures as much as I do then check my short story out.
3 - Nicolette Rivers
Good stuff, SP!Impressive! I'm working on a vampire story right now.
4 - swingingpuss
Cool, I hope I get to read it:)
5 - Valerie
Nicolette - you have expressed the thoughts and feelings I have had for this show (and all things Whedon) very eloquently. Buffy was so much more than it's name.
My love started when my daughter, who was ten year at the time, was watching the second season. I glanced as I went by. The next week as I was walking by I sat down. The third week I was yelling for her to, 'Hurry up! Buffy's on.' The show entertained me, enlightened me, and touched my soul.
For those of you who loved Buffy, try the Firefly CDs. The humor, sadness, and superior writing are again evident in the Firefly characters.
The movie Serenity will be in theaters on September 30. I encourage you to watch the trailer. As with Buffy, don't let the obvious fool you into thinking this is just a spaceship movie. Instead, let the writing capture your soul and then hang on for one heck of a ride!
Can't stop the signal.
www.serenitymovie.com/