Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Based on the 1992 Joss Whedon movie of the same name, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' was one of the most inventive American TV series of the 20 years.

With an unlikely combination of a teenage girl fighting vampires, demons - and all sorts of evil, it could have been a disaster if it had taken itself too seriously.

The tongue-in-cheek scripts and acting, impressive morphing effects, roller coaster romances, and dynamic action, all helped make 'Buffy' great entertainment.

'Buffy' was enhanced by the luscious Sarah Michelle Gellar in the title role. Buffy was a girl with the spunk of a latter day Emma Peel, but still retained the vulnerability of a teenage girl. On the one hand a man would feel protective of her, but, on the other hand, careful not to be patronising - otherwise it'd be kapow!

All the main female and male characters were well-crafted, and had legions of fans of both sexes, both for their looks and charisma.

Of the female characters, Willow was sweet and soulful, and it was a shock when she began to (in the idiom of the show) "kick ass" as a Slayer. Cordelia was bitchy, but she was funny in that she was almost sculpted into a cartoon-like figure. Anya was a cool chick, Faith was the epitome of feistiness, Drusilla a coiled spring seductress - and Buffy's sister Dawn was almost wholesome - but no-one was wholesome in 'Buffy'! I never liked seeing the girls getting hit, though - even if they did normally end up giving it back with interest.

Among the male cast, was the innocent teacher cum Watcher, and archetypal Englishman, Giles, and the sublime white-haired Spike (a funny "bloody" parody of an Englishman if ever I saw one!). Xander was the all-American college kid, who was like a knight in shining armour trying to protect the girls, and the brooding (if there's ever a man troubled...) Angel was always going to be Buffy's beau.

Part of the appeal of 'Buffy' was also how some characters turned from good to bad, and back again, especially Angel and Spike.

These 60 minute shows created by Joss Whedon, ran for 144 episodes, and seven series, originally in the U.S., from March 10th, 1997 to May 20th, 2003 (Network The WB (1997-2001), UPN (2001-2003). In the UK they ran on Sky One and BBC 2, and were 45 minutes long on the BBC channel due to no adverts. 'Buffy' was first shown on British TV in January, 1998, on Sky One, and a third British channel, Channel 5, aired repeats of the show in 2005.

'Buffy' had an appeal particularly for the young, as it obviously covers teenage angst to the nth degree! There's the analogous elements of fear, which anyone growing up could identify with. Not a fear of fighting supernatural beings, but of encountering things different, new, and unsettling. That said, my late Father loved the show, and he was over 65 when the series started! It wasn't a pretentious show, and though it did go deep, it didn't overdo the cerebral stuff. It was mainly a show that entertained. It also spawned the excellent spin-off 'Angel', starring Buffy stalwarts David Boreanaz and Charisma Carpenter.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

The Vampire Slayer Regular Cast

Buffy Anne Summers: Sarah Michelle Gellar; Willow Rosenberg: Alyson Hannigan; Alexander 'Xander' Lavelle Harris: Nicholas Brendon; Cordelia Chase: Charisma Carpenter; Angel (a.k.a. Angelus, a.k.a. Liam): David Boreanaz; Spike (a.k.a. William the Bloody, a.k.a. Hostile 17): James Marsters; Rupert Giles (a.k.a. Ripper): Anthony Stewart Head; Daniel 'Oz' Osborne: Seth Green; Riley Finn: Marc Blucas; Anya Jenkins (a.k.a. Anyanka a.k.a. Anya Emerson a.k.a. Aud): Emma Caulfield; Dawn Summers: Michelle Trachtenberg; Tara Maclay: Amber Benson; Joyce Summers: Kristine Sutherland; Principal Snyder: Armin Shimerman; Faith: Eliza Dushku; Jenny Calendar: Robia La Morte; Drusilla: Juliet Landau

Those Who Watched...

U.S. Ratings
Season 1 1997 3.7 Million The WB
Season 2 1997–1998 5.2 Million The WB
Season 3 1998–1999 5.4 Million The WB
Season 4 1999–2000 4.7 Million The WB
Season 5 2000–2001 4.4 Million The WB
Season 6 2001–2002 4.6 Million UPN
Season 7 2002–2003 4.2 Million UPN

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling (Amazon.co.uk)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling (Amazon.com)

Uncut version of the awesome, surreal Buffy musical. Was an unexpected high ranker in British TV channel Channel 4's poll of greatest-ever musicals! This DVD also includes the featurette, 'Buffy Inside The Music'. - Paul Rance.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - The Complete DVD Collection (Amazon.co.uk)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Series on DVD (Amazon.com)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Chosen Collection DVD (Amazon.com)

BuffyGuide.com