Masterpiece Cinema - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters and many others.

Written & Directed by various.

Created by Joss Whedon.

Genre: Drama / Horror / Action / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Lotsa things

Released: 1997-2003

Running time: Generally 40 mins, give or take.

Rated: TV-PG (American rating for all the stuff you'd expect for a vampire show, and then some)

IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/

Okay, I have a confession to make. I am something of a Buffy fan. I have absolutely no clue as to whether or not this is a cool thing to admit to, especially for a guy. But thats the way it is.

Originally, I didnt give the show much of a chance because of how corny the movie had been. I wondered why they were bothering to make a TV show out a cheesy film that had bombed at the box office. Watching the first episode with only faint interest, I dismissed it as being lightweight and moved on.

But this all changed a year or two later, when the station that airs Buffy down here in Australia moved it to 10:30 at night. With nothing else to watch, I decided to give the show another chance, and was very pleasantly surprised. Witty dialogue, relatable characters and a story that actually went somewhere, Buffy was unlike any other show I was watching at the time. I quickly became a fan, and remained one to the series final episode.

Many critics have praised Buffy its been listed in TV Guide not only as one of the top twenty-five cult shows (it was number three) but also as one of the fifty greatest TV shows of all time. For a show that gets so easily dismissed as being a vapid production for teenage girls, thats quite a good deal of kudos. And the thing is, the praise is well deserved.

Every level of this show is of the highest quality, from its writing to its direction to its production values to its acting. Several episodes stand out as being mesmerizing in how cinematic they are: Hush and Restless from season four; The Body from season five; Once More with Feeling from season six; Beneath You and Conversations with Dead People from season seven. And every one of these episodes features fantastic work from the cast, who have been called on time and time again to portray such a large range of emotions and have never failed in their ability to deliver.

Whats probably the most brilliant aspect of the show is its use of the supernatural as metaphors for everyday life. When Buffy slept with her long-time boyfriend in season two, the perfect moment of happiness it gave the two of them tripped a spell that left the boyfriend, Angel, without his soul. This transformation into evil worked as a perfect commentary on the way most guys act after having gotten what they wanted from their devoted girlfriends.

Another good example of metaphorical storytelling would be the introduction of the character Dawn in season five. Previously to this, Buffy had been an only-child, but once again through the use of magic, she suddenly had a younger sister of which everyone had memories. When Dawn found out about her true nature as a magical being that had been grafted onto her family, she went through many of the same emotions I imagine that kids who find out theyre adopted go through, raging against the misconception she feels her entire life has been.

Many people felt that, as the show went on, it started to slip in its quality. True, it changed over the years, but that was the entire purpose of the show; to grow, evolve, and take on new ideas. Certainly, I wasnt a fan of season six, but when the show ended in its seventh season, I felt it did so on a high note. And now season seven is being released on DVD in America, those people who were interested in the show but never got around to watching it can see for themselves what it is that we all love so much. Buffy was a show with intelligence, humour, talent and heart. That isnt something that comes along very often.

Next week: A return to the cinema.

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