Random TV Show Review - Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Seasons 1-7)

When I was little and going to school, my friends and I would play this game which was our take on Buffy, a show that at the time, I have never seen but heard of. As time went on, I learnt more about the show, in that it's one of the shows that made Joss Whedon very popular. He became known as one of those producers and directors who wanted dialogue over action, but is also known to be a bit incompetent from time to time. Buffy was well known in the late 90s and early 00s and, like the Star Trek shows, it helped pave the way for shows that would follow its example of story telling and fantasy with a bit of sci-fi and horror here and there. So how was I able to watch it, you may be asking. Well, I watched it much later than most thanks to the Star hub on Disney+ which is our version of Hulu. A hub for shows and films tailored to older teenagers and adults which would allow the assets that do those sorts of shows and films, to show them off so we the general public can either watch these things for the first time or revisit classics while also looking forward to newer content such as Solor Opposites and MODOK. So let's get to all that slaying and see if the show is still just as popular today as it was back when it first broadcast:

Season 1

Before we carry on, it's important to note that this isn't the first time Joss Whedon did Buffy. He actually made a film before making the TV series and well let's just say that he wasn't happy with the film, so he made the show and it of course became very popular. Teenager Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) is the chosen Slayer who is tasked with ridding the world of demons to prevent them from effectively taking over the world. Her role has caused an uproar among her former friends and also resulted in the destruction of a gym. So she and her mum Joyce (played by Kristine Sutherland) decide to move to Sunnydale to have a fresh start and be free of the Slayer role. Her plans are complicated however when the librarian at her new school called Giles (played by Anthony Stewart Head) becomes her new Watcher, a being tasked with training and looking after the Slayer as her guardian. But with his help and the help of new friends Willow (played by Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (played by Nicholas Brendan), they form the "Scooby Gang" to help Buffy with the role she has, though they at the time remain unaware that the school is built on top of the portal to the Hellmouth where many demons reside. They also find help from a being called Angel (played by David Boreanaz) who is a vampire cursed with a soul whose motives are not entirely clear. There's also love in the air occasionally, clashes with popular student Cordelia (played by Charisma Carpenter) and a being called the Master (not that Master, played by Mark Metcalf) who has plans for Buffy. While a very short season compared to the rest of the show, it does set the groundwork for what the show would become and it's a great first season to a show I have to say. Some of us may have to keep reminding ourselves that these actors are much older now than they were on the show, but that's OK. A good mix of vampire/demon slaying and high school drama. Never thought both would mix well, but they do well here. 9/10

 

Season 2

Buffy starts the season off being self-centered and wanting to keep her distance from her friends, but manages to overcome this pretty quickly just as some new vampires come to town with plans for her and Angel. Love is in the air yet again, a new slayer of Caribbean descent comes to town, Cordelia and guitarist Oz (played by Seth "Joker" Green) become genuine members of the Scooby Gang and Buffy is forced into a battle against her former lover which may lead into some ramifications going forward. The second season finds a balance between supernatural and high school happenings as friendships are tested, relationships get thrown out the window and allies come in the most unlikely of places in what is considered a very character development driven season, but also an action packed one too. 9/10

 

Season 3

When Buffy was forced to flee following the events of the last season, she returns to Sunnydale in this season where she reunites with all her friends and her mother and is also reinstated into Sunnydale High School with help from Giles. He and her both choose to leave the Watchers Council when it becomes apparent that Giles has become a sort of father figure to Buffy and Angel returns, but seems to have changed following what happened in the last season. The Scooby Gang learn that the mayor of Sunnydale (played by Harry Groener) is planning to ascend to become a giant snake like demon and is near completion of that particular ritual. He just needs to massacre students on graduation day, and so he finds allies in vampires and the dark slayer Faith (played by Eliza Dushku) to do just that. Faith having previously joined forces with Buffy during the season, but became bad when she accidentally kills a human. This season while feeling like the end of an era, is a good example of a show worthy of binge-watching. Every episode has great moments, everyone acts their socks off, and graduation has never been as epic as far as the build up and what actually happens are concerned. 9/10

 

Season 4

After graduating from the now destroyed Sunnydale High School, Buffy and Willow enrol at UC Sunnydale and eventually encounter Xander and Giles who set up a new base of operations. Buffy becomes involved with a government funded group called The Initiative, who study demons. One such demon called Spike (played by James Marsters) who has encountered Buffy a few times before, is forced to work with the Scooby Gang to figure out what the Initiative are up to and put an end to their ways before a Frankenstein's Monster like being, escapes and causes havoc. Also in this season, Buffy has a few sexual encounters with one Riley Finn (played by Marc Blucas), a member of the Initiative who eventually becomes disillusioned by what they do. Oz is forced to leave Willow when his werewolf antics nearly get him killed at the Initiative, but she finds love in the form of Tara (played by Amber Benson) in her first lesbian relationship. This season feels like a coming of age season, but is also a bit all over the place and shaky. Still though, the usual antics, comedy and action make this season not perfect, but OK overall. 8/10

 

Season 5

This season kicks off with a visit from Count Dracula (played by Rudolf Martin) which I'm guessing was just Joss Whedon wanting a reason to bring the legendary vampire into the Buffyverse. Regardless, Buffy makes short work of him, and we meet her younger "sister" Dawn (played by Michelle Trachtenberg) who apparently has been known to everyone for a long time except us the viewers (a bit of a mystery there that gets explored). Buffy and the gang also take on a dangerous new demon who seems to be able to switch between herself and her male human counterpart in an instant. Oh, and Willow begins manifesting her spell powers and takes a dark turn when something happens to Tara. After a shaky last season, this season brings the show back to full form with risks, brilliant writing and a good amount of acting all around. 9/10

 

Season 6

Unbeknownst to the Scooby Gang who believe that Buffy went to Hell at the end of the last season, she had actually been in heaven and as such spends much of this season in a deep depression. She also takes up a job at a fast food place to make money and even tries a relationship with Spike which is seemingly doomed right from the start. Despite all that has happened, Giles returns to England when it becomes apparent that Buffy has become to reliant on him. Xander has a bit of a wedding of sorts, but this too doesn't amount to much in the end. Willow becomes addicted to magic which dooms her relationship with Tara. But in all the doom and gloom, the Scooby Gang encounter a group of powerful nerds known only as The Trio who are planning to take over Sunnydale by any means and will stop at nothing to prevent Buffy and the gang from interfering. Also we have a musical episode this season too. This is perhaps the least liked season of the show. So much doom and gloom and a lot of controversial moments. But despite this, at least it delivers on the musical episode which unlike many musical episodes in shows, it actually ties into the storyline. So I guess you could still watch this season, but the previous seasons are much better, and the musical episode is honestly the best episode in this otherwise not perfect but OK season. 7/10

 

Season 7

So in the final season, potential slayers become known to the world and Buffy and the gang set out to recruit them in the wake of The First Evil (a being encountered in the third season) tipping the balance between what is good and what is evil. Sunnydale High is restored, Someone has it in for Spike and all sorts of sexual tension, relationship testing and arguments occur as the Scooby Gang prepare for one last battle to save the world with the possibility of changing the destiny of all slayers. The final season brings the show back to how it all started. By being funny, weird and full of great action packed moments. Also I never thought of Nathan Fillion as a villain and he does that part well. A great end to the series which like many beloved shows of pop culture, would continue in comic book form. 9/10

Buffy like many shows, has great seasons and then some not so great ones. It is in every way a great show that embraces weird, high school blues and all things supernatural. It's one of Joss Whedon's best shows and probably far better than the film he made and I look forward to reviewing Angel as well as any more Buffyverse stuff that may come out. 9/10