The Buffy Effect

Citation :: May 20, 2013 marked the 10 year anniversary of when the hit television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer ended. Even though this lengthy period of time has passed, the fond memories and themes of this innovative and griping show, helmed by Joss Whedon, are still relative and possibly even more poignant today.

If you didn't get a chance to watch the show on television when it aired, that's all right, you have seven majorly epic seasons that are on DVD, which anyone can rent or buy! In fact, marathoning seasons of Buffy have been quite the rage lately among celebrities, including Parks and Recreation's Retta and playwright, lyricist, actor, etc. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Retta had taken to tweeting along and providing commentary as she watched DVDs of the show, while Lin-Manuel tweeted about his love for the program on many occasions.

The popularity of Buffy The Vampire Slayer continues to soar beyond cancellation, and since the buzz is that celebrities are into everything that is hip and cool, you know this show is a must! Buffy, though, is phenomenal to watch regardless of celebrity stature, and is a show that you can keep on repeat 24/7/365, and you can enjoy it on so many different levels.

What seemed like a show at first glance that revolved around ordinary teenagers quickly turned into a twisted and mesmerizing look at life in Sunnydale, California, which apparently was the Hellmouth! Demons, vampires, ghouls and more frequented this anything but quaint city and provided plenty of action, drama and fodder for both show fans and the television characters. The Scooby Gang, the nickname the characters gave themselves, never had a dull moment while trying to keep up their GPA at Sunnydale High. Especially the chosen one, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), whom was born into the generational duty to protect the world from evil (and of course say snarky things and toss out cunning cut downs simultaneously while she did all of that). Comedy, tragedy, and camaraderie catapulted Buffy The Vampire Slayer into the magnificent cult classic it has become.

The core friendships that grew between Xander (Nicholas Brendon), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), and Buffy stayed true through Hellmouth eruptions, undead and dead lovers, high school graduation, prom, big baddies, college, brooding vampires and more. There wasn't an obstacle that this group couldn't tackle together. At its heart this friendship was stronger than pretty much any other bond than with any group the gang came in contact. Even when faced with probable death, the bonds and depths of the ties that bind this dynamic group could not be severed. Love fueled so much of this frenetic fan favorite program. Beyond that of the long lasting friendships, there were paramours that helped heat up episodes and they came in not your average forms. Buffy's first love was a vampire named Angel (David Boreanaz) who she ended up having to kill. Xander fell in love with a demon named Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Willow fell for both werewolf Oz (Seth Green) and witch Tara (Amber Benson). In Sunnydale everything, including relationships, came with almost endless complications. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a prime example of how love may not conquer all, but it is always worth fighting tooth and nail to the bitter end for!

Everything that could go bump in the night made its way to Sunnydale, but The Scooby Gang relentlessly showed that their was power in numbers. Even at the very last battle in the episode Chosen, the series finale, the group (including the slayers in training) stood strong together and persevered. Some casualties may have unfortunately been sacrificed, but the group did not falter in their willpower and efforts. The messages of hope, faith, belief and strength always played an integral role of their own throughout the run of the series.

No matter your age or spoken language, the themes and ideals that tie into Buffy the Vampire Slayer are universal. There was at least one or more characters that the viewer could relate to and you were always left craving more and teetering on the edge of your seat. And even though the title was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, every character had more than one moment to shine. This was a show that was about a united core cast, not a single individual, they were all in it together.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer lives on in infamy and continues to explode in popularity 10 years after it bid its farewell. Conventions where cast members make appearances occur in plenty year after year. The polarizing effect that this show has had on fans across the globe has been felt long after the show itself dwindled. Lines from this hot program still resonate today and are often quoted. The fact that 10 years later Buffy the Vampire Slayer can still make fans feel the very same emotions, or bring them to new watchers, is a testament to everyone who worked on the show. Television shows often no longer have that type of impact, or even longevity, that Buffy had. While the show may never be resurrected on television, the DVDs have given it life long after its incredible departure.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-steinberg/the-buffy-effect_b_3343474.html