Bite me... (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Member Name: Smerin

Product:	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Date:	08/01/01 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Seth Green...mmmm, Oz

Disadvantages: the fact that I have become completely obsessed with the show...

"Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl, in all world, a Chosen One. One born with the..."
Buffy: "...the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of evil, blah blah. I've heard it, okay?"

Buffy Summers is sharp, strong, witty, determined, beautiful, a high-school girl, and, most importantly, the slayer.
However, the craze which is Buffy did not start with the show, but did start with creator 'Joss Whedon'.
In 1992, a film was released under the same title. No one knew if this would be a success or not, but it was a cult hit. When Gail Berman and Fran Kuzui, who helped him with the film, asked him if he wanted to do the TV show, he couldn't have done a better thing, than have to have said yes...and he did.
The show doesn't correspond entirely with the film, so if you have seen the film, it is best to treat 'film Buffy' as a different person to 'TV Buffy', although they both have the same cheekiness and sense of humour.
If you have never watched an episode of Buffy in your life, it always helps to watch the 1st one first. It introduces you to what a slayer is, what she does, and what the hell a 'watcher' is. It also introduces you to the 'Buffy talk', which takes quite a few people to get used to.

"Just don't want to deal right now. Taking a little holiday from dealing, happily vacationing in the land of not coping."

The series' main actress is Sarah Michelle Gellar, who has recently starred in such films as 'Cruel Intentions' and 'Simply Irresistible'. In series one, she is a 16-year old school girl, and through the series we watch her grow, until now in series 4 and 5, she is in university.
Her best friend is Willow, played by Alyson Hannigan. She has trouble in high school, as she is very, how shall we put it...intellectual. She is actually my hero. We watch her though the ser
ies become more and more confident with her self, and 'smoochie' friends, and we find that she is a lot more relaxed in college than she was in high school, being interested in work is no longer classed as 'geeky'.
Xander is also one of the 'Scooby-gang'. He is the 'Chandler' of 'Buffy' and always comes out with the most sarcastic comments. He is played by Nicholas Brendon.
The program also stars David Boreanaz, who plays Angel, the vampire with a soul (who was cursed by gypsies for killing their daughter) and Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia, the attractive, snobby, self-centred, fashionable one, who, believe it or not, is a cheerleader. However, the Scooby gang eventually win her over, but I'm not going to tell you how. There is also Anthony Stewart-Head, who plays Giles, Buffy's watcher, who is incredibly English.
Plenty of people come and go throughout the 5 series, but I guess I will fill you in on them in a minute, when I go through the basis of the story lines up to series four, but don't worry, I won't give away too much!

Series One:
We are introduced to Buffy, her watcher Giles, and her friends who find out about vampires. Xander has the 'hots' for the 'Buffster', but Willow is in love with Xander.
In the first half of series one we are introduced to the weirdness of living on a Hellmouth, the first episode being called 'Welcome to the Hellmouth'.
Buffy has moved from Los Angeles to Sunnydale, California with her mother. The same evening Buffy is introduced to Angel, who will help her.
Generally for this series, Buffy must defeat the Master. He is a very very powerful vampire who is about 600 years old, and decides he wants to open the hellmouth, which a lot of demons want to...how very original of them.
Series Two:
Willow gets a boyfriend, yes! His name is Oz and is played by Seth Green. He is yummy! Giles also gets a partn
er, and she teaches at the school. She also has a few surprises up her sleeves. Her name is Jenny Calendar and is played by Robia La Morte.
Anyway, Spike and Drusilla have come to visit, and they have plans for Angel, the vampire with a soul. Spike (James Marsters) is known as 'William the Bloody' and he is a bloody mean vampire. His girlfriend is Drusilla (Juliet Landau), tormented, turned mad and made a vampire by Angel before he was cursed. Buffy has to kick their asses in this series, but unfortunately isn't as easy as a little ass kicking...
Series Three:
So, we find out that it is not only vampires that want to take over the world in this series. The mayor of Sunnydale has a few tricks up his sleeves, apart from the fact he is over one hundred years old, he is teaming up with vampires.
Now, when Buffy dies in series one...she drowned, but she was only gone for a minute...a new slayer was called. I won't go into detail, but the new slayer; Faith is a bit of a rebel. Her opinion on slaying is that she was born to slay, and that it should be fun. However, she ends up having too much fun?
A new watcher is also called, and Cordelia fancies the pants off him, I don't see the attraction myself.
Series Four:
NO MORE HIGH-SCHOOL!! The Slayerettes and slayer are now in university, but this reveals more about what is going on in Sunnydale, or should I say 'under' Sunnydale. Angel has gone, so Buffy gets to know a couple more men, who are a little more 'normal', but of course, that word doesn't exist in Sunnydale! Did I tell you that Oz (Willow boyf.) has a secret? Well, that is focused on even more in this series, and Willow gets smoochie with another...person, saucy! Xander also gets a girlfriend, haven't we met her before? Her name is Anya, and, ok, you got me, she is an ex-demon!
Series five has just started on Sky One and BBC Two is in the middle of series four.

In series four, An
gel has moved to LA, and gets his own series. When watching on Sky, the two programs correspond perfectly, but for non-digital viewers Channel four got Angel, and BBC 2 got Buffy, and they started at different dates. So when Buffy guest stars in Angel, or vice versa, you might be shocked to hear 'Previously on Buffy the vampire Slayer' when watching Angel and not have seen that episode and this could spoil that for you. Stupid, stupid people!
Personally, I think the reason why Buffy is so popular is because you can relate to it. Ok, maybe there aren't vampires going around when dusk turns to dark, but it is set in a high school, with real to life people. Not only does it include the slaying of demons, but it also handles everyday hassles and worries. There are plenty of scenes, which handle bullying, alcohol, sex, relationships, death and more. It also has fantastic music on it. Oz's band 'Dingoes Ate my Baby' is played for by a fantastic band '4 star Mary', and the gang regularly attend gigs at 'The Bronze' where live bands play practically every night.

There is soooo much Buffy merchandise out there at the moment You can buy up to series four on VHS, and series one is available now on DVD. In 1992, there was a film released, which was the first ever look at 'Buffy Summers'. The film is under the same title, and you can see my review of it right here on dooyoo! Also, if you want to know anything about Buffy, the first two series, The Watchers Guide is available, which is reviewed (by me) on dooyoo.co.uk.

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