Warning: This article discusses violence and death.
I absolutely loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I only watched the entire thing from start to finish in 2024, and I learned a lot. After years of seeing random episodes out of order and watching clips on social media, I finally sat down and consumed the show in full, and now I understand the hype. Buffy Summers’ role as the Slayer is intriguing, but as I watched her grow up and embrace her fate, I was excited to start season 1 all over again. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s defining moments drew me in, but the underappreciated parts kept me engaged.
Now that I’ve seen it, like many other viewers, I hope that the revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will happen. Sarah Michelle Gellar was astounding as the titular character, and I was surprised to find out that there were other actors who almost played Buffy Summers. The Scooby Gang’s adventures were like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, but the thing I appreciate the most about Buffy the Vampire Slayer was that I truly didn’t understand the show until my first full watch-through.
8 Vampires Aren’t The Only Supernatural Creatures
I Never Realized That There Are Also Demons, Mythological Beasts, And More
Given the title of the show, I always assumed that Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s major villains were exclusively vampires. However, by season 1, episode 3, “Witch,” I was proven otherwise. In fact, even Buffy’s first introduction to the portal to Hellmouth explained that demons were a thing that set up the possibility for all manner of supernaturals to appear. One thing I really liked about Buffy was that it knew when to step away from vampires and focus on other creatures, and there weren’t many times that I felt overwhelmed by images of blood and fangs.
Even though there was, naturally, a focus on vampires, I loved episodes with other threats. Sorcerers, the undead, and even robots appeared throughout the show. I also really enjoyed how Buffy the Vampire Slayer incorporated monsters from real mythology, such as Moloch the Corrupter and the Hellhounds, and it was interesting to learn more about these legendary beasts. While the various vampires were definitely my favorite, I was glad that the show wasn’t one note when it came to its monster of the week.
7 Cordelia Chase Is So Much More Than A Mean Girl
Charisma Carpenter’s Character Is Totally Cool, And I Want To Be Her Friend
After watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I was absolutely obsessed with Cordelia Chase. I was initially unsure about the character in the first episode, and I thought her only purpose was to fill the mean girl archetype. However, as each season went on, I realized that she was so much more than the box she had been put into. One of Cordelia’s best quotes in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was by far her first line of the series, in which she immediately insulted Willow’s fashion sense and cemented her personality within seconds.
Over time, Cordelia realized that there was more to life than high school, and her allyship with the Scooby Gang made her a more empathetic person. She originally seemed to have a lack of intelligence, but she later started to spot vampires and even fought alongside her peers in “Graduation Day, Part Two” before she left to be one of the 13 Buffy characters to appear in Angel. Charisma Carpenter did an amazing job of playing the vapid 16-year-old, and I was shocked to discover the actress was over a decade older than her character in season 1.
6 Buffy Doesn’t Slay Every Vampire
Buffy Summers Has A Soft Spot For Certain Vampiric Figures
Another misconception I had about the show because of its title was that Buffy Summers was going to kill every single vampire she crossed paths with. However, I was ultimately proven wrong again with the characters of Angel and Spike. Ironically, neither of these characters were angels whatsoever, but I liked what they brought to the show in their own ways. Both men were vampires that offered some form of allyship to Buffy, although Spike definitely took some time to break out of his villainous arc. Angel was Buffy’s true love, ultimately, even though their story was far from perfect.
My main issue with Buffy and Spike’s relationship in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was that I thought it didn’t make sense. Even though he grew and somewhat redeemed himself, their romance was baffling. Buffy didn’t reciprocate his feelings at first, but the support he offered after Joyce’s death played a part in her changing her mind. However, he was such a tyrant that it was strange that her outlook on him had ever altered, especially considering Buffy’s controversial Spike scene in the bathroom, which was harrowing. I’m glad she didn’t kill Angel, but my jury is still out on Spike.
5 Giles Is The Best Buffy Character
Anthony Head As Buffy’s Mentor Is Incredible
I was a huge admirer of Anthony Head’s Giles and his work in general, so he played a big part in why I finally sat down and watched the whole show. I knew that Giles was a role model to Buffy and her main connection between the real world and her destiny as the Slayer, but as I watched more and more episodes, I realized that he was so much more than a voice of reason and a plot device. Giles was a complex and deeply layered character, but I didn’t expect him to be as hilarious as he was.
The season 3 episode “Band Candy” was when I truly fell in love with Giles. His quick wit and sarcasm were spectacular, but his reaction to the Halloween candy showed a new side to him. Giles made out with Joyce in the middle of the street, argued with Buffy like a silly teenager while puffing on a cigarette, and even beat up a police officer until they passed out. “Band Candy” was undoubtedly the best Giles episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it was a refreshing change of pace from his usual rigidity.
4 Willow Has Relationships Other Than With Tara
Willow Rosenberg Has A Past Before Becoming An LGBTQ+ Icon
Willow and Tara were one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ couples in TV history and proved that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was ahead of its time. I was aware of their relationship long before I watched the show, but I didn’t realize that Willow discovering her sexuality was such a significant storyline. Her most significant other relationship in the show was with Oz, who I was also aware of as a character. However, upon seeing their relationship pan out on-screen, I was amazed at how messy Willow’s love life was before she realized that she was gay.
Willow’s repeated infidelity with Xander was astounding, and I was a little disappointed in her, especially because she was so on and off again with Oz. However, I was glad that she came to terms with who she was. Even though her relationships after this weren’t exactly smooth sailing, Willow seemed a lot more comfortable in her own skin and was better at communicating what she wanted. I was gutted that Tara fell victim to the bury your gays trope, especially as Willow’s character development made her deserving of a happy ending.
3 There’s More Death In Buffy Than Expected
Most Episodes Include A Shocking Demise
I knew that there would be, realistically, some death in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, there was a lot more than I was prepared for. Almost every episode of the show had at least one death, if not more. However, what I did appreciate was the variation in how the demises were carried out. Of course, Buffy stabbed many with a stake, and that was generally the go-to killing method throughout. But there were several other inventive and intense killings, too. For example, the season 1 episode “The Puppet Show” included deaths by guillotine and organ removal.
My heart was often broken during the less violent deaths, though. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s most shocking death was when Joyce Summers unexpectedly slipped away in her living room and was found by Buffy in the season 5 episode “The Body.” This was painful to watch as a viewer and one of the most profound scenes in the entire show. Tara being shot and noting her own blood on Willow’s shirt before collapsing was incredibly jarring, too. I always thought Buffy was a primarily feel-good show, but these killings made me wish I wasn’t wrong.
2 Buffy’s Musical Episode Isn’t That Cheesy
“Once More, With Feeling” Is Actually Heartbreaking
The songs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s musical episode, “Once More, with Feeling,” were stuck in my head for ages. When it comes to a musical episode of a TV show, I have always expected it to be cheesy and cheerful, but Buffy’s attempt was more emotional than I expected it to be. While it was definitely full of upbeat moments, it wasn’t enough to distract from the fact that the fallout of Buffy’s sacrifice and her resurrection was still lingering. This was truly impressive, though, as the song and dance side of the episode didn’t cheapen the story.
Tara and Willow’s duet was even more of a tearjerker because I knew that their time together was coming to an end. Giles and Buffy in the Magic Box, as they trained and sang together, was a brilliant way of highlighting how their relationship had changed over the seasons. It was hard to pick a particular standout song, mainly because everyone’s secrets that rose to the surface after they lost Buffy were so engaging. “Once More, with Feeling” wasn’t the most depressing episode ever, but it undoubtedly tugged on my heartstrings more than I predicted.
1 Buffy Is Possibly The Most ’90s Show Ever
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Is Massively Reflective Of The Era
One of the most notable things I picked up on when watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer was that the show was a product of its time. The ‘90s were a particularly recognizable time for fashion, slang, and pop culture, and Buffy ensured to remind me of that in every episode. There were plenty of cringeworthy lines in Buffy you’d never hear on TV today, but they were fantastically reflective of the time period and reaffirmed that the Scooby Gang were actually just normal kids outside of their supernatural adventures.
I even needed to look up what some of the ‘90s slang in Buffy meant. The earlier seasons were particularly filled with ‘90s throwbacks: floppy disks, pagers, even landline phones. A lot of the characters’ clothing choices were questionable at times, but other looks I absolutely loved, like Willow’s chokers, leopard print and leather everywhere, and metallic makeup. Buffy the Vampire Slayer made me nostalgic for a time that I barely remember, but it was beautifully fitting.
