Tag: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 15 Most WTF Things That Happened in the Comics

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Top 15s: Pop Culture CountdownsLeave a comment

In 2007, Joss Whedon finally released Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #1. The comics have been a combined effort of Whedon and other writers from the TV series, as well as some new names. Picking up some time after the events of “Chosen”, the comics introduce fans to a much expanded Buffy-verse where there is conflict with the US government, and a Slayer army stationed all over the world.

Admittedly, Season 8 was a rocky ride that felt larger than life. In its Afterword, Whedon writes “We’ve learned what you like, what you don’t… We’ve lost a few fans along the way and, hopefully, gained a few.” He added a promise that the following seasons would strive to return the series to what made it special, “the everyday trials that made Buffy more than a superhero.”

The series is currently in season 11 and delivering on all that it promised. Plus, there are some really fun new concepts and characters, like zompires, and the return of some former Scoobies, like Oz. And for the shippers, we do get to see Buffy and Angel interact again – and we finally get some proper resolution with Spike as they finally develop a mature and loving relationship.

You have to take the bad with the good, so here are the 15 Most WTF Moments, to date.

View List on ScreenRant

From Sunnydale to Burnside: Joss Whedon’s ‘Batgirl’ is Full of Promise

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Reviews and EssaysLeave a comment

Last week it was reported that Joss Whedon is being recruited to write and direct DC’s first-ever Batgirl movie, and the fan anticipation is already palpable. Whedon is better known for his long-standing relationship with Marvel Comics; he wrote a wildly successful volume of Astonishing X-Men (2004-2008) before writing and directing The Avengers in 2012. He then went on make Avengers: Age of Ultron, after which he stepped down from the MCU, displeased with the work.

The Avengers [Credit: Marvel Studios]
This sorted history with Marvel makes his potential move to the DCEU all the more intriguing – but it won’t be his first rodeo. Whedon actually wrote issue #26 of DC’s Superman/Batman back in 2006. And yet, even with this mature comic book resume, it’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer – his very first TV series – that we should look to for evidence that Batgirl is full of promise.

Buffy Spinning Stake
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [Credit: 20th Century Fox]
Without a doubt, penning Batgirl will give Whedon an opportunity to return to some of the most prominent themes of Buffy; you know, the stuff that made him a household name among fans and critics alike.

Continue Reading for themes to look out for in ‘Batgirl’ such as, the ups and downs of campus life, duality, technology, sexuality, and friendship.

Top 15s: 15 Vampires You Would Want to Have Your Back in a Fight

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Top 15s: Pop Culture CountdownsLeave a comment

Vampire lore has been an obsession of literature, art, and pop culture for hundreds of years. In the last decade or so, there has been an influx in vampires in young adult fiction, paired with an influx of young adult fiction in popular culture. As a result, the vampire routine started to feel played out, and people even started actively hating on it. Vampires have now been put in a really uncomfortable homogenizing category of teen romance, which has subsequently made it difficult to defend the many vampire stories some of us still hold precious.

Creators of vampire fiction pre the teen-craze have also found themselves looking to defend their work. To great effect, Joss Whedon’s ongoing Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic series presented a storyline in which the Big Bad was named “Twilight.” Meanwhile, Steven King and Scott Snyder embarked on a new horror comic book series, American Vampire, which cynically stated that the bloody goodness of the vampire had recently been “hijacked by a lot of soft-focus romance.”

The truth is, there isn’t one right way to do vampires. The mythology was popularized by Bram Stoker in his 19th-century Gothic novel, in which the main plot involved Dracula compelling women to fall in love with him. The romance is built into the core. And yet, that dangerous allure elicits a sense of horror that reminds us that the vampire is, first and foremost, a monster. But, whether you like them broody and romantic or straight up bloodthirsty, you have to admit – it’d be great to have one back you up in a fight.

View List

Image Credit: New Line Cinema

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Duality and Dopplegangers

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Reviews and EssaysLeave a comment

With Buffy the Vampire Slayer currently celebrating its 20 year anniversary, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on some of the reasons why it is widely regarded as one of the best television shows of all time. After a really sad beginning as a failed movie, and then hitting the air as a low-budget, mid-season, replacement, it still went on to become an icon of popular culture. Not to mention, the colossal level of critical acclaim it has achieved. The series launched Joss Whedon (writer/creator) to stardom; and today, most people agree that he’s a genius, or a nerd-God of some sort. So, what is it about a teenage girl fighting vampires that could be so overwhelmingly successful? It’s simple. The show’s got wit, smarts, and heart. Perhaps most importantly, though, it has some of the most well-conceived characters in TV history.

Ever fascinated by deconstructing human nature, the writers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (almost obsessively) developed and redeveloped characters so that they would grow and change overtime in a realistic way. Not only did this make for engaging storytelling, it ensured that each re-watch would be a more richer experience than the last. To break this down, let’s take a look at the theme of duality as it pertains to the way in which characters mirror each other, and the way in which doubles and dopplegangers draw attention to the complexity of identity.

Continue Reading

Image via: 20th Century Fox

Top 15s: 15 of the Most Controversial Moments in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Top 15s: Pop Culture Countdowns2 Comments

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! In celebration, here’s a look back on some of the craziest stuff the series had to offer.

During its seven-season run (1997-2004), Buffy the Vampire Slayer was constantly pushing the envelope. Network politics be damned, creator Joss Whedon was not above shaking things up: “Censors. Don’t love ’em.” Seasons one through five originally ran on the WB, during which time there were a lot of restrictions by which to abide. However, a show that worked primarily on the level of metaphor was able to get around a lot of things and have fun doing it. Those first seasons still got to deal with issues related to dating, parents, and abuse. Things became a little touch and go in 2000 when the series began to develop a lesbian relationship. Whedon admits some things had to be cut and kissing was not allowed, but he was dead-set on moving forward with the story-arc anyways. For seasons six and seven the series moved to UPN, where Whedon was essentially given carte-blanche. It comes as no surprise then that these seasons dealt with a even darker subject matter. Not to mention a number of heated sex scenes; even Willow and Tara got to spice things up.

Ultimately, Whedon’s desire not to shy away from controversy made for seven years’ worth of compelling TV. Buffy the Vampire Slayer entertained, enthralled, and taught us a lot about life. Today, network TV is littered with sex, drugs, and violence and viewers gobble it up. But it’s important to reflect on the history of TV censorship and progression and to pay tribute to the predecessors, like Buffy, that set the stage for anything to happen next.

View List

Also check out, 15 Reasons to Re-Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Image via: Coffee and a Blank Page

Top 15s: 15 Reasons You Need To Re-Watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer

On By Shyla FairfaxIn Top 15s: Pop Culture CountdownsLeave a comment

March 10th of this year will mark the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Joss Whedon’s beloved classic TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS). That may come as a shock seeing as BTVS seems to have a sense of timelessness that makes it easy to forget how old it really is – especially since Buffy fandom (and, by extension, Whedon-fandom) is still so prominent in pop culture. Today, if you are looking for a quick Buffy fix you can hit up Netflix to revisit some of your favourite episodes; check out a number of Buffy podcasts; pick up a number of Buffy (or Angel or Spike) comic books; or just dive into some dense Buffy philosophy via the many theoretical and academic writings on the topic.

However, if you’re not a Buffy super-fan but vaguely recall seeing some episodes and noticing Sarah Michelle Gellar on all of the magazine covers of the 1990s, you might be thinking – what’s all the fuss? The fuss is that BTVS had a major hand in changing the nature of TV storytelling and in bridging the gap between academia and pop culture. The series is entirely about subverting viewer expectations and is as smart as it is fun. If you don’t quite get it, it probably means it’s time to re-watch it. Here are 15 reasons why, as an adult, you will not regret giving it another go – once more with feeling.

View List

Image via: Twisted Twins Productions