I would first like to note that I attempted very hard to include no spoilers; however, if a spoiler accidentally comes up just know that you have been warned.
With Thanksgiving coming to an end I think it is best to reflect upon my gratitude towards the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It should be no secret that I am a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fan as I have mentioned the show in two out of my three previous articles. However, now it is time for me to defend why more people should watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
The show follows Buffy Summers, a seemingly average high school girl. At night she battles vampires as she alone is the sole balance between the forces of good and evil. Since the show spans over seven years it sees Buffy and her friends adjusting to life as a college students and young adults.
Ever since becoming a fan, I have heard mixed reviews about how people feel in regard to the first season. In my opinion, I thought the first season was pretty good for what it was. However, I find it completely understandable if you may feel the need to skip the first season. Yet, I would like to advise potential Buffy viewers to not listen to other people’s opinions about the show as they are solely opinions. Many complain about seasons four and six not being as good as other seasons but, to the college readers and other readers embarking towards adulthood these are must-watch seasons.
Season four follows Buffy as she starts her freshmen year of college and from my own experiences I would say that what Buffy goes through is extremely relatable. Grant it you have to look over such outlandish things like the beer that causes Buffy to behave like a cavewoman in the fifth episode entitled “Beer Bad.” In the first episode of the season entitled “The Freshmen” the fears and uncertainties of adjusting to college life are brought to the forefront as Buffy feels a lack of a sense of belonging. In fact, throughout the season there is a common theme of missing a sense of belonging which then conveys to the viewer how adapting to college can be quite a struggle as we all know. Within the season there are other struggles of adapting to college life like joining extracurriculars and being homesick yet the show also depicts how to get over these anxieties.
For those who have already experienced the anxieties of their first year of college then season six may have more of an appeal to you. Season six focuses on the struggles of embarking into adulthood such as finding a job and the hardships that a relationship can cause. It also explores darker topics such as addiction so this season is not for the faint of heart. However, it is the season finale that offers an important lesson as how the relationships that we hold dear such as family and friends are the relationships that will help us in our darkest times.
Still not sold on Buffy? Well, maybe the female empowerment message will finally win you over. Buffy was initially created to counter the horror movie cliche of the pretty blonde girl being killed by the monster. Buffy flips this cliche on its head and shows how the pretty blonde girl is capable of killing the monsters herself. This message continues throughout the show’s duration and is highlighted in episodes like season five’s “Checkpoint.” In this eighth episode, Buffy is constantly told that she is merely a bug and other insults pertaining to how she is not good enough. However, all of this changes when Buffy realizes that she is more than good enough and has more power than those who tell her otherwise as explained in her “power speech”.
The messages runs even deeper than just girls being capable of killing monsters but also being capable of killing their own monsters. The monsters featured in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” are represented by common fears that the audience may possess, for example, vampires represent the fears of growing older and maturing. The countless times Buffy kills them is supposed to represent that Buffy is willing to grow up and learn from her mistakes.
With all these in mind, I think it is time for you to watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” which you can watch on Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are also a few rerun episodes airing on certain TV channels depending upon your TV provider and what channels you have.