Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
VOD (3)
Seasons(7) / Episodes(143)
Plots(1)
A young girl, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends. (official distributor synopsis)
Reviews (5)
The only reason the third star is there is because of Alyson Hannigan. And her figure. I mean her physique. She’s as sweet as a cute lollypop. And of course that has nothing to do with Whedon. That is the work of those who conceived her. Otherwise, this is a cult series that somehow passed me by. There are several outstanding and ingenious episodes, but the vast majority of episodes are barely tolerable. And that applies to the first, the second and the beginning of the third season. Then I just gave up. I only have one set of nerves.
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If something positive can be said about the vampire teenage saga Twilight, it is that, compared to Buffy, it doesn't come across as desperately juvenile and ridiculous. The target audience of Twilight is girls aged between 15 and 18, while Buffy appeals to those on the cusp between childhood and adolescence. In the American market, the series received incredible acclaim and created a lasting cult, leading to the creation of multiple series and spin-offs. The popularity of the series was influenced by its likable cast, popcorn entertainment, and, above all, its spooky themes, where motifs and characters from adult horror are transformed into harmless, childishly appealing forms. While the quality of subsequent series somewhat improved, it never advanced enough for adults to watch it without a condescending smile. Some view Buffy as a series that enlightens its viewers about the mysteries of adolescence, but other films and series do it infinitely better and without that laughable naivety and embarrassing masks. Nevertheless, as evidenced by the conflicting ratings on FilmBooster, some users grew up with the series, and nostalgia undoubtedly plays an important role in their appraisal. Its only star is for some of the girls and the few moments when I genuinely laughed. Overall impression: 15%.
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Season 1 - 70% - A small, sassy, chosen blonde arrives in the town of Sunnydale to defend innocent citizens, fight evil, give her observer a hard time, dance at the local club, and admire the mysterious tough guy. This most precious supernatural treasure starts out as a B-movie teenage horror/sci-fi/thriller and relies only on occasional central storylines with the Master, but I can't help it. Buffy has had her unmistakable charm for me since the very beginning, as the main characters' personalities (which will later develop into truly unexpected dimensions) and the fact that the series doesn't always take itself seriously are clearly defined. Giles' Englishness, Angel's charisma (strengthened by the fact that we only know a fraction about him so far), and the beginning of a legend.
Season 2 - 90% - The expected deepening of psychology and characters, a much better soundtrack, and, most importantly, a change in the whole storytelling spirit. Since Spike's arrival, nothing has been the same, and the slayer has gone irretrievably on a journey that she deserved more sadness in her eyes than she should have. But make no mistake, it is by no means a serious show, especially in the first half where Buffy occasionally faces clumsy plot lines (like Reptile Boy, which is terrible in every aspect). The pivotal transformation becomes the two-part Surprise/Innocence, divided by a twist that shattered the hearts of fans, definitively changing the tone of the story to a tragic, almost gothic romance and deciding how the series will develop practically until its end (!) I felt pain and lived through those characters. And that's even though it's still "just" a show about fighting evil forces. The final two-part episode Becoming is maybe the most heartbreaking one in all of Buffy.
Season 3 - 90% - The creators claim the music, deepen the relationships, and erase any remaining stereotypes of all (even minor) characters. Faith brings in a significant storyline as the element of the chosen one's burden. The writers struggled for a while, but they eventually gave this chapter of Buffy's life a unique face. And they did it very well. Playing with parallel worlds requires certain experience and courage. And a genre experiment like in the episode The Zeppo is exceptionally brilliant even by Whedon's standards.
Season 4 - 90% - Everything is different after high school. Friends scatter, responsibilities change, and you may never see some people again. But new ones come along and they can change your life even more than those before them. A new chapter of life begins, part of the original cast disperses, and newcomers arrive. Tara and Riley. And both of them bring about changes that will never fade away from the group. The somewhat melancholy mood of self-discovery leaves behind the emotional tragedy of the second season and the adventurousness of the third, so it reveals the full consequences of that cursed word, adulthood. It does so based on a story where the contrast of modern technology with overpowering tradition is explored from all sides, and despite a few hiccups at the beginning (the creators simply didn't know what to do with the characters after high school - see Giles), they do it remarkably well. And when something starts to seem cliché, a certain blond quip master comes in and ruthlessly knocks it down.
Season 5 - 100% - Where maturity arrived last year, responsibility comes in this period. Responsibility that is painful, unexpected, and inevitable. Except for the Dracula intermezzo at the beginning, it is clear that the adventures ending with a beautiful fight and a calming bedtime conversation are irretrievably gone. With each episode, it becomes more and more evident that life is simply a traitor and it doesn't matter how much happiness it gives us because it will eventually take it away. And even where love, loyalty, and friendship try to make a difference, it's not enough. The fifth season of Buffy truly leaves an impression with its escalating climax.
Season 6 - 100% - Eternal sadness, lots of tears, and a feeling of inner turmoil that affects not only Buffy but also everyone revolving around the Magic Box or the Summers' house. The sixth season reaches the lowest point of strength not only for the group but also for the viewers. Although there are a few happy moments, they are usually just sparks that we shouldn't be afraid will go out at any moment. On the contrary - whenever something has even a slightly dark outline, nothing good is coming our way. This year in Sunnydale is simply a strong and sometimes unbelievably truthful psychological exploration that culminates in the fateful moment in the episode Seeing Red when multiple hopes collapse. And yet, the real purification for the heroes is just beginning. In other words, it is the best season that brings one surprise after another, overturns all conceivable clichés, and delivers the beautiful Once More with Feeling, in my eyes the best episode ever.
Season 7 - 90% - Every story eventually comes to an end. It hurts especially with the long-loved ones. And even more so with those who can penetrate deeply into one's heart under any circumstances. Trying to overcome the tragedy and intimacy of the previous season was meaningless, so this time the scripts tell a completely interconnected final chapter as an adventure story. Sometimes with unexpectedly strong romance, sometimes with a touch of horror. But always with surprises, even though this kind of heroic epic seemed like too much to me at first. Moreover, when everything culminates in such grand, touching, yet humorously connected way, you can't help but smile and shed tears. The final season is not the best, the most action-packed, or the most relationship-focused. But it is the pure essence of everything that made Buffy change my life.
P.S.: The series includes episodes that don't advance the plot, deepen the characters, or brim with wit.
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If I only enjoy the parts with Angel in them, and there are damn few of those... Fortunately, there is a very good replacement in the form of Spike ;-) And for the finale I will raise it by a star. That’s how it’s gotta be. 28 Oct 2010 – correction: What's a really big positive for me about this series is the fact that the vampires here aren't made into beautiful breakers of girls' hearts, but their likeness is nothing that a normal person would want to kiss.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic show from the turn of the millennium. At the beginning was the video store hit with Luke Perry and at the end was the phenomenon with the spin-off Angel, which still lives on in the pages of comic books today. The show's reputation was spoiled by Nova, which couldn't handle practically any series in the first decade.
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