BUFFY

'Buffy' defies genre, with each episode comprised of comedy, drama, fantasy, coming-of-age, romance and action elements. While studio executives labelled it a mid-season replacement unable to define it, audiences were lapping it up. ‘Buffy’ and Joss’ influence on film and television is undeniable – not only is it responsible for the resurgence in Vampire stories such as ‘Twilight’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’ but meatier teen dramas and mixed-genre television series as well. Now dramas aren’t afraid to be funny and comedies aren’t afraid to be dramatic. Within a 42-minute period, you could laugh out loud, boo a bad guy and wipe away streaming tears. Not to mention that the entire series was one giant allegory! Between the vampires, werewolves, witches and M’Fashnik, the show dealt with love, loss, sex, sexuality, bullying, growing up, fear, sacrifice, relationships with friends, family, lovers, authority - the whole enchilada, and all under the guise of a little blonde girl kicking arse in a world where everyone and everything (including herself) underestimated her.

Joss and his team also broke new television ground producing an all musical episode, an almost all-silent episode, and had critics and nay-sayers eating out of the palm of their hands with ‘The Body’ in which all previous conventions went out the window as Buffy herself and her friends dealt with the death of Buffy’s mum in one of the most spectacular episodes of television, ever. And while the show was a critical and commercial success during its run, it was never exactly a big awards show fixture (outside of its technical, hair and makeup achievements), however ironically, it was ‘Hush’, the show’s silent episode, that earned Joss Whedon a Primetime Emmy Nomination for writing. The show known for its sharp, sassy, and poppy dialogue, yes it was the ‘Buffy’ episode that featured some crudely drawn projector sheets and had the cast wearing whiteboards around there necks that lent itself to one of the show’s scariest and fan favourite villains - The Gentlemen - and of course some long overdue industry love. It’s okay, we always knew the show was golden, and Joss had the last laugh as he has since written and directed both ‘Avengers’ films and is now one of the leaders at the Marvel Cinematic Universe round table. Suck it, Emmys!

It’s funny, 20 years later and I may not be able to trivia someone under the table or recall a line at the drop of a hat any more, but just the mere mention of 'Buffy' sends a flutter to my heart. Now in my 30s, I still attend conventions if I know a 'Buffy' star is going to be there. I’ve thrown most of the books and scripts away, but I’ll always hold on to “The Watchers Guides’. My handmade VHS tapes have now been replaced by a stunning DVD collection I didn’t even hesitate to spends hundreds of dollars on. Just in the last two years I’ve attended trivia nights, comic-cons, an all-night marathon, and I have a theme night at a bar in celebration of the 20th anniversary penciled into my calendar. It’s a costume night, and while I may be too old to adorn my Faith look as I’d done many time before in my youth, I will still dig through my bottom draw and pull out my Scooby Gang t-shirt and wear it loudly and proudly.