Discovering Buffy / L - O
Anonymous
I am in high school and I am 14. I first watched Buffy from Season 3 - the last episode - Graduation Day Part 3. It didn't take a whole lot of persuasion from die-hard Buffy fans (in fact no one I know IS one) or flipping channels - hey, that's a great way to be hooked onto a show, but yeah. Anyway I lived in Malaysia before I moved here to Australia and Malaysia was really really really really slow in like EVERYTHING. It was 2 or more seasons behind in Buffy. Well, I didn't watch a lot of TV because of that. Obviously I'd heard of Buffy, everyone had, it was one of those cultural phenomena. Anyway I was a pretty major book buff ~ is there such a word? So, I happened along Buffy books in the bookstore. I first thought it was just one of those sci-fi, vampire things - which I 'm sorry to say, am not really big on. OK, great, so then I started reading novelizations on Buffy and got immersed in the whole Buffy verse and I was quite amazed. I was like ,'Wow, this is Good!'. So, I read more and more and more until I KNEW all these things about it, and still had not watched the show until a friend of mine, thank god for her, told me what time it was on, on TV. Unfortunately it was the end of the season - season 3! So I was like NOOO!! I have to wait a YEAR to watch the next season. Oh well, in fact I did. And it was the best most amazing years of my life. Then, I moved to Australia and Australia was in Season 6 unfortunately so my Buffy viewing is extremely screwed up. Then after I watched and laughed and cried over it, my TV screwed up and I could not watch Season 7. That is my total disastrous history of Buffy viewing and since I am 14- do not have the money to buy all the DVDs!!! It seems like everything is conspiring against me but I WILL watch all the seasons!! Anyway, I think Buffy is the best show ever, I AM SO obsessed with it, I talk about it everyday. I also try to convert people but am very unsuccessful. What I really like about the show is the subtext and the fact that everything isn't summed up into nice little packages like in Charmed. Oh, Buffy dies but then she comes back. Everyone is sad for one episode then there is an event that makes everyone reunite and be all happy again in 3 episodes. Life isn't like that. Buffy isn't like that. Buffy has real consequences, Buffy teaches you and the characters are real and complicated characters like you and me. Look for instance at the evolution of Willow. She grew up from that geeky girl she was in Season 1 to the Big Bad on season 6. That could only happen on Buffy and we look back on that long-ago girl much like we do on our own lives because we grew with her, we cried with her, we felt for her when she found Tara, we were sad when she died. That is the greatness of Buffy. And the show is incredibly clever – you can see this in the fact that Jonathan himself at the end of Season 6 voiced all OUR feelings – how Willow had changed so much. Not only that, but Buffy has subtext - everything is not just taken on face level. Nothing is black and white - there is ALWAYS something to debate about. ALWAYS something to talk about. If you're not smart enough, you don't get it. It also has the best comedy around and is not all sitcom-y. Also, Joss pulls such amazing plot twists on us - he plays with our minds. We can NEVER guess what happens on Buffy. It's like life, unpredictable and not like all those formulaic TV shows you see on TV.
And for all of those people who said that Buffy jumped the shark, I say, it NEVER did. OK, that's a bit long - as you can see, I am incredibly obsessed.
I am in high school and I am 14. I first watched Buffy from Season 3 - the last episode - Graduation Day Part 3. It didn't take a whole lot of persuasion from die-hard Buffy fans (in fact no one I know IS one) or flipping channels - hey, that's a great way to be hooked onto a show, but yeah. Anyway I lived in Malaysia before I moved here to Australia and Malaysia was really really really really slow in like EVERYTHING. It was 2 or more seasons behind in Buffy. Well, I didn't watch a lot of TV because of that. Obviously I'd heard of Buffy, everyone had, it was one of those cultural phenomena. Anyway I was a pretty major book buff ~ is there such a word? So, I happened along Buffy books in the bookstore. I first thought it was just one of those sci-fi, vampire things - which I 'm sorry to say, am not really big on. OK, great, so then I started reading novelizations on Buffy and got immersed in the whole Buffy verse and I was quite amazed. I was like ,'Wow, this is Good!'. So, I read more and more and more until I KNEW all these things about it, and still had not watched the show until a friend of mine, thank god for her, told me what time it was on, on TV. Unfortunately it was the end of the season - season 3! So I was like NOOO!! I have to wait a YEAR to watch the next season. Oh well, in fact I did. And it was the best most amazing years of my life. Then, I moved to Australia and Australia was in Season 6 unfortunately so my Buffy viewing is extremely screwed up. Then after I watched and laughed and cried over it, my TV screwed up and I could not watch Season 7. That is my total disastrous history of Buffy viewing and since I am 14- do not have the money to buy all the DVDs!!! It seems like everything is conspiring against me but I WILL watch all the seasons!! Anyway, I think Buffy is the best show ever, I AM SO obsessed with it, I talk about it everyday. I also try to convert people but am very unsuccessful. What I really like about the show is the subtext and the fact that everything isn't summed up into nice little packages like in Charmed. Oh, Buffy dies but then she comes back. Everyone is sad for one episode then there is an event that makes everyone reunite and be all happy again in 3 episodes. Life isn't like that. Buffy isn't like that. Buffy has real consequences, Buffy teaches you and the characters are real and complicated characters like you and me. Look for instance at the evolution of Willow. She grew up from that geeky girl she was in Season 1 to the Big Bad on season 6. That could only happen on Buffy and we look back on that long-ago girl much like we do on our own lives because we grew with her, we cried with her, we felt for her when she found Tara, we were sad when she died. That is the greatness of Buffy. And the show is incredibly clever – you can see this in the fact that Jonathan himself at the end of Season 6 voiced all OUR feelings – how Willow had changed so much. Not only that, but Buffy has subtext - everything is not just taken on face level. Nothing is black and white - there is ALWAYS something to debate about. ALWAYS something to talk about. If you're not smart enough, you don't get it. It also has the best comedy around and is not all sitcom-y. Also, Joss pulls such amazing plot twists on us - he plays with our minds. We can NEVER guess what happens on Buffy. It's like life, unpredictable and not like all those formulaic TV shows you see on TV.
And for all of those people who said that Buffy jumped the shark, I say, it NEVER did. OK, that's a bit long - as you can see, I am incredibly obsessed.
Lance, Kathryn
I am a professional writer of fiction and nonfiction (50+ books published). I had shunned the movie and the series because of the off-putting title, but something I read somewhere persuaded me to give it a try in the middle of the second season.
I was completely hooked from the first five minutes. The sheer wit of the show knocked me out. Yes, this is what high school was like! A horrible place where you are at the mercy of mean teachers and the "high rollers" (popular kids) with nothing to make life bearable but your own nerdy friends. I was so impressed with the acting and writing from the beginning, though eventually quit watching as the show became more a real show and less an allegory. I believe that the first three years of Buffy are a real high mark in the history of American television.
I am a professional writer of fiction and nonfiction (50+ books published). I had shunned the movie and the series because of the off-putting title, but something I read somewhere persuaded me to give it a try in the middle of the second season.
I was completely hooked from the first five minutes. The sheer wit of the show knocked me out. Yes, this is what high school was like! A horrible place where you are at the mercy of mean teachers and the "high rollers" (popular kids) with nothing to make life bearable but your own nerdy friends. I was so impressed with the acting and writing from the beginning, though eventually quit watching as the show became more a real show and less an allegory. I believe that the first three years of Buffy are a real high mark in the history of American television.
Lapinski, Stephen
I'm a typical sci-fi/anime/video game/comic book geek recently out of college and still trying to figure out what to do with myself. At first I watched Buffy during the first season. Thought it was interesting, although it didn't really click with me, since everyone seemed trying too hard to fit in with the normal people I was indifferent to in high school. Then Dawson's Creek joined the network, which established a seeming pattern of marketing to youth by making them feel important that I wasn't going to fall for. I started college the same year, so I didn't have the opportunity to watch it anymore between all the other shows I followed. Once I graduated, though, I happened across Hercules the Strong's fanatic rantings on aintitcool.com. I'd been hearing ads about it moving to UPN, and I also started getting fx on cable, so I could easily catch up through the reruns. The rest is, er, yeah...
I'm a typical sci-fi/anime/video game/comic book geek recently out of college and still trying to figure out what to do with myself. At first I watched Buffy during the first season. Thought it was interesting, although it didn't really click with me, since everyone seemed trying too hard to fit in with the normal people I was indifferent to in high school. Then Dawson's Creek joined the network, which established a seeming pattern of marketing to youth by making them feel important that I wasn't going to fall for. I started college the same year, so I didn't have the opportunity to watch it anymore between all the other shows I followed. Once I graduated, though, I happened across Hercules the Strong's fanatic rantings on aintitcool.com. I'd been hearing ads about it moving to UPN, and I also started getting fx on cable, so I could easily catch up through the reruns. The rest is, er, yeah...
Lattey, Kate
My name's Kate and I'm a 22yo BA graduate (English and Media Studies) living in Wellington, New Zealand. And I'm a Buffyholic. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has shaped my life and my identity. I don't know who I would be if Buffy had never existed, but I wouldn't be the person I am today. Not just because my ambition for a career in TV or film screenwriting was predominantly due to watching Buffy. Not just because I have Buffy merchandise, posters on the walls, and have styled (some) of my wardrobe after Buffy. Because the boundary between who I am and who Buffy was has been crossed so many times.
But to start at the beginning: I began watching Buffy in 1998 when my half-brother and his family moved over from Australia. They were lamenting that Buffy wasn't on TV over here, so when it did come on (starting with season 2) they convinced me to tune in. The first episode I saw was "When She Was Bad". It was great, but I remember it being "What's My Line part 2" that got me hooked to the show, because it was about then that TV3 took the show off the air. I only had a tape of that one episode and watched it over and over and over, meanwhile reading everything I could find on the 'net about Buffy.
When Season 2 finally returned, I tried to convince my friends to watch the show. Unfortunately "Ted" and "Bad Eggs" were the next two episodes, and being rather overly camp and silly in many ways, a lot of people gave up on the show. However those who stuck around for "Surprise" and "Innocence" never regretted it. I taped the rest of Season 2 and then for a long time had only 11 episodes on tape. I watched them over and over and over. I was hooked.
Buffy never got the respect of the networks over here, either airing edited at 7.30pm, or unedited at 11 pm on weeknights, or (as later) airing on a channel less than half of the country can get. The final six episodes of season 3 were run in a "Marathon" from midnight to 6am, when only the most dedicated fans would watch those superb episodes. Re-runs only played on Sky (cable). But there were still those of us who persisted, sweated blood to see those Buffy episodes.
But it wasn't until Season 4 that Buffy really became a part of me. Like Buffy, I went to University that year. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was a real struggle. My attempts to carve out an identity for myself were failing left, right, and centre. Some days I tried to think "What Would Buffy Do?" and couldn't work out why an answer to that never came. Until finally Season 4 premiered and I watched "The Freshman". And I realised something. Buffy didn't know what her identity was either. What Buffy would do changed from day to day, just like me. She got dumped in "The Harsh Light of Day" less than a week after I experienced nearly the exact same thing, right down to the guy using the same lines on me! Buffy and I started to merge. I began to understand that the construction of your identity is part of growing up. This is what "teen angst" is, not the endless romantic sagas of "Dawson's Creek". Despite the fantasy of Buffy, it was more true to life than any other show.
And when Season 5 rolled around, and Buffy suddenly had a little sister she was protective of, the bounderies between who Buffy was and who I am continued to blur. I have a little sister whom I deeply love. She can be a pain sometimes, but at the end of the day, she's my sister and I will always love her. I don't get a choice in that. And my sister and I bonded over Buffy. When Joyce got sick, and died, we sat next to each other on the couch, hugging and trying not to cry.
Yet as my sister grows older, and changes, that unconditional love comes a little harder. I felt the same way in Buffy, as Seasons 6 and 7 came around, and I began to lose touch with Buffy. Our lives no longer meshed in the same way. I began to grow in a different direction, away from her and towards my own identity. I'd be lying if I said that was easy. It wasn't. Buffy was my hero, and she began to fade away before my eyes. Maybe one day I will reach the point of rebirth in my life that Buffy experienced between seasons 5 and 6, and then I will be able to understand again. But maybe I won't, and it doesn't matter. Watching Buffy has shaped who I have become, and I'm proud of that. I will always appreciate the way the effect the show had on my life. I will always love Buffy. It won't always be easy; sometimes it will be that love you have for your little sister who steals your clothes and reads your diaries - love despite yourself, because in the end, you don't get a choice. Because Buffy is a part of me, and always will be. And because love is forever.
My name's Kate and I'm a 22yo BA graduate (English and Media Studies) living in Wellington, New Zealand. And I'm a Buffyholic. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has shaped my life and my identity. I don't know who I would be if Buffy had never existed, but I wouldn't be the person I am today. Not just because my ambition for a career in TV or film screenwriting was predominantly due to watching Buffy. Not just because I have Buffy merchandise, posters on the walls, and have styled (some) of my wardrobe after Buffy. Because the boundary between who I am and who Buffy was has been crossed so many times.
But to start at the beginning: I began watching Buffy in 1998 when my half-brother and his family moved over from Australia. They were lamenting that Buffy wasn't on TV over here, so when it did come on (starting with season 2) they convinced me to tune in. The first episode I saw was "When She Was Bad". It was great, but I remember it being "What's My Line part 2" that got me hooked to the show, because it was about then that TV3 took the show off the air. I only had a tape of that one episode and watched it over and over and over, meanwhile reading everything I could find on the 'net about Buffy.
When Season 2 finally returned, I tried to convince my friends to watch the show. Unfortunately "Ted" and "Bad Eggs" were the next two episodes, and being rather overly camp and silly in many ways, a lot of people gave up on the show. However those who stuck around for "Surprise" and "Innocence" never regretted it. I taped the rest of Season 2 and then for a long time had only 11 episodes on tape. I watched them over and over and over. I was hooked.
Buffy never got the respect of the networks over here, either airing edited at 7.30pm, or unedited at 11 pm on weeknights, or (as later) airing on a channel less than half of the country can get. The final six episodes of season 3 were run in a "Marathon" from midnight to 6am, when only the most dedicated fans would watch those superb episodes. Re-runs only played on Sky (cable). But there were still those of us who persisted, sweated blood to see those Buffy episodes.
But it wasn't until Season 4 that Buffy really became a part of me. Like Buffy, I went to University that year. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was a real struggle. My attempts to carve out an identity for myself were failing left, right, and centre. Some days I tried to think "What Would Buffy Do?" and couldn't work out why an answer to that never came. Until finally Season 4 premiered and I watched "The Freshman". And I realised something. Buffy didn't know what her identity was either. What Buffy would do changed from day to day, just like me. She got dumped in "The Harsh Light of Day" less than a week after I experienced nearly the exact same thing, right down to the guy using the same lines on me! Buffy and I started to merge. I began to understand that the construction of your identity is part of growing up. This is what "teen angst" is, not the endless romantic sagas of "Dawson's Creek". Despite the fantasy of Buffy, it was more true to life than any other show.
And when Season 5 rolled around, and Buffy suddenly had a little sister she was protective of, the bounderies between who Buffy was and who I am continued to blur. I have a little sister whom I deeply love. She can be a pain sometimes, but at the end of the day, she's my sister and I will always love her. I don't get a choice in that. And my sister and I bonded over Buffy. When Joyce got sick, and died, we sat next to each other on the couch, hugging and trying not to cry.
Yet as my sister grows older, and changes, that unconditional love comes a little harder. I felt the same way in Buffy, as Seasons 6 and 7 came around, and I began to lose touch with Buffy. Our lives no longer meshed in the same way. I began to grow in a different direction, away from her and towards my own identity. I'd be lying if I said that was easy. It wasn't. Buffy was my hero, and she began to fade away before my eyes. Maybe one day I will reach the point of rebirth in my life that Buffy experienced between seasons 5 and 6, and then I will be able to understand again. But maybe I won't, and it doesn't matter. Watching Buffy has shaped who I have become, and I'm proud of that. I will always appreciate the way the effect the show had on my life. I will always love Buffy. It won't always be easy; sometimes it will be that love you have for your little sister who steals your clothes and reads your diaries - love despite yourself, because in the end, you don't get a choice. Because Buffy is a part of me, and always will be. And because love is forever.
Lauren
My name is Lauren and I am a student at NYU. I discovered Buffy in 8th grade after my friends told me about it. I became hooked after my first episode "School Hard". This show about an amazing young woman and her friends not only inspired me, but over time has become a huge part of my life. Buffy will always be in my heart.
My name is Lauren and I am a student at NYU. I discovered Buffy in 8th grade after my friends told me about it. I became hooked after my first episode "School Hard". This show about an amazing young woman and her friends not only inspired me, but over time has become a huge part of my life. Buffy will always be in my heart.
Lavery, David
I am a professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University where I teach courses on literature, film, and popular culture and have edited or co-edited books on Twin Peaks, X-Files, and The Sopranos. On October 5th, 1999, I was teaching a course on Film History at MTSU. One of my students asked before class started if I would be watching the season premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that evening. I responded with disdain. I had hated the movie and was barely cognizant of the TV show, although I had just noticed with surprise that my new copy of Entertainment Weekly contained "The Ultimate Buffy Viewer's Guide" as though it were worthy of careful attention. Two other students in the class chimed in, insisting that it would be a show I would love. I agreed to check it out and that evening watched "The Freshman." I was instantly hooked (even though, in retrospect, it was not a strong episode). Since one of my Film History students (Chris Peltier) had almost all of the first three seasons on tape, I caught up quickly. Soon thereafter I approached Rhonda Wilcox, who had already published a superb essay on Buffy, about doing a book together. The rest is history.
I am a professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University where I teach courses on literature, film, and popular culture and have edited or co-edited books on Twin Peaks, X-Files, and The Sopranos. On October 5th, 1999, I was teaching a course on Film History at MTSU. One of my students asked before class started if I would be watching the season premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that evening. I responded with disdain. I had hated the movie and was barely cognizant of the TV show, although I had just noticed with surprise that my new copy of Entertainment Weekly contained "The Ultimate Buffy Viewer's Guide" as though it were worthy of careful attention. Two other students in the class chimed in, insisting that it would be a show I would love. I agreed to check it out and that evening watched "The Freshman." I was instantly hooked (even though, in retrospect, it was not a strong episode). Since one of my Film History students (Chris Peltier) had almost all of the first three seasons on tape, I caught up quickly. Soon thereafter I approached Rhonda Wilcox, who had already published a superb essay on Buffy, about doing a book together. The rest is history.
Leaver, Tama
I discovered Buffy twice; or, more correctly, I dismissed it once and fell in love with it two years thereafter. The dismissal: I stumbled over the season one episode 'Teacher's Pet' some time in late 1997 and nothing clicked; I thought the story was contrived and had seen more convincing special effects on Dr. Who in the late 1980s. The rediscovery: channel surfing late one night two year later (Buffy has been relegated to a 10.30 pm timeslot in Australia almost from day one) and was struck by 'The Wish'; it was an intriguing story, wonderful monsters, nuanced villains and a score to die for (thanks Christophe Beck!). And I was hooked: borrowed the past two and a half years on video from a friend, watched them all over the space of a fortnight and never missed another episode. In 1997 I was a fool to dismiss it; since 2000 the show has consistently rocked my world (even if I did discover that Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon don't normally wear leather!). I, incidentally, am now researching my PhD at the University of Western Australia, but still find time to watch anything Joss Whedon has ever touched. It's sad to say goodbye to Buffy, but Joss, cast and crew went out with the same brilliance they have shown across the years (and I even learnt to like 'Teacher's Pet'!).
I discovered Buffy twice; or, more correctly, I dismissed it once and fell in love with it two years thereafter. The dismissal: I stumbled over the season one episode 'Teacher's Pet' some time in late 1997 and nothing clicked; I thought the story was contrived and had seen more convincing special effects on Dr. Who in the late 1980s. The rediscovery: channel surfing late one night two year later (Buffy has been relegated to a 10.30 pm timeslot in Australia almost from day one) and was struck by 'The Wish'; it was an intriguing story, wonderful monsters, nuanced villains and a score to die for (thanks Christophe Beck!). And I was hooked: borrowed the past two and a half years on video from a friend, watched them all over the space of a fortnight and never missed another episode. In 1997 I was a fool to dismiss it; since 2000 the show has consistently rocked my world (even if I did discover that Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon don't normally wear leather!). I, incidentally, am now researching my PhD at the University of Western Australia, but still find time to watch anything Joss Whedon has ever touched. It's sad to say goodbye to Buffy, but Joss, cast and crew went out with the same brilliance they have shown across the years (and I even learnt to like 'Teacher's Pet'!).
Lee, Jinna
I discovered Buffy in a foreign country, in a language I didn't understand. The year after college I was living in Munich, with about twenty German words in my vocabulary. I watched American shows dubbed in German for the kitsch value -- and saw Wild at Heart, the episode where Oz abruptly leaves the love of his life, Willow. The essence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is supposed to be great writing, right? I fell in love not with words but with Sarah Michelle Gellar's no nonsense expression, Seth Green's tortured looks, Alyson Hannigan's anguished face. Afterwards I discovered an English language video store, about the size of a supply closet, that nonetheless carried every single episode of Buffy on tape. When I saw Buffy slice her sword through Angel in Becoming II, Ibecame an addict. I'm now a graduate student who studies Buffy fan communities and has presented on Buffy panels at conference. And I owe it all to German television.
I discovered Buffy in a foreign country, in a language I didn't understand. The year after college I was living in Munich, with about twenty German words in my vocabulary. I watched American shows dubbed in German for the kitsch value -- and saw Wild at Heart, the episode where Oz abruptly leaves the love of his life, Willow. The essence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is supposed to be great writing, right? I fell in love not with words but with Sarah Michelle Gellar's no nonsense expression, Seth Green's tortured looks, Alyson Hannigan's anguished face. Afterwards I discovered an English language video store, about the size of a supply closet, that nonetheless carried every single episode of Buffy on tape. When I saw Buffy slice her sword through Angel in Becoming II, Ibecame an addict. I'm now a graduate student who studies Buffy fan communities and has presented on Buffy panels at conference. And I owe it all to German television.
Lee, Keon Woong
During my first year at college in England, I was busy making friends like everybody else, in those first couple of nerve-wrecking weeks. One of them, this lanky wisecracker from Pittsburgh, told me about this show with "a really really hot chick" that's about to air for the first time on the BBC. Our newly formed group decided to go watch even though some had reservations. I was just curious but it seemed like a cool idea and low and behold, we were entranced. The fights, the concept, the music. The "really hot chick" was of course Sarah Michelle Gellar but it was Alyson Hannigan's sweet portrayal of Willow and the chemistry she had with the other two, it all felt natural and truthful. I've been watching ever since.
During my first year at college in England, I was busy making friends like everybody else, in those first couple of nerve-wrecking weeks. One of them, this lanky wisecracker from Pittsburgh, told me about this show with "a really really hot chick" that's about to air for the first time on the BBC. Our newly formed group decided to go watch even though some had reservations. I was just curious but it seemed like a cool idea and low and behold, we were entranced. The fights, the concept, the music. The "really hot chick" was of course Sarah Michelle Gellar but it was Alyson Hannigan's sweet portrayal of Willow and the chemistry she had with the other two, it all felt natural and truthful. I've been watching ever since.
Lehmann, Jo
I am a writer with a London University Degree in Drama and Classics. I have written fiction, non-fiction and film scripts and have directed films and videos, most of which had a supernatural slant. My sister suggested I watch an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I saw the second season's "Lie to Me", which intrigued me in the way it dealt with the moral questions and dilemmas that exist in the grey area between good and evil. I caught up with earlier episodes and continued to watch the series. I was taken by the imaginative and powerful use of metaphor, the daring explorations into the darkest aspects of the human experience, the ingenious plot twists and the warmth and irony in both the humour and the relationships. I related to all the emotions Bufy was experiencing in "The Body", as my father died when I was the age she was when Joyce died. I feel the strength of the show comes as much through the psychological depth as the supernatural. An extraordinary series that will live on.
I am a writer with a London University Degree in Drama and Classics. I have written fiction, non-fiction and film scripts and have directed films and videos, most of which had a supernatural slant. My sister suggested I watch an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I saw the second season's "Lie to Me", which intrigued me in the way it dealt with the moral questions and dilemmas that exist in the grey area between good and evil. I caught up with earlier episodes and continued to watch the series. I was taken by the imaginative and powerful use of metaphor, the daring explorations into the darkest aspects of the human experience, the ingenious plot twists and the warmth and irony in both the humour and the relationships. I related to all the emotions Bufy was experiencing in "The Body", as my father died when I was the age she was when Joyce died. I feel the strength of the show comes as much through the psychological depth as the supernatural. An extraordinary series that will live on.
Len
I'm a 41 year old attorney. I have always been a big fan of intelligent science fiction/fantasy related material. When Buffy came out, it did NOT appear to fall within the "intelligent" part of that equation - so I avoided it. However, as it grew in popularity, I figured I would give it a shot - so my very first episode was Season 1's Out of Sight Girl. Didn't bowl me over. My next exposure came three years later, when a friend lent me a tape that had a Star Trek episode that I missed. The tape also had a copy of Season 4's Living Conditions and Pangs. Wasn't convinced. The next year I watched the Season 5 intro, Buffy vs. Dracula and I still didn't buy it. One last shot? The Fool For Love/Darla crossover with Angel. I was hooked! When FX started showing Season 1-4, I watched all 78 episodes and I literally could not believe how excellent a show it was. I was stunned that such a quality show had eluded me for over 4 years, all because I had the bad luck of sampling 4 of the weakest episodes in the series!
I'm a 41 year old attorney. I have always been a big fan of intelligent science fiction/fantasy related material. When Buffy came out, it did NOT appear to fall within the "intelligent" part of that equation - so I avoided it. However, as it grew in popularity, I figured I would give it a shot - so my very first episode was Season 1's Out of Sight Girl. Didn't bowl me over. My next exposure came three years later, when a friend lent me a tape that had a Star Trek episode that I missed. The tape also had a copy of Season 4's Living Conditions and Pangs. Wasn't convinced. The next year I watched the Season 5 intro, Buffy vs. Dracula and I still didn't buy it. One last shot? The Fool For Love/Darla crossover with Angel. I was hooked! When FX started showing Season 1-4, I watched all 78 episodes and I literally could not believe how excellent a show it was. I was stunned that such a quality show had eluded me for over 4 years, all because I had the bad luck of sampling 4 of the weakest episodes in the series!
Leonard, Amy
I am a professor of history at Georgetown University. I am one of those stalwarts who saw the movie when it first came out (and actually liked its campiness) and watched Buffy the series from the very beginning (I even remember Geller from All My Children). I was initially drawn in as a graduate student to the basic girl-empowerment motif, plus the incredible pop-culture saviness, but became an obsessed fan when I realized all the historical and cultural allusions within. I use Season 3 and the creation of Adam in my European history class as a perfect example of Romanticism and the battle between science (Adam and the Initiative) and nature/spirituality. I am mourning the loss now not just of my favorite show, but also of the immediate coolness factor I was granted by my students (at least, those in the know) for my Buffy references. Sadly, it's the end of an era.
I am a professor of history at Georgetown University. I am one of those stalwarts who saw the movie when it first came out (and actually liked its campiness) and watched Buffy the series from the very beginning (I even remember Geller from All My Children). I was initially drawn in as a graduate student to the basic girl-empowerment motif, plus the incredible pop-culture saviness, but became an obsessed fan when I realized all the historical and cultural allusions within. I use Season 3 and the creation of Adam in my European history class as a perfect example of Romanticism and the battle between science (Adam and the Initiative) and nature/spirituality. I am mourning the loss now not just of my favorite show, but also of the immediate coolness factor I was granted by my students (at least, those in the know) for my Buffy references. Sadly, it's the end of an era.
Levy, Sophie
I am currently a Ph.D. student in English and Women’s Studies at the University of Toronto. More importantly, I am a feminist pop culture vamp. Everything I know about feminism I learnt (initially) from music, movies, magazines and TV. Of Romanian descent, I had long had an attraction to all things vampiric, so a movie about a feisty cheerleader who slayed the undead sounded perfect. Only it wasn’t. Then rumours pricked my ears in distant England that a TV series about a vampire slayer named Buffy was receiving cult attention in the U.S. for its cool music and cooler heroine. My surf-punk fan brother and I waited up late to catch the first episode. He went on to Dawson’s Creek-ier pastures, but I stayed true, and along the way have found my own Scoobies through mutual passion for the show (and for late-night studying. BtVS is clearly beloved of academics because, in the show, research has save-the-world potential). In grad school I began work on popular culture, and to write on BtVS and feminist theory. In Willow’s words, “Isn’t college cool?” Buffy has made it so.
I am currently a Ph.D. student in English and Women’s Studies at the University of Toronto. More importantly, I am a feminist pop culture vamp. Everything I know about feminism I learnt (initially) from music, movies, magazines and TV. Of Romanian descent, I had long had an attraction to all things vampiric, so a movie about a feisty cheerleader who slayed the undead sounded perfect. Only it wasn’t. Then rumours pricked my ears in distant England that a TV series about a vampire slayer named Buffy was receiving cult attention in the U.S. for its cool music and cooler heroine. My surf-punk fan brother and I waited up late to catch the first episode. He went on to Dawson’s Creek-ier pastures, but I stayed true, and along the way have found my own Scoobies through mutual passion for the show (and for late-night studying. BtVS is clearly beloved of academics because, in the show, research has save-the-world potential). In grad school I began work on popular culture, and to write on BtVS and feminist theory. In Willow’s words, “Isn’t college cool?” Buffy has made it so.
Li, Amanda
I am a 3rd-year Communications student at Simon Fraser University. I'm not Canadian, but an international student. My discovery of BtVS all started with The Mighty Ducks, the 3-part movie D1-D3, as funny as that sounds. I was 14 then, loved the movie, and one fine day I decided to surf the internet for information about the show and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I came across lots of mention about Joshua Jackson (the young actor of D1-D3), who at that time was about to have a new show Dawson's Creek coming out. And that led me to the WB page and lots of other pages raving about BtVS. I was amazed by the popularity of Buffy on the web because I did not think much of it, also because I could not watch it to know as it was aired late night at 11 pm back home (I had to go to bed by 11 pm when season 1 aired earlier on). Buffy season 2 had just started at an earlier time (10 pm), and I decided to see what the online Buffy buzz was all about. My first ever Buffy ep: Halloween. I was blown away and hooked immediately. I only had 17 episodes to catch up on, it was not much and was easy. Henceforth began my 6-year craze of my favorite show, albeit a solo journey because NOBODY else watched it at that time. I was the freak, but enjoyed every minute of it!
I am a 3rd-year Communications student at Simon Fraser University. I'm not Canadian, but an international student. My discovery of BtVS all started with The Mighty Ducks, the 3-part movie D1-D3, as funny as that sounds. I was 14 then, loved the movie, and one fine day I decided to surf the internet for information about the show and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I came across lots of mention about Joshua Jackson (the young actor of D1-D3), who at that time was about to have a new show Dawson's Creek coming out. And that led me to the WB page and lots of other pages raving about BtVS. I was amazed by the popularity of Buffy on the web because I did not think much of it, also because I could not watch it to know as it was aired late night at 11 pm back home (I had to go to bed by 11 pm when season 1 aired earlier on). Buffy season 2 had just started at an earlier time (10 pm), and I decided to see what the online Buffy buzz was all about. My first ever Buffy ep: Halloween. I was blown away and hooked immediately. I only had 17 episodes to catch up on, it was not much and was easy. Henceforth began my 6-year craze of my favorite show, albeit a solo journey because NOBODY else watched it at that time. I was the freak, but enjoyed every minute of it!
Lofty, Kylie
I am a 24 year old female (and if your looking for a good time...just kidding) and I recently received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History with a specialization in Classical Studies from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
A few years ago I watched very little television. I considered most shows to be brainless, the humor was unappealing and the relationships unrealistic. Then one day I dozed off and awoke to an episode of Buffy. I was stunned, I had enjoyed the movie when I was younger, but had no interest in the TV show. I expected ineffectual teen melodrama; what I watched was creative, smart, both incredibly well acted and written, with a subtle intellectual humor. To this day I have no idea what episode it was that I saw. I began watching the show sporadically because I didn't want my friends and family to know. I was a closet Buffy fanatic. Then one day I got caught by my fiancé and our best friend. I was stunned when my friend sat down and started talking about the show. Apparently, he had been watching it for years! The rest of my friends and family were soon hooked as well. I was delighted to discover Slayage and the intellectual community that BtVS has inspired and brought together; of course, this merely increased my enthusiasm (read obsession) with the show and All Things Buffy.
I am a 24 year old female (and if your looking for a good time...just kidding) and I recently received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History with a specialization in Classical Studies from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
A few years ago I watched very little television. I considered most shows to be brainless, the humor was unappealing and the relationships unrealistic. Then one day I dozed off and awoke to an episode of Buffy. I was stunned, I had enjoyed the movie when I was younger, but had no interest in the TV show. I expected ineffectual teen melodrama; what I watched was creative, smart, both incredibly well acted and written, with a subtle intellectual humor. To this day I have no idea what episode it was that I saw. I began watching the show sporadically because I didn't want my friends and family to know. I was a closet Buffy fanatic. Then one day I got caught by my fiancé and our best friend. I was stunned when my friend sat down and started talking about the show. Apparently, he had been watching it for years! The rest of my friends and family were soon hooked as well. I was delighted to discover Slayage and the intellectual community that BtVS has inspired and brought together; of course, this merely increased my enthusiasm (read obsession) with the show and All Things Buffy.
Lueck, Susanne
I'm a thirty-four-year-old translator/editor with my own book production company in Cologne, Germany. When the show first started here in 1998, a (male) friend told me it was fun to watch. I wasn't impressed with the show's ostensible PR line of the hot high school blonde kicking ass, but gave it a try with season two's "Bad eggs". I have to say, being not one of Buffy's brightest hours, and with me not knowing about the slayer mythology or Joss Whedon's genius, it didn't do much for me then. So I forgot about it and was surprised when in 2001 a good (female) friend said it was a must-see. I trusted her judgement, so I sat down in the middle of season five and watched "The Body". Speechless and slack-jawed, I gazed at an amazing hour of what had to be one of the best scripts and all-cast performances I had ever witnessed, and not just on TV for that matter. I was instantly reformed to Buffy fandom, quickly catching up on Whedon's brainchilds from A to Z, and now clearly bordering on the obsessive, running and re-running my Buffy and Angel DVD sets practically non-stop at home ...
I'm a thirty-four-year-old translator/editor with my own book production company in Cologne, Germany. When the show first started here in 1998, a (male) friend told me it was fun to watch. I wasn't impressed with the show's ostensible PR line of the hot high school blonde kicking ass, but gave it a try with season two's "Bad eggs". I have to say, being not one of Buffy's brightest hours, and with me not knowing about the slayer mythology or Joss Whedon's genius, it didn't do much for me then. So I forgot about it and was surprised when in 2001 a good (female) friend said it was a must-see. I trusted her judgement, so I sat down in the middle of season five and watched "The Body". Speechless and slack-jawed, I gazed at an amazing hour of what had to be one of the best scripts and all-cast performances I had ever witnessed, and not just on TV for that matter. I was instantly reformed to Buffy fandom, quickly catching up on Whedon's brainchilds from A to Z, and now clearly bordering on the obsessive, running and re-running my Buffy and Angel DVD sets practically non-stop at home ...
Maddox, Peggy
I am a graduate student in Comparative Literature at the University of Arkansas. Early in my course of studies, I had classes with a professor of medieval literature who kept alluding to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At first I thought he was being ironic, but eventually I became aware that he watched the show every week and apparently admired it. I started watching it myself off and on. Somewhere along the way I realized that Buffy Summers represents something that is lacking in three thousand years of Western literature: the archetype of the Autonomous Woman. My Ph.D. dissertation is about the ways in which Joan of Arc films present their subject in non-heroic terms. The final chapter will contain quite a bit about Buffy. By the way, the professor who got me hooked on BtVS is now my dissertation director.
I am a graduate student in Comparative Literature at the University of Arkansas. Early in my course of studies, I had classes with a professor of medieval literature who kept alluding to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At first I thought he was being ironic, but eventually I became aware that he watched the show every week and apparently admired it. I started watching it myself off and on. Somewhere along the way I realized that Buffy Summers represents something that is lacking in three thousand years of Western literature: the archetype of the Autonomous Woman. My Ph.D. dissertation is about the ways in which Joan of Arc films present their subject in non-heroic terms. The final chapter will contain quite a bit about Buffy. By the way, the professor who got me hooked on BtVS is now my dissertation director.
Mah, Carole E.
1.) A friend tried to get us to watch it, so we went to her house for "Welcome to the Hellmouth", but we didn't get why it was interesting. Plus, her reasons were different from our (eventual) reasons for liking it, so different that had she tried to convince us, we would have disliked it even more.
2.) Fast forward to season Six. The friend in step one above has long since stopped being a friend, making us suspect the show even more. Then, however, we visit another friend down in Virginia, and while hanging out with his group of friends, "Once More, With Feeling" gets shown off the Tivo. It seems pretty darn interesting, but since we don't know the characters very well, we aren't hooked.
3.) We have to get up earlier than usual the next semester, and FX shows Buffy in the mornings from 7-9 am. This is the only thing that makes getting up so early bearable (we are NOT morning people). Plus, we get to catch up on old seasons. Suddenly, everything starts to make sense. "The show is funny! Wow!" we suddenly realize.
1.) A friend tried to get us to watch it, so we went to her house for "Welcome to the Hellmouth", but we didn't get why it was interesting. Plus, her reasons were different from our (eventual) reasons for liking it, so different that had she tried to convince us, we would have disliked it even more.
2.) Fast forward to season Six. The friend in step one above has long since stopped being a friend, making us suspect the show even more. Then, however, we visit another friend down in Virginia, and while hanging out with his group of friends, "Once More, With Feeling" gets shown off the Tivo. It seems pretty darn interesting, but since we don't know the characters very well, we aren't hooked.
3.) We have to get up earlier than usual the next semester, and FX shows Buffy in the mornings from 7-9 am. This is the only thing that makes getting up so early bearable (we are NOT morning people). Plus, we get to catch up on old seasons. Suddenly, everything starts to make sense. "The show is funny! Wow!" we suddenly realize.
Maier, Heidi
I am a postgraduate student in Women's Studies at the University of Queensland, Australia, with particular interests in women's writing, feminist theory, and queer theory. That I began watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" at all was somewhat miraculous, given that I hadn't particularly liked the film on which it was based. I did, however, watch the show as soon as it began airing in Australia and have been a faithful viewer in the years since, despite the fact that the network here has consistently messed about with its timeslot (it now resides in a late-night slot). Although we're a couple of months behind in episodes, due to the fact that the television ratings periods in the United States and Australia are different, I've consistently kept up with the show and was thrilled with the advent of academic disciplines focusing on various aspects of the show.
Last year, in writing an essay about the "queering" of genres and subversion of heterosexual norms within queer culture, I was able to focus on elements of Joss Whedon's writing of the Willow and Tara relationship. The show may be finishing, but I hope it continues to entertain and intrigue viewers for a long while to come.
I am a postgraduate student in Women's Studies at the University of Queensland, Australia, with particular interests in women's writing, feminist theory, and queer theory. That I began watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" at all was somewhat miraculous, given that I hadn't particularly liked the film on which it was based. I did, however, watch the show as soon as it began airing in Australia and have been a faithful viewer in the years since, despite the fact that the network here has consistently messed about with its timeslot (it now resides in a late-night slot). Although we're a couple of months behind in episodes, due to the fact that the television ratings periods in the United States and Australia are different, I've consistently kept up with the show and was thrilled with the advent of academic disciplines focusing on various aspects of the show.
Last year, in writing an essay about the "queering" of genres and subversion of heterosexual norms within queer culture, I was able to focus on elements of Joss Whedon's writing of the Willow and Tara relationship. The show may be finishing, but I hope it continues to entertain and intrigue viewers for a long while to come.
Maio, Barbara
I am a Ph. D. at the Third University in Rome where I´m studying relationship between cinema and television. Also, I wrote a book about television series named "Television Fiction" (Cinetecnica Press). I started watching Buffy in 2001 at The Scuola Nazionale di Cinema (ex Centro Sperimentale - Cinecittà) where I was attending a course named "Teach Visual Language" and here they made me watch the episode "Hush". It was a discover for me and since that moment I'm researching DVD, books, magazines, all about Buffy because I think this is a masterpiece of television for the visual and text language and I think Buffy is, probably, the best television series ever. Also, Buffy is very funny and deeply so you can read it at different levels. Now, I would like to write a book in Italian about Buffy because in Italy it´s very difficult finding text about this series.
I am a Ph. D. at the Third University in Rome where I´m studying relationship between cinema and television. Also, I wrote a book about television series named "Television Fiction" (Cinetecnica Press). I started watching Buffy in 2001 at The Scuola Nazionale di Cinema (ex Centro Sperimentale - Cinecittà) where I was attending a course named "Teach Visual Language" and here they made me watch the episode "Hush". It was a discover for me and since that moment I'm researching DVD, books, magazines, all about Buffy because I think this is a masterpiece of television for the visual and text language and I think Buffy is, probably, the best television series ever. Also, Buffy is very funny and deeply so you can read it at different levels. Now, I would like to write a book in Italian about Buffy because in Italy it´s very difficult finding text about this series.
Marinucci, Mimi
I'm now an assistant professor of philosophy and Women's Studies at Eastern Washington University, but I was still a graduate student at Temple University when the first season of Buffy was in summer reruns. I hadn't seen the movie, but I recalled that it looked *really* bad, so I didn't have much interest in the show. I was half-heartedly working on my dissertation one hot, humid evening, and the television was on in the background. Whatever I had been watching ended, but I was too lazy to reach for the remote when "Buffy" came on. I couldn't help being sucked in by the plot. It struck me as so ludicrous that I had to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. I gave it my full attention and, sure enough, it *really* was about a pack of hyenas taking demonic possession of Sunnydale High School's popular crowd. Whatever! Nevertheless, I just *had* to watch the rest of the episode. By the end of that hour, I had made a mental note of the time and channel so I could be sure to watch this silly show again. And again. And again. By the time the second season aired, I was taping every episode, reading the bulletin boards, developing a fluency in Buffyspeak. What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that my growing knowledge of the Buffyverse would eventually open up more academic publishing opportunities than the dissertation I had neglected. I recently published "Feminism and the Ethics of Violence: Why Buffy Kicks Ass" in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy* (ed. by James South, Open Court, 2003), but I have *not* published my dissertation.
I'm now an assistant professor of philosophy and Women's Studies at Eastern Washington University, but I was still a graduate student at Temple University when the first season of Buffy was in summer reruns. I hadn't seen the movie, but I recalled that it looked *really* bad, so I didn't have much interest in the show. I was half-heartedly working on my dissertation one hot, humid evening, and the television was on in the background. Whatever I had been watching ended, but I was too lazy to reach for the remote when "Buffy" came on. I couldn't help being sucked in by the plot. It struck me as so ludicrous that I had to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. I gave it my full attention and, sure enough, it *really* was about a pack of hyenas taking demonic possession of Sunnydale High School's popular crowd. Whatever! Nevertheless, I just *had* to watch the rest of the episode. By the end of that hour, I had made a mental note of the time and channel so I could be sure to watch this silly show again. And again. And again. By the time the second season aired, I was taping every episode, reading the bulletin boards, developing a fluency in Buffyspeak. What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that my growing knowledge of the Buffyverse would eventually open up more academic publishing opportunities than the dissertation I had neglected. I recently published "Feminism and the Ethics of Violence: Why Buffy Kicks Ass" in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy* (ed. by James South, Open Court, 2003), but I have *not* published my dissertation.
Marshall, Jenny
I’m a 16 year old student, currently studying for my A levels, in Yorkshire in the UK. I’m studying Psychology, English Lit, Biology and History, and, (hopefully!) will be studying Psychology at University next year. I’ve watched BtVS since the premiere, and loved every minute of it. Here in the UK, Welcome to the Hellmouth was shown at Christmas time, 1997. I remember seeing it in the Christmas Radio Times TV guide, and thinking “hm. Looks fun.” My slightly more, um, petty reason for watching the show was that I was desperate to find something to watch that my younger sister wasn't watching. Of course, that didn’t work, cause she just sat down next to me and refused to move! By season 3, (1999) we were hooked, and watching BtVS as a family. (although my dad won’t admit it, he’s hooked too). I got busy collecting the BtVS and Angel VHS boxsets a couple of years ago, and now have the full collection to date. I’m an actively posting member of the Bronze: Beta community, after the closure of the official, WB Bronze. And that’s my rather boring, but honest, account of how I discovered Buffy.
I’m a 16 year old student, currently studying for my A levels, in Yorkshire in the UK. I’m studying Psychology, English Lit, Biology and History, and, (hopefully!) will be studying Psychology at University next year. I’ve watched BtVS since the premiere, and loved every minute of it. Here in the UK, Welcome to the Hellmouth was shown at Christmas time, 1997. I remember seeing it in the Christmas Radio Times TV guide, and thinking “hm. Looks fun.” My slightly more, um, petty reason for watching the show was that I was desperate to find something to watch that my younger sister wasn't watching. Of course, that didn’t work, cause she just sat down next to me and refused to move! By season 3, (1999) we were hooked, and watching BtVS as a family. (although my dad won’t admit it, he’s hooked too). I got busy collecting the BtVS and Angel VHS boxsets a couple of years ago, and now have the full collection to date. I’m an actively posting member of the Bronze: Beta community, after the closure of the official, WB Bronze. And that’s my rather boring, but honest, account of how I discovered Buffy.
Martell, Tracy
I'm a 31 year old female, professionally employed, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am a fan of intelligent television, and I'm very wary of crappy or teen-oriented television. I remember really liking the BtVS movie, and when the TV series first started, I checked it out, but the endless scenes of high school corridors and locker-side conversations turned me off, it just seemed like kid's stuff. I realize now I didn't give it enough of a chance. During BtVS season 6, a good friend of mine, whose opinions on pop culture I really respect, kept going on and on about how great BtVS was - finally wearing me down with his almost missionary zeal. Finally he brought over a tape of "Once More, With Feeling." I was awed by how good it was, and impressed that the show had the guts to do a musical episode - and actually pulled it off! I had to see more! By this point, I had missed so many seasons/episodes, but the same friend had most of the first 5 seasons on tape, and began lending them to me. Coupled with 2 months of unemployment (read - time on my hands) and daily repeats of BtVS on the Space channel, along with my friend's patient and eager tutelage, I got caught up, and I now have my own collection of Buffy watched, recorded, and re-watched.
I'm a 31 year old female, professionally employed, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am a fan of intelligent television, and I'm very wary of crappy or teen-oriented television. I remember really liking the BtVS movie, and when the TV series first started, I checked it out, but the endless scenes of high school corridors and locker-side conversations turned me off, it just seemed like kid's stuff. I realize now I didn't give it enough of a chance. During BtVS season 6, a good friend of mine, whose opinions on pop culture I really respect, kept going on and on about how great BtVS was - finally wearing me down with his almost missionary zeal. Finally he brought over a tape of "Once More, With Feeling." I was awed by how good it was, and impressed that the show had the guts to do a musical episode - and actually pulled it off! I had to see more! By this point, I had missed so many seasons/episodes, but the same friend had most of the first 5 seasons on tape, and began lending them to me. Coupled with 2 months of unemployment (read - time on my hands) and daily repeats of BtVS on the Space channel, along with my friend's patient and eager tutelage, I got caught up, and I now have my own collection of Buffy watched, recorded, and re-watched.
Masquerade
I am the webmaster of "All Things Philosophical on BtVS and Angel" (www.atpobtvs.com). I was working at a one-year job teaching philosophy in Montreal in the Winter of 1997 when one day, on a whim, I went into a newstand (something I rarely do) and browsed through the science-fiction magazines. I saw an article about the upcoming series, and it looked interesting enough that I tuned in.
The pilot episode "Welcome to the Hellmouth" had me instantly hooked, but I almost stopped watching after "The Pack" (the implied cannibalism was a little much). The next episode, "Angel", however, brought me right back in. The dark, brooding vampire with a soul quickly became my favorite character. I have never been part of the fandom of a television show before BtVS, but after the heart-wrenching ending of "Becoming, Pt 2" I went to the internet seeking reassurance about Angel's fate. I started posting at
the Bronze posting board, noting the philosophical subtext in the various episodes. The friends I made at that board encouraged me to put these on a website.
I have since left academia, but continue to write about the philosophy of both "BtVS" and "Angel".
I am the webmaster of "All Things Philosophical on BtVS and Angel" (www.atpobtvs.com). I was working at a one-year job teaching philosophy in Montreal in the Winter of 1997 when one day, on a whim, I went into a newstand (something I rarely do) and browsed through the science-fiction magazines. I saw an article about the upcoming series, and it looked interesting enough that I tuned in.
The pilot episode "Welcome to the Hellmouth" had me instantly hooked, but I almost stopped watching after "The Pack" (the implied cannibalism was a little much). The next episode, "Angel", however, brought me right back in. The dark, brooding vampire with a soul quickly became my favorite character. I have never been part of the fandom of a television show before BtVS, but after the heart-wrenching ending of "Becoming, Pt 2" I went to the internet seeking reassurance about Angel's fate. I started posting at
the Bronze posting board, noting the philosophical subtext in the various episodes. The friends I made at that board encouraged me to put these on a website.
I have since left academia, but continue to write about the philosophy of both "BtVS" and "Angel".
Matt
At the time, the beginning of 1999, I was working for a moving company. Having to be at work at 5 am and working long days, combined with the fact that I was living away from home in the middle of nowhere left me little energy or even ability to do much in my spare time besides eat dinner and watch television. One Tuesday night, I flipped through the channels looking for something to watch. I just so happened to turn on "Buffy." I was amused by the concept, since I was one of the 9 people in America who had seen the BtVS movie in the theater. I half-heartedly watched. There were monsters and fighting, not to mention attractive girls, so it passed the time well enough. This was around the time of "Enemies." Over the next couple of weeks I became addicted to this show. I had happened upon the show in the middle of a great arc that had multiple story lines and great characters in addition to the action and creatures that had caught my eye in the first place. After I returned to school I continued to watch as season 4 unfolded. I have since seen every episode.
At the time, the beginning of 1999, I was working for a moving company. Having to be at work at 5 am and working long days, combined with the fact that I was living away from home in the middle of nowhere left me little energy or even ability to do much in my spare time besides eat dinner and watch television. One Tuesday night, I flipped through the channels looking for something to watch. I just so happened to turn on "Buffy." I was amused by the concept, since I was one of the 9 people in America who had seen the BtVS movie in the theater. I half-heartedly watched. There were monsters and fighting, not to mention attractive girls, so it passed the time well enough. This was around the time of "Enemies." Over the next couple of weeks I became addicted to this show. I had happened upon the show in the middle of a great arc that had multiple story lines and great characters in addition to the action and creatures that had caught my eye in the first place. After I returned to school I continued to watch as season 4 unfolded. I have since seen every episode.
Maziekien, Ellie
I am a 54 year old, married mother of two grown sons, and am a disabled pre-school teacher.
I never saw the movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and had never watched the show. My son had been a fan since the premiere and a lot of my friends watched so I decided to give it a try. I began with the sixth season opener and I was sucked right in. My son gave me all the backstory so I caught up quickly. I am primarily a Willow fan. Alyson Hannigan's performance is, in my opinion, the best part of the Buffy experience. I think the writing was extremely well done and I commend all of the actors. They made the characters come alive. The relationship between Willow and Tara was especially well done. It was both beautiful and tender. At a time when the difficulties facing gays and lesbians are in the international forefront, the performances of Hannigan and Amber Benson stand out. I am a total fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and hold onto my hope that there will be a feature film sometime in the near future.
I am a 54 year old, married mother of two grown sons, and am a disabled pre-school teacher.
I never saw the movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and had never watched the show. My son had been a fan since the premiere and a lot of my friends watched so I decided to give it a try. I began with the sixth season opener and I was sucked right in. My son gave me all the backstory so I caught up quickly. I am primarily a Willow fan. Alyson Hannigan's performance is, in my opinion, the best part of the Buffy experience. I think the writing was extremely well done and I commend all of the actors. They made the characters come alive. The relationship between Willow and Tara was especially well done. It was both beautiful and tender. At a time when the difficulties facing gays and lesbians are in the international forefront, the performances of Hannigan and Amber Benson stand out. I am a total fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and hold onto my hope that there will be a feature film sometime in the near future.
McCann, Rachel
I teach architecture at Mississippi State University and am pursuing my doctorate in Histories and Theories of Architecture at the Architectural Association in London. I stopped watching TV when I was 14, over 30 years ago. I realized then that it was stupid and shallow, and for 16 years did not even have a television in my house. I married into a set 16 years ago, but still have refused to watch it other than rented films. One day three months ago, I was walking past the family room and my 15-year-old son called, "Hey, mom, I think you'd like this!" "I don't think so," I replied, but paused for a moment. It was a Buffy re-run from Season Three. It did catch my attention, with its sharp dialogue and interesting mix of drama, comedy, and action. Within twenty minutes I was hooked. I've since seen episodes from every season and am interested in watching them in order to get the story sequences in my head. In one weird way, I was reliving my own high-school years and thinking regretfully, "Why didn't I have that kind of confidence in myself?" As Buffy and her friends dealt with growing up, I brought closure to some of my own issues from coming of age; the show gave me an impetus to review my own past and acknowledge my own struggles. I love the existential issues personified by the various demons and the smudging of the line between good and evil.
I teach architecture at Mississippi State University and am pursuing my doctorate in Histories and Theories of Architecture at the Architectural Association in London. I stopped watching TV when I was 14, over 30 years ago. I realized then that it was stupid and shallow, and for 16 years did not even have a television in my house. I married into a set 16 years ago, but still have refused to watch it other than rented films. One day three months ago, I was walking past the family room and my 15-year-old son called, "Hey, mom, I think you'd like this!" "I don't think so," I replied, but paused for a moment. It was a Buffy re-run from Season Three. It did catch my attention, with its sharp dialogue and interesting mix of drama, comedy, and action. Within twenty minutes I was hooked. I've since seen episodes from every season and am interested in watching them in order to get the story sequences in my head. In one weird way, I was reliving my own high-school years and thinking regretfully, "Why didn't I have that kind of confidence in myself?" As Buffy and her friends dealt with growing up, I brought closure to some of my own issues from coming of age; the show gave me an impetus to review my own past and acknowledge my own struggles. I love the existential issues personified by the various demons and the smudging of the line between good and evil.
McDaniel, Bill
I am a 48 year old, white, male, software entrepreneur and an observer of modern culture, technology and the synthesis of the two. I've published books and presented papers on computing and ethics, technology, and futurism. I had seen the original movie when it was released and thought it cute but camp and silly when it could have explored more serious themes. So, when BTVS began on TV I was uninterested. However, a convergence of sorts occurred when my satellite system was suddenly able to pick up local channels at the same time Season 6 started and FX began running two shows a night from Season 1. Consequently, in September of 2001 I began to watch BTVS weekly and also to catch the two episodes a night on FX (TIVO is a wonderful thing). During that dark and difficult time I rather immersed myself in the Buffyverse. From "Welcome to the Hellmouth" I found the story to be funny, painful, intricate, and wonderfully deep. When I juxtaposed Season 1 against Season 6 I immediately saw the growth and change in the characters and the story. This was NOT "Law and Order: The Neverending Franchise". By the time I saw the Season 2 finale, "Becoming", along with a near simultaneous viewing of "Once More with Feeling" I knew this was a substantial work of literature and worthy of serious thought. Of course, I had to stop weeping first. Here was a series that certainly empowered women (a 17 year old chooses to send her lover to Hell to save the World?), but without demeaning men (Giles endures massive torture while Xander and Oz stand stalwart?). BTVS emerged as an intensely family oriented story where compassion, teamwork, thought, research, and action blended to solve one apocalypse after another (both metaphorical and real). And, of course, it is all wrapped around the tragedy that IS Buffy's destiny. It certainly doesn't hurt that the story has been told by a group of frighteningly talented actors, but Whedon and his writers leave the real legacy. Buffy passes what I call my TEST. If a work, be it book, movie, TV, or whatever, makes me THINK and CARE about the characters, even in the middle of the day, while negotiating a contract, solving a problem, or landing a client, I KNOW it is significant. Buffy INTRUDES into my thoughts. I have since collected almost the entire written canon (books and comics) many of which are mediocre compared to the teleplays but which round out the mythology and offer some fun as well. Interestingly, I too lost a daughter who would have been 14 when I began watching Buffy and I often think of what her reactions might have been and how I would have used the story of Buffy as a parable for how to grow up in the early 21st century. It would be interesting to know if there is an intrinsic attraction to BTVS for parents who have lost a child. Perhaps we see in Buffy the heroes we feel our children would have become.
I am a 48 year old, white, male, software entrepreneur and an observer of modern culture, technology and the synthesis of the two. I've published books and presented papers on computing and ethics, technology, and futurism. I had seen the original movie when it was released and thought it cute but camp and silly when it could have explored more serious themes. So, when BTVS began on TV I was uninterested. However, a convergence of sorts occurred when my satellite system was suddenly able to pick up local channels at the same time Season 6 started and FX began running two shows a night from Season 1. Consequently, in September of 2001 I began to watch BTVS weekly and also to catch the two episodes a night on FX (TIVO is a wonderful thing). During that dark and difficult time I rather immersed myself in the Buffyverse. From "Welcome to the Hellmouth" I found the story to be funny, painful, intricate, and wonderfully deep. When I juxtaposed Season 1 against Season 6 I immediately saw the growth and change in the characters and the story. This was NOT "Law and Order: The Neverending Franchise". By the time I saw the Season 2 finale, "Becoming", along with a near simultaneous viewing of "Once More with Feeling" I knew this was a substantial work of literature and worthy of serious thought. Of course, I had to stop weeping first. Here was a series that certainly empowered women (a 17 year old chooses to send her lover to Hell to save the World?), but without demeaning men (Giles endures massive torture while Xander and Oz stand stalwart?). BTVS emerged as an intensely family oriented story where compassion, teamwork, thought, research, and action blended to solve one apocalypse after another (both metaphorical and real). And, of course, it is all wrapped around the tragedy that IS Buffy's destiny. It certainly doesn't hurt that the story has been told by a group of frighteningly talented actors, but Whedon and his writers leave the real legacy. Buffy passes what I call my TEST. If a work, be it book, movie, TV, or whatever, makes me THINK and CARE about the characters, even in the middle of the day, while negotiating a contract, solving a problem, or landing a client, I KNOW it is significant. Buffy INTRUDES into my thoughts. I have since collected almost the entire written canon (books and comics) many of which are mediocre compared to the teleplays but which round out the mythology and offer some fun as well. Interestingly, I too lost a daughter who would have been 14 when I began watching Buffy and I often think of what her reactions might have been and how I would have used the story of Buffy as a parable for how to grow up in the early 21st century. It would be interesting to know if there is an intrinsic attraction to BTVS for parents who have lost a child. Perhaps we see in Buffy the heroes we feel our children would have become.
McKean, Erin
I am the Senior Editor for US Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, and the editor of VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly. I was attending a meeting of the American Dialect Society and heard Michael Adams, a professor at Albright College, give a paper on Buffy slang. I was entranced and I approached him immediately after he finished with an offer to print a version of his paper in VERBATIM. Shortly after, I started watching the show whenever possible, and when it went into reruns on FX I quickly caught up. When Professor Adams wanted to expand his paper into a book, Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon, I acquired it for Oxford University Press. Since discovering Buffy, I have been active on an online discussion board (where I spend a lot of time defending Xander), started watching "Angel," and have begun reading Buffy comics, too. I own all the available DVDs and use Slayer Slang in my own speech quite often, especially adverbial "much" (as in "jealous much?") and the -age suffix. Well, that's enough writage!
I am the Senior Editor for US Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, and the editor of VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly. I was attending a meeting of the American Dialect Society and heard Michael Adams, a professor at Albright College, give a paper on Buffy slang. I was entranced and I approached him immediately after he finished with an offer to print a version of his paper in VERBATIM. Shortly after, I started watching the show whenever possible, and when it went into reruns on FX I quickly caught up. When Professor Adams wanted to expand his paper into a book, Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon, I acquired it for Oxford University Press. Since discovering Buffy, I have been active on an online discussion board (where I spend a lot of time defending Xander), started watching "Angel," and have begun reading Buffy comics, too. I own all the available DVDs and use Slayer Slang in my own speech quite often, especially adverbial "much" (as in "jealous much?") and the -age suffix. Well, that's enough writage!
McLoughlin, P.J.
I am a third-year university student in Adelaide, South Australia.
[Australia], studying Law and Public Health. My first experience of Buffy - albeit the movie, not the television series - was when I was about eight years old. I spent the next day wielding cricket stumps as stakes and slaying invisible foes. When I first saw the promotion for the season one premiere in the summer of 1997, I was fourteen years old. Having a vague memory of a movie being of the same title, I decided, mostly out of curiosity, to sit down and watch the pilot “Welcome to the Hellmouth”. I haven’t stopped watching Buffy since then.
Still, it wasn't until “Prophecy Girl” aired - the season one finale –that I found myself relating to the daily struggles of the high school Hellmouth on a deeply personal level. Buffy has always run parallel to my own journey, to my own growing up process. Whenever I tune in to watch the one-hour late night slot, I enter into a world not only home to the fictional characters I have long loved or loved to hate, but also home to myself. Buffy is a tale of myself as much as a tale of a hero and her friends.As the characters were always one year older than myself, I've always felt that I kind of grew up with the show, and evolved as it evolved. The show spanned my adolescence and spoke to my feelings as a fledgling adult. I have been with the ‘Scoobies’ from start to finish, and in every episode and every season, I can recall and relive some part of myself and my history over the last seven years. The end of “Buffy” has, in a way, marked the end of an era in my twenty years of life…and the beginning of a new one.
I am a third-year university student in Adelaide, South Australia.
[Australia], studying Law and Public Health. My first experience of Buffy - albeit the movie, not the television series - was when I was about eight years old. I spent the next day wielding cricket stumps as stakes and slaying invisible foes. When I first saw the promotion for the season one premiere in the summer of 1997, I was fourteen years old. Having a vague memory of a movie being of the same title, I decided, mostly out of curiosity, to sit down and watch the pilot “Welcome to the Hellmouth”. I haven’t stopped watching Buffy since then.
Still, it wasn't until “Prophecy Girl” aired - the season one finale –that I found myself relating to the daily struggles of the high school Hellmouth on a deeply personal level. Buffy has always run parallel to my own journey, to my own growing up process. Whenever I tune in to watch the one-hour late night slot, I enter into a world not only home to the fictional characters I have long loved or loved to hate, but also home to myself. Buffy is a tale of myself as much as a tale of a hero and her friends.As the characters were always one year older than myself, I've always felt that I kind of grew up with the show, and evolved as it evolved. The show spanned my adolescence and spoke to my feelings as a fledgling adult. I have been with the ‘Scoobies’ from start to finish, and in every episode and every season, I can recall and relive some part of myself and my history over the last seven years. The end of “Buffy” has, in a way, marked the end of an era in my twenty years of life…and the beginning of a new one.
McPhie, Mathieu
I was in the honours year of my undergraduate course (physics) and my partner (a writer) was pregnant. As such we did not leave the confines of our house much. I had not seen the Buffy movie (I have since and it is truly terrible), but I knew that the series Buffy was playing. I had however studiously avoided watching it, as I had with most other American crap that dominated Australian commercial television (I am a strong watcher of the ABC and SBS, excellent government supported, non-commercial television stations).
Somewhere in the second season I finally had the good sense to stay up late enough to watch this fantastic show and my partner and I were instantly hooked. We have religiously watched ever since. This year however we have gone to Germany where it is playing (at a much more reasonable hour), but it has been dubbed into German, verdammt. Thankfully the internet has come to our rescue and we have been able to download the final season. The end of our world was averted. Apologies to any copyrights holders, but we just couldn't wait until the DVDs.
I was in the honours year of my undergraduate course (physics) and my partner (a writer) was pregnant. As such we did not leave the confines of our house much. I had not seen the Buffy movie (I have since and it is truly terrible), but I knew that the series Buffy was playing. I had however studiously avoided watching it, as I had with most other American crap that dominated Australian commercial television (I am a strong watcher of the ABC and SBS, excellent government supported, non-commercial television stations).
Somewhere in the second season I finally had the good sense to stay up late enough to watch this fantastic show and my partner and I were instantly hooked. We have religiously watched ever since. This year however we have gone to Germany where it is playing (at a much more reasonable hour), but it has been dubbed into German, verdammt. Thankfully the internet has come to our rescue and we have been able to download the final season. The end of our world was averted. Apologies to any copyrights holders, but we just couldn't wait until the DVDs.
Melton, J. Gordon
I am a religious studies scholar/writer, teach part-time at the University of California-Santa Barbara, and run a small religious studies research facility. Over the years, I have written several encyclopedias in American religion, which set me up to write The Vampire Book: An Encyclopedia of the Undead in 1994. By the way, I am also the head of the American chapter of the international Transylvanian Society of Dracula. In this later capacity I receive vampire fanzines from around North America. I thus came to Buffy as a vampire fan. For years I have read vampire novels and watch any movie with a vampire, in the enlightened opinion that the worst movie with a vampire is better than the best without one.
Thus, when word circulated through the vampire subculture that Buffy was being brought to the small screen, even in light of the mediocre quality of the original film, I set the VCR to record and watched it from the very first episode. I have subsequently taped every episode and became an avid fan as I perceived that the series was a quality production—transcending Forever Knight, what Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Anne Rice were to the average vampire novel.
I am a religious studies scholar/writer, teach part-time at the University of California-Santa Barbara, and run a small religious studies research facility. Over the years, I have written several encyclopedias in American religion, which set me up to write The Vampire Book: An Encyclopedia of the Undead in 1994. By the way, I am also the head of the American chapter of the international Transylvanian Society of Dracula. In this later capacity I receive vampire fanzines from around North America. I thus came to Buffy as a vampire fan. For years I have read vampire novels and watch any movie with a vampire, in the enlightened opinion that the worst movie with a vampire is better than the best without one.
Thus, when word circulated through the vampire subculture that Buffy was being brought to the small screen, even in light of the mediocre quality of the original film, I set the VCR to record and watched it from the very first episode. I have subsequently taped every episode and became an avid fan as I perceived that the series was a quality production—transcending Forever Knight, what Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Anne Rice were to the average vampire novel.
Metchis, Dahlia
I am a senior at Brandeis University and am unfortunately a late-comer to Buffy fandom. November of my sophmore year I sprained my ankle at dance practice and was laid up on the couch in my suite's common room on a Friday night feeling sorry for myself. Flipping the channels I saw that the rerun of the Buffy musical was going to be on. Like many, I'd always scoffed at the title of the show, but figured as I had nothing better to do and I love musicals I decided to watch. I was immediately hooked and thank God FX was showing two episodes a day so that I could catch up. By January I'd seen almost every episode of seasons 1-5 and was delving into the world of online Buffy websites. While I'm a late-comer to the show, I like to think I make up for that with my devotion and fanaticism.
I am a senior at Brandeis University and am unfortunately a late-comer to Buffy fandom. November of my sophmore year I sprained my ankle at dance practice and was laid up on the couch in my suite's common room on a Friday night feeling sorry for myself. Flipping the channels I saw that the rerun of the Buffy musical was going to be on. Like many, I'd always scoffed at the title of the show, but figured as I had nothing better to do and I love musicals I decided to watch. I was immediately hooked and thank God FX was showing two episodes a day so that I could catch up. By January I'd seen almost every episode of seasons 1-5 and was delving into the world of online Buffy websites. While I'm a late-comer to the show, I like to think I make up for that with my devotion and fanaticism.
Methaya
I am an English and History teacher although I work with a major German tourism tour operator now. I am from Germany and just turned 30.
I can dimly recall watching the movie when it came out and hating it. When Buffy the series started I was aware of it because of some articles I read while at the doctors. The first real glimpse of Buffy was in the episode Angel. I distinctly remember this blonde girl and the generic tall dark and handsome guy sharing a kiss and I spoilt the moment for my room mate by blurting out: "He is a vampire!" I just knew, it seemed so obvious. That was my Buffy experience for a time.
About two years ago I was at my boyfriend's and didn't know how to tell him that it was over. He was watching Buffy as sort of an accompaniment to computering and I jumped at the chance to be distracted from an impending unpleasant scene. I think it was Who Are You?. It didn't make a whole lot of sense so I had to watch more to make sense of it. Unsatisfied with the dubbed version I started downloading all the episodes I could, soon progressing towards episodes that hadn't even been shown here.
What got me hooked was the hilarious oneliners which make me laugh coupled with the emotional development of the characters which touch me. The first time I ever cried over TV was in The Gift. I couldn't believe that the series would continue. So at the insistence of a friend I went online to check some message boards for spoilers. Since then I am an avid reader of fanfiction and a poster on several message boards.
I am an English and History teacher although I work with a major German tourism tour operator now. I am from Germany and just turned 30.
I can dimly recall watching the movie when it came out and hating it. When Buffy the series started I was aware of it because of some articles I read while at the doctors. The first real glimpse of Buffy was in the episode Angel. I distinctly remember this blonde girl and the generic tall dark and handsome guy sharing a kiss and I spoilt the moment for my room mate by blurting out: "He is a vampire!" I just knew, it seemed so obvious. That was my Buffy experience for a time.
About two years ago I was at my boyfriend's and didn't know how to tell him that it was over. He was watching Buffy as sort of an accompaniment to computering and I jumped at the chance to be distracted from an impending unpleasant scene. I think it was Who Are You?. It didn't make a whole lot of sense so I had to watch more to make sense of it. Unsatisfied with the dubbed version I started downloading all the episodes I could, soon progressing towards episodes that hadn't even been shown here.
What got me hooked was the hilarious oneliners which make me laugh coupled with the emotional development of the characters which touch me. The first time I ever cried over TV was in The Gift. I couldn't believe that the series would continue. So at the insistence of a friend I went online to check some message boards for spoilers. Since then I am an avid reader of fanfiction and a poster on several message boards.
Middents, Jeffrey
I am currently an assistant professor of film and literature at American University in Washington, DC -- but way back in Season One, I was a graduate student in Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. My first Buffy memory is rather distinct in my mind: I was waiting for my then-girlfriend to get back to her apartment so I could go over and spend some time with her and had just boiled a pot of water for pasta as the phone rang. My girlfriend told me to come over, to which I said, "Well, I just put some pasta in, let me quickly eat dinner and I'll be over in about 20 minutes or so." I hung up and turned on the TV to waste some time as I waiting for dinner to cook. I was channel flipping and absent mindedly came up what seemed to be a group of teenagers acting like hungry, wild beasts (what I would later realize was "The Pack"). Not even the world's greatest episode, but I was intrigued, having read some great critical reviews in some entertainment magazines.
Forty minutes later, my girlfriend called to find out where I was. "I got sucked into a television show," I said. "Which one?" she asked. I sheepishly intoned, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." (You all know what tone I'm talking about: embarassed, discovered.) "Oh my gosh," she said, "I can't believe you're not coming over because of a show called 'Buffy." She hung up and I continued watching the show. Since then, all my classes since I started teaching know that I'm a fan and I've even shown "Once More, with Feeling" for a course on the film musical.
Three weeks later, my girlfriend watched her first episode against her better judgment. Can you guess who is actually more addicted to the show now than I am? Here's a hint: we got married in 1999.
I am currently an assistant professor of film and literature at American University in Washington, DC -- but way back in Season One, I was a graduate student in Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. My first Buffy memory is rather distinct in my mind: I was waiting for my then-girlfriend to get back to her apartment so I could go over and spend some time with her and had just boiled a pot of water for pasta as the phone rang. My girlfriend told me to come over, to which I said, "Well, I just put some pasta in, let me quickly eat dinner and I'll be over in about 20 minutes or so." I hung up and turned on the TV to waste some time as I waiting for dinner to cook. I was channel flipping and absent mindedly came up what seemed to be a group of teenagers acting like hungry, wild beasts (what I would later realize was "The Pack"). Not even the world's greatest episode, but I was intrigued, having read some great critical reviews in some entertainment magazines.
Forty minutes later, my girlfriend called to find out where I was. "I got sucked into a television show," I said. "Which one?" she asked. I sheepishly intoned, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." (You all know what tone I'm talking about: embarassed, discovered.) "Oh my gosh," she said, "I can't believe you're not coming over because of a show called 'Buffy." She hung up and I continued watching the show. Since then, all my classes since I started teaching know that I'm a fan and I've even shown "Once More, with Feeling" for a course on the film musical.
Three weeks later, my girlfriend watched her first episode against her better judgment. Can you guess who is actually more addicted to the show now than I am? Here's a hint: we got married in 1999.
Miller, Crissy
My January 2002 discovery of Buffy coincided with the acquisition of another cultural phenomenon: Tivo. For the poor souls who are not familiar with the modus operandi of this wonderful invention, here is how it changed my life: based on the other shows you've recorded or otherwise indicated that you enjoy (there is a "thumbs-up" feature), Tivo creates a personalized profile of your viewing habits and fills up leftover space with shows it thinks you might like -- considerate, eh? Buffy appeared within a week. Deciding to trust Tivo, I watched a rerun from the fourth season. I thought it was only okay but, when another episode appeared a few weeks later, I watched the show again. And again. And again. Soon, I set the Tivo up to record every episode of Buffy (convenient since my UPN-less cable provider relegated Buffy to 1 am Sunday mornings). Thanks to the almost continuous reruns on the FX and WB and the two Watcher's Guides, I was able to catch up on the story lines quickly and I can't imagine loving a show more.
(I know I sound like a shill for Tivo but I don't care -- everyone SHOULD get it. I mean, it gave me the gift of Buffy -- what better advertisement is that?!?!?!)
My January 2002 discovery of Buffy coincided with the acquisition of another cultural phenomenon: Tivo. For the poor souls who are not familiar with the modus operandi of this wonderful invention, here is how it changed my life: based on the other shows you've recorded or otherwise indicated that you enjoy (there is a "thumbs-up" feature), Tivo creates a personalized profile of your viewing habits and fills up leftover space with shows it thinks you might like -- considerate, eh? Buffy appeared within a week. Deciding to trust Tivo, I watched a rerun from the fourth season. I thought it was only okay but, when another episode appeared a few weeks later, I watched the show again. And again. And again. Soon, I set the Tivo up to record every episode of Buffy (convenient since my UPN-less cable provider relegated Buffy to 1 am Sunday mornings). Thanks to the almost continuous reruns on the FX and WB and the two Watcher's Guides, I was able to catch up on the story lines quickly and I can't imagine loving a show more.
(I know I sound like a shill for Tivo but I don't care -- everyone SHOULD get it. I mean, it gave me the gift of Buffy -- what better advertisement is that?!?!?!)
Mitchell, Leslie
I am a 43-year-old white, female. I am an attorney, specializing in labor and employment law, and an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. My other big interests include history (especially England), baseball, Shakespeare and jazz. In 2000-2001, I became friendly with the staff at a bookstore I frequent. One of the employees, a young college student, had been watching Buffy since the beginning. She had gotten her manager and a co-worker hooked, and it seemed like whenever I went into the store, they were all talking about Buffy and Angel. For a long time I scoffed and rolled my eyes. But finally, when the first episode of Season 6 ("Bargaining") aired, I decided to see what the fuss was about. I liked Bargaining, and watched the following week ("Afterlife"), because I wanted to see how Buffy managed to deal with coming back to life. What totally hooked me was the last scene of "Afterlife," where Buffy tells Spike that she had been in heaven. The writing, the acting and the concept just took my breath away. I began watching Buffy on FX, and managed to watch all of seasons 1-5 between October and December 2001. I have also succeeded in completely hooking one of my friends, and am working on another (thanks to DVD's and videos).
I am a 43-year-old white, female. I am an attorney, specializing in labor and employment law, and an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. My other big interests include history (especially England), baseball, Shakespeare and jazz. In 2000-2001, I became friendly with the staff at a bookstore I frequent. One of the employees, a young college student, had been watching Buffy since the beginning. She had gotten her manager and a co-worker hooked, and it seemed like whenever I went into the store, they were all talking about Buffy and Angel. For a long time I scoffed and rolled my eyes. But finally, when the first episode of Season 6 ("Bargaining") aired, I decided to see what the fuss was about. I liked Bargaining, and watched the following week ("Afterlife"), because I wanted to see how Buffy managed to deal with coming back to life. What totally hooked me was the last scene of "Afterlife," where Buffy tells Spike that she had been in heaven. The writing, the acting and the concept just took my breath away. I began watching Buffy on FX, and managed to watch all of seasons 1-5 between October and December 2001. I have also succeeded in completely hooking one of my friends, and am working on another (thanks to DVD's and videos).
Moore, Laurie
I am a 45-year-old cancer registrar and hospital medical records coder with a BA in English Lit living in a community where the empowerment of women is taken about as seriously as vampirism. I had never heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer until one Saturday afternoon in the fall of 1997 after a long day of yard work I sat down to watch the weekly episode of Deep Space Nine. Finding that it was a rerun and not an episode I particularly liked, I started flipping through the channels. I came across a scene where a petit blonde was being attacked by a big male monster of some kind in the setting of a decorative Halloween display. I pushed the button for the next channel and I distinctly remember thinking that the last thing I wanted to watch after hours of hard labor was some cute blond acting stupid and weak and getting herself snuffed. But as the TV switched to the next channel I realized that the blond had just slugged the monster and I backed up to marvel at this in time to notice that the fight was being videotaped by another vampiric-looking monster. I was hooked, good and proper, as Spike might say, and have been mad about the show ever since. I love that a woman is the hero, I love the humor, both visual and verbal, and the wonderfully complex characterization and superb acting, and I especially love that Buffy and Willow were portrayed as being both feminine and powerful and capable of working together to fight the evil in their community. The show has been a source of hope, inspiration and courage for me in facing the battles of everyday life.
I am a 45-year-old cancer registrar and hospital medical records coder with a BA in English Lit living in a community where the empowerment of women is taken about as seriously as vampirism. I had never heard of Buffy the Vampire Slayer until one Saturday afternoon in the fall of 1997 after a long day of yard work I sat down to watch the weekly episode of Deep Space Nine. Finding that it was a rerun and not an episode I particularly liked, I started flipping through the channels. I came across a scene where a petit blonde was being attacked by a big male monster of some kind in the setting of a decorative Halloween display. I pushed the button for the next channel and I distinctly remember thinking that the last thing I wanted to watch after hours of hard labor was some cute blond acting stupid and weak and getting herself snuffed. But as the TV switched to the next channel I realized that the blond had just slugged the monster and I backed up to marvel at this in time to notice that the fight was being videotaped by another vampiric-looking monster. I was hooked, good and proper, as Spike might say, and have been mad about the show ever since. I love that a woman is the hero, I love the humor, both visual and verbal, and the wonderfully complex characterization and superb acting, and I especially love that Buffy and Willow were portrayed as being both feminine and powerful and capable of working together to fight the evil in their community. The show has been a source of hope, inspiration and courage for me in facing the battles of everyday life.
Morehouse, Tim
I am a 24 year old movie theater projectionist. I first discovered Buffy during season three. As I was flipping channels one night, I came across Buffy, the actresses were all very attractive and held my attention long enough to be sucked in by the story. The episode was "Beauty and the Beasts". Being a fan of monster movies, I liked how one of the characters was a werewolf and another was a variation on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I also liked how the show was dealing with abusive relationships in a mature way without being heavy handed about the message. It was enough to get me tunning in next week and that was that.
I am a 24 year old movie theater projectionist. I first discovered Buffy during season three. As I was flipping channels one night, I came across Buffy, the actresses were all very attractive and held my attention long enough to be sucked in by the story. The episode was "Beauty and the Beasts". Being a fan of monster movies, I liked how one of the characters was a werewolf and another was a variation on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I also liked how the show was dealing with abusive relationships in a mature way without being heavy handed about the message. It was enough to get me tunning in next week and that was that.
Mouzouri, Victoria
I am a drama student at KIng Alfreds College Winchester, England, and am hoping to write my dissertation on Buffy. I first discovered it through the recommendation of a friend who had seen the original movie and told me that the series was going to shown on BBC Two. I am particularly interested in the issue of feminism within Buffy, and the representation of Buffy the character against other female characters in the show.
I am a drama student at KIng Alfreds College Winchester, England, and am hoping to write my dissertation on Buffy. I first discovered it through the recommendation of a friend who had seen the original movie and told me that the series was going to shown on BBC Two. I am particularly interested in the issue of feminism within Buffy, and the representation of Buffy the character against other female characters in the show.
Munoz, Jim
First things first. If I'm not the oldest BtVS admirer (at 63) I'm one of 'em. I'm a retired college professor (geochemistry) who has always enjoyed television that has some meat on its bones. I was a big Twin Peaks fan, for instance. Toward the end of season 2, I kept reading good things about BtVS, not believing a word of it (having seen the movie on a whim and wishing I'd been elsewhere. Donald Sutherland looked so pained to be there.) One night I decided to look at it and guess what: the episode on that night was the season-ender, the one where Buffy kills Angel. Although I struggled to guess some of the back story, I was intrigued although I expected Willow's spell to work and Buffy and Angel to live happily ever after. When that didn't happen, I said to myself "This isn't cookie-cutter television". When Buffy rode out of Sunnydale I knew I would be there for the beginning of season 3. I was, and never missed an episode after that. P.S. Although I think some of the "academic" Buffy literature suffers from over-interpretation and/or projection on the part of the author or authors (with the probable exception of "Restless", a small miracle), I never miss an article. What fun!
First things first. If I'm not the oldest BtVS admirer (at 63) I'm one of 'em. I'm a retired college professor (geochemistry) who has always enjoyed television that has some meat on its bones. I was a big Twin Peaks fan, for instance. Toward the end of season 2, I kept reading good things about BtVS, not believing a word of it (having seen the movie on a whim and wishing I'd been elsewhere. Donald Sutherland looked so pained to be there.) One night I decided to look at it and guess what: the episode on that night was the season-ender, the one where Buffy kills Angel. Although I struggled to guess some of the back story, I was intrigued although I expected Willow's spell to work and Buffy and Angel to live happily ever after. When that didn't happen, I said to myself "This isn't cookie-cutter television". When Buffy rode out of Sunnydale I knew I would be there for the beginning of season 3. I was, and never missed an episode after that. P.S. Although I think some of the "academic" Buffy literature suffers from over-interpretation and/or projection on the part of the author or authors (with the probable exception of "Restless", a small miracle), I never miss an article. What fun!
Ms. Murchison
I'm an incredibly boring, respectable middle-aged woman in real life and a BtVS fanfic writer on the net. Your request for info came a day after I posted why I watch the show on my Live Journal. Here's a slightly edited version:
When I was a little girl, I wrote fanfic. It wasn't called that then, and it only existed in notebooks that I later destroyed very carefully. But I used to rewrite the stories I saw on TV and in the movies. The motivation was always the same. I wanted a female hero as strong and as central to the plot as the male ones who dominated the media. As I grew up, a few women heroes appeared on some shows, but they were usually either cartoonish or the story relegated them to sidekick status. I stopped expecting anything more, but a little corner of my soul still longed for my non-existent childhood hero.
I caught an episode in the first season because my daughter wanted to see it and I needed to make sure it wasn't too violent for her. I was awestruck. This was the show I had wanted to watch when I was a kid. And it was good enough storytelling to satisfy the adult I had become. Great dialogue, humor, plots, and characterization. I finally got my hero. It was a gift that was all the more meaningful because it arrived so late. When I see the finale, Buffy will be my hero one last time. When I watch, I'll pretend I'm eight years old again. And I already know how I'll feel when it's over. I'll be thankful I had this show for the past seven years.
I'm an incredibly boring, respectable middle-aged woman in real life and a BtVS fanfic writer on the net. Your request for info came a day after I posted why I watch the show on my Live Journal. Here's a slightly edited version:
When I was a little girl, I wrote fanfic. It wasn't called that then, and it only existed in notebooks that I later destroyed very carefully. But I used to rewrite the stories I saw on TV and in the movies. The motivation was always the same. I wanted a female hero as strong and as central to the plot as the male ones who dominated the media. As I grew up, a few women heroes appeared on some shows, but they were usually either cartoonish or the story relegated them to sidekick status. I stopped expecting anything more, but a little corner of my soul still longed for my non-existent childhood hero.
I caught an episode in the first season because my daughter wanted to see it and I needed to make sure it wasn't too violent for her. I was awestruck. This was the show I had wanted to watch when I was a kid. And it was good enough storytelling to satisfy the adult I had become. Great dialogue, humor, plots, and characterization. I finally got my hero. It was a gift that was all the more meaningful because it arrived so late. When I see the finale, Buffy will be my hero one last time. When I watch, I'll pretend I'm eight years old again. And I already know how I'll feel when it's over. I'll be thankful I had this show for the past seven years.
Nicki
I wanted to watch Buffy from the first time I heard it was going to be a series, but we didn't get The WB on our cable system. By the time we finally got The WB, Buffy had moved to UPN--which we still don't get. I kept hearing good things about the show and finally was able to watch on FX, starting last winter. The first shows I saw were from Season 2 and I was completely hooked right away. I got video tapes of most of Season 7. My favorite theme of the show has been Spike's journey toward redemption and his love for Buffy and Dawn.
I wanted to watch Buffy from the first time I heard it was going to be a series, but we didn't get The WB on our cable system. By the time we finally got The WB, Buffy had moved to UPN--which we still don't get. I kept hearing good things about the show and finally was able to watch on FX, starting last winter. The first shows I saw were from Season 2 and I was completely hooked right away. I got video tapes of most of Season 7. My favorite theme of the show has been Spike's journey toward redemption and his love for Buffy and Dawn.
Nist, Tammy
I am an Economist and work as a demand forecaster and supply planner of natural gas for the local utility, play violin in an amateur orchestra and I'm a Bible junkie. This'll be a kicker. My son started watching Buffy from the beginning. Every time I heard the music coming on, I exercised my parental privilege of jumping to conclusions with no information what so ever and said "get that crap off my TV." Years later being an avid X-files fan, I watched those re-runs on FX. The network decided to cut down to one per day and air their newly acquired rights to Buffy. I groaned, what was I going to do, there was no way I was going to watch a "vampire 90210". I scoured the channel guide, there had to be something else on... but alas nothing. I was stuck watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Apprehensively, I sat there, endured and got hooked. My son would call from college and I couldn't talk to him, Buffy was on. We have in depth discussions about Buffy and Angel. We have DVD's, magazines, watchers guides and books on the philosophy. I love the "reality" of the human condition portrayed by the story and the biblical themes, although my Pastor (also a fan) doesn't see them, that's weird.
I am an Economist and work as a demand forecaster and supply planner of natural gas for the local utility, play violin in an amateur orchestra and I'm a Bible junkie. This'll be a kicker. My son started watching Buffy from the beginning. Every time I heard the music coming on, I exercised my parental privilege of jumping to conclusions with no information what so ever and said "get that crap off my TV." Years later being an avid X-files fan, I watched those re-runs on FX. The network decided to cut down to one per day and air their newly acquired rights to Buffy. I groaned, what was I going to do, there was no way I was going to watch a "vampire 90210". I scoured the channel guide, there had to be something else on... but alas nothing. I was stuck watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Apprehensively, I sat there, endured and got hooked. My son would call from college and I couldn't talk to him, Buffy was on. We have in depth discussions about Buffy and Angel. We have DVD's, magazines, watchers guides and books on the philosophy. I love the "reality" of the human condition portrayed by the story and the biblical themes, although my Pastor (also a fan) doesn't see them, that's weird.
Noa
My name is Noa, 26, and I live in Israel. I been watching BtVS faithfully ever since the show aired here (around 1997-98). I have graduated from the Hebrew University, in the departments of English Literature and Linguistics and Spanish Literature.
I clearly remember that I liked Buffy even from the very first promo! The combination of suspense, drama, humor and myth rapidly captured me and I found myself doing the impossible so as not to miss a single episode. I hope that, as the series ends, I might find something that fills the void...
My name is Noa, 26, and I live in Israel. I been watching BtVS faithfully ever since the show aired here (around 1997-98). I have graduated from the Hebrew University, in the departments of English Literature and Linguistics and Spanish Literature.
I clearly remember that I liked Buffy even from the very first promo! The combination of suspense, drama, humor and myth rapidly captured me and I found myself doing the impossible so as not to miss a single episode. I hope that, as the series ends, I might find something that fills the void...
O'Connor, Martin
I work in the Arts & Humanities section of the library at University College Cork Ireland. Prior to this I was pursuing the PhD route in Sociology, main interest area Gender and Sexuality with particular emphasis on transgressive sexualities. But approaching the end of my Masters studies I found myself having a Giles moment and found that my part time work in the library offered me far more fulfillment than the pursuit of rigorous academic knowledge. Thus I decided to become a librarian. My love affair begun with Buffy way back in the beginning, when Buffy was first aired on Sky 1 [British Satellite channel]. I am fortunate to have seen it from episode one. I'm not a television fan per se but there was something about the title that grabbed me and I decided to give it a go. And from the first scene where we see that it is not the guy but the girl [Darla] who is the vampire I thought we had something special. Then in The Pack when Principal Flutie was eaten I definitely knew I was in the company of something special. What other show would have high school kids eat their teacher? And from there on in I was lost. I began buying the Guides to the show, and then I discovered Buffy was an academic darling. My life has not been the same since. :-)
I work in the Arts & Humanities section of the library at University College Cork Ireland. Prior to this I was pursuing the PhD route in Sociology, main interest area Gender and Sexuality with particular emphasis on transgressive sexualities. But approaching the end of my Masters studies I found myself having a Giles moment and found that my part time work in the library offered me far more fulfillment than the pursuit of rigorous academic knowledge. Thus I decided to become a librarian. My love affair begun with Buffy way back in the beginning, when Buffy was first aired on Sky 1 [British Satellite channel]. I am fortunate to have seen it from episode one. I'm not a television fan per se but there was something about the title that grabbed me and I decided to give it a go. And from the first scene where we see that it is not the guy but the girl [Darla] who is the vampire I thought we had something special. Then in The Pack when Principal Flutie was eaten I definitely knew I was in the company of something special. What other show would have high school kids eat their teacher? And from there on in I was lost. I began buying the Guides to the show, and then I discovered Buffy was an academic darling. My life has not been the same since. :-)
O'Rourke-de Graaf, Esther
I am a third year English/Philosophy student at the University of Melbourne. I had avoided watching Buffy as I loathed listening to all the English and Cultural Studies students ranting about how great it was all the time, and was convinced it was trash. I had never seen an episode. Then I went to Canberra for the holidays where there was nothing to do but watch cable all day, and "Slayerfest 5" was on - they showed the whole of season 5 in three days, and I watched it all. I couldn't tear myself away. I am now absolutely hooked on the show. I never miss an episode, and I am borrowing video tapes and DVDs off friends so I can catch up on all the series I stupidly missed.
I am a third year English/Philosophy student at the University of Melbourne. I had avoided watching Buffy as I loathed listening to all the English and Cultural Studies students ranting about how great it was all the time, and was convinced it was trash. I had never seen an episode. Then I went to Canberra for the holidays where there was nothing to do but watch cable all day, and "Slayerfest 5" was on - they showed the whole of season 5 in three days, and I watched it all. I couldn't tear myself away. I am now absolutely hooked on the show. I never miss an episode, and I am borrowing video tapes and DVDs off friends so I can catch up on all the series I stupidly missed.
Onciul-Omelus, Jamie
[I] am a grad student in Gender Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. I am writing my thesis on BtVS and teach a first year English class on writing and communication. During my lessons I try to work in a little BtVS. I like to talk about the show and encourage students to watch and write about the show... basically I am the northern PR girl for BtVS. I do not remember the exact date (first season) but I do remember flicking through the channels on a Saturday night (YTV) and stumbling upon BtVS. I sat up on the couch moved within two feet of the television and have since then been unable to beat the addiction. I love BtVS because of Buffy. My heart, imagination and dreams have been longing for a shero to worship and she is the one. Literature, television and movies are full of male heroes most of whom are predictable and ordinary. As a youngish girl I need sheroes like Buffy and as a believer in the potential of television to be fabulous I need shows like BtVS. We all need more of both.
[I] am a grad student in Gender Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. I am writing my thesis on BtVS and teach a first year English class on writing and communication. During my lessons I try to work in a little BtVS. I like to talk about the show and encourage students to watch and write about the show... basically I am the northern PR girl for BtVS. I do not remember the exact date (first season) but I do remember flicking through the channels on a Saturday night (YTV) and stumbling upon BtVS. I sat up on the couch moved within two feet of the television and have since then been unable to beat the addiction. I love BtVS because of Buffy. My heart, imagination and dreams have been longing for a shero to worship and she is the one. Literature, television and movies are full of male heroes most of whom are predictable and ordinary. As a youngish girl I need sheroes like Buffy and as a believer in the potential of television to be fabulous I need shows like BtVS. We all need more of both.
