Sink your teeth into fang-tastic nostalgia
Buffy still slaying strong 17 years on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer All 4/E4 ●●●● ● Well this one takes me back.
Tuning in as a high school pupil and college student, Buffy was a TV show that gripped me from start to finish when first shown in the late nineties/ early noughties.
One of the good things about the Covid- 19 lockdown is that it’s given me the chance to revisit Buffy in all its pun-tastic, action-packed, emotionallygrounded glory, with All 4 streaming all seven seasons.
Joss Whedon created a show ahead of its time with a kick-a** female lead, same-sex relationships and the hellish after effects of grief just some of the things he brought to the small screen.
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy is the perfect heroine; as often flawed and vulnerable as she is strong and inspirational, she endures many ups and downs.
On the romance front, I always found David Boreanaz’s Angel a bit of a wet blanket, so was very relieved when he disappeared to front his own spin-off show and James Marsters’ way more charismatic Spike took over as Buffy’s often unwanted vampire love interest.
Nicholas Brendon’s Xander is hilarious – it’s a crime Brendon’s career stalled post-Buffy – and Alyson Hannigan wowed as Willow; the latter’s tranformation across the 144 episodes rivals anyone else’s.
Anthony Head’s Giles makes for a marvellous mentor and other sensational supporting players include Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Seth Green (Oz), Eliza Dushku (Faith) and
Emma Caulfield Ford (Anya).
Less impressive are Buffy’s brief boyfriend Riley ( Marc Blucas), the slayer’s grating sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and the show’s worst big bad, George Hertzberg’s Adam.
Standout episodes are season six’s Tabula Rasa – outstandingly funny – and Once More, with Feeling – musical magic – season four’s almost completely silent Hush and the fifth season’s heartbreaking Body which sees an acting tour-de-force from Gellar.
My favourite seasons are three and five – largely due to the wickedly likeable villainy of respective antagonists Mayor Wilkins ( Harry Groener) and Glory ( Clare Kramer) – and the final run provides a fitting way to end Buffy and the gang’s incredible journey.
● What are your thoughts on Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Did you watch it the first time around?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.