Buffy The Vampire Slayer has been my favorite series since I first saw it on television, about half way through it's 2nd Season; I've never missed an episode since then, & I've managed to get my hands on every episode of the show ;-) (Thanks Marcus! Thanks Jewels!) Many people don't watch the series for it's odd title, or just don't like it, but these people & I just don't understand each other... I take it kind of personally because the characters are so much like me or mean so much to me that they are now like old friends.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer first moved my world when I rented the 1992 Movie [which preceded the TV Series] when it was a new release. I really liked the movie because it was funny but it didn't take the vampire story & make fun of it as much as it just pointed out the funny things that made me laugh while never making me feel idiotic for liking vampire mythology. The movie still has a dear place in my heart & I know many people who love the movie as I do, but one person who did not seem to like the film, was the man who wrote it, Joss Whedon.
Joss Whedon is GOD. I just thought I'd point that out to any who were wondering if there is a GOD - now you know & you can watch Buffy, Angel, & all his other projects with the rest of us! ;-)
Joss Whedon wrote Buffy to be a serious film, or that's what I've read, but the people who actually made the movie, screwed with his script (which would piss any writer off) & Joss was less than pleased.
Years later when someone wanted to do a series based on Buffy, they came to Joss to get permission but he said 'hey - if anyone is going to do this it should be me' & the rest is beautifully tragic history.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (the series) began in mid season of 1997, with it's first season of 12 episodes & never looked back.
I refused to watch the series at first, as I liked the movie & have found over the years that television remakes of movies either suck horribly, are wonderful, or are so bad that the "suck horribly" label just isn't a strong enough warning of suckiness.... But one of my best friends insisted that I would love it, pretty much tied me up & forced me to watch, & I was hooked ever after.
The series has CONTINUITY (which is key to any series I'm going to love) & is often Adult, Tragic, Tear Inducing, Funny, Sweet, & Scary.
The series has since ended after 7 wonderful seasons; and it's spin-off series Angel ended a year later after 5 wonderful seasons - without the chance to finish the way it was intended because the network cancelled them, even though ratings were up, and Joss & company had changed the show for them. THE WB SUCKS!!!!! A forthcoming Buffy/Angel comic from Dark Horse & Joss will continue their adventures (in 2006?), and there is still talk of a possible Buffy themed movie centering on the vampire Spike! ;-0)
So here are links to episode lists - 1 of just Buffy Episodes - 1 of just ANGEL episodes - & 1 of the series combined.
