Buffy the Vampire Slayer

High School Hell

Many high school students probably consider their school a hell mouth or something close to it. For Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), that is the literal truth. Her school, Sunnydale High, is in fact situated directly over a Hell Mouth, a portal into the demon dimension.

As a result, her school and her home town are irresistible destinations for vampires, demons, and other foul denizens of evil. In Sunnydale anything can happen, and usually does.

Cheerleader/Slayer Heroine

Fortunately, Buffy isn't just any high school girl. She is that once in a generation pick to be "the Chosen One, the Slayer". Lightning reflexes and superhero strength give her parity with the vampires she meets in combat.

The training, mentoring and moral support from her Watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) the high school librarian, gives her a decided advantage.

And unlike her lone-wolf predecessors, Buffy also has the advantage of loyal friends, school geeks Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan), who think fighting evil is pretty cool.

Show History

Premiering in 1997 on the WB network, Buffy The Vampire Slayer ran for five seasons on WB and for two seasons on UPN.

The characters went through many changes over the run of the show. Buffy herself got killed (and brought back) not just once, but twice. Her star-crossed love, the two century old 'vampire with a soul' Angel, left for his own spin-off series.

Xander fell in love with, got engaged to, and jilted a 1000 year old ex-vengeance demon. Willow the shy computer geek developed into a powerful witch and acquired and lost a lesbian lover.

Every season, the show had a new major villain for Buffy and friends to combat, ranging from the vampire Master in the first season to Glory, a deranged goddess from another dimension. The second season's villain, punk bad-boy Cockney-talking vampire Spike (James Marsters) was so popular that he returned later as a regular not-quite-good-guy.

The show's cast of regulars fluctuated around the constants of Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander. Snooty rich girl Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) went from insulting school rival to honorary membership in the "Slayerettes" before leaving to join Angel in his show. Anya the ex-vengeance demon (Emma Caulfield) worked with Giles in the magic shop he ran after the high school burned down. (Hey, it was a busy seven years!)

Buffy even magically acquired a younger sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg).

Joss Whedon, Creator

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's concept was that 'high school is hell', and show creator Joss Whedon would take a normal teenage trauma and put a supernatural twist to it. Most teenagers would resent it when their divorced mom starts dating again, but in Buffy's case, mom's new love interest turned out to be a human-appearing and malfunctioning robot. Willow became involved in an on-line romance, but the fellow who looked so good on screen turned out to be a demon. (Hey, don't they all?)

Whedon became known for his innovation and willingness to take chances. Two episodes that broke the mold were the creepy dialog-less "Hush" and the musical episode "Once More With Feeling."

And Buffy the Vampire Slayer set a new trend for sassy yet vulnerable heroines who can totally kick butt.