Buffy the Vampire Slayer the series remains one of my favorite paranormal television series, ever. I received this as a gift not too long ago, and have been re-watching the seasons these past couple of weeks. The show has everything going for it – an ensemble cast of talented actors (especially the spunky and determined Sarah Michelle Gellar as the eponymous heroine), riveting plots, high-paced action sequences, all sorts of dark creatures (and great make-up effects that have withstood the test of time), witty dialogue, and just pure fun!
In this day and age where insipid reality shows dominate prime time television, BTVS is a breath of fresh air, despite being more than a decade old. This collector’s set contains the full series, i.e. Seasons 1-7. From its beginnings as a mainly for teens-only supernatural show, the show grows from strength to strength. In Season 1, Buffy reluctantly assumes the mantle of vampire-slayer (and she does slay other demons as well) under the guidance of Watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). The only friends she has are super smart, nerdy Willow (Alyson Hannigan), and girl-crazy, average guy Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Things become even more complicated when Buffy falls fast and hard for Angel (David Boreanaz), a formerly vicious and evil vampire who has had his soul restored.
The following seasons follow Buffy and her friends and loves as they battle the forces of darkness. The characters all evolve throughout the seasons – Willow falls in love, matures, and finds her talent for the Craft, becoming a powerful witch; Xander is no longer just a comic relief – he too matures, experiences multiple heartaches, and finds his own niche; and of course Buffy – from a lonely teen who falls for the wrong ‘guy’, she discovers being strong is not confined to merely killing vampires and demons but overcoming her own inner flaws and discovering herself. Season 3 was one of the best in the series in my opinion as the characters are all shown to have their strengths and flaws – duplicity amongst the friends, harboring dark secrets, etc. One of my favorite episodes in Season 3 was “Revelations” as the characters have to deal with their frustrations/ anger/ prejudices, etc. Season 4 was also compelling in terms of plot and characterizations. My favorite seasons were Seasons 1-4, though seasons 5-7 were good as well.
