"Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer."
I am four seasons into a "Buffy" marathon (hitting the highlights -- I am not terribly enthused by the weaker episodes of season one or the less-than-wonderful grand plot arc of season four) and, once again, delusional with love over what has time and time again proven to be my favorite TV show of all time.
"Buffy" started airing in 1996, the same year I was born. I'm a little late to the party, but there is still a smaller-than-it-once-was but nonetheless vibrant fan community lurking on the Internet, offering analysis and comments to one of the most beloved TV shows of all time.
Mild spoilers to follow, but after 20 years on the air, I think it's fair game.
11. Life happens. Death happens. These are inevitable.
While avoiding this is human, it's not entirely realistic. "Buffy" never shied away from incorporating reality into a show about vampires, which is frightening and unsettling in its own right, making the viewer realize their mortality is way scarier than fighting a vampire.
10. Relationships with others are essential, but so is a relationship with the self.
This one speaks for itself, but I'll add: Buffy is unique because she has an incredible support system filled with love. But she is truly spectacular in realizing that she, herself, is enough, even against the worst kind of enemies.
9. Love knows no boundaries. Even boundaries that it probably should have.
Giles: A vampire in love with a Slayer. It's rather poetic... in a maudlin sort of way.
8. Good and bad are rarely black and white.
There are reasons behind Faith's callous heart, Angel's demonic second side, Buffy's quiet sadness. They are not good people, not bad people. Just people.
7. High school sucks, but it ends. Hopefully with less fanfare than Buffy's graduation.
Giant snake taking the stage on graduation day? They got it. High school itself? It's a four-year-long, uphill battle; but it's worth surviving.
6. Being direct has its upsides.
When you literally don't have the ability to lie to people, they'll take what you say at face value, however harsh it may be.
5. Loneliness is equal opportunity.
First, kudos to Cordelia for an insanely awesome dose of character development. Second, a super-important character and life pointer: every single human being struggles with loneliness, with loss, with feeling out-of-place and out-of-touch. It's an equal opportunity employer.
4. Love is patient, kind, and doesn't guilt you when your boyfriend becomes a psychotic killer vampire.
The father-daughter love between Giles and Buffy is so important to me. While other people, even people Buffy loves, are pointing fingers and assigning blame, Giles gives her only love, support, respect, and kindness.
3. Don't mess with dark forces.
Almost decidedly, it brings back pain and suffering. True for mystical dark forces and mundane ones, magic or drugs. Does this end well, ever?
2. No matter how it's defined, family takes priority, even when saving the world.
Buffy's family starts with Joyce and culminates with her Scooby gang. They have each other's backs, through everything, at their own expense. Every time.
1. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
Compounded by what happens next, this may be the singular most heartbreaking (and true) line in the entire series.
