I'm on a bit of a nineties kick these days. I caught myself hardcore jamming Smash Mouth the other day, and I think if I could I would frost the tips of my hair. I've already finished the re-watch of my currently reigning favorite nineties television show, and at this point I really don't think I need to remind you all of what that is.
Which is why I feel like I'm cheating on my one true love when I say that I may have found a new 90's television addiction, Buffy the Vampire Slayer- it's the love child of She's All That and Supernatural that grew up next to Friends. Yes, the title is embarrassingly stupid to say and the fight scenes are incredibly cheesy. The effects are, at best, moderate; at worst, painful. The hair and outfits are a delightful foray into the world of long floppy hair and what I can only describe as clothes made out of the carpet one would find at the dentist's.
However.
It's not enough to keep me away. BTVS focuses on the life, deaths, and relationships of the titular character, Buffy Summers. Called at a young age to be the world's only vampire slayer, Buffy battles hell and high school under the eye of her Watcher, Rupert Giles. Accompanying the two on this road trip are Buffy's closest friends and family, which allows for a nice, well rounded cast of freaks and geeks. The performances are all amazing, but Sarah Michelle Gellar's turn as the slayer is simply beautiful. Joss Whedon, creator and writer, expertly crafts not only a coherent world but a deeply profound and hilarious one.
Is it as good as the reigning champion of my heart, The X Files? No. Is it about as close as you could get? Yes. While BTVS might lack the quality of The X Files, it more than makes up for it in pure emotion. Buffy deals with both the supernatural and the natural in a way that speaks directly to the heart. While demons are the main focus of the show, I will always and forever remember the episode The Body. I can't talk about it too much due to my fear of spoiling, but if you choose just one episode to watch, please, please let it be this one. The Body is the best depiction of loss and growing up that I've ever seen. Fair warning folks, this one's a real tear-jerker.
My affair with BTVS might not be a lasting one, but it's one that has already deeply impacted me. The show has the ability to reduce me to a pile of quibbling gibberish. Mixed in with the high school humor are dark under currents about destiny, sacrifice, and loss. While some drama is to be expected in high school, Joss Whedon seems to like torturing the poor Scoobies. I don't think there's been an episode yet where I haven't said "Poor Buffy" at least once. Despite this, the night never conquers the dark. Goodness always will win, even if it means it'll have to die maybe once or twice before then. I think that's the main appeal for me. The ideal world isn't one where evil doesn't exist, but rather one where we can fight back against it.
Simply put, BTVS is about growing up, and what is growing up if not battling our own demons? Heartache and heartbreak, boyfriends and best friends, BTVS takes on these battles and slays them almost effortlessly. The monster aspect to the show becomes a backdrop to a life so full of love that the darkness could never touch. I have yet to finish the series, but I've been consuming much more than the daily recommended dose so I hope to finish up soon. If you're looking for something new, please try out this show. I promise that you won't be wasting your time. We all grow up, we all learn how to live, and in the immortal words of Buffy Summers herself, "Seize the moment, 'cuz tomorrow you might be dead."
