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Buffy, the Vampire Slayer

Created by the writer director Joss Whedon under the production banner Mutant Enemy, ‘Buffy, the Vampire Slayer’ was an American cult television show serialized from March 10, 1997 to May 20, 2003. It was nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

The story line of the series follows the pursuits of Buffy Anne Summers, the latest in the line of dashing and aggressive young women who are chosen by fate to represent the forces of light and are determined to fight against the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. The role of the lead fighter is played by Sarah Michelle Geller. Like other slayers, Buffy is helped by a Watcher who guides and trains her. Buffy is wiser than her predecessors in that she surrounds herself with a circle of friends who are known as the ‘Scooby Gang’.

The story is shown in a serialized format. Each episode has a self- contained story line while contributing to the larger storyline. The episodes are marked by the rise of the powerful antagonists representing the evil and being ultimately defeated by the ‘Scooby Gang.’ The show is a mix of the different genres such as horror, martial arts, romance, melodrama, farce, comedy, and even, in one episode, musical comedy.

The series commanded a viewership of four to six million audience on original airings. The show held a rank number 41 on the list of TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

According to Joss Whedon, he was inspired by “Rhonda the Immortal Waitress” and who, according to him, was really the first incarnation of Buffy. She represented an insignificant woman who could turn out to be extraordinary. Whedon went against the prevalent formula of a little blond girl who enters a dark alley and gets killed. This was the staple story in every horror movie. Whedon wanted to subvert the image of a timid girl and create someone who was heroic enough to kill the diabolic creatures rather than being killed by them. He explained that "The very first mission statement of the show [is] the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it.”