By Joanna Robinson | Lists | March 10, 2017 |
By Joanna Robinson | Lists | March 10, 2017 |
(Publisher’s Note: This poset was originally published on the 15th Anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We are re-publishing it for the 20th Anniversary. — DR
Twenty years ago “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” premiered on the WB to a somewhat skeptical response. A mid-season teen soap on a fledgling network? Based on a campy film that wasn’t even old enough to attain cult classic status? And who outside of Pixar had heard of Joss Whedon? Little did we know that in creating Sunnydale, Joss had built the first little metropolis in the vast empire now known as the Whedonverse. I was 15 when “Buffy” premiered and, as idiotic as it may sound, it changed my life. I had never before (or since) interacted with a TV show on such a deeply personal level. My high school and college years followed lock-step with Xander’s, Willow’s and Buffy’s and though our experiences weren’t exactly the same, their jokes became mine, their joy was mine and, most of all, their pain was mine. I realize that might sound heavy and melodramatic for an often-times silly show, but the heart wants what the heart wants. So here, here is my clumsy love letter to the seven years I spent watching the show. This is for my high school friend who used to bring me a VHS tape of every episode so I could watch it at home when I wasn’t allowed any TV. (She cried when she handed me a certain tape mid-way through Season 2.) This is for my college roommates who indulgently watched with me every Tuesday. This is for my “grown-up” friends who join me in re-watching the DVDs. This is for the strangers I meet who light up at a casual reference. And this is for my dad who called me the first time Tara and Willow kissed. This is for them and for me and for you and for Joss and for Jane and for Marti and for Doug and for the Davids. So, in no particular order and in honor of the 15th Anniversary, here are the 115 Reasons Why We Love “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” Thank you for the things that were perfect and for the things that weren’t. We loved it all.
115. For Taking Us To Hell
114. And Back Again
113. Acting!
112. Willow’s Mad Hacking Skills
111. Because It Was Chock Full Of Hoot, With Just A Little Bit Of Nanny
110. The Monkey Animal Cracker, Who Mocks You With His Monkey Pants
109. The Prom Princess And Fiesta Queen Of Hemery High
108. The Foreshadowing
107. The Painful Moments
106. The Cheesy Moments
105. The Annoying One
104. The Cutest Of The Scoobies
103. Zombies!
102. Hyena People!
101. Snyder!
100. Scrunchfaces
99. Bitchfaces
98. Bunnies
97. Bunnies
96. It Must Be Bunnies
95. Or Maybe Midgets
94. Buffy’s Stylish Yet Affordable Boots
93. The Awesome Blossom
92. That Time Buffy And Luke Perry Burned Down The Gym
92. Janna Kalderash, Techno-Pagan
91. Bad Roommates
90. Good Roommates
89. The Best Roommates
88. Ladies
87. And Gentlemen
86. Mr. Pointy
85. Short Skirts
84. And A Looooong Jacket
83. The Supporting Characters We Loved
82. The Supporting Characters We Didn’t
81. The Supporting Characters That Grew On Us
80. Five What By Five What?
79. The Arsenal
78. No Weapon Forged
77. Ol’ Fruit Punch Mouth
76. Ripper
Part I: 115 - 76 || Part II: 75 - 36 || Part III: 35 - 1.
Joanna Robinson is bored now. To watch “Buffy” from the beginning, head over here.Twitter! Email!