115 Reasons Why We Love Joss Whedon's "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" Part II

By Joanna Robinson | Lists | March 12, 2011 |

By Joanna Robinson | Lists | March 12, 2011 |

Fifteen 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.

Part I: 115 - 76 || Part II: 75 - 36 || Part III: 35 - 1.

75. Slayerfest ‘98

74. The Ghost Of What Exactly?

73. Loan Sharks

72. The Class Protector

71. The Great Accents

70. The…Other Accents

69. Latent Homosexuality

68. Blatant Homosexuality (Willow Kissage!)

67. The Sunnydale High Library

66. The Classical Allusions

65. Mastering The Art Of The Single Entendre

64. Hello Salty Goodness

63. Blondie Bear

62. Beer Bad

61. Fire Pretty

60. BBQ Fork Wounds

59. The Softer Side Of Sears

58. The Subtle Sexual Metaphors

57. The Other Sexual Metaphors

56. The 90s

55. New Watcher? New Watcher

54. The First Time The Show Broke Your Heart

53. The Last Time The Show Broke Your Heart

52. Who Is That Girl?

51. The Big Bads

50. The Big Mehs

49. The Dance You Do During The Opening Credits

48. The Accessories

47. Miniature. Golf.

46. William The Bloody Annoying

45. Billy The Idol

44. The Dingoes Ate My Baby

43. The Episodes We’ll Never Forget

42. The Ones We Wish We Could

41. That Time They Got The Mustard Out

40. Miss Kitty Fantastico

39. Mr. Gordo

38. The Evil Willow That Made Us Laugh

37. The Evil Willow That Made Us Cry

36. The Serious Ick Factor

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!