I'm just gonna cut to the chase and say I'm here to stick my little head up Joss Whedon's arse and stay there indefinitely.
My absolute favourite TV show of all time is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Those of you who may have caught the odd episode or dipped in from time to time may find it extremely sad that I am this hard for those cheesy one liners and questionable kung fu moves but I make no excuses.
This is also a MASSIVE call out to anybody else who just "got" the metaphors the show used to combine something so mystical and fantastical with battles and character developments so relatable that the show actually helped you to conceptualise all of the really tricky shit that goes down both in this world and inside our own worlds. Please, talk Buffy to me.
Before I talk more about the show I want to share a memory of being on a school trip in year 6 (aged 10/11) where the teachers let us watch Buffy before retiring to our bunk beds. I was completely engrossed until my class teacher started shaking his head somewhat amused and said something along the lines of "this isn't very realisic is it? a 5ft girl beating up all these monsters?" This sounds like the beginning of a sad put down story but it really wasn't because that show had enough power that me and a few other kids (boys and girls) bemused by his ignorance proceeded to school him with such explanations as "er, she has super strength" and as I put quite eloquently "why not?" without considering his assessment for a moment.
Much like every vampire, demon, god and evil in all it's entirety from Buffy, that man fought a losing battle that night. I also really hope one of Joss Whedon's interviews has made it's way to his TV screen since then, every time the interviewer asks him why he enjoys writing strong female characters, Joss Whedon replies "because you keep asking me that question."
So, some powerful Buffy metaphors, messages you may have missed. Of couse these are open to interpretation but they seem super obvious to me.
Angel losing his soul/is he a perfect bf or a might kill you bf today/Werewolf bfs - abusive relationships
Willow's initial use of witchcraft - exploring sexuality
Willow's later use of witchcraft - drug addiction and substance abuse (fuelled by grief)
Tara's family literally demonising her for practising witchcraft - homophobia in the family
Riley letting vampires bite him when Buffy unintentionally emasculates him (lame) - infidelity with sex workers
Dawn finding out she's "the key" - the pains of learning you're adopted/not knowing where you come from
Anya's demonic routes hindering her social skills - social anxiety/autism spectrum
Glory's attack on Tara and the consequences - caring for somebody with mental illness and/or learning difficulties
Woman-hating priest killing off potential slayers - misogyny
Buffy standing up having been severely wounded by the first, looking her "evil" self in the eye, telling it to get out of her face and continuing to slay the rest of the first evil - slaying your own demons
Buffy also covered some key topics without the use of metaphors in a very raw and defining way such such as:
- the big R
- subsequent PTSD
- bereavement (multiple examples)
- self destructive sex
- self harm
- suicide
- Absent parents
From the women being under a comical love spell symbolising how daft we act when we're infatuated to Willow's world-ending grief trip touching anyone who's ever turned to substances stronger than them in times of darkness, I found a lot of heart and a powerful message in almost every episode of this underrated masterpiece.
But the most powerful for me is that the characters made their own family and the bond was as tight as any blood ties.
With Buffy's absent father and either out of the loop or dead mother, Gile's steps in and fills the role as her watcher and fierce protector. When Tara's family try to take her away because she's "demonic" the whole group stands in their way in an act of acceptance. Nobody at any point treats Dawn like she is anyone or anything other than Buffy's sister. And they all just keep slayin'.
This was corny, poorly constructed, over-excitable and that kind of geek that's not "in a hot way" but I don't care.
@missy @rambo
