Editing Buffy the Vampire Slayer (section)

===Impact on television===
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' became a [[pop culture]] phenomenon and is considered as iconic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/03/the-legacy-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-20-years-later.html |title=The Enduring Legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 20 Years Later |website=Slate |first=Angelica Jade |last=Bastién |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=January 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://popwrapped.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-impact-20-years-later |title=Why 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Is Still Essential To Pop Culture 20 Years Later |website=PopWrapped |first=Aedan |last=Juvet |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=January 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/10/if-the-apocalypse-comes-beep-me-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-at-25 |title='If the apocalypse comes, beep me!': Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 25 |website=The Guardian |first=Patrick |last=Lenton |date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2025}}</ref> Commentators of the entertainment industry including ''[[AllMovie]]'', ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', ''[[PopMatters]]'', ''[[The Village Voice]]'', and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' cite ''Buffy'' as "influential",<ref name=":2" /> with some describing it as the ascent of [[Golden Age of Television (2000s–present)|television into its golden age]].<ref name="AllMovie"/><ref name="NewFrontier"/><ref>"One of the best, most influential, genre-defining television series in decades." Kit, Borys, "[https://www.nbcnews.com/popculture/joss-whedon-helm-wonder-woman-wbna7224008 Whedon lassos 'Wonder' helm for Warners] . {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121063746/https://www.nbcnews.com/popculture/joss-whedon-helm-wonder-woman-wbna7224008 |date=January 21, 2022 }}", ''The Hollywood Reporter'', requires subscription (March 17, 2005): "the influential WB Network/UPN drama series"</ref> [[Stephanie Zacharek]], in the ''[[Village Voice]]'', wrote, "If we really are in a golden age of television, ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' was a harbinger."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/05/06/why-avengers-age-of-ultron-fills-this-buffy-fan-with-despair/|title=Why Avengers: Age of Ultron Fills This Buffy Fan With Despair|website=The Village Voice|date=May 6, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=September 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912013902/https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/05/06/why-avengers-age-of-ultron-fills-this-buffy-fan-with-despair/|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Moore of ''PopMatters'' expressed similar sentiments, writing "TV was not art before ''Buffy'', but it was afterwards", suggesting that it was responsible for re-popularizing [[Serial (radio and television)|long story arcs]] on primetime television.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/117637-when-tv-became-art-what-we-owe-to-buffy-2496139534.html|title=When TV Became Art: What We Owe to Buffy|date=December 17, 2009|website=PopMatters|access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095617/https://www.popmatters.com/117637-when-tv-became-art-what-we-owe-to-buffy-2496139534.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/10/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-at-20-the-thrilling-brilliant-birth-of-tv-as-art |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 20: the thrilling, brilliant birth of TV as art |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=March 10, 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=June 12, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611125336/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/10/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-at-20-the-thrilling-brilliant-birth-of-tv-as-art |url-status=live }}</ref> The show is often seen as one of the greatest shows of all-time and for being groundbreaking and influential for the landscape of television.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/10/14857542/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-explained-tv-influence |title=How Buffy the Vampire Slayer transformed TV as we know it |website=Vox |first1=Emily |last1=St. James |first2=Caroline |last2=Framke |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/how-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-changed-tv-history/a1701466401.html |title=How Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed TV history |website=Irish Independent |first=Darren |last=Mooney |date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-at-20-how-a-monster-killing-teen-changed-tv-forever-192673/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' at 20: How a Monster-Killing Teen Changed TV Forever |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=Gina |last=McIntyre |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theweek.com/articles/684865/buffy-vampire-slayer-greatest-show-history-television |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the greatest show in the history of television |website=The Week |first=Rachel Vorona |last=Cote |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> [[David Simon]], creator of ''[[The Wire]]'', considered ''Buffy'' as "the best show in years".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/the-creator-of-the-wire-says-buffy-was-the-better-show-5913194 |title=The Creator of The Wire Says Buffy Was The Better Show |website=Kotaku |first=Kirk |last=Hamilton |date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> Stephen Daisley of ''[[The Spectator]]'' stated that ''Buffy'' was a "generation-defining TV hit", following this by saying that "''Buffy'' was steeped in literary allusions and crackled with pop culture references and became the first TV series to attract serious scholarship." He also wrote, "Renowned professors wrestled with this high school set study of the human condition while linguists tried to pin down Buffy Speak, the distinctive and playful grammar which animated Whedon’s dialogue. (Inventive, much?)".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-transformed-pop-culture/ |title=How Buffy the Vampire Slayer transformed pop culture |website=The Spectator |first=Stephen |last=Daisley |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=March 6, 2025}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width =30%|bgcolor=#FFFFF0|quote=''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' showed the whole world, and an entire sprawling industry, that writing monsters and demons and end-of-the world is not hack-work, it can challenge the best. Joss Whedon raised the bar for every writer—not just genre/niche writers, but every single one of us.|source=–[[Russell T Davies]]<ref>Moore, Candace, "[http://www.afterelton.com/TV/2005/5/drwho.html John Barrowman Plays Bisexual Time Traveler on New Dr. Who] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004093848/http://www.afterelton.com/TV/2005/5/drwho.html |date=October 4, 2006 }}", ''Afterelton.com'' (May 19, 2005).</ref>}}

''Buffy''{{'}}s effect on programming was quickly evident. Autumn 2003 saw several new shows going into production in the U.S. that featured strong females forced to come to terms with supernatural power or destiny while trying to maintain a normal life.<ref name="Salem">Salem, Rob, "[http://www.whedon.info/article.php3?id_article=1319&img= The season to talk to dead people] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114190251/http://www.whedon.info/article.php3?id_article=1319&img= |date=November 14, 2007 }}", ''Thestar.com'', transcribed to ''Whedon.info'' (August 25, 2003)</ref> These post-''Buffy'' shows include ''[[Dead Like Me]]'', ''[[Joan of Arcadia]]'', ''[[Tru Calling]]'', ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' and ''[[Teen Wolf (2011 TV series)|Teen Wolf]]''. [[Bryan Fuller]], the creator of ''Dead Like Me'', said that "''Buffy'' showed that young women could be in situations that were both fantastic and relatable, and instead of shunting women off to the side, it puts them at the center."<ref name="Salem" /> In the United Kingdom, the lessons learned from the impact of ''Buffy'' influenced the revived ''[[Doctor Who]]'' series (2005–present),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/buffy-saved-doctor-6-ways-vampire-slayer-changed-pop-culture/ |title=How Buffy saved Doctor Who: 6 ways the Vampire Slayer changed pop culture |work=The Telegraph |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/12/doctor-who-report-new-theme-music |title=Doctor Who Report: New Theme Music? |website=IGN |date=March 11, 2005 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052543/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/12/doctor-who-report-new-theme-music |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as its spinoff series ''[[Torchwood]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Stokes |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Stokes (producer) |author2=Hugo, Simon |date=March 2008 |title=Like a Kid in a Candy Store |journal=[[Torchwood Magazine]] |issue=2 |pages=64–65 |issn=1756-0950}}</ref> Reviewers noted that shows such as ''[[Legacies (TV series)|Legacies]]'' and ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'' took inspiration from ''Buffy'' involving the "Dark Willow" story arc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/legacies-dark-josie-riverdale-betty-buffy-willow-comparison/ |title=Legacies 'Dark Josie' Repeats Riverdale's Buffy Steal (But Better) |work=Screenrant |first=Cathal |last=Gunning |date=November 28, 2021 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/dark-josie-dark-willow-and-the-queer-witch-in-crisis |title=Dark Josie, Dark Willow, and the queer witch in crisis |work=Syfy |last=Fleenor |first=S. E. |date=May 13, 2020 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref> Adam B. Vary of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', by talking about the potential [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the show, wrote how "''Buffy'' presaged the next 25 years of genre-bending entertainment. ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'', ''[[True Blood]]'', ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'', ''[[The Vampire Diaries]]'', ''[[Veronica Mars]]'', ''[[Teen Wolf (2011 TV series)|Teen Wolf]]'', ''[[The Magicians (American TV series)|The Magicians]]'', ''[[Jessica Jones (TV series)|Jessica Jones]]'', ''[[Orphan Black]]'', ''[[Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (TV series)|Chilling Adventures of Sabrina]]'', ''[[Wynonna Earp (TV series)|Wynonna Earp]]'', ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]],'' ''[[Wednesday (TV series)|Wednesday]]'', ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' — none of these shows, and many more besides, would be what they are without ''Buffy''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-good-bad-idea-1236296037/ |title=Why a 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Revival Is So Exciting — and So Terrifying |website=Variety |first=Adam B. |last=Vary |date=February 3, 2025 |access-date=March 6, 2025}}</ref>

Several ''Buffy'' alumni have gone on to write for or create other shows. Such endeavors include ''[[Tru Calling]]'' ([[Douglas Petrie]], [[Jane Espenson]] and lead actress [[Eliza Dushku]]), ''[[Wonderfalls]]'' ([[Tim Minear]]), ''[[Point Pleasant (TV series)|Point Pleasant]]'' ([[Marti Noxon]]), ''[[Jake 2.0]]'' ([[David Greenwalt]]), ''[[The Inside (TV series)|The Inside]]'' (Tim Minear), ''[[Smallville]]'' ([[Steven S. DeKnight]]), ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' ([[Jane Espenson]]), ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' ([[Drew Goddard]] and [[David Fury]]), and [[Daredevil (TV series)|''Daredevil'']] (Goddard, DeKnight, and Petrie). [[TV Tropes]], a website devoted to pop culture tropes, claimed that ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is the reason why the site exists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/iconic-tv-website-buffy-created.html |title=The Iconic TV Website Created Because Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer |website=Giant Freakin Robot |date=August 2, 2024 |first=Chris |last=Snellgrove |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref> The show also had a significant impact on [[slang]] in popular culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/buffyisms-10-phrases-popularized-by-788745/ |title="What's the Sitch?": 10 Weird Phrases Popularized by 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Jang |first=Meena |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://today.duke.edu/2003/05/buffytip0502.html |title=News Tip: 'Buffy' Contributes to American Slang |publisher=Duke University |last=Lawrence |first=Keith |date=May 2, 2003 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref> The series also served as inspiration for television writers such as [[Shonda Rhimes]], [[Eric Kripke]], [[Rob Thomas (writer)|Rob Thomas]] and [[Amy Sherman-Palladino]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/shonda-rhimes-reveals-how-buffy-739109/ |title=Shonda Rhimes Reveals How 'Buffy' Helped Her Rediscover TV |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-boys-kripke-on-what-star-trek-buffy-the-x-files-have-in-common/ |title=The Boys: Kripke on What Star Trek, Buffy, The X Files Have In Common |website=Bleeding Cool |first=Ray |last=Flook |date=December 31, 2024 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/rob-thomas-explains-why-izombie-is-more-like-buffy-than-1614649263 |title=Rob Thomas Explains Why iZombie Is More Like Buffy Than Veronica Mars |website=Gizmodo |first=Meredith |last=Woerner |date=August 1, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/amy-sherman-palladino-on-her-cultural-influences.html |title=Amy Sherman-Palladino Explains Her Cultural Influences |website=Vulture |first=Rebecca |last=Milzoff |date=November 16, 2016 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[The Atlantic]]'' wrote that ''Buffy'' is "still revolutionary" and "subversive".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/03/at-18-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-is-still-revolutionary/387412/ |title=At 18, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Is Still Revolutionary |website=The Atlantic |first=Sophie |last=Gilbert |date=March 10, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Orange]]'' wrote "Buffy led the third-wave feminist mouvement in pop culture", talking about how the series led the cause for women leads on TV.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dailyorange.com/2017/04/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-led-the-cause-for-female-leads-in-tv-shows-and-needs-to-return/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' led the cause for women leads in TV shows, warrants return |website=The Daily Orange |first=Malvika |last=Randive |date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>

Several critics have noted series such as ''[[Orphan Black]]'', ''[[The Magicians (American TV series)|The Magicians]]'', ''[[Jessica Jones (TV series)|Jessica Jones]]'' and ''[[Wynonna Earp (TV series)|Wynonna Earp]]'' as being worthy successors to ''Buffy''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/06/orphan-black-fighting-buffy-war |title=Why Is Orphan Black Still Fighting a War Buffy Should Have Won Over 10 Years Ago? |magazine=Vanity Fair |first=Joanna |last=Robinson |date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/jun/02/orphan-black-worthy-heir-to-buffys-crown |title=Orphan Black: a worthy heir to Buffy's crown |website=The Guardian |first=Sarah |last=Hughes |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/the-magicians-syfy-review-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/ |title=In Season Two, 'The Magicians' Proves A Worthy 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Descendant |website=Uproxx |first=Alan |last=Sepinwall |date=January 24, 2017 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/tv-and-film/5-reasons-jessica-jones-millennials-buffy/ |title=5 Reasons Why Jessica Jones Is The Millennials' Buffy |website=Grazia Daily |first=Phoebe |last=Frangoul |date=November 28, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/how-syfys-wynonna-earp-is-paying-homage-buffy-1025089/ |title=How Syfy's 'Wynonna Earp' Is Paying Homage to 'Buffy' |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Kat |last=Jenson |date=July 28, 2017 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> At the 2015 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], the authors [[Rachel Hawkins (writer)|Rachel Hawkins]], [[Kiersten White]], [[Rae Carson]], Brittany Geragotelis and Valerie Tejeda talked about the Buffy effect on heroines in fiction and how Buffy was a big influence on writing their books.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/books/59648/sdcc-2015-the-buffy-effect-teen-heroines/ |title=Comic-Con 2015: The Buffy Effect – Teen Heroines Then & Now |website=The Young Folks |first=Gabrielle |last=Bondi |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the [[Parents Television Council]] complained of efforts to "deluge their young viewing audiences with adult themes".<ref>"[http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2002/main.asp The 2001–2002 Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Network TV] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609011639/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2002/main.asp |date=June 9, 2007 }}" & "[http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/stateindustryviolence/main.asp TV Bloodbath: Violence on Prime Time Broadcast TV] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013153502/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/stateindustryviolence/main.asp |date=October 13, 2006 }}" ''Parentstv.org'' (2002 & 2003 respectively).</ref> The U.S. [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), however, rejected the council's indecency complaint concerning the violent sex scene between Buffy and Spike in "[[Smashed (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Smashed]]".<ref>[http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2004/FCC-04-196A1.html FCC, In the Matter of Complaints Against Various Broadcast Licensees Regarding Their Airing of the UPN Network Program "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on November 20, 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060930085036/http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2004/FCC-04-196A1.html |date=September 30, 2006 }}.</ref> The BBC, however, chose to censor some of the more controversial sexual content when it was shown on the pre-[[Watershed (television)|watershed]] 6:45 pm slot.<ref>[http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage8/Burr.htm Burr, Vivien. "Buffy vs. the BBC: Moral Questions and How to Avoid Them"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234420/http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage8/Burr.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

Show characters Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclay were one of the first lesbian couples to be shown on public broadcast television.  This was important representation at the time, as it challenged many social stereotypes about gay women.  It did not over-sexualize them and instead allowed them to be seen as independent people in a fairly healthy relationship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyler |first=Taryn |date=October 1, 2023 |title=We Wouldn't Have More Lesbian Couples on TV Without 'Buffy's Willow and Tara |url=https://collider.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-willow-tara-lesbian-couple/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> Creator Joss Whedon has said in interviews that he was initially told by the network he could not include a bisexual character in the show,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=George |date=May 19, 2020 |title=Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator would make Willow bisexual in modern-day remake |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/19/joss-whedon-admits-willow-bisexual-buffy-vampire-slayer-remake-12727558/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref> however, in later seasons as cultural opinions on [[LGBT]] issues began to shift, he was allowed to introduce Willow and Tara as being in a relationship with one another.  At first they were only seen talking and holding hands as they were not allowed to be shown kissing, until in 2002, the show showed the girlfriends in bed together, which though not a sex scene was considered the first scene of its kind for a broadcast network series.<ref>{{cite web |first=Maya |last=Salam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/arts/television/lesbian-tv-shows.html |title=The Very (Very) Slow Rise of Lesbianism on TV |work=The New York Times |date=November 29, 2019 |access-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209190400/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/arts/television/lesbian-tv-shows.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, the show featured the first lesbian sex scene in broadcast TV history.<ref>{{cite web |last=Frost |first=Karen |url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/474467-long-road-lesbian-sex-sensuality-network-tv#UjXTCyxhuYzGUkMG.99 |title=The Long Road to Lesbian Sex & Sensuality on Network TV |publisher=AfterEllen |date=August 19, 2017 |access-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603155456/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/474467-long-road-lesbian-sex-sensuality-network-tv#UjXTCyxhuYzGUkMG.99 |url-status=live }}</ref>