Editing Buffy the Vampire Slayer (section)

===Format===
''Buffy'' is told in a [[Serial (radio and television)|serialized]] format, mixing complex, season-long storylines with a [[Villain of the week|villain-of-the-week]] conflict revolving around Buffy and her friends as they struggle to balance the fight against [[supernatural]] evils with their complicated social lives.<ref name="FtF-Intro2">{{cite book |last1=Wilcox |first1=Rhonda V. |title=Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' |last2=Lavery |first2=David |date=April 2002 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7425-1681-6 |pages=xix |chapter=Introduction |access-date=October 15, 2020 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amKx_wH-PDYC&q=buffy+forces+introduction&pg=PR17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145406/https://books.google.com/books?id=amKx_wH-PDYC&q=buffy+forces+introduction&pg=PR17 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |url-status=live |no-pp=true}}</ref> A typical episode contains one or more [[villain]]s, or supernatural phenomena, that are thwarted or defeated by the end of the episode. Though elements and relationships are explored and ongoing subplots are included, the show focuses primarily on Buffy and her role as an [[archetype|archetypal]] [[hero]]ine. Gellar described the show as "the ultimate metaphor: horrors of adolescence manifesting through these actual monsters. It's the hardest time of life."<ref name="Guardian 21 July 2018">{{cite news |last=Thorpe |first=Vanessa |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be remade 21 years after first episode |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jul/21/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-to-be-remade-21-years-after-first-episode |url-status=live |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220030442/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jul/21/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-to-be-remade-21-years-after-first-episode |archive-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref> Each season's storyline is broken down into season-long narratives marked by the rise and defeat of a powerful [[antagonist]], commonly referred to as the "[[Big Bad]]".

While the show is mainly a [[drama]] with frequent [[comic relief]], most episodes blend different [[genre]]s, including [[Horror film|horror]], [[martial arts]], [[Romance film|romance]], [[melodrama]], [[farce]], [[fantasy]], [[supernatural]], [[Screwball comedy film|comedy]], and, in [[Once More, with Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|one episode]], [[musical comedy]].

In the first few seasons, the most prominent monsters in the [[List of Buffyverse villains and supernatural beings|''Buffy'' bestiary]] are [[Vampire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|vampires]] based on traditional myths, lore, and literary conventions. As the series continues, Buffy and her companions fight an increasing variety of [[Grimslaw demon|demons]], as well as [[List of Buffyverse villains and supernatural beings#Ghosts and spirits|ghosts]], [[Werewolf|werewolves]], [[List of Buffyverse villains and supernatural beings#Undead|zombies]], and [[List of Buffyverse villains and supernatural beings#Dangerous mortals|unscrupulous humans]]. They frequently save the world from annihilation by a combination of physical combat, [[magic (paranormal)|magic]], and detective-style investigation, and are guided by an extensive collection of ancient and mystical reference books. <!-- The passage contained in the following wiki code comment field was part of the article text, but do not present well when reading before subsequent sections, so they are removed until more appropriate position (further along) within the article is identified. --><!-- Hand-to-hand combat is chiefly undertaken by Buffy and Angel, later by [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]], and to a far lesser degree by Giles and Xander. Willow eventually becomes an adept [[Witch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|witch]], while Giles contributes his extensive knowledge of [[demonology]] and supernatural lore. -->