Editing Buffy the Vampire Slayer

{{Short description|American supernatural TV series (1997–2003)}}
{{About|the television series|the 1992 film|Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film){{!}}''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (film)|other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Buffy the vampire slayer.svg
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Supernatural fiction|Supernatural]]<ref name="AllMovie">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-v174873 |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) |publisher=[[AllMovie]] |last=Dillard |first=Brian J. |access-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527031213/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-v174873 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2010/02/18/thennow-cast-buffy-vampire-slayer/#slide=1 |title=Then/Now: The Cast of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' |publisher=Fox News |date=February 18, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230133253/http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2010/02/18/thennow-cast-buffy-vampire-slayer/#slide=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a462679/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-greatest-episodes-friday-fiver/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Greatest Episodes: Friday Fiver |website=Digital Spy |first=Emma |last=Dibdin |date=May 1, 2013 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045506/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a462679/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-greatest-episodes-friday-fiver/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stcommunities.straitstimes.com/tv/2013/01/21/living-buffy-fame |title=Marc Blucas on living with Buffy fame |work=The Straits Times |first=Rachael |last=Boon |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322022213/http://stcommunities.straitstimes.com/tv/2013/01/21/living-buffy-fame |archive-date=March 22, 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Horror fiction|Horror]]<ref name="AllMovie"/><ref>{{cite web |website=IGN |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer |url=https://www.ign.com/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer |access-date=April 28, 2014 |archive-date=June 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620153143/http://www.ign.com/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer |url-status=live }}</ref> 
* [[Coming-of-age story|Coming-of-age]]<ref name="AllMovie"/>
* [[Teen drama]]
* [[Comedy drama]]
* [[Action television|Action]]<ref name="AllMovie"/>
* [[Philosophical fiction|Philosophical]]<ref>{{cite thesis|last1=Haines|first1=Stacie|date=August 2013|title=The Sense and Sensibility of The 19th-Century Fantastic|url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1382975086|type=PhD dissertation|publisher=Kent State University|pages=189|access-date=October 27, 2022|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145410/https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_olink/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=kent1382975086|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=myngLaxKwgUC&q=buffy+philosophical+fiction|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale|publisher=Open Court|date=March 2003|author1=James South|author2=William Irwin|isbn=9780812697476|access-date=March 18, 2023|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145401/https://books.google.com/books?id=myngLaxKwgUC&q=buffy+philosophical+fiction|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4pc9DwAAQBAJ&dq=buffy+philosophical+fiction&pg=PA144|title=Joss Whedon as Philosopher|publisher=Lexington Books|date=November 29, 2017|author=Dean Kowalski|isbn=9780739196663|access-date=March 18, 2023|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145409/https://books.google.com/books?id=4pc9DwAAQBAJ&dq=buffy+philosophical+fiction&pg=PA144|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYrHXxSBxkoC&q=buffy+philosophical+fiction&pg=PA142|title=The Truth of Buffy: Essays on Fiction Illuminating Reality|publisher=McFarland|date=January 10, 2014|author1=Sally Emmons-Featherston|author2=Jim Ford|isbn=9780786451678|access-date=October 15, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145405/https://books.google.com/books?id=LYrHXxSBxkoC&q=buffy+philosophical+fiction&pg=PA142|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Adam |first1=Charles |last2=Burnetts |first2=John |date=February 22, 2011 |title=The Concept of Sentimentality in Critical Approaches to Film and its Cultural Antecedents|url=https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/file/3602c69e-176a-49a2-feb6-34c0efee8213/10/Burnetts_Thesis_Completed_and_Passed.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102145312/https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/file/3602c69e-176a-49a2-feb6-34c0efee8213/10/Burnetts_Thesis_Completed_and_Passed.pdf |archive-date=2018-11-02 |url-status=live |type=PhD thesis |publisher=University of London|pages=348|access-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}
| creator              = [[Joss Whedon]]
| showrunner           = {{Plainlist|
* Joss Whedon
* [[Marti Noxon]]
}} 
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]
* [[Nicholas Brendon]]
* [[Alyson Hannigan]]
* [[Charisma Carpenter]]
* [[Anthony Head|Anthony Stewart Head]]
* [[David Boreanaz]]
* [[Seth Green]]
* [[James Marsters]]
* [[Marc Blucas]]
* [[Emma Caulfield]]
* [[Michelle Trachtenberg]]
* [[Amber Benson]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Nerf Herder]]
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Walter Murphy]]
* [[Christophe Beck]]
* Shawn Clement
* [[Sean Murray (composer)|Sean Murray]]
* [[Thomas Wander]]
* [[Robert Duncan (composer)|Robert Duncan]]
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 7
| num_episodes         = 144
| list_episodes        = List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Joss Whedon
* [[David Greenwalt]]
* Marti Noxon
* [[David Fury]]
* [[Fran Rubel Kuzui]]
* [[Kaz Kuzui]]
}}
| producer             =
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 42–51 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hulu.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer |title=Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer Online |publisher=[[Hulu]] |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921105620/http://www.hulu.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer |url-status=live }}</ref>
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Mutant Enemy Productions]]
* [[Sandy Gallin|Sandollar Television]]
* [[Kaz Kuzui|Kuzui Enterprises]]
* [[20th Television|20th Century Fox Television]]
}}
| network              = [[The WB]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1997|03|10}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2001|05|22}}
| network2             = [[UPN]]
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|2001|10|02}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|2003|05|20}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 film)]]
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'' (comic book)
* ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''
}} 
}}
<!--
Fictional narratives (and works of art) exist beyond their completion, e.g. ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a novel (we do not say ''A Tale of Two Cities'' was a novel), The Mona Lisa is a painting (we do not say the Mona Lisa was a painting). They were completed in the past we can say ''A Tale of Two Cities'' was completed in the 19th century, but we cannot say it was a novel, it is a novel.

Here is a passage from [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (writing about fiction)]] which hints at why this isn't so:

"The story that each work of fiction depicts does not change despite the continuation of stories across serial works or sequels, and as a consequence, the events within one work of fiction are always in the present whenever it is read, watched, or listened to."

Please do not change the tense in this passage without contributing to discussion on the talk page, [[Talk:Buffy the Vampire Slayer]].
-->'''''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''''' <!-- read above before changing tense -->is<!-- read above before changing tense --> an American [[supernatural fiction|supernatural drama]] television series created by writer and director [[Joss Whedon]]. The concept is based on the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|1992 film]], also written by Whedon, although they are separate and unrelated productions.<ref name="PopMatters">{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/137558-joss-whedon-101-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-the-movie-2496072873.html |title=Joss Whedon 101: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer': The Movie |date=March 3, 2011 |website=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616040820/https://www.popmatters.com/137558-joss-whedon-101-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-the-movie-2496072873.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Whedon served as executive producer and [[showrunner]] of the series under his production tag [[Mutant Enemy Productions]]. It premiered on March 10, 1997, on [[The WB]] and concluded on May 20, 2003, on [[UPN]].

The series follows [[Buffy Summers]] (played by [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]), the latest in a succession of young women known as "Vampire [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Slayer]]s". Slayers are chosen by fate to battle against vampires, demons and other forces of darkness. Buffy wants to live a normal life, but learns to embrace her destiny as the series progresses. Like previous Slayers, she is aided by a [[Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Watcher]], who guides, teaches and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with loyal friends who become known as the [[Scooby-Doo|"Scoobies"]]. The show primarily takes place in the [[List of fictional towns in television|fictional setting]] of [[Sunnydale]], a small [[Southern California]] city located on a "Hellmouth"; a portal "between this reality and the next", and a convergence point of mystical energies.<ref>{{cite web |last=Whedon |first=Joss |title=02 The Harvest – Transcript  |date=March 10, 2018 |publisher=Whedon's World |url=https://whedonsworld.com/02-the-harvest-transcript/ |access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref> Because of this, supernatural creatures and beings with magical powers, both good and evil, are drawn to Sunnydale or rise from below ground to menace the town and the world.

The series received critical and popular acclaim, and is often listed among the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television series of all time]]. Original airings often reached four to six million viewers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/best-tv-shows-of-all-time-2017-6|title=50 TV shows everyone should watch in their lifetime|work=INSIDER|first=Jacob|last=Shamsian|date=March 8, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2022|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145417/https://www.insider.com/best-tv-shows-of-all-time-2017-6|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "insightbb-buffy">{{cite web |author=Wahoske, Matthew J. |url=http://home.insightbb.com/~wahoskem/buffy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216043137/http://home.insightbb.com/~wahoskem/buffy.html |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |title=Nielsen Ratings For Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, And Firefly |work=Insightbb.com}}</ref> Although lower than successful shows on the "big four" networks ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/2001/fcc01133.txt |title=The Dual Network Rule |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |date=May 15, 2001 |quote=[T]he four major broadcast networks are unique among the media in their ability to reach a wide audience |access-date=September 24, 2006 |archive-date=December 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203101218/http://fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/2001/fcc01133.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> these ratings were a success for the relatively new and smaller WB Television Network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Speaker-Biographies-Generation-M-Media-in-the-Lives-of-8-18-Year-olds.pdf#search=%22%20Dawson's%20Creek%2C%20Buffy%20is%20often%20associated%20with%20the%20early%20success%20of%20the%20Warner%20Brothers%20Network.%22 |title=Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8–18 Year Olds |publisher=Kaiser Family Foundation |date=March 9, 2005 |quote=Mr. Levin was a key player in establishing The WB's distinct brand and youth appeal through programming such as ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'', ''[[Charmed]]'', ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]'', ''[[Smallville]]'', ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'', ''[[Everwood]]'' and ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804080910/http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Speaker-Biographies-Generation-M-Media-in-the-Lives-of-8-18-Year-olds.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2012}}</ref> Despite being mostly ignored in [[Above-the-line (filmmaking)|above-the-line]] categories by the [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmys]], the series was nominated for the [[American Film Institute Awards 2001|American Film Institute Award for Drama Series of the Year]], Gellar was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]] for her performance in the show and the series was nominated five times for [[TCA Awards|Television Critics Association Awards]], winning in 2003 for the [[19th TCA Awards|Television Critics Association Heritage Award]].

The success of ''Buffy'' has led to hundreds of tie-in products, including [[List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels|novels]], [[List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics|comics]] and [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer video games|video games]]. The series has received attention in [[fandom]] (including [[Unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer productions|fan films]]), [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer in popular culture|parody]], and [[Buffy studies|academia]], and has influenced the direction of other television series.<ref name="AllMovie" /><ref name="NewFrontier">{{Cite news |last=Harrington |first=Richard |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/09/30/joss-whedons-new-frontier/f31371dc-37a7-4adb-aaa9-95743bc1c10b/ |title=Joss Whedon's New Frontier |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 30, 2005|access-date=January 18, 2022|quote=One of the best, most influential, genre-defining television series in decades}}</ref> ''Buffy'' was part of a wave of television series from the late 1990s and early 2000s that featured [[strong female character]]s, alongside ''[[Charmed]]'', ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', ''[[La Femme Nikita (TV series)|La Femme Nikita]]'', ''[[Dark Angel (American TV series)|Dark Angel]]'', and ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=20 Strong Women Who Kick Ass On TV |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g19496038/20-strongest-women-on-tv/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |date=March 21, 2018 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614093948/https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g19496038/20-strongest-women-on-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The series, as well as its spin-off series, ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'', and extensions thereof, have been collectively termed the "''[[Buffyverse]]''".

==Premise==

===Characters===
{{Main|List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters|List of Buffyverse villains and supernatural beings}}

[[Buffy Summers]] (played by [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]) is the "[[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Slayer]]", one in a long line of young women chosen by [[destiny|fate]] to battle evil forces. This mystical calling grants her powers that dramatically increase physical strength, endurance, agility, accelerated healing, intuition, and a limited degree of [[precognition]], usually in the form of [[prophecy|prophetic]] dreams. She is known as a reluctant hero who wants to live a normal life. However, she learns to embrace her destiny as the vampire slayer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tribute.ca/news/photo-galleries/sexiest-female-superheroes-and-supervillains/buffy-summers-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-1997-2003/ |title=Buffy Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) – Sexiest Female Superheroes and Supervillains |website=Tribute.ca |language=en |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922051232/https://www.tribute.ca/news/photo-galleries/sexiest-female-superheroes-and-supervillains/buffy-summers-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-1997-2003/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.laweekly.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-is-a-role-model-for-the-resistance/ |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a Role Model for the Resistance |last=Barlow |first=Eve |date=March 11, 2017 |work=L.A. Weekly |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045506/https://www.laweekly.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-is-a-role-model-for-the-resistance/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Buffy receives guidance from her [[Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Watcher]], [[Rupert Giles]] ([[Anthony Head|Anthony Stewart Head]]). Giles, rarely referred to by his first name (it is later revealed that in his rebellious younger days he went by "Ripper"), is a member of the [[Watchers' Council]], whose job is to train and guide the Slayers. Giles researches the supernatural creatures that Buffy must face, offers insights into their origins, advice on how to defeat them, and helps her train to stay in fighting form.

Buffy also receives help from the friends she meets at Sunnydale High School: [[Willow Rosenberg]] ([[Alyson Hannigan]]) and [[Xander Harris]] ([[Nicholas Brendon]]). Willow is originally a [[Wallflower (people)|wallflower]] who excels at academics, providing a contrast to Buffy's outgoing personality and less-than-stellar educational record. They share the social isolation that comes with being different, and especially from being exceptional young women. As the series progresses, Willow becomes a more assertive character and a powerful witch, and realizes she is a [[lesbian]]. In contrast, Xander, with no supernatural abilities, provides [[comic relief]] and a grounded perspective. Buffy and Willow are the only characters who appear in all 144 episodes, with Xander appearing in 143.

The cast of characters grew over the course of the series. Buffy first arrives in Sunnydale with her mother, [[Joyce Summers]] ([[Kristine Sutherland]]), who functions as an anchor of normality in the Summers' lives even after she learns of Buffy's role in the supernatural world ("[[Becoming, Part Two]]"). Buffy's younger sister [[Dawn Summers]] ([[Michelle Trachtenberg]]) is introduced in season five ("[[Buffy vs. Dracula]]"). [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] ([[David Boreanaz]]), a vampire cursed with a soul, is Buffy's love interest throughout the first three seasons. He leaves Buffy after realizing he will never be able to give her a normal life. He goes on to make amends for his sins and to search for redemption in his own spin-off television series, ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''. He makes several guest appearances in the remaining seasons, and is present in ''Buffy''{{'}}s final episode.

At Sunnydale High, Buffy meets several other students besides Willow and Xander willing to join her fight for good, an informal group eventually tagged the "Scooby Gang" or "Scoobies". [[Cordelia Chase]] ([[Charisma Carpenter]]), the archetypal shallow cheerleader, reluctantly becomes involved. [[Oz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Daniel "Oz" Osbourne]] ([[Seth Green]]), a fellow student, rock guitarist and werewolf, joins the group through his relationship with Willow. [[Jenny Calendar]] ([[Robia LaMorte]]), Sunnydale's computer science teacher, joins the group after helping destroy a demon trapped in cyberspace during season 1; she later becomes Giles' love interest. [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]] ([[Emma Caulfield]]) is a former vengeance demon called Anyanka who specialized in avenging scorned women; after losing her powers she became Xander's lover, then joined the Scoobies in season four.

In Buffy's senior year at high school, she meets [[Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Faith]] ([[Eliza Dushku]]), another Slayer called forth when Slayer [[Kendra (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Kendra Young]] ([[Bianca Lawson]]) was killed by vampire [[Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Drusilla]] ([[Juliet Landau]]) in season two. Although Faith initially fights on the side of good with Buffy and the rest of the group, she later joins forces with [[Richard Wilkins (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Mayor Richard Wilkins]] ([[Harry Groener]]) after accidentally killing a human. She reappears briefly in the fourth season, looking for vengeance, and moves to ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' where she voluntarily goes to jail for her crimes. Faith reappears in season seven of ''Buffy'', after having helped Angel and his crew, and fights alongside Buffy against the First Evil.

Buffy gathers other allies throughout the series: [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]] ([[James Marsters]]), a vampire, is an old companion of Angelus (Angel) and one of Buffy's major enemies in early seasons, although he and Buffy later become allies and lovers. At the end of season six, Spike regains his soul. Spike is known for his [[Billy Idol]]-style [[peroxide blond]] hair and his black leather coat, stolen from a previous Slayer, [[Nikki Wood]]. Nikki's son, [[Robin Wood (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Robin Wood]] ([[D. B. Woodside]]), joins the group in the final season. [[Tara Maclay]] ([[Amber Benson]]) is a fellow member of Willow's [[Wicca]] group during season four, and their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship. Buffy becomes involved personally and professionally with [[Riley Finn]] ([[Marc Blucas]]), a military operative in "the Initiative", which hunts demons using science and technology. The seventh and final season sees [[geek]]y wannabe-villain [[Andrew Wells]] ([[Tom Lenk]]) side with the Scoobies after initially being their captive/hostage; they regard him more as a nuisance than an ally.

''Buffy'' featured dozens of major and minor recurring characters. For example, the "Big Bad" (villain) characters were featured for at least one season (for example, [[Glory (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Glory]] is a character who appeared in 12 episodes, spanning much of season five). Similarly, characters who allied themselves to the group and characters who attended the same institutions were sometimes featured in multiple episodes.

===Setting and filming locations===
{{Main|Sunnydale}}
[[File:Torrance High School.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Torrance High School]] was used for the fictional Sunnydale High School (2008)]]

The show is set in the fictional California town of Sunnydale, whose suburban [[Sunnydale High|Sunnydale High School]] sits on top of a "[[Hellmouth]]", a gateway to demon realms. The Hellmouth, located beneath the school library, is a source of mystical energies as well as a [[wikt:nexus|nexus]] for a wide variety of evil creatures and supernatural phenomena. Joss Whedon cited the Hellmouth and "[[High school (North America)|high school]] as [[hell]]" as one of the primary metaphors in creating the series.<ref>Yovanovich, Linda, "Young Blood", ''Smgfan.com'', originally from ''OnSat'' (July 14, 1997), Whedon said: "[High school as hell] was always the basis of the show. When they said, 'Do you want to turn it into a show?' The character was not enough alone to sustain it. But you know when I thought of the idea of the horror movies as a metaphor for high school, [I said] okay this is something that will work week to week."</ref>

Most of ''Buffy'' was shot on location in [[Los Angeles]], California. The high school used in the first three seasons is actually [[Torrance High School]], in [[Torrance, California]], the same high school used for ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]''.<ref name="torrence">"[http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/buffy.html Buffy the Vampire Slayer film locations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225538/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/buffy.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}", ''Movie-locations.com''</ref> The show was initially very dependent on location shooting, because the production budget allowed for few permanent sets to be built.<ref name="autogenerated1998">{{cite video |title=Designing Buffy Featurette |medium=dvd |year=1998 |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Video}}</ref> In the first season this was limited to the interior of Sunnydale High (the library, hallways, and classrooms), Buffy's bedroom, and the Master's underground lair. Starting in the second season, more permanent sets were built, including the full interior of Buffy's house, Angel's mansion, and Giles's apartment, as well as extensions to the high school set (the addition of a dining hall and commons area).<ref name="autogenerated1998"/> A driveway area near the gated entrance to Fox Studios was transformed into a graveyard.<ref name="autogenerated1998"/> In the third season the Sunnydale "Main Street" was constructed on the backlot, which would be a staple location for the rest of the series.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Watcher's Guide Vol. 2: Interview with Production Designer Casey Meyers |author=Nancy Holder |year=2000 |pages=355–56}}</ref> When the show transitioned to college in the fourth season, the hallway sets from Sunnydale High were remodeled to appear as the interior hallways of UC Sunnydale.<ref>{{cite video |title=Designing Buffy Season 4 Featurette |medium=dvd |year=2000 |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Video}}</ref>

Some of the exterior shots of the college Buffy attends, UC Sunnydale, were filmed at [[UCLA]]. Several episodes include shots from the Oviatt Library at [[CSUN]].<ref name="CSUN WIKI">Various authors, "[[California State University, Northridge#Film and television shoots]]", "California State University, Northridge: Film & Television Shoots".</ref><ref name="BUFFY CSUN">CSUN Oviatt Library Website, "[http://library.csun.edu/About/InMedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130011841/http://library.csun.edu/About/InMedia|date=January 30, 2016}}", "Oviatt Library In The Media"</ref> The exterior of the Crawford Street mansion where Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla lived was [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]'s [[Ennis House]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-angels-house-has-been-saved/ |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Angel's House Has Been Saved |publisher=TV Series Finale |first=Trevor |last=Kimball |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145415/https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-angels-house-has-been-saved/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===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. -->

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes}}
{{:List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes}}

===Plot summary===
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[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 1)|Season one]] exemplifies the "high school is hell" concept. [[Buffy Summers]] has just moved to [[Sunnydale]] after burning down her old school's gym and hopes to escape her Slayer duties. Her plans are complicated by [[Rupert Giles]], her new [[Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Watcher]], who reminds her of the inescapable presence of evil. Sunnydale High is built atop a Hellmouth, a portal to demon dimensions that attracts supernatural phenomena to the area. A mysterious man, Angel, warns Buffy of upcoming danger. She eventually discovers that he is a vampire cursed with a soul, which prevents him from feeding off living humans. Buffy befriends two schoolmates, [[Xander Harris]] and [[Willow Rosenberg]], who help her fight evil throughout the series. Buffy, her Watcher and friends later start to collectively call themselves the "Scooby Gang". Their first major threat is the [[Master (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Master]], an ancient and especially threatening vampire, who was trapped in the hellmouth underground. When he escapes, Buffy defeats him and saves Sunnydale.

The emotional stakes are raised in [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 2)|season two]]. Vampire couple [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]] and [[Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Drusilla]] come to town. A new slayer, [[Kendra (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Kendra]], who is activated as a result of Buffy's brief death in season one, also arrives in Sunnydale. Popular schoolmate, [[Cordelia Chase]], who resented Buffy and her friends, joins the Scooby Gang and becomes involved with Xander. Willow learns witchcraft and becomes involved with schoolmate [[Oz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Daniel "Oz" Osbourne]], who is a werewolf. The romantic relationship between Buffy and the vampire [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] develops. But after they have sex, Angel experiences a moment of true happiness, breaking the curse that gave him his soul, thus reverting him to a sadistic killer. The evil vampire, famously known as Angelus, joins the other vampires Spike and Drusilla, and he torments Buffy and her friends. He murders multiple innocents and Giles's new girlfriend [[Jenny Calendar]], a [[Romani people|Romani woman]] who was sent to maintain Angel's curse. Kendra is murdered by Drusilla. To avert an apocalypse, Buffy is forced to banish Angel to a hell dimension just moments after Willow has restored his soul. The ordeal leaves Buffy emotionally shattered, and she leaves Sunnydale.

After attempting to start a new life in Los Angeles, Buffy returns to town in [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 3)|season three]]. Angel has been mysteriously released from the demon dimension but is close to insanity due to the torment he suffered there. He recovers, but he and Buffy realize that a relationship between them can never happen and Angel leaves Sunnydale at the end of the season. Giles is fired from the Watchers' Council because he has developed a "father's love" for Buffy and he is replaced by [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]]. Towards the end of the season, Buffy announces that she will no longer be working for the council. Early in the season, she meets [[Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Faith]], the Slayer activated after Kendra's death. She also encounters the affable [[Mayor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Mayor Richard Wilkins III]], who secretly has plans to "ascend" (become a "pure" demon) on Sunnydale High's graduation day. Although Faith initially works well with Buffy, she becomes increasingly unstable after accidentally killing a human and forms a relationship with the paternal yet manipulative mayor. The rivalry between Buffy and Faith eventually lands Faith in a coma. At the end of the season, after the mayor becomes a huge snake-like demon, Buffy, Angel, the Scooby Gang and the entire graduating class destroy him by blowing up Sunnydale High. At the end of the season, Angel and Cordelia leave the series to star in the spin-off series, ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''.

[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 4)|Season four]] sees Buffy and Willow enroll at [[University of California|UC]] Sunnydale, while Xander joins the workforce and begins dating [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]], a former vengeance demon. Spike returns as a series regular and is abducted by The Initiative, a top-secret military installation based beneath the UC Sunnydale campus. They implant a [[Integrated circuit|microchip]] in his head that prevents him from harming humans. Every time he tries to harm a human, he suffers excruciating pain. Upon learning that he can still harm other demons, he joins in with the Scooby Gang, purely for the joy of fighting. Oz leaves town after realizing that he is too dangerous as a werewolf, and Willow falls in love with [[Tara Maclay]], another witch. Faith awakens from her coma and escapes from Sunnydale to L.A. Buffy begins dating [[Riley Finn]], a graduate student and [[US Army Ranger]] seconded to The Initiative. Although appearing to be a well-meaning anti-demon operation, The Initiative's sinister plans are revealed when [[Adam (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Adam]], a monster secretly built from parts of humans, demons and machinery, escapes and begins to wreak havoc on the town. Adam is destroyed by a magical composite of Buffy and her three friends, and The Initiative is shut down.

During [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 5)|season five]], a younger sister, [[Dawn Summers|Dawn]], suddenly appears in Buffy's life; although she is new to the series, to the characters it is as if she has always been there. Buffy is confronted by [[Glory (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Glory]], an exiled Hell God who is searching for a [[The Key (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|"Key"]] that will allow her to return to her Hell dimension and in the process blur the lines between dimensions and unleash Hell on Earth. It is later discovered that the Key's protectors have used Buffy's blood to turn the Key into human form–Dawn–concurrently implanting everybody with lifelong memories of her. The Watchers' Council aids in Buffy's research on Glory, and she and Giles are both reinstated on their own terms. Riley leaves early in the season after realizing that Buffy does not love him and joins a military demon-hunting operation. Spike, still implanted with his chip from The Initiative, realizes he is in love with Buffy and increasingly helps the Scoobies in their fight. Buffy's mother [[Joyce Summers|Joyce]] dies of a brain [[aneurysm]], while at the end of the season, Xander proposes to Anya. Glory finally discovers that Dawn is the key and kidnaps her, using Dawn's blood to open a portal to the Hell dimension. To save Dawn, Buffy sacrifices her own life by diving into the portal, thus closing it with her death.

At the beginning of [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 6)|season six]], Buffy has been dead for 147 days, but Buffy's friends resurrect her through a powerful spell, believing they have rescued her from a Hell dimension. Buffy returns in a deep depression, explaining (several episodes later) that she had been in [[heaven]] and is devastated to be pulled back to earth. Giles returns to England because he has concluded that Buffy has become too reliant on him, while Buffy takes up a fast-food job to support herself and Dawn and develops a secret, mutually abusive sexual relationship with Spike. Dawn suffers from [[kleptomania]] and feelings of alienation, Xander leaves Anya at the altar (after which she once again becomes a vengeance demon), and Willow becomes addicted to magic, causing Tara to temporarily leave her. They also begin to deal with the [[Trio (Buffyverse)|Trio]], a group of [[nerd]]s led by [[Warren Mears]] who use their proficiency in technology and magic to attempt to kill Buffy and take over Sunnydale. Warren is shown to be the only competent villain of the group and, after Buffy thwarts his plans multiple times, the Trio breaks apart. Warren becomes unhinged and attacks Buffy with a gun, accidentally killing Tara in the process. This causes Willow to descend into nihilistic darkness and unleash all of her dark magical powers, killing Warren and attempting to kill his friends. Giles returns to face her in battle and infuses her with light magic, tapping into her remaining humanity. This overwhelms Willow with guilt and pain, whereupon she attempts to destroy the world to end everyone's suffering, although it eventually allows Xander to reach through her pain and end her rampage. Late in the season, after losing control and trying to rape Buffy, Spike leaves Sunnydale and travels to see a demon and asks him to "return him to what he used to be" so that he can "give Buffy what she deserves". After Spike passes a series of brutal tests, the demon restores his soul.

During [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 7)|season seven]], it is revealed that Buffy's second resurrection caused instability in the slayer line which also allowed the First Evil to begin tipping the balance between good and evil. It begins by hunting down and killing inactive [[Potential Slayers]] and soon raises an army of ancient, powerful [[Turok-Han]] vampires. After the Watchers' Council is destroyed, a number of Potential Slayers (some brought by Giles) take refuge in Buffy's house. Faith returns to help fight the First Evil, and the new Sunnydale High School principal, [[Robin Wood (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Robin Wood]], also joins the cause. The Turok-Han vampires and a sinister, [[misogyny|misogynistic]] preacher known as [[Caleb (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Caleb]] begin causing havoc for the Scoobies. As the Hellmouth becomes more active, nearly all of Sunnydale's population–humans and demons alike–flee. In the series finale, Buffy kills Caleb and Angel returns to Sunnydale with an amulet, which Buffy gives to Spike; the Scoobies then surround the Hellmouth, and the Potential Slayers descend into its cavern while Willow casts a spell that activates their Slayer powers. Anya dies in the fight, as do some of the new Slayers. Spike's amulet channels the power of the sun to destroy the Hellmouth and all the vampires within it, including himself. The collapse of the cavern creates a crater that swallows all of Sunnydale, while the survivors of the battle escape in a [[school bus]]. In the final scene, as the survivors survey the crater, Dawn asks, "What are we going to do now?" Buffy slowly begins to enigmatically smile as she contemplates the future ahead of her, ending the series on a hopeful note.

==Production==

===Origins===
[[File:Joss Whedon by Gage Skidmore 8.jpg|200px|thumb|''Buffy'' creator Joss Whedon (2018) also served as executive producer, head writer, and director on the series.]]
Writer [[Joss Whedon]] says that "Rhonda the Immortal Waitress" was really the first incarnation of the ''Buffy'' concept, "the idea of some woman who seems to be completely insignificant who turns out to be extraordinary".<ref>{{cite AV media |title=''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'': Television with a Bite |people=Jack Walworth (Director), [[Bill Mumy]] (Narrator) |series=[[Biography (TV series)|Biography]] |via=''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 6)#DVD release|Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 6)]]'' DVD set, disc 6 ([[DVD region code|region 1]] release: May 25, 2004) |date=May 14, 2003 |minutes=2:15 |publisher=[[A&E Network]]}}</ref> This early, unproduced idea evolved into ''Buffy'', which Whedon developed to invert the Hollywood formula of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every [[horror film|horror movie]]".<ref name=blondegirl>{{cite book |last=Billson |first=Anne |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |date=December 5, 2005 |pages=24–25|title-link=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BFI TV Classics) }}</ref> Whedon wanted "to subvert that idea and create someone who was a hero".<ref name=blondegirl /> He explained, "The very first mission statement of the show was the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gottlieb |first=Allie |url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/09.26.02/buffy1-0239.html |title=Buffy's Angels |publisher=Metroactive.com |date=September 26, 2002|url-status=live|access-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021001101003/http://www.metroactive.com:80/papers/metro/09.26.02/buffy1-0239.html |archive-date=October 1, 2002 }}</ref>

The idea was first visited through Whedon's script for the 1992 movie ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', which featured [[Kristy Swanson]] in the title role. The director, [[Fran Rubel Kuzui]], saw it as a "pop culture comedy about what people think about [[vampire]]s".<ref>{{cite book |last=Havens |first=Candace |title=Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy |publisher=Benbella Books |date=May 1, 2003 |page=51}}</ref><ref>Fran Kuzui also discussed ''Buffy'' in {{cite book |last1=Golden |first1=Christopher |last2=Holder |first2=Nancy |title=Watcher's Guide Vol. 1 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=October 1, 1998 |pages=247–248|title-link=List of Buffyverse guidebooks#"Watcher's Guides" }}</ref> Whedon disagreed: "I had written this scary film about an empowered woman, and they turned it into a broad comedy. It was crushing."<ref>Havens, p. 23.</ref> The script was praised within the industry,<ref>{{cite web |last=Brundage |first=James |url=http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/1992/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/?OpenDocument |title=''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' film review |publisher=Filmcritic.com |year=1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101501/http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/1992/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/?OpenDocument |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> but the movie was not.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/ |title=''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' |publisher=Rottentomatoes.com |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428231229/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/buffy_the_vampire_slayer |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several years later, [[Gail Berman]] (later a Fox executive, but at that time president and CEO of the production company [[Sandollar Productions|Sandollar]] Television, who owned the TV rights to the movie) approached Whedon to develop his ''Buffy'' concept into a television series.<ref>Golden & and Holder, pp. 249–250.</ref> Whedon explained that "They said, 'Do you want to do a show?' And I thought, 'High school as a horror movie.' And so the metaphor became the central concept behind ''Buffy'', and that's how I sold it."<ref>{{cite web |last=Said |first=SF |url=http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html |title=Interview with Joss Whedon by SF Said |publisher=Shebytches.com |year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512141258/http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html |archive-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> The [[supernatural]] elements in the series stood as [[metaphor]]s for personal anxieties associated with [[adolescence]] and young adulthood.<ref name="FtF-Intro">{{cite book |last1=Wilcox |first1=Rhonda V. |first2=David |last2=Lavery |title=Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' |chapter=Introduction |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |date=April 2002 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amKx_wH-PDYC&q=buffy+forces+introduction&pg=PR17 |pages=xix |no-pp=true |isbn=978-0-7425-1681-6 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145406/https://books.google.com/books?id=amKx_wH-PDYC&q=buffy+forces+introduction&pg=PR17 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="insideofyou20210922">{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hynZ2j9M9IE |title=Was JAMES MARSTERS Aware of the JOSS WHEDON Toxic Workplace on BUFFY?!? |website=Inside of You |publisher=YouTube |last=Rosenbaum |first=Michael |date=2021-09-22 |access-date=2023-04-14}}</ref> Early in its development, the series was going to be simply titled ''Slayer''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-titles-how-to-choose-them-298110 |title=The Art of Picking TV Titles: 9 Do's and Don'ts |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Lacey |last1=Rose |first2=Marisa |last2=Guthrie |date=March 9, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2012 |archive-date=March 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311181020/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-titles-how-to-choose-them-298110 |url-status=live }}</ref> Whedon went on to write and partly fund a 25-minute [[Unaired Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot|non-broadcast pilot]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Topping |first=Keith |title=Slayer |publisher=[[Virgin Publishing]] |date=December 1, 2004 |page=7|title-link=List of Buffyverse guidebooks#Keith Topping }}</ref> that was shown to networks and eventually sold to the [[WB Network]]. The latter promoted the premiere with a series of ''History of the Slayer'' clips,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/06/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-premiere-trailer/ |title=''Buffy, The Vampire Slayer'', Forgotten Premiere Trailer |publisher=TV Obscurities |date=June 28, 2008 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045508/http://www.tvobscurities.com/2008/06/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-premiere-trailer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Welcome to the Hellmouth|first episode]] aired on March 10, 1997. Whedon has declared in June 2003 that the non-broadcast pilot would not be included with DVDs of the series "while there is strength in these bones", stating that it "sucks on ass".<ref>{{cite web |title=An Interview with Joss Whedon |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/23/an-interview-with-joss-whedon |author=Ken P.|archive-date = July 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060727002702/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/425/425492p10.html |date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=March 6, 2006 |publisher=IGN  |quote=<br />'''IGNFF: ''Is the presentation ever going to make it to DVD?'''''<br />'''WHEDON:''' ''Not while there is strength in these bones.''<br />'''IGNFF: ''Well, I mean, it's one of the most heavily bootlegged things on the Internet.'''''<br />'''WHEDON:''' ''Yeah. It sucks on ass.''<br />'''IGNFF: ''Yeah, it does, but it's sort of that archival, historical perspective...'''''<br />'''WHEDON:''' ''Yeah, I've got your historical perspective.''<br />'''IGNFF: ''It would take it off the bootleg market...'''''<br />'''WHEDON:''' ''Ah, I don't – what are you going to do?''<br />'''IGNFF: ''Put it on the DVD.'''''<br />'''WHEDON:''' ''Not me.''}}</ref> [[Dolly Parton]] was an uncredited producer of the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=2023-02-05 |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar Says Dolly Parton Was An Uncredited Producer On 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/sarah-michelle-gellar-dolly-parton-uncredited-producer-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-1235249701/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="People-Parton" />

===Executive producers===
Joss Whedon was credited as [[executive producer]] throughout the run of the series, and for the first five seasons (1997–2001) he was also the [[showrunner]], supervising the writing and all aspects of production. [[Marti Noxon]] took on the role for seasons six and seven (2001–2003), but Whedon continued to be involved with writing and directing ''Buffy'' alongside projects such as ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'', ''[[Fray (comic)|Fray]]'', and ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]''. Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, [[Kaz Kuzui]], were credited as executive producers but were not involved in the show. Their credit, rights, and [[royalties]] over the franchise relate to their funding, producing, and directing of the original movie version of ''Buffy''.<ref>Golden and Holder, p. 241. "Gail Berman and Fran Kuzui came to Whedon to ask if he wanted to do the TV series." See also, pp. 246–249.</ref>

===Writing===
[[Screenwriting|Script-writing]] was done by [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy]], a production company created by Whedon in 1997. The writers with the most writing credits<ref name="buffywriters1">{{cite web |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/ |title=Buffy Episode Guide |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203104527/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> are [[Joss Whedon]], [[Steven S. DeKnight]], [[Jane Espenson]], [[David Fury]], [[Drew Goddard]], [[Drew Greenberg]], [[David Greenwalt]], [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]], [[Marti Noxon]] and [[Doug Petrie]]. Other authors with writing credits include Dean Batali, [[Carl Ellsworth]], [[Tracey Forbes]], [[Ashley Gable]], [[Howard Gordon]], Diego Gutierrez, Elin Hampton, Rob Des Hotel, Matt Kiene, Ty King, Thomas A. Swyden, Joe Reinkemeyer, Dana Reston and [[Dan Vebber]].<ref name="buffywriters2">{{cite web |publisher=TV.com |url=http://www.tv.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/show/10/cast.html?flag=3&tag=subtabs;writers_directors |title=List of Buffy Writers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604115047/http://www.tv.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/show/10/cast.html?flag=3&tag=subtabs%3Bwriters_directors |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

[[Jane Espenson]] has explained how scripts came together.<ref>{{cite web |last=Espenson |first=Jane |url=http://www.janeespenson.com/writing_process.php |title=The Writing Process |publisher=JaneEspenson.com |year=2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411042938/http://www.janeespenson.com/writing_process.php |url-status=live }}</ref> First, the writers talked about the emotional issues facing Buffy Summers and how she would confront them through her battle against evil supernatural forces. Then the episode's story was broken into acts and scenes. Act breaks were designed as key moments to intrigue viewers so that they would stay with the episode following the [[television advertisement|commercial break]]. The writers collectively filled in scenes surrounding these act breaks for a more fleshed-out story. A whiteboard marked their progress by mapping brief descriptions of each scene. Once breaking was complete, the credited author wrote an outline for the episode, which was checked by Whedon or Noxon. The writer then wrote a full script, which went through a series of drafts, and finally a quick rewrite from the showrunner. The final article was used as the shooting script.

===Music===
{{main|Music in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel}}

''Buffy'' features a mix of [[film score|original]], [[independent music|indie]], rock, and pop music. The composers spent around seven days scoring between fourteen and thirty minutes of music for each episode.<ref name = "dvdfeature"/> [[Christophe Beck]] revealed that the ''Buffy'' composers used computers and synthesizers and were limited to recording one or two "real" samples. Despite this, their goal was to produce "dramatic" orchestration that would stand up to film scores.<ref name = "dvdfeature"/>

Alongside the score, most episodes featured indie rock music, usually at the characters' venue of choice, The Bronze. ''Buffy'' music supervisor John King explained that "we like to use unsigned bands" that "you would believe would play in this place".<ref name="dvdfeature">"Buffy: Inside the Music" from "[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 4|Buffy the Vampire Slayer Complete Fourth Season DVD set]] ''20th Century Fox'' (May 13, 2002), disc three.</ref> For example, the fictional group [[Dingoes Ate My Baby (band)|Dingoes Ate My Baby]] were portrayed on screen by front group [[Four Star Mary]].<ref name="dingoesmary">{{cite web |url=http://www.fourstarmary.com/bioscontent.html |title=Four Star Mary Bios |publisher=Four Star Mary |access-date=July 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017113312/http://www.fourstarmary.com/bioscontent.html |archive-date=October 17, 2006}}</ref> Pop songs by famous artists were rarely featured prominently, but several episodes spotlighted the sounds of more famous artists such as [[Sarah McLachlan]],<ref name="sarahmcbuffy">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/becomingtwo/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Becoming, Part Two' |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519043255/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/becomingtwo/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sarahmcbuffy1">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/grave/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Grave' |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522083040/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/grave/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[The Brian Jonestown Massacre]], [[Blink-182]],<ref name="blinkbuffy">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/somethingblue/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Something Blue' |publisher=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306093825/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/somethingblue/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Third Eye Blind]],<ref name="thirdeyebuffy">{{cite web |url=http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/faithhope.shtml |title='Faith, Hope, and Trick' at BuffyGuide |publisher=BuffyGuide |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305085151/http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/faithhope.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Aimee Mann]]<ref name="aimeebuffy2">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/sleeper/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Sleeper' |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525132755/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/sleeper/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> (who also had a line of dialogue), [[The Dandy Warhols]],<ref name="dandywarholsbuffy">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/triangle/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Triangle' |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522083105/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/triangle/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Cibo Matto]],<ref name="cibobuffy">{{cite web |url=http://www.wbr.com/laramie/laramie_press.html |title=Cibo Matto Press Release |publisher=Cibo Matto Official Website |access-date=July 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508223203/http://www.wbr.com/laramie/laramie_press.html |archive-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref> [[Coldplay]], [[Lisa Loeb]], [[K's Choice]], and [[Michelle Branch]].<ref name="michellebuffy">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/tabularasa/trivia.shtml |title=BBC Cult Buffy Trivia – 'Tabula Rasa' |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522083101/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/tabularasa/trivia.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The popularity of [[Music in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel|music used in ''Buffy'']] has led to the release of four soundtrack albums: ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album]]'',<ref name="amazonbuffyq">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00001R3O2 |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album' at Amazon |publisher=Amazon |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309205320/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00001R3O2 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale – Music from the TV Series|Radio Sunnydale]]'',<ref name="amazonbuffy1">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000E6EFX |title='Radio Sunnydale' Album at Amazon |year=1997 |publisher=Amazon |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320145414/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000E6EFX |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Once More, with Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|"Once More, with Feeling" Soundtrack]]'',<ref name="amazonbuffy2">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006J3WH |title='Once More With Feeling!' Album at Amazon |date=1997 |publisher=Amazon |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316231459/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006J3WH |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="buffyalbums">{{cite web |url=http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/music.php |title=List of Buffy Albums at Buffy World |publisher=BuffyWorld |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303070003/http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/music.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="buffyalbums2">{{cite web |url=http://www.buffyguide.com/merchandise/soundtrack.shtml |title=Buffy Albums List at BuffyGuide |publisher=BuffyGuide |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173025/http://www.buffyguide.com/merchandise/soundtrack.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Score]]''.

=== Special effects ===
''Buffy'' features a variety of monsters and supernatural creatures. Monster suits were created by [[John Vulich]] and his special effects company Optic Nerve, while blending and beauty makeup was created by makeup supervisor Todd McIntosh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/john-vulich-dead-buffy-x-files-1201887277/ |title=John Vulich, Makeup Artist on 'Buffy,' 'X-Files,' Dies at 55 |website=Variety |first=Pat |last=Saperstein |date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref> McIntosh is credited with creating the iconic vampire face ''Buffy'' is known for, inspired by McIntosh's love for shows like the Gothic soap opera ''[[Dark Shadows]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warpaintmag.com/2013/10/21/behind-the-fangs/ |title=Behind The Fangs |website=Warpaint Magazine |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

===Inspirations and metaphors===
During the first year of the series, Whedon described the show as "''[[My So-Called Life]]'' with ''[[The X-Files]]''".<ref>"[http://www.cityofangel.com/council/joss.html Joss Whedon: Executive Producer of Angel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527032702/http://www.cityofangel.com/council/joss.html |date=May 27, 2006 }}", ''Cityofangel.com'' (2006). Also see Flowers, vris, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20050520231142/http://www.tvshows.nu/article.php3?id_article=4984 Sixth season was last great one for Buffy – Dvd Review]", ''Tvshows.nu'' (June 16, 2004). Executive Producer [[Marti Noxon]] stated: "I'm basically trying to write ''My So-Called Life'' with vampires."</ref> Alongside these series, Whedon has cited cult film ''[[Night of the Comet]]'' as a "big influence",<ref>{{cite web |author=P., Ken |url=https://ign.com/articles/2003/06/23/an-interview-with-joss-whedon?page=6 |title=An Interview with Joss Whedon |website=IGN |date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002134334/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/23/an-interview-with-joss-whedon?page=6 |url-status=live }}</ref> and credited the ''[[X-Men]]'' character [[Kitty Pryde]] as a significant influence on the character of Buffy.<ref>Whedon, Joss "[http://whedonesque.com/comments/3095 Kitty Pryde influenced Buffy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415232037/http://whedonesque.com/comments/3095 |date=April 15, 2016 }}" ''Whedonesque.com'' (February 27, 2004).</ref> The authors of the unofficial guidebook ''[[List of Buffyverse guidebooks#Dusted|Dusted]]'' point out that the series was often a [[pastiche]], borrowing elements from previous horror novels, movies, and short stories and from such common literary stock as folklore and mythology.<ref>Miles, Lawrence, ''[[List of Buffyverse guidebooks#"Dusted"|Dusted]]'', ''Mad Norwegian Press'' (November 2003).</ref> Nevitt and Smith describe ''Buffy'''s use of pastiche as "postmodern [[Gothic fiction|Gothic]]".<ref>Nevitt, Lucy, & Smith, Andy William, "[http://blogs.arts.unimelb.edu.au/refractory/2003/03/18/family-blood-is-always-the-sweetest-the-gothic-transgressions-of-angelangelus-lucy-nevitt-andy-william-smith/ Family Blood is always the Sweetest: The Gothic Transgressions of Angel/Angelusby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301165951/http://blogs.arts.unimelb.edu.au/refractory/2003/03/18/family-blood-is-always-the-sweetest-the-gothic-transgressions-of-angelangelus-lucy-nevitt-andy-william-smith/ |date=March 1, 2011 }}", ''Refractory: a Journal of Entertainment Media'' Vol. II (March 2003): Nevitt and Smith bring attention to ''Buffy''{{'}}s use of pastiche: "Multiple pastiche without enabling commentary is doubtless self-canceling, yet, at the same time, each element of pastiche calls into temporary being what and why it imitates."</ref> For example, the [[Adam (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Adam]] character parallels the [[Frankenstein's monster|''Frankenstein'' monster]], the episode "[[Bad Eggs (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Bad Eggs]]" parallels ''[[Invasion of the Body Snatchers]]'', "[[Out of Mind, Out of Sight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Out of Mind, Out of Sight]]" parallels ''[[The Invisible Man]]'', and so on.

''Buffy'' episodes frequently include a deeper meaning or [[metaphor]]. Whedon explained, "We think very carefully about what we're trying to say emotionally, politically, and even philosophically while we're writing it... it really is, apart from being a pop-culture phenomenon, something that is deeply layered textually episode by episode."<ref>[[Ian Shuttleworth|Shuttleworth, Ian]],{{cite web |url=http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059479741556 |title=Bite me, professor |access-date=February 2, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202205347/http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com%2FStoryFT%2FFullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059479741556 |archive-date=February 2, 2004 }} ''Financial Times'', citing interview from ''The New York Times'' (September 11, 2003)</ref> Academics Wilcox and Lavery provide examples of episodes dealing with real life issues portrayed as supernatural metaphors:

{{blockquote|In the world of ''Buffy'' the problems that teenagers face become literal monsters. A mother can take over her daughter's life ("[[Witch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode)|Witch]]"); a strict stepfather-to-be really is a heartless machine ("[[Ted (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Ted]]"); a young lesbian fears that her nature is demonic ("[[Goodbye Iowa]]" and "[[Family (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Family]]"); a girl who has sex with even the nicest-seeming guy may discover that he afterward becomes a monster ("[[Innocence (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Innocence]]").<ref name="FtF-Intro"/>}}

The love affair between the vampire [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] and Buffy was fraught with metaphors. For example, their night of passion cost the vampire his [[Soul (spirit)|soul]]. Sarah Michelle Gellar said: "That's the ultimate metaphor. You sleep with a guy and he turns bad on you".<ref>"[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bye-bye-buffy/ Bye-Bye Buffy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045507/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bye-bye-buffy/ |date=January 19, 2022 }}", ''CBS News'' (May 20, 2003). Retrieved January 18, 2022 [https://web.archive.org/web/20031018082815/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/20/entertainment/main554813.shtml Archived]</ref> Marsters said that his character was part of an audience-and network-forced change for the show; themes about overcoming adolescent problems gave way to "problems that are kind of sexy", frustrating Whedon.{{r|insideofyou20210922}}

Buffy struggles throughout the series with her calling as Slayer and the loss of freedom this entails, frequently sacrificing teenage experiences for her Slayer duties. Her difficulties and eventual empowering realizations are reflections of several dichotomies faced by modern women and echo [[feminism|feminist]] issues within society.<ref>Kaveny, C. (November 7, 2003). What Women Want: 'Buffy,' the Pope, and the New Feminists. Commonweal, 18–24.</ref>

In the episode "[[Becoming (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Becoming (Part 2)]]", when Joyce learns that Buffy is the Slayer, her reaction has strong echoes of a parent discovering her child is gay, including denial, suggesting that she tries "not being a Slayer", before ultimately kicking Buffy out of the house.<ref name="stafford">{{cite book |last=Stafford |first=Nikki |title=Bite Me!: The Unofficial Guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Chosen Edition |publisher=ECW Press |date=December 1, 2007 |isbn=978-1-55022-807-6 |page=182}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[Katie Holmes]] and [[Selma Blair]] were in the running for the role of Buffy in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/photos/34099/25-secrets-about-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revealed |title=25 Secrets About Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revealed |website=E! Online |date=April 14, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> [[Natasha Lyonne]] was also considered for the role but declined it due to not wanting to commit to a series at the age of 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/natasha-lyonne-turned-down-buffy-lead-role/ |title=Poker Face's Natasha Lyonne Turned Down the Role of Buffy the Vampire Slayer |website=CBR |first=Michael |last=John-Day |date=April 21, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> Other actresses who originally auditioned for the role of Buffy and got other roles in the show include [[Julie Benz]] (Darla), [[Elizabeth Anne Allen]] (Amy Madison), [[Julia Lee (actress)|Julia Lee]] (Chantarelle/Lily Houston), [[Charisma Carpenter]] (Cordelia Chase) and [[Mercedes McNab]] (Harmony Kendall).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/buffy-vampire-slayer-actresses-almost-cast-charisma-carpenter/ |title=Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Actresses Who Almost Played Buffy Summers |website=Screen Rant |first=Kara |last=Hedash |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> [[Bianca Lawson]], who played [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|slayer]] Kendra Young in season 2 of the show, originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia before Carpenter was cast in the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whatculture.com/tv/10-casting-what-ifs-from-buffy-the-vampire-slayer?page=2 |title=10 Casting 'What Ifs' From Buffy The Vampire Slayer |website=WhatCulture |first=James |last=Hanton |date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>

The title role went to [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]], who had appeared as Sydney Rutledge on ''[[Swans Crossing]]'' and [[Kendall Hart]] on ''[[All My Children]]''. At age 18 in 1995, Gellar had already won a [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Younger Leading Actress in a Drama Series.<ref name="smgawards">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/awards |title=Awards for Sarah Michelle Gellar |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120220808/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/awards |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, she originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia. After watching her audition, Whedon asked her to come back in and audition for the lead role of Buffy.<ref name="smgauditions">Havens, pp. 35–36.</ref>

A talent agent spotted [[David Boreanaz]] on the sidewalk walking his dog.<ref name="autogenerated272">{{cite book |first1=Christopher |last1=Golden |first2=Nancy |last2=Holder |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide Vol. 1 |year=1998 |page=272}}</ref> He immediately contacted casting director Marcia Shulman, saying that he had found Angel.<ref name="autogenerated272"/>

[[Anthony Head|Anthony Stewart Head]] had already led a prolific acting and singing career<ref name="headimdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/ |title=Anthony Head |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903031458/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but remained best known in the United States for a [[Gold Blend couple|series of twelve coffee commercials]] with [[Sharon Maughan]] for [[Nescafé|Taster's Choice]] [[instant coffee]].<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 210. "His long-lasting fame as the romantic and intriguing coffee guy is gradually being replaced by his new image as librarian in ''Buffy''."</ref> He accepted the role of [[Rupert Giles]].

[[Nicholas Brendon]], unlike other ''Buffy'' regulars, had little acting experience, instead working various jobs—including [[production assistant]], plumber's assistant, veterinary janitor, food delivery, script delivery, day care counselor, and waiter—before breaking into acting and overcoming his [[stuttering|stutter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nickbrendon.com/biography/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530061536/http://nickbrendon.com/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 30, 2012 |publisher=NickBrendon.com |title=Biography}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kappes |first=Serena |url=http://nickbrendon.com/2001/05/01/xander-slays-his-demon/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712203905/http://nickbrendon.com/2001/05/01/xander-slays-his-demon/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Xander Slays His Demon |publisher=Nickbrendon.com, originally from People.com |date=May 2001}}</ref> He landed the role of [[Xander Harris]] following four days of auditioning.<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 199. Brendon said "Four days. That's fast."</ref> [[Ryan Reynolds]] was offered a undisclosed role, but declined due to his real-life experience in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/no-regrets-for-canuck-actor-ryan-reynolds/article_ba8b683d-ed11-5ff9-8e54-b5e9b3c21280.html |title=No regrets for Canuck actor Ryan Reynolds |work=Toronto Star |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=April 10, 2025}}</ref> [[Danny Strong]] also auditioned for the part, he later played the role of [[Jonathan Levinson]], a recurring character for much of the series run.

[[Alyson Hannigan]] was the last of the original six to be cast. Following her role in ''[[My Stepmother Is an Alien]]'',<ref name="hanniganimdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004989/ |title=Alyson Hannigan |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814152944/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004989/ |url-status=live }}</ref> she appeared in commercials and supporting roles on television shows throughout the early 1990s.<ref name="hanniganimdb" /> In 1996, the role of [[Willow Rosenberg]] was originally played by Riff Regan for the unaired ''Buffy'' pilot, but Hannigan auditioned when the role was being recast for the series proper. Hannigan described her approach to the character through Willow's reaction to a particular moment: Willow sadly tells Buffy that her [[Barbie]] doll was taken from her as a child. Buffy asks her if she ever got it back. Willow's line was to reply "most of it". Hannigan decided on an upbeat and happy delivery of the line "most of it", as opposed to a sad, depressed delivery. Hannigan figured Willow would be happy and proud that she got "most of it" back. That indicated how she was going to play the rest of the scene, and the role, for that matter, and defined the character.<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 202.</ref> Her approach subsequently got her the role.

===Opening sequence===
The ''Buffy'' [[title sequence|opening sequence]] provides credits at the beginning of each episode, with the accompanying music performed by Californian rock band [[Nerf Herder]]. In the DVD commentary for the [[Welcome to the Hellmouth|first ''Buffy'' episode]], Whedon said his decision to go with Nerf Herder's theme was influenced by Hannigan, who had urged him to listen to the band's music.<ref>''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' first season DVD set. ''20th Century Fox'' (region 2, 2000), disc one.</ref> Nerf Herder later recorded a second version of the theme which was used for the opening titles from season 3 on. Janet Halfyard, in her essay "Music, Gender, and Identity in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel''", describes the opening:

{{blockquote|Firstly ... we have the sound of an [[organ (music)|organ]], accompanied by a [[wolf]]'s howl, with a visual image of a flickering night sky overlaid with unintelligible archaic script: the associations with both the [[silent film|silent era]] and films such as ''[[Nosferatu]]'' and with the conventions of the [[Hammer Film Productions|Hammer House of Horror]] and horror in general are unmistakable.<ref name="halfyard" />}}

But the theme quickly changes: "It removes itself from the sphere of 1960s and 70s horror by replaying the same motif, the organ now supplanted by an aggressively strummed electric guitar, relocating itself in modern youth culture ..."<ref name="halfyard">Halfyard, Janet K. "[http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage4/halfyard.htm Love, Death, Curses and Reverses (in F minor): Music, Gender, and Identity in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234511/http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage4/halfyard.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}", ''[http://slayageonline.com/ Slayageonline.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908103612/http://slayageonline.com/ |date=September 8, 2009 }}'' (December 2001).</ref> Halfyard describes sequences, in which the action and turbulence of adolescence are depicted, as the visual content of the opening credits, and which provide a [[postmodernism|postmodern]] twist on the horror genre.<ref name="halfyard" />

==Broadcast history and syndication==

''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' first aired on March 10, 1997 (as a mid-season replacement for the series ''[[Savannah (TV series)|Savannah]]'') on [[The WB]], and played a key role in the growth of the [[Warner Bros.]] television network in its early years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Speaker-Biographies-Generation-M-Media-in-the-Lives-of-8-18-Year-olds.pdf |title=Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8–18 Year Olds |publisher=Kff.org |date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804080910/http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Speaker-Biographies-Generation-M-Media-in-the-Lives-of-8-18-Year-olds.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Schneider, Michael |author2=Adalian, Josef |url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/wb-revisits-glory-days-1200336857/ |title=WB revisits glory days |work=Variety |date=June 29, 2006 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218025029/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117946199?cs=1&s=h&p=0 |archive-date=February 18, 2012}}</ref> After five seasons, it transferred to [[UPN]] for its final two seasons. In 2001, the show went into [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] in the United States on local stations and on cable channel [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]; the local airings ended in 2005, and the FX airings lasted until 2008 but returned to the network in 2013. Beginning in January 2010, it began to air in syndication in the United States on [[Logo TV|Logo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afterellen.com/blog/dorothysnarker/buffy-wants-her-mtv-and-logo-too |title=Buffy wants her MTV, and Logo too |publisher=AfterEllen.com |date=December 14, 2009 |access-date=March 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410204950/http://www.afterellen.com/blog/dorothysnarker/buffy-wants-her-mtv-and-logo-too |archive-date=April 10, 2010}}</ref> Reruns also briefly aired on [[MTV]]. In March 2010, it began to air in Canada on [[MuchMusic]] and [[MuchMore]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/buffy/ |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer at MuchMusic.com |publisher=MuchMusic.com |access-date=March 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313005210/http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/buffy/ |archive-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref> On November 7, 2010, it began airing on [[Chiller Network|Chiller]] with a 24-hour marathon; the series airs weekdays. Chiller also aired a 14-hour Thanksgiving Day marathon on November 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whedon.info/Buffy-Tv-Series-to-air-on-Chiller.html |title="Buffy" Tv Series to air on Chiller Network from November 2010 |work=Variety |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=October 21, 2010 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190318/http://www.whedon.info/Buffy-Tv-Series-to-air-on-Chiller.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, it began airing on [[Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen]] and [[TeenNick]]. On June 22, 2015, it began airing on [[Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family]].

While the seventh season was still being broadcast, [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] told ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' she was not going to sign on for an eighth year; "When we started to have such a strong year this year, I thought: 'This is how I want to go out, on top, at our best.'"<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/02/26/gellar-explains-why-buffy-over/ |title=Gellar explains why ''Buffy'' is over|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421025404/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C426799~10~0~gellarexplainswhybuffy%2C00.html |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> Whedon and UPN gave some considerations to production of a spin-off series that would not require Gellar, including a rumored [[Undeveloped Buffyverse productions#Faith the Vampire Slayer|Faith series]], but nothing came of those plans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haberman |first1=Lia |title=A Buffy-less "Buffy"? Have Faith |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/44610/a_buffy-less_quotbuffyquot_have_faith |website=E! Online |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=February 11, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629050722/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b44610_A_Buffy-less_quotBuffyquot_Have_Faith.html|archive-date=June 29, 2011}}", ''E! Online'' (February 11, 2003).</ref> The ''Buffy'' [[Buffyverse canon|canon]] continued outside the television medium in the Dark Horse Comics series, [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|''Buffy'' Season Eight]]. This was produced starting March 2007 by Whedon, who also wrote the first story arc, "[[The Long Way Home (Buffy comic)|The Long Way Home]]".<ref name="ew-firstlook">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/07/18/the_new_buffy_c/ |title=First Look: The new 'Buffy' comic |last=Brown |first=Scott |date=July 18, 2006 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045507/https://ew.com/article/2006/07/18/the_new_buffy_c/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the entire series aired on [[Sky One]] and [[BBC Two]]. After protests from fans about early episodes being edited for their pre-[[watershed (broadcasting)|watershed]] time-slot, from the second run (mid-second season onwards), the BBC gave the show two time slots: the early-evening slot (typically Thursday at 6:45 pm) for a family-friendly version with violence, objectionable language and other stronger material cut out, and a late-night uncut version (initially late-night Sundays, but for most of the run, late-night Fridays; exact times varied).<ref>Burr, Vivien, "[http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage8/Burr.htm 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 }}" ''Slayageonline.com'' (March 2003), p1.</ref> Sky1 aired the show typically at 8:00 pm on Thursdays. From the fourth season onwards, the BBC aired the show in anamorphic 16:9 [[Widescreen#Widescreen TV and computer displays|widescreen]] format. Whedon later said that ''Buffy'' was never intended to be viewed this way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.videostoremag.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&article_ID=5243 |title=Angel Creator Joss Whedon Sees Evolution of TV Shows on DVD |access-date=September 21, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190217/http://www.videostoremag.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&article_ID=5243 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }} ''Video Store Mag'' (August 28, 2003).</ref> Despite his claims, [[Syfy (UK and Ireland)|Syfy]] now airs repeat showings in the widescreen format.

In August 2014, [[Pivot (TV channel)|Pivot]] announced that, for the first time, episodes of ''Buffy'' would be broadcast in [[High-definition video|high-definition]] and in a [[widescreen]] [[16:9 aspect ratio|16:9]] format authorized by the studio, but not by any of the series' principals.<ref>{{cite web |title=With BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Coming to HD, Can a Blu-ray Be Far Behind? |url=https://archive.nerdist.com/with-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-coming-to-hd-can-a-blu-ray-be-far-behind/ |publisher=Nerdist |first=Eric |last=Diaz |date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825002539/http://www.nerdist.com/2014/08/with-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-coming-to-hd-can-a-blu-ray-be-far-behind/ |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The transfer was poorly received by some fans, owing to a number of technical and format changes that were viewed as detrimental to the show's presentation; various scenes were heavily cropped to fit the 16:9 format, and shots were altered to have a brighter look, often with color levels altered. Other problems included missing filters, editing errors, and poorly re-rendered CGI.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox's sad attempt at revamping Buffy is ruining the slayer |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/15/7397395/buffy-widescreen-Fox-hd-ruined-slayer-terrible |website=The Verge |first=Arielle |last=Duhaime-Ross |date=December 15, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2015 |archive-date=February 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217115132/http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/15/7397395/buffy-widescreen-Fox-hd-ruined-slayer-terrible |url-status=live }}</ref> Series creator [[Joss Whedon]] and other members of the original team also expressed their displeasure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fox is making Buffy widescreen and Joss Whedon isn't happy |url=https://www.avclub.com/fox-is-making-buffy-widescreen-and-joss-whedon-isn-t-ha-1798274895 |newspaper=The A.V. Club |first=Sean |last=O'Neal |date=December 15, 2014 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221171946/http://www.avclub.com/article/fox-making-buffy-widescreen-and-joss-whedon-isnt-h-213031 |archive-date=February 21, 2015 }}</ref>

The series became available on [[Disney+]] (under the [[Star (Disney+)|Star]] brand) beginning February 2021,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Roger |title=Buffy The Vampire Slayer Coming Soon To Disney+ (UK/Ireland/Canada) |url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-coming-soon-to-disney-uk-ireland-canada/ |website=What's On Disney Plus |access-date=23 February 2024 |date=18 February 2021}}</ref> and was added to [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]]'s digital network in 2022.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005882/en/Comet-CHARGE%21-and-TBD-Emerge-as-the-Fastest-Growing-Digital-Broadcast-Television-Networks |title=Comet, CHARGE! and TBD Emerge as the Fastest Growing Digital Broadcast Television Networks |publisher=Business Wire |date=October 31, 2022 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117235403/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005882/en/Comet-CHARGE%21-and-TBD-Emerge-as-the-Fastest-Growing-Digital-Broadcast-Television-Networks |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Spin-offs==
''Buffy'' has inspired a range of official works, including television shows, books, comics, games, and podcasts. This expansion of the series encouraged use of the term "[[Buffyverse]]" to describe the franchise and the fictional universe in which ''Buffy'' and related stories take place.<ref>Walton, Andy, "[http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/19/buffy.sidebar/ Slang-age in the Buffyverse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030450/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/19/buffy.sidebar/ |date=March 4, 2016 }}", ''CNN'' (February 18, 2004 ).</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/7186866-how-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-changed-tv/ |title=How Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed TV |date=March 13, 2017 |work=The Hamilton Spectator |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234558/https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/7186866-how-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-changed-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The franchise has inspired ''Buffy'' action figures and merchandise such as [[Buffyverse Magazines (UK)|official ''Buffy/Angel'' magazines]] and [[List of Buffyverse guidebooks|''Buffy'' companion books]]. Eden Studios has published a [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (roleplaying game)|''Buffy'' role-playing game]], while [[Score Entertainment]] has released a [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Collectible Card Game|''Buffy'' Collectible Card Game]].

===Continuations===
The story line was continued in a series of comic books produced by [[Joss Whedon]] and published by [[Dark Horse Comics]], which serve as a canonical continuation of the television series. The series began in 2007 with ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'' and was followed by ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine]]'' in 2011, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten]]'' in 2014, ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven'' in 2016, and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve]]'' in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/joss-whedon-buffy-comics/|title=Joss Whedon is returning to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|date=February 22, 2018|first=Gavia|last=Baker-Whitelaw|access-date=November 27, 2018|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614194731/https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/joss-whedon-buffy-comics/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Joss Whedon]] was interested in a film continuation in 1998,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/whedon-fox-vamping-1117471584/ |author1=Hontz, Jenny |author2=Petrikin, Chris |title=Whedon, Fox vamping |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 5, 1998 |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107181641/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117471584 |archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> but such a film never materialized.

====Planned reboot or sequel====
In July 2018, [[20th Century Fox Television]] reportedly began development on a television [[reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the series. [[Monica Owusu-Breen]] was to serve as [[showrunner]] and had been working on the script with Whedon, who was to be an executive producer.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Inclusive Reboot in the Works With Joss Whedon |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-vampire-slayer-reboot-inclusive-take-joss-whedon-works-1128888 |access-date=July 21, 2018 |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 20, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721011858/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-vampire-slayer-reboot-inclusive-take-joss-whedon-works-1128888 |url-status=live }}</ref> News of Whedon's involvement was seen as reassuring by fans,<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018" /> though the extent of his involvement was unclear; other executive producers reported to be involved included [[Gail Berman]], [[Fran Rubel Kuzui|Fran Kuzui]], and [[Kaz Kuzui]], all credited as executive producers for the original series.<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Series Reboot With Black Lead In Works From Monica Owusu-Breen & Joss Whedon |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-series-reboot-in-works-black-lead-monica-owusu-breen-joss-whedon-1202430592/ |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721011710/https://deadline.com/2018/07/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-series-reboot-in-works-black-lead-monica-owusu-breen-joss-whedon-1202430592/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "Variety 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' TV Reboot in Development From Joss Whedon, Monica Owusu-Breen |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-tv-reboot-1202880128/ |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720234359/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-tv-reboot-1202880128/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to anonymous sources who spoke with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' and ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'', the producers wanted the new series to be "richly diverse ... [and] some aspects of the series could be seen as metaphors for issues facing society today"<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018" /><ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" />–similar to the way Gellar described the original series as the "ultimate metaphor" for coping with adolescence.<ref name = "Guardian 21 July 2018" /> The producers intended "for the new slayer to be African American", an example of the diversity they wish to portray.<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" /> The report from ''Deadline Hollywood'' cautioned that "the project is still in nascent stages with no script, and many details are still in flux".<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" />

At the time of ''Buffy'''s 20th anniversary in 2017, Whedon expressed fear of reboots, commenting that when "something [is brought] back, and even if it's exactly as good as it was, the experience can't be. You've already experienced it, and part of what was great was going through it for the first time. You have to meet expectations and adjust it for the climate, which is not easily [done]."<ref name = "Hollywood Reporter 10 March 2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-at-20-joss-whedon-talks-tv-today-reboot-fatigue-trouble-binging-984885 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 10, 2017 |first=Michael |last=O'Connell |title='Buffy' at 20: Joss Whedon Talks TV Today, Reboot Fatigue and the Trouble With Binging |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722100030/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-at-20-joss-whedon-talks-tv-today-reboot-fatigue-trouble-binging-984885 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similar concerns were expressed about the decision to reboot the series, rather than to revive it or further expand the Buffyverse.<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018">{{cite news |work=[[Newsbeat]] |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44911405 |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer to get TV reboot |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722140234/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44911405 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="News.com.au 21 July 2018">{{cite news |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |title=Fans in uproar over Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot |website=[[news.com.au]] |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/buffy-reboot-confirmed/news-story/60c305d8f06f0a06caa2b273549d3851 |publisher=[[News Corp Australia]] |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095842/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/buffy-reboot-confirmed/news-story/60c305d8f06f0a06caa2b273549d3851 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reports that a black actress was to assume the iconic role of Buffy,<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018" /><ref name = "Variety 20 July 2018" /> rather than having a new character or Slayer created, have been met with questions and concerns.<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018" /><ref name = "News.com.au 21 July 2018" /><ref name = "Vox 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting a reboot with a black woman in the lead role |first=Aja |last=Romano |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17597272/buffy-reboot-joss-whedon-black-woman-lead-monica-breen |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722130019/https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17597272/buffy-reboot-joss-whedon-black-woman-lead-monica-breen |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Vox (website)|Vox]] noted that "the original series already had multiple characters of color who could factor into an 'inclusive' reboot–including the black slayer Kendra and the 'First Slayer'" – leaving fans wondering "why a reboot has to racebend Buffy, when it could simply focus on a different character".<ref name = "Vox 20 July 2018" /> A Twitter message posted by Owusu-Breen on July 26, 2018, was interpreted by media outlets as indicating that the new series would not recast the role of Buffy and instead would focus on a new Slayer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Tasha|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot showrunner clarifies: it's not a reboot|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/26/17619650/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-monica-owusu-breen-reboot-sequel-series-new-slayer-fray-comics|date=July 26, 2018|work=The Verge|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917202733/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/26/17619650/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-monica-owusu-breen-reboot-sequel-series-new-slayer-fray-comics|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2022, executive producer Gail Berman announced that the series was put "on pause" indefinitely.<ref name="IGNreboot">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-indefinitely-paused |title=The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Indefinitely Paused |website=IGN |first=Ryan |last=Leston |date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822184030/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-indefinitely-paused |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, Dolly Parton stated that the producers were still working on the reboot and were "revamping it."<ref name="People-Parton">{{Cite web |title=Dolly Parton Says 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Producers Are 'Revamping' Reboot After Failed First Stab |url=https://people.com/dolly-parton-says-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-producers-are-revamping-reboot-8553198 |first=Stephanie |last=Wagner |date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=People}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=January 29, 2024 |title=Dolly Parton On Potential 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Revival: "They're Still Working On That" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/dolly-parton-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revival-1235807223/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2025, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that a ''Buffy'' sequel series was nearing a pilot order at [[Hulu]] without Whedon's involvement. Gellar was set to reprise her role and serve as an executive producer alongside [[Gail Berman]], [[Fran Kuzui]], [[Kaz Kuzui]], and Parton. [[Chloé Zhao]] was appointed as the pilot's director, with [[Nora Zuckerman|Nora]] and [[Lilla Zuckerman]] credited as the writers. The new series would feature a new Slayer as the primary protagonist, while Buffy Summers would appear in a recurring role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2025-02-03 |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Sequel Series With Sarah Michelle Gellar Returning Nears Hulu Pilot Order |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revival-hulu-sarah-michelle-gellar-pilot-1236291559/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2025, [[Ryan Kiera Armstrong]] was cast in the lead role.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 15, 2025 |title=‘Buffy’ Reboot Finds Its New Slayer: Ryan Kiera Armstrong To Star With Sarah Michelle Gellar In Hulu Pilot |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/buffy-reboot-ryan-kiera-armstrong-new-slayer-1236398811/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

===''Angel''===
{{main|Angel (1999 TV series)}}

The [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] ''Angel'' was introduced in October 1999, at the start of ''Buffy'' season four. The series was created by ''Buffy'''s creator [[Joss Whedon]] in collaboration with [[David Greenwalt]]. Like ''Buffy'', it was produced by the production company [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy]]. At times, it performed better in the [[Nielsen ratings]] than its parent series did.<ref name = "insightbb-buffy"/>

The series was given a darker tone, focusing on the ongoing trials of Angel in Los Angeles. His character is tormented by guilt following the return of his soul, punishment for more than a century of murder and torture. During the first four seasons of the show, he works as a [[private detective]] in a fictionalized version of [[Los Angeles, California]], where he and his associates work to "help the helpless", to restore the faith and "save the souls" of those who have lost their way. Typically, this mission involves doing battle with demons or demonically allied humans (primarily the law firm Wolfram & Hart), while Angel must also contend with his own violent nature. In season five, the Senior Partners of Wolfram and Hart take a bold gamble in their campaign to corrupt Angel, giving him control of their Los Angeles office. Angel accepts the deal as an opportunity to fight evil from the inside.

In addition to Boreanaz, ''Angel'' inherited ''Buffy'' series cast regular [[Charisma Carpenter]] ([[Cordelia Chase]]). When [[Glenn Quinn]] ([[Doyle (Angel)|Doyle]]) left the series during its first season, [[Alexis Denisof]] ([[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]]), who played a recurring character in the last nine episodes of season three of ''Buffy'', took his place. Carpenter and Denisof were followed later by [[Mercedes McNab]] ([[Harmony Kendall]]) and [[James Marsters]] ([[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]]). Several actors and actresses who played ''Buffy'' characters made guest appearances on ''Angel'', including [[Seth Green]] ([[Oz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Daniel "Oz" Osbourne]]), [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] ([[Buffy Summers]]), [[Eliza Dushku]] ([[Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Faith]]), [[Tom Lenk]] ([[Andrew Wells]]), [[Alyson Hannigan]] ([[Willow Rosenberg]]), [[Julie Benz]] ([[Darla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Darla]]), [[Mark Metcalf]] ([[Master (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|The Master]]), [[Julia Lee (actress)|Julia Lee]] ([[Anne Steele (Buffyverse)|Anne Steele]]) and [[Juliet Landau]] ([[Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Drusilla]]). Angel also continued to appear occasionally on ''Buffy''.

Other actors that appeared in both the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel'' series but as different characters include: Bob Fimiani as Mr. Ward, a head of the Department of Defense in ''Buffy'' and Glith-roo, a Codger Demon in ''Angel''; [[Carlos Jacott]] as a demon named Ken in ''Buffy'' and a different demon named Richard Straley in ''Angel''; [[Jonathan M. Woodward]] as a vampire and former classmate in ''Buffy'' named Holden Webster and Knox, a Wolfram and Hart scientist in ''Angel''; and [[Andy Umberger]] who played a demon named D'Hoffryn in ''Buffy'' and a predator named Ronald Meltzer in ''Angel''.

The storyline has been continued in the comic book series ''[[Angel: After the Fall]]'' published by [[IDW Publishing]] and later ''[[Angel and Faith]]'' published by [[Dark Horse Comics]].

=== Expanded universe ===
{{Main|Buffyverse canon|Buffy the Vampire Slayer video games|List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels|List of Buffyverse comics}}

The series' fiction has been officially expanded and elaborated on by authors and artists in the so-called "Buffyverse [[Expanded Universe]]". The creators of these works may or may not keep to established continuity. Similarly, writers for the TV series were under no obligation to use information which had been established by the Expanded Universe, and sometimes contradicted such continuity.

[[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]] has published the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics|''Buffy'' comics]] since 1998.<ref>"[http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/98-372-a/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-1-photo-cover Buffy the Vampire Slayer#1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106211629/http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/98-372-a/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-1-photo-cover |date=November 6, 2015 }}" ''Dark Horse Comics'' ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1" released September 23, 1998).</ref> In 2003, Whedon wrote an eight-issue miniseries for Dark Horse Comics titled ''[[Fray (comic)|Fray]]'', about a Slayer in the future. Following the publication of ''[[Tales of the Vampires]]'' in 2004, ''Dark Horse Comics'' halted publication on Buffyverse-related comics and graphic novels. The company produced Whedon's ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'' with forty issues from March 2007 to January 2011, picking up where the television show left off—taking the place of an eighth [[canon (fiction)|canonical]] season.<ref name="ew-firstlook" /> The first story arc is also written by Whedon and is called "[[The Long Way Home (Buffy comic)|The Long Way Home]]", which has been widely well-received, with circulation rivaling industry leaders [[DC Comics|DC]] and [[Marvel Comics|Marvel's]] top-selling titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comicsbeat.com/dc-comics-month-to-month-sales-april-2007/ |title=DC Comics Month-to-month Sales: April 2007 |date=June 5, 2007 |access-date=June 4, 2007 |publisher=The Beat |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011617/http://comicsbeat.com/dc-comics-month-to-month-sales-april-2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After "[[The Long Way Home (Buffy comic)|The Long Way Home]]" came other story arcs like Faith's return in "[[No Future for You]]" and a ''Fray'' crossover in "[[Time of Your Life (Buffy comic)|Time of Your Life]]". Dark Horse later followed ''Season Eight'' with ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine]]'', starting in 2011, and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten]]'', which began in 2014. Dark Horse continued to publish ''Buffy'' comics continuing the story after the television show until September 2018, when it released the final issue of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve]]'', which intended to bring closure to the series. Following the end of Dark Horse's ''Buffy'' series, [[Boom! Studios]] acquired the license to publish ''Buffy'' comics. Taking a different approach from Dark Horse, Boom! Studios decided to publish a new [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Boom! Studios)|rebooted ''Buffy'' series]] in 2019 with many elements updated to be more contemporary. Boom! Studio's approach to rebooting ''Buffy'' has been stylistically compared to the ''[[Ultimate Marvel]]'' series by the creators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/2019/01/23/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-interview-jordie-bellaire-jeanine-schaefer/ |title=interview with Jordie Bellaire and Jeanie Schaefer |publisher=ComicBook.com |first=Jamie |last=Lovett |date=January 23, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421201505/https://comicbook.com/comics/2019/01/23/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-interview-jordie-bellaire-jeanine-schaefer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Joss Whedon is not as involved in the rebooted ''Buffy'' comic as he was in Dark Horse's continuation, however he did take part in the initial development stages for the series and gave his blessing to the creators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/01/23/why-boom-studios-decided-to-reboot-buffy-the-vampire-slayer |title=Why Boom! Studios Decided to Reboot Buffy the Vampire Slayer |website=IGN |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen |date=January 23, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421201507/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/01/23/why-boom-studios-decided-to-reboot-buffy-the-vampire-slayer |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Simon & Schuster]] holds the license to produce [[List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels|''Buffy'' novels]], of which they published more than sixty between 1998 and 2008, under their [[Pocket Books]] and [[Simon Pulse]] imprints. These sometimes flesh out background information on characters; for example, ''[[Go Ask Malice]]'' details the events that lead up to Faith arriving in Sunnydale. The most recent novels include ''[[Carnival of Souls (Buffy novel)|Carnival of Souls]]'', ''[[Blackout (Buffy novel)|Blackout]]'', ''[[Portal Through Time]]'', ''[[Bad Bargain]]'', ''The Deathless'' and ''One Thing or Your Mother''. After a ten-year hiatus, two additional novels were published in 2019 and 2020, following on from story threads in the comic book series.

Five official [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer video games|''Buffy'' video games]] have been released on portable and home consoles.<ref name="buffygames">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/search/?qs=Buffy+the+Vampire+Slayer |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer |website=GameSpot |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116043625/https://www.gamespot.com/search/?qs=Buffy%20the%20Vampire%20Slayer |url-status=live }}</ref> Most notably, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002 video game)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' for Xbox in 2002 and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds|Chaos Bleeds]]'' for [[GameCube]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[PlayStation 2]] in 2003.<ref name="buffychaosbleeds">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/buffystuff/videogame/chaosbleeds.shtml |title=BBC – Buffy: Chaos Bleeds |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=March 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050320135151/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/buffystuff/videogame/chaosbleeds.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2023, an [[radio drama|audio series]] titled ''Slayers: A Buffyverse Story'' was announced, to premiere on October 12, 2023, on [[Audible (service)|Audible]]. The series is set 10 years after the events of the series finale and the story is led by Spike ([[James Marsters]]); also returning are  [[Charisma Carpenter]], [[Anthony Head]], [[Juliet Landau]], [[Emma Caulfield]], [[Amber Benson]], [[James C. Leary]], and [[Danny Strong]]. The series was written by Benson and [[Christopher Golden]], and directed by Benson, Golden, and Kc Wayland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-universe-audio-series-original-cast-james-marsters-charisma-carpenter-finale-anniversary-1235546454/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Universe Audio Series Set With Original Cast Members Returning |website=Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=September 13, 2023 |access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, Audible canceled the series after one season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/news/slayers-cancelled-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-audiobook-audible-1235171765/ |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer Audiobook Series Slayers Cancelled at Audible |website=TVLine |first=Kimberly |last=Roots |date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Undeveloped spinoffs===
{{main|Undeveloped Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoffs}}

The popularity of ''Buffy'' and ''Angel'' has led to attempts to develop more on-screen ventures in the fictional 'Buffyverse'. These projects remain undeveloped and may never be [[greenlight|greenlit]]. In 2002, two potential spinoffs were in discussion: ''[[Buffy: The Animated Series]]'' and [[Undeveloped Buffyverse productions#Ripper|''Ripper'']]. ''Buffy: The Animated Series'' was a proposed animated TV show based on ''Buffy''; Whedon and [[Jeph Loeb]] were to be executive producers for the show, and most of the cast from ''Buffy'' were to return to voice their characters. [[20th Century Fox Television|20th Century Fox]] showed an interest in developing and selling the show to another network. A three-minute pilot was completed in 2004 but was never picked up. Whedon revealed to ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'': "We just could not find a home for it. We had six or seven hilarious scripts from our own staff–and nobody wanted it."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1889839 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204043/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1889839 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |title=Dialogue with 'Buffy' creator Joss Whedon |author=Hockensmith, Steve |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 16, 2003 |access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> Writer [[Jane Espenson]] has teased small extracts from some of her scripts for the show.<ref>Espenson, Jane, "[http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000095.php Reading what's been written to sound written as it's spoken] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411213112/http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000095.php |date=April 11, 2016 }}", ''Janeespenson.com'' (May 9, 2006) & "[http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000097.php Sorry, JVC, but it's simply true] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411213113/http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000097.php |date=April 11, 2016 }}", ''Janeespenson.com'' (May 11, 2006).</ref>

''Ripper'' was originally a proposed television show based upon the character of [[Rupert Giles]] portrayed by [[Anthony Stewart Head]]. More recent information has suggested that if ''Ripper'' were ever made, it would be a TV movie or a [[Direct-to-video|DVD movie]].<ref>''[[Buffyverse Magazines (UK)|UK Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel Magazine]]''. Titan Magazines, Issue 80, (December 2005), p19.</ref> There was little heard about the series until 2007 when Joss Whedon confirmed that talks were almost completed for a 90-minute ''Ripper'' special on the BBC<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aoltv.com/2007/07/28/comic-con-joss-whedon-panel-report/ |title=Comic-Con: Joss Whedon panel report |publisher=HuffPost TV |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729162113/http://www.aoltv.com/2007/07/28/comic-con-joss-whedon-panel-report/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> with both Head and the BBC completely on board.

In 2003, a year after the first public discussions on ''Buffy: The Animated Series'' and ''Ripper'', ''Buffy'' was nearing its end. Espenson said during the time spin-offs were being discussed, "I think [[Marti Noxon|Marti]] talked with Joss about ''[[Undeveloped Buffyverse productions#Slayer School|Slayer School]]'' and [[Tim Minear]] talked with him about Faith on a motorcycle. I assume there was some back-and-forth pitching."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/07/03/5522.shtml |title=Dear Jane |publisher=BBC.co.uk |date=July 3, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030708105652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/07/03/5522.shtml |archive-date=July 8, 2003}}</ref> Espenson has revealed that ''Slayer School'' might have used new slayers and potentially included [[Willow Rosenberg]], but Whedon did not think that such a spinoff felt right.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/14787 |title=Way Interesting Buffy Bits (Courtesy Jane E & Others) |publisher=Ain't It Cool News |date=March 21, 2003 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052545/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/14787 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/03/24/3421.shtml |title=Spin-offs stop spinning |publisher=BBC.co.uk |date=March 24, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405030949/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/03/24/3421.shtml |archive-date=April 5, 2004}}</ref>

Dushku declined the pitch for a Buffyverse [[Undeveloped Buffyverse productions#Faith the Vampire Slayer|TV series based on Faith]] and instead agreed to a deal to produce ''[[Tru Calling]]''. Dushku explained to [[IGN]]: "It would have been a really hard thing to do, and not that I would not have been up for a challenge, but with it coming on immediately following ''Buffy'', I think that those would have been really big boots to fill."<ref>{{cite web |author=Kuhn, Sarah |url=https://ign.com/articles/2003/05/28/an-interview-with-eliza-dushku?page=2 |title=An Interview with Eliza Dushku |website=IGN |date=May 28, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002134323/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/28/an-interview-with-eliza-dushku?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tim Minear explained some of the ideas behind the aborted series: "The show was basically going to be Faith meets ''[[Kung Fu (1972 TV series)|Kung Fu]]''. It would have been Faith, probably on a motorcycle, crossing the earth, trying to find her place in the world."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/04/14/3812.shtml |title=Kung Fu Faith |publisher=BBC.co.uk |date=April 14, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314055320/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/04/14/3812.shtml |archive-date=March 14, 2007}}</ref>

Finally, during the summer of 2004 after the end of ''Angel'', a movie about [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]] was proposed.<ref>[http://whedonesque.com/comments/3877 Spike TV movie on the cards?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624162344/http://whedonesque.com/comments/3877 |date=June 24, 2016 }}, ''Whedonesque.com'' (May 9, 2004). Marsters is indirectly quoted about the possibility of a Spike movie in May 2004.</ref> The movie would have been directed by Tim Minear and starred Marsters and [[Amy Acker]] and featured Alyson Hannigan.<ref>Saney, Daniel, "[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a24796/whedon-eyes-willow-for-spike-movie/ Whedon eyes Willow for Spike movie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052543/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a24796/whedon-eyes-willow-for-spike-movie/ |date=January 19, 2022 }}", ''Digital Spy'' (September 28, 2005). Originally reported by ''TV Guide''.</ref> Outside the 2006 [[Saturn Award]]s, Whedon announced that he had pitched the concept to various bodies but had yet to receive any feedback.<ref>"[http://whedonesque.com/comments/10310 Video interview with Joss from the Saturn Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624165143/http://whedonesque.com/comments/10310 |date=June 24, 2016 }}", ''Whedonesque.com'' (February 15, 2006). Originally reported by ''Iesb.net''.</ref>

In September 2008, ''Sci-Fi Wire'' ran an interview with Sarah Michelle Gellar in which she said she would not rule out returning to her most iconic role: "Never say never", she said. "One of the reasons the original ''Buffy'' movie did not really work on the big screen–and people blamed Kristy, but that's not what it was–the story was better told over a long arc", Gellar said. "And I worry about Buffy as a 'beginning, middle and end' so quickly. ... You show me a script; you show me that it works, and you show me that [the] audience can accept that, [and] I'd probably be there. Those are what my hesitations are."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whedon.info/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-New-Buffy.html |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar – New "Buffy" Movie – A Film Wouldn't Work |publisher=Sci-Fi Wire |date=January 22, 2008 |access-date=September 10, 2010 |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410204658/http://www.whedon.info/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-New-Buffy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Legacy and cultural impact==

===Academia===
{{main|Buffy studies}}
[[File:Anthony Stewart Head and Nicholas Brendon Aug 2004.jpg|250px|thumb|Anthony Stewart Head and Nicholas Brendon at the 2004 Oakland Super SlayerCon fan convention]]
''Buffy'' is notable for attracting the interest of scholars of popular culture, as a subset of [[popular culture studies]], and some academic settings include the show as a topic of literary study and analysis.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lins |first1=Marcella |title=Libertarianism in Pop Culture: Applying libertarian principles to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Season 4 |journal=MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, Law and Economics |date=2020 |volume=8 |doi=10.30800/mises.2020.v8.1317 |doi-access=free |issn=2318-0811|url=https://misesjournal.org.br/misesjournal/article/download/1317/685 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20040529/scholars_buffy_040529/ |title=Scholars lecture on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' |publisher=CTV News |date=May 29, 2004 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604122828/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20040529/scholars_buffy_040529/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2006/05/16/study-buffy-at-university-79726/ |title=Study Buffy at university |publisher=Metro.co.uk |date=May 16, 2006 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226211257/http://metro.co.uk/2006/05/16/study-buffy-at-university-79726/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[National Public Radio]] describes ''Buffy'' as having a "special following among academics, some of whom have staked a claim in what they call 'Buffy Studies.'"<ref>[https://www.npr.org/people/3850482/neda-ulaby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052543/https://www.npr.org/people/3850482/neda-ulaby|date=January 19, 2022}}[[Neda Ulaby|Ulaby, Neda]], '[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1262180 – 'Buffy Studies'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311015358/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1262180|date=March 11, 2018}}", ''National Public Radio'' (May 13, 2003)</ref> Though not widely recognized as a distinct discipline, the term "Buffy studies" is commonly used amongst the peer-reviewed academic ''Buffy''-related writings.<ref>Lavery, David, & Wilcox, Rhonda V. (2001–). The term is in use from the subtitle of ''Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies'', and has thus become used in essays by those who contribute to scholarship relating to ''Buffy''.</ref> The influence of ''Buffy'' on the depiction of vampires across popular culture has also been noted by anthropologists such as A. Asbjørn Jøn.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280805194 |title=From Nosteratu to Von Carstein: shifts in the portrayal of vampires |last=Jøn |first=A. Asbjørn |date=2001 |journal=Australian Folklore: A Yearly Journal of Folklore Studies |access-date=October 30, 2015 |issue=16 |pages=97–106 |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125163106/http://www.researchgate.net/publication/280805194_From_Nosteratu_to_Von_Carstein_shifts_in_the_portrayal_of_vampires |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.englishteacher.com.au/Resources/mETAphor.aspx |title=Vampire Evolution |last=Jøn |first=A. Asbjørn |date=2003 |journal=METAphor |issue=3 |access-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-date=October 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011103226/http://www.englishteacher.com.au/Resources/mETAphor.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Popular media researcher [[Rob Cover]] argued that Buffy and Angel speak to contemporary attitudes to identity, inclusion, and diversity, and that critiquing the characters' long-narrative stories lends insight into the complexity of identity in the current era and the landscape of social issues in which those identities are performed.<ref>Cover, Rob (2004). "[http://reconstruction.eserver.org/Issues/042/cover.htm From Butler To Buffy: Notes Towards a Strategy for Identity Analysis in Contemporary Television Narrative] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126194638/http://reconstruction.eserver.org/Issues/042/cover.htm |date=November 26, 2016 }}." Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture, 4(2). Retrieved November 22, 2016</ref><ref>Cover, Rob (2005). "[https://www.academia.edu/30095293/Cover_Rob_2005_._Not_To_Be_Toyed_With_Drugs_Addiction_Bullying_and_Self_Empowerment_in_Buffy_The_Vampire_Slayer._Continuum_Journal_of_Media_and_Cultural_Studies_19_1_85-101 Not To Be Toyed With: Drugs Addiction, Bullying and Self Empowerment in Buffy The Vampire Slayer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021015011/https://www.academia.edu/30095293/Cover_Rob_2005_._Not_To_Be_Toyed_With_Drugs_Addiction_Bullying_and_Self_Empowerment_in_Buffy_The_Vampire_Slayer._Continuum_Journal_of_Media_and_Cultural_Studies_19_1_85-101 |date=October 21, 2019 }}." Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies 19(1): 85–101.</ref>

Critics have responded to the academic attention the series has received. For example, Jes Battis, who authored ''[[Blood Relations: Chosen Families in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel|Blood Relations in Buffy and Angel]]'', admits that study of the Buffyverse "invokes an uneasy combination of enthusiasm and ire", and meets "a certain amount of disdain from within the halls of the academy".<ref>Battis, Jes, [[Blood Relations: Chosen Families in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel|''Blood Relations'']], ''McFarland & Company'' (June 2005), page 9.</ref> Nonetheless, ''Buffy'' eventually led to the publication of around twenty books and hundreds of articles examining the themes of the show from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives, including [[sociology]], [[Speech Communication]], [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[women's studies]].<ref>See:
Hornick, Alysa, "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100929233913/http://www.alysa316.com/Whedonology/ ''Whedonology'' an Academic Buffy Studies and Whedonesque Bibliography]}}", ''Alysa316.com'' (updated 2006). See [[Buffy studies#Works in print|Buffy studies published books]].</ref> In a 2012 study by ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' was named the most studied pop culture work by academics, with more than 200 papers, essays, and books devoted to the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/culture/2012/06/pop-culture-studies-why-do-academics-study-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-more-than-the-wire-the-matrix-alien-and-the-simpsons.html |title=Which Pop Culture Property Do Academics Study the Most? |work=Slate |author1=Lametti, Daniel |author2=Harris, Aisha |author3=Geiling, Natasha |author4=Matthews-Ramo, Natalie |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052543/https://slate.com/culture/2012/06/pop-culture-studies-why-do-academics-study-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-more-than-the-wire-the-matrix-alien-and-the-simpsons.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Whedon Studies Association produces the online academic journal ''Slayage'' and sponsors a biennial academic conference on the works of Whedon. The sixth "Biennial Slayage Conference", titled "Much Ado About Whedon", was held at [[California State University, Sacramento|California State University-Sacramento]] in late June 2014.<ref name="The">{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Pender |title=Vampires beware: Buffy is the unslayable pop culture text |url=http://theconversation.com/vampires-beware-buffy-is-the-unslayable-pop-culture-text-28142 |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=The Conversation |date=June 19, 2014 |archive-date=July 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706070809/http://theconversation.com/vampires-beware-buffy-is-the-unslayable-pop-culture-text-28142 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Fandom and fan films===
{{See also|Unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer productions}}
The popularity of ''Buffy'' has led to the creation of websites, online discussion forums, works of ''Buffy'' [[fan fiction]], and several [[Unofficial Buffy the Vampire Slayer productions|unofficial fan-made productions]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Newitz |first=Annalee |url=https://www.wired.com/2006/06/fan-films-reclaim-the-whedonverse/ |title=Fan Films Reclaim the Whedonverse |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=June 8, 2006 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519230750/https://www.wired.com/2006/06/fan-films-reclaim-the-whedonverse/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the end of the series, Whedon has stated that his intention was to produce a [[Cult following|cult]] television series and has acknowledged the "rabid, almost insane fan base" that the show has created.<ref name="The" /><ref name=":2" /> In 2016, [[Jenny Owen Youngs]] and [[Kristin Russo]] began the ''[[Buffering the Vampire Slayer]]'' podcast, recognized as one of the top podcasts in production by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' and ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' magazines.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5178078/best-podcasts-2018/|title=The 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now|magazine=Time|first=Eliana|last=Dockterman|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=October 20, 2018|archive-date=January 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094434/http://time.com/5178078/best-podcasts-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g19408625/best-podcasts-2018/|title=The 15 Best Podcasts of 2018 (So Far)|date=September 4, 2018|work=Esquire|first=Emma|last=Dibdin|access-date=October 20, 2018|archive-date=September 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906035755/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g19408625/best-podcasts-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017 the 20th anniversary of the show attracted even more writers to create their own adventures of the series' characters.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/arts/television/buffy-vampire-slayer-fan-fiction.html |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' Reimagined by Its Fans |last1=Correa |first1=Carla |date=March 27, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 12, 2017 |last2=Genzlinger |first2=Neil |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620203820/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/arts/television/buffy-vampire-slayer-fan-fiction.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Buffy'' in popular culture===
{{main|Buffy the Vampire Slayer in popular culture}}
The series employed [[popular culture|pop culture]] references as a frequent humorous device, and has itself become a frequent pop culture reference in video games, comics and television shows. The series has also been parodied and spoofed. Sarah Michelle Gellar has participated in several parody sketches, including a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' sketch in which the Slayer is relocated to the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' universe,<ref>[[Saturday Night Live|SNL]] (aired January 17, 1998) see 'doggans' (transcriber) [http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/97kbuffy.phtml SNL Transcripts: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420070613/http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/97kbuffy.phtml |date=April 20, 2017 }}, ''Snltranscripts.jt.org'' (1997).</ref> and adding her voice to an episode of ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' that parodied a would-be eighth season of ''Buffy''.<ref>"Buffy Season 8" from ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' Season 1, episode 4 (aired March 13, 2005). See: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0687782/ ''IMDb'' entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014062747/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0687782/ |date=October 14, 2018 }}, [http://whedonesque.com/comments/6038 ''Whedonesque.com''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010221506/http://whedonesque.com/comments/6038 |date=October 10, 2016 }}.</ref>

"Buffy" was the code-name used for an early [[HTC]] [[mobile phone]] which integrated the [[social networking]] website [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allthingsd.com/20111121/the-facebook-phone-its-finally-real-and-its-name-is-buffy/ |title=The Facebook Phone: It's Finally Real and Its Name Is Buffy |publisher=AllThingsD |date=November 21, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402132858/http://allthingsd.com/20111121/the-facebook-phone-its-finally-real-and-its-name-is-buffy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2017, in honor of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer's'' 20th anniversary, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' reunited Joss Whedon and the whole cast for their first joint interview and photo shoot in over a decade.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/03/29/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reunion-ew-cover/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Cast Reunites for 20th Anniversary |date=March 29, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=June 12, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601013634/http://ew.com/tv/2017/03/29/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reunion-ew-cover/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===U.S. television ratings===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_18_49_rating = y
| hide_18_49_rank   = y
| show_network      = y

| link1             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 1)
| timeslot1         = Monday 9:00 pm
| network1          = [[The WB]]
| network_length1   = 5
| episodes1         = 12
| start1            = {{Start date|1997|3|10}}
| startrating1      = 4.8<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|work=[[USA Today]]|date=March 10, 1997|page=D3}}</ref>
| end1              = {{End date|1997|6|2}}
| endrating1        = 4.0<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|work=[[USA Today]]|date=June 6, 1997|page=D3}}</ref>
| season1           = 1996–97
| rank1             = 144
| viewers1          = 3.7<ref name="Audiences USA">{{cite web |url=http://www.audiencesusa.com/article-retrospective-buffy-contre-les-vampires-38533079.html |title=Rétrospective Buffy Contre Les Vampires |language=fr |publisher=Audiences USA |date=December 30, 2010 |access-date=May 17, 2015 |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316063022/http://www.audiencesusa.com/article-retrospective-buffy-contre-les-vampires-38533079.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| link2             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 2)
| timeslot2         = Monday 9:00 pm <small>(1–13)</small><br/>Tuesday 8:00 pm <small>(14–22)</small>
| episodes2         = 22
| start2            = {{Start date|1997|9|15}}
| startrating2      = 4.4<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes|title=Episode List: Buffy the Vampire Slayer|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019053934/http://tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end2              = {{End date|1998|5|19}}
| endrating2        = 6.4<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|work=[[USA Today]]|date=May 14, 1998|page=D3}}</ref>
| season2           = 1997–98
| rank2             = 133
| viewers2          = 5.2<ref name="Audiences USA"/>

| link3             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 3)
| timeslot3         = Tuesday 8:00 pm
| timeslot_length3  = 5
| episodes3         = 22
| start3            = {{Start date|1998|9|29}}
| startrating3      = 7.1<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|work=[[USA Today]]|date=September 29, 1998|page=D3}}</ref>
| end3              = {{End date|1999|9|21}}
| endrating3        = {{TableTBA|N/A}}
| season3           = 1998–99
| rank3             = 133
| viewers3          = 5.3<ref name="Audiences USA"/>

| link4             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 4)
| episodes4         = 22
| start4            = {{Start date|1999|10|5}}
| startrating4      = {{TableTBA|N/A}}
| end4              = {{End date|2000|5|23}}
| endrating4        = {{TableTBA|N/A}}
| season4           = 1999–2000
| rank4             = 120
| viewers4          = 5.1<ref name="Audiences USA"/>

| link5             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 5)
| episodes5         = 22
| start5            = {{Start date|2000|9|26}}
| startrating5      = 5.8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2000/09/26|title=September 26, 2000|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=September 30, 2013|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315070556/http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2000/09/26|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end5              = {{End date|2001|5|22}}
| endrating5        = 5.2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2001/05/22|title=May 22, 2001|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=September 30, 2013|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816053332/http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2001/05/22|url-status=live}}</ref>
| season5           = 2000–01
| rank5             = 120
| viewers5          = 4.6<ref name="TV Tango season 5">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=5&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=17&commit.y=10 |title=Episode List: Buffy the Vampire Slayer |publisher=TV Tango |access-date=May 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503204735/http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=5&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=17&commit.y=10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| link6             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 6)
| network6          = [[UPN]]
| network_length6   = 2
| episodes6         = 22
| start6            = {{Start date|2001|10|2}}
| startrating6      = 7.7<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/top-ten-genre-broadcast-tv-ratings-oct-17_article_30089.html |title=Top Ten Genre Broadcast TV Ratings (Oct. 1–7) |publisher=Mania.com |first=Frank |last=Kurtz |date=October 11, 2001 |access-date=September 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135406/http://www.mania.com/top-ten-genre-broadcast-tv-ratings-oct-17_article_30089.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>
| end6              = {{End date|2002|5|21}}
| endrating6        = 5.3<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2002/05/21|title=May 21, 2002|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816194851/http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2002/05/21|url-status=live}}</ref>
| season6           = 2001–02
| rank6             = 124
| viewers6          = 4.3<ref name="TV Tango season 6">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=6&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=13&commit.y=17 |title=Episode List: Buffy the Vampire Slayer |publisher=TV Tango |access-date=May 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504140749/http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=6&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=13&commit.y=17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| link7             = Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 7)
| episodes7         = 22
| start7            = {{Start date|2002|9|24}}
| startrating7      = 5.0<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2002/09/24|title=September 24, 2002|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817051359/http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2002/09/24|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end7              = {{End date|2003|5|20}}
| endrating7        = 4.9<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2003/05/20|title=May 20, 2003|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817052339/http://www.tvtango.com/listings/2003/05/20|url-status=live}}</ref>
| season7           = 2002–03
| rank7             = 140
| viewers7          = 3.9<ref name="TV Tango season 7">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=7&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=16&commit.y=22 |title=Episode List: Buffy the Vampire Slayer |publisher=TV Tango |access-date=May 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504065322/http://www.tvtango.com/series/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=7&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=All&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=16&commit.y=22 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

''Buffy'' helped put [[The WB]] on the ratings map, but by the time the series landed on [[UPN]] in 2001, viewing figures had fallen. The series' high came during the third season, with 5.3 million viewers (including repeats), possibly due to the fact that both Gellar and Hannigan had hit movies out during the season (''[[Cruel Intentions]]'' and ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]'' respectively). The series' low came in season one at 3.7 million. The series finale "[[Chosen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Chosen]]" pulled in a season high of 4.9 million viewers on the UPN network.<ref name="s7 ratings">{{cite web |url=http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?31651 |title='Buffy' Finale Stakes Strong Ratings for UPN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030524173301/http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?31651 |archive-date=May 24, 2003 |date=May 21, 2003 |access-date=December 29, 2012 |publisher=Zap2it}}</ref>

The WB was impressed with the young audience the show was bringing in, and ordered a full season of 22 episodes for season two. ''Buffy'' was moved from Monday at 9:00 pm to launch The WB's new night of programming on Tuesday, starting with the episode "[[Innocence (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Innocence]]", watched by 8.2 million people. Due to its success in that time slot, it remained on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm for the remainder of its original run, and became one of the network's highest-rated shows.

In the 2001–2002 season, the show moved to UPN after a negotiation dispute with The WB. While it was still one of the highest rated shows on their network, The WB felt that it had peaked and thus declined a salary increase to the cast and crew. UPN then picked the series up for a two-season renewal,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/23/buffy/index.html |title='Buffy' picks up stakes, leaves WB for UPN |publisher=CNN |date=April 23, 2001 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211104047/http://articles.cnn.com/2001-04-23/entertainment/buffy_1_dean-valentine-key-upn-affiliates-buffy?_s=PM%3ASHOWBIZ |archive-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref> dedicating a two-hour premiere to help re-launch it. The following season premiere attracted the second highest rating of the series, with 7.7 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/top-ten-genre-broadcast-tv-ratings-oct-17_article_30089.html |title=Top Ten Genre Broadcast TV ratings (Oct. 1–7) |publisher=Mania.com |date=October 11, 2001 |access-date=June 26, 2011 |author=Kurtz, Frank |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135406/http://www.mania.com/top-ten-genre-broadcast-tv-ratings-oct-17_article_30089.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref>

===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>

===Awards and nominations===
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel}}

''Buffy'' has gathered a number of awards and nominations which include an [[Emmy Award]] nomination for the 1999 episode "[[Hush (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Hush]]," which featured an extended sequence with no character dialogue.<ref name="awards">Various authors, [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/awards "Awards for ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918093728/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/awards |date=September 18, 2018 }}", ''Internet Movie Database'' (updated 2005)</ref><ref name=":0" /> The 2001 episode "[[The Body (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|The Body]]" was filmed with no musical score, only [[Source cue|diegetic music]]; it was nominated for a [[Nebula Award]] in 2002.<ref name="awards" /><ref name=":1" /> The 2001 musical episode "[[Once More, with Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Once More, with Feeling]]" received plaudits, but was omitted from Emmy nomination ballots by "accident".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2002/06/27/emmys-leave-buffy-ballot |title=Emmys leave ''Buffy'' off the ballot |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Brian |last=Hiatt |date=June 27, 2002 |access-date=February 21, 2015 |archive-date=February 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221155831/http://www.ew.com/article/2002/06/27/emmys-leave-buffy-ballot |url-status=live }}</ref> It since was featured on ''[[Channel 4]]'s "100 Greatest Musicals"''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/standard-pictures/buffy-and-other-favourite-musicals-7373627.html?action=gallery |title=Buffy and other Favourite Musicals |newspaper=London Evening Standard |date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817055156/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/standard-pictures/buffy-and-other-favourite-musicals-7373627.html?action=gallery |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2001, Sarah Michelle Gellar received a [[Golden Globe]]-nomination for Best Actress in a TV Series-Drama for her role in the show, as well nominations for the Teen Choice Awards and the Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actress. The series won the Drama Category for Television's Most Memorable Moment at the [[60th Primetime Emmy Awards]] for "[[The Gift (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|The Gift]]" beating ''[[The X-Files]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', ''[[Brian's Song]]'' and ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'', although the sequence for this award was not aired.

It was nominated for [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] and [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] awards, winning a total of three Emmys. However, snubs in lead Emmy categories resulted in outrage among TV critics and the decision by the academy to hold a tribute event in honor of the series after it had gone off the air in 2003.<ref name="tribute">{{cite news |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/07/true-blood-anna-paquin-vampires-emmy-nominations-news.html |title='True Blood' breaks the Emmy vampire curse |first=Tom |last=O'Neil |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=July 8, 2010 |date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105051345/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/07/true-blood-anna-paquin-vampires-emmy-nominations-news.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2017/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-20-years-later-emmys/ |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer': 20 years later, it still remains Emmy's biggest snub |website=Gold Derby |first=Ralph |last=Galvan |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303181453/https://www.goldderby.com/article/2017/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-20-years-later-emmys/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/09/10/five-reasons-buffy-gets-snubbed-emmys/ |title=Five reasons ''Buffy'' gets snubbed by the Emmys |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Ken |last=Tucker |date=September 10, 2002 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303181454/https://ew.com/article/2002/09/10/five-reasons-buffy-gets-snubbed-emmys/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-emmys-snubs-all-time/ |title=14 Jaw-Dropping Emmys Snubs We're Still Not Over |website=TV Guide |first=Kaitlin |last=Thomas |date=September 18, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303181452/https://www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-emmys-snubs-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Knegt |first1=Peter |last2=Willmore |first2=Alison |date=2013-07-17 |title=The 10 Greatest Shows Never Nominated for a Best Series Emmy |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-10-greatest-shows-never-nominated-for-a-best-series-emmy-36584/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-26 |title=15 classic TV shows that never won an Emmy |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a802651/15-classic-tv-shows-that-never-won-an-emmy-award-buffy-doctor-who-prison-break-and-more/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=2019-07-18 |title=The Making of an Emmy Underdog Success Story |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/emmy-underdog-campaigns-schitts-creek-killing-eve.html |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Acosta |first=Belinda |date=July 27, 2001 |title=TV Eye |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2001-07-27/82503/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Austin Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>

==="Best of" lists===

* Ranked #2 on ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time"
* Ranked #2 on ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s "50 Best Teen Shows of All Time"<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/50-best-teen-shows/ |title=The 50 best teen shows of all time |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 10, 2021 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513210616/https://ew.com/tv/50-best-teen-shows/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Voted #3 in 2004 and 2007 on ''TV Guide''{{'}}s "Top Cult Shows Ever"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx |title=TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever |work=TV Guide |date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812080754/http://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Named the third Best School Show of All Time by [[AOL TV]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Best School Shows of All Time |url=http://www.aoltv.com/2008/08/26/best-school-shows/ |work=[[AOL TV]] |access-date=September 14, 2012 |date=August 26, 2008 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727060243/http://www.aoltv.com/2008/08/26/best-school-shows/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Ranked #7 on ''TV Guide''{{'}}s list of "The 60 Greatest Sci-Fi Shows of All Time"<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |journal=TV Guide Magazine |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |date=December 23, 2013 |access-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003105507/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 27th on ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''{{'}}s "Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/buffy-vampire-slayer-hollywoods-100-821432 |title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311054321/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499/item/buffy-vampire-slayer-hollywoods-100-821432 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranked #38 in 2016 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/100-greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time-105998/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-2-111228/ |title=100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=Rob |last=Sheffield |date=September 21, 2016 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119052543/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/100-greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time-105998/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-2-111228/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranked #38 in ''TV Guide''{{'}}s list of the "60 Best Series of All Time"<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |work=[[TV Guide]] |first1=Bruce |last1=Fretts |first2=Matt |last2=Roush |access-date=October 19, 2015 |date=December 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003105507/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranked #40 in [[Screen Rant]]'s "The 50 Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/best-tv-shows-of-all-time/#buffy-the-vampire-slayer-1997-2003 |title=The 50 Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked |website=Screen Rant |date=October 24, 2023 |access-date=December 24, 2023}}</ref>
* Ranked #40 in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s "100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time"<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time |url=https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220162853/https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |location=United States |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=810134503 |date=December 20, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Ranked #41 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s list of [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time]]
* Ranked #49 by [[Writers Guild of America]] on their list of the "101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/wgas-101-best-written-tv-series-of-all-time-complete-list-512061 |title=101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time |website=Deadline |first=Brian |last=Silliman |date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526083414/http://deadline.com/2013/06/wgas-101-best-written-tv-series-of-all-time-complete-list-512061/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Listed in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-''Time''"<ref name="Time 100">{{cite magazine |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022125630/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |title=The 100 Best TV Shows of All-''Time'' |first=James |last=Poniewozik |author-link=James Poniewozik |magazine=Time |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 6, 2007}}</ref>
* Included in ''TV Guide''{{'}}s 2013 list of "The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time"<ref>Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time". ''[[TV Guide]]''. pp. 16–17.</ref>
* Included on [[Syfy]]'s list of "The 25 best fantasy series of the past 25 years"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-25-best-fantasy-series-of-the-past-25-years |title=The 25 best fantasy series of the past 25 years |publisher=Syfy |first=Brian |last=Silliman |date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524005338/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-25-best-fantasy-series-of-the-past-25-years |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Home media==
By 2004, before the release of the final season, the series earned $123.3 million in sales.<ref>Amanda D. Lotz, ''The Television Will Be Revolutionized, Second Edition''. NYU Press, 2014. pp. 141.</ref>

{{main|List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer home video releases}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | DVD !! colspan="3" | Release date
|-
! United States/Canada<ref name="NADVDReleases">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Buffy-Vampire-Slayer/1147 |title=North American Buffy DVD Release Dates |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD |access-date=July 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719094351/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Buffy-Vampire-Slayer/1147 |archive-date=July 19, 2008 }}</ref>!! United Kingdom!! Australia
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 1|The Complete First Season]] || January 15, 2002 || November 27, 2000|| November 20, 2000
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 2|The Complete Second Season]] || June 11, 2002 || May 21, 2001|| June 15, 2001
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 3|The Complete Third Season]] || January 7, 2003 || October 29, 2001 || November 22, 2001
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 4|The Complete Fourth Season]] || June 10, 2003 || May 13, 2002 || May 20, 2002
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 5|The Complete Fifth Season]] || December 9, 2003 || October 28, 2002 || November 29, 2002
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 6|The Complete Sixth Season]] || May 25, 2004 || May 12, 2003<ref name="UKS6DVDRelease">{{cite web |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/1035/buffy-season-6-details.html |title=Buffy Season 6 details |publisher=The Digital Fix |date=March 15, 2003 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306162943/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/1035/buffy-season-6-details.html |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || April 20, 2003
|-
|[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 7|The Complete Seventh Season]] || November 16, 2004 || April 5, 2004<ref name="UKS7DVDRelease">{{cite web |url=http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/10746/buffy-season-7-in-april.html |title=Buffy Season 7 in April |publisher=The Digital Fix |date=March 9, 2004 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402102213/http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/10746/buffy-season-7-in-april.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || May 15, 2004
|-
|The Chosen Collection (Seasons 1–7) || November 15, 2005<ref name="releasedate">{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2005/12/01/double-dip-digest-buffy |title=Double Dip Digest: Buffy |website=IGN |date=December 1, 2005 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002125754/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/01/double-dip-digest-buffy |url-status=live }}</ref> || style="text-align:center;"| – || style="text-align:center;"| –
|-
|The Complete DVD Collection (Seasons 1–7) || style="text-align:center;"| – || October 30, 2005 || November 23, 2005
|}

== See also ==
*[[Vampire films|Vampire film]]
*[[List of vampire television series]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Michael Adams: ''Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon'', [[Oxford University Press]], 2003, {{ISBN|0-19-516033-9}}.
* Lorna Jowett: ''Sex and the Slayer. A Gender Studies Primer for the Buffy Fan''. [[Wesleyan University Press]], Middletown 2005, {{ISBN|0-8195-6758-2}}.
* Andrew Milner: "Postmodern Gothic: Buffy, The X-Files and the Clinton Presidency", ''Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies'', Vol. 19, No. 1, 2005, pp.&nbsp;103–116.
* Valentina Signorelli. "L'Essere-per-la-Morte in Buffy The Vampire Slayer – analisi ontologico-esistenziale dell'universo audiovisivo creato da Joss Whedon". Roma, Universitalia Editore, 2012, {{ISBN|978-88-6507-309-4}}.
* James B. South and William Irwin: ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale''. Open Court Books, Chicago 2003, {{ISBN|0-8126-9531-3}}.
* Gregory Stevenson: ''Televised Morality. The Case of Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Hamilton Books, Dallas 2003, {{ISBN|0-7618-2833-8}}.
* Rhonda Wilcox and David Lavery (ed.): ''Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. [[Rowman & Littlefield|Rowman and Littlefield Publ.]], Lanham 2002, {{ISBN|0-7425-1681-4}}.

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}
{{commons category|Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980202153530/http://www.buffyslayer.com/main.html|date=February 2, 1998|title=Official The WB site}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990208003625/http://buffy.com/|date=February 8, 1999|title=Official site}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011201002518/http://buffyupn.com/|date=December 1, 2001|title=Official UPN site}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* [https://buffy.fandom.com/ ''Buffyverse Wiki''] – an external wiki at Fandom.com

{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}
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|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel|Awards for ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'']]
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{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form}}
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{{Saturn Award for Best Network Television Series}}
{{TCA Heritage Award}}
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