buffy. Let me explain it. Firstly you should know that i was young (late teens) when the first few episodes ran on tv. This is important. The life of my generation was very similar to the non-vampiery parts of buffy. This means i could, and still can, relate to the show. There are no mobile phones in buffy and the internet was still mysterious and elite. Those were the days. buffy is about the dialogue. buffy is about relationships. buffy is about growing up. Some say women appreciate buffy more, but that's not true. I'm a man and i love it. In my opinnion the series has only seven seasons. the end of the seventh season is a good end. In my opinnion the movie has nothing to do with the show. The movie is like a candle, an important technology and still useful, but no-one would really compare a candle to a cat, which is what the series is in terms of complexity, a cat, in comparison to the movie as a candle.

To the seasons! FIrst season is when the series looks for direction. The last episode is a good one to watch. It is deep. It is about responsability. But i will try not to spoil anything for someone who hasn't seen it. That episode s1e12 is called Prophecy girl.

Moving onto season 2. Watch s2e11 it's called Ted. it is really dark and violent.

Season 3 then. one of my favourite seasons. Watch s3e12, it is called Helpless. It has one of the most touching moments ever caught on film. Perfect acting from both ASH and SMG. I love that scene. You have to find it for yourself, well worth the effort.

Season 4 then. one of my least favourite seasons. That being said i still consider this season also a priceless masterpiece. Watch s4e5 Beer bad and s4e8 Pangs. Buffy is complex. Pangs is one of my favourite episodes of the whole series, even tho i genereally dislike the season. Beer Bad is just fun fun fun, not all of it tho, but the latter half, the action part of that episode. In Beer Bad BTVS is kind of making fun of itself allready. The tone of the story is light and frothy (pun not intended).

Season 5. partial rewrite of history. do not worry. it is good. We get characters with slightly different character than before, due to the magical tweaking of past event(s).. i will not spoil. any more than i allready have. From season 5 watch s5e1 called Buffy vs Dracula. It is kind of a filler episode, or to be more kind, it is BTVS's homage to the original vampire. And a well done one. Respect.

Season 6. I'd like to scream, I LOVE THIS SEASON. but don't run off to watch it. you will hate it if you are not up to speed on the past. The characters of Buffy constantly evolve. You recognize them, it's like you know them. and you need to know them to appreciate this season. This is the season that has s6e7 Once more with feeling, it is a musical. Do not watch it if you have not watched all previous episodes first. You need to deserve to watch it. Instead watch s6e17 called Normal Again, quite a dark episode. Remember, when i first saw this on tv i had no clue what direction the show was going. normalcy was a real option. Scary scary scary. I didn't want to lose everything. Willow, Xander, Giles, I need them to be real. At least real for Buffy in BTVS.

Seventh ie. last season s7e11 Showtime. It kind of summarizes the whole season. Buffy is ending. the series is ending. I loved season 2. If there was a 24/7 video of the life of the characters back then i'd probably watch it. But there is not and there never will be. The seventh season in general adds a lot of new legend. Some future watcher will have volumes and volumes of it. Maybe the videotapes made by Andrew will someday be seen as a new truth for some future council or other entity safeguarding mystical truths.

Now that i'm on the subject of stuff you will only understand if you seen the whole series, Let me tell you about my own theory about why Willow became such a powerful witch and why it was so easy for her. In the second season episode 22, s2e22 Becoming, Willow completes the magic needed to re-curse Angelus with a soul. Note that while she is trying the curse she seems sleepy, almost like she is falling into a trace or something. In my theory the Original Angelus-curser the old Gypsy-woman whos name escapes my memory, her spirit probably noticed that someone was attempting to curse Angelus. And since that is what she wanted she helped out. Willow looks sharply up at the ceiling, nods down, staring straight ahead and very alertly recites the original curse in romanian not in english as she was trying to. After this incident, after she was guided on how magic works after she feels it it becomes easy to her.

In conclution i'd like to add that There is nothing i would like buffy to be without, there are things i hate in it, but some of the things i hate are some of the best things. understanding BTVS, buffy (when the b is not shifted i talk about the series not the person).. anyway, understanding buffy requires you to grow as a person. it requires you to take a stand at a myriad of issues, you really need to accept hard truths about life to fully appreciate buffy.

Seems my conclution was too early. i'm not done yet.. My favourite character is Willow. When i first saw the series Buffy was too mature for me. I loved Willow and hated Xander for not wanting more than just a friendship with her. Later i forgave him, because i understand why he got attracted to everyone he got attracted to. Giles. A true gentelman. I love how understated he is when he is angry. Buffy herself wants everything in life to be fair to everyone. admireable. Jenny is the reason i someday plan to go to burning man. Anya is the reason i am at times blunt and harshly honest. You lucky lucky man Xander, Xander is a glue of friendlyness that holds the group together. Spike. Without Spike there would not have been more than 3 or 4 seasons of buffy. Spike loves Buffy. unconditionally. after a few seasons of wanting her dead, but that does not cheapen his love for her one bit. I admire his courage. Willing to be vulnerable. Angel adored admired and loved Buffy the way people in the 19th century loved eachother, becuase it was the right thing to do and it was proper. Spike loved(or loves) Buffy passionately and without reservation.

Hope this helps
by a true fan of buffy,
defending the honor of the best tv show of my generation, and to me the best show ever.