Has The Buffy/Angel Franchise Become Underrated?

[Joshua]

When people think of vampires nowadays people think of; "The Vampire Diaries", "True Blood", "Twilight" etc

I mean sure BTVS and "Angel" still have an occult following but this generation barely remembers it when they think of vampires. So do you think both shows are now considered underrated?

 

[Jod]

I think your right! Buffy&Angel are classics! I do think they get overlooked though as theres so much hype for these new shows for some reason 🙁 its such a shame. A cousin of mine is 9 and shes into twilight so im buying her a Buffy season 1 for crimbo to try and get her onto that and see the difference. It really frustrates me that btvs gets over looked because its so much more than just 'brooding about' unlike these other shows.
*Rajafrajaajaj pfft*

 

[FaithsFollower]

Personally, I think the vampire movies/tv shows today are overrated [well, maybe not The Vampire Diaries...]

I have these two friends on Facebook that I used to go to church with back when Buffy was in its original run and back then I used to be OBSSESSED with BTVS. Everyone thought I was weird back then. Now, these two people are way into it and now I just want to say "See? TOLD ya!" :laugh1:

So my answer would be that Buffy is definitely not underrated. Angel...it's a possibility.

Oh! I like how you played on the term 'cult following' with 'occult following'. Nice! 😀

 

[Aloverssoulz]

I disagree. Every site i've seen over the past few years that has done rankings of the best vampire shows has put Buffy in the top 3. Like this http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-and-worst-vampire-tv-shows

Besides, Buffy and Angel are cult shows like Star Trek. In 30 years it'll still be getting new fans and talked about, where as other vampire shows will be forgotten as soon as they end. Cult shows always live longer than anything mainstream...unless you get the perfect mix like Star Wars did.

 

[Veyron]

I don't know about the US, but here in the UK both Buffy and Angel haven't aired on the BBC since God knows when -- you have to have Sky TV to watch any Buffy (it's on the FX channel I believe - I don't have Sky so I'm not sure) and Angel - well, I think that's been lost in the time vortex that is the BBC archive.

So, yes, as far as the British public who don't have Sky are concerned I do think it's under-rated. There are so many folks that are under 18 who haven't heard of either Buffy or Angel (IMHO) and won't get the opportunity to watch them anytime soon without spending money on Sky TV.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

There was a TV show recently on how vampires in general have been covered in entertainment. It covered old movies and the newer TV shows with no mention of Buffy. I think there is some resistance to BtVS because it was told from the point of view of a schoolgirl tasked with destroying them rather than the vampires themselves. Also, it was successful.

 

[Robb Stark]

I think that Buffy has a very dedicated core fan base, and that Joss Whedon is a very well respected figure among people into film and television, but to the audience at large, Buffy is totally underrated. Angel even more so.

I think that Buffy kind of gets lumped into the same category as Twilight (that happens to Vampire Diaries and Tru Blood as well I've found), and as such the average person is more reluctant to give it a fair shot. I've had SO many people find out I'm really into Buffy and say "oh, you like vampire shows...why?" or something along those lines. It's a shame, because they're missing out on something really spectacular.

The same goes for Angel. Big time.

 

[The Thirst Evil]

I was one of the people who got into Buffy/Angel late, Buffy had already been off the air a few years before I started watching it, and I think a lot of people on here are the same way. I know a lot of people who make fun of me for being into Buffy, and for people who have never seen it I can kind of see why. I mean, yeah it's great but it kind of does have a cheesy name that makes it sound like a really corny, badly written show. Before I got into it I would always avoid it because I always thought the title made it sound rubbish. When you actually watch the show it's a different kettle of fish altogether.

 

[Washburne]

Personally I wouldn't say underrated. Having a show that ended almost 10 years ago not being as popular as shows/books/movies that's coming out now isn't strange to me at all. Yet it still has a lot of fans, both old and new ones. That's not bad at all.

Especially "young" people decides what's in at the moment (probably an old expression, live with it. I'm old in comparision and don't keep up.) and most teens, be it right now or 10, 20 or 40 years ago, mostly turns to what's new and not something that was popular a decade ago. Exception exists but the majority.

If one think that less popular (right now) is the same as underrated however I think it fits. Just not how I see it.

What I do think, is that many Buffy-fans doesn't give other Whedon shows a fair chance. That includes Angel. Often with the reason "It sounds silly." Yet, they get mad at people saying the same about Btvs. Look who's talking...

I feel like I don't get my thoughts together and it all end up as nonsense. Oh well.

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

I personally think that compared to shows that are around now, Buffy might be a little underlooked, but in no way underrated. You're telling me that a show that is over 10 years old, with a HUGE fanbase, is underrated? I find it hard to believe that.

 

[Pike]

I'm not sure. After Twilight was out you could spot those "Then Buffy Staked Edward" memorabilia everywhere. Now its not the greatest of attention it could have compared to other franchises and older tv series's. I would like to see Buffy stuff still being sold at stores. Even if its next to other tv/movie's stuff that are much older. You can still find 'Friends' stuff everywhere.. or Ghostbusters, and so on.. lol

 

[KellGreen]

I'd say yes in some ways, and no in others. The main thing is that, IMO, Buffy isn't really about the vampires, and is considerably more complex than most of the other vampire shows. Buffy has so much philosophical and social depth. What the Slayers and counsel represented IRL, in addition to the storylines about adolescence and so very much more, really sets the show apart from the majority of vamp shows/movies/books, etc. This doesn't appeal to everyone, and some just prefer the fluffier (poofier?) vamp stuff that has more "romance" and less exploration of moral gray areas and societal norms. I think Buffy is one of only a few shows to ever have an etire group of studies devoted to it, so...