If the show hadn't been renewed for a second season...

[PurplePoof]

Do you think the camp value of season 1 among its other attributes would secure it as a memorable cult series that would still have fans today? Or do you think it'd be nothing but a memory? It certainly wouldn't have the fanbase the show has now, but what do you think?

 

[white avenger]

Season 1 was only 12 episodes, and the show barely had time to introduce the central characters. If that had been all that ever was made, I'm afraid that it would have come and gone so quickly that very few fans would have been caught up in the story in first run, and with so few episodes, it would never have had a syndication run. With so short an exposure I just don't think that anyone would have noticed it. (That means that we'd probably all be here aruing the merits of "Dark Angel" and "Supernatural")

 

[PurplePoof]

Possibly...but what about Firefly? Wonderfalls?

 

[wehappyfew]

Interesting thread.
It was so quirky at the beginning...a show called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"???
Maybe it would have a cult following now....but it's weird to think about. I didn't really dig the first season as much, but obviously enough people did to get it renewed.
How weird if our only memories of Buffy were frosty lipstick and Sid the Dummy...

 

[Washburne]

Possibly...but what about Firefly? Wonderfalls?

I´ve said it all along. Judging from one season Firefly is so much better than Buffy. If it´d only been one season of Buffy I don´t think it´s been much more than a small memory quickly forgotten. Wonderfalls I haven´t seen so I can´t say anything about that.

 

[PurplePoof]

Well, it's difficult to call a 14-episode series better than a series that had 144 episodes...it's not a fair comparison. Firefly easily could have lost its way later in its run.

Remember that shows/movies that inspire "cult followings" often have them because of being "so bad they're good"...and there's been lots of things stranger than season 1 of Buffy that have pretty solid fanbases.

 

[Queen Mum]

I don't think Firefly would have been so good, if Wheedon hadn't gotten the experience of making Buffy and Angel at first. If Buffy was pulled after one season, I doubt we would have seen any further major projects by Joss Wheedon.

 

[Fake Shemp]

/me agrees

firefly is beyond AMAZING... its a new word i havent made up yet

and it wouldnt be without buffy/angel

i always feel like i havnt watched all of firefly tho i have plenty and i can see myself owning the season 1 buffy dvd if it had only been one season (and cursing why we didnt get another season) but never imagined it coulda been what it is.

 

[CordyCat]

It is wierd how I can watch every episode of Buffy/Angel and be entertained even though I've seen every episode atleast 100 times. I also find it odd that Buffy became larger than life, I understand why Angel did, but Buffy boggles me.

 

[PurplePoof]

You've seen every episode of both shows at least 100 times? How do you find time to leave your house?

And what do you mean by Buffy becoming larger than life...you mean becoming successful?

 

[LizzieRainbow]

I love season one and i would have still loved it with only that one season, but i dont think it wouls still be big now, i mean we wouldnt have BB if there was only one season, first of al because we would discuss everything Buffy possible and then there would be nothing left to say lol, but also because when tv shows only have one season they tend to be big for a while and then just fade away. If there wasn't BB there wouldnt really be any place to talk about Firefly and that would be a one season fade away.
I found this website Inventory: 15 Lamentably Lost One-Season TV Wonders | The A.V. Club and it has 15 lost one-season wonders. Firefly of course is on it 😛

But yeah as i was saying i don't think people would remeber it as they do today if there had only been one season of Buffy.

 

[Spuffyy]

Realistically, I'd have to say no because I only caught episodes here and there until season 6 when I started watching it every week routinely.

 

[Queen Mum]

However, when looking at Jericho, it was kind of dead after one season, but due to a strong community it was revived for a second season, but with respect to Buffy, I think a lot of the show's success depended on the story being carried on for a second season. I mean, they already made a film and it wasn't too successful at its time and henceforth it would have died sadly away, definetly without a major fanbasis.

 

[Randy Giles]

If Buffy had fizzled out after one season, it would probably have an extremely small fanbase, but I'm sure that fanbase would still love it. Sort of like how FOX's one season wonders still have fans that talk about it years after they've been canceled (like Brimstone, or something like that).

 

[Washburne]

Well, it's difficult to call a 14-episode series better than a series that had 144 episodes...

Seems like I was unclear again. Happens to me a lot. "Judging from one season Firefly is so much better than Buffy." Meant that if you compare the first (and only) season of Firelfy with Buffy season 1 Firefly wins hands down. At least in my opinion.

 

[disturbedvanity]

I didn't start with season 1. In fact I think it was the last season that I ever bought/watched. For arguments sake, lets say I had started from season 1...I would have enjoyed it I am sure...but never would have watched it over again or gotten so involved in it. Would have been just a distant memory...

 

[fly on the wall]

I don't think it would have been nearly as...huge.

I, for one, was introduced to Buffy via Season Two. So I probably wouldn't even be a fan. And I'm sure there are plenty who wouldn't either.

Edit: Ha! Like the person above ^

 

[djmadmanmills]

It would of come and gone very quickly but I think I would of still owned season 1 because of my love for Willow. lol... If they just did 1 season, it would of had a following like Firefly has. Me personally the first season was just okay. My favorite seasons is 3, 5, 6 and 7.

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

I probably wouldn't have even seen it, never mind loved it. I never got into properly watching episodes as they aired until the second half of Season 6, although I had seen much of Season 5 repeats, and occasional BBC 2 episodes before that. So, you should count yourselves lucky! 😉

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

I watched the show from day 1, so i wouldve seen it at the very least, but prob would have eventually forgot about it. its the development of the characters through and after season 1 that got me hooked and made the show amazing. so without their development, i would prob not think twice about buffy if it was cancelled.