What does the Buffy series mean to you?

[Kenimowy]

I don't know if everyone is a big sentimentalist like me, but I would love to hear what Buffy/Angel or whichever show you are the most fond of, what does it mean to you? Where in your heart does it sit? Is it just a show you are fond of? Or is there something more special about it compared to other shows? I will start!

I have watched Buffy and Angel so many times I genuinely think my husband, and possibly my mother might think I need psychiatric help lol. If I can't sleep, I can put on an episode of Buffy and I can fall right to sleep. As weird as that sounds, it is a comforting for me. I think it is because when I first fell in love with the series, I was in a bad place in my life. Two things helped me break free of that bad place and get me off the path of self destruction, Buffy and my dog lol. I learned to let go of the things in my life that were poisoning me, and found inner peace, love, and independence for it. Some might think that I am a wacko, but you know I think that everyone has something in their lives that helped shape them into the person they are, whether that be a person, a hobby, a road trip, etc. For me it was those two things.

So I think for the rest of my life, even when I am 98 years old and wearing diapers again, I will still insist that Buffy/Angel were the best television series that ever graced the television screen and I will probably still be having my own marathons of them. 🙂
I know that the actors and everyone involved with these series are long over it all and have moved on, but I sure hope that they know what an incredible show they put together and how the performance has touched so many people's lives in such a positive way.

 

[tec]

To me its this deep world Joss created its fun to watch,fun to play in, fun to be creative in

The show its self is the perfect blend of action,comady,romance,drama,horror and mystical
The characters are just awsome to watch there fun,flawed filled with an energy,the shows music and cinimatic feel bring a total package that I just cant find in most other television shows.

 

[Jod]

I love what you said [MENTION=12127]Kenimowy[/MENTION]!
I basically feel the same about the show. Its special to me because it has always been relevant to things going on in life even to this day...it moves with the times.
To me its a perfect show 🙂 everything about it. It shows how times can get tough, and that we gotta keep strong (cheesy but true!) and i have actually got alot of advice from the show.
I still look forward to coming home and rewatching the Buffy boxset to take my mind off other things. It makes me happy 🙂
My boyfriend (of 5 yrs) accepts that i love the show and has actually came to a buffy convention with me. Also my sis is a big fan like myself so we can share something we both really enjoy 🙂
Buffy is way more than 'just' a show 😀

 

[tec]

Yes in S1-S3 Willow was doing things with computers I was doing I even gradutated Class of 99 just like Buffy and the Scoobies her yearbook is my yearbook

 

[Robb Stark]

Buffy means a lot to me. A lot of what you said echoed my own thoughts. I've always been able to find some peace in watching Buffy and Angel. I find both shows, and almost all the characters on both series, very relatable. Buffy and Angel themselves, in particular, are two of my all time favorite characters, and big influences on me in real life.

I'm constantly re-watching the series, and there are a few episodes that are really special to me. It's an amazing series.

 

[kittenpoker]

Oh boy!!!! I pretty much have a religious experience every time I watch buffy.... She's my idol, my role model....and watching it brings me hope - and gives me something to aspire to be.

yeah, I'm a bit "sentimental".

🙂

 

[WallflowerBitca]

For me, Buffy means feeling comforted in my turvy-topsy world... it's like an escape to these whole, real, emotional characters. It's like a second life to me, the way I cna just let myself get lost in an episode or two. I've never EVER been so emotionally invested in anything before Buffy. I don't cry in movies or TV shows, I never really care what happens to the characters, but in Buffy that's all different. I cry with them and I laugh with them, I scream and cheer for romantic development and I gasp when new things happen. I can't sit still when I'm watching because I'm so invested in every little thing that happens. And that wasn't just the first time. Even now on re-watch 4 billion and 12, I still scream when Angel first vamps out, I still swoon at Spike, I still yell and cry when Tara is shot, I still freak out when Xander proposes to Anya. Even the littles things give me like a total spaz-attack. The show means everything to me, and gives me hope that I can do anything I want to do, and that no matter what happens, there are people that will forgive me for it.

 

[EVIL UU]

I want to say nothing, 'cause it's just dumb entertainment but then I think about it and I'm not so sure anymore. Man, I feel like I'm gonna piss off people again and that's not my intention. Oh well, whatever, deal with it.

I first saw Buffy in 1998 or 1999, I think. Summer vacation, hanging out with friends, playing video games, watching anime and TV shows from dawn till dusk, pretty much. Quake frag fests interrupted with stuff like Trigun, Slayers, Ghost in the Shell, classic science-fiction movies, some Xena. Good vibes, great times. Anyway, one day a friend waltzes in with a HDD full of his sneakernet goodness. He's like, What's up, I'm bringing you Neon Genesis Evangelion, it's like work of a genius pretending to be a giant robot show, we are so watching this! and we're like Giant robots sound rad but we have a show about this chick who hunts vampires, we watched the movie already and it was kinda awesome too. So what did we do? You got it right, we watched both NGE and Buffy season one. In one weekend.

We've came to a conclusion that both Buffy and this Ikari dude are kinda similar, though Buffy deals way better with daddy issues and saving the world crap. Also, I thought she had a better redhead, my friend preferred Langly Soryu for some reason. He was always a weirdo.

So, ten years later I watch Buffy and NGE again, glorious DVD quality, all seasons, movies, some comics etc. It turns out that Buffy deals just as bad as Ikari, new universe rape nonsense included. Both franchises still have absolutely and equally insane fan bases, continue to be milked to death and utterly ruined in the process by pointless movies and/or dreadful, vomit-inducting comics. And you know what else I realized? They're both shit and moreover, they have always been shit. Plot hole ridden sexism-filled pseudo-deep pretentious-ass plots that make no sense, nonsensical lore that contradicts itself and pseudo-characters that are nothing more than plot-devices with dialogue patterns slapped all over them, but hey, at least they're full on fun service attractive.

Yeah, I said it, Buffy is shit. And you know what, I don't care because it's one of the most entertaining well, shits I have seen in my life. It's been with me for a long time, I keep coming back, it's awesome and I kinda love it.

 

[tec]

Nope total disagreement mode Go start watching TV again flip the channels a few times...did you do it?....ok did find anything good to watch?....nope most likely not...

Now pop in your Buffy DVD any Ep will do...you watching? Good...are you still watching the Ep...most likely...you wont stop till the ep is over..thats ok I'm cool with that...

Now if the Ep you watched is better then anything your currently seeing on TV that should be a good indicator that Buffy is not like you said but good solid entertainment that holds up very well agenst the current crop of crap that is on TV

 

[dexeded]

[MENTION=11194]EVIL UU[/MENTION]

So what is good entertainment?

 

[EVIL UU]

[MENTION=11500]drizzlydaze[/MENTION]

It's not like that. You either find something entertaining or you don't, it's not objective, there's no such thing as an objectively good or bad entertainment. I love Buffy because it entertains me and I can ignore most of its shortcomings. OK, obviously I can't because I bitch about them on buffy-boards.com every chance I get, but really, while watching, I can switch off that part of my brain that keeps telling me that shit doesn't make sense. Or just skip that nonsense and enjoy the rest.

It's like with scales, you have entertainment factor on one pan and shit that doesn't make sense on the other. It's about which one's heavier so to speak.

When it comes to TV shows, books, comics there are essentially 4 types of them, I see it that way.

Doesn't make sense and is not entertaining - Most of everything, like LOST for example, worst damn show ever. Or Dollhouse.

Makes sense but is not entertaining - HBO soap-operas, Boardwalk Empire for instance, it supposedly makes sense, historical accuracy and whatnot and so what, it's a boring, soulless dreck. No entertainment value whatsoever.

Doesn't make sense but is entertaining - Buffy essentially. I think we can agree that Buffy mostly doesn't make sense but so what, when there's so much pure entertainment value. Also Xena, even Firefly. NGE doesn't make sense either but you have giant ****ing robots kicking ass in every episode, all that with humor and somewhat unique atmosphere.

Makes sense and is entertaining - The shit, the holy grail of everything, like early seasons of Sliders.

So when does something make sense? Unlike entertainment value, this is actually objective. Basically, it's all about the coherency and adhering to the existing rules of the universe. You're not going to see a guy with a cell phone in Boardwalk Empire, according to the rules of the fictional universe the story takes place in, cell phones are yet to be invented. Boardwalk Empire makes sense.

Buffy? Two examples. We have 5 seasons full of witchcraft, witches, spells, warlocks, goddesses, amulets and something like addiction to magic is never mentioned. Ever. You think Giles would warn Willow or something. No. No, it just didn't exist. You couldn't even get high on magic. Then suddenly in season 6 Willow gets addicted to magic in like what, 3 episodes, and how does it even work, it doesn't make sense, what a load of bullshit. See, the writers broke the rules of the universe to pollute the show with a boring, trite, nonsensical drugs are bad kids crap. In a vampire show, like how more pretentious can you get?! Geez.

Or take the attempted rape scene. Buffy can't handle Spike despite beating a hell god to death with a hammer that wanker couldn't even pick up in the previous season. She's suddenly weak because what, she's landed on her ass? Are you kidding me, we've seen her take absurd amounts of damage and abuse and it's never made her weaker, just more pissed off. It doesn't make sense, what a load of bullshit. See, again, rules of the universe were ignored to tell a shitty, boring, sexist horse shit of a story. ****.

Alright, here's a guide, what is good entertainment, according to me.

Do you find it entertaining?

No? It's shit. Simple.

Yes? OK, but does it make sense? Yes? Well, you've found a holy grail, good for you. No? Do you find it entertaining enough to ignore all the shit that doesn't make sense? Yes? Good for you.

No? It's shit.

There, did I answer your question?

---------- Post added at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:47 PM ----------

Now if the Ep you watched is better then anything your currently seeing on TV that should be a good indicator that Buffy is not like you said but good solid entertainment that holds up very well agenst the current crop of crap that is on TV

But I agree. Pretty much everything on TV these days is bland, boring, soulless, nonsensical, dumb-ass bullshit with no entertainment value. What the hell happened? I went through so much disappointment I don't even watch new TV shows anymore and I used to watch a lot. I'd rather re-watch Buffy or Northern Exposure or some other classic show than risk getting into a show that will most likely turn out to be a pile of crap.

Also, video games have pretty much taken my TV show time. I've been playing video games all my life but now games are just so downright incredible, imaginative, evocative, fun, it's a golden age and they just keep getting better and better while everything on TV just keeps getting worse. I'd rather play Mass Effect 2 for the 50th time than watch Stargate: Universe, was that show shitty or what?

With Buffy, it's like, my brain keeps telling me that it's shit, but I also have a heart, you know.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I don't know if everyone is a big sentimentalist like me, but I would love to hear what Buffy/Angel or whichever show you are the most fond of, what does it mean to you? Where in your heart does it sit? Is it just a show you are fond of? Or is there something more special about it compared to other shows? I will start!

Buffy means a lot to me. I am very invested in the story and the characters. It is and will always be my favorite show.

I'm a hugely active fan; I collect memorabilia, run a local Buffy meet-up group, re-watch the show with regularity, as well as remaining active online, reading fan fiction, essays, and posting in forums.

Like you, I discovered Buffy when I was going through a hard time, and it helped me through.

 

[Kenimowy]

Buffy means a lot to me. I am very invested in the story and the characters. It is and will always be my favorite show.

I'm a hugely active fan; I collect memorabilia, run a local Buffy meet-up group, re-watch the show with regularity, as well as remaining active online, reading fan fiction, essays, and posting in forums.

Like you, I discovered Buffy when I was going through a hard time, and it helped me through.

I have always wanted to collect memorabilia but sadly am not in a position to which I can. I wish I had a Buffy meet up group where I live. I would totally go to that!
Nobody that I know in my day to day life gets my passion for Buffy. Wish I had someone to watch the show with from time to time!

 

[dexeded]

[MENTION=11194]EVIL UU[/MENTION]

Yes, I actually do agree with you. Constistency and plot are definitely weak in Buffy. I was just wondering which shows you think are both entertaining and make sense.

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

What does Buffy/Angel mean to me?....This might take a while.

I started watching the show when I was just beginning to head into 11th Grade, so I guess I was looking for a show that would have something similar to what I was experiencing (Anticipation, fear, nervousness) and still be a little out there, so that I would have something to think about, much like what I did with Star Wars. The characters needed to seem believable, but at the same time have a quality about them that I would look up to, to see them as heros or villians. In my search, I came across Buffy.

Over the time that I've watched the series (Just reached a year three or four months ago), I grew attatched to the characters and their portrayals. I felt for them in their times of pain and sadness, I was happy for them when two characters entered a relationship, I felt hatred towards a certain villian if that character did something to hurt the main characters.

I appriciated the creativeness of the world that Joss Whedon gave to us in the forms of two TV Series, a terrible 1992 movie, and the numberless amount of EU novels, comics, a canceled Animated Series, and a few video games. The most important thing of all though was that he created something that led all of us fans to create our own community, our own piece of his creation. He led some to draw amazing pieces of art, led some of us to write stories that continued the journey of heros and villians, he led some to create costumes that were almost or were on par with what was seen on the show. In the end, he touched all of us with his creation that he poured so much love into.

In the end, it all comes down to an amazing piece of TV history. Buffy will always hold a special place in my heart as the first TV show that I fell in love with, became so passionate about that I sought out others that felt the same 'call', as you could say, to discuss this world that he created. Over the course of my search, I've met some wonderful people, people that feel the same passion that I do. It's a wonderful feeling.

To me, Buffy means the world. It means that there are people in the world that are similar to myself, people who experience the entire spectrum of human emotion.

To me, Buffy means life.

 

[Nix]

I love the show and am always watching reruns of it in some way. I saw it when it first aired and have loved it since then. To me it lifts me up when I'm low. Gives me something to do when I'm bored. Cuddles me when I need it. But, Most of all it has given me all of you. I've been on BB a while now and have loved mostly all of my time here. I've made many good friends here and some have come and gone and some have stuck around, some are now rl mates and some just online but mostly Btvs has given me BB and friendship any time of day or night!! Love you all <3

 

[Abbeycat]

Buffy series means a lot to me. Just everything about the show. It holds a special spot in my heart that pretty much no other show can fill. I'm not sure how to describe it into words. Because I'm not good at putting feelings and expressing them and my thoughts into words.

 

[Washburne]

I'll be honest. Less than it has in the past. I can look back at it and know how much joy/help it gave me and for that I'll always be thankful. Buffyverse still give me joy but it's not like it has been. It's given me entertainment but I'd never call it the best tv show. Neither would I say it's my favourite. It belongs in my top 15. Which might not say that much but considering how much tv I've watched it isn't bad. Honestly I have trouble ranking the places below 1st place. Still, it's the show that has made me spend both time and money on things not being dvd's. It also brought me into Whedonverse which I'll always treasure.

The shows did bring me here and considering what that has brought me that has meant more to me than the actual shows.