After looking at Hostile_17's call to arms to Buffyverse fans, and seeing a couple of threads talking about S1 Buffy's dated hair and clothes, I started to wonder whether Buffy and to a lesser extent Angel would continue to draw a new generation of young (teen and twentysomething) fans in the future. I'm a good way past those years, and I found both series compelling and very true to the teen experience as I remembered it (with some tech and situational differences, of course)...you know, date angst, hair paranoia, stalker boy (and girl) friends etc. Buffy was voted by TV Guide as one of the 10 best shows of all time...but will it stand the test of time, like Star Trek, or will it become dated and kistchy-looking and be mocked like "Starsky and Hutch"?
I think it will stand the test of time. It has already permeated popular culture (there was a thread a while back about mentions of Buffy in other shows and, as I recall, we came up with a lot of examples). The books, comics, web-sites etc will keep the Slayerverse going until Joss is able to return to it in some way - either to carry on telling the tales or at least to give us some closure on the stories being told now.
It is an example of excellent TV. It explores universal themes(which won't date), the writing is brilliant, the acting is superb, the fans are loyal and passionate. How can it fail to keep going?
I think it will be one of those shows that when your old and wrinkly you will be telling your grandchildren about it and they wanna watch it because it's retro cool lol if ya know what I mean
Ithink that, as with all shows, you can tell that it's not brand spankin' new, but i wouldn't call it "dated". There's a kind of timeliness to the show, to the things that the central characters experience and all the relationships, everyone can relate, and event though society changes, people still experience many of the same issues.
I think that it'll still be being played on FX and all thoes other channels fifteen years from, just like M*A*S*H and other pop culture classics.... That's what Buffy is, a Pop culture classic.
YEah, I could see where the clothes and especially the special effects will seem dated in a few years. But that's not why me, and I think everyone will agree, started watching the show. The superb writing that can't be found anywhere else is what hooks people, not the fads. Some shows rely on the fads and what's popular at the time to get over, like Starsky and hutch. That's never been what Buffy or Angel were about. And if you look at it, the only episodes where the fashion seems a bit well, bad. Those are just the first couple of seasons of buffy when they were in high school. All of the other bad fashion was more due to letting the characters evolve (I.E Xander's hawiian shirts up til season 5, Willows transformation throughout the whole series). Plus with clothes, some things from that show will never go out of date, leather coats are always cool.
But more or less, it is down to wether or not there is going to be 'new' material that will bring fans back into the show that will help keep them from being dated. And that is all up to Joss and ME or as I said in my other post, the fans.
Maybe as tecnology and effects get more and more advanced, The effect of staking vampires may start to look dated or prosthetics will start too look incredibly tacky.
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It is an example of excellent TV. It explores universal themes(which won't date), the writing is brilliant, the acting is superb, the fans are loyal and passionate. How can it fail to keep going?
I think you've hit on the definitive reasons why they will stick around. They have all the elements of Greek and Shakespearian (right on, N4H) theatre...comedy, romance, tragedy, satire and irony. The difference is that a play is usually 5 acts or so, but Buffy and Angel are significantly longer, thus they get to explore ALL the aspects of drama, as listed above. I will admit the original Star Trek looks very lame-o (as Allycat said), but Roddenberry really tried to make the newer versions look "timeless", by avoiding hair and clothing fads, and sticking to those "universal themes" Mr. P mentioned. Angel will fare better in the "looking dated" department than Buffy, because ME has somewhat avoided the hair and clothes as mentioned above. I intend to watch reruns when I can, and I sure hope the little dwarves pick up when they get older, although they already can sing some stuff from OMWF...
Maybe as tecnology and effects get more and more advanced, The effect of staking vampires may start to look dated or prosthetics will start too look incredibly tacky.
I don't think outdated special effects will be a problem. I still watch Dr. Who, and Red Dwarf whenever I get the chance, and Rupert_Giles has me looking for The Prisoner.
I don't think outdated special effects will be a problem. I still watch Dr. Who, and Red Dwarf whenever I get the chance, and Rupert_Giles has me looking for The Prisoner.
The Prisoner - excellent show. If, when you've seen them all, you can explain it to me (especially the last ep) I'd be grateful 😉 Once you watch it you'll understand many more bits of The Simpsons 🙂 NUMBER SIX
What do you want?
I think the main prob would be the pop culture references, which may not make sense to newer generation and leave them saying 'huh?' but other than that, the characters are still real enough and as much like you and i today. hair style, fashion and technolgoy may change but humans will be humans till the end of time.
True, but my little dwarves watch Bugs Bunny Cartoons, and even though they don't get the pop culture references written back in the 50' s and 60's, they still laugh. I laughed too when I was a kid, and now that I "get" some of the references, I still laugh, but for a much different reason!
I may be biased, but I honestly think that Buffy is one of this generation's most complex, memorable and meaningful shows, and that it will be remembered by many in future generations, just as The Prisoner is remembered by many in this generation. We have not all watched it, but we recognize references, such as those in The Simpsons, and know the basic story. Even though the Cold War is over and The Village never existed, I can still appreciate the Prisoner, because it critiques society in a way that future generations will probably always be able to relate to. Plus, it is fun to be really confused sometimes. 🙂 In the same way, Buffy can be enjoyed by all, because even though vampires do not exist and no one has been a slayer, everyone has experienced high school and can relate to what Buffy goes through, both metaphorically and literally.
Nerd4Hire: I was lucky when I was looking for The Prisoner; I found the entire DVD set at my local library. 🙂
Mr. Pointy: Patrick McGoohan (the writer of the series and the actor who plays Number Six) has said that The Prisoner was not intended to be understood entirely, and that it should mean different things to different people. Although I have heard that the ending stirred up controversy and anger among Prisoner fans, I thought that it was one of the greatest endings that I have ever seen for any movie, book or series. Everything that I had always wanted to happen in the series happened, yet it still remained symbolic and confusing. My interpretation, which will contain spoilers for anyone who has not seen the final Prisoner episode, is as follows:
I think that main message of the ending is that escape from The Village is impossible, because The Village is everywhere (the door to Number Six's house in London opens like a village door). Basically, the series introduces us to what we all agree is horrendous violation of human rights, and then implies that it is actually a representation the current state of the world, or as I interpret it, the nature of society in general.
Again, though, I think that the series is designed to mean different things to different people, and my interpretation may or may not be true for others.
Mr. Pointy: Patrick McGoohan (the writer of the series and the actor who plays Number Six) has said that The Prisoner was not intended to be understood entirely, and that it should mean different things to different people.
RandyGiles - You are, of course, right. I was perhaps indulging in a bit of artistic licence for the sake of humour. I've been a big fan of the show since it was first shown (dates me, doesn't it?🙂)- only a kid then and I understand it better now...It's not everyone's cup of tea but worth watching if you don't mind having to think a bit.
Have you ever been to Portmerion? Well worth a visit for anyone who's a fan.
No. Unfortunately, I am only seventeen and can hardly afford it. It would be great to go someday though. I also want a Lotus Seven with a KAR 120C license plate. 😀
No. Unfortunately, I am only seventeen and can hardly afford it. It would be great to go someday though. I also want a Lotus Seven with a KAR 120C license plate. 😀
Seventeen and a Prisoner fan - I'm very impressed. What with the likes of you and Faldor (and all the rest of the Board's younger members - obviously. Don't want to be accused of playing favourites) around there is hope for the youth of today 🙂 When you can afford it you should visit Portmeirion - you will enjoy it.
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