I watched a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer today, and I appreciate that show so much. Joss Whedon gave the world a beautiful thing when he gave the world those 7 seasons of awesome (the comic book seasons 8 and 9 are shit, don’t read them).
Buffy Summers is your a-typical teenage high schooler. She’s blond, body-conscious, fashion conscious, a cheerleader, concerned with her love and social lives, and concerned about how the public perceives her. That is completely normal! Buffy is every teenage girl in high school (don’t you ‘But I’m so special and different’ girls roll your eyes at me, you know you have these worries, too). And the best part is: she kicks total ass! She is heartbroken by her first real love and she gets back up and continues doing what she needs to do. She realizes that she needs strength so she builds it. She has friends who she learns to accept and support. She adapts and learns and grows and THAT’S TOTALLY NORMAL AND COOL!
Buffy teaches us that you can be beautiful AND strong. That your femininity doesn’t cancel out your power or voice or importance. Girls can be considered pretty AND kick total ass! There is no siding. You can be both! A lot of societal cues tell us that girls can only be one or the other. You are ugly and smart, undesirable but wise. Or you can be pretty and dumb. Or you can be strong and intimidating. Buffy is strong and pretty and flawed. Her best friend Xander is strong and dumb and flawed. Willow is pretty and smart and flawed.
Not to mention the show has a kickin’ soundtrack. I love the cruddy 90’s indie music. The show introduced me to bands like Virgil, Rasputina, The Sundays, and K’s Choice. All of which I love!
Buffy is amazing and I hope you take the time to at least watch one or two episodes. Or, if you really want an emotional, lovely whirlwind, watch all 7 seasons.
groundlingsup 