By: Emily Salisbury

Based on the 1992 film of the same name, the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer was first released on March 10, 1997, and its final episode aired on May 20, 2003. This TV series was a surprise success and people still watch it today even though it’s been off the air for almost 16 years. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Anthony Heads, won both Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

The series narrative follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply "Slayers". In the story, Slayers or the 'Chosen Ones' are "called" (chosen by fate) to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Buffy wants to live a normal life, but as the series progresses, she learns to embrace her destiny. Like previous Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang".

Buffy the Vampire Slayer received critical and popular acclaim and is frequently listed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The show usually reached between 4-6 million viewers when aired. Although the numbers seem low, they were a success for the newer and smaller WB Television Network.

People's Tom Gliatto, wrote, "The show played the part with the right degree of put-upon resentment, and the cast — including Anthony Stuart Head as a school librarian — is as smooth an ensemble as you could wish in an hour-long series." He wasn’t as impressed by Mark Metcalf’s vampire, calling him an "albino rat in a leather bar," before dubbing Buffy "one of the brightest new shows of the season."

A review posted on IMDB states, “This show is one of the few that will remain timeless. The characters are so diverse and shine in their own right despite the title being Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

I remember being young and watching the show when I stayed at home with my grandma. I loved the character Buffy and how she was such a strong and fearless character; I found myself wanting to be her.  Now older, I still love the strong female leads, but I sometimes find myself not paying attention or scrolling through my phone during certain scenes. For me, it is a show to watch and enjoy once.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets a 7/10 from me. It is great fun to watch if you've never seen it and you have an hour to spare, full of action, drama, and romance.