Buffy the Vampire Slayer Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is about to lose. After fighting the evil vampire Angelus (David Boreanaz) for half a season, with all of her allies off of the board, he prepares to deliver the killing blow with an ancient sword. “That’s everything, huh? No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what’s left?” Her eyes closed, Buffy catches the sword with her bare hands. “Me,” she replies.

Chills run down the spine during a moment that plays on a loop for viewers ever since they saw it as teenagers. The strength and longevity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s fandom suggest that many others share this experience.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the landscape of entertainment. Beyond its impact as a show and on genre television, Buffy Summers remains one of the best characters ever written. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s performance and Joss Whedon’s writing came together to create a multifaceted hero who grew and changed over the course of seven seasons. She struggled with the weight of her powers in a realistic way that was not afraid to veer off in dark directions. As the Slayer, Buffy carries the literal weight of the world on her shoulders. She is also a teenager dealing with everyday high school issues, whether that means her mom, her annoying little sister, or her friends and relationships.

Buffy remains a role model and a source of inspiration for generations of viewers. Whenever a fan feels down, a Buffy moment can lend some much-needed perspective. No quote encompasses that better than her comeback to Angelus.

The exchange takes place in “Becoming (Part 2),” the two-part season 2 finale, which aired in 1998. All through the back half of the season, Buffy deals with her most challenging foe yet. Angel, a vampire and her high school boyfriend, completes a heel-turn as one of the series’ most sadistic villains. It is a dramatic decision that leaves Buffy completely unmoored.

When their final duel arrives, the stakes reach their highest point. As Buffy tries to stop Angelus from completing a summoning ritual that would end the world, she also runs from the police after being framed for murder. Her strongest allies are held captive or wounded, leaving her completely alone. Still, Buffy manages to save the world one more time, even though it comes at a great personal cost.

The exchange between Buffy and Angelus is ultimately the perfect summation of her character. Throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she accesses an array of mystical and cool weapons, from a magical scythe to a bazooka. She is also consistently supported by her friends and allies, including her Watcher (Anthony Head) and a budding witch (Alyson Hannigan). Still, at the end of the day, it is up to Buffy to get the job done, whether that means dealing with demons from another dimension or killing her first love and sending him straight to hell.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is streaming on Hulu.

Source: Polygon