# How well does 'Buffy' hold up after ten years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791 "2007-04-26T22:19:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/1 "2007-04-26T22:19:11Z")
It dawned on me (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) that it’s been ten years since the much-beloved (by the SDMB Cafe Society anyway) series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” debuted. I haven’t seen it in at least a few years, and was just wondering…how well does it hold up after a decade? The series was always rife with pop-culture references and heavily featured contemporary pop music that would be familiar to 1990s era teens. Do teenagers today get or care about most of the ‘Xanderisms’ spouted ten years earlier? And how about the SFX? They seemed decent and relatively engaging for a TV series when it premiered, but SFX date pretty quickly. The last time I watched an episode, I couldn’t help but notice that during the obligatory fight-scene, it was clearly NOT Sarah Michelle Gellar kick-boxing vamps and staking them. Or has “Buffy” now become a period-piece, pop-culture joke, the likes of which kids like Xander make fun of? And whatever happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar anyway? Aside from a glorified cameo role in “the Grudge 2”, has she done any acting work since Buffy? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/2 "2007-04-26T22:39:19Z")
Was Buffy popular with teenagers? I thought Buffy was geared more toward an older demographic – people who’d been through all that teenage angsty stuff and could laugh about it. I don’t think it’s dated. It’s too soon. My daughter (age 40) watched the DVDs for the first time last summer and she loved it. I don’t think something as good as Buffy will ever be dated. It’s like, universal or something, the themes. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/3 "2007-04-26T22:42:57Z")
We still have people starting the series at my vidstore. Most of them who are starting it at this late date have never done so before because they refused to be convinced it was worth their time. So far, 100% of them have been blown away. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/4 "2007-04-26T22:45:20Z")
It still works for me, and I deal with teen angst every freaking day. The dialogue alone will make it immortal. “You’re just impressed by any pretty girl who can walk and talk.” “She doesn’t have to talk.” – Oz and Devon ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/5 "2007-04-26T22:46:33Z")
I just started re-watching it earlier this month. The fight scenes, particularly in the first season, are pretty cheesy, but other than that, I’m still enjoying the heck out of it. ---
**Author:** ![lexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@lexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/6 "2007-04-26T22:50:12Z")
I can confirm what **lissener** says from the other side. I’d watched a few episodes here and there when the program originally aired, but had never followed it religiously because I worked irregular hours and was rarely home when it was on; I’d been meaning to rent the DVDs and get caught up, but never got around to it. I just rented the first season last week, and so far, I’m very impressed with it. It’s much better than I’d expected it to be. The dialogue is sharp and clever, and the special effects are as good as any other TV fantasy program. I’ll definitely be renting the other seasons over the next couple months. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/7 "2007-04-26T22:53:07Z")
**lexan** , just wait. It gets \*\*so much better \*\* after the first season. Until Season 7, but let’s not go there just now, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/8 "2007-04-26T22:57:49Z")
I’ve only found it on early morning reruns, so I only see it when I can’t sleep. But it still floats my boat as much as ever. I should buy the DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/9 "2007-04-26T23:02:22Z")
I own the Chosen Collection and watch it pretty much daily. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/10 "2007-04-26T23:03:41Z")
I’m more or less with **lexan** ; I’m just really really lazy with my TV-watching. I’d seen _Buffy_ here and there and always enjoyed it, and it was at the top of my hey-I-should-get-into-that-someday list. Welp, Amazon had a sale last week selling the Chosen Collection for $100, and I had a $25 Amazon gift code, so I just today got about nine pounds of Buffy in the mail, and I look forward to working my way through them. I have been Netflixing the first season, and while it’s not that great, it’s not because it’s aged. There’s only been a few bits of aging that I’ve seen- “really wigged out” being one- but it’s certainly not enough to take me out of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/11 "2007-04-26T23:03:58Z")
I was never able to get past the ridiculous now-we’re-going-to-kick-some-vampires scenes, but I guess that’s not the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/12 "2007-04-27T00:28:31Z")
The BF and I just started it and we’re on Season 4. It drives us nuts when it sucks, but we’re still watching it. It can be almost unbearably cheesy sometimes, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/13 "2007-04-27T00:30:41Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] **lexan** , just wait. It gets \*\*so much better \*\* after the first season. Until Season 7, but let’s not go there just now, shall we? [/QUOTE] What the hell are you talking about? Buffy ended in season 5, when she leapt off the tower to keep her sister from sacrificing herself, and in the very last scene it was revealed that Dawn had inherited her Slayer powers. Right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/14 "2007-04-27T00:38:06Z")
You’re right. What could I have been thinking? I must have dreamed that Joss put together the best musical episode in television history. Silly me. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/15 "2007-04-27T00:47:26Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] You’re right. What could I have been thinking? I must have dreamed that Joss put together the best musical episode in television history. Silly me. [/QUOTE] ::sighing:: As we all know, “Once More with Feeling” was a fifth-season episode, aired shortly after Riley Finn (also known as the Prince of Blandness) was written off the show. The episode chronicled Buffy’s great depression after Joyce’s death and Willow’s descent into evil, among other things, and rocked. But the song “Going through the Motions” does NOT refer to a resurrection, because Buffy NEVER CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD. There WAS NO SIXTH or SEVENTH season. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/16 "2007-04-27T00:49:28Z")
[QUOTE=Troy McClure SF] Welp, Amazon had a sale last week selling the Chosen Collection for $100, and I had a $25 Amazon gift code, so I just today got about nine pounds of Buffy in the mail, and I look forward to working my way through them. [/QUOTE] Too bad my best friend’s b’day was in February! I shelled out the $170 for her set :smack: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/17 "2007-04-27T00:55:25Z")
_So, thank god, I’ll never tell I swear That I’ll never tell My lips Are sealed I take the fifth Nothing to see, Move it along I’ll never Tell_ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/18 "2007-04-27T00:57:11Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] _So, thank god, I’ll never tell I swear That I’ll never tell My lips Are sealed I take the fifth Nothing to see, Move it along I’ll never Tell_ [/QUOTE] Are you mocking me? And before you answer, bear in mind I have both flying monkeys AND trained bees at my disposal these days. (Also these man-eating oranges, but they don’t have arms so they’re not all that scary.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/19 "2007-04-27T01:13:50Z")
“Note to self - learn to duck.” ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791/20 "2007-04-27T01:27:22Z")
I started rewatching it (this’ll be the 3rd time). Still great (nearing the end of Season 2). The special effects were never that great to me, but that’s not what makes the show awesome. I love being able to pay attention to how the characters started and compare to how they ended up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-does-buffy-hold-up-after-ten-years/401791.md?page=2)