The Legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a pop culture phenomenon when the show originally aired in the late ‘90s. A blend of teen drama, supernatural horror, and fantasy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer told the tale of the titular heroine and the mismatched group of friends who helped her hunt down paranormal threats in the small town of Sunnydale. Although Buffy The Vampire Slayer inspired later hits like Charmed, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Supernatural, the show’s legacy is mixed.
Sarah Michelle Geller as Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Like anything created by Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been subjected to increased scrutiny in recent years. When the show originally aired, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s LGBTQ+ representation was considered groundbreaking, but the show’s reliance on hackneyed tropes has hurt this reputation since then. Similarly, Buffy herself was viewed as a feminist action heroine when the show was on the air, but whether the character was objectified throughout the series has been raised since stories of Whedon’s mistreating female cast members were unearthed. Luckily, many pitches for Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s upcoming reboot would help the show’s legacy.
Buffy coming face to face with Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Approaches to Save Buffy's Reboot
While the upcoming reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer might sound like a bad idea to some, there are a lot of approaches that could allow the series to succeed. Let's explore some of the potential ideas that could breathe new life into the beloved franchise.
Buffy Is On Top of Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return is the biggest selling point that any Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot could hope for since Gellar was the soul of the original series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s reboot shouldn’t happen without her, but it would be tough to recapture the show’s teen drama appeal if its heroine was now well into adulthood. Fortunately, a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series could get around this if Gellar played the heroine’s mentor. This way, the star could return to her most iconic role while still making room for a new lead character.
Spike Kills Nikki Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The show could explore the origins of Slayers and vampires, diving into the fantasy lore of the franchise’s universe. This means that a spinoff could still focus on explaining where Slayers came from and how their long battle with vampires began. One of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s best villains, Faith, proved that not every Slayer was better than a vampire, and this moral complexity could be fleshed out in a new reboot.
Angel when he was stilled named Liam during a flashbach in Ireland in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Another approach is to focus on the vampires, making them the main characters of the series instead of focusing on another generation of Slayers. This would humanize the show’s vampires and offer a fresh perspective on the supernatural world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Angel and Buffy I Will Remember You
The unmade Slayer School spinoff, which would have focused on newly activated Slayers as they started to learn how to control their powers and the responsibilities that come with them, could still potentially work and provide an intriguing premise for a new reboot.
Buffy showing her vampire bite in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Instead of focusing on the next generation of characters, a reboot could center on earlier Slayers from before the original series took place. This would offer a new perspective on the Slayer mythology and the challenges faced by Slayers in different time periods.
Rachel Bilson as Colleen Dania Ramírez as Caridad Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Reviving Characters and Exploring Untold Stories
Bringing back original series characters and exploring their untold stories could be a way to infuse new life into the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. This could include reviving characters like Tara and exploring the pre-series lives of characters like Faith and Spike.
April Weeden as Nikki Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Reviving characters like Nikki Woods and Tara could inject more diversity into the reboot’s cast, providing a fresh perspective and honoring the legacy of the original series. Additionally, exploring the pre-series life of characters like Faith and Spike could offer new insights into their motivations and actions during the original series.
Ming Qiu as Xin Rong Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Another approach is to focus on the backstory of characters like Faith and Spike, delving into their lives before the events of the original series. This could offer a deeper understanding of these complex characters and provide a fresh angle for the reboot.
Bianca Lawson as Kendra Looking Smug in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The canceled Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff Ripper, a proposed Giles-centric extension of the show's universe, could be revisited in the reboot, turning the series into more of an anthology show than a serial. This approach could offer a new perspective on the Buffyverse and expand the mythology of the franchise.
Faith and Buffy in Buffy's house on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The show's season 7 villain, The First Evil, had a fascinating backstory that was underexplored in the original series. A spinoff could focus on the many humans, Slayers, and other beings that tried to defeat this villain over the centuries, offering a unique and intriguing premise for the reboot.
Buffy and Faith in the Mayor's office on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
