Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 — 2003)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) is a popular American supernatural drama television series, written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is based on his 1992 film of the same name, although the two are separate productions. Whedon headed Mutant Enemy Productions as executive producer and showrunner. The show has been highly acclaimed, often being ranked among the greatest television series of all time. Original airings reached four to six million viewers, which was considered successful for the relatively new and smaller WB Television Network. While it did not receive much recognition from major award programs like the Emmys, it was nominated for the American Film Institute Award for Drama Series of the Year. Lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar was also recognized for her performance, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. The show received five nominations in total from the Television Critics Association Awards, winning once in 2003 with the Heritage Award.

Season 1 (1997). In season one, the ‘high school is hell’ concept is portrayed through Buffy Summers’ story. Moving to Sunnydale after a fiery incident at her previous school, Buffy hopes to leave behind her responsibilities as a Slayer. However, her new Watcher, Rupert Giles, constantly reminds her of the ever-present evil in the town. This is because Sunnydale High was built on top of a Hellmouth, a portal that attracts supernatural forces. A mysterious figure named Angel warns Buffy of impending danger. She soon learns that he is a vampire with a soul who cannot harm humans. With the help of her new friends, Xander and Willow, Buffy fights against evil in their town. Together, they are known as the ‘Scooby Gang’. Their first major enemy is the Master, an ancient and powerful vampire trapped underground by the hellmouth. When he breaks free, Buffy bravely defeats him and saves Sunnydale.

Season 2 (1997–1998). In season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), the tension builds as new characters enter Sunnydale. Vampire duo Spike and Drusilla make their way into town, while a second slayer, Kendra, is activated due to Buffy’s brief death in the previous season. Cordelia Chase, once resentful of Buffy and her friends, joins their group known as the Scooby Gang and sparks fly between her and Xander. Willow delves into witchcraft and becomes romantically involved with schoolmate Daniel ‘Oz’ Osbourne, who harbors a secret werewolf identity. Meanwhile, the relationship between Buffy and vampire Angel progresses. However, after they share an intimate moment together, Angel experiences true happiness, breaking the gypsy curse that had given him his soul. This causes a dark transformation into his alter ego, Angelus, joining forces with Spike and Drusilla to terrorize Buffy and her friends.

Season 3 (1998–1999). After deciding to start a new life in Los Angeles, Buffy eventually returns to town during the third season. Her ex-boyfriend Angel has been released from the demon dimension under mysterious circumstances, but is now struggling with his mental state after enduring unimaginable horrors. However, he eventually manages to recover. Despite their lingering feelings for each other, Buffy and Angel come to the realization that a relationship between them can never truly work and he departs from Sunnydale at the end of the season. As for Giles, he is fired from the Watchers’ Council due to his deep love for Buffy which causes him to act as more of a father figure than a strict trainer. He is subsequently replaced by Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. In addition to these changes, Buffy also announces her resignation from working for the council towards the end of the season.
Within this same season, she encounters Faith – another Slayer who was activated following Kendra’s death.

Season 4 (1999–2000). In season four, Buffy and Willow start classes at UC Sunnydale, while Xander starts a job and starts dating Anya, a former vengeance demon. Spike becomes a regular character again and is taken by The Initiative, which is a secret military base under the UC Sunnydale campus. They put a chip in his head to stop him from hurting humans, causing him severe agony whenever he tries. Despite this, he still finds satisfaction in battling with other demons as part of the Scooby Gang. After realizing his werewolf form makes him too hazardous to stay in town, Oz departs. Meanwhile, Willow forms a romantic attachment to fellow witch Tara Maclay.

Season 5 (2000–2001). In season five of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a new character, Dawn, suddenly appears in Buffy’s life. To the characters, it seems as though Dawn has always been a part of their lives. However, Buffy is faced with a threat from Glory, an exiled Hell God who is searching for a ‘Key’ that will allow her to return to her dimension and bring about chaos on Earth. It is later revealed that the Key’s protectors have transformed it into human form – Dawn – by using Buffy’s blood and implanted everyone with false memories of her. The Watchers’ Council assists in Buffy’s research on Glory and both she and Giles are reinstated on their own terms. Meanwhile, Riley realizes that Buffy does not love him and chooses to leave early in the season to join a demon-hunting military operation.

Season 6 (2001–2002). Season six begins with Buffy’s sudden resurrection after 147 days of being dead. Her friends had used a powerful spell to bring her back, believing they were rescuing her from a Hell dimension. However, upon her return, Buffy is in a deep depression and reveals later on that she had actually been in heaven before being pulled back to earth. Due to their concern for her reliance on him, Giles decides to return to England. Meanwhile, Buffy takes on a job at a fast-food restaurant to support herself and her sister Dawn. In the midst of all this turmoil, she also enters into a secret and unhealthy sexual relationship with Spike. As for Dawn, she struggles with kleptomania and feelings of alienation. Xander leaves Anya at the altar, causing her to revert back to being a vengeance demon once again.

Season 7 (2002–2003). In season seven, Buffy’s second resurrection creates a ripple effect in the slayer line, providing an opportunity for the First Evil to gain control over the balance between good and evil. The First Evil starts by targeting inactive Potential Slayers, eventually assembling a powerful army of ancient Turok-Han vampires. Following the destruction of the Watchers’ Council, a group of Potential Slayers (some brought by Giles) seek shelter at Buffy’s home. Faith returns to lend her aid against the First Evil, while Robin Wood, the new principal at Sunnydale High School, also joins forces with the Scoobies. As the Turok-Han vampires and a malevolent preacher named Caleb wreak havoc on their lives.