Welcome to the Buffyverse

The series opens with the stereotypical, timid blonde woman. She seems unsure of herself, and in impending danger from her male escort. From the moment Darla appears, you find yourself just waiting for her to be eaten. However, the audience quickly sees that the seemingly innocent, weak female is actually the monsters we should fear, complete with fangs and an attitude. And so begins one of the most unexpected series on television.

From the very beginning, Buffy seems to contradict the traditional female hero. She is still very much in the virginal period of her personal growth, with her knowledge and skills largely untried. However, Buffy attempts to avoid her advancement toward self-actualization by rejecting her destiny throughout the first few episodes.

I think it’s interesting that Buffy’s reluctant reaction to her fate comes from the mind of a male writer, Josh Whedon. Female heroes, when created by female authors, are usually more willing to embrace their duties, while Whedon leaves Buffy with a reluctance to accept her own powers. This adds to a sense of Buffy as a very young hero, with as much focus on finding herself as on saving others.

This emphasis on Buffy’s youth and inexperience which is accentuated in the first three episodes is also shown by the opening credits of the first season, which emphasizes the theme of high school as hell. Traditional Gothic music and horror movie images of gargoyles and graveyards are juxtaposed with punk-tinged rock and scenes from Buffy’s ‘normal’ but equally difficult life. As well as learning more about herself as slayer, Buffy also tries to find her place as a teenager, where everyday problems of fitting in and finding her place are reflected by the monsters she faces. It’s one of the best aspects of the series to watch how Buffy’s personal life and duties as Slayer continue to influence each other and contribute to her growth as a female hero.