Ode to a masterpiece

Okay, please read this entire entry. Don't skim it, see what the topic is, and move on. If you'd do that, you're EXACTLY the person I'm writing this for. For most of you, the name Joss Whedon would mean absolutely nothing. I want to change all of that. Joss Whedon is the creator and mastermind behind TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly series. I can't tell you how many people roll their eyes when I mention that Buffy is my all time favorite show on television. Of course anything with a name like Buffy the Vampire Slayer must be sophomoric. No self respecting writer would spend any time actually developing such a concept. To understand the beauty of the show, you must understand two important cliches that it tackles head on. Number One, one of the oldest horror movie cliches is the blond haired damsel in distress running down a dark ally, being pursued by some big nasty monster. Buffy, as a concept and as a series, turns that cliche around - what if the blond haired cheerleader was doing the chasing of the monster? The second, and more relatable to the masses concept the show tackles is that of "High school is hell." For most intelligent students (which is the audience Buffy is after - it would never be the ratings smash that CSI or Friends was because it was so much SMARTER then what was on television) - high school is a metaphorical hell, escaped only by graduation. In the world of Buffy, it is both a metaphorical hell and a LITERAL one. Monsters around every corner. Sure, some potential viewers could never get past the name "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Some couldn't get past the fact that it was a show that refused to be genred: was it a comedy, a drama? (and yes, I just used the word genre as a verb, deal with it). But any show, that in a single hour can make me laugh and cry, can scare me and make feel pity - surely something must be right. If you've never given the show a chance, and would to, let me know, I'd be glad to share. And now, my Top 5 Buffy Episodes 5) Hush - The first of Joss Whedon's "stunt" episodes. The last 30 minutes of the episode don't have a single bit of dialogue. The villains are creepy, the lack of voices creative, and the comedy of communicating without voices - brilliant. 4) The Gift - The 5th season finale, and 100th episode. 3) Becoming (parts 1 and 2) - The Second Season finale - probably the most representitive single two episodes of the entire show. Comedy, drama, apocolypse - this one has it all. 2) Once more with Feeling - The Whedon-penned season six musical - and a musical that actually addresses the fact that "PEOPLE IN NORMAL LIFE DO NOT BURST INTO SONG." Even more impressive about this episode is that its pivotal to the season long story arc. The cast definitely has varied bits of talent - but with lyrics like "Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes, they got them hoppy legs and twitchy littly noses, and whats with all the carrots, what do the need such good eyesight for anyway, bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies.... or maybe midgets" its hard to go wrong 1) The Body - a haunting view of what the hours following the loss of a loved one is like. Its truthful, heartfelt, and real. The complete abscence of background music during the episode creates an hour of television that isn't soon forgotten. Now maybe I haven't convinced you that Buffy is a great show. But hopefully your interest has been piqued. And if not, shut up. :)