When Buffy saved the world: Looking back on a quarter century in Sunnydale

It has been over twenty-five years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer first appeared on our screens. Pitched as a feminist icon in a distinctly 1990s mould, Buffy Summers grew to become the defining heroine of her generation. Now, in a markedly different decade, one characterized by a rightward swing into neofascist politics, the legacy of the series can be re-examined as a structural masterpiece, a study in character, a pop cultural phenomenon, and, with revelations about the show’s creator, a misleading statement of intent. This article will examine the history and development of the series as well as its tiered structure, which became a blueprint for subsequent forays into fantasy television. It will then expand into a discussion of Buffy ’s position as a cultural artefact, how that dissonance between the politics of the show and the politics of its creator has impacted the framing of the series, and whether Buffy should be dismissed (as conservative critics have long hoped for), valorized (as legions of fans demand) or simply recontextualized. As we head deeper into the new millennium, will this modern fable continue to resonate with audiences? Is Buffy ’s premillennial idealism passé… or do we need slayers now more than ever?