Buy Buffy stuff?

Buffy on DVD!

IF you're already familiar with Buffy, I think you should backtrack a bit and look into 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Despite bad reviews and a total lack of similarity to the series as a whole, this movie is very entertaining, and amongst the errors and the vampires that don't go "poof" properly, this is a good place to start.

HOWEVER, if you are NOT already familiar with Buffy, here are all seven seasons of Buffy, reviewed and complete:

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete First Season': Not my favorite season, and like most TV shows, the first season was very short. The experiences Buffy has early in her career as the Slayer are valuable, and she begins friendships without which she would never have made it to season seven. I personally don't own this season. I skipped to season two, which, if money is an issue for you, may be tempting.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Second Season': Things really start to get complicated in the second season of Buffy, when the Slayer's relationship with Angel flowers and whithers but fails to die when Angelus arrives on the scene for the first time in years. In his own words, "I'm back, Baby." Spike and Drucilla are brought to Sunnydale for the first time. Oz and Willow begin dating and fall in love. Cordellia and Xander's relationship becomes more solid, and we begin to see all of the characters more clearly. One of my favorite seasons.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Third Season': When a Slayer dies, another is born. And when Kendra, a friend of Buffy's, is murdered by a vampiress, Faith becomes a Slayer. And what a Slayer she is! Murder, lies, and betrayal are the cards on the table, and this game is winner take all. Also, Willow, Oz, Xander, and Cordellia begin to develope relationship problems that result in the creation of a nightmare dream world for Cordellia. Wait until you see what Willow is wearing this season! And Spike puts in a short appearance. Gotta love that bleached blonde vamp, but unfortunately, this is not his season to shine.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fourth Season': Graduation was liberating, but what did it really mean? The start of a new life at College, of course. You can take the Hellmouth out of the Slayer, but the slayer unfortunately cannot leave the Hellmout for school. Willow and Oz part ways, Cordellia leaves for LA with Angel (to branch off into the Angel spinoff), and Spike returns to become a more regular member of the cast when he gets a chip put in his head to keep him from hurting people. The loss of Oz made the transitions in season four hard, and although I support Willow's decision to move on, Tara never filled the Oz shaped gap for me. The most emotional Willow moment for me in the series was when he returned only to have Willow tell him she was in love with someone else. SAD! I didn't buy this season. Too much Riley! But wait until you meet "The Gentlemen." Hush is my favorite episode.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season': What do you do when the little sister you didn't up until just now have suddenly turns out to be some kind of mystical entity of pure energy? This is the story of Buffy and her litte *not real* sister Dawn, who she loves and wants to protect... Even though she seems to be able to do nothing better than attract trouble.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Sixth Season': Things really begin to heat up with Willow's magical abilities begining to leave her control... Emotions run wild when Xander and Anya's relationship comes to it's climax. Buffy has a hard time caring about anything more than what she's already lost. And there's a musical number. A rather unforgettable one at that. Then, things really take a turn for the worst. A tragic accident takes the life of one of the Slayer's friends. This will be my next Buffy purchase.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Seventh Season': The seventh and last season of Buffy is powerful and full of loss. The cast must prepare for Battle with the first, an ancient evil out to open the Hellmouth. Faith and Buffy prepare the potentials, a group of could-be-Slayers, for battle. Willow meets Kenedy (one of the potentials), and sparks fly a-new. Still not Oz, but what can you do? Lots of Spike, Angel makes a short (memorable) guest appearance, and A few loved characters die. Then, the series ends, the lights go up in the theatre, and we all file out to forget all we've seen... OR...

'Angel - Seasons 1-4': Unfortunately, I'm not a big Angel fan. It's okay, and I watch it when it's on, but whenever I get attached to a character on the show, it dies. Anyway, if you want to prolong your James Marsters experience, or if you just like watching the people you care about die or fall into comas, this is the place to go!

Buffy Books!

These may skip around in the timeline a bit, but let's have a go...
'Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': Yes, my lovelies, our favorite evil Vampires are back for more. Except this is before Sunnydale. Way before Sunnydale. If you want to know how Spike managed to kill Sophie the Vampire slayer, this is the deffinative book. I recomend it to any Buffy fan over 17 who has an opinion on Spike. Dru's cleverness really turned my head in this one, I forgot that "insane" didn't mean she wasn't also very crafty. Excellent book. Full five stars.

'Blooded (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Book 5)': This novel takes place partly in modern day Sunnydale, and partly in Feudal Japan. This is great. For people who like Feudal Japan. I wouldn't recommend this book, but it *does* tie in well with other Buffy novels. Many characters introduced or mentioned in this book go on to be in other Buffy books. Plus, we get to add a new entry to the "Many faces of Willow" list. Evil Chinese vampire Willow. Yikes.

'Child of the Hunt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': Buffy is in attendance at a Renaissance fair when she notices something off about it, and it isn't just the historical accuracy of the fair. An excellent novel, with great new characters and plenty of suspense. New Slayer back-story, and guess what? It ties in with other Buffy novels. Scary, eh? But good. You should read this one.

'The Gatekeeper Trilogy, Book One: Out of the Madhouse (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': I haven't finished this, the first book in a trilogy yet, but I am *impressed* with it. Very gripping in some places, although it's sometimes difficult to keep up with everything that's going on. This book takes a lot from other Nancy Holder novels, so you may want to hold off on reading it until after you've read some of the others, but just as easily not.

'Coyote Moon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Book 3)': Fun and mystery abounds in this Buffy volume, but it's rather simplistic and although I enjoyed it thoroughly at the time, I now find it forgettable. I'd recommend it, but only as "I don't have anything better to read" material. Beats Feudal Japan any day though.

'Halloween Rain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': I really liked this one. Lots of pop culture references, and it looks like the leading villain ripped off Tim Burton.

'The Harvest (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': *cough cough*RECAP*cough cough*.

'Sins of the Father (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)': When I heard that Pike would be appearing in this Buffy novel, I was excited. But then, I was shocked at how poorly Christopher Golden wrote his character. Pike went from a street wise mechanic with an alcohol problem to a taxi driving beach bum who, despite his superior fighting skills, has given up the good fight to simply ignore it. HORRIBLE characterization of Pike. When I think of Pike, I choose to omit this novel. If I could, I would unread this book.