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The brainchild of writer Joss Whedon, Buffy The Vampire Slayer originally entered American pop culture as a full-length feature film, starring Kristy Swanson, in 1992. But creator Whedon felt that the project never quite did justice to the full scope of his vision, so he managed turn the film into a television series in 1997. The result of Whedon’s increased artistic freedom is a series that has enjoyed both critical acclaim and audience notoriety. Nominated for 14 Emmy’s during its seven year run, the show managed to win only two (both in 1998 for Outstanding Makeup and Outstanding Music Composition in a television series). Yet, the true success for Buffy The Vampire Slayer is indicated by the massive success of the show’s long run, strong DVD sales, and the overwhelming success of the series spin-off Angel?

Sarah Michelle Gellar plays the title role of Buffy Anne Summers, a teenage girl who stands alone among her generation as the “chosen one” able to “stand against vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer?” But Buffy is not alone in fulfilling her destiny as a slayer of vampires. She also receives help from the high school librarian, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), who is a Watcher – the one chosen to train and guide slayers on their developmental path. In addition, new friends Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan – of American Pie fame) and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) quickly uncover the truth of Buffy’s destiny, and they often aid her in defending the world against evil forces?

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD offers a number of exciting episodes including the series premiere “Welcome to the Hellmouth” in which Buffy and her mother arrive in Sunnydale, California, trying to escape their past. But Buffy quickly learns from the school librarian that the small town sits atop a “hellmouth” about to bring forth a master vampire. When her secret is revealed to new friends Willow and Xander, the three must work together to keep the master vampire from using his vessel to enter their reality? Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “The Harvest” in which Buffy prepares to face down the master vampire’s henchmen so she can stop the harvest (a ceremony which will free the Master), and “I Robot, You Jane” in which Buffy and the Scooby gang discover a demon trapped in the school’s computer network?

Below is a list of episodes included on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Welcome to the Hellmouth) Air Date: 03-10-1997
Episode 2 (The Harvest) Air Date: 03-10-1997
Episode 3 (The Witch) Air Date: 03-17-1997
Episode 4 (Teacher’s Pet) Air Date: 03-25-1997
Episode 5 (Never Kill a Boy on the First Day) Air Date: 03-31-1997
Episode 6 (The Pack) Air Date: 04-07-1997
Episode 7 (Angel) Air Date: 04-14-1997
Episode 8 (I Robot, You Jane) Air Date: 04-28-1997
Episode 9 (The Puppet Show) Air Date: 05-05-1997
Episode 10 (Nightmares) Air Date: 05-12-1997
Episode 11 (Out of Mind, Out of Sight) Air Date: 05-19-1997
Episode 12 (Prophecy Girl) Air Date: 06-02-1997

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In 1966 I was a young child already interested and aware of the paranormal.  I was excited when I heard that a vampire based television show, Dark Shadows, was about to make it’s debut on television.  Many children in my school were buzzing about the show and wondering if their parents would allow them to watch.   My parents did allow me to watch when I returned home from school in the afternoon and I was hooked!  Dark Shadows revolves around a groundskeeper, employed by the Collins family, stumbles upon a chained casket that he can’t help but open.  Inside the casket is a 200 year old vampire Barnabas Collins who drinks from the living and falls in love with the family nursemaid.  This was the beginning of my obsession with vampires.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Fast forward to 1997 and I was equally intrigued by the story of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  I had read dozens of books and seen some vampire movies since I fell in love with Barnabas Collins but none of them satisfied my thirst.  Buffy is a seemingly normal young woman growing up in California when she is approached by a decrepit old man and told that she is “the chosen one”.  Buffy learned to fight and kill vampires and a host of other demons, wherewolves, robots and more.  Buffy was the first female heroine who was strong enough to fight the supernatural beings and survive and as a bonus she had an odd but devoted collection of friends who helped her with the good fight.  After seven great years the series ended much to my dismay.

The Twilight Saga

During a much needed vacation at the beginning of 2009 I stumbled across a movie called Twilight in a movie theatre in San Diego, CA.  I had never heard of the books nor did I know anything about the author Stephenie Meyer but I was always up for a good, juicy vampire story.  Twilight did not let me down and when I left the movie theatre I went directly to the bookstore and purchased the book.  Three books and one more movie, New Moon, later I am just as hooked.  I identify with Bella Swan who is the odd duck at both her old school in Arizona and the new school she reluctantly attends in Forks, Washington.  Bella meets and falls in love with a gorgeous vampire named Edward Cullen and the story revolves around their romance and Edward’s mission to keep Bella alive.  It is both a heart warming and heart breaking story but it is compelling.  I’ve read the books several times and I never tire of them.

True Blood

In 2009 I saw commercials for a new HBO series entitled True Blood.  Based on the The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris.  True Blood is both a romance and a thriller.  Each season is twelve lovely episodes long and the storyline is very loosely based on the books.  I saw the pilot of the series first and raced to the bookstore to purchase the series.  At first it was hard for me to warm up to the main character telepathic Sookie Stackhouse.  However, as the story evolved I began to understand Sookie and like her I fell in love with her first boyfriend vampire Bill Compton.  Sookie matures in each book and handles the up and down of the supernatural world with grace.  As time goes by Sookie meets and becomes attached to an assortment of characters both human and supernatural.  The books and television show never bore me and I look forward to new material on television and off.

Now I’m looking forward to new books, television shows and movies coming out of the next few years.  Vampire lovers will be delighted with the selection and I hope this trend and interest in vampires continue!

© 2009, Davis Virtual Assistance.

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