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Twenty years years on – Buffy the Vampire slayer

I was just 17 when Buffy the Vampire Slayer appeared on our screens for the first time, being that age it was a torrential time for me at that time. Having had lived with my foster parent for the past 10 years (since I was 7), it was decided to help me gain independence whilst still receiving help from the state that I move out into independent living on my own. I think Buffy and the Scooby gang (as they come to be known as) helped me during that time especially as I think I connected with the characters being of similar ages and so I could empathise with all that came with being a teen and then heading into adulthood. I realised that I could do it and Buffy became a huge role model for me and that although a fictional character, that if she could go through what she did that I could too. Even still at the age of 37 do I look up to Buffy and what she represents.

I realised that I could do it out in the real world and Buffy became a huge role model for me, although a fictional character if she could go through what she did that I could too. Even still at the age of 37 I look up to Buffy and what she represents as a character.

I’ve read many articles in regards to Joss Whedon and his writing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and portraying strong female characters and I’ve noticed in almost all interviews that he is always asked this main question.

“Why do you always write these strong women characters?”

and his response just kicks it “Because you’re still asking me that question.”

Joss Whedon must be sick of that question and I can understand why, I mean why does that even need to be asked? Women ARE strong and in Buffy we see that over and over again, if you look at any of the female characters portrayed. From Buffy to Willow (another of my favourite characters) through to Faith, Cordelia, Dawn, Anya and Tara, all are so different from each other but all strong in their own ways and that is what I liked about it.

BTVS will always be a huge part of my life, no matter how old I get, it helped me to see that being different is okay although it has taken me many years to be happy with whom I am and accept that, I think that BTVS helped me to get to that point. But it has also led me on the path to writing my own strong female characters for my own story such as in “The Cat and Her Mistress” and that she is not a character to be messed with and that she can hold her own just as much as anyone else.

Thank you to Tom Trager for kindly allowing me to use this image to celebrate 20 years on of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

 

I also couldn’t resist checking out the BTVS comics and only because they are written by no other than Joss Whedon (I wouldn’t be able to read them otherwise) and just had delivered today (how is that for timing for the 20th anniversary) the Library Edition of Season 8 – Volume 1. So I look forward to checking that out too and see what the Scooby gang get up to in these collectors volumes.

So if you haven’t already, do yourself as a favour and check out the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You won’t regret it…well not until you have none left to watch that is and then you can watch it all over again!

#buffythevampireslayer #20yearsofslaying #anniversary#womenpower

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