Buffy the Vampire Slayer was perfection - for these 20 reasons

Today, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - one of the most important shows to emerge from the 90s - turned 20.

It rocked a strong and independent female lead who regularly took zero sh*t from the patriarchy. It featured LGBT characters in a genuine, caring and representative way and over the past 20 years the show has connected people across the planet.

So, on this most auspicious of days, I thought it would be a good idea to look back at some of my favourite Buffy moments and quotes, to celebrate one of the most important TV shows of a generation.

When you finish this article - Which features minor to major plot spoilers - I'll see you in the Bronze for some of those spicy chicken wings.

Hit the music:

1. A strong kick ass female lead

Entire essays could (and have) been written on this subject, but what's important to point out is: Buffy was a strong female lead character of her own show - which is still an appalling rarity in today's TV and movies.

She took absolutely no prisoners, was a superb role-model for young women everywhere and single handedly kicked the patriarchy's ass every single week.

2. The excellent writing of the genius Joss Whedon gave us plenty of incredible quotes:

3.

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live

4.

Don’t be ridiculous. Martha Stewart isn’t a demon. She’s a witch. Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the powers of darkness.

5.

If the apocalypse comes, beep me.

6.

I’ve seen honest faces before. They’re usually attached to liars.

7.

Xander: Here's your coffee, brewed from the finest Colombian lighter fluid.

Giles: Thank you.

[takes a sip]

Giles: Horrible.

[takes another sip]

Xander: Aren't you supposed to be drinkin' tea, anyway?

Giles: Tea is soothing. I wish to be tense.

Xander: Okay, but you're destroying a perfectly good cultural stereotype here.

8.

The songs.

My word, the songs - Buffy the Vampire Slayer's musical episode - Once more with Feeling - successfully blew audiences out of the water and was nominated for an Emmy Award.

9.

10. The moment that Xander saved the world by telling Willow he loves her.

11. Buffy 'coming out' to her mother about being the slayer.

This was huge, and the connotations were not lost on anyone.

12. The puns. They were so... Punny.

13. How the show handled death

When a character sadly passed away the show - which aired early in the evening and was aimed at a younger audience - never shied away from the subject matter.

From Willow's partner Tara, to the incredibly emotional episode featuring the loss of Buffy's mother - death was handled in an adult and incredibly powerful way.

14. The show's LGBT representation

Tara and Willow were a breath of fresh air to television that was seriously lacking any kind of representation for the LGBT community.

15. Strong female antagonists

From dark Willow to Glory - Buffy wasn't the only strong female character in the series. It's approach to women was second to none.

16. Buffy being awarded the class protector award.

Heartbreaking.

17. The Gentlemen

Seriously though; Hush was a scary as hell episode for anyone growing up, and was also nominated for an Emmy Award.

18. Men were always naked

This was a good thing for people who liked to see that... Obviously. But there's another important point to make.

Men were fairly routinely objectified, but the aforementioned strong antagonists and protagonists were never objectified.

You never saw a leery shot of Buffy in her underwear for example.

19. Buffy featured the first use of 'to Google' on television.

Yep, I kid you not.

According to Charles Arthur's book Digital Wars, the first use of 'to Google' on television appeared in Buff the Vampire Slayer in the fourth episode of the show's final season.

Strange but true.

20. Finally, how the show's cast still care deeply for each other.

It's a wonderful thing to see on Twitter.

Needless to say, there are a lot of people out there - of all genders, sexualities and ages - who love Buffy and are thankful for it's creation:

Thank you Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Happy birthday!

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