Ok, I admit it - I'm a huge Buffy The Vampire Slayer nerd. As a teenager, I watched the show religiously. The series, which ran from 1997 to 2003, was undoubtedly a huge influence on my life. Not least because it featured (a frequently shirtless) peroxide blonde James Marsters. But in all seriousness, Buffy was a brilliant companion to the hellish joy of adolescence.
Going to school on the mouth of hell? Now there's a subtle metaphor for how tough high school can be. Experimenting with magic while at university? Another sneaky metaphor echoing Willow's developing sexuality. The key behind Joss Whedon's incredible storytelling was the way in which he manipulated the supernatural world to expose the real one. Losing your virginity only to have your boyfriend turn evil? Now there's one we haven't heard before. Teenage bullies getting possessed by hyenas and literally eating you alive? Oh sweetie, we've all been there.
The perky blonde heroine, the eponymous Buffy, goes from cheerleader to college drop-out to surrogate parent through seven, relentless seasons, evolving eventually into the whippet-thin heroine of the final season, faced with defeating the ultimate foe: Evil, itself.
Yes, Buffy was hot, skinny and (usually) well dressed, but she was so much more than that. Season 5 hit Buffy with the sudden death of her mother, while season 6 saw her battle with depression and engage in a damaging, masochistic (and obviously incredibly hot) affair with a former enemy. She wasn't always shiny, happy and blonde - she was dark, and unhappy and scared. And what teenager isn't, at some point or other?
And of course, it wasn't just Buffy herself who was a role model. The entire cast offered something unique to the millions of viewers that tuned in every week. Xander gave the show heart, while Giles brought in a father figure we all admired/fancied/looked up to. Willow's journey, from shy, mousy school girl, to all powerful Wiccan goddess was also incredibly rich. The show wasn't just about the trivialities of high school, or that weird eroticism we associate with vampires - it was about the people. From Xander's snappy one liners, to Willow's heartbreaking grief, to Buffy's persistent loneliness, the show offered an unending source of experiences for teenagers to relate to.
It was an all you can eat buffet for the myriad of emotions growing up, offering escapism and understanding. If nothing else in the world was right, you could still count on the gang in Sunnydale to be fighting the good fight.
Few cancelled shows retain a fan-base as loyal as that of the Buffyverse. Joss Whedon has legions of supporters, who've followed him from the blockbusters (he co-wrote Toy Story, dontchaknow?) to the critical failures (Joss fans still lament the cancelled-too-soon Dollhouse and Firefly).
Few shows truly stand the test of time, but it is my belief that Buffy is one of them. Buffy fans will always feel connected to one another, because there is something significant about having shared what we did. There's something unifying in identifying with one of the world's freak flag flyers (as my friend Betsy puts it), wherein you feel both empowered by Buffy's strength and empathetic to her struggle. She was a genuine role model.
I realise I sound incredibly nerdy as I say this, but Buffy was one of those rare shows that truly captures something. It's a show that promotes strength and integrity, but with a voice reminding you it's ok to be less than perfect.
Besides, who else can deliver one-liners while fighting the forces of evil in a halter top? Not many, I tell you.