Would you recommend Buffy?

You like X-Files, Supernatural and Smallville? You'll like Buffy. sauce: I'm a dude in my 40s who likes X-Files, Supernatural, Smallville and Buffy (and Angel).

Yes. Some of it will feel campy. Some of it will feel dated. Deal with it. I promise it's worth it.

37 year old man. Buffy is, without a doubt, my favorite TV show of all time. Shout out also to Angel, which needs to be watched in order with Buffy. With Xander dying just yesterday, now is the perfect time to start.

56 year old man. I was already in my thirties when Buffy aired. Avoided it for the same reasons you're saying. Teenage girl soap opera, yadda yadda. Finally checked it out one night during its fourth season. Absolutely immediately hooked and never missed an episode from that point forward. Lost track of how many full series rewatches I've done. Absolutely one of my favorite shows of all time. David Simon who created The Wire once told a reporter that he thought Buffy was the best show ever made.

I am a fifty-year-old man. Buffy rules, and the Angel spinoff. It might be my all time favorite show. First season is OK, but it gets better and better, even moreso on rewatch.

Absolutely, yes. It cannot be understated how influential it was. And not just for television, but also movies, comic books, etc. I’m coincidentally in the middle of a rewatch right now, which has made this week a real bummer. I highly recommend incorporating Angel into your viewing, as he’s an important character and the two shows had regular crossovers and running jokes. Also it’s just good in its own right. [Official viewing order from Joss Whedon’s blog](https://josswhedon.blogspot.com/2012/04/buffy-and-angel-episode-viewing-order.html?m=1)

XFiles, Twin Peaks, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the greatest fantasy television shows of their time. Classics. They have all aged incredibly well. Buffy is also very unique in that it gets better with time. While there is debate about season 5 for a lot of various reasons - it f****** stuck the landing. And is extremely satisfying as a series. Standout episodes include: The Body, Hush, and Once More with Feeling.

I would absolutely recommend it. Buffy (and Angel), are classic shows that had a huge impact on how genre television (and movies, books, games, etc..) were made going forward. Shows like Smallville and Supernatural, which you like, probably wouldn't exist without Buffy, or at least would have been very different. It had its flaws, even at the time, as any show that runs seven season would, and other aspects have aged poorly, but it's a still a great show and I think has overall stood the test of time. If I have one major complaint at this point, it's a fatigue with "Whedonesque" writing in recent years. The show was incredibly influential even in the late-90s/early-2000s, but in the decades since, an entire generation of imitators have grown up and found work in the entertainment industry and, frankly, mostly kind of suck. Say what you want about Whedon, but the man was very good at what he did and had an idiosyncratic style of writing/speaking that is very difficult to emulate. Almost all the writers who have tried have failed pretty spectacularly.

Think of Buffy as Supernatural but written and acted much, much, muuuuuch better.

Yes, I would recommend it. It's entertaining and has some fantastic episodes.

On season 6 now and loving every minute of it! Well except for the episode “Beer Bad” from Season 4. But like literally everything else has been stellar. “Zeppo” (a Xander-focused episode, RIP Nicholas Brandon) and “Hush” are my favorite episodes thus far. The show has aged well (to a significant degree because the strength of its writing has held up) and I highly recommend it.

One of the greatest shows of all time. Starts a bit wobbly, but still funny and engaging. Turns into an absolute powerhouse by season 3 and never lets up. And then Angel is a spectacular extension of the universe. It's great. Funnier than almost ever comedy show I've ever seen, but with great monsters and arcs and drama and showtunes and characters and and and

It’s one of the most acclaimed and celebrated TV shows of all time, what do you expect us to say here that hasn’t already been said a million times? Especially since you like other shows that are already associated with it

There is no such thing as chick flicks, damn it, men! It is possible for you to enjoy stories that follow women and girls. Ive seen it with my own two eyes. Theres this reaction channel I watch, three men, and they watch stuff like bridgerton and steel magnolias and they love it! Men need to start opening themselves up and try new things. Branch out! If I can watch Ted Lasso and love it, you can watch Buffy

Yes, if you like good writing and acting, yes.

if you do buffy you got to do Angel. Both shows are must.

Yes. **Buffy the Vampire Slayer** works and has longevity when so many of its contemporaries (like **Charmed**) don't because the show is operating on several levels, a surface action-adventure story with teen romance etc, but also as a metaphor for learning, growing up and moving out of the protection of childhood into having to do your own thing and screwing up (a lot). The show also has very strong and consistent worldbuilding, set rules for how things like magic work, genuinely witty and clever scripts with memorable, quotable dialogue, and extremely well-executed character arcs extending across the whole series. I think it helps that whilst you have several teenage protagonists, you also have a 40-year-old British dude trying to keep them on-mission (like herding cats) who basically voices every single thought viewers have about the young characters not taking things seriously etc. A key difference to some of its contemporaries is that **Buffy** is extremely good at dealing with consequences. A lot of these shows pull their punches, but **Buffy** doesn't, sometimes main characters die, or are severely injured with permanent consequences, other characters suffer from trauma about the crazy things that happen, and they don't try to brush things under the bed too much. It also helps that the show grows up as it goes along, it actually spends more time after high school than it does in it (Buffy graduates in Season 3, out of seven seasons), and later seasons are dealing with more adult issues than prom or dating. Its spin-off show, **Angel**, is also extremely good (some rate it as being better, but I think it's fairer to say it's more consistent; **Buffy** Season 1 can take a while to kick into gear, **Angel** is stronger from the off), so between them you have twelve seasons of very solid TV to watch. It's a hell of a journey.

It is one of my favorite shows of all time and is very rewatchable. I think it’s far more clever than some people give it credit for because it presents itself unseriously, but has so many meaningful large arcs and poignant undertones and clever moments. It taught me a lot growing up tbh. It has a notable tone shift later on that some people don’t like because it gets a lot more serious, but i love it. Both halves speak to me in different ways. I was going through a lot and needed both kinds of messaging in my life. I’m your age and x-files is one of my other fave shows for reference.

The first season is especially rough but it only gets better. It’s a series that includes some of the best episodes of television of all time imo so yes.

Yup. Give it a little time to grow on you. As I recall, the first season is hit-and-miss. Once the characters develop, though, it gets really good. 

Yes. Buffy definitely inspired Supernatural and Smallville 

Not what you asked, but if you like the X-Files you should also check out Fringe.

Buffy is a better TV show than 3 of them, I watched all of them.

Watching Buffy today is like seeing the basecode for every teen tv show for the last 25 years.

Absolutely. Several seasons are masterpieces

Of course I would. It is widely regarded as one of the landmark series of the early days of the Golden Age of Television. As long as you accept the period in which it was made, and its budgets in relation to special effects (particularly early CGI) and don't judge it against current shows in that regard, it is a phenomenal fantasy horror show with incredible writing.

Absolutely. You’ll see a shit ton of things that have influenced today’s television and films. Right down to having a season long plot line that weaves in and out of episodes. That was mostly unheard of back in the 90s.

It took me a little bit to get into but it's 100% worth it

Yes but be prepared for film and production qualityto be very out of date. It was not a high budget show, even for its time. That said, if you're a fan of good writing and unique characters, you'll love it

Way better than Smallville! I assume it’s far better than Supernatural, but tastes vary. It’s a genre story, so you need to be open to that kind of material, and that kind of humor. Monster design really isn’t the point, and it’s not horror. High school is what’s really scary. For a bunch of the cast, it’s the best work of their lives. Because the writing is great, and because they were perfect for their parts. If Supernatural passed your cut, then you should certainly try Buffy. When you need some horror, jump back to X-Files to refresh your palate. Then back to Buffy. The contrasting creations make a pleasing complement. Two auteurs at work. (Heard odd things about certain DVD collections. But don’t really remember. If you decide to jump in, make sure your DVDs are gtg).

35 year old here. I’m currently on my first watch through Buffy and I recommend it. The first season is a bit boring but things get interesting by season 2. I’m currently halfway through season 4 hehe.

It’s just Smallville but vampires and witches instead of Superpowers. Technically Smallville copied Buffy with plots almost exactly the same.

It’s a fun show. I think it really showcases some of the best things about tv in the 90s. 

I used to work in a master control and one of the channels I had to monitor played reruns of Buffy. Watch it. It’s damn good.

it’s an all time great show, even if it fell off a bit at the end. the characters, including the villains, are complex and well developed. the theme song rips. Even though it’s a supernatural show, it addresses real world teenage issues. nice mix of monster of the week and overarching villain plot lines. last but not least, everyone is so damn s***!

If what you want is convincing, high budget monster effects, then, no. If you want good writing with characters you care about, and don't mind some silly episodes here and there (especially in the first season), give it a watch. If nothing else, it's a cultural touchstone. 

I was like a 35 year old man when I watched it who isn't really into sci fi or vampire type shows. I loved the show. Great characters, great dialogue. I totally got into it.

It may seem like the focus is a teenage girl with a high school setting, but that is really only the first half of the show. The back half deals with some heavy adult themes if that’s more your thing. You’ll also get some government conspiracy as things roll along.

I finished a rewatch a week ago, and I still love it. Give it a try, I think you’ll enjoy it.

Joss has been copied endlessly since this iconic show started. It’s not the only way to write characters or dialogue but his approach to both are certainly as recognizable as anything you’ll find in TV outside of a Sorkin “walk and talk”. He’s just great at what he does. Obviously a creepy scumbag but the work is still there and very good. Just look at how all time and instantly iconic plus endlessly quotable his 2012 “Avengers” movie is. That’s what “Buffy” is a majority of the time, just great characters with over the top fantasy or Sci Fi driven plots with great writing. I will say if the dated and lower production budgets plus monster-of-the-week trope isn’t your thing then this show won’t be an enjoyable watch though.

62 year old woman chiming in here, so older than everyone else here it seems. I watched Angel first, back when I was 40ish. Loved it. Had no intention of watching Buffy because I’m not a big SMG fan and it just didn’t seem like it was something I’d like. Fast forward to when I was 50 constantly hearing my 35 year old co-worker extolling the wonders of Buffy. To shut her up, I finally watched it. When I was 50. I’ve watched it 3 times since in case you’re wondering if I liked it! I’ve also seen Angel about 5 times. Both are fantastic and I highly recommend watching all of Angel, not just the crossover episodes.

100% recommend. The special effects aren't always the best, but that's not what you watch for. No one goes to the theater and expects the sets to look 100% like real life. (Though some creature designs actually are terrific.) As far as tone, Buffy is simultaneously both teen and adult. It explores very mature themes, especially over its even years. But it is also a YA show, so there will be episodes about dating and class elections and going to prom and all that stuff.

During the pandemic I watched it for the first time and now own the whole DVD box set and rewatch here and there. I'm in my late 30s now for context. You will have so much fun. There's an active Fandom, too, if you want a community to discuss as you watch!

You're already interested in watching it. You didn't need to make a post to get validation for something that you clearly already wanted to do. I hate posts like these. Just go and watch the damn show.

It is a fantastic teenage-coming-of-age-chosen-one story that really grew up with its audience and explores some very adult topics with a handful of one off episodes that still stand as the single best execution of a concept I have ever seen, like actually 4 episodes that do things nothing else has done better. Parts are a bit dated but far more parts are remarkably ahead of their time and given your list of liked shows I'm pretty confident you will love Buffy.

Yes

I loved that shit the first time around in 97, and I loved that shit when I rewatched it and angel a couple years ago. I’m a 47yo man. Watch it. And then when it’s time (season five I think?), alternate 1:1 with Angel until Buffy is over and finish Angel.

Buffy was one of the consistently best TV shows I’ve watched. Fair warning: the first season is arguably the weakest.

I avoided watching Buffy for years for the same reasons you list. Buffy is amazing in that is takes all those things that should be marks against it, and it judo's them into being some of the best parts of the show (even the very limited, crappy monster designs become part of some of the jokes - and they do improve over the seasons, too). In short, Buffy is great.

Hah, I also watched all those shows before I watched Buffy, and Buffy was the best of them by far.

It’s a great show, go for it.

Buffy was written by a man in his thirties, FYI. I don't understand why men seem so allergic to the idea of being able to relate to a female character, even when they're written by men their own age. One of the best shows of all time.

Seasons 2-7 are very good. Season 1 is … get-through-able, and later seasons and especially Angel make some good use of the lore. You totally don’t have to watch the movie, which is not good, but is campy and fun, although there are exactly three minor call-backs to the movie spread across the first 1.5 seasons, if you care. That’s probably more of a “first rewatch” thing, since you aren’t completely sold anyway. From the middle of season 2, all the way through the end, you will be heavily invested, and these people, heroes and monsters alike, will feel like real people who have had a profound effect on your life (if you’re anything like me)

Yes, but season 1 is very weak compared to the others and much of the fanbase views it as skippable. So don’t be afraid if you’re not vibing to just jump to season 2 where it gets much better. 

I would but Hulu executives wouldn't

I watched it when it came out and I watched it a few years ago and it's still an incredible show. It's monster of the week but it's also really dark and has lots of emotional depth. And I don't think there's ever a drop off in quality, it's just a solid show all the way to the end.

It's excellent. Since you liked Smallville, I would bet on you enjoying Buffy and possibly even Angel which was also great.

The other shows you listed certainly put buffy in your wheelhouse. It’s a great show, all the way through, with some genuine all-time episodes. I watched it in 2019 when i was in my mid-20’s, and i loved it.

Man in my 30's here. Buffy is one of the greatest shows of all time, in terms of how good it is, how influential it was, and how good a reflection of its time it is. Highly recommend going in blind. There's a spin-off called *Angel*, and I would also recommend looking up a watch order for the two. That's a little bit of a hassle, but it will help the first-watch experience flow a little better. If you don't want to deal with all that, then you can either watch them as they aired or just watch all of Buffy first then decide if you want to watch Angel next.

Angel and Buffy together and watched charmed. You will get the 90’s vibe HARD

I think you'd like ANGEL. BTVS is fun, but it's also a bit messy through season 1 and very campy. Season 5 is my favorite where it actually starts being a bit grown up, whereas on ANGEL, it begins with that mature tone from the start.

I like Buffy but it depends on who you’re talking to. Modern audiences might have issue with 25 ish seasons and only 75% being relevant. It’s a behemoth to get through. It’s not as bad as smallville which is even longer unless you add angel into it.

Wait until you see all the actors Buffy and X-files share!

Yes. It’s important viewing. As important as MASH.

Saved a guy's whole family from a tornado once.

If you still like the shows that you mentioned you will like Buffy.

There is definitely some cheesy episodes that haven’t aged well but for a supernatural teen show it was incredibly well done.

It is a terrific show.

Yes, watch Buffy, and Angel. You can find a list so you can watch the episodes of Angel and Buffy in the correct order as Angel didn’t start until Buffy season 4 and they have linking timelines. Not speaking on Joss Whedon as a person, he does make enjoyable tv shows, both Firefly and Dollhouse were also good, imo. You’ll notice Buffy is dated, it was made in the 90’s and the first season is always hard on rewatch but it is good enough for so many people I’ve met to be rewatching it 30 years later. We did the Buffy and Angel watch through with our 18yo son over dinners last year, just an episode a night as we sat at the table and he really enjoyed it too.

If you liked those other shows, you will love Buffy. Yes, please, give it a chance. The first season I'll admit was not the best, but it finds its footing in the subsequent ones. The first season is also the shortest, and it is still a great season, don't take me saying it wasn't the best as saying it was bad. But Buffy is way better than Supernatural and Smallville, and better than X-Files as well. For a long time Buffy was my absolute favorite show. It is still up there in my top 3. Buffy has great character development and dialogue and some of the most interesting characters on TV.

Just a note on the prosthetics since you brought it up. It's all practical effects and not much CGI so yeah, you get prosthetics and sometimes they look a bit dated/cheesy. Also fair warning, most people do think season 1 is one of the weaker ones. Although it sets up a few things that pay off later on, don't be afraid to skip the duds and move on to the next episode. Like most network series of the era, it will have filler episodes and standalone episodes that really lift right out. It gets better around S2e3. If you binge through the end, it absolutely sticks the landing as well. Those other ones you mentioned were absolutely influenced by it so it's definitely worth watching the OG.

Most of season one is a bit rough since it was trying hard to be a teen drama while also being a sci-fi thriller but the characters really are endearing and from the second season on they continually introduce great characters and the special effects budgets got a huge bump making it overall a lot more fun to watch. By season 3 it gets to the point where almost every episode is able to stand out and there are almost no characters you won't like.

I first watched buffy in the mid 2000's. I was in my early 30's. I enjoyed it very much. The only issue I have with it now is it feels dated.

For decades, I said buffy was the best tv (best content, effectively) ever made. Sheridan's 1883 came out and *maybe* beat it to #1. Doesn't matter. All the shows you mentioned -- for sure you will love BTVS. Go for it. Avoid spoilers. Enjoy the ride!

I would wholeheartedly recommend that you give it a shot. You'll probably be able to tell pretty quickly whether you're into it.

That’s what makes Buddy brilliant — the first season of Buffy is everything you’re afraid of, hunting campy monsters and silly teenager subplots. But then… bad things start happening. The monsters start getting scarier. Lives get complicated. The carefree teenagers are forced to grow up. Pretty soon you miss when it was just a simple show about a cheerleader and her friends hunting vampires… 

It is exactly like Smallville.

Yes, but I would use a skip guide, something I recommend for a lot of TV of the era.

It is a little dated now, but it's a fun show. I watched it in my 20s and enjoyed it. Given the shows you cite, it's definitely worth a shot.

Great show. Season 1 starts a bit slow, but it gets rapidly better from there. Watched it years ago, rewatching now with my kids - and they enjoy it too.  After season 3 check the other show that goes with it, and use the viewing order list to avoid spoilers.  https://josswhedon.blogspot.com/2012/04/buffy-and-angel-episode-viewing-order.html

I love love love love buddy but I'll be bo est the first season can be a bit rough. But it is really good

Watch Buffy, it a fun little show with some incredible standout episodes Then give Reaper a try after

It was a favourite of mine as a kid but I rewatched it recently for the first time in 20 years. The show has held up amazingly well. The writing and the acting is (generally) very high across the board. Season four is still pretty mid but I was able to appreciate season six a lot more as a middle aged person than when I was young. The writing for a lot of season seven still sucks and I'm not a fan of how they end the show (wasn't then, aren't now) but I can see how they didn't really have a lot of opens for how a show like that could ever be 'finished' without a big disruption to the status quo. Tldr; very good highly recommended

I'm a mid 40's m and I love it. Just started watching Buffy a few years ago. It's a mix of nostalgia for the time when it was on air, and it's fun entertainment that tugs at your heartstrings occasionally.

Just completed a watch of Buffy (and mist of Angel). Season 1-3 are pretty darn good. 4 is okay. 5 picks it up a bit. 6 and 7 are mostly a bit pap. (in my opinion anyway) But yes, you should watch it. If X-Files, Supernatural and Smallville are your thing, you'll love it.

It's a classic, but also the first season has some terrible acting. It gets a lot better.

The first three seasons are absolute nails.

YES! YES! YESSS!

BVS?

I rewatch the whole show from time to time. Alternating the episodes between Buffy and Angel episodes, to get the most out of the many crossover story arcs. The shows characters and stories get deep, expansive world building and often have (shocking but rewarding) surprises. The first three seasons are high school only. After that it becomes much more mature. Especially with the Angel spin-off. Still only season 1 has some mid episodes, but it already is proficient in its emotional and comedic aspects. Also it needs to be mentioned, that the show hardly has any real filler episodes. There is often the overarching plot present and a lot of references to the past situations and further expansion of the former events. Personally I love the season 6 of Buffy and season 4 of Angel the most. The Buffy finale is a hit rushed and has one element I dislike, but the final Angel season is a fantastic end to the shows.

Is a great show that just gets better

Yes you will love Buffy. It still holds up today. If you do end up liking it.. Check out Angel and Charmed too.

Not really. Other than a few dozen episodes, it's aged really poorly. However, if you're a fan of Supernatural, Smallville and X-Files, you probably have a higher tolerance for filler episodes, mediocre opening seasons and mixed acting and writing.

It's great. I watched it a few years ago and loved it, and Angel, one of the best spin offs ever made surely. That builds on the legacy of Buffy but is also its own thing. I'll say that first season of Buffy is a little generic but I really got into it in season 2. You don't really watch it for the monsters, you watch it for the characters and Buffy's quippy one liners. And this show has a fantastic cast.

Yes, just gotta survive season 1.

I watched for the first time one year ago and there hasn't been a day I haven't missed or thinking about rewatching it. Go!!!!

I find Buffy to be boring - I prefer its spinoff series - Angel with David Boreanaz - fantastic 5 years series. Especially with Winifred and her transformation into Illyria.

It’s a must watch especially the later seasons

Buffy is peak tv.

I was around 30 when Buffy aired and there were trendy watch parties. Mixed groups. The dialogue was the main attraction but the show has a LOT more depth than that. Which is good because everyone is kind of sick of Jossisms and their pale imitations these days. Angel is better anyway but you have to watch both. YOU HAVE TO.

I don't understand these "should I watch" something posts...you'd spend more time reading the comments than watching a 40min episode and deciding for yourself.

55 male, watched it when it first aired. It is definitely one of the seminal shows in my life, the first season was a bit light but after it introduced me to the concept of a season wide story arc which i thought was a real game changer for tv. The writing was also top notch and not afraid to explore some darker issues. I rewatched it with my teenage daughter a couple of years ago and it still holds up well. Strong recommend.

Yeah 100%. Im a dude in my 30s and watched it way later than I probably should have. The high school stuff is a little rough at first but once it gets going its genuinely great. Season 2 and 3 are where it really hooks you

I agree with people that said YES it is absolutely worth it. I just wanted to add that it also has some cool 90s time capsule stuff, like episodes showing the approach of widespread computer use, VERY 90s music and music bar settings... I think it starts off season 1 being super inconsistent but it is still fun, I've watched it at three different points in my life (child/late teen/full grown adult) and I always enjoy it and take different things from it.

Buffy was and remains an incredible show. It’s funny, poignant, entertaining, plays with all kinds of horror tropes. I can’t really recommend it enough.

YESSSSS

Buffy/Angel is simply a much better iteration of the shows you listed as favorites.

Definitely give it a good try for some episodes. It’s good fun.

I'm watching it for the first time. It's my wife's favourite show. It's okay. I like the silly monster of the week stuff, but that starts to be replaced by drama in the later seasons. It's a solid 6 with some 7s and 8s but unfortunately a few duds too.

You will have to power through season 1 and part of season 2, it's like your favourite band's early albums where there are sparks of genius but also a lot of filler. It's cheesy, has terrible production quality and FX, and fairly predictable. However, once it hits its stride you'll love it. 

I am biased as it is my favorite show, but yes. Can't hurt to give it a try. The first season is short so keep going into season 2 before you decide to quit on it. I was in my 30's when I discovered it and am 54 now. It's a comfort show for me now. I've re-watched it along with X-Files and Supernatural several times. Try not to watch it through today's modern lens and appreciate it for the time it was made. Definitely watch Angel, too. Edited to add: I'm always jealous of people who get to watch it for the first time! Try to avoid spoilers if you can.

Yes, it’s first season is really corny but stick with it, nothing else like it

I don't like the first season and most of the last two, but some of the parts in-between are some of the best television I've watched – when Buffy is good, it's funny and smart, with interesting twists and characterization. If you want to skip as many bad episodes as possible, then maybe just watch the first and last episodes of season 1, and then jump to School Hard, which is episode three of season 2. From then on, the good episodes outnumber the bad ones.

It's quite good. I watched it even even though one of the main cast annoys me every second he's on screen--the other characters are too good, the plot is clever.

Buffy is great. Not just worth watching but a must watch

If you like supernatural/xfiles you are going to like buffy. Some of the plot is very teen/coming of age stuff, and some of the stuff hasn't aged well with the internet and cell phones... but its still the golden age of tv with a budget modern era tv couldn't dream of and a cast and crew that defined the genre for a generation.

I'd recommend it. I used to be on a television message board on a popular gaming site and it was kind of funny how often there'd be a "I just watched Buffy and it's actually GOOD!" posts, mostly from guys who say they were put off by the name and the show being about a high school cheerleader. But it's much more than that. It was a cultural phenomena and laid the groundwork for a lot of what we enjoy on TV currently. It was the first genre show I saw, other than Twin Peaks, which actually had a serialized storyline that carried over from episode to episode (starting part way through season 2). Buffy, X-Files and Twin Peaks were what led to shows like LOST. It aired when I was a guy in my 20s and it was easily my favorite show the entire time it was airing. Watched every ep and got my friends into it also. We'd all sit and watch it as a group.

Why not just watch an episode and see if you like it?

i’m a 22 year old woman so i’m not sure how helpful my opinion will be, but i started buffy this summer because i grew up seeing episodes on tv. i personally got bored and stopped around the end of season 3 or beginning of season 4. i was really invested in the characters at first, buffy especially, but i felt really bored with the story and felt that the main characters were getting progressively more irritating so i eventually checked out ! for context it’s not that i don’t like supernatural or older shows, i’ve seen a fair amount of both, i just didn’t feel like the pacing aged very well, it felt very melodramatic and roundabout. i guess there’s no harm in giving it a shot, if you like "monster/mystery of the week" type shows it’ll probably be for you !

Yes, you'll like it. You may even like Angel more as it's just slightly more adult. So if you end up liking Buffy, you'll probably also like Angel. And if you like the non-supernatural aspects of Buffy, you may like Veronica Mars. I didn't watch any of these until my 30s and I'm still rewatching these in my 50s.

Buffy is one of my favorite shows of all time, I think it’s a show lots of people would like, but probably not for everyone. I think the main thing I would say is that Buffy is really about the characters. The world-building is campy, silly, and at times inconsistent, so people who care greatly about such things could get turned off. Buffy also loves to use the supernatural as a metaphor. So there are a lot of times in the show where the story isn’t really about what is literally happening, it’s about the journey of the characters as they navigate metaphorical supernatural challenges. Basically, if you can love the characters and enjoy the campy silly vibes, it’s an amazing show. If you get stuck on details, continuity/consistency of world building, or the literal interpretation of what is happening in the story, then it could be frustrating and dumb. I also think that the show was written in the late 90s, and as such there are a lot of things in the show that were calibrated for that era, and which are therefore not well calibrated for our modern cultural attitudes. For example, a scene where Xander was written to be a mildly cringy nerd in 1999 for comedic value comes across today as him being a wild sexist a******. Also, relationships between older (like, 200 year old vampire) and younger characters are handled differently, while their age differences are acknowledged, they are generally much more tolerated in the show than I think they would be today, where it comes off as super weird in an era where we are hyper-vigilant for these things and politics has to a certain extent come down to proving which party has the most gross old men in it. So basically, you have to watch the show with an understanding that when these things happen, it wasn’t intended for them to feel this weird. Like, a scene was supposed to be a fun little cringy joke, it wasn’t supposed to be a cancellation-worthy atrocity. And you have to be ok with that or the show will be difficult to watch, particularly scenes where Xander opens his mouth in the first 3 seasons. If you are down with the 1990s you will have an easier time watching this show.

You just have to try watching it. I like all those shows too but I only made it a handful of episodes into season 2 of Buffy before I just lost interest. It's definitely being carried by nostalgia by most people these days.

Buffy is a bit campy and low budget... especially earlier seasons and may not go well with the "modern" audience or for audience used to high value production like Stranger Things or Wednesday...but I love it..

Oh no, it's hard for you to get into a piece of media about someone not in your demographic? You're ignoring all of the things that make it in the same ballpark as your other favourite things just because the main character is a girl and she's in highschool Girls have had to live in a male-centric world forever. Put on your big boy pants and watch a show about a girl

You don't need to be a teen to enjoy it. You just need to remember what it was like being a teen to be able to relate to the characters. However, your extra years will also help you relate more to the older characters. The first season is a bit hit-and-miss but the show really hits its stride in S2 and S3. Some of the teen angst stuff may not hit you the same way it might have when your were in your 20s or teens, but a lot of the writing is clever and enjoyable.

Try it, it's the only way you'll know.

I came to Buffy late. Was in my 30s and would tape the eps on my VHS that ran on Fx/USA (?) and watch them after work. My Mom loved the Xfiles. She was my nanny and would often stay late to watch Buffy with me while my husband wrangled the kids. Neither one of us were a teenage girl or huge horror or Sci-Fi fans. I was her youngest so we were 35 years apart. We both LOVED Buffy. The makeup and monsters may not compare well against what’s possible today. But great writing, story and character development stands the test of time. I’m a fan of all the shows you’ve highlighted. Buffy is in a different league! How I wish I could be watching Buffy for the first time like you.

I enjoyed it but then it got stupid and I had to stop watching. You might be ok with what bothered me. The sister nonsense, for one. Every character needing to turn out to be supernatural. Ugh. But Angel, yes. :). Fortunately, I could eventually watch him on his own show.

Im a 46 year old man and watched it when it was on as a teen and its one of my faves of all time. the thing is it is very 90's - fashion, music, slang and they go to a club called the Bronze frequently which plays edgy alternative music from the era. It has some great recurring characters and themes and SMG is awesome in the role. I loved smallville too but that dragged severely compared to Buffy where entering young adulthood is much harsher for the scoobies.