In addition the the excellent score and badass selection of youth-targeted pop songs, Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured frequent live bands, mostly favoring up-and-coming artists over already established acts. Each of the bands play at the local hangout, The Bronze, amidst some kind of Scooby Gang revelry.  The live music showcase is reminiscent of older shows like The Monkeys or The Young Ones.

Even as the opening credits run we were assaulted with harsh and vibrant guitars as a departure from the classical horror inspired organs and symphonic fugues, asserting modernity and a contemporary cultural relevance. The score itself delves into late 90s culture for acts like Curve, Blink 182, and The Sundays.

Focus was made predominantly on on live acts, each hosted by the fictional Sunnydale hangout The Bronze. Instead of going for acts with well established names, the musical cast is comprised of small, lesser known, and often local bands. Many of the bands are either returning underground champions or have since created a name for themselves, including: Aimee Mann, Michelle Branch, Cibo Matto, Bif Naked, and The Breeders. Because of this, the television show becomes accessible and opens up to a younger crowd that had remained unaddressed by the other shows of the time, like: E.R., Seinfeld, Friends, and Home Improvement. I believe this to be the cornerstone of Buffy’s success.

Not only is the frequent showcasing of live music generally awesome, it also bears homage to classic television variety shows, most of which also target a younger demographic. Buffy pays tribute to the format of earlier shows like The Young Ones, which featured bands at a local bar in between episodic shenanigans. Shows like The Monkees were also borrowed from heavily, by integrating the bands into both dialog and the story.

I had never seen someone flayed alive on television before, but that’s exactly the kind of gift you get when one of the series’ nicest, most peaceful and loving characters goes completely and absolutely berserk.

The carnage starts off with the episode “Seeing Red” at the end of season 6 when the season’s main villain, The Trio, accidentally murders Tara. This isn’t the first time we’ve had satellite characters killed for impact or storytelling, but it definitely is the character billed closest to Buffy to die such a final death in the series. The episode captures the essence of anger, frustration, and fury as it explores the desperate loss of a romantic love. In addition, the episode uses this Big Bad as a vehicle to discuss more socially relevant topics of justice, vengeance, and morality.

The majority of other characters to die always seem to come back as some kind of mulligan: The slayers die periodically, paving way for the addition of new slayer-like characters, and demons die and return tortured. Buffy’s mother was the first long-term cast member to die permanently, only returning in visions or flashbacks.

I just… I’ve had blood on my hands all day. Blood from people I love.

Tara’s death, however, marks not only the creation of one of my favorite story arcs, but also one of the series’ most disturbing characters: Dark Willow. Willow’s previously explored addiction to magic and extreme power are brought into a dark focus by her anger at the loss of Tara. The transformation into Dark Willow is shown with several different components of cinematography, including wardrobe, make-up, acting/behavior study, and special effects. Not only does her behavior and mannerism clearly change, but also the wardrobe, make-up and hair style all shift to assert a darker, possibly evil underlying character.

Willow’s descent into darkness begins with her sought out revenge against The Trio. With her new found power, she quickly becomes substantially stronger than Buffy, and the Scooby Gang must work together to stop. The social dialog and underlying commentary show how the group is torn between supporting her revenge and hoping to end it. This is one of those rare TV moments where you find yourself on the fence and almost rooting for the murderous villain.