Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy) first aired in 1997 and ended in 2003. My memory may fail me, but I first remember watching season one of Buffy when I was in grade six. This was around the same time I recall my mum’s fears about a new show, Dawson’s Creek, in which one of the main characters (Jen) was a wild child with a history of drugs and alcohol. How times have changed. I loved shows like Dawson’s Creek and Roswell, but nothing captured me like Buffy.
At the time of writing in October 2025, I’ve recently completed an entire rewatch of all seven seasons of Buffy from start to finish. I’m now 38 for context. Sure, I always had my favourite episodes I’d rewatch on repeat—Once More, With Feeling, Halloween, Hush and Anne, for example—but I can’t recall ever doing a full rewatch. Now that all decision-making is on me as I live alone, and the Buffy fandom is equal parts excited and cautious about the upcoming reboot, I decided it was time to watch every episode again. Between work and my business, it took me about 10 months in total to complete a full rewatch. And if it’s possible, I love this show now more than when it originally aired.
Why rewatching our favourite television shows is good for our mental health
Allow me to take a step back before we proceed. I have access to YouTube and all the standard streaming services everyone else does. And yet, rather than take a chance on something I’ve never watched, I’d much rather rewatch a show I’ve seen several times. Why?
This isn’t exactly perfect science; however, according to this Verywell Mind article and other research I’ve come across here and there, the reasons we circle back to our favourite shows include:
- Relaxation, as our brain doesn’t have to work as hard as it would when seeing something for the first time
- Sheer comfort and predictability
- Nostalgia, which is a big one for me. While I don’t romanticise my childhood, life seemed simpler, and I had fewer responsibilities back then
- Connection. ‘The Scooby Gang’ feel like my best friends even after all these years. And in many ways, I can relate to Buffy’s feelings of not belonging (and before you ask, no, I don’t believe I am a vampire slayer)
Rewatching ‘Buffy’ as an adult versus as a kid
I’d like to think life experience has led me to develop some wisdom. Throughout Buffy’s seven seasons, there are several moments I now relate to differently as an adult. Some striking examples:
- When Joyce (Buffy’s mum) confronts Angel about Buffy and Angel’s future together (for the record, I’m a ‘Bangel’ shipper)
- Angel leaving Buffy. I get it now
- The introduction of The Initiative and Riley. This storyline has aged well in my opinion, but at the time, the whole Initiative concept seemed incredibly far-fetched to me. I also initially was not a big fan of Riley (it was always going to be hard post Angel to warm up to anyone else)
- The Trio. As I’ve aged, I’ve come to realise that the evil in humans is far more complex and challenging to come to terms with than the notion of monsters that go bump in the night
- Spike and Buffy. Don’t get me wrong, I think Spike should have remained a villain. However, watching Buffy and Spike’s connection grow throughout season seven was a very different experience as someone in their thirties
Reasons I love ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ now more than ever
Okay, enough dilly-dallying (a season one reference). Let’s get this list started.
#1. ‘Buffy’ still matters to this day
There’s a reason this show has amassed a cult-like following. The vampires, goddesses, demons, the First Evil, and other forces of darkness serve as metaphors. Season one represents the hell that was high school for many of us. Throughout the series, Buffy is faced with impossible choices, and while the Scoobies mostly have her back (let’s not talk about season seven), she is ultimately alone.
When I was younger, I loved Buffy because she was strong. Now, I love her because she’s human. I love her because she was tempted by an alternate reality where she wasn’t the Slayer anymore (Normal Again). I love her because when she was making choices that didn’t feel aligned with who she is, she asked Tara if she came back ‘wrong’ after her death (it’s a long story for those who haven’t watched). I love her because even when those closest to her betray her, as Spike reminds her, Buffy does not quit.
#2. The show was ahead of its times
Like Dawson’s Creek, Buffy tackled several tough issues I don’t recall seeing addressed on primetime television in the ‘90s. The writers certainly weren’t afraid to test the fandom, and upon rewatching, some of the foreshadowing was simply brilliant (Vamp Willow being gay, for example). A man of few words, Oz was a fan favourite — and a werewolf for those playing along at home. After Oz leaves Sunnydale, Willow and Tara fall in love after connecting through magic. And when Joss Whedon wanted to explore Willow’s abuse of magic, he knew exactly who to kill to make Willow see red — Tara.
Another aspect of the show I’ve come to appreciate with age is the trauma Buffy experiences after Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara bring her back from the dead in season six. We later learn that Buffy was in heaven, but Sarah Michelle Gellar’s portrayal of a depressed heroine—a shadow of her former self—is incredibly relatable. After all, if you live long enough, it’s likely you’ll face your fair share of challenges and struggles. Even Willow’s abuse of magic was a metaphor for addiction, which we all know is rife in today’s society. Whether it’s food addiction, scrolling on social media, online shopping, substances or something else, addiction appears to be synonymous with the human condition in many ways.
As an aside, what other show decides to randomly introduce a main character like she’s been there all along in season five? Shout out to the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who played ‘The Key’ perfectly. And how did Joss and his team make a musical episode in the Buffyverse work without being lame? As an aside, whenever I’m in need of happiness, the Once More, With Feeling soundtrack is my go-to.
#3. Because she saved the world a lot
Sure, we experienced Apocalypse after Apocalypse over the course of seven seasons. Buffy saved the world repeatedly, even when it meant killing the love of her life (Angel) and sacrificing herself for her sister (Dawn).
But for so many kids and people like me who have never felt like we belong, Buffy continues saving us as we move through life. There’s a part of us in every Buffy character:
- I relate to Willow’s insecurity in high school and her self-discovery post-high school
- I understand Xander’s tendency to make jokes as a coping mechanism
- I appreciate Giles’ love for Buffy as a father figure, but ultimately, his commitment to the ‘mission’
And as an aside: there’s a little bit of Cordelia in all of us — even if we don’t care to admit it!
I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer more now because I finally understand what she was teaching us all along — that real power doesn’t come from slaying what’s outside of us. It comes from facing what’s within when drawing on courage, compassion, and an open heart. And maybe that’s what midlife is: not a crisis, but a calling. A chance to pick up the stake, stand in your truth, and write our next chapter — on our own terms.
Slayer-inspired journal prompts
I’ll end with a shameless plug that’s for anyone who loves Buffy and journaling (like me). I created an eBook, available on Etsy, just for fun. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, these journal prompts are designed to help you reflect, explore, and grow. Get your digital copy instantly for $AU8.79.