Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors Discuss Their Favorite Television Show [Paperback]

In a book like "Seven Seasons of Buffy," everyone will have their favorites. One of the best was Zettel's piece, where she argues that the real reason the series went downhill after Season Three was - not because the characters were no longer in high school - but because their role had changed from "outsiders" to "insiders." In high school part of the appeal was that they had only a hazy notion of the forces against them (e.g., the mayor's plot); it was more difficult to empathize with the characters when they lost that "outsider" role. I also loved Larbalestier's article because, although not cohesive as an essay, she articulates what an utter disaster Season Seven was. This series went downhill fast. (The episode "Empty Places" gets my personal vote for ultimate low point of the series.)

Another great essay was Carter's article about alternate realities in BtVS. Ever notice that "The Wish" (in which we are led to believe that the alternate reality was extinguished when Anyanka lost her powers) is inconsistent with "Doppelgangland" (the alternate reality continues to exist parallel to the "real" reality)?

One of the weaker essays was Golden's, in which she complains that the presentation of wicca was unauthentic on BtVS. (Hey, anyone want to write an article about how badly Christianity is portrayed on this series?) I was also unimpressed with Harris's complaint about the good-looks bias in casting, and by Watt-Evans' speculation that Buffy and Wesley would be the ideal couple, and by Aloi's over-the-top rhapsodizing about how beautiful Tara was.

Sarah Zettel adds brilliant depth and a convincing thesis to a not uncommon criticism of the series: That Buffy lost, at the very least, certain cohesion when the characters graduated from high school. And in what I think is the heart of this collection, Justine Larbalestier charts her evolution over the course of Buffy's seven seasons from Champion of All Things Buffy to Horrified ex-true believer. In so doing, Larbalestier reflects the experiences of millions of Buffy watchers who found themselves seduced by a dramatic series for television, convinced themselves it was something more than it could ever be, and eventually hit the wall.

Jacqueline Lichtenberg's essay is devoted to the idea that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not 'just' a TV show." but a watershed event for television as literature. I dunno, I think she needs to look at her watch once in a while. In his nearly-brilliant 1992 book Teleliteracy, TV reviewer (and future Buffy fan) David Bianculli devoted an entire chapter to the idea that "Some Television Is Literature -- And Vice Versa," using as examples series (Taxi, St. Elsewhere, others) that pre-date Buffy by at least 15 years.

I am not saying that Buffy, at its best, was not the equal of the shows I've mentioned above at theirs. It was a really good show, when it was a really good show, like a lot of really good shows. It's just not inherently superior to all other shows, as some writers here want us to believe.

Still, as a whole, this book is better written than earlier Buffy-related volumes I've reviewed here on Amazon. It is badly marred, however, by the inclusion of a piece by Kevin Andrew Murphy. His essay digresses into vile, dubious and non-representative portraits of fans of actress Amber Benson, who played Tara on Buffy, as stalkers. It's based on wild speculation and deserves contempt for its intent to smear these fans.

I myself am a fan of the character Tara, and the group Mr. Murphy attacks in this book is one with which I am well acquainted. So let me make something clear: I am not saying that any fan group, much less one with which I have been associated, is above thoughtful criticism, any more than I believe Buffy is. Unfortunately, thoughtful criticism is not what Murphy does here.