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Happy Birthday Buffy: A Love Letter To Our Favorite Vampire Slayer On Her 42nd Birthday
“Why don’t we start with, ‘Hi, I’m Buffy’….
“What’s the meaning behind this stick figure,” the tattoo artist asked my friend and me about the tattoo we were getting together. We both glanced at each other, seeing which one of us would explain it first.
“It’s from Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” my friend said.
“Cool, cool, I remember that movie,” the artist said casually.
“It’s something someone draws in an episode,” I said, giving more explanation than the artist cared about. I didn’t go on to tell him that the stick figure is a drawing our favorite surrogate TV dad, watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), did of the Slayer in the iconic episode “Hush,” where they all lose their voices. I didn’t tell him I have a Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast. I didn’t tell him that the show is far superior to the movie. I didn’t give him my rant about Sarah Michelle Gellar being one of the most underrated actors.
But I thought it all.
As I approach 40 and our beloved slayer approaches 42, I can say with absolute assurance that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not only my favorite show but my favorite thing. It’s been one of the few constants in my life.
“Of course, you could smash my toes with a hammer and it would still be the bestest Buffy birthday bash in a while.”
January 19th is the date the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom has decided is Buffy’s birthday. Mostly due to the fact that her birthday episodes always aired towards the end of January and that she says, “Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius. You?” in an episode where she’s asked, “What are you?”
My birthday is January 21st—I used to love to think growing up that we had the same birthday, but I’ll take two days apart.
Buffy’s birthdays have seen her heroic vampire boyfriend turn evil, her lose her powers, her watcher get turned into a demon, her sister scream, “get out,” and even seen everyone attending her party get trapped in the house. But, of course, Buffy Anne Summers overcame it all. And her birthday disasters barely scratch the surface of the things she has overcome. She’s died twice, after all.
“That was then. This is now.”
The birthday episode that always sticks with me is maybe the most iconic one—Buffy season 2’s two-parter “Surprise” and “Innocence.” Buffy and her beloved Angel (David Boreanaz) have sex for the first time and we quickly learn that due to a curse, his soul leaves his body once he has one true moment of happiness. In the episodes, he berates Buffy for her lack of sexual experience and tries to kill her friends. Buffy ends her celebration on the couch with her mother, watching the lone candle in her cupcake burn.
These episodes were when the show really showed you what it would become. Both funny and dark—bringing in the emotional beats for the rest of season 2 and giving us the new big bad, Angel’s evil alter ego, Angelus.
In those stellar two-part episodes we also get one of the greatest moments of the show—Buffy pulling out a rocket launcher inside the Sunnydale Mall to blow up the newly resurrected evil demon, The Judge; it’s such a big moment—Buffy has been beaten down by her newly evil boyfriend, yet she still stands up and saves the day.
It encapsulates everything that makes the show great—Buffy always stands back up.
“Can stand up, will stand up”
I started my Buffy podcast, Slayerfest 98, for the 20th anniversary of the show. But by the time I started it, I’d already interviewed some of the cast when I’d interned at BuzzFeed. In fact, Amber Benson (who played Tara) was my first-ever celebrity interview, and she spoiled all the rest for me. I interviewed her at New York Comic Con, and she invited me to go out drinking with her after the con—where I’d meet Tom Lenk (Andrew) and Adam Busch (Warren). I ended the night doing a shot of Fireball whiskey with Amber. It was a nerd’s dream come true.
Meeting those folks that night helped me get them on the podcast. And helped me branch out into getting other guests as well.
If I’d ever told teen me that I’d start a Buffy podcast where I’d get to interact with and talk to cast members from the show regularly, I have no doubt teen me would call bullshit. But through my podcast, I’ve gotten to speak with James Marsters (Spike), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Clare Kramer (Glory), and a bunch of other stellar folks from the show. I’ve even formed friendships with some of them.
Once, over a video call, James Marsters said, “Is that a painting of Sarah?” He was right, it was, and I cringed because I thought I looked like an unhinged fan. But he was nice and asked about it, and I told him it was something a friend had painted for me for my 19th birthday. He told me it was a good likeness.
When I get super down about my career, and where I am in life, I remember how cool it is that I’ve formed these relationships through my podcast. I also remind myself of all the things I watched Miss Summers overcome and think I can make it too.
“I’m cookie dough. I’m not done baking. I’m not finished becoming whoever the hell it is I’m going to turn out to be”
After getting my ‘Buffy Will Patrol Tonight’ tattoo above my right knee, I felt incredibly emotional. It was my 4th tattoo, but my first Buffy-themed one, and I was so happy to have my forever hero on me.
My friend hugged me because he could see how I was reacting. It’s weird to say that having a man stab you with a needle is an emotional experience but it was.
I often think about how I’m not done becoming whomever I’m going to become, even as I turn 40. I still relate to what Buffy Summers said during the final season about being cookie dough. It’s always how I feel, even if I am significantly older than she was back then.
I didn’t get a Buffy tattoo for the longest time because of the creator being a jerk and because I thought fandom tattoos were a risk—what if I eventually outgrew the fandom?
But as a man approaching middle age, who still absolutely loves this show, I think it’s safe to say I won’t be outgrowing it ever.
So, thanks, Buffy, for always being there for me—and happy birthday.
Love Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Here are our 9 favorite episodes to watch on Buffy’s birthday!
Odds are, if you opened this article, you are already in the cult of Chucky. So, you know the Chucky was the only reason most of us knew USA and Syfy were still with us. Our favorite foul-mouthed killer doll drove horror fans to those networks in waves. Some of my last good memories of Twitter are reading posts during the commercial breaks from strangers also watching in real time. For about an hour every week, this horror community seemed like an actual attainable goal. After three banger seasons, one of which was split in half because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Labor Strike of 2023, this fantastic show was abruptly canceled. Fans are still reeling, questions are left unanswered, and the cliffhanger keeps us up at night. More importantly, TV has not been as fun and deadly since our beloved show was ripped from us.
Why the Chucky TV Series Cancellation Hurt Horror Fans
Chucky picked up where the films left off. We were introduced to new characters, but the entire squad from the movies eventually returned. Everyone knows Child’s Play/Chucky is one of the few franchises that has only gotten better over the years. We don’t talk about the 2019 mutiny. Although, it reminded people this IP needs Don Mancini at the computer and Brad Dourif’s voice to work. Mancini managed to bring the kills, fucks, and fun to basic cable and somehow raise the stakes higher.
This team not only had one of the best shows on TV, but it was also the reason most of us realized Syfy and USA have apps for streaming. The way Twitter would light up during the new episodes made my cold little heart so happy. Remember when Peacock abruptly stopped uploading episodes the next day? The fans mobilized and bullied the streamer into trying Jesus instead of us?
Aside from making us better horror fans with nods to the work of Brian De Palma, Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter, etc. Chucky was also pure, unadulterated fun. Guessing how many Devon Sawa characters would die in each season was one of my favorite games. Meanwhile, Jennifer Tilly and Fiona Dourif reminded executives (and Leonardo DiCaprio) that women over 25 years old do exist and should be given more to do. The fact that they didn’t win Emmys for any version of the characters they played is another reason we need to ask what is the purpose of award shows. What other series would let Fiona become a drag king dressed as the character her dad originated? What other show could possibly understand that Tilly is a beast who can do it all in stilettos?
This Wasn’t Child’s Play
Aside from Chucky doubling down on the inherent queerness of the universe (something a lot of the reviews on Shudder seemed to miss), it also amped up the violence. Chucky blew a little kid up and I squealed with delight. I watched the main trio (Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Alyvia Alyn Lind) jump various versions of Chucky multiple times. The scream I let out when Chucky blew up the North Pole can still be heard around the world. I nearly clapped when Junior (Teo Briones) beat his dad (the second Sawa character to fall in season one) to death using Chucky as a weapon. This show was cinema, and we did not deserve it. Maybe that is why it was rudely taken away from us.
Put Some Respect on Brad Dourif’s Name
Chucky’s third season specifically proved that it was in a league of its own. While most shows understandably struggled to find their footing after the strikes, the Chucky crew used it as an excuse to go bigger and better. The White House adventures brought us the campy and deadly chaos that we only get from this universe. However, amid the almost execution of Tiffany Valentine (Tilly) and the first family drama, they did something I was starting to think would never happen again. They allowed Brad Dourif to walk around this world built on the foul-mouthed doll he’s loaned his voice to for almost forty years. Dourif and Mancini kept this train chugging since 1988. Having one of Dourif’s very few on screen appearances in this universe happen this season still hits me in the feelings.
I grew up watching the Child’s Play films on VHS when most kids were playing with dolls and going outside. I couldn’t say freckles that young, so I kept telling people “Chucky has fuckles” as I begged for a Chucky of my own every year. So, when I tell you Brad Dourif’s voice is more familiar to me than the voices of people I am related to, I am being serious. However, as special as this was to me, I know it hit many other horror fans just as much.
I know this because, as I said earlier, Chucky brought us together online. It made us come together in a way that I have very rarely experienced. The franchise’s legacy is lasting because it continues to grow with the times while remembering what makes it special. This is unique in a world where people snatch IP for soulless entries without ever asking what made people connect to it.
Chucky Is A Real Doll
Most importantly, Chucky reminded us that this killer doll is not a monster. Yeah, he might murder children in spectacular ways. Sure, his body count is definitely higher than that of the other slashers at this point. However, he also happens to be the heart of this franchise that is seemingly filled with people who found family within each other. It’s impossible to watch any documentary, press tour, etc., and not pick up on that.
That magic thing is so palpable that you feel it coming through the screen with each installment or season. It’s infectious, and for three seasons, we felt like we were a small part of this wonderful and wild bunch. Social media has not been the same since the show was wrongfully cancelled. Most of us went back to only vaguely remembering that the USA and Syfy are still going. Almost no one I know can name a current show on either of them.
I have witnessed a ton of boneheaded moves within television in the last few years. However, canceling Chucky was the biggest mistake. I’m still in shock that no one swooped in to save it at the last minute. I know this isn’t the end for Mancini, or the death of the artists he has assembled over the decades. However, I hate that when we need this franchise the most, it’s out of commission. Here’s hoping Charles Lee Ray and the gang come back to us sooner rather than later. Because I am petty, I also hope that everyone involved in canceling this beloved show is having an awful day.
Now that we are heading into the last season of Stranger Things, it is hard to not remember the good times. Much like any goodbye, it feels too soon and is giving us a case of the nostalgia glasses. We all know that not all seasons were created equally. Yet, the wildly popular series managed to keep enough of us invested these last 10 years. It is an undeniable pop culture sensation that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It is also honestly one of the few shows that makes it hard to break up with Netflix. So, I decided to look back and highlight the best parts of each season. Grab a “Justice for Barb” t-shirt and take this walk down memory lane with me.
Our Favorite Moments From Stranger Things
Season 1: Eleven
Season one of Stranger Things brought us many memorable moments that reshaped pop culture. Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) makeshift Ouija board on the wall, used to communicate with her missing son, was a major one. However, this was also the only season that allowed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to be a badass. Which is why she is the best part of Stranger Things’ first season. Watching her showcase her powers as she sought out waffles was a mood. A relatable queen if there was one, right? From using her telekinetic powers to stop annoying diner fans to flipping vans chasing after her and the crew, this season set Eleven up to be a powerful badass. That is even before we get into her mind tricks, which we still have some questions about. Sadly, subsequent seasons have yet to follow through on the promise this one gave us. I could write a whole series about how Eleven is a reservoir of untapped potential in the next three seasons.
Season 2: Steve and Dustin
I think Max (Sadie Sink) is one of the best additions to the show, and I felt Bob (Sean Astin) deserved a better arc. However, only one arc warms my cold little heart when I think about this second season. Few things bring as much joy to Stranger Things fans as the unshakable bond between Steve and Dustin. Season 2 is where this unlikely duo found each other, and that is why they are the best part of this season for me. Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) bring out the best in each other. Interestingly enough, the actors seem to have also found themselves formidable scene partners. Whether Dustin is bringing Steve up to speed or Steve is giving Dustin tips on how to handle girls, these two stole our hearts at multiple points this season. My personal favorite is when Steve steps in to save Lucas from Billy the Racist, and Dustin cheers him on (while he has the upper hand). Dare I say, this relationship has become the heart of the show.
Season 3: Robin Coming Out to Steve
This season of Stranger Things introduced quite a few new characters to kill, like all the other seasons. However, Robin (Maya Hawke) seemed cooler than most, and we were silently rooting for her to make it. While her easy dynamic with Steve made us worry that she would become another part of the Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan saga, we had nothing to worry about. When Steve professed his feelings to Robin, she surprised us all and came out. This led to Steve surprising us by picking up a more age-appropriate best friend in what is one of the sweetest moments of the show. Aside from becoming Steve’s platonic girlfriend, Robin also went on to become the first openly gay character in the ridiculously large main cast. So, while this season isn’t my favorite, I’m very grateful it brought us this scene and this pairing.
Season 4: Eddie Munson Meets Erica Sinclair
Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is probably part of everyone’s favorite moments from the fourth season of Stranger Things. While many people will probably cite his cafeteria entrance, his moment in the woods with Chrissy (Grace Van Dien), or the infamous “Chrissy, wake up,” those aren’t my favorite moments. Because this show taught us that Quinn is a scene thief, and he turned this season’s throwaway character into a pop culture moment, there is plenty to choose from. However, my nerdy ass’s favorite scene is when my two favorites faced off in Dungeons & Dragons.
Resident scene thief Erica (Priah Ferguson) finally found someone who could keep up with her when she showed up to this game. Watching her and Eddie match wits before getting down to an epic game of DnD that spawned numerous fan theories about how Eddie could come back for season 5 is priceless. He forced Dustin and Steve’s duo to become a trio, played Metallica’s Master of Puppets in The Upsidedown, and broke our hearts with his death. However, I choose to remember him alive and becoming begrudgingly impressed with the little girl who takes no prisoners. I would have watched them play this game for hours and lived my best nerdy life.
We’re Looking Forward to Season 5 of Stranger Things
So, those are my fondest memories from each season of Stranger Things. Feel free to let us know your favorite moments and your predictions for the fifth and final season on social media!
The first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season 5 hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 26. Let us know if you plan to watch as they air. Or if you are going to wait until the end of the year to binge the whole season.
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