Sarah Michelle Gellar is proud that Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues to be seen and loved by new generations despite the last episode airing two decades ago.
Buffy is one of the most beloved television shows of all time. Created by Joss Whedon and starring Gellar, the series received praise not only for the fantasy elements of the plot, but also for how it addressed adolescence and becoming an adult which is why fans are so fiercely supportive of it.
The last episode aired in 2003, but in lockdown the show enjoyed a popularity renaissance as people indulged in box sets while stuck at home.
An entirely new generation of young people have subsequently been inspired by the stories of 'The Scooby Gang', and Gellar couldn't be prouder, even if the show has been dragged through the mud a little lately after the allegations of abuse made against Whedon surfaced.
"As an actor, all you ever want to do is a show that affects people, that they love and holds up," she told SFX.
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"That is your legacy. I am so proud of what we created. It’s been a tumultuous couple of years, and understanding the show and its legacy, there is good and bad to all of it. I have gotten to a place now where we can really appreciate the show for what we created. I am so proud that during the pandemic, the show reached a whole new generation of people that still felt that it spoke to them, that it was still timely and it still meant something to them.
Gellar also credits horror for being the main genre which encourages female characters with more dimensions.
"Horror is one of the few genres where you get to do that," the actress added.
"Having a character like Buffy, who is so three-dimensional and hits all those notes… you don’t just want to be the wife or the girlfriend."
Gellar will not return as Buffy
Buffy ran for seven seasons between 1997 and 2003, though the canon of the show continued through various comic books. There has been constant talk of a Buffy revival, reboot, or continuation of the original series. But, Gellar won't be involved.
“I am very proud of the show that we created and it doesn’t need to be done. We wrapped that up.” she insisted.
"I am all for them continuing the story, because there’s the story of female empowerment. I love the way the show was left: ‘Every girl who has the power can have the power.’ It’s set up perfectly for someone else to have the power.
"The metaphors of Buffy were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent."
It was recently announced that some cast members will return for a new audio season, including James Marsters, who played Spike.
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