Top 10 Live Action TV Shows

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

First on this list is Joss Whedon's amazing show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. One of the few shows that was able to end on it's own terms, it is an epic seven-seasons long show about a powerful, Chosen One- a girl named Buffy Summers who, though she looks like a typical popular girl, is the Slayer and must protect the world from vampires, demons, and the apocalypse.

I already wrote a long, in-depth review of this show, but suffice to say, I love it. It's excellently written, really develops the characters and makes you care about them, explores difficult moral issues, and has some of the coolest female characters ever! :D(not as cool as the female Jedi, of course, but still up there on the list). It has one of the best representations of death(and the reactions to it) that I've ever seen, manages to pull off a musical episode, and balances humor and dark/tragedy very well. If you are an older viewer, I'd definitely recommend this!



Firefly

Next is Firefly, the amazing science fiction series by Joss Whedon. The best science fiction story after Star Wars, Firefly takes the sci-fi genre in a new, unique direction, which is quite nice for a sci-fi fan like me. With lovable, well-developed characters, an awesome/intriguing plot, Simon Tam(yes, he's my favorite; he's so underrated), and some great messages, this is definitely a hit. And the follow up movie, Serenity, is not to miss(It's SO GOOD!). I also appreciated the good representation of Christians on the show- a lot of the times, they are portrayed as over the top and dumb, but here, Shepherd Book really was a voice of reason and wisdom.

ONLY watch this if you've seen the entire show and movie





Angel

Next on my list is Angel...wow, I just realized that my first three live-action films are by Whedon. Not very surprising, though, since he does have amazing shows! :D Angel is no different and is yet another incredible show! It's probably one of the darkest shows he has created and it really tackles some deep stuff. The characters are also so great and some of the development is the best of all his shows(one character, whom we meet on Buffy, is nearly unrecognizable at the end of Angel). Definitely a must watch, especially if you like Buffy(start Angel's first season when you start season 4 of BTVS).



Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time- a show about fairy tales and unique takes on them. While the writing can be a bit rocky at times, the show is extremely well done. It has fantastic female(and male) characters who all have great back-stories and almost all are sympathetic, especially the villains(especially Zelena..NO sympathy for her. Don't have much sympathy for Cora either). The twists on the fairy tales are also a lot of fun and it's really enjoyable to watch. Also, the romances are done well for the most part, which is always appreciated(since corny romance can ruin a show).



Doctor Who

Doctor Who! Of course this show will be on the list! :) The show is the best time travel show out there and with such a rich history, there is something for almost everyone. While I prefer the RTD era, all the seasons I've seen so far offer something of value. Plus the Doctor is awesome and so are the companions. And the fanbase is huge.
My favorite Doctors are Nine and Ten. Twelve is also really growing on me- I'm loving Peter Capaldi! :)
My favorite companions are - Rose Tyler, Donna Noble, Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness, and Wilfred Mott.



Sherlock

Sherlock is probably one of the most intelligent shows I've watched and I love the whole idea of a modern day retelling of Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are perfect in their roles and the mysteries are thrilling, as if the character development. However you view the relationship between Sherlock and John, they are certainly a joy to watch.



Downton Abbey

While I prefer science fiction and fantasy, I do enjoy a good historical fiction series. And Downton Abbey is definitely that! With impeccable acting and writing, this show demonstrates how to write drama well. It's handled several difficult issues well and the female(and male characters) are incredible. Definitely a recommended show!


Supernatural

While not as good at Joss Whedon's urban fantasy, Supernatural is still an amazing, emotional show that manages to be scary and deep without getting cheesy. It has a perfect demonstration of how siblings are(I really relate to the older brother, Dean) and the characters are all excellent. The acting is amazing as well and I really like seeing how the characters have grown. Also, it has Castiel. Who is amazing.
I'm currently on season 5


Torchwood

Torchwood, while campy and cheesy at times, is one of the darkest shows I've ever seen. It really delves into what it means to be human and it sells on almost all counts. The characters are all ones you care about(well, I don't like Gwen, but everyone else is great!) and it is one of the few shows to actually make me cry(and not just eyes burning) at a death scene.


Robin Hood BBC

Of course Robin Hood had to be on the list somewhere! While I find the actor playing Robin to be the weakest of the cast(and I don't really care for how he was written), the show itself is amazing and balances humor and darker things effortlessly. While a little formulaic, this show is a must-see for Robin Hood fans!


BONUS: Agents of SHIELD and Kyle XY

Mini Reviews

There are so many shows I love, yet I haven't been able to review all of them. So, since I saw my friend James do this on his blog, I thought I'd write a few of them up. Here are some mini-reviews of some shows I have watched this year as well as last year. And remember, this is for shows I have finished(or, as with the case of Torchwood, have nearly completed, since Miracle Day just became available on Amazon Prime).
I'd write reviews for other such shows as Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spice and Wolf but since it's been years since I first watched ATLA(and I couldn't give a first impressions post all that well) and I only just finished season 2 of Spice and Wolf. I might do that later on, though :)
Also, remember, some of these reviews will contain spoilers, but I'll post a note at the top of each one for warning.


Firefly(and Serenity)

Warning, some minor spoilers
Being a huge fan of Joss Whedon's two TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, as well as a lover of all things sci-fi, I knew the minute I heard about Firefly that I would have to watch it. My two childhood friends(who also introduced me to Star Wars and BTVS/AtS) recommended it to me- since they knew I loved science fiction and Whedon- and eventually, after completing Joss Whedon's two supernatural-esque series, I started Firefly. And, boy, was I amazed by it! The thing Joss Whedon has always excelled at is making his characters real, developed, and actual individuals that are bound together in someway and fit seamlessly into the world-building.
      Sadly, Firefly was cancelled after only one season (curse you, Fox! Thankfully they were able to release the amazing movie Serenity), but Mr. Whedon was able to endear us to these characters in a short time and, I bet, if the show had been able to continue it would have been just as amazing(or even more so) as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

    There are several things that set this show off from other series out there, the first being- of course- the characters. Another thing I really enjoyed was the setting- I've seen/read quite a few stories that take place in a universe where humanity has left Earth and has colonized other worlds, but this one was different and unique in that, while some things seem more advanced than they are now(the technology, segregation doesn't seem as bad as it is now*except in the boonies*, etc), yet some things are the same(sexism still exists, the poor are still treated awfully, prostitution is still around, etc), which was pretty interesting. As a sci-fi fan, it was also nice to see various things like space travel, old rebellions, and an extremely creepy 'alien' villain(the reevers, which are terrifying). The plots are also magnificent, like one would expect from Whedon,and not only present an exciting narrative but also gives us interesting commentaries on the human condition(which is something else to expect from Whedon).

The main cast is medium sized(the number of main characters is similar to that of BTVS), yet it is able to explore it's characters so well that by the end of the series(and film) you care for them a lot. Each of them is different, none completely conform to stereotype, and all are likable(yes, even Jayne, who at first seems like a jerk). My thoughts on each character are as follows.

Simon Tam - If I had to choose a favorite character from the Firefly/Serenity franchise, I'd have to go with Simon Tam. A doctor(no, not THE Doctor), kindhearted, and a good brother, he is definitely what I'd consider 'my type' when it comes to a guy. Not only is he kind, a good person, and smart, he has a mental strength along with his competent fighting skills, which I appreciated seeing(he's one of the few male characters I've seen in fiction who wasn't turned into a puddle of goo when he was in a brothel- Simon just went to help the women they were there to protect). Not only that, but as I mentioned briefly above, he is a good brother and, even though he had feelings for Kaylee, he always puts protecting his sister from harm first which is a very admirable, and selfless, quality. I'm quite surprised that very few fans would count him as their favorite(I was recently talking to someone about the series and they said they didn't like him at all- not sure why....).

River Tam - River is probably one of the most badass characters out there; I won't spoil how she gets her awesome fighting skills(she was born with her genius), but they are a great thing to behold. Her character has a nice arc, growing from a panicking, obviously messed up, young girl to a warrior who has finally come into her own. She is also quite humorous and has a very integral part of the story, especially the epic movie.

Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds - A sort of Han Solo figure, Mal is definitely one of the best characters in the series. Not only is he complex, a badass, and excellently acted by Nathan Fillion, he is progressive and he grows as a character wonderfully over the course of the series. One of the best facets of his character is his positive attitude towards women and his realistic personality. Unlike a lot of guys in this sort of genre, he doesn't have the whole 'men are better than women' and that 'women need protecting' mind-set, which is rather refreshing from a guy in his line of work(his comments to Saffron about the rules from her home planet- one being women have to be subservient to men- being a load of crap are a nice showing of this). However, he can also be a jerk and definitely is not perfect by any means, which makes him even more interesting. Another part of his character that I liked that he had a realistic reason for losing his faith, unlike other stories(glares at "His Dark Materials" trilogy).

Jayne Cobb - While at first seeming to be your typical macho jerk, Jayne ends up becoming one of the more complex characters on the series. He starts showing glimmers of not being what he says several episodes in and, as we reach the end of the series, he has become a much more interesting character and one I wish we could have learned more of.  I always enjoy characters who aren't always as they seem, and Joss did wonderfully here with that.

Inara Serra - Another one of my favorite characters of  the series, Inara is what is called a 'companion' in the Firefly 'verse, which is basically a prostitute(yet, with how the companion system is set up, it's a lot better than it is anywhere currently- the prostitutes are completely in power of the situation, can pick their clients, and can ban someone if they try to abuse one of the companions). Besides being a companion, Inara is also a well-rounded character. She can take care of herself in a fight(she's pretty badass), she has a likable personality, and I found her quite funny. Her relationship with Mal was also pretty interesting and I would have liked seeing more of it.

Kaylee Frye - Kaylee is another one of those characters that defies stereotypes. She is a masterful mechanic, yet she is really feminine, a kind person, and not a combat-master, which I think is important to show. While not one of my top favorite characters in the series, I did enjoy her as much as everyone on the show, and she has quite a lot of humorous moments. Her interactions with Simon were also fun to see.

Zoe Washburne - I always love a badass female character, and Zoe definitely didn't disappoint on this front. She's the second in command on the ship, as well as one of the former members of the rebellion along with Malcolm, with whom she is good friends(I love how there is no sexual tension with them at all- see! Men and Women can be friends!). I also enjoy the flip of typical romantic pairings with her and her husband Wash(she's the fighter and he's the non-combatant pilot, which is a nice deviation from the stereotypical norm). I only wish we could have seen more of her character development.

Derrial "Shepherd" Book - Probably the best Christian character I've seen in a TV series, Shepard Book was a nice addition to the crew. Considering how badly Christians are portrayed in a lot of media(film, television, books, etc), having a good portrayal was such a wonderful thing to see(Joss does this again with having the character of Riley be Christian in BTVS, who is also a likable character). Sheperd Book also seems to understand the meaning of being a religious, shows true belief, and behaved more the most part like an actual Christian, which I was thankful for.

Hoban "Wash" Washburne - The hilarious, expert pilot who loves playing with dinosaurs and being basically goofy, gives a nice sense of levity to otherwise serious moments in the show. While a smaller part at first, he grows into a major figure who shows growth as the series goes along.

I would recommend this show for +15/16 (for violence, sexual content, and some cursing).

Favorite episodes
Serenity(the film)
The Message
Ariel
Trash
Jaynestown
War Stories
Safe
Shindig
Objects in Space




Angel

WARNING: Minor spoilers
       Angel, spin-off of the awesome Buffy the Vampire Slayer; when first hearing of it, it might just seem like a quick cash grab. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Angel is it's own show and can stand shoulder to shoulder with BTVS easily. It is much darker than Buffy(which is in itself is a very dark show) and deals with more adult issues and how hard life can be, yet how important it is to keep going. The show does a good job on representing its message- that redemption must be worked for and that fighting the good fight is always the right thing to do, even if it never ends and you aren't able to see good win in your lifetime. Because the Apocalypse is now.
      For a brief synopsis, Angel starts alongside Buffy season 4 with our titular character hanging out, desolate, in LA after leaving Sunnydale. I won't spoil too much, but he meets up with a man similar to him and a woman he knew in Sunnydale and the story goes on from there, with characters arriving and leaving throughout the series' five season run, all of them memorable and all of them important. There's Doyle, who, while not there for very long, definitely makes an impact and goes from struggling drunk to hero; There's Cordelia Chase from BTVS who undergoes one of the biggest character arcs of the entire Buffyverse, managing to grow from spoiled girl from a rich family to an incredibly compassionate woman in a completely realistic way; Wesley(also from BTVS) who grows from a bumbling, cowardly buffoon who can't even take on a vampire, to a rugged warrior who does the hard things no one else will; Charles Gunn who changes from a hardened young man who has to fight vampires to survive on the streets, to a polished grown-up who realizes his self-worth(he's also one of the few non-white characters in the series, so having him on the show was a great thing; also, the actor plays Mike Peterson on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.); Fred, who grows from a timid scientific genius traumatized by her time in a demon dimension to becoming an excellent scientist and a tough, brave fighter; Lorne, the lovable, music-loving demon who has to go against his own goodness to help the greater good. And lastly, there is Angel himself, who undergoes such a great metamorphosis, his character is nearly unrecognizable from the guy we last saw on BTVS(in a good way) by the show's end.

    The series, as I mentioned before, is more adult in tone and the stories it tells are much more gray than BTVS(which had a lot of gray in it to begin with), with the heroes making very questionable choices and characters you'd think would be evil, actually not being so. The show's dark feel might not be for everyone(and it does get a bit bizarre around season 3-4),  but I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing of this series and I look forward to watching it again and, hopefully, sharing it with others :).
       
I would recommend this show for 16+ (for violence and sexual content).

Favorite episodes
A Hole in the World
Hero
Sanctuary
Five by Five
Not Fade Away
You're Welcome
I've Got You Under My Skin
Rm w/a Vu
Waiting in the Wings, Lullaby 
Through the Looking Glass/There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb 
Spin the Bottle 
Smile Time 
Power Play 
The Girl in Question
Darla 
Reprise, 
Epiphany, 
Belonging,  
To Shansu in L.A.
The House Always Wins
The Ring
Parting Gifts
Dead End
Over the Rainbow 
Blood Money 
Tomorrow 
Home
Peace Out
Shiny Happy People 
The Magic Bullet
Sacrifice
Harm's Way 
The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco
Shells.



Torchwood

(just so you know, I have yet to see Torchwood: Miracle Day. I have watched the other seasons, though, and Miracle Day is finally on Amazon Prime).
                   I started Torchwood with a pretty good idea what it was going to be about(though not completely) and looked forward to some Doctor Who-like fun with serious themes and of course, the awesome John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness.
   And, for a fairly campy show(I mean, seriously, that monster at the end of season 1? So silly looking!), it actually gets very dark and very deep at times. There were several times that I found myself extremely impressed at the emotion, the messages, and the themes explored in this serious. For those of you who expect the fun, child-friendly feel of Doctor Who(except for episodes like Doomsday, where it's depressing), don't expect Torchwood to be the same. It may take place in the same world, and have Captain Jack in it, but this show is completely different in feel. While the Doctor always finds a way where he can make the right choice, it isn't so in Torchwood; these people are the ones who have to make the call on decisions where there is no right answer.
         Another great thing about this series is that, for the most part, these characters aren't what you'd consider 'good people'(except Toshiko and Ianto, as well as Captain Jack at times). Yet, even when they are unlikable, they are real people and you care about them and their well-being. In fact, this is one of the only shows to legitimately make me cry(instead of just tearing up); the actors in that scene were flawless, as was the writing. So, if you can handle the dark nature(and the camp), as well as the inappropriate content, this is a show, if you love Doctor Who, I'd recommend you giving a watch.

Recommended for 18+ (I watched it when I was 17, but that's what I'd recommend for most).

Favorite episodes
All 5 days of Torchwood: Children of Earth
Exit Wounds
Fragments
Adrift
Small Worlds
Reset
Cyberwoman
Countrycide
From Out of the Rain
They Keep Killing Suzie
A Day in the Death
Dead Man Walking
End of Days
Captain Jack Harkness
Adam
Sleeper
Random Shoes
Out of Time



Robin Hood(BBC)

 
                      I was very excited when I heard that BBC had done a TV series on Robin Hood. The BBC has some great shows(Doctor Who, Sherlock, Torchwood, etc) and I've always loved the tale of Robin Hood(I used to play it as a tween/teen); I was also excited to see Richard Armitage in another role, since I loved him as Thorin in The Hobbit film(the first was the only one out at the time of my viewing).
      And it was just as good as I was hoping. The first episode was a bit lacking, but the show really picked up and I really liked all of the characters(Robin, sadly, rubbed the wrong way at times so I wasn't able to like him as much as I would have liked) and the plot-lines. The heroes are all great and fleshed out and it's a shame they didn't give the side actors more to do since they were all extremely talented; the female characters are especially great, with Marian and Djaq being my favorite. Both are strong, capable, well-developed characters, which, as a feminist, was really great to see. The male side characters were also very likable and good individuals, which I really enjoyed(Much kind of reminded me of myself at times, which was fun XD). The villains are also amazingly hilarious! Richard Armitage plays Guy of Gisbourne exceedingly well, his character going through a brilliant bit of development. The Sheriff of Nottingham was HILARIOUS! He's evil, yes, but I found myself cracking up at his antics all the time. Good stories always do well with good bad guys, and this show definitely has them.

I recommend this show for 13-14 +




Romeo X Juliet

Minor Spoilers
               As an actor and a lover of literature, I've always been interested in Shakespeare plays and interpretations of them. Romeo and Juliet was never my favorite(I'm not one for love at first sight and people who kill themselves for someone they just met), but when my sister told me about this series, I was instantly interested. Romeo and Juliet, but with a fantasy-esque twist? Yes, give it to me!
    Romeo X Juliet takes the basic idea of the original play(of two families warring with each other in Verona, and son of Montague and the daughter of Capulet falling in love) and heightens everything; the families aren't just arguing, one actually slaughtered the other and the fight doesn't just include the families, but the entire world. Romeo and Juliet are both fleshed out and made much more likable than their play counterparts(since Romeo was a womanizing jerk in the original), and both undergo a nice amount of character development. I normally don't like romance like the one here(where it's a bit immature at times), but it actually works pretty well here, which was probably helped by the fact that I loved the both of them as people. The plot as a whole does get a little bogged down in the beginning, but once you hit the half-way point, it is pure amazingness. The ending is also very satisfying and very appropriate, and even though it was sad, I found myself smiling during the last few minutes. Fans of Shakespeare will also appreciate the use of language and references sprinkled throughout this series. Definitely one of my favorite anime TV series, and one I'd recommend for anyone with a love of anime, Shakespeare, or just good fantasy in general.

recommended for 14+


Death Note

              Death Note is a chilling tale of the evils that come with power(supernatural or otherwise). What would you do if you could control the fates of those you consider evil? What if you could rid the world of evil, yet it would cost you your soul? Would you do it?
    Death Note explores these questions intelligently, provides thought-provoking discussion, and shows how even the best of intentions can be soured by corruption and fear, as well as making you question your own ideals. Even I, at the beginning, didn't know who to side with since, even though the Death Note is an evil device, I could definitely understand where Light(our protagonist) was coming from(at first, anyway; once he started killing innocent people and petty criminals, I stopped being able to understand). Getting rid of evil scumbags like rapists and murders is a good idea, in theory, and something I agree with,  but is it really right to take a life when it's not in self-defense or in the rescue of someone in harm's way(or in combat)? The show had a lot of gray elements which I thoroughly enjoyed thinking about.
        The story follows two leads, Light Yagami a young student(our main character and also the antagonist of the story) and L(a mastermind detective and the show's hero figure) as they chase each around, trying to trip the other up, discover their identity, and stop them. Both are well developed and interesting to follow. The side characters are also great and enjoyable and several have awesome characters arcs, such as Matsuda who has one of my favorite moments in the last episode. The ending was strange, but oddly fitting, though it left me wondering about what happened in the aftermath- the eeriness of it(as well as the symbolism) was enough to make up for it and I think it worked quite well.
      Don't worry humor fans, this show isn't just a dark, depressing, thoughtful tale; it can, in fact, be quite hilarious at times! L is very funny and his interactions with the other characters are perfect! Ryuk, a Shinigami(Japanese god of death) also provides some excellent bits of humor, as does Misa, Matsuda, and Light.

I'd recommend this for 15 + (Just a word of warning for viewers, there is one scene early on the story, which shows a girl almost being assaulted on the street, which is really creepy).


Princess Tutu

        My sister recommended this show to me a while back and I finally got around to it recently. And she was correct, it was a very good show! It does have a childish name, which might turn off potential viewers(it makes me think of such children's titles as Strawberry Shortcake, Princess Lovely Locks*gack! I didn't watch it, but I heard of it and saw clips and it's dumb!*, and Power Rangers), but it is definitely not one of those overly-kiddie shows. Yes, it is fairly child friendly(I could have watched it as a young kid and have been fine), but it is mature a well, with amazing core characters, an interesting story-line, and the unique usage of ballet. The first several episodes are a little formulaic and weird, but once you get past those, the plot starts to pick up, you get used to the weird stuff, and the outcome is an excellent story. Another part I enjoyed about the story's format was how ballet(and point/toe) was incorporated into the series. I did ballet for seven years(I've also done tap, jazz, and Irish dancing) , from ages 4-10, and it was a very important element in my life- it is what helped me discover my love of acting, and performing in general. Seeing ballet utilized so well in a show made my love of ballet come back to me again and it's made me even more excited about getting to take Beginning Ballet in college! :) The music was also gorgeous, and I loved picking out the musical numbers I knew(I was especially excited to hear Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1, which plays when Princess Kraehe makes her first few appearances, and is a song I played in one of my piano recitals).
      This anime  has quite a few memorable characters, but the best, for  me, would be the core cast. Each is interesting and not who they seem at first and it's a lot of fun to watch and see as who they truly are comes to the forefront. My favorite character, though, would have to be Fakir. I have always loved a good anti-hero(think Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Fakir is one of the best I've come across. At first, he comes across as a jerk, but the changes he goes through and what we learn about his psyche over the course of the show's run were exciting and heartfelt. In fact, most of my favorite episodes are the ones with him in it a lot. Duck, the lead, is also a well done character; she has a positive attitude and a sense of wanting to do the right thing(and her voice is adorable). A lot of humor comes from her character as well, which brings a sense of levity when it starts to get darker. One thing I appreciated was how Duck changed over the course of the series. At the beginning, she had an extreme child-like view of the world- the main reason she wanted to return the heart shards to Mytho was because she had feelings for him. However, as she grows, matures, and learns more about the world she lives in, I got the feeling that she wanted to return all of his heart shards because she wanted to save everyone, and because it was the right thing to do(even if it cost her her own happiness).

Spoilers! - I also was happy that Duck didn't end up with Mytho. It is all too common in fiction, so seeing a deviation from that trope was a good surprise. In a way, I'm glad it ended that way, since Duck's interactions with Fakir were much more entertaining and satisfying(same with Rue and Mytho- they just clicked better) than her and Mytho's.

I would recommend this for 9-10 + (younger kids could watch this as well, since it's about as scary as the darker Disney films).



Gravitation

       I recently was in the mood for some happy, silly fluff, and my sister recommended I watch "Gravitation", a shounen-ai anime, starring Shuichi Shindou, an aspiring singer and band leader. And it was pretty much what I was looking for(until the last episode, but more on that in a bit); it was very hilarious, light, and involved several things I'm interested in: performing, singing, and the show business. While not outstanding by any means, it's a nice change of pace from my usual intake of fiction(which tends to be dark, emotional, tragic, and deep) and I'm glad I watched it. 
      One thing I enjoyed was that, even though it's classified as a romance, it had an outside plot that was actually interesting and a large part of the story. All too often, that isn't the case(most painfully obvious in the new line of dystopias and of course paranormal romance YA books), so not seeing that here was impressive. I also really enjoyed the characters, particularly Shuichi; I found him really likable, relatable, and hilarious at times. His gutsty-ness in several instances were a perfect touch and something I was surprised at seeing(since in other shounen-ai I've heard about, one of the guy's is always a wimp). Sure he does have flaws- he's impulsive and he falls for Yuki way too fast, but it works well enough in the narrative that I was able to overlook it. 

     I did have a few problems with the show, however. One was that the relationship between the Shuichi and Yuki isn't that healthy. Yuki is abrasive, rude, and cruel at times to Shuichi and treats him poorly(mostly early on); I get why Yuki is the way he is, but it's not an excuse to treat well-meaning Shuichi the way he does. Another problem I had was the last episode. It was a complete 180 from the stated tone of the series thus far and gave me quite a whiplash. It does explain why Yuki is the way he is(and I'd already guessed because it was pretty obvious from the hints dropped through the series), but I found the scene deeply disturbing and I wish it had been given closure(since Yuki still blamed himself for something that was DEFINITELY not his fault). I get that's it was due to there being more story in the continuing manga, but I wish the story(the twist as well as the overall plotline) had been given a good, solid ending. 

I would recommend this for 17 + (for the extremely disturbing scene). 
      
Hope you enjoyed the post, readers! :) 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer review: Seven Seasons

WARNING: Spoilers follow. I'll try to be vague but some plot points will be revealed. 

              On my birthday, I finally finished the seven season long science fiction TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".  Starting in 1997 the show follows the life of Buffy Summers who is the Slayer which is, as described - "Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampire's, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer."
                Recommended to me by two friends(who also got me into Star Wars), I immediately fell in love with the television show. I loved seeing a strong female lead who was the chosen one and was an extraordinary fighter(she's the best out of all the characters). Wanting to turn the horror film stereotype of the pretty blond girl being killed by a monster in a dark alley, Joss Whedon made the core statement woman empowerment and it certainly shines through brilliantly. 
          Not only was the lead, Buffy Summers, physically strong she is, as well as the rest of the cast of characters, a very strong character in her own right; while watching the show she definitely feels like a real person as do everyone else. While the show is about vampires and demons and magic and evil, the people in it are very real and seem like people you could meet on the street. Joss Whedon and his group of writers sure know how the human psyche works and how different people act, react, and handle situations. The characters are by no means perfect- each screws up royally- but that is what makes them extraordinary. I love the main characters of this show and while at time I want to smack them in the face and shout "What are you doing?!" I wouldn't have them be any other way. 

Since the show is seven seasons long, I'll give my highlights, thoughts, and favorite episodes of each season and tell you what I think about the characters progression and the Big Bad. 

Season 1- The season starts off with Buffy, a troubled girl, moving to the town of Sunnydale with her mother after having burned down her previous school when fighting vampires; while unwilling at first to accept her destiny as the Slayer, she begins following what she must do when her new friends are in danger.
                 The first season, which was sort of half a season, is an awesome opening to the show. With it's monster of the week episode progression, hilariousness, and epic story arch, it makes up for some of the cheap animation that is prevalent in the first couple of seasons(it greatly improves over time). It introduces you to Buffy, your typical popular, Californian girl that loves shopping and girly things who just so happens to be able to beat up and fight anyone she wants; to Willow, the studious, timid, easily frightened geek who begins to have an interest in magic; to Xander, your average guy, who is also a bit of a geek, who proves to be the most loyal of the group; to Rubert Giles, Buffy's Watcher as well as the school's librarian, who teaches her what it means to be a Slayer, and eventually becomes the father figure that is absent in her life with her parents divorce and her father's distancing behavior; and to Angel, a vampire with a soul who is brooding and ridden with guilt from all that he had done before gaining it. 
The villain this season, a vampire called the Master, is a good one; while not the show's best, he is a solid villain and was perfect for Buffy's first foe. 

While I loved all the episodes this season, my absolute favorites were
1 Nightmares 
2 Prophecy Girl
3 Out of Mind, Out of Sight
4 Witch
5 The Puppet Show
6 I Robot....You Jane
7 Never Kill A Boy on The First Date 

Highlights of this season would be 
1: Buffy, after having been revived via CPR by Xander, kicking the Master's butt(in a dress) and sending him crashing through a glass ceiling and onto a spike below "I may be dead, but I'm still pretty" 
2: Buffy helping Billy with his fears, saving him from the 'ugly man'(his subconscious' rendition of his coach who beat him into a coma) by beating him and telling the little boy to wake up; I also like it when she confronts the actual coach(as does Billy) and helps to put the man in jail
3: Buffy's reaction to finding out she has to die "Giles, I'm sixteen years old...I don't wanna die". Sarah's performance in this scene was her best this season. I was really impressed with her here. 
4: Willow, Xander, and Giles running from a clown with a knife in "Nightmares" and Xander's "Your balloon animals stank! Anyone can make a giraffe!!"(or something like that)
5: "You forgot sunrise....which is in another nine hours you moron!"
6: The whole concept of the unpopular girl turning invisible because she felt so isolated and ignored by the world around(and because of the mystical nature of the hellmouth on which Sunnydale resides). Since I know a thing or to about feeling left out, I at first felt bad for the girl but once she started going insane and wanting to kill someone in revenge, I stopped feeling sympathy for her. 
7: Buffy saving Cordelia in "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"
8: How Buffy defeats the demon Moloch and Willow punching him in the face saying, sarcastically, that they can still be friends after their breakup(I was laughing a lot during this scene). 
9: Buffy saving Xander and another boy from the evil She-Mantis(who is CREEPY). I won't say what was going to happen- let's just say I'm glad she died. 
10: Buffy, Xander, and Willow preforming a play in the talent show at the end of "The Puppet Show" 

Season 2: The second series of Buffy has to be my favorite. It had the best villains(Spike, the soulless Angel also known as Angelus, and Drusilla), the character of Oz is introduced, it has the best plot, some of the greatest growth for all the characters, and an amazing show down. The season was wonderfully dramatic, had a ton of awesome fight scenes, and had some of the funniest humor as well as one of the best Buffy episodes to date. 
         After a moment of true happiness with Buffy(I'll just let you figure that out), Angel looses his soul and becomes once again the evil Angel. Having Buffy have to deal with the guy she loves being evil and out to kill her was such a brilliant move. It really helped Buffy grow and mature and begins the pessimism she has about romantic relationships that persists till the seventh season finale. 
        Besides the evil Angelus, we are introduced to several new characters who become key players in the show. First is Spike and his sire/girl friend Drusilla. Spike, who ends up becoming a lead on the show, is a hilarious, punk vampire with a sarcastic attitude and a disgust with the ritualistic ideas of the Sunnydale vampires that we see a lot of in season 1. He is such a great villain and character and one that you will grow to like, even though he is still evil. Another new character I really liked was Oz, who ends up being Willow's boyfriend. He is the calm, quiet, deep thinker type and was very likable and played fantastically by Seth Green. Another character I liked this season was Kendra the Vampire Slayer(the girl who was activated when Buffy dies at the end of the first season); she was a great character and I was sad when she was killed
        I also really enjoyed the darker tone of this season, with Buffy's depression, the death of Jenny Calender by Angelus and him then planting her in Giles's house in a romantic setting(that was so disturbingly good and Giles's reaction is heartbreaking). With a fantastic midpoint episode and ending, this is definitely a season you won't want to miss out on. 

While I loved all the episodes of the season, my favorites were
Innocence 
Passion
Becoming part 2
Becoming part 1
I Only Have Eyes For You
Killed by Death
School Hard
Halloween
Phases
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
Inca Mummy Girl

Highlights of this season would be -
1: When, in Innocence, Buffy shoots at the Judge(who, before being resurrected, had been taken down by an entire army) with a crossbow and he's all "No human weapon can kill me". In response to this, she discards the old weapon and draws out the huge rocket launcher, saying "That was then, this is now" and blasting him. Such an awesome moment!!! :D
2: When in Passion, after Buffy saves Giles from Angelus and the fire that ensued  he yells at her that it wasn't her fight(he wanted revenge for a person's death) and she punches him before sinking to the ground and hugging him, saying 'I can't do this alone'. Such amazing acting and dialogue. 
3: Buffy and Angel's sword fight at the end of the season- it was really well done and exciting to watch(I loved when Buffy catches the sword between her hands). The end was especially sad :( 
Poor Buffy 
4: Buffy and Spike having to join forces to stop Angelus from sucking the earth into hell. The scene where he tells he he wants to join her side is hilarious(they kept punching each other)- "The earth could get sucked into hell and you want MY help because your girlfriends a big ho!?" I also love it when Buffy brings Spike to her house and is planning things- Spike and her mother have some pretty funny interactions. 
5: Spike singing randomly(someone's in the ceiling) in School Hard
6: The sadness between the dead spirits in "I Only Have Eyes For You" and how Buffy and Angel were possessed by them- I especially liked how it flashed back and forth between them in the final confrontation. 
7: "You were my sire, man! You were my YODA!" XD
8: All the girls chasing Xander- that was so BAD XD
9: "That was me favorite shirt! It's me ONLY shirt!" *starts pummeling bad guys*
10: Giles's reaction to the Werewolf Bounty Hunter thought he was involved with Buffy 

Season 3: While not as awesome as season 2, Season 3 is a perfect follow up to the best season and is in fact, my second favorite season. In this season we are given the awesome villain of The Mayor as well as the great character of Faith, another Slayer who was activated after Kendra's death and is quite unstable. The Mayor was definitely one of the best villains since he's not fully evil, he does seem to care about Faith.  Oz also becomes a series regular which I really enjoyed since he was one of my favorite characters. While not as dark as the second season, season 3 was still pretty dark, with characters having to deal with numerous amounts of bad things. This also ends the show's scenes at high school and how it can be just as hellish as the hellmouth (Oz's words at the end are definitely very poignant as is the battle at graduation which is a metaphor for breaking out into the world). 
       This season starts off with Buffy having run away from Sunnydale after her having killed Angel and having to deal with tons of guilt. Buffy grows even more in this season as does Faith, who kills a man she thinks is a vampire and is driven to cruelty by and her own messed up past.   Another great thing about this season is a brief appearance of the First Evil which plays a major part in Season 7

My favorite episodes
Graduation Day part 2
Graduation Day 1
Earshot
The Wish
Gingerbread
Helpless
Amends
Lovers Walk
Band Candy
Anne
Dead Man's Party
Homecoming
The Zeppo 

Highlights
1: The battle at the end of the season(Cordelia stakes her first vampire!) where all the students take on vampires and the Mayor-turned-giant-snake in an epic battle. The whole thing was awesome and Oz's remark at the end was perfect and summed up the three seasons. 
2: Buffy stopping Johnathon from killing himself in Earshot; it was a showing of great acting from both actors and I loved seeing Buffy be such a hero
3: Buffy being able to hear everyone's thoughts in "Earshot"; several funny things happen though in the end it is really bad :(
4: Xander seeing the lunch lady poisoning(before that he'd seen jello and was all "oo jello!") the soup with rat poison and running out into the cafeteria, knocking people's food out of their hands and yelling "RAT POISON! RAT POISON!"
5: Giles saying "Look at my mask, isn't it pretty? It brings people back from the DEAD. Americans." in Dead Man's Party
6: A drunken Spike trying to make Willow cast a love spell on Drusilla and then crying about how upset he is
7: Buffy stopping Angel from killing himself
8: Buffy killing a crazed vamp during a test by making him drink holy water. That was such a good idea! :D It shows that she is resourceful and can fight a vampire even when her powers are weakened. 
9: Giles cleaning Buffy's wounds in Helpless and Giles being fired from the watcher's council because he has a "Father's love" for Buffy.
10: When Cordelia's wish causes the world to be changed and Giles, right before he switches it back saying to Anya, who had asked how he knew that world was better then this one, "It Has to be"

Season 4: While definitely the weakest season of the bunch, season 4 still has great episodes and new characters introduced, my favorites being Tara and Riley. The episode has a good villain in Adam and the return of the character Spike is a welcome addition(as is them putting a chip in his head). In this season, Buffy and her friends have to explore not being in high school anymore and being out in the college world(or living at home like Xander). Thrusting the characters into a different environment was a great idea and even though at first it is a little weird and a lot of the first season feeling off kilter, the season still has a wonderful episode and several very sad things. 
      One thing that I questioned from this season on outward was Willow being gay. I definitely support gay marriage but having Willow suddenly being that way was a little strange, since before we see her interested in boys. I think, instead, they should have had her be Bi since it would have made more sense in the story line. I also felt like hers and Tara's relationship was a bit rushed and didn't have enough build up for it to be believable, but later on in the show it works, so all is good :). Though, I really didn't like a rude comment Willow made during this season - it being "men haven't changed since the beginning of time". If you look back at history and compare it to now days you can see how ludicrous her statement is. I understand she was hurt and upset by problems she'd had with guys, but I think its dumb to say something so grossly over the top. It kind of made me dislike her for the rest of the season(I'm back to liking her now since she was great in the last three seasons). 

Favorite episodes
Hush
Pangs
Wild at Heart
Who Are You?
This Year's Girl
Restless
Primeval 
A New Man
Fear, Itself
The Harsh Light of Day
Living Conditions 

Highlights
1: The gentlemen coming to town and ridding everyone of speech so they have to communicate  without words, Riley and Buffy finally finding out about each other- Buffy being the Slayer and Riley being part of the initiative, a military unit created to defeat the supernatural. I also love how Buffy screams and destroys the gentlemen. 
2: Faith causing Buffy and herself to switch bodies and how the two of them come to understand the other. The two episodes revolving around this scenario are very well done(and at times hilarious) and we get a good idea of who both girls are.
3: The dreams in the last episode where the scoobies encounter the first Slayer who tries to dehumanize Buffy who, of course, rebuffs her, until she has no more power over them.
4: Spike's obsession with soap operas - "Passions is on! Timmy's down the bloody and IF YOU MAKE ME MISS IT, I'LL!!" Giles: You'll do what, lick me to death? 
5: Giles(when he's turned into a demon) chasing Professor Walsh in revenge for her saying that Buffy didn't have a good father role model in her life
6: When professor Walsh tries to have Buffy killed and after it fails Buffy says something to the effect of "You have no idea what a slayer is"
7: The sadness that is Oz leaving because the wolf inside of him makes him cheat on her. Usually when couples have to be split up, I don't care, but the actors did such a good job I actually felt sad and was thinking 'NO!' 
8: Buffy thinking he roomate was evil(which ended up being true)
9: Thanksgiving!! :D Such a good episode :D It had a good feeling to it, was hilarious, and had some really good moments. Definitely a favorite :)

Season 5: After a slightly disappointing season, season 5 ratchets it up several knots and makes it my third favorite season! :D This season has some of the best episodes on the show and while I, at first, wasn't so interested in the addition of Buffy having a sister(Dawn), it worked out and now I'm glad they introduced her(even though she gets on my nerves).
The villain this season is Glory, a hell god, trapped on earth who is trying to find the key so she can return to her dimension and take it back. Glory is definitely a very good villain and is a great foil for Buffy to defeat. 
           The episode also has a really sad tragedy in it which turns into one of the best episodes on the show(I'll go more into it in a little bit). The actors are amazing this season and we see them all grow even more. Buffy ends up having to leave college and start becoming an adult(but this doesn't fully accumulate until the end of the sixth season). Anya, a former vengeance demon, introduced in season 3 and seen a lot in season 4, becomes even more prominent. 
Also this season, we get one of the best finales on the show ever and we even get to see Buffy take on the famous Dracula! :D Oh, and a certain character gets a crush on Buffy and we can some hilarious scenes! :)
One thing that confused me in this episode was that, I don't know who we're supposed to blame for her and Riley's split. To me, it seems to be Riley's fault but Xander blamed Buffy for it. *shrugs* Well, I'll just blame Riley since that seems the most obvious. 

Favorite episodes
The Body
The Gift 
Forever
The Weight of the World
Crush
Intervention
Real Me
Buffy v.s Dracula
No Place Like Home
Fool for Love
Spiral

Highlights 
1: The entire finale, especially Buffy's actions at the end and everyone's reaction. I can't decide between the end of season 2 and the ending of this one for my favorite, it's that good. Even though Buffy is a human who makes mistakes, her actions here are truly that of a hero. I loved how they ended the season, it was perfect. 
2: The entire episode of The Body. After watching this, I have to say, this episode has the best representation of death and people's response to it that I've ever seen. It seemed so realistic and actually how different types of people would react. The fact that the death, one so close and personal, was by natural causes and not something supernatural that Buffy can fight and take out. It really is a struggle for these characters who are used to death being caused by the supernatural and being able to take out their pain on a being but with this person's death, there is nothing to fight and nothing any of them can really do. My favorite scene of the episode is when Giles arrives- I won't spoil what happens, but the acting in that scene was amazing. I also liked the fact that they didn't play any music(except for the opening sequence) during the show the entire time and instead had silence and background noise be the melodies that accompanied it. 
3: Spike's crush on Buffy. While I don't like the "romance" between them in season 6, I really liked him here during this season. The whole thing causes a lot of hilarious moments for the two characters and ends up being a very helpful thing for the Scoobies. Oh and  Xander's reaction was PRICELESS XD
4: The funeral in the episode "Forever"(which immediately follows The Body); it was really well done and I loved how they handled the emotions of the characters in this episode as well. I also liked Spike bringing flowers and Angel coming to comfort Buffy. 
5: Buffy saving the monk and finding out about the Key
6: Buffy's duel with Dracula. Dracula is, of course, the most famous vampire of all time and having having the Slayer take him on was just awesome! :D Dracula was also really well played and I loved his accent. :D 
7: I really loved getting to find out more on what makes a Slayer. It was very interesting and sets up well for the final reveals we get in the last season :).

Season 6: Considered to be the darkest season of the show's run, the sixth season definitely handles some pretty hefty issues that might bother some people. I, however, loved the dark nature of this season! :D Each character has a deeply rooted problem they have to deal with and truly shows human nature's flaws and how even the best of people have a dark side. We get to see pretty much everyone's dark side this year, but we also see the strength they have in facing adversity. 
      Our hero, Buffy, has to deal with being alive once again after being ripped from heaven where she was happy and at peace; I absolutely loved this idea, it was all very fascinating, especially since we see how much of a struggle it is for her to live in this world, seeing it as 'hell.' The dark side that springs from our hero comes from the bad things that seem to happen one after another to her- not only was she ripped out of heaven, it was her friends who did it and on top of all that, she has to shoulder the full responsibilities of being an adult in order to take care of her sister(she has to work at a fast-food joint and drop out of college.) Buffy's depression and lack of feeling leads her to begin a very unhealthy relationship with Spike. 
Along with Buffy, Willow undergoes a large transformation as well which all comes down to her overuse of magic; she is addicted and it causes many problems to herself and others which leads to the full of meaning finale- definitely up there with the best finales of the show. 
       While there are villains of a sort this season, three geeks called the Trio, the real villains of this season are the characters themselves and the hardness of life. While the season is very dark, there is hope too, especially in characters like Tara, who is at her best, and helps provide light and ends up helping Buffy during her time of need.
      The finale ends with a wonderful note and a very symbolic meaning. At the end, after having falling into a large hole in the graveyard, both Buffy and Dawn crawl out which shadows Buffy having dug herself out of her own grave at the beginning of the season after being ripped from the kindness of heaven; it also symbols Buffy being reborn again. When she first crawled out of the ground she hated life and did many destructive things to herself in order to feel again; when she crawls out the second time, her hope and her belief in life are restored and its like she's a whole person once again, yet different from her experiences. When I saw this parallel, I was so impressed and excited at how amazing it was. The writers are genius!
     The only thing that really bothered me was that Spike tried to do the evil R thing to Buffy in one of the last episodes and it took her a little bit to get him off her(but she had hurt herself and she was surprised, so that might have been the reason). As a stronger hater of the evil R, it really bothered me :P Though I was very glad to hear the actor who plays Spike say  that it was the hardest scene he ever had to film and he was never going to film a scene like that again. (oh, and I didn't watch the scene, I scrolled down from the screen*I was watching it on Amazon Prime on Amazon.com*). 

Favorite episodes
Grave
Once More, With Feeling 
Tabula Rasa 
Villains
Two to Go
Dead Things 
Wrecked
Doublemeat Palace
As You Were
After Life
Bargaining part 1 and 2

Highlights: 
1: The finale; it was great to see Xander, just a regular guy, save the world and to see both Buffy and Dawn fight with swords :D. The villain who appears in the last three episodes was very well done and perfect for the darkness of the season(I won't say who it is, just that you'll be pretty surprised). I also love the symbolism they had in the finale, it was so well done :D
2: The musical episode!!! While at first I was a little unsure, they pulled it off marvelously! The songs are awesome and the cast are all great singers, especially Anthony Stewart Head(Giles), Amber Benson(Tara), James Marsters(Spike; the actor used to be in a band), and Sarah Michelle Gellar(Buffy). The episode also has some great turning points for the characters and shows their vulnerabilities. Such beautiful songs :)
3: When, after Willow accidentally causes a forgetting spell to affect the entire group, the scoobies all forget who they are and wake up in the magic box with amnesia. It is really funny seeing all the characters without their memories, especially since several embarrassing and goofy things happen XD
4: When Buffy breaks down to Tara about how she can't believe what she's doing with Spike and how she doesn't know if she's using him or not. It was really sad and well done and Tara was so sweet and handled it very well. I loved Tara there.
5: Buffy and Giles's reunion at both the beginning and ending of the season. 
6: Buffy punching Spike and screaming how he's a "dead thing" and how she is really talking to herself. 
7: Willow going off the deep end with her addiction to magic and the terrible things that ensued; very good acting in this episode, especially from Alyson Hannigan(Willow) 

Season 7: While the weakest season since season 4, the seventh season ends the amazing show perfectly. Women empowerment is especially prevalent this season, especially the totally, rocking, awesome finale!! :D I don't want to spoil anything about how it ends, but let's just say, it is pretty much perfect. 
 The season starts off very strong with an almost season 1 feel to it. However, the middle episodes get a little weak and seem to lack something(I believe, like a lot of other people have pointed out, that it had to do with the introduction of the Potentials; however, the Potentials end up making the finale as awesome as it is, so that's fine). The season picks back up at the end, however, and puts forth a perfect ending to the show. Also, a lot of characters from the past return for the final battle which I really loved seeing- it was very cool :D(such as Angel and Faith) One really symbolic thing that happened this season was the so-called 'preacher' Caleb who is actually a murdering misogynist; Buffy's fight against him is like women fighting to free themselves from the sexism still prevalent in our world(It has really improved, but we still have some work to do).  
     The only problem I had with the season was how Buffy and her rift with Giles was never brought to closure. Since their relationship was something I really loved seeing, I was a little saddened by this. And there was something else that I didn't like, but that would give away a pretty big plot point, so I'll stop now.
    One thing that was kind of annoying this season was the relationship between two characters that felt WAY too rushed. However, it was just a little thing so it's not really that big of a deal. 

Favorite episodes
Chosen (DUH!!)
Conversations With Dead People
The Killer in Me
End of Days
Help
Lessons
Showtime
Lies my Parents Told Me
Storyteller 

Highlights: 
1: I absolutely LOVED the ending!! :D :D The action was awesome, the suspense was awesome, the acting was epic, it was perfect and completely empowered woman. Of course, they don't throw guys out the window; Principal Wood(a character introduced this season) tells Faith that most guys are actually decent(Faith has a very negative view of them) which I thought was nice. Yay for good feminist messages(since a true feminist wants equality between the genders and do not hate men; we just hate the misogynists) :D There is another thing that was so awesome in the finale but I don't want to spoil anything- let's just so, it's so, so cool! :D :D 
2: Willow having to come to terms with a certain characters death. How it happens is really well done and revealing to Willow's character. I loved how Alyson portrayed her character in this episode, definitely one of her best moments. 
3: Buffy trying to help Cassie from her upcoming death in the episode "Help". It was a very, very well done episode and I really liked the actress playing Cassie, she is very talented.
4: When Spike and Xander stole the infatuation inducing jacket away from this one guy so they could burn it- best part of that episode(as was when Xander freaked out) XD
5: How, after everyone else has gone their separte ways for the mission, Buffy, Giles, Willow, and Xander stand in a circle and talk about what their going to do tomorrow- it was really great and a nice throw back to the first season :)

Sorry that was so long XP