Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by producer-writer Joss Whedon, focuses on the adventures of a seemingly ordinary high school girl who is also a vampire slayer, and her efforts to juggle both roles. Combining elements of the serious drama, horror, comedy, and teen soap dramas, the show was praised by both critics and its devoted fanbase for its originality, its well-drawn portrayals of young female characters, and for its wit, especially its uses of "meta" humor. The Buffy "fandom," or community of fans, is a large fandom that is greatly diverse in age and gender.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer began as a feature film starring Kristy Swanson in 1992. Writer Joss Whedon, frustrated with the way his script had been filmed, decided to turn it into a television series. He produced a 25-minute pilot episode with a very limited budget, starring actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, previously known largely from the soap All My Children, as Buffy. The pilot took place shortly after the events of the film, and the film is part of Buffy's backstory. The WB network took an interest, but demanded recasting, particularly of the Willow role. With a retooled cast, a much larger budget, and a more expansive script, the show premiered in early 1997. Its humor and subversion of traditional horror film themes made it an instant success.

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her mother have moved to Sunnydale, California after the former cheerleader burnt down the gym at her previous high school. Buffy's ambition is to join the cheer squad, start dating, and have a normal life. However, Sunnydale is on top of a "Hellmouth", and is a center of demonic activity, and her school librarian, Rupert Giles (Anthony Head) is a "Watcher" - an expert on the supernatural and a vampire slayer trainer. With the help of computer nerd Willow (Alyson Hannigan), slacker Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and the mysterious Angel (David Boreanaz), Buffy defeats demons and navigates the hell that is high school.

• Buffy - the main character, a former cheerleader who is chosen to protect the innocent by slaying vampires and other evil threats

• Buffy - main character, chosen to protect people by fighting evil