Why the Buffyverse?

[lostboy_lj]

I was reading a fanfic musing over at shapinglight's journal.  I started to respond, but it was getting a little long-ish, so I decided to do a post instead.  It's an interesting read in general, but this question in particular stood out to me:

Which leads me to wondering why it is that the Buffyverse is still the only fictional world invented by other people

Comments

[red_satin_doll]

So, I guess the shorter version of my answer is: monogamy.

I can name that tune in four notes: l o v e
Dear god now I am dating myself.)

I have so much love for this meta I'd willingly marry it. Or use it for intellectual sexytimes. (What? the brain is the most important erogenous organ.)

This seems to be one of several meta I've read recently that are all asking two basic questions 1) Why the Buffyverse?, and/or 2) Is this fandom dead? The volume of discussion seems to be the best evidence for the defense that no, it most surely is not. There is a quality of discourse, passion and creativity to this fandom like nothing else I've known (in my admittedly limited experience of "fandoms"), and that trumps any notion of quantity of participants or number of fanfics written.

I think as someone else said above, for me the Buffyverse engages my emotions and my intellect equally; I love meta like this and the ensuing conversations, and I love to rewatch the final scene in Showtime and get my fangirlish squee on. This 'verse has room for both, as does this fandom. And I can think of TV shows I've enjoyed, but then I don't think about them the next day - or even the next hour. (There are probably a few movies that have had a similar effect, but then there's not a "fandom" to go along with and extend my love, or help me rethink my initial reactions.)