10 years after
Today is 10-th anniversary of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". March, 10, 1997 saw the first two episodes, Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvest aired by TheWB - a fledgeling network that ceased to exist by now. What has started as a cute teenage show in search of its own identity, quickly turned into one of most interesting, complex and multilayered TV epics with distinct vision and unique mythology.
Yes - unique.
In 1949 Joseph Campbell wrote a scientific exploration about the origin of myths Hero with Thousand Faces. In 1977 George Lucas made wildly successful Star Wars and confessed later that he used Campbell's template when he was writing the script. Ever since the work of Campbell is perceived as a key to scriptwriter's success and current generation of scribes is only changing names and settings in well-known formula.
Joss Whedon dares to be different.
The crucial element of Campbell's hero's journey is leaving the society and following the road of trials. Another important elements are supernatural aid, marriage with Goddess (for a female hero - God), atonement with his father etc.
Buffy doesn't go anywhere. She is the keeper of hearth, the protector of her home and people she loves. Instead of marrying a God she fights a bitch-Goddess. She doesn't atone with her father - we hardly see him onscreen.
Joss doesn't follow Campbell's formulas and he doesn't defy them. He just doesn't notice them and writes the way people wrote before Campbell's work became the manual of writer's success. Think the writer who has never heard of Hero with Thousand Faces.
Joss tells the story he feels compelled to tell. A story of modern hero who lives today among us. Now, can you imagine a hero "leaving the society" in the era of mobile phones? And isn't "supernatural aid" kinda cheating from modern audience' POV? And why only the hero has "to atone with his father"? Maybe his father/mentor also has to atone with him? Joss creates a new formula of mythology. Buffy's journey is inner. She fights her inner demons as we all do. And these demons take metaphorical forms of vampires and monsters.
There are certain elements of classical myths in Buffy's journey: several attempts to refuse the call, death (twice - if you don't count alternate dimensions) and resurrection. But these events don't feel forced: they're integral to the overall arcs and differ from classical myths interpretations. Mythological tradition doesn't apply heavy consequences to hero's resurrection - but Joss does. And he's right, because messing with the laws of nature is dangerous.
So, Buffy did it her way - and what a way it was! She had her share of trials and adventures, funny as well as sad. Joss introduced another formula - hero's external fights reflect his/her inner struggles and frustrations. Buffy fought Apocalypses, had heartbreaks, lost people she loved and finally found her place in the world - a place of mentor and surrogate mother for the girls like her. And the last shot of the show features her at the beginning of a physical journey. Her hearth is destroyed (you have to destroy the past to save the future), she is free and the world belongs to her.
Buffy is a true hero although she's hardly your typical Campbell's hero. And her amazing journey grants hope that the art of storytelling may survive even in the era of formulas and templates for everything creative. Joss gives us hope that the art of storytelling isn't dead.
Thank you, Joss. For Buffy and, you know, for everything. Today you stand at the crossroads with season 8 of "BtVS" starting on a new medium, comics, with all the advantages and limitations they provide. Welcome, unlimited budget, good-bye, subtlety. Hopefully, you'll invent another winning formula and new "Buffy" will capture our hearts.