Break out your stakes, crank up Dingoes Ate My Baby and meet up at the Bronze because Buffy the Vampire Slayer is turning 20!

Joss Whedon’s hit television series debuted on March 10, 1997. Based off Whedon’s 1992 film of the same name, Buffy follows the story of Buffy Summers, a valley girl cheerleader who is prophesied to be the Slayer, a girl born with supernatural abilities to defend humanity against vampires, demons and other big bads.

The series is known for Joss Whedon’s witty dialogue, known as Buffyspeak, and a cast of familiar faces including Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and others. But its cultural impact owes much to its female protagonist. Unusual for her time, Buffy’s bubbly valley girl personality mixed with her butt-kicking abilities showed audiences that anyone can be a hero, even a “typical” high school girl. 

After seven seasons as well as a graphic novel continuation written by Whedon himself, Buffy still enjoys a cult fan base. The series has even captured the interest of the academic world where fans have formed The Whedon Studies Association dedicated to studying the works of Joss Whedon in Slayage magazine.

Are you a Buffy fan? Or maybe just into fandoms? Come check out BCLS’ third annual Fandom Fest on Saturday, July 29.