Boreanaz, Dushku and Gellar have distanced themselves from Whedon, with the latter saying on Instagram that while she is “proud” to have her name associated with Buffy Summers, “I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon. Of course, Gellar’s personal contribution to the show’s positive legacy cannot be overlooked; her burning, entertaining yet challenging performance over seven seasons has been as important to the show as any well-known writer, and her name will deservedly forever remain synonymous with Buffy’s name. — as well as the names of the actors and their many favorite characters, “They may not have liked what was going on behind the scenes, but the actors enjoyed being a part of it, which became something else for them because of the fans,” says Barbe-Brown “They will be loved and adored as these characters for generations.”
Given all of this, has the show’s legacy been irreparably damaged? Whedon’s mission statement to deliver “the joy of female power” didn’t always seem to come through offstage or in front of the camera. And yet, 25 years later, there’s no denying the importance of what Buffy the Vampire Slayer did by centering a few strong female characters in a populist genre format, thereby pushing the boundaries of what was expected of a television series featuring women. But, as is the case with many older shows, including ’90s counterparts like Friends, it’s hardly surprising that it has characters and storytelling elements that are so dated. “There are some characters that you will look at and think: “Why are they acting like that?” but you have to remember that this was 25 years ago, and if you can look at it as a piece of history, you can still get a lot of modern-day benefits from it,” says MacKillop, who is revisiting the series with her daughter. “She gets a lot out of it. Not necessarily the same as what I got out of it when I first watched it, but she’s definitely getting good messages.”
What’s clear is that fans old and new alike are more than willing, like Gellar, to separate the show from its creator. “I still think it’s a really kind hearted, smart, influential and inspiring show,” Dark says. “The fans didn’t let Whedon ruin their show. It’s like, “Well, actually, it’s not yours anymore. This is ours”.
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