Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Television without Joss Whedon is like popcorn without butter. There’s no point.

For avid fans who followed “Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s” seven-year-run, “Angel’s” five-year trek and “Firefly’s” less-than-a-season damnation by the television Powers That Be, there’s just a lot of dead air out there.

Sure, there’s plenty on. But for those of us with little time to spare, the appeal isn’t there. “Lost” seemed like a good option at first, but, well, I got lost and will have to catch it on DVD at some point. “Supernatural” was worth giving a go, but the predictability turned me off fast. “Masters of Horror” looked worthy of an hour a week, carved out of my busy schedule. In fact, I even bought a subscription to Showtime just to see it. Beyond a few exceptional episodes though, the flavor’s gone flat with that one, too.

No one, it seems, can combine sharp wit, action, outright humor and horror into a good story quite like Joss and his stable of equally talented writers. These folks have made us love bloodthirsty vampires, cheer for cheerleaders and have our hearts break for brigands with a mild case of ethics. Now, that’s writing genius!

So, it should come as little surprise that news of a possible Spike movie had me doing back flips. (Figuratively, of course.) I read everything I could find on the topic and then sat down to check out Tim Minear. I had to know was he really worthy to handle the daunting task? Would he do Spike and the Buffyverse justice?

I turned to my trusty DVD collection and began watching the episodes of “Angel” Tim wrote and/or directed. Then I turned to “Firefly.” Ditto on the result, except I found myself watching the entire series again, longing for characters that endearing, dialogue that sharp-witted, story lines that amusing and entertaining. (I tried to check out the reported “Buffy” episodes, too, but found none listed in Tim’s own filmography. Blame that on bad reporting in the media, I guess.)

My research paid off with more than a trip down when-television-was-good memory lane. Tim is the perfect person for the job. I shouldn’t have questioned it. He can write and he can direct and he can do it in a fashion that rivals Joss’ talent, wit and intelligence. Add to that his intimate knowledge of Spike’s persona as he also served as producer on the “Angel” series and the fit is evident.

With so many stories left to tell within the Buffyverse, especially related to Spike and Illyeria, and well, frankly, Faith, too, the possibilities that fall into Tim’s capable hands are endless. Joss couldn’t have chosen a better writer and director for the rebirth of Spike, unless of course he’d chosen to do the project himself.

Tim’s skillful writing and directing and his careful treatment of Joss’ characters won him the request to do the Spike gig, no doubt. But it’s his ability to build on Joss’ think-outside-the-box style that will have whatever he creates winning fans hearts.

Anyone who can dress Angel in a Hawaiian shirt and white straw hat and actually make it work, is OK in my book.

With any luck, Tim’s work will be just the first in a long-running return of the Buffyverse. The faithful know there are plenty of stories left to be told, and good ones at that.

Series spinoff possibilities are endless - Spike, Illyria, Faith, Willow. With Tim Minear willing to pick up the reins and go, who knows ... maybe the faithful who just dust off their television screens to watch “Angel,” “Buffy” and “Firefly” on DVD will have a reason to tune in on a regular basis once more.

Someone pass the popcorn, heavy on the butter, please?