Angel

For those uninitiated souls who never realized BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER was far more than the goofy teen show it sounded like, Jana Riess has a book that should prove most enlightening.

WHAT WOULD BUFFY DO? is primarily an examination of BUFFY and its themes: self-sacrifice, change, death, emotions, humor, friendship, growing up (and the mentors who help us get there), forgiveness, consequences, the darkness within each of us, and redemption. Riess, who by day is the religion book review editor for PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, knows her stuff when it comes to BUFFY. She ties together events and establishes patterns that weave through the show’s entire seven-season run and into ANGEL, demonstrating the depth and quality of both of the series.

The title of the book is from Xander’s pep talk to Buffy in THE FRESHMAN ("Let me tell you something. When it’s dark and I’m all alone and I’m scared or freaked out or whatever, I always think, ’What would Buffy do?’ You’re my hero."), but it is also derived from the popular Christian catch phrase, “What would Jesus Do?” Considering BUFFY’s general attitude toward religion ("Note to self. Religion: freaky." - Buffy, WHAT’S MY LINE, PART 1), it’s a relief that the book does not focus on Christianity or any other organized religion. Philosophy, literature, psychology, and mythology mix in with concepts taken from many belief systems, including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Wicca, to illustrate concepts presented in the series. Interestingly, as the author notes in the introduction, it is Buddhism that has the most parallels to the themes of BUFFY; the reason for this is not discussed, but it could possibly be due to our archetypal view of a hero from the martial arts tradition.

Although a few of Riess’ conclusions are open to interpretation, the comparisons between the themes and BUFFY and the wisdom of past great minds - from Heraclitus to Confucius to Shakespeare to Mark Twain - are fascinating. Riess’s parallels come from many schools of thought; in one chapter, Buffy, Angel, and Xander are compared to Bodhisattvas, and in another, the author discusses Carl Jung’s concept of the "shadow self" and how the BUFFY characters demonstrate that concept. Statements from various works held dear by those who follow their tenets, such as the Qur’an, the Bible, and the Dhammapada, surprisingly echo the words of the Scooby Gang. The sub-title of the book is "The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide," and with back-up such as that, it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

Despite the hefty subject matter, WHAT WOULD BUFFY DO is a very entertaining read, and Riess makes all of the concepts both accessible and engaging. The book includes an interview with Eliza Dushku (Faith), a character guide, and season synopses for those who may not be familiar with BUFFY... yet. So, the next time someone within earshot disparages BUFFY or ANGEL for being nothing more than a "teen show," this book will help you create the perfect defense.