10 Things Non-Fans Don't Understand About Buffy The Vampire Slayer

10. The Show Is A Mad Mix Of Genres

Buffy the Vampire Slayer sounds like a horror-inspired show, and it is – sort of. Whilst some of the villains will have you on the edge of your seat, most Buffy episodes aren’t particularly scary.

Instead, the show is an amalgamation of genres. Horror, comedy, drama, fantasy, and the supernatural are all thrown into the mix – there’s even a musical episode. This cocktail of tones may seem like a disaster waiting to happen, but thanks to the writing talents of Joss Whedon and his team, Buffy’s adventures feel distinctive rather than disconcerting.

The show’s self-awareness is a big part of why these genres mesh together so well. The characters often acknowledge the ridiculousness of their own predicaments. And thanks to the comedic chops of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, and Alyson Hannigan, these moments are often humorous as well.