1. Who Run The World? Girls.
The best thing about Whedon's writing is the female characters and the way he writes them to become heroic, powerful and strong is a delight and an inspiration for many. Buffy was my first hero when I was a kid and rather than being put off by the fact she was a girl, I thought it was amazing. That's the reason why Whedon needs to keep the strong women in his writing (as if he would ever leave them!) - there need to be strong women and girls in these mediums, mediums dominated by white, heterosexual men and who are still seen to universally have the power. Whedon's women arguably kickstarted a wave of female characters who didn't have to take the supporting role. He even almost always places them at the centre of his works - Black Widow is easily the strongest character in Avengers; in Firefly, Kaylee is the heart of the crew while River's strength propels both storyline and focus; Dollhouse has characters like Echo, Sierra and Adelle taking the reins. The women often go through a lot - suffering heartbreak, betrayal and loss, but for the most part they endure and survive, becoming heroes. In his works, we've got the likes of Buffy, Zoe, Cordy, River, Willow, Fred and many others refusing the passive roles offered to them by society and shaping their own destinies - and I think that's a beautiful message to pass onto young women and girls. Are there any of the 'rules of Whedon' you think I should have entered? Sound off in the comments below...