Joss Whedon: 10 Crowning Moments Of Awesome

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "Chosen": The Speech

'So are you ready to be strong?' That line alone was a pinnacle of Buffy's series finale episode, where the girl herself led an army of friends, Potential Slayers and allies down into the Hellmouth itself and fought the terrible hordes of Uber-Vamps on their stomping ground in order to stop the primordial evil known as The First from conquering the world. The series reinforces some of Whedon's most prevalent themes €“ power, family, and most importantly, feminism, the latter of which becomes an overarching theme when Buffy and Willow €“ two incredibly powerful women €“ change the rules of the entire universe, giving every Potential Slayer in the world the full power of a Slayer, enabling thousands of Slayers across the globe and swinging fate back towards the side of the angels. The speech is a brilliant highlight that encapsulates everything Buffy Summers, both as a character and a concept, has ever stood for. She is brave, she is human, she is strong. We only hear the speech in two halves, the first half revealing the struggle that everyone goes through and that the battle ahead is dark and dangerous. It's only when Willow, redeeming her previous darkness in a blast of white-haired euphoric goodness, activates the Scythe that Buffy's speech comes back, revealing her plan €“ to make those who can be like her, like her. To empower an entire generation. That speaks more than words and speaks further than Slayers €“ in this speech, Whedon seems to be saying that he wants to empower an entire generation of people who feel like freaks and outcasts. People who can have the power to do good, now have it. It's a rousing, heartfelt, tearjerker of a speech that feels as rousing as any battle cry or motivational war chant. Buffy Summers goes and tells everyone watching that they're strong. That's the legacy Whedon chooses to leave with his most beloved character, and for that I utterly and truly commend him.
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Leeds native, film fanatic, TV obsessive and relentless pop music fan. Sings off-key at any chance.