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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- FX
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Cult vampire series has witty bite and strong role model.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while even grade-schoolers may enjoy the horror-movie aspects of this hugely popular vampire series, its mature themes are not a good fit for kids that young. Even kids as young as 12 -- who will enjoy the action and have fun with the one-liners -- probably aren't quite ready for the dark, adult issues the show tackles. Buffy is in mortal danger in most episodes, she loses her virginity to her (much) older boyfriend, and monsters are everywhere. On the upside, the series encourages strength in girls, mentoring, and teamwork. The series is best for teens and adults, who will appreciate the multi-leveled story and the Romeo and Juliet subtext of some of the episodes.
Based on 49 parent & educator reviews:
- 43% say there are positive messages
- 43% say there are positive role models
- 31% say sexual content is an issue
- 27% say violence is an issue
Most useful reviews by all members
Parent of 14 year old
April 3, 2009
Please keep in mind the aging of the series
Although the consensus is that Buffy is a "13 and up" series it is important to note that there are some episodes -- especially in season 6 -- that are really intended for more mature audiences. Some of the Buffy and Angel scenes in earlier seasons were pretty racy as well. What began as an appropriate series for 13 and 14 year olds grew older, darker and more daring, and it is easy to forget in this DVD age -- when you can watch an entire season in a week -- that there was an anticipation that viewers would grow up with the series, so that by the time Season 6 came around the average viewer would be closer to 19 or 20, which is the age that some of those episodes are more appropriate for. Even so, Buffy is one of the best series in TV history, if not the best.
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Parent of 8 and 11 year old
January 3, 2010
Earlier seasons are fine for tweens who aren't easily frightened, but later seasons should wait.
My kids love it, as do I. While I do think there is stuff that's simply over their heads, that's not what I tend to be concerned about with television. It's the stuff that they're getting that concerns me more than whether they understand the metaphor and subtext.
The sex is very tame, and the violence is fairly cartoon-y. Meanwhile, the messages of tolerance, respect and strength are fabulous. Characters are complex and show that everyone has a bit of light and a bit of darkness in them, and that the way we choose to treat our light and dark aspects is what makes us good and bad people. It is actions, not impulses that make us good - a particularly good message for children, who often find themselves in over their heads emotionally.
That said, I do not allow my youngest to watch Hush (too scary, it'll give her nightmares) and a handful of other episodes in the first 4 or 5 seasons and I think seasons 6 and 7 are flat out too scary for her altogether. Judging this series in its entirety is difficult, as it evolves, changes and becomes more sophisticated with time.
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Parent of 11 and 11 year old
January 18, 2011
Older kids should be fine, use your own judgment
I love this show, as well as Joss Whedon's other shows, and I do let my boys watch SOME episodes.
I self censor because I have seen all of the episodes and I own the dvd box set. So, we watch them together. Most of the episodes are fine for my 11 boys. The heavy, angst ridden episodes or the ones with sex scenes are omitted from our watching.
While the episodes, "Once More with Feeling" and "Hush" both have a bit of content I'm not completely comfortable with, the episodes are both hits at my house.
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Parent of 5, 5, 8, and 10 year old
April 18, 2011
More violent than i would like.... but good
my 10 and 8 year old started watching this about 3 months ago when they randomly found my box sets i was gonna wait till they were older for them too watch it but as long as they understand unless they are the slayer violence is not what they need it is fine.
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Teen, 14 years old
January 30, 2011
Really like this show for so many reason.
I started watching this show when I was younger and then stopped when I was about 11. When I was 12 I became anorexic. I started to watch this show again when I was about 13. This show actually helped me to realise that I didn't need to be super skinny. I know that might sound kind of wierd but seeing a main female character that was stong and and needed her strength everyday made me start to think I might need help. Pretty much, part of the reason that I love this show is because of how strong the female characters are. In my opinion it shows woman in a whole new light.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 8, 2011
I love Buffy but sometimes I can't watch it because of it being inappropriate.
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Adult
February 24, 2011
This is probably Joss Whedon's greatest show. It has some of his strongest characters and is a overall a masterpiece.
But I would warn any parent that this is not suitable for all kids under fifteen. Themes can get very dark, a main character sacrifices her life for her sister and the world (in a manner that could be considered as suicide) and when she returns in season six, she becomes deeply abusive and falls under the influence of a depression.
Another character falls prey to addiction and mindrapes her girlfriend and never pays a price for this. Said girlfriend ends up murdered in a non cartoonish manner.Leading the first character into committing murder and attempting to destroy the world.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 10, 2011
I freaking love this show
I am obsessed with Buffy, but I'm pretty mature so probably only 12+ and take maturity into considersation. It's dark, it's heavy, it's witty, it's funny, it's freaking amazing
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Kid, 12 years old
February 22, 2011
Great Show!
There was one episode where they're in a sex-ed class, but I didn't see most of it, because my friend and I kept talking about how awkward it was, so her sister kicked us out of the room. As for the episode where they have sex, you don't see much at all. There are a lot of episodes where Xander makes out with his girlfriend in a janitor's closet.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 15, 2009
Great Show for ages 11+
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favourite show! I started watching it last christmas, and think it is amazing and brilliant. The themes and content starts to get a little racy from season 4, onward, but nothing is showing. The violence is very mild, and nothing too gory. This also depends on the kid's maturity level. Kids under eleven can probably watch the first season, and some of the second season but that's when it starts to get a little racy, but only in one episode. I love the show's creativity, humour, amazing actors and charactors, and intriguing storyline. The show sends strong messages, and breaks many stereotypes.
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