5. Comparison to VERONICA MARS

Veronica Mars: Seasons One Through Three. Dir. Rob Thomas. Rob Thomas Productions, 2004-2007. DVD.

Many comparisons have been made between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the recently cancelled TV series Veronica Mars. In fact, Buffy creator Joss Whedon was such a fan of Veronica Mars, he even appeared as a guest star on one of its episodes. Both shows offer a refreshingly independent (anti-Bella) heroine who serves as a role model for young women. Although I (and most critics) believe Buffy is the superior show, the television series Veronica Mars mirrors Buffy the Vampire Slayer in several ways. In both shows, an attractive young blonde girl with a troubled past becomes a feminist icon. Buffy is physically strong, while Veronica is intellectually powerful, but their motive remains true: take down the bad guys, and stay cool in the process. Buffy has a single-mom, Joyce. Veronica has single-dad, Keith. Both parents had rotten relationships with their spouses for whatever reason, and their daughters love and support them almost solely. The similarities with the parents pretty much ends there, though, as Keith plays a much more active role than Joyce. Each series has episodes that easily stand on their own, one way or another. They also have one "big bad" or primary evil of the season to be defeated. Throughout the season, we get some advancement to that final episode where everything comes to a head, and it keeps the viewer anxiously awaiting each new episode with bated breath. The setting of both shows is also similar. Both shows start out in a beautiful, California high school. The school principal in each series singles out and antagonizes Veronica/Buffy, but luckily each heroine knows how to make this villain's life just a little more difficult with every meeting.