The cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer in 1998 (Photo: Getty Images/Handout)


On March 10, 1997, The WB introduced a television phenomenon—well, “introduced” is stretching it, since it was based on a largely unremembered cinematic property from 1992. And “phenomenon” isn’t 100 percent accurate, either, as even its most ardent fans would argue that it took the show a few episodes to find its high-kicking legs.

But enough with the pedantic stuff: This coming Friday marks the 20th anniversary of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and to commemorate the occasion, The A.V. Club has prepared a full slate of Scooby Gang-related content, like today’s Inventory about the show’s deep pop-culture roots, an illustrated guide to seven seasons of Big Bads (whom we only call “Big Bads” because Buffy coined the term), and a Crosstalk that settles the question “Should you watch Angel, too?” (Not to steal any of that Crosstalk’s thunder, but: Yes, you should watch Angel. It’s a good show. Sometimes it’s as good—if not better—than the show that spawned it.) We’ll also hear from some of the stars of Buffy, in a special round of 11 Questions that kicks off with the most sympathetic member of The Trio, Tom Lenk. So grab a stake, don your most heinous 1990s fashions, and join us as we recount the heroic deeds and world-saving triumphs of that most innovative and groundbreaking of TV heroines, Buffy, slayer of the vampyres.