Long before heroines Jessica Jones, Rey, and Wynonna Earp looked great kicking paranormal posteriors, there was Buffy Summers dusting vamps. Buffy the Vampire Slayer may have seemed like a campy series about the titular protagonist accepting her role as the Slayer and protecting her small California town from the supernatural forces of darkness, but Joss Whedon's cult hit was also about the trials and tribulations of being a teenager.
The fanbase for Buffy remains as strong today as it did then, so it's not surprising that a revival has been rumored to be happening for several years. But with themes and storylines explored in Buffy having influenced numerous shows since its release in the late '90s, fans have wondered if a revival should even happen, or if the series should remain untouched.
Should: It will make new Buffy fans
The original series debuted in 1997, and it's been almost twenty years since it wrapped with Season 7. There are generations of would-be Buffy fans who have yet to experience its unique combination of action, sci-fi, horror, and comedy.
A revival is the best way to reach these "Potentials," who after tuning in might be excited to discover they have the original series to binge. They would also begin to see just how influential it was, and how it helped inspire their favorite newer shows.
Shouldn't: It will seem like dozens of other shows
When Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered it was unlike anything else on television. It had a fresh philosophy that combined strong feminist ideologies with campy horror and palpable teen angst.
Buffy Summers, who might normally have been a damsel in distress in any other genre series, was made the lead protagonist. Right now there are dozens of heroines just like Buffy in current series, making what made Buffy so progressive seem like just another regular series.
Should: It will be more diverse
Buffy wasn't known for its diversity, except when it came to its many supernatural threats to Sunnydale. Aside from a strong focus on characters from the LGBT community, the show only had a handful of people of color in prominent roles, like Slayer Nikki Wood, and none of them were a part of the main cast.
A revival could help some of the original series' problems in the diversity department, by not only making the Slayer a person of color, but their friends as well. They could also include characters that allowed for greater visibility in the trans and disabled communities.
Shouldn't: It was iconic
These days there are shows like Wynonna Earp, The Vampire Diaries, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina that borrow from Buffy's emphasis on a heroine who is tough but also glamorous, and who has her own eccentric way of viewing and talking about the world (aka "Buffy speak").
Buffy was an iconic series with an iconic heroine, and some fans feel it should remain that way as one of the first and most well-done series of its kind. Its status may only diminish with a reboot or revival in the wake of so many other similar series.
Should: It's a chance for the old cast to come back
Even if the revival focuses on a new Chosen One and her group of friends, there's still an opportunity for members of the original cast to come back, especially since after Season 7, Buffy awakened the spirit of the Slayer in all of the Potentials who trained with her.
Seeing Buffy in a mentor position, like Giles was for her, would add another dimension to her character. Any original cast members would help ground and anchor the series, and fans would relish the thought of a mini-reunion.
Shouldn't: It's continued on in other mediums
A revival may be unnecessary considering that though the original series ended in 2003, the adventures of Buffy Summers, the Potentials, and the Scoobies continued in comic book form in Season 8. Many shocking events occurred during its run, and more have been added in the "seasons" since.
The Buffy fanbase continues to be as vocal as ever, and has created countless podcasts like "Buffering the Vampire Slayer" and "Buffy Talk." They may find that between mediums, there's enough happening in the Buffyverse without the need of another live-action show.
Should: To expand the Buffyverse
Joss Whedon and his creative team did a lot to give breadth and depth to the "Buffyverse" by adding new villains, new allies, and new lore every week the original series was running. Even with the presence of the Angel spin-off, broadening the Buffyverse would create some exciting new opportunities for worldbuilding.
The special effects in television series today are more impressive than they were when Buffy was around, though many fans still cherish the original series' commitment to practical movie magic. With the changing technology, a revival series could finally show what the Shrimp Worlds really look like!
Shouldn't: An animated series was already shelved
Back in 2002, just as the original series was preparing to end, Joss Whedon gave his fans a gift: an animated series that would allow for their characters to live on in a less restricted form. Unfortunately though it was greenlit by 20th Century Fox, it was never produced because no network would buy it.
The show remains unaired, and it might serve as a sign that there's not as much fan interest as previously thought. But an animated series would allow the original cast to return because age wouldn't be a problem, and it would allow for both the Slayer's abilities (and her adversaries) to really be impressive. The animated pilot did have a dragon, after all.
Should: It will modernize the content
In the same way that the original series helped adolescents feel less alone in their struggles, a revival could help modernize the content. Even older adults tuning into Buffy discovered that some teenage dilemmas were just universal.
Young people are going through many different types of hurdles in this day and age, like cyber bullying. Social media hadn't been invented yet when Buffy and her friends were dealing with high school and college drama, and they only used cellphones in the final season. Imagine if the Scoobies could text during episodes like "Hush."
Shouldn't: The characters are too beloved by fans
To some fans, there will only ever be one Buffy, one Xander, one Willow, and one Giles, and they can't be played by anyone other than the actors who brought them to life in the original series. The most fervent of fans may not be able to accept new actors in those roles, no matter how good they are.
The only way a revival could succeed in their eyes is if it didn't involve the original Slayer and the Scooby Gang at all, but a new cast of never-before-seen characters who have no connection to them.