“No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So, what are we, helpless? Puppets? Nah. The big moments are gonna come, you can’t help that. It’s what you do afterwards that count. That’s when you find out who you are.“
Whistler, Becoming

Greetings, gang!

There’s been a lot going on in the world of late, and while the sun is shining here in old Blighty, we’re preparing for our summer hiatus with smiles and satisfaction. Today is the anniversary of The Watcher’s Guide returning. When the website first launched in the Nineties, we had no idea it would grow so much — and we’re happy to say the plan is to keep going! Over the next few weeks, as we prepare for our brief summer hiatus, we have tons of content coming your way.

It’s hard now to think of Buffy without recognising the vast changes it brought to the television landscape — changes that still echo today. Without Buffy, it’s arguable that the youth‑oriented WB Network couldn’t have aired Charmed, Smallville, or what would become the Arrowverse. Television itself is made differently now because of the show’s influence, with powerful serial storytelling becoming its hallmark. And trust me: back then, nothing outside of soap operas was truly serialised. Producers wanted episodes with beginnings, middles, and ends — much like the creature‑of‑the‑week format that dominates Seasons One and Two. And then came Surprise, and everything changed. Television changed with it.

Arguably, without Buffy the Vampire Slayer, shows like Alias, Lost, and Supernatural wouldn’t exist in their current forms — and that’s no small thing.

The last year has brought tremendous highs, but also some lows, not least of which was the cancellation of New Sunnydale. We still don’t know much about what happened, apart from reports that Hulu didn’t like the pilot. Hollywood rarely wastes money on a greenlit series pilot only to pull it with no explanation, so it’s likely there’s more going on behind the scenes than we’re aware of. Hopefully, as certain issues resolve, there may still be a chance that one day the adventures of a new Slayer will delight a new generation. In fact, some of the actors are starting to talk more… See the pictures below…

Still to come before the Summer is out: Angel novels and merchandise — including the Official Magazine — are already scheduled, as well as our look at the spooky The Cabin in the Woods. There’s also our continuing exploration of the Firefly novels and, of course, the movie Serenity and the adventures that follow… there’s a lot more from the Black to talk about! The Nevers has also just been made available for the first time in the UK on ITVX, so catch it while it’s there — and then come back here in the autumn as we deep‑dive into this exciting new chapter.

And of course… the Reckoning is coming. A high‑octane four‑parter that ends Buffy’s story — now at the age of 30 herself — as a final battle threatens not just her, but the future of Melaka Fray as well. And you will not believe the returning villain coming your way. Well, Gosh… they just might be our favourite baddie ever.

We hope you’ve been enjoying the Episode Spotlights, currently navigating the darker days of Season Two. Buffy’s second season remains a key season and a fan favourite, and the battle between Buffy and Angelus only gets worse from here.

To quote Whistler in the season finale:

“You’ll see what I mean.”

The Curator