"[...] Whedon has created one of the most intelligent, and most underestimated, shows on television. Like the Serenity, ''Buffy'' might look at first sight like a disposable toy, something cobbled from materials that most adults dismiss out of hand: teen banter, karate chops and bloodsucking monsters. Before the show went on the air in 1997, executives at the fledgling WB network begged him to change the whimsical title, arguing that the show would never reach intelligent viewers. But it did. ''Buffy'' is about a teenage girl staking monsters in the heart, but her true demons are personal, and the show's innovative mix of fantasy elements and psychological acuity transcends easy categorization. Despite being perpetually snubbed at the Emmy Awards, ''Buffy'' has become a critics' darling and inspired a fervent fan base among teenage girls and academics alike. The show's influence can be felt everywhere on television these days, from tawdry knockoffs like ''Charmed'' to more impressive copycats like ''Alias.''
[NYT Magazine "Must-See Metaphysics"]