BUFFY: Once More Without Feeling?

This must be how my mom feels when shows from the ’60s and ’70s are “rebooted”. I’m writing, of course, on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot that Warner Bros. announced yesterday. Rumors had abounded, but now it’s official: Buffy will return, without Joss Whedon. Aye, there’s the rub.

See, I’m not opposed to the return of Buffy in theory. It’s only been off the air for 7 years, so it feels a little early for a reboot, but in the fast-paced times of the Interwebz, sure, maybe we’re ready to revisit Sunnydale. Let’s update it for the True Blood/Vampire Diaries world and maybe take another shot at transitioning Buffy from high school student to young adult. The mortal-girl-in-love-with-a-vampire-guy has been explored endlessly now, so how about a new angle in the romance department? How about returning to the exploration of vampires as analogy for the human experience? How about creating thought-provoking, original concepts like “Hush” and actually killing your main character – twice – to better explore death? Sherlock Holmes was brilliantly updated for the 21st century, so perhaps we’re ready to see the Scooby Gang texting clues to each other and using their iPads to defeat the Big Bad all while engaged in Joss Whedon’s trademark witty dialogue.

Oh, that’s right, Joss Whedon wasn’t invited.

Never mind.