The 1990s are home to many shows that are now considered masterpieces, among them twofantasyshows that are a must-watch for fans of the genre. The 1990s were a great decade for TV, with a lot of now-classic shows from different genres, of which many now rank amongthe best TV shows of all time.
A popular genre on TV is fantasy, which has various subgenres to appeal to a wider audience. This genre often mixes with horror, sci-fi, and drama, offering a wide variety of shows that always find their audience.The 1990s had an underrated fantasy trendthat gave us two masterpieces, aimed at different audiences but a must-watch for fans of the genre.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer & Charmed Are Both Classic Fantasy Shows From The ’90s
Two fantasy masterpieces of the 1990s areBuffy the Vampire SlayerandCharmed. First wasBuffy, created by Joss Whedon, which aired from 1997 to 2003 for seven seasons.Buffy the Vampire Slayertook the audience to Sunnydale, Southern California, to meet Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a succession of young women chosen by fate to be “Vampire Slayers.”
As such, Buffy has to fight against vampires, demons, and other creatures and forces of darkness. Buffy is aided by her Watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), as well as her best friends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon).Buffy the Vampire Slayerstood out for its strong female lead character, its blend of genres, and how it covered serious (and sometimes taboo) topics.
A year later, another fantasy masterpiece was released:Charmed. Created by Constance M. Burge,Charmedis a fantasy drama show that aired on The WB from 1998 to 2006, for a total of eight seasons.Charmedfollows the Halliwell sisters – Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) – all of them powerful witches with different powers.
The sisters use their combined “Power of Three” to protect others from evil beings, and while they do their best to keep their supernatural abilities separate from their daily lives, they end up attracting the attention of the FBI on different occasions.Charmedis now a cult classic, and its impact has been such that it got a failed reboot in 2018.
All Fantasy Fans Need To Watch Both Masterpieces
The 1990s offered plenty of options on TV for fantasy fans, butBuffy the Vampire SlayerandCharmedare a must-watch. The fantasy genre often blends with others, mostly sci-fi, horror, and drama, giving plenty of options for writers.Buffy the Vampire Slayeris a perfect example of fantasy mixed with other genres, bringing together horror, comedy, drama, and sci-fi.
Buffy the Vampire Slayermostly follows a “monster of the week” format with an overarching plot, making each episode a different viewing experience as Buffy and the Scoobies face a variety of threats. Its main characters were well-developed and complex, as were some of its villains, though I have to admit that some antagonists fell flat.
Buffy the Vampire Slayeralso had a perfect balance of emotional depth and comedy, without forgetting about covering important and serious topics.Buffyhandled the latter quite well, making them relatable while also fitting the show’s tone. WhileBuffy the Vampire Slayerdefinitely has its bad episodes, it’s an overall well-written, developed, and engaging TV show.
Charmedbrought together fantasy and drama, with its biggest hook being the sisters’ powers, how they used them, and their dynamic.At the core ofCharmedis the bond between the Halliwell sisters, which made the show stand out and made it relatable: surely, they were close, but they also had to face their differences many times, and always supported each other.
Charmedalso covered serious topics throughout its eight seasons, such as loss, morality, family, good and evil, and the responsibility that the Halliwells carried as a result of their powers.Charmedis more drama-driven thanBuffy the Vampire Slayer, but both are well-written, the characters are well-developed, and they complement each other.
How Buffy & Charmed Changed The Genre Forever
BothBuffy the Vampire SlayerandCharmedchanged the fantasy genre on TV, and their impact and influence can still be felt.Buffy the Vampire Slayeris considered one of the shows that led into the golden age of TV(viaVillage Voice), while others have pointed out thatBuffyhelped turn TV into art and repopularized long story arcs on primetime TV (viaPop Matters).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s most notable impact on TV was leading other shows to feature strong female characters in lead roles, with some examples beingVeronica Mars,Dead Like Me, andJoan of Arcadia.Buffyalso led to many TV shows that explore supernatural scenarios and creatures, most notablySupernatural,Teen Wolf, andTrue Blood.
Charmed’s legacy on TV is mostly linked to witches and sisterly bonds.Charmedwas the first primetime TV show about witches, and it was key to the resurgence of the witch trend in the 2010s, with shows likeAmerican Horror Story: Coven,The Originals, andSalem.
LikeBuffy,Charmedled to other shows (fantasy and drama) with strong female characters, as well as stories focused on female relationships, like those of sisters. Both shows have been referenced and parodied way too many times, which further shows how influential they continue to be.
The fantasy genre and female characters wouldn’t be the same withoutBuffy the Vampire SlayerandCharmed, and they are must-watch shows even for those who aren’t into the fantasy genre.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Charmed
Charmed is a television series centered on three sisters—Prue, Piper, and Phoebe—who discover their powers as the Charmed Ones, destined to fight evil forces. Set in modern-day San Francisco, the series explores their evolving magical abilities while they juggle personal lives and combat demons and warlocks.
