Shows to Watch If You Like 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (And Where to Stream Them)

It’s been more than 16 years since the beloved supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer went off the air. But for truly dedicated fans of the series, there’s always a hunger for all things Buffyverse. So what’s a TV watcher to do?

If you’ve already done your annual (or biannual — we’re not judging) rewatch of BTVS, why not try out something different, but with a similar feel? Here are three series that you should check out if you’re a Buffy fanatic with time on your hands. Bonus: All are available to stream on one of the more popular services.

The X-Files

Without this science-fiction drama, Buffy as we know it wouldn’t exist. For one thing, The X-Files created the “monster of the week” formula that became essential to the serialized storytelling of Buffy. Though the former had a focus on aliens and outer space and the latter on the supernatural, there were a lot of common threads between them.

The X-Files was also known for being one of the establishing cult series of the ‘90s. Many of the same people who flocked to the message boards to discuss the series did the same when Buffy came along just a few years later. And of course, there’s the doomed “will-they, won’t they” romance at the center of it all — but that’s not exactly revolutionary.

Originally, The X-Files aired for an astounding nine seasons on Fox. There were also two films (one during the original series run, and one after), followed by a revival Seasons 10 and 11. As of now, there are no plans to continue the story further. You can stream all 11 seasons on Hulu. 

Veronica Mars

While Buffy was influenced by The X-Files, Veronica Mars was definitely inspired by the vampire slayer. Think about it: A 16-year-old former cheerleader who, after a monumental event in her life (and an absentee parent) takes it upon herself to rid the world around her of evil, in whatever form it may take.

No, there aren’t any unexplained phenomena in Veronica Mars. But both young women grow up on screen, learn to accept help (albeit reluctantly), and provide the audience with quippy one-liners along the way. As one is in the early stages of a reboot (or so we’ve heard) and the other has recently been revived, it’s clear the world needs more of these superheroines. 

Veronica Mars Seasons 1-4 are available to stream on Hulu. Sadly, the Kickstarter-funded, fan-service film requires you to pay up.

Wynonna Earp

Speaking of super ladies with weapons and monsters to fight, Wynonna Earp is practically screaming, “Buffy fans, watch me!” In case you haven’t heard of it, the cult hit (which airs on Syfy Network in the U.S.) follows the descendant of Wyatt Earp, who is tasked with taking out the various demons of Purgatory, her hometown.

This supernatural Western has, unlike Buffy before it, faced struggles to stay on the air. The upcoming fourth season took a lot of dedicated fans and strings pulled to finally be put into action. Fortunately, like Buffy and the Scoobies, you can’t keep Wynonna and her crew down. 

Some more good news: All three seasons of Wynonna Earp are available to stream with a Netflix subscription. Season 4 is due out sometime in Summer 2020.

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