By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Firstly, I think it’s a wonderful thing to have a new Buffyverse production, safe in the knowledge that everyone involved is working in a positive environment, pulling in the same direction with characters they are passionate about, and executing a story that shows genuine female empowerment. While the obvious purpose of this series is to entertain, there is no hiding away from the fact of the problematic elements stemming from the TV series. Be it individuals or “of its time” character traits, these negative elements, thanks to Amber Benson and Chris Golden, have been eradicated in this production. The wrongs of the past have been addressed and the character changes are welcomed with open arms. For example, I love Spike (and James Marsters), but there were always some consent issues that were extremely problematic. Benson and Golden manage to correct this issue and humanise him more, but in an organic way that is in no way jarring or unnatural. This approach is taken and executed to perfection across all aspects of the production. The series also focuses on overcoming the toxicity of our past, which was a very fitting theme, given those involved with the series.
The multi-pronged narrative, spanning the nine episodes, is exquisitely written and feels like “Buffy”, but better! I feel the writing, throughout the series, is much more mature and nuanced. There is a better grasp of the core themes of what the Buffyverse should represent and how the characters should be. Benson and Golden have managed to create something truly special, which is no sizable feat, given the lack of the series’ titular character! That is another thing, you never feel the loss of Buffy Summers from the production. When you have two incredibly well-written slayers in Cordelia and Indira, you don’t need Buffy! That’s not to say that she can’t appear in some form in any future productions! Overall, I truly enjoyed most elements of the story and the inclusion of the multiverse and the mix of the old and new worked seamlessly together. They seed plenty of future possibilities for more stories and more returning characters, and given the amazing job they have done here, I would love to see Benson and Golden be given the chance to continue this series! Despite the high praise, the series is not without some flaws and clunky dialogue at times, but these blemishes never hinder the overall enjoyment of the audiobook.
As for the cast, returning to the Buffyverse are TV originals James Marsters (Spike), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Emma Caulfield Ford (Anya), Amber Benson (Tara), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Anthony Head (Giles), Danny Strong (Jonathan) and James Charles Leary (Clem). Having so many originals reprising their roles, albeit with some differences, is a huge asset to the production of Slayers. Some characters are from the known universe, whilst others are multiverse characters of the same name. Certain members of the cast are given free rein to play around with their, previously established, characters, and most of the changes are for the better! I believe that most of the returning characters, these are the best versions of themselves, and this makes for a much more enjoyable experience. In terms of the new cast members, Laya DeLeon (Indira) is a monumental addition to the Buffyverse! Not only was her performance full of confidence, humour, and ferocity, but she blended in with the more established characters seamlessly. The ensemble cast from top to bottom are flawless in their performances and I truly hope that Slayers is a success, so that we can return to the Buffyverse for more stories with this incredibly talented cast.
From a production standpoint, if Kc Wayland (We’re Alive) is involved in your production, you can always expect great things! His qualities as a co-director and producer can be felt throughout the production. With most Audible Originals, you can usually expect a level of impeccable audio production quality and editing – and that is the case in Slayers! The audio mix, sound effects and editing are sublime and enhance the wonderful performances from the cast.
With its flawless ensemble cast and incredibly entertaining storytelling, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story takes control of the narrative and delivers an impeccable modern story of empowerment and what it truly means to be a Slayer.
X-Geeks 