Why Buffy the Vampire Slayer Avoided Being Labeled as PC in the 1990s

Back then, conservatives did not use the term 'PC' for issues related to diversity. They may have complained about it being feminist, but that was more of a rare occurrence. I think their primary concern was more with Xena: Warrior Woman than Buffy.

Additionally, if the writers of Buffy were pandering, they were doing a poor job of it. The show featured few people of color, and the ones that did appear did not last long. In the first episode, a Slayer named Faith was summoned by Giles, but she was killed quickly. Later in the series, the principal and a secondary love interest who was also a temporary character was introduced. These are the only non-white characters I can recall, aside from some encountered one-off vampires.

The LGBTQ representation was also sparse. There was one closeted high school football player who got introduced for one episode, and then nothing. Andrew, another character, only suggested he might be LGBTQ, but he did not come out until the comic books. Finally, there was the relationship between Willow and Tara. Apart from that, there was hardly any ethnic or religious diversity, with the exception of Willow being Jewish, and a large number of British characters.

Essentially, most of the diversity mentioned in Buffy centered around Willow. This is not a significant PC culture error, given the overall composition of characters on the show.

Liberal Perspectives

I agree with what Mark said. He nails all the points I'm concerned with, and his analysis fits well with my perspective.

My Perspective

For me, Buffy the Vampire Slayer succeeded for three key reasons:

Flawed but Fluent Characterization

Firstly, Buffy the character, rather than the series itself, was a great portrayal of a flawed lead. We appreciate strong female leads, but when they are too perfect, we object. Buffy was a teenager who struggled with breakups, rejection, and the loss of her mother to the point where she felt she had failed in her role as a sister. She was not a glamorous, top student who everyone adored or someone who constantly solved her younger sister's problems.

High Production Values and Quotable Dialogue

Secondly, the show was well-written with high production values. One could criticize the 'vampire death' animations from the first series as being less polished than those in the later Series 7, but this was due to the development of CGI technology over time rather than an indication of an amateur production crew. The series featured quotable dialogue that has become iconic beyond the show itself.

Originality and Avoiding Stereotypes

Thirdly, Buffy was an original character. The 'PC culture' criticism often targets the rewriting of existing characters by altering their gender or race. However, Buffy broke new ground by introducing a teenaged female vampire hunter with genuine limitations and growth. This originality is what set the series apart.

Beyond these points, there were no significant attempts to cater to political correctness that could be easily labeled as pandering. The show's success is more attributed to its strong writing, well-developed characters, and its place in pop culture history. It's a testament to its storylines and performances rather than any strategic attempt to align with prevailing social movements of the time.