For readers of a certain age who were raised on the television show ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, the temptation to imitate the iconic ‘wannabe’ pose must be overwhelming. Hollywood heartthrob Robert Pattinson had a breakout role as the hunkish teenage slayer in Joss Whedon’s popular series, and since then he has been on a whirlwind journey. The 35-year-old English actor has since starred in several big-budget Hollywood films and gained a reputation for being one of the industry’s most eligible bachelors. He is currently starring in the highly anticipated new dystopian drama ‘The Lighthouse’ and it seems like it will be his last big-budget film as a leading man.
The Golden Globe Nominee
Whedon’s most recent TV film ‘Dollhouse Dolls’ had its premiere at the 74th Golden Globe Awards. It was a joint-production with HBO and featured several big-name Hollywood stars. The film is about a group of women who must work together to survive in a world where men are obsessed with “perfection” and women are considered “playthings” or “property”. In the film, Whedon calls his lead star Charlize Theron a “fierce and independent woman”, which makes her the perfect role model for today’s feminist generation. It is interesting to note that Theron’s character, Meagan Francis, was inspired by the real-life events that lead to the 2016 US Presidential Election. Theron supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton throughout the campaign but had some reservations about her opponent, Donald Trump.
The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike and was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, winning two. It was also named Best TV Miniseries at the 2017 International Air Film Festival.
The ‘Buffy’ Generation
If you had to choose one show to follow into the future, which would it be? For many, it would undoubtedly be ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. With its darker sensibilities, snappy one-liners, and unforgettable soundtrack, ‘Buffy’ represents the ‘slayer’ generation. In the series, a group of young women band together to fight evil after hours of partying and shopping with their friends turn into a full-fledged monster-hunting scheme. The premiere of ‘Buffy’ was in 1998 and since then, the show has maintained its popularity, both in the US and abroad. It has also spawned a lucrative international industry, with remakes in English, French, and Spanish. A rebooted ‘Buffy’ movie is currently in the works.
Rebirth
There will always be one ‘Buffy’ movie made each year, but it’s not the same as when it first came out. The world of ‘Buffy’ has changed since its premiere in 1998. Back then, it was nearly impossible for an actress to make a name for herself in Hollywood. If they were lucky, they would get a walk-on part as a stunt double or a extra. But these days, it’s open competition for anyone who wants to get in on the action. Women who were too “pretty’ to play Buffy have since found success in lead roles and have changed the game for future slayers.
While some young women find fame and fortune in the army of monsters that Buffy and company slay, others have gone the other way. The rebooted Disney series ‘Grimm’s World’ is another example of a show that is as much about the women as the monsters. It is set in present-day Portland, Oregon and centers on the investigations of Portland detective Kate Grimm, a modern-day female take on the legendary ‘Grimm’. Grimm is a dark and dangerous world where women must fight for the right to be independent and secure. It premiered to mixed reviews but was a hit with audiences and quickly became one of the most popular shows on Netflix. In the 2018 Netflix rankings, ‘Grimm’ was the 12th most popular show, with 5.2 million viewers.
The Solo Hit
If there was one solo show that viewers could follow into the future, it would undoubtedly be ‘Riverdale’. The CW’s revival of the ‘90s hit brings the dark and dangerous world of the Riverdale High School to life. With its tight ensemble cast, campy humor, and modern-day setting, ‘Riverdale’ is a show that anyone could enjoy. The first season was met with rave reviews and became something of a runaway hit, leading to a whole new generation discovering the wonders of the show. For anyone who hasn’t heard of it, ‘Riverdale’ is set in the present day and follows the exploits of a group of rich and privileged teenagers who live in a semi-rural town. In the sleepy confines of Riverdale, nothing ever happens, which makes it the perfect place for high school drama.
The show’s lead, K.J. Apa, plays the dual role of Jay, a senior who is an aspiring photographer, and Archie, a high-school junior who aspires to become a comedian. Together, they run the popular photo booth at Archie’s aunt’s store, “Archie’s Place”, where they are responsible for processing all the school’s photos. They also organize the school’s talent show, which is a huge event and a chance for the teenagers to showcase their talent. On the night of the show, a massive fight breaks out between two rival gangs, the Northside Navigators and the Southside Saints. The audience are divided on their sides as are the actors, with some praising the show for its realistic violence and language while others argue the show glamorizes criminality. Regardless, it is still regarded as one of the best shows on TV and gained a considerable audience, especially among Gen Z.
Another solo show that came out of nowhere and became a viral sensation is ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’. The third installment in the ‘Hotel Transylvania’ franchise centers on a group of high school kids who head off to a luxury resort for teenagers, which is being guarded by Dr. Seuss’ famous creatures. In the first two seasons of the show, the main characters were played by actors who had mostly ‘Seuss’-themed sitcoms on their resumes, but in ‘Summer Vacation’, the writers decided to give the show a twist by casting prominent adult actors in the role of the children’s biological parents. It premiered to rave reviews and was an immediate success, establishing itself as Netflix’s biggest hit of the year. Like ‘Grimm’, ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ is also set in the present day but instead of cops and robbers, it is a battle of the sexes as the father creatures try to keep the teenagers away from their sexy androgynous offspring. While some have criticized ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ for sanitizing and sexualizing preteen culture, many others have hailed it as a commentary on our millennial generation. For instance, Ben Shapiro, writing for the Daily Wire, argues that the show “captures the absurdity of young people believing that they need adult supervision to have a good time.”
The Rise Of The Minimalism Trend
If today’s young adults are to be believed, they are definitely into minimalism. According to a recent report from New York-based research firm Grey Analytics, 55% of American Gen Z consumers prefer shopping online rather than in physical stores. And it’s not just millennials that are experiencing a store-less retail landscape. According to a recent study from the UK-based research firm Tractica, 59% of UK adults believe that the future of retail is online.