Joss Whedon

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Currently one of the larger figureheads in the world of sci-fi, Joss Whedon  has produced multiple science fiction shows,  movies and comic books  that have quickly become cult favorites, and each have their own followings. Anyone who is a fan of Whedon's shows can praise them for their wit, depth, ingenious plot lines and superbly complex characters. Not familiar with his work? Lucky for you, this guide contains everything you need to know.

Shows

Although Whedon works on lots of projects, he's most popular for these four shows.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

This is where it all began! Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran from 1997-2003. In that time, it featured everything from a musical to an Emmy -nominated silent episode and survived one network change, the death of the main character, and various plot transitions and twists throughout the years. Although Whedon also worked on the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie,  the show varies greatly by taking Buffy's story and her role as "the chosen one" and adding it to the everyday struggle of being a teen and, later, a young adult. The result is a striking young heroine, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar,  that has to make tough decisions in real life and the supernatural world, along with some humor throughout the journey.

Angel 

Buffy's hero throughout the series, the vampire  with a soul, had such a great story to tell that he got his own spin-off, set in L.A. in 1999. Joined by a few characters from Buffy and with some new, quirky cast-mates added to the mix, Angel ran until 2004. During the series, he experienced a series of life-changing events including having a child, losing a love, and continuing his work against evil to maintain balance in the world. Add to this series some puppets,  a demon that loves karaoke,  and mystical beings from other worlds, and you have a sometimes quirky, always lovable sci-fi drama.

Firefly 

This all-too-brief, otherworldly series created an entirely unique world set 500 years into the future, where Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his renegade crew must avoid the hazards of a life in outer space  while striving to make a barely-legal living. Followed up in 2005 by the highly anticipated movie Serenity , the show was given its much needed ending after an abrupt cancellation in 2003. This series told a complex story with absorbing characters and unique situations, continuing to delight fans of the comic books.

Dollhouse 

This show is currently in its second season, and only time will tell if a large fan following will help to secure its status as a cult classic. Featuring Eliza Dushku  of Buffy fame, this series follows a corporation that uses technology  to manipulate the minds of men and women and turn them into various types of people, thus creating a community of dolls.  As the show continues to unfold, more secrets about the this project make the dollhouse a constantly redefined concept for viewers, posing unique questions and causing unexpected situations.

Whedon's World

The genius of Joss Whedon extends far beyond these TV shows--check out some of his other projects below.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog 

This was released during the writer's strike in 2008 as an accessible online series of brief episodes that feature music and of course, superheroes. 

Comic Books 

Joss has contributed his visionary talent and writing to prequel and sequel comic books for the Buffy , Angel  and Firefly  series as well as the Astonishing X-Men  series which is available through Marvel Comics. 

Movies 

Besides Serenity, Joss Whedon has contributed his writing talents to Speed , Toy Story , Alien Resurrection , Atlantis: The Lost Empire  and several other movies that are currently in production.

Music 

Much of the music featured on Whedon's shows was composed by the man himself. From the Buffy Musical episode, entitled, "Once More, With Feeling!"  to the Firefly theme song, to the songs in Dr. Horrible, Whedon had a hand in composing them all.

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