The Ultimate Girl Power TV Show Is Streaming Free

There has never been another television show quite like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which combined over-the-top action and creepy monsters into something sure to please horror fans. At the same time, quirky characters and whip-smart writing helped this show appeal to teens, comedy fans, and just about anyone who enjoyed quotable dialogue. All of this helped make Buffy a pop culture powerhouse, and if you’re ready to experience the ultimate girl power TV show, here’s some good news: it’s now streaming for free on Tubi.

The premise of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is that our titular teen has been chosen by higher forces to fight vampires, demons, and pretty much anything else that goes bump in the night. She has powers and abilities others can only dream of, but they may not be enough to keep her alive as she balances surviving monster attacks with surviving her final exams. Fortunately, she has a support system that includes an older mentor and a bevy of young friends that collectively form a “Scooby Gang” determined to protect their town from evil.

The first thing fans typically notice about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is that the cast is amazing, starting with lead actor Sarah Michelle Gellar. She doesn’t play Buffy like one of the generic action heroes that dominated ‘90s movies and television; instead, Buffy is a very vulnerable character who constantly manages to overcome her fears because she is determined to keep those she loves safe. The character is nuanced, powerful, and downright inspirational, and that all comes down to Gellar’s powerhouse performance as she quietly redefined what strength looked like, week after week.

The rest of the cast also dazzles, including Anthony Stewart Head as the very English mentor who bounces hilariously off the fiery personalities of the Slayer and her young friends. Alyson Hannigan (who would become famous for her roles in both American Pie and How I Met Your Mother) is great as Buffy’s BFF Willow, a wallflower who discovers how to harness magic. And before he leaves the show for his own spinoff, David Boreanaz did a great job of portraying Angel, a reformed vampire who falls in love with Buffy.

On top of the killer cast, Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured top-notch writing courtesy of show creator Joss Whedon and the other talented writers he hired. Every episode is filled with quotable dialogue, with most of the best quips coming from Buffy herself. If you’re watching the show for the first time, here’s a fair warning: it won’t take long for the show’s zany lines to become part of your regular lexicon, and you’ll be quoting your favorite characters to real-life friends long after you’ve binge-watched your way through the series finale.

Beyond the great characters and writing, part of what makes Buffy so appealing is that every episode feels like a complete meal unto itself. You get kung-fu fights, character drama, and laugh-out-loud punchlines in equal measure, so there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy. And while the show occasionally dips in quality (looking at you, Season 6), the truth is that Buffy is better in its worst season than most shows are in their very best.

With a highly anticipated reboot coming up, there’s no time like the present to watch the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Tubi. It’s completely free, so you won’t have to work extra shifts at Doublemeat Palace to pay for another streaming service. All you have to do is sit back, hit play, and experience (or, like me, re-experience for the zillionth time) one of the best genre shows in television history.

Be honest, fellow TV junkie. Isn’t it time you watched a show with some (ahem) serious “stakes?”