Joss Whedon is a modern-day Renaissance man. In the span of a single year, he gave us the original Avengers movie, and a Shakespeare film. Talk about versatility. However, Whedon is best known, and beloved, for his unmatchable contribution to television.
Whedonverse shows are known for their outcast themes, fiercely strong female characters, and exceptional dialogue. A single Joss Whedon episode might very well have the power to make us clutch our stomachs in laughter, and simultaneously need to dry our tears with an entire box of Kleenex. His shows are disturbingly dark, yet witty and bursting with optimism. Though some have been painfully short-lived, many of these shows have achieved cult status. Here are our Whedonverse show rankings.
Dollhouse
Whedon’s sci-fi drama was canceled after just two seasons, after it failed to attract a large enough audience. Though Whedonverse favorite Eliza Dushku never fails to deliver a knockout performance, Dollhouse being no exception, protagonist Echo’s constantly shifting personality can give the viewer whiplash, making it difficult to connect with her. Though Dollhouse picked up steam towards the end of its first season, it never achieved the quality of other Whedonverse shows.
Maybe Whedon was simply ahead of his time. Dollhouse shares similar themes to the critically-acclaimed Westworld. Both shows feature wealthy thrill-seekers who pay for “actives” - or “dolls”… or robots - to act out their most lurid fantasies. However, as pioneering as Whedon may be, Dollhouse is easily his most forgettable show.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nobody subverts genres like Joss Whedon. It makes sense that only he would create a show in which the world of superheroes and the paranormal is just another day at the office. Even though Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is one of Whedon’s longer running shows, with its sixth season to be released this summer, it hasn’t been the ratings smash one would think, given the popularity of both Whedon and the Marvel franchise.
When you think of Joss Whedon, S.H.I.E.L.D. is hardly the first show that comes to mind. Though he co-created the show with his brother Jed and sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen, Whedon isn’t the showrunner. While S.H.I.E.LD. has definitely improved in later seasons, its lack of that magical Joss Whedon touch prevents it from achieving a higher ranking on this list.
Angel
Though Angel is a spinoff from Buffy, it’s also a gripping, standout show in its own right, and at times offered viewers a darker, more mature take on the world. The show had its comedic moments too, as Angel also became a way more likable character, with a self-awareness around his broodiness that never failed to deliver a laugh.
New characters, like fan favorites Fred and Lorne, were welcome additions. However, as entertaining as Angel may be, it will always live in Buffy’s shadow - its best episodes were the crossovers. Compared to Buffy, Angel just doesn’t match up, in quality or lasting legacy.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
When the 2007-2008 Writers Strike has stifled your ability to produce, what’s a Hollywood Renaissance Man supposed to do? Write a web series, of course!
The result was Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, chock full of Whedon’s beloved tropes. There was a maniacal villain with a romantic heart, a looks-the-part superhero who turned out to be more concerned with saving his hair than the world, and of course, a love triangle. Oh yeah, there was some music too. Who doesn’t still have ‘A Man’s Gotta Do’ stuck in their head?
Streaming TV wasn’t the norm back then, and even today, with the saturation of online programming, there is nothing quite like the unique magic that is Dr. Horrible.
Firefly
There is no greater tragedy in the TV landscape than Firefly’s premature cancellation. It’s hard to think of the term “cult show” without picturing Mal, Zoe, and the rest of the Serenity crew. Like most Whedon shows before and after, these outcasts existed on the periphery of society. The fact that, in their case, society meant outer space, makes Firefly even cooler.
On paper, Firefly is the least successful show in the Whedonverse. This is a travesty. Despite its fleeting relationship with television, Firefly, and subsequent feature film Serenity, will live on in popular culture forever.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
It’s harder to find a more iconic TV show than Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Never mind the Whedonverse, we’re talking the world. Whedon conceived of the show because he was tired of seeing horror movies featuring a screaming blonde running away from a monster. Instead, he wanted to see the blonde chasing the monster, and just like that, a Slayer was born.
“High school as hell” was the theme of the show in the early stages. Buffy and her friends fought a weekly onslaught of vampires and demons that paralleled their own inner turmoils. While we may not be able to relate to living on a Hellmouth, we sure know what it’s like to worry about college, contend with bullies, and endure breakups. The Scooby Gang felt like real friends to a lot of us, and for once, it was cool to be an outcast. Buffy and her friends would grow up through the seasons, stumbling along the way, and we were right there.
Everyone knew a Whedon episode based on its sheer inventiveness. We’ll never forget the creative genius that was the musical episode “Once More with Feeling”, nor the almost dialogue-free, nightmare-inducing “Hush”.
Buffy is such a cultural touchstone that its inevitable reboot is already in the works. Monica Owusu-Breen (previous Whedonverse credits include writing on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) has signed on as showrunner. The reboot will have a stronger focus on diversity, with plans to cast a black actress as Buffy. With Joss Whedon giving his stamp of approval on the reboot, and even serving as executive producer, we can’t wait to explore this next chapter of the Whedonverse!
