“Whedonverse” is the term used to describe the fictional universe found in the television and film works of Joss Whedon. Joseph Hill “Joss” Whedon is one of my all-time favorite writers and directors. He is the creative genius who brought us the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Angel (1999-2004), Firefly (2002), Dollhouse (2009-10), and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (2013-present). For those of you who are put off by the sci-fi and paranormal bent of these shows, you may be surprised to learn that he is also one of the writers who brought us Toy Story, three episodes of Parenthood, and four episodes of Roseanne. He also wrote and directed a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. This film is unusual in that it was filmed in black and white and is performed in Shakespearian verse, despite it having a modern setting. If you are looking for something to enjoy this Halloween, I would suggest checking out Cabin in the Woods. For those of you in a silly mood or who are musical lovers, I highly recommend Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Here is a clip from the television show, Extra, talking about the hit internet sensation:

My obsession with Joss Whedon started with the Buffy series. The show is about an average American teenager who discovers that she is the chosen one, and that “she alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness.” She is not all that keen on the idea and struggles to have as normal a life as possible while still saving the world from destruction (a lot!). As a teenager, I spent the majority of my time with my nose in a book or watching Buffy episodes. I was shy, quiet, and not one that you would find taking a lot of risks. Buffy allowed me to experience adventure without ever having to leave the safety and comfort of my bedroom. The show was perfect for a girl who wasn’t all that much into horror. Though it was about things that went bump in the night, it never crossed the line into graphic violence like many vampire shows and films. In fact, when a vampire was slain, it just went poof, into dust. The episodes were also filled with light-hearted, witty banter between the characters. Buffy taught me that life isn’t always fair, there is a silver lining to everything, there are consequences to every action, grammar and word usage are important, honesty is the best policy, and life is about how you react to what happens. “The big moments are gonna come. You can’t help that. It’s what you do afterwards that counts.”

Do you have a favorite film or television writer or director?  Let us know in the comments below!