TV Pop Culture Slugfest: Is "Supernatural" as Good as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?

The Cine-Sib, that prince of Evil Enablers, has just emailed this link. He seems determined to open Pandora's Box -- or at least to start a big nerd/geek argument. Here it is:

Is "Supernatural" as good as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?

Oh, boy. But is this really comparing apples and oranges?

When I first fell prey to "Stupornatural," I said (and I quote): "'Buffy' or 'Angel' at their best could run rings around silly 'Supernatural' . . ."

I still stand by that, though I now have to add that "Supernatural" at its best can match the wit, humor, action, creativity, and character development of those Whedon icons and flawed but lovable, heroic characters. See "Supernatural" and its quippy dialogue, great music, and pop culture savvy that give the demon-hunting ethos a real spark and sparkle. I give you my favorite episodes as evidence:

• The season finale of season 1, "Devil's Trap." Some of the best drama anywhere is about making tough choices, and the finale's treatment of humanity versus obsessive vengeance was very compelling. Add too the character development and the meaning of "family."
• "Tall Tales," season 2. Hilarious from start to finish. Besides, do I need to say anything more than "aliens slow-dancing to 'Lady In Red'?" Plus, this episode has the "nerd vibe" of being on a college campus.
  
• "Hollywood Babylon," season 2. Self-referential horror-flick amusement at the expense of the entertainment industry . . . plus Gary "Lumberg" Cole.
• "What Is and What Should Never Be," season 2. This was the episode that convinced me once and for all that Jensen Ackles can actually act and is more than his (admittedly very) pretty face. This episode pulls even at my black, cold heart every time. Every single time.
• "All Hell Breaks Loose," the season finale of season 2. Nearly perfect. Choices and consequences. Did I say nearly perfect? Plus Papa Winchester.
  
• "A Very Supernatural Christmas," season 3. OK, so this wasn't a perfect episode, but one thing makes up for all its flaws: the Winchester boys use a Christmas tree as a deadly weapon. No, really! Awesome.
  
• "In the Beginning," season 4. It's Skinner from "X-Files" and a dizzyingly fascinating trip to the past. I have to hand it to Eric Kripke's crew: it's done a good job over time of developing the Winchester backstory.
• "Monster Movie," season 4. An entire episode in black-and-white, this tribute to old-school Hollywood monster flicks was a joy.
• "Yellow Fever," season 4. Ackles as comedian is a laugh a minute, plus "Eye of the Tiger."
  

As La Parisienne has stated, the character of Dean Winchester "grows on you" with time and development, and he has turned out to be one of the interesting characters on TV. His motivations are simultaneously very simple and very complicated. Also an advantage for the show: Bobby Singer. Bobby rules.

As for the venerable "Buffy," I'm not going to list every "Buffy" episode of note, but you'd be hard-pressed to find too many episodes that can surpass these:

• "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," season 2. Nothing says hilarity like a love spell gone horribly wrong. Xander's musical walk down the hall, being ogled by every female in Sunnydale High, is priceless.
  
• "Becoming," the season finale of season 2. Love. Duty. Sacrifice. Choices. Tough choices.
• "The Wish," season 3. Vampires rule in an alternate universe, plus the great phrase "Bored now."
  
• "Graduation Day," the season finale of season 3. Fire bad tree pretty, and the combination of mayor, principal, exploding Sunnydale High, and a graduation ceremony turned epic battle is just too good to ignore. I love this episode. LOVE IT.
• "Hush," season 4. Silence is golden . . . except when it's lethal.
• "The Gift," the season finale of season 5. Buffy Anne Summers: She saved the world a lot.
• "Once More, With Feeling," season 6. This is the gorgeous musical episode, complete with the cast performing their own vocals. Fabulous example of how good TV can be.
  
• "Tabula Rasa," season 6. Hilarity -- but with a sober finish.
• "Two to Go" and "Grave," the season finale of season 6. Vengeance and humanity -- plus, a resurgent Giles. And Xander!
  

Oh, and one of the series' best characters is -- who else? -- Spike. He turned out to be far more complex and -- dare we say it -- far more human than most of us gave him credit for being at the beginning.

So, "Supernatural" versus "Buffy"? Hmmmm. THEM'S FIGHTIN' WORDS!!