2.18 Killed by Death | A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast

Hosts Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristen Russo open with recent Buffyverse news before diving into their rewatch of season 2, episode 18, "Killed by Death." They express frustration over Hulu/Disney canceling a Buffy reboot pilot after production, crediting involvement from Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chloé Zhao for upholding the story's integrity against executive interference, including one who admitted never watching the series. They note the script was strong but view the cancellation as preferable to a mishandled version, while lamenting the blindsiding of key creatives.

Reboot Reflections and Personal Context

The hosts share mixed disappointment and relief about the reboot, seeing Disney's corporate structure as a "Watchers Council" risk that could dilute the original. They reference past reboot rumors and their excitement upon seeing the pilot script, which impressed them. Transitioning to the episode, they reflect on recording it live in Wisconsin shortly after a miscarriage detailed in their book Slayers: Every One of Us. This ties the hazy, humorous live taping to themes of vulnerability, with Kristen noting the pain of masking grief through performance.