In general, I tend to favour the 'unofficial' guides over the official, studio-approved alternatives when it comes to my television shows - and in the case of 'Buffy', my all-time favourite, well, it's certainly no exception.
I bought 'Bite Me!' (as well as the 'Angel' companion guide 'Once Bitten' from the same author) on a whim after re-watching the series through for the fourth time, looking for some reading material that could further my love for the show. I was teetering between this here 'unofficial' guide and the official 'Watcher's Guide' series. After doing my research, I plumped for the former - and I'm extremely glad I did so.
Nikki Stafford, the author, is a self-proclaimed, all-things-Buffy fanatic, and it shows in her writing. She puts an incredible amount of passion into the volume, whether it be simply describing the cast and crew or going into depth about each individual episode. It is these episode 'reviews', for lack of a better-term, that truly makes the purchase worthwhile. Instead of simply giving the episodes a rating of 'four stakes out of five' or something as equally tiresome, Stafford instead goes into detail - sometimes minute - about the themes of the show, the parallels one can draw between certain characters and events, religious and historical connotations, and (my favourite) the mythological significance and context behind certain demons seen in the episodes. She provides a truly fascinating insight into a series that is all about the symbolism, and gives her own unique interpretation of the events that even a stead-fast viewer like myself could never have fathomed.
Although the episode guide is by-far-and-away the highlight of the book, she also provides cast biographies (including a rather prattling account of Sarah Michelle Gellar's life-story which, in my opinion, takes up slightly too much valuable page-space) and trivia questions to test your own passion for the show. However, as a student of English Language and Literature, I have to point out the sometimes - I want to say 'amateurish' - way in which she words her reviews. Even if it is coming from the heart, she does tend to repeat herself on occasion, and seems to have a particular fondness for the word 'brilliant' when describing, well, anything.
All-in-all, I would highly recommend this buy to any fan of the series who is looking to enhance his/her 'Buffy' experience.
Trust me when I say, Stafford knows her 'Buffy'-stuff!
