But the list — which also lauds Kara Thrace, Dana Scully, and Sarah Connor — loses most of its credibility by putting Buffy Summers in the No. 2 slot. Because, you know, Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't science fiction. Buffy is fantasy, through and through. Vampires, werewolves, mummies, really hot witches who don't figure out they're hot until they turn all evil and then are even hotter…pure fantasy. (And don't tell me that just because there were robots on Buffy, it's sci-fi. Fail.)
I'm all for celebrating positive female role models in science fiction — the world's girls can always use characters to look up to — but let's get our terminology right.
What do you think? Am I being too harsh on this well-intentioned list? Or should the dudes behind totalscifionline.com know better than to play fast and loose with subjects of such high geek importance?
At best, Buffy was a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror hybrid. It defied classification during it’s 7 seasons on a episodic basis. Plus most tend to regard Fantasy as a sub-division of science fiction. I have no problem with Buffy at number two. Ranking Claire Bennett at #11 above Storm, Caprica Six & Sydney Bristow is the real crime on that list.
At best, Buffy was a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror hybrid. It defied classification during it’s 7 seasons on a episodic basis. Plus most tend to regard Fantasy as a sub-division of science fiction. I have no problem with Buffy at number two. Ranking Claire Bennett at #11 above Storm, Caprica Six & Sydney Bristow is the real crime on that list.
If we’re being technical, the site does say “SF & fantasy heroines of all time” in the explanation paragraph. With that, I have no problem at placing Buffy as #2 behind Ripley. The genre lines are blurry enough that even without the caveat, I could support the Buffy entry.
If that’s your beef, then you should take the same issue with Battlestar Galactica characters… if they were angels all along, it definitely ain’t sci-fi.
I agree with Timothy G. I think the writer is getting a little too worked up about this because Fantasy is indeed a subgenre within SciFi, or vice versa. Either way, both genres defy modern science, hence plots in both tend to deal with the supernatural, and that involves magic or something unexplainable. I mean, has the writer seen the finale to BSG?
Buffy should not be number two, if anything Sarah Connor should be number 2.
The only problem I have is Buffy was at #2. I say give her #1!
P.S. really Claire Bennet?
That list is BS. I can live with Buffy as number 2, but a women of scifi list with no Aeryn Sun (Farscape) on it is just plain wrong.
That list is BS. I can live with Buffy as number 2, but a women of scifi list with no Aeryn Sun (Farscape) on it is just plain wrong.
I am not so sure that Buffy would qualify as pure Sci-Fi. She fought vampires, demons, and warewolves. That is sci fi/fantasy, horror, and adventure.
Where is Seven of Nine(Star Trek, TNG) and Trillian (Hitchhikers Guide, BBC 1980)?
Buffy has supernatural powers, so I think she absolutely belongs on a sci-fi list. Hasn’t the show always been considered sci-fi? Buffy rocks and deserves to be at #2.
I agree with the others the author is over-reacting they did say fantasy in the explanation but I will grant you Buffy, Willow and Xena are the only ones from a fantasy genre. Overall the list is fine, however, there is nothing kick-ass about Claire Bennet. Both her moms are cooler than she is. ANd how is Megan Fox’s character in anyway iconic? She was the typical girlfriend character to the hero. They should never have made the list. Anyone who watched the old Dr Who can tell you Sarah Jane spent half the time during the 70s screaming her head off. She didn’t start being kickass until she got her own show. I liked Roze a lot but I preferred Donna Noble. And before Syndey Bristow and Dana Scully there was another redheaded lady who fought supervillains, robots and aliens. She was called Emma Peel. Shame on them for not including her
I agree with the others the author is over-reacting they did say fantasy in the explanation but I will grant you Buffy, Willow and Xena are the only ones from a fantasy genre. Overall the list is fine, however, there is nothing kick-ass about Claire Bennet. Both her moms are cooler than she is. ANd how is Megan Fox’s character in anyway iconic? She was the typical girlfriend character to the hero. They should never have made the list. Anyone who watched the old Dr Who can tell you Sarah Jane spent half the time during the 70s screaming her head off. She didn’t start being kickass until she got her own show. I liked Roze a lot but I preferred Donna Noble. And before Syndey Bristow and Dana Scully there was another redheaded lady who fought supervillains, robots and aliens. She was called Emma Peel. Shame on them for not including her
How about a nod to Samus Aran? Sure, she’s from a video game, but 20 years ago, she was the surprise female protaganist in Metroid, which is certainly more “sci fi” than many characters on their list. But it seems they took liberties with what makes the cut.
I agree with the others the author is over-reacting they did say fantasy in the explanation but I will grant you Buffy, Willow and Xena are the only ones from a fantasy genre. Overall the list is fine, however, there is nothing kick-ass about Claire Bennet. Both her moms are cooler than she is. ANd how is Megan Fox’s character in anyway iconic? She was the typical girlfriend character to the hero. They should never have made the list. Anyone who watched the old Dr Who can tell you Sarah Jane spent half the time during the 70s screaming her head off. She didn’t start being kickass until she got her own show. I liked Roze a lot but I preferred Donna Noble. And before Syndey Bristow and Dana Scully there was another redheaded lady who fought supervillains, robots and aliens. She was called Emma Peel. Shame on them for not including her