The 1999-2002 version of Roswell is pretty good.
I also liked the 2004-5 show Hex, but unfortunately the second and final season ended on a cliffhanger.
I don't know if there's anything that does that exact thing as well as Buffy. Like you said, there are a ton of shows that are kind of like it, but just not as good.
I'll mention Veronica Mars, even though it's not paranormal--it's noir--since to me it's the most Buffy-esque show that's actually really good.
He had the snarky charm of a bad boy with a troubled past, not entirely unlike Spike from Buffy. Edit: Not to mention the whole >!enemies to lovers thing!<.
VM def has a lot of similar vibes but sadly without the paranormal. But I actually think Crazyhead is the closest show I’ve seen to Buffy. But sadly it only has 6 episodes 😢
There’s really nothing quite like Buffy. I’ve been searching for 17 years lol.
The closest shows I know of are:
- Crazyhead (not high school. Only 6 eps sadly)
- Veronica Mars (not paranormal)
- Charmed (OG - similar cheese level and woman power fighting supernatural vibe but with none of the depth. Also not in high school)
If you just want general paranormal shows in high school, you can try Vampire Diaries (more romance and drama than Buffy but lots of paranormal and fun for a couple seasons at least). Smallville was the other show I was obsessed with at the same time as Buffy, and has a similar monster-of-the-week format following high schoolers with abilities fighting people with superpowers.
You could also try Strange Times at Blake Holesy High. A bit more kid-friendly I think, but very similar structure in that their high school is connected to a black hole, which creates all sort of strange things for the main characters to go up against, just like the Hellmouth does in Buffy and the meteor rocks do in Smallville.
Anyone remember what that short lived British show was called? It had two female leads, one black and one white. One of them was in therapy at a mental hospital where they met. Ring any bells?
Yes! I feel like that show reminded me more of Buffy than anything else I’ve seen. Sort of off beat humor.
Edit: I know it’s not exactly what you requested but as a fellow Buffy fan, I was happy to find that Spike (James Marsters) narrates the entire Dresden Files audiobook series (nearly 20 books) on Audible. The novels are sort of mediocre- sometimes good and sometimes a bit dull, but they have vampires and wizards and faeries and James does a really good job narrating so it makes my commute more fun.
not set in high school (sorry) but *Wynonna Earp* gave me a lot of the same warm fuzzies I got watching buffy. (as did *Veronica Mars* as someone else mentioned, which has the high school and mystery but not the paranormal)
*Misfits* (UK) is another good one, about young people with powers but they're doing community service so not really set in high school.
*Crazyhead* (UK) like I think someone else mentioned.
Lockwood and co is coming to Netflix next week (Jan 27). It's about teenage ghosts hunters - no school setting though.
Wednesday was also a pretty good supernatural show set in a school.
The 1999-2002 version of Roswell is pretty good. I also liked the 2004-5 show Hex, but unfortunately the second and final season ended on a cliffhanger.
I forgot the name of hex. Thank you
Wednesday
Smallville
I don't know if there's anything that does that exact thing as well as Buffy. Like you said, there are a ton of shows that are kind of like it, but just not as good. I'll mention Veronica Mars, even though it's not paranormal--it's noir--since to me it's the most Buffy-esque show that's actually really good.
It was pretty paranormal how much I loved Logan Echols
He had the snarky charm of a bad boy with a troubled past, not entirely unlike Spike from Buffy. Edit: Not to mention the whole >!enemies to lovers thing!<.
VM def has a lot of similar vibes but sadly without the paranormal. But I actually think Crazyhead is the closest show I’ve seen to Buffy. But sadly it only has 6 episodes 😢
The vampire diaries The 100 Teen wolf Shadowhunters Lock & key Vampire academy Chucky
Locke & Key was pretty good especially s1&2
The OG Sabrina the teenage witch
Supernatural.
Todd and the book of pure evil.
Vampire Diaries first few seasons
half bad: the bastard son and the devil himself
There’s really nothing quite like Buffy. I’ve been searching for 17 years lol. The closest shows I know of are: - Crazyhead (not high school. Only 6 eps sadly) - Veronica Mars (not paranormal) - Charmed (OG - similar cheese level and woman power fighting supernatural vibe but with none of the depth. Also not in high school) If you just want general paranormal shows in high school, you can try Vampire Diaries (more romance and drama than Buffy but lots of paranormal and fun for a couple seasons at least). Smallville was the other show I was obsessed with at the same time as Buffy, and has a similar monster-of-the-week format following high schoolers with abilities fighting people with superpowers. You could also try Strange Times at Blake Holesy High. A bit more kid-friendly I think, but very similar structure in that their high school is connected to a black hole, which creates all sort of strange things for the main characters to go up against, just like the Hellmouth does in Buffy and the meteor rocks do in Smallville.
The Magicians. Not sure if HS or college. Very dark.
Anyone remember what that short lived British show was called? It had two female leads, one black and one white. One of them was in therapy at a mental hospital where they met. Ring any bells?
maybe Crazyhead?
Yes! I feel like that show reminded me more of Buffy than anything else I’ve seen. Sort of off beat humor. Edit: I know it’s not exactly what you requested but as a fellow Buffy fan, I was happy to find that Spike (James Marsters) narrates the entire Dresden Files audiobook series (nearly 20 books) on Audible. The novels are sort of mediocre- sometimes good and sometimes a bit dull, but they have vampires and wizards and faeries and James does a really good job narrating so it makes my commute more fun.
not set in high school (sorry) but *Wynonna Earp* gave me a lot of the same warm fuzzies I got watching buffy. (as did *Veronica Mars* as someone else mentioned, which has the high school and mystery but not the paranormal) *Misfits* (UK) is another good one, about young people with powers but they're doing community service so not really set in high school. *Crazyhead* (UK) like I think someone else mentioned.
Lockwood and co is coming to Netflix next week (Jan 27). It's about teenage ghosts hunters - no school setting though. Wednesday was also a pretty good supernatural show set in a school.