As a lifelong Buffy fan, I was over the moon to discover that the Audible Original Slayers: A Buffyverse Story was brought to life this past weekend in New York City. Buffyverse legends came together to make this all-new audio adventure, now available exclusively on Audible. If getting to listen to this expanded universe of characters I have come to know and love over the last two decades didn’t already get me amped up, perhaps the coolest experience while visiting the Big Apple was Audible’s activation called “The Slayers Society.” It was an audio-led, immersive experience that took place this past weekend, and Fandom leaped at the chance to visit it. Throughout the excursion, I quickly found that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any active or up-and-coming Slayers!
Dust off Mr. Pointy…
Welcome Back to Hellmouth
Before heading into the activation, we were greeted in line by the Slayers Squad cheerleaders. And mighty Slayers they were! We entered the space and were met with vibrating sounds and a mausoleum that read “Connections Never Die” on the wall, which highlighted eight characters: familiars Giles, Cordelia, Spike, Anya, Tara, Clem, Drusilla, and newcomer Indira. The lights flashed, then dimmed, and we were met by an ominous gentleman in a black suit with a distinct mustache. He told us a short tale and ushered us into a spacious room lined with purple drapes and neon signs.
The Potion Bar
The Slayers Society activation was the perfect place to grab a beverage from the Potion Bar after a long day staking vamps, or ya know, walking around endlessly in the city that never sleeps. I indulged in a mocktail called Fangs Out Fizz–which came fully equipped with orange and grape flavors, grenadine, and a bubble filled with smoke, which was mesmerizing to pop and see overflow out of the cup into the surrounding area. Other delectable drinks included the Kittencolada (Pineapple, coconut, and lime), Tarot + Tonic (Lemon and tonic), Mummy Mule (lime and ginger beer) and Don’t Diequiri (strawberry and lime).
In addition to snagging a quick drink before exploring the rest of the installation, small bites were being passed around. They were delicious little morsels such as carrot asada tacos, petite chicken parm pizza, and my personal favorite the petite grilled cheese, which–you guessed it–was super tiny and adorably poppable.
Tarot Reading
I explored the dimly lit terrain and sat down at one of the tarot reading listening stations and was able to experience Cordelia’s introduction into this alternate Buffyverse. We found our beloved characters in 2013, ten years after Sunnydale collapsed – and for all of us OG Buffy fans, some things have definitely changed. Spoiler Alert! In Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, Buffy was never the Slayer – Cordelia is the one-and-only Slayer, and Spike is already dead in Cordy’s universe.. Now, you have to listen to the Audible Original to understand the story, but let’s just say that it all gets tied together quite nicely–Cordelia is traveling between realities to find Spike for world-saving reasons. Oh, and there’s a new Slayer in town that Cordy’s about to take under her guidance: Indira.
The Cast
The audio series was written and directed by original cast member Amber Benson, alongside co-writer and director Christopher Golden. Cast members and creatives mingled with the crowd, sharing their excitement for the project. The aforementioned Benson, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield Ford, Charisma Carpenter, Juliet Landau, James Charles Leary, and newcomer Laya DeLeon Hayes were all in attendance to share the unforgettable experience with us.
Caulfield Ford, who reprised her role as ex-demon Anya in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, quickly caught up with Fandom during the experience and said that she thought, “Amber and Christopher did such a wonderful job of not diminishing or erasing the previous legacy.”
“The whole show stays so true to the series that fans have come to know and love,” Caulfield Ford continued. ” I mean yes Cordy is the Slayer, [but] she’s still freaking Cordelia. It’s so cool, it’s an extension of a possibility that wasn’t tapped into.”
Caulfield Ford boasted about how the whole medium of audio entertainment is amazing. Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is a natural extension of an already existing world. It’s a not-so-new frontier that must be explored.
Big Stake Energy – Photo Op
Cordelia isn’t the only one getting to slip on those slaying slacks. My life-long dream of becoming The Chosen One finally came to fruition, where I got to train like a Slayer and participate in some truly amazing themed photo ops. I held the largest stake I have ever laid my eyes on and gave my best ass-kicking pose in front of a staked dummy. The set featured lockers, weapons galore, eight character-centric posters, and a plethora of training gear. In between taking pics, those cheerleading Slayers from the beginning of our journey would pop in for a chosen chant or two.
Magical Multiverse Portal
If all of that wasn’t enough to satiate your appetite for the Buffyverse, I next entered the unknown in what I can only describe as a multiverse portal where I was able to experience first-hand the immersive audio experience this universe was designed to showcase. I stepped into the glass box–yes, it was scary at first, but then it was magical. They played a clip from the Audible Original, and let me tell you: it was awesome. I felt as if I were moving through time and space, locked inside a glass case, surrounded by characters I have grown up watching and familiarizing myself with.
Back to Reality
My time in the Buffyverse unfortunately came to a close and I was given a mystery Slayers swag bag full of goodies to remember the occasion by. Whether you’re meeting up with your fellow Slayer trainees, or sharpening your already killer instincts, Audible’s Slayers activation was a must-see this past weekend. Slayers: A Buffyverse Story premiered October 12 exclusively on Audible and is now available for your consumption!
