This new series is said to be set back in Buffy’s sophomore year in high school, which would be the same time period the original BUFFY series began in. However, the timeline in the animated series apparently will be the one as adjusted by the monks who created The Key in human form, so as to allow Dawn Summers to play a part in this new show.

It keeps getting better: Buffyverse veteran Jane Espenson took a detour on her way to executive produce TRU CALLING to pen three new BUFFY scripts. And Alyson Hannigan, Tony Head, and Nick Brendon have all signed on to give life (or at least voice) to Willow, Giles, and Xander once more.

This new BUFFY is starting to feel downright like a Sunnydale Homecoming all around. The old gang’s all back together, right?

Not quite.

We’re faced with at least two obvious, large absences: Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz. Neither one is said to be coming back to provide the voices of Buffy or Angel.

That begs the question, though: Will BUFFY ever really be BUFFY again without the actress who gave her life for seven years?

Maybe in the end, that’s because the real star of BUFFY is Joss himself.