‘Buffy’ Fans Have To Binge This 6-Part Horror-Comedy Hidden Gem on Netflix

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Amy (Cara Theobold) and Raquel (Susan Wokoma) are prepared to fight in Crazyhead.

Published Feb 10, 2026, 7:41 AM EST

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Only the truly iconic series stand as paragons to which others of its kind, inevitably, are compared — the likes of Friends, Breaking Bad, and The Office, for example. One show that sees more than its share of comparisons is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which reworked the premise of the campy 1992 movie into a supernatural horror drama and made Sarah Michelle Gellar a bona fide star. Some skew closer than others – Hemlock Grove and Wynonna Earp are two that Collider has previously made the case for – but one brilliantly bonkers horror-comedy from the UK, now streaming on Netflix, just might be the closest.

What Is 'Crazyhead' About?

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy is the latest Chosen One in a line of young women chosen over the years to slay vampires, demons, and any other dark forces in the fictional California town of Sunnydale. In Crazyhead, two young women, Raquel (Susan Wokoma) and Amy (Cara Theobold), are "seers," able to see demons disguised as humans and slay them — not because of a predestined fate to do so, mind you, but intense dislike.

Loner Raquel is a seer heading into the first episode, while Amy is convinced she's crazy, a state of mind that her psychiatrist, Callum (Tony Curran), would prefer for her to keep her in, given he's a demon. He's able to hide his identity from seers, you see, and he's got a grand, evil plan that involves a very Buffy-like Hellmouth. Meanwhile, the show's main duo crosses paths after Raquel saves Amy from a demon who attacks her at the bowling alley where she works. Raquel sees demons too, and serves as a "Watcher" of sorts for Amy, similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Giles (Anthony Stewart Head).

Oz, Xander and Willow staring at something near pumpkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode Fear, Itself.

The comparisons between the two shows don't end there. Jake (Lewis Reeves), Amy's best friend from school who harbors an unrequited love for Amy, is the comic relief, much like Nicholas Brendon's Xander (his plea to "shoot me, not her [Amy]" to the demons that captured them, even though they make it clear they only want to shoot Amy, turns into a hilarious, borderline Monty Python-esque argument). Amy's friend Suzanne (Riann Steele) has a tragic arc akin to Willow's (Alyson Hannigan), becoming a dark figure after a tragic incident. Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans will appreciate the strong, female characters and successful mix of horror, comedy, and the supernatural that the two series share.

'Crazyhead' Successfully Distinguishes Itself from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

In Crazyhead's first episode, after Suzanne is possessed by a demon, Amy implores Raquel to perform an exorcism, but is taken aback when Raquel insists that the first step is for Amy to tinkle on her friend. It's absurd, unlike any other exorcism in the history of television, and points to one key difference between the two series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has its funny moments, but Crazyhead's humor is raw, crude, dark, and definitively British. The banter between Raquel and Amy, who share uncanny chemistry, can be downright hysterical (Raquel's rant about her dislike of the term "seer" instead of something better like "demon hunter or kick-ass hell bitch" is gold).

The former has a broader focus on Buffy and the Scooby Gang, while the latter keeps its focus on the intense friendship and reliance between the two girls. Crazyhead's protagonists aren't learned, turning to Google to find spells to fight demons, nor are they supernaturally gifted: they can see demons, but aren't imbued with powers that make it easy to slay them. They live in an adult world, working at dead-end jobs to pay rent and keep roommates, not living as high school and college students. The former tackles themes like growing up and responsibility, while the latter leans on its premise to make commentary on mental health and the need for companionship, with Callum's grand plan to unleash thousands of demons into Bristol stymied by a genuine, touching moment of emotional connection.

That emotional connection is built credibly across only six episodes, a remarkable feat for any series, with both girls experiencing tremendous growth. Raquel is pulled from her solitary life into a functional friendship, which rescues her from unfathomable betrayal. Amy, especially, grows in a surprisingly natural way, evolving from a meek bowling alley worker who has just learned about her gift to a truly kickass heroine. It is truly disappointing that Crazyhead didn't go beyond those six episodes, especially where its ending leaves off, but there's enough Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Crazyhead to make the binge worth it.