The term “verse” refers to a TV show’s universe with its own set of rules and conventions. It gained popularity through Joss Whedon’s shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. The term implies depth to the rules of existence and is used for shows that spend time exposing the world in which the characters live. It has broadened to include other non-real world entertainment and has entered common English slang.
A verse is a popular slang word for universe, usually in relation to a television show. The term gained popularity through the works of Joss Whedon, the notable creator of TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. The designation of a TV show world as a “verse” connotes that it is an entity separate from the real world, with sufficient rules and conventions.
Among Joss Whedon fans, the term originally applied to the alternate world of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel. These hit shows shared common requirements of existence that don’t conform to reality, and they also shared a significant amount of mythology and characters. In the entertainment world, it is accepted that vampires and demons are real and constant threats, that groups of people exist to fight them, and that magic is a real practice. The compendium of mythology and history between the two shows and their later comic book extensions is unusually deep for a TV show, thus leading to the term Buffyverse, which refers to the entire universe as laid out according to the rules of the show.
In Firefly, Whedon’s short-lived space western, the characters themselves refer to their universe as the “verse.” In this definition of existence, set several hundred years in the future, the universe is a collection of many planets created and cultivated by humans after the population outgrew Earth. The culture that exists in the Firefly universe is part pioneer, part world village, and slang terms like “verse” are often used as abbreviations or contractions. Whedon’s actual characters’ use of the term has spawned a chicken-or-the-egg debate among fans, unsure whether Whedon used it because fans did or vice versa.
A ‘verse is not usually used for any world of a TV show. Shows that are supposed to take place in the real world, such as medical or police shows, don’t really qualify for the designation. To be considered a ‘verse, the world of entertainment must operate under a set standard of rules that do not conform to those of the real world.
The term also implies considerable depth to these rules of existence, and is mostly used for shows that spend time exposing the world or worlds in which the characters live. For example, a soap opera world conveniently ignores reality, but never really explains what existential laws allow a dead identical twin to come back to life. In a verse show, the rules of existence are discussed and are part of the fabric of the show, rather than ignored for ease of plot movement.
While the term still applies primarily to the work of Joss Whedon, it has broadened to include other non-real world entertainment, such as the Star Trek series. It is a sign of respect from fans to consider the world of a TV show as a “verse”. Since its inception to describe the Buffyverse, the term has become widespread among TV fans and has entered common English slang.
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