Afternoon Delight

Afternoon Delight: ‘Graves’ Is A Wickedly Funny Web Series Perfect For ‘Buffy’ Fans

What better way to prepare for the fast-approaching weekend than by indulging in the some of the Internet’s most well-done web content? Take advantage of your lunch break and treat yourself to Afternoon Delight, Decider’s carefully curated picks of the best short-form content available on the world wide web. This week we’re spotlighting Graves, a lo-fi horror comedy web series that just debuted its third season. Ever wondered what Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Scooby Gang might be doing as they approached 30? Well, we’ve got just the web series for you.

We all have our demons, right? Well, what if those demons were actual demons, like, demonic cackle, horns, glowing eyes, and all? That’s exactly what goes down on Graves, a throwback-style web series that follows Jane and her group of 29-year-old pals, who faced down a demon when they were all 19 and are still dealing with the aftermath. (It’s pretty hard to move on after peaking at 19 by saving the world). The foes they face are both literal and emotional (like, who wouldn’t have anxiety and depression after saving the world before you could legally have a beer?), and each episode chronicles some misadventure in their aimless lives.

The series is led by Jane, who is basically a real-life Daria. She spends her days (sort of) in a comic book shop, where she doesn’t do much but doodle and ponder her own demon-plagued existence. Her evenings are oft interrupted by Astaroth, Dark Prince of the Hellgate, and it’s pretty hard to get sleep when a blue-skinned demon is cackling in your ear. From episode to episode, our unlikely gang of heroes might be facing down these literal demons or the demons of their past, present, and future, but no matter what the foe may be, there’s always a delightfully deadpan sense of humor and surprising sincerity present.

Each episode clocks in at a lean 5-6 minutes, making Graves the perfect binge. It’s all shot in grainy VHS style, making it so that you truly feel like you’ve been transported back to the supernatural series of the ’90s. Graves wastes no time in establishing its unique, entertaining tone, allowing it to stand out from the crowded arena of web series. It’s refreshing as hell to watch something with such a clear voice and sense of self, and Graves never loses sight of what makes it so great.

Be sure to stream the first two seasons of the series on their website, and follow the series’ Twitter page for updates and reminders about when the latest episodes in the series’ third and final season debut.