Buffy The Vampire Slayer: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Buffy – Screen Rant

Some shows are truly eternal. Buffy the Vampire Slayer may have wrapped up its seven-season run back in May 2003, but its never really gone anywhere since. As with the Harry Potter franchise, the fandom is as active as ever and continuations in various forms are keeping these beloved characters alive.

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This isnt to say that the show is flawless, though.Its like a little 90s time capsule, which can be cringy in all the wrong ways when re-watching the series today. Then, of course, there are those aspects of our heroine herself that just dont quite add up. Lets take a look at a few!

In the 1992 movie of the same name, we see Buffy (Kirsty Swanson) learn of her calling as a Slayer for the very first time. By contrast, going into the TV show, Sarah Michelle Gellars Buffy already knows exactly who and what she is.

In her first meeting with Principal Flutie, in fact, he points out that she burned the gym down in her last school, which she tries to justify by claiming that the building had been full of vampi asbestos. If shes already an established hunter of the undead and knows whats lurking out there, how could she (as the only one with the power to do so) be so reluctant to fight?

As one of the most iconic teen shows of all time, its no surprise that romance plays a huge part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Vampires fall for vampires, werewolves fall for werewolves, witches fall for witches, all of which is perfectly natural. The Slayer falling for vampire trope, however, just doesnt really follow.

The enigmatic Angel makes his first appearance in the very first episode, gradually becoming a love interest for our heroine. It isnt until seasons later that they finally face the fact that their relationship was far too impractical to ever work out, though Buffy refused to hear this on numerous occasions and the concept of a "good" vampire was questioned throughout the shows whole course. And then there's her relationship with Spike, which we'll get to in the next entry.

To give him his due, Angel did manage to maintain his relationship with Buffy for quite some time, fighting on the Scooby Gangs side on countless occasions and more than proving that he genuinely loved the Slayer along the way.

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While that relationship was relatively functional in a way, the will-they-wont-they between Buffy and Spike was fraught with issues. William the Bloody seemed just as sadistic as Angelus (Angel's alter-ego) by default, and for muchof the seriess run its really only the behavior-modifying chip in his head that prevented him from feasting on those Buffy had sworn to protect. Spike proves to be a somewhat sympathetic character by the shows end, but there really wasnt any long-term hope for the pair.

Of course, Buffy knows just how crucial her ancient and noble duty is. This fact is impressed upon her constantly, as is the idea that the relationship between a Slayer and her Watcher is supposed to be a strictly "professional" one. Over time, Giles becomes a father figure to Buffy and they grow closer and closer, which is one element that makes the stuffy Brit such a beloved character.

The issue is, the Slayer just becomes too reliant on him. Reeling from the loss of her mother, Giles becomes a crutch for the young woman, who seems to see him as her receptionist, accountant, and everything else she may need rolled into one. This is tough to swallow, coming from someone who is supposed to be such a powerful and independent woman, becoming such an issue that Giles leaves for England in order to help her stand on her own two feet (as he sings in Once More With Feeling.)

As weve seen, Slayer and Watcher grow incredibly close over the shows run. With Buffy the Vampire Slayers constant need to deliver one-liners, silly jokes, and Whedon-isms, though, she and the Scoobies are always poking fun at his Britishness.

This might just be harmless fun, but whats more serious is her lack of respect for him and his crucial teachings. On numerous occasions, he puts himself in danger to rescue her when shes been too impetuous and exhausts himself trying to get her to listen to him. Buffy knows of her (and Giles) ancient duties and whats at stake (pun intended) here, so would it kill her to pay attention to his training?

Over the course of the show, Willow Rosenberg goes on onewild ride. From a humble computer hacker wearing clothes her mom picked out to a formidable witch with the power to render the flesh from her enemies bodies and (almost) destroy the world? Now thats character progression.

As we see very clearly, though, magic takes an incredible toll on Willow; the Scoobies even try to ban her from performing any after the issue breaks up her relationship with Tara. At the same time, though, its shocking just how often the gangs plans revolve around Willows magical abilities. Didnt our heroine see the warning signs? Can these people do anything without Willow performing a "locator spell" first?

This next point is a very simple but crucial one. Yes, the shows combat style is very acrobatic and she wouldnt want to be encumbered by anything too heavy, but still. Surely theres something more practical Buffy could wear on patrol?

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Its astonishing how often the forces of evil just want to have a good old fashioned fistfight, so something lightweight and practical could really help here, considering shes humanitys only real weapon and all. Maybe shes just trying to keep up her regular girl persona with the miniskirts and leather jackets, but thats no excuse.

As the show repeatedly drums into viewers, one young woman per generation is chosen by fate to be the Slayer. There are exceptions to this rule, after improbable resurrections on Buffys part, but this concept leaves us with a huge logistical issue.

With the hideous, mutated abominations that the Hellmouth keeps attracting, Buffy can scarcely keep Sunnydale safe. What about the rest of the world? It isnt really until the comic book continuation that we take the whole idea globally.

Following on from the point about Buffys fellow Slayers, we know that another Slayer "activates" upon the death of the current one. Buffy dies and is resurrected several times over the shows run, which sees her meeting a number of other young women like her. Faith and Kendra both fought at Buffys side (though Faith was the ultimate loose cannon), but Buffy continued to resent both of them.

Knowing the full extent of the burden on her, Buffy could have greatly benefitted from the presence of her fellow Slayers. At times, she even considered leaving them to do their duties in her stead, but mostly, she resented Kendra for her toadying with Giles and encroaching on her territory. Later, with the mass activation of the Potentials, she completely flip-flopped on this thinking.

We all have those days where the bed is just too comfortable and our long list of chores is destined to be ignored. Some of us call them off days. Most of us call them weekends. The important thing is, Slayers have them too, in a way the show never really explains.

During particularly harrowing emotional times, Buffys powers just dont operate as they should. Several storylines surround the loss of her strength (to differing degrees), though we never learn much about whats happening in the Slayers body. Whats happening here? Would they all be affected this way? Sometimes, these sorts of things can seem like cheap gambits to add more drama to the plot.

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Buffy - Screen Rant

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero