Buffy The Vampire Slayer: How Season 6 Completely Changed The Show – Screen Rant

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a beloved teen drama that ran from 1997 to 2003; season 6, the penultimate season, changed its tone permanently.

Joss Whedon's fan favorite series,Buffy the Vampire Slayer, went from a teen drama that was relatively comedic and light-hearted to exploring heavier thematic material in season 6, which changed the course and tone of the entire show.

Premiering in 1997,Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a teen ensemble show that dealt with common aspects of growing up, relationships, dating, and high school like other shows of the same era such asDawson's CreekandBeverly Hills, 90210, but added a supernatural twist that caught fire. Other shows, such asCharmed, worked off the momentum started byBuffy the Vampire Slayerin the late '90s, and paved the way for shows likeSupernatural,The Vampire Diaries, and others to carry the torch for a new generation. While the '90s and early 2000s were certainly a different time for television, and in many waysBuffyushered in many previously unexplored topics, such as same-sex relationships, to mainstream television, the show took an unexpectedly dark turn in season 6, and carried this out through its seventh and final season, in 2003.

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While Whedon is known for brutally and tragically killing off his characters, he set the forthcoming darker tone in season 5 through the very human death of Buffy's mother, Joyce, and ended the season with Buffy - who had died before - sacrificing herself to save the world and her sister, Dawn. Originally, this was meant to be the ending of the series; it could be argued that it was a fitting end, but since the show wasn't over, Whedon had to figure out how to not only bring his Slayer back to life after her very appropriate death, but how to deal with the aftermath of something so severe. When Buffy died in season 1, it was only for a few seconds; in season 5, her death was more permanent feeling: she had a funeral, a headstone, and everything came full-circle.

The two-part season 6 premiere, "Bargaining Part 1" and "Bargaining Part 2" explored Willow embracing her magic to bring the Slayer back from the dead. Demons, vampires, and other evil forces were running rampant in Sunnydale due to the aftershocks of Glory opening the portal, and while there would be another Slayer called, the Scooby Gang wanted Buffy back. The light-hearted musical episode, "Once More With Feeling" dealt with these consequences through song when Buffy told them that, in bringing her back, they had pulled her out of Heaven. It's a heavy subject, for a Slayer to finally find peace and rest, as Buffy gave so much of herself for other people only for them to - somewhat selfishly - bring her back to life. This set the plot in motion for her to become involved with Spike (James Marsters), which ended up being a very toxic relationship for Buffy.

Buffy and Spike's relationship showed a more adult side of the Slayer, one that resorted to pleasure instead of romance, like she had with Angel or with Riley, her other primary love interests on the show. Spike's comfort was her chance to feel something, even something dark and fleeting; it was obvious that Spike cared for her more than she cared for him, but his love was darker and bordered on obsession. It came to a head in season 6, episode 19, "Seeing Red", when Spike sexually assaulted her; the malfunction in his chip was likely due to the fact that Buffy had died and was resurrected, so she no longer read as human.

Willow also suffered greatly after the shocking murder of her girlfriend, Tara. She already struggled with magic - especially potent, dark magic - in a storyline that mirrored the dangers of drug addiction. Willow, who was previously a more innocent, light-hearted character ended up murdering Warren, who shot Tara, and tried to destroy the world. While she was pulled back from the edge by Xander, many of the main characters onBuffy the Vampire Slayer were forever changed by their actions in season 6.

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Jack Wilhelmi is the horror features editor at Screen Rant, and has been with the site since 2019. He is a lifelong fan of the horror genre, and loves any excuse to discuss genre-related topics, since none of his friends dare challenge him in horror trivia. He has been published on the independent horror blog Morbidly Beautiful, and has covered major genre film festivals such as Cinepocalypse in Chicago. He has also served as a judge for the Ax Wound Film Festival.In his free time, he is a devoted dog dad to a high-spirited rescue pup named Peter Quill and enjoys volunteering with various animal rescue organizations. Jack likes to travel and explore dark tourism-related and other various haunted locations. He enjoys studying psychology, the paranormal, and will watch literally any schlocky B-movie on the planet for a laugh. Follow him on Twitter @JackMacabre or his dog on Instagram @quillthethrill.

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer: How Season 6 Completely Changed The Show - Screen Rant