Buf f y the Vampire Slayer An Introduction to the Buffyverse

Buf f y the Vampire Slayer Meet the Slayer: Buffy Summers –Teenager –Goes to high school –Raised by single clueless mother –“Chosen” to fight Vampires, demons, forces of darkness –Latest in long line of young girls to be Slayer –Not trained - found late, instead of “raised” by “Watcher” (male trainer) –Fashionable, originally a bit of a ditz

Meet the Watcher - –“Feminized” male? – British, bookish, librarian – Ineffectual leader? – Father figure – “Ripper”?

Willow –Intelligent, geek –Socially awkward –Friendly –Unfashionable –In later seasons, lesbian –In later seasons, witch –Best friend to Buffy Buf f y the Vampire Slayer

Xander –Inept –Loyal –Working-class –Class clown –Best friend to Willow, Buffy –In early seasons, crush on Buffy

Meet the rest of the “scoobies”… Angel, vampire with a soul, love interest of Buffy Anya, vengeance demon, love interest of Xander Cordelia, ditzy in-crowd highschooler, later love interest of Xander Dawn, mystical “key,” Buffy’s sister Buf f y the Vampire Slayer

Faith, rogue slayer, sometimes ally, sometimes enemy of Buffy Oz, musician, werewolf, love interest of Willow Riley, commando, love interest of Buffy Spike, vampire, love interest of Buffy Tara, witch, love interest of Willow Buf f y the Vampire Slayer

Religion as Absent? “Good” characters - Buffy and friends - never go to Church, with one exception (Riley, in episode “Who Are You” 2000) No mention, presence of God (when asked by new Vampire about whether God really exists or not, Buffy says, ‘the jury is still out on that one.’ Religion as ineffectual? –Wicca wannabes at UC Sunnydale. –Church goers in episode “Who Are You” (2000) Buf f y the Vampire Slayer

Religious Affiliation of Willow Willow is only character with developed religious identity. Family background: Jewish. Despite this, uses crosses and latin to ward of Vampires. Becomes a “Wicca” - wiccan? Once fully immersed in Wicca, becomes evil - revisiting religion = evil theme.

Religion demonized in Buffy –Practiced by Vampires, demons –Tool to bring about the apocalypse –Episodes “Welcome to the Hellmouth” and “The Harvest” (1997) Buf f y the Vampire Slayer

Buffy’s variation on the “false god” theme = false church Those who seek comfort, support, eternal life from churches are doomed to demonic fates… Episodes: “Anne,” (1998) “Lie to Me” (1997) Buf f y the Vampire Slayer