“The Lost Slayer” by Christopher Golden

Four Exciting Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tie In Novels

This quartet of Novels that made up the Lost Slayer: Prophecies, Dark Times, King of the Dead, and Original Sins are four effective BTVS Tie-Ins that follow the TV series. These particular novels are set to tie-in to the series at the beginning of the fourth series. Thus along with the regulars: Willow , Buffy, Xander, and Anya we are see Oz and the vampires Drusilla and Spike as major characters. These books are based on the premise: what if Buffy made a very big mistake of judgment and a horrible world was created. In this world Buffy had to fight against her own beloved Watcher., Giles Not only would it tear her up emotionally, he would be one of the most formidable foes because he could anticipate her every move.

The book series was set at the of the fourth season. We saw Buffy attempt to separate life as a slayer from her life with her friends and family. And unfortunately this behavior caused tragic results.

Most of the series involves how Buffy corrected that almost fatal error.

I believe this series is one of the better efforts of the after series Buffy books, and really enjoyed it. I hope I can give you enough of a taste of what happened to entice you to check the series out yourself!

I hope that this review will whet your appetite for this series – I tried to tell you just enough to get your intrigued without giving it all away.

Prophecies : the first book in the series sets the stage

A Visit from a Ghost Slayer Warns of up-coming Destruction

“Buffy’s worst enemy is closer than she thinks.”

In the first novel, we saw Buffy trying to adjust to U.C Sunnydale. Buffy just started at U.C Sunnydale and finding it to be quite the challenge.She is was finally in a center where being academically sharp is important, and although we know Buffy to be very brilliant – her professors do not appreciate her imagination. She was alone – no Angel, and Riley was not yet on the scene . She was unsure where she fit in with the Scoobies, who had been her allies for years. Buffy decided to withdraw and try to do as much as she can by herself, in a poor attempt to protect them. She tries to separate her job as a Slayer from a being a friend. They are hurt by feeling not wanted, and for not understanding why. Ultimately, it ends up hurting them much more than if she had used them as she could have.

Early on we see her being visited by Lucy Hanover, a ghosted former Slayer who appears to Buffy and Willow sometimes with messages. Lucy says that on her travels on the Ghost Roads she has come across a Prophet with a frightening message for Buffy: there is going to be a terrible mistake made and Buffy will be the one to make it.

While she was thinking about that a huge Camazotz demon – god of the bats – comes into Sunnydale. He brought with him incredibly strong Vampires – the Kakchiquels – Thus he had created almost unbeatable foes from their symbiotic relationship. He used strong magicks as well as strength. He also had a sick relationship with his mate for life – Zotzilaha that makes him more tricky to kill.

Camazotz was believed to be the demon responsible for vampires.

Giles wanted Buffy to involve Willow which would have really improved the situation. But she chose not to, which was part of the new isolation of her identity. This was a fatal error.

She did not do that, and the plot to capture and kill Camazotz went very wrong.

Giles was captured when he went to investigate by himself. Even worse his captor who he believed to be a harbor master turned out to be a vampire who had been turned by Camazotz.

The scene fell apart quickly, Giles was captured and held hostage so that Buffy did not kill the Bat King. She escaped and left the scene in a failed effort to seek help from the others. The scene ended with her swimming away for her life – fulfilling the first law of a Slayer – don’t die.

She is able to reunite with her friends as they planned out saving Giles. This time Willow and Anya did the spell and the group made a strong effort.

The only problem was it did not work. And it REALLY did not work.

Buffy was captured. We saw her waking up in a jail cell where she has been for five years. As a prisoner. The plan had been made to keep her as a prisoner rather than kill her that another Slayer would be called.

The book ended as another Slayer is thrown in the cell with her. The only problem was that the other Slayer was not her friend and instead saw the only way out of the dilemma was to kill Buffy!

Dark Times: Part Two of the Lost Slayer

“Buffy’s most frightening nightmares have become a reality…”

Buffy learns that she is called “The Lost Slayer” because it is not known where she is. This novel will shed light on what happened when Buffy ran from the harbor master and she ended up in a cage with another Slayer bound on killing her. The novel is stronger and more effective because it switches back and forth from the time that the Slayer was taken to 5 years later when she breaks away.

The second novel starts as the two Slayers are circling each other in this crazy plan to destroy each other. Well – Buffy escapes from her cell, and eventually out of the prison.

She ran away towards a Sunnydale that is very different than she had left. Rather than vampires being an occasional villain, they ruled the population with the help of scared and opportunist human conspirators. Many ordinary people had been turned into vampires – with the plan to turn even more.

She was able to be rescued by Xander, Willow and Oz – but they are not school children any more. Willow is an uber-witch and leader, Xander was a major military force and Oz has learned how to use his werewolf powers at will. What is even more impressive is that they work for the Watcher’s Council which had joined forces with others to try to alleviate the very real threat they are facing.

Their reality is much bleaker – and the Scoobies are harder and sadder.

Sunnydale is hell on Earth – with vampires winning control, along with a few willing human slaves and the rest of the populace living in terror of the vampires.

And Buffy learned that the threat was so strong because the vampires are serving is Giles who is their King.

King of the Dead – Part Three of the Lost Slayer

Because Sunnydale was directly on a Hellmouth it was a difficult place to begin with.

But the altered reality that Buffy escaped back to was Hell on Earth. Most of the humans in Sunnydale had left like when Katrina hit, the ones that were left cowered in their homes or had sick symbiotic relationships with the vampires. A group of vampire wannabees had swarmed to the town because of a naive lust for the danger of the vampires.

The tension mounted as Giles was shown as being more and more evil. He fought amazingly strong vampires – like Spike, and with his own am cunning and the help of the other vampires he has on his team he is able to dominate all. Giles led the vampires as the King they had never had. Stronger and brighter than the Master, he was able to organize the vampires as had never been done before, and he was working systematically to infiltrate government and business so that he eventually would dominate the world.

We see Giles as Lord: diabolical, and cunning like nothing Sunnydale has seen.

We see the new Council – with a British head but with Willow as the real power. We learn who the players are now – Willow, Xander and Oz. In this book Oz is still with Willow – but their relationship has been shattered because of a terrible fight where Oz had to kill Willow’s parents – who had been turned into vampires – in order to protect Willow.

Anna the new Slayer. Xander is hardened because he lost his precious Anya in an attack from Spike that also killed Buffy’s mother, and Oz is sadly detached because he had to protect Willow from two terrible enemies – her own parents who had been turned into vampires.

Spike rebelled against Giles and decides to give information to the Council. That of course ended up with him being in a dust pan, but before they kill him they learn how many politicians, police and other people of power are being turned into vampires under Giles leadership.

We see his plan to control the World unfold: the police and Mayor of L.A are being turned, with more to be turned every day.

And we learn that although Giles is not totally happy that Buffy is back with her gang and has escaped as long as she has – he is not sad about it either. That is because Giles is toying with Buffy in a sick cat and mouse game. And even more nefariously – he eventually wants to turn her into a vampire.

This included being confronted by Giles in her own room. But it appeared that he was just there to taunt her. And although there was a major altercation between our team and the vampires – the final battle was yet to be fought.

Buffy tries to fit into the new version of vampire fighters, like the Council , Watcher,and Slayer used to be – only this time it is with the Scoobies with Willow in command.

The tension mounts as they learn that the vampires are expanding quickly – and the US government is aware. They have promised to attack Sunnydale and LA if the vampire problem can’t be solved – regardless if some humans were killed.

Buffy is afraid that Giles is so talented and cunning that even a full on army attack would not kill him. It is a devastating thought that Southern California could be blown to smithereens – and Giles still is not killed.

The third book King of the Dead of the Lost Slayer ends with a violent and dramatic fight to the death between the vampires and their human compadres, and Buffy and our Council.

Original Sins : the Thrilling Conclusion of The Lost Slayer

“Can Buffy defeat a foe who not only knows her techniques but helped her develop them?”

This novel concluded the Lost Slayer series.

We learn what Giles has done with Angel – showing even more of his evil. Giles did not kill Angel, he didn’t trap Angel in a cell like he did Buffy. Instead he had him suspended by space – motionless forever with a stake inches from his heart. Giles is hoping that he can tempt Buffy to join his side by releasing Angel, but our heroine instead is able to give up the man she loves to save the world.

So Buffy loses Angel. And that is not all – Xander is taken from the fold in battle. Willow weeps as she discovers his body. She has held it together until this point but she could not bear losing the friend that she had kept since kindergarten.

The vampire fighters continued to fight the vampires, but it became harder and harder to prevail over them. She and Willow and what is left of the Council continues to fight, but they are becoming disheartened.

Buffy knew that if she could re-write the past and fix her original sin -she and the world would be in a much better place.

Eventually they are able to do that with the help Lucy, a ghosted former Slayer. Lucy had been featured in other Christopher Golden Buffy novels. She is able to help bad ass witch Willow perform a spell that was able to stop the wicked demon Camazotz . Buffy’s original sin had been trying to do it all herself rather than binding together with her group as she had previously.

Weaknesses of the Novels

There just is no comparison to the series and the novels or the comics that came after. However if you are a fan you will want to read all of the novels just to be close to the characters again.

Also, in particular the point of this novel is that Buffy’s giant mistake was in trying to do it all by herself. That seemed a bit gimmicky. I have often felt that the series was rough on Buffy, i.e bringing about the demon Machida when she went to a frat party , and changing Angel to Angelus when they made love. Can’t a girl just have fun?

Plus in these novels Buffy was actually trying to save her friends by protecting them – her error was not nefarious.

Strengths of the Novels

One strength is that they were written by Christopher Golden who knows the series and the characters like the back of his hand.

Even the dialects are right on – I can imagine Spike saying everything he said. And as a fan of the series I appreciated Easter eggs like when Drusilla is killed by Buffy and Spike says ” if only vampires had ghosts.”

Watching the Scoobies develop into even more fierce warriors was fascinating, especially uber-witch Willow.

The demon villains of the Mayan deities Zotzilaha and Camazotz who were believed to be the creators of vampires was fascinating. As were the euber-vamps bat-faced Kakchiquels who protected them. Both a fascinating addition to the monsters in the Buffyverse.

The novels are short enough to keep your attention and riveting so that you want to go from one to the other. You truly want to know the conclusion.

The Lost Slayer Books by Christopher Golden are Collectible, and are Hard to Find

I have found all four novels – and do recommend them. You can find them easily at my eBay store.

The Lost Slayer 1 – 4 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Novels By Christopher Golden

Buffy the Vampire – Season 1 – Episode 10 – “Nightmares”

What would happen if your Worst Fears Manifest?

Nightmares are terrifying, but at least we wake up and don’t have to face our fears in our real life.

In the episode “Nightmares” Buffy and the Scoobies -and indeed all of Sunnydale begin to face the horror that comes if their worse fears become true.

The story centers on a school age boy “Billy” who is laying in a coma after being beaten by a monster.

Billy was a typical nine year old who was in the Kiddie League. His nickname was “Lucky 19.”

Being in the coma – he is able to affect others and call out their deepest fears and change them from fantasy to reality.

Buffy’s Fears

Facing the Master

Most of Season One focuses on Buffy’s fight with the Master who has the goal of bringing evil to the world.

The Master is the oldest, strongest vampire the world has ever seen. Even though she kills him in the end it comes a huge price, she can’t see how that actually happens until the last episode. So it makes sense that her biggest fear would be facing him and dying at his hands. In this scene he kills her in a horrible way – burying her alive.

This dream is prophetic – Buffy does actually die at the master’s hands, but she is brought back to life in a wonderful way.

Nightmares – Buffy’s Dad tells her the Divorce was caused by Buffy

That Her Father Doesn’t Love

On a more personal level, Buffy’s biggest fear is typical of many young women. She fears that her parent’s divorce was her fault, and that her father does not love her.

The series starts when Buffy and her mother move to Sunnydale when Buffy caused trouble at her old school. Well, if you call trouble burning down the school gym to kill a vampire’s nest.

Her parents marriage does not survive Buffy’s shenanigans, with neither one understanding her duty as a Slayer and each one blaming the other for her strange behavior.

She is devastated by the divorce of course, and she is naturally separated more and more from her father as she moves to a different town and has to re-establish a new life.

And every girl needs her daddy.

In this part of the episode, Buffy is met up with her father for one of the weekend visits she treasures. In a precognition sequence that reminds me of her betrayal after she makes love with Angel, her father comes to Sunnydale and tells her that she has been a huge disappointment.

Buffy’s father also tells her that Buffy was the reason for the divorce. Just being around her caused the divorce. After saying all those horrible things, he leaves a devastated Buffy crying on a park bench.

Willow’s Fear – Preforming in Public and Not Knowing her lines

Willow was a perfectionist , which had developed both from having pushy but largely absent parents, as well as a long time stigma of being a nerd in a school where being brainy was not honored.

She also had a long history of performing in front of the class and being made fun of by the likes of Queen Bee Cordelia Chase for her clothes or just for being herself.

Therefore it makes lots of sense that that her scary dream sequence would be that she is literally pushed onto a major stage to sing opera in a role that she does not know, to music that she can’t sing, and with words that she doesn’t know.

The sequence ends with Willow being booed off the stage, to her shame.

Cordelia’s bad dream – having bad hair and being pulled into the chess club

Cordelia’s nightmare serves as a little comic relief to the terror in Buffy’s dreams and some of the others.

Cordelia’s Worst Nightmare: Frizzy Hair and Being Dragged to Chess Club

Cordelia’s nightmare starts with her looking into the mirror in her locker and finding that her outfit is old-fashioned and her hair is frizzy and very unattractive. Apparently her new look makes her a nerd magnet because the next scene shows her fighting with all her might – but ultimately unsuccessfully as nerdy boys drag her into a chess club that she would never go to if she was the popular fashion queen Cordy.

Xander’s Nightmare – A Crazy Clown from His Childhood

Scary Clown — Xander’s Knife Wielding Clown

Xander’s nightmare is scary, but it is rewarding for two reasons.

To set the stage we are tempted to the scene by a path of Xander’s favorite candy bars from his sixth birthday. They lead him to a crazy clown , who chases him with a knife, laughing manically to what looks like a certain death.

But Xander surprises all of us by actually facing his fear -and winning. He stops running and socks the clown in the face, knocking him down. He tells him: “You are a lousy clown. Your balloon animals are pathetic. Everyone can make a giraffe. “

Xander feels liberated as he stops his nightmare, but the others continue.

He meets up with Giles and Willow and Giles tells us that the only way he knows to restore reality is to wake up more Billy.

But the question is how do they find Buffy to do that?

Giles Nightmare – Buffy Dies and turns into a Vampire

As the episode comes to an end, the Scoobies and Giles search for Buffy and find her beneath her gravestone. And most horribly – Buffy has been turned into a vampire.

But lucky for them all, Buffy had somehow kept enough of her soul to help them on their quest.

Maybe because she was the Slayer she continued to do what was needed – to fight Billy’s monster”the Ugly Man,” and eventually wake Billy up and get them out of their nightmare world.

To free Billy, Buffy has to face a foe that she has previously been unable to defeat – the Ugly Man.

But she has to find him. As well as fighting her hungry vampire belly!

The Finale at the Hospital – defeating the Ugly Man and freeing Bill

To make the horrible manifesting nightmares sequence end, the gang had to resolve where it first begun.

They did that by going to the hospital where he lay in a coma after being beaten by his kiddie league coach who blamed him for the loss of a game.

Whereas before she had been unable to kill him .

The Ugly Man chased Billy around calling him ” Lucky 19,” pushing him on his anxiety button.

But Buffy is finally able to defeat it. Something renewed her slayer vim and vigor and she was able to defeat him.

When she did so, Billy was able to touch him and unwrap this dream to reality.

When the ugly man died, the kiddie league coach came into the room. When he realized that they had figured out that he was the villain of the piece, Giles and Xander are able to catch him.

Eventually he was prosecuted, put behind bars and the balance of the world restored.

“Nightmares” sets the Stage for Some Common Themes in the Series

This episode foreshadows many of the recurring motifs of the series. First of all is that dreams are not just dreams. Buffy often has dreams that foretell the future, and Angel does as well sometimes.

But more importantly it reinforces the theme of the entire series – that we can beat villains against impossible odds.

And watching the children win here – both when Xander conquered the evil clown and when Billy ultimately is able to beat the Ugly Man.

“Nightmares” was sometimes funny, but most a thought-provoking episode that is rewarding and memorable to watch.

What were Buffy’s Weapons?

Slayers have a multitude of weapons to help them kill fearsome demons and vampires.

All Slayers are incredibly strong, agile and fast healing. But the use of weapons just made her stronger. From the standard stake, holy water and fire, Buffy also creatively used her friends, and even other vampires – what ever it took to obliterate evil.

The most basic weapon was The Stake

It is unknown why regular bullets don’t work with vampires, but they don’t . Like Darla said “they can’t kill us. But they hurt like hell.” She came blazing after Angel and Buffy with guns, but a stake through the heart took her down.

So vampires do have hearts, they just don’t beat because vampires don’t need oxygen . But there is something about the heart that makes it vulnerable to a stake, but only if it is wood.

If you do not have an official stake you can use any kind of sharp wood, and the Slayers in Buffy were always staking someone with a broken table leg or other wooden object.

And you need to hit exactly on the heart – the tummy or even neck won’t do.

When Buffy dropped her back pack in the first episode Xander was quick to pick it up of course, since he had such a crush on her. Unfortunaly she had some stakes in the pack that just couldn’t be explained away easily. But he still loved her – what can you say? Below is a stake that would not do anything to real vampires but it is fun at Halloween if you want to get a Buffy related Halloween costume.

11 Inch Foam Rubber Wooden Vampire Hand Stake Stunt Prop

Holy Water

In Buffy Holy Water which has been sanctified by nuns or priest is a valuable weapon against vampires, but it usually does not kill them. One memorable exception was when Buffy was momentarily stripped of her Slayer powers as a cruel test in episode in Episode 12 of the third season “Helpless. She had to fight the horrible , deranged “Zachary Kralik who had been was a serial killer before he even became vampire. Buffy was unable to merely over-power him – or even use her weapon. He even tried to stake her . But Kralik was killed when she was able to sneak Holy Water into his cup and he burned from the inside.

The Cross-Bow

The crossbow was probably Buffy’s favorite weapon

When Buffy fights the Master in the finale of season one, she does it with a cross-bow. When she springs Riley out away from the General she does it with a cross-bow.

Crossbows use an elastic launching device to shoot projectile bolts called quarrels

A cross-bow is smaller than a bow, bit it has lots of advantages.

it does not need to be sized to the user, so she could even use it lying down. (which Buffy does of course.)
The quarrels can travel quite far, up to 150 feet.
Crossbows are much easier to use than a regular bow requiring because they much less stamina . That is because the crossbow has a locking mechanism to maintain the draw while a regular bow has to manually pull the bowstring back to trigger the string,
Crossbow users not only handle stronger draw weight but also This not only enables a crossbowman to handle stronger draw weight, without straining , but they can hold the aim for longer.
Because of all that, Buffy could threaten with the cross-bow for longer, even if she didn’t end up using it.
And I think Buffy just thought it made her look hot. 🙂

Buffy put it to good use against Angel and the Master in the first season. She used an older wooden model then. It only carried 3 extra bolts.

However, in the alternate universe of “the Wish” which is set in the future, she was using a she a smaller, hand-held, metal crossbow

The sword

The first time Buffy used the sword was in Becoming Part Two, when she was fighting to the death with Angel.

She also used the sword as a weapon against the Knights Byzantium who were sworn enemies of Glorificus.

Buffy was a master at the sword.

It was the weapon that she used to send Angel to the Acathla’s hell dimension dimension and prevent the world from being swallowed up. Although she didn’t kill him in the strictest sense of the world – only wood through the heart would do that – she sent him to a dimension where she believed he would not be able to escape.

The Sun

The sun was toxic to vampires, and many times it was used to kill them. If they were just pushed out to the daylight – they were dead. Daniel Holtz used the sun to burn away his daughter, who had been changed into a vampire by Angel’s evil twin “Angelus.”

The Cross

Because vampires were pure evil, a cross would be repellent. Angel gave Buffy a cross that she wore around her neck. That cross saved her life when she fought the vampire “Luke” who was being used as a vessel by the Master.

Reve Simple Polished Finish Stainless Steel Cross Pendant Necklace for Men Women, 20-24 Inches Rolo Chain (Silver Tone: 22” Chain)

Her mocking manner

Buffy was known to have witty sayings through out her killing. Somehow the humor seemed to give her strength. She admitted that when she killed the insane vampire Zachary Kralik that her use of the English language gave her strength: ” If I was at full slayer capacity I would be punning right now.”

Anything She Could Find

Buffy was ingenious.

In the episode where Spike is following and taping her to figure out her ways – he saw her stake a vampire at a pumpkin patch.
“She’s crafty “he says.

Buffy would break furniture to make stakes , or use wire to behead vampires – she was clever that way.

All that book larnin: The Watcher’s library provided Tremendous resources

One of the perks of being a vampire slayer was inheriting a massive library of archaic tomes about witches, demons, myths and curses: all kinds of one of a kind research material that helped Buffy find answers to how she was able to defeat her foe.

When the books were blended with the computer wizardry of Willow and Miss Calendar, they indeed had some powerful information at their hands.

Buffy and Scoobies and Giles spent hours researching the demon of the week around the table in the library.

The Scoobies

The Scoobies were Willow and Xander throughout the series with the addition of Cordelia, Oz , Tara and others through the seasons. They were her main support, served as a beacon through difficult waters, and saved her life several times.

Buffy was unique in that she had friends, most Slayers let no one know what they were.

Her Watcher

Every Slayer came with a Watcher , someone who trained at the Watchers Council in England to ensure help for her in learning how to hone her natural skills to perfection so that she could kill evil.

Buffy’s Watcher was Giles.

When he was dismissed by the Council, she inherited Wesley Wyndam-pryce.

But really it was always Giles.

Other Slayers

When one Slayer died another would be called. But in Buffy due to a set of unique circumstances, Buffy would sometimes work with other Slayers. These Slayers included Kendra , Faith and in the final chapter the Potentials.

Vampire Help

Buffy became infamous for loving not just one but two vampires. And they were vampires with a soul to boot.

The first was Angel , with their doomed love affair. Due to a curse, anytime he loved and had one moment of true happiness he would lose his soul and become a monster again. That means sex caused him to revert to a soulless creature – and Angelus was the worse vampire ever.

Most of the time Spike was soul-less and yet from the very beginning he helped Buffy and the other Scoobies. But it was always because he go something out of it.

When all the soulless hi-jinks were over – both vampires were immensely helpful to Buffy.They were strong, a huge personal knowledge of the kinds of demons that Buffy had to best and gave her support that she needed, and often could not get from others.

Her mother

When Joyce conked an unsuspecting Spike on the head in Season Two Episode Three ” School Hard” she proved that even though she was mortal she was a force to be reckoned with . When Spike returns from the fight Drusilla comforts him and says tenderly “Spike , did she hurt you?” “It was close baby”, he answered. “A Slayer with family and friends that sure as hell wasn’t in the brochure.”

The Scythe

In the final season of Buffy she took the scythe out of a boulder that no one else had been able to remove. This Scythe was forged just for Slayers and had a tremendous strength that only a Slayer could wield.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Scythe

Herself

In episode 22 of season two – “Becoming “a soulless Angelus fights Buffy and tries to kill her. At one point she seems to be defenseless as she is forced to the ground without a weapon. Angelus says “So that is everything, huh? No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away and what is left?”

But as he attempts to thrust the sword into her body – she says “Me.”

She is able to grab the sword, knock them off of his feet and ultimately win the fight.

Because that is Buffy’s truest weapon, the one that never lets her down – herself.

Resources

Why are vampires killed by stakes?

What is a crossbow quarrel – from historical Jamestown

Impalement in Myth and Art

Easy Halloween Costumes For Buffy and Angel Fans

Dressing up, even just a little in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel gear on Halloween keeps the series alive for true fans. BTVS and Angel fans don’t care a whit that the series is over. They love to celebrate all the pathos and humor that was our favorite supernatural series. And honestly, you can do it pretty easily, with some of the costume left over for your wardrobe.

The Slayer Herself

Fans will quickly recognize Buffy in her black jacket and red pants. When the could be evil Slayer Faith first saw her in season three’s Graduation Day Part 1 – she said: “Look at you. All dressed up in big sister’s clothes.”

Slick, well formed and ready for battle – you will look like a knock out in this classic Buffy costume.

The first costume gives you the option to be completely decked out as Buffy. The basic outfit includes the jacket , pants and stake. The costume is available S -M and L. This faux leather jacket has 3 buttons on center front and faux pockets. The red vinyl pants have an elastic waistband and are boot cut. All you need is a black tank top and boots to complete the ensemble.

This outfit even includes a stake.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Women’s Costume

Complete the look of the Slayer outfit

Reve Simple Stainless Steel Silver Tone Cross Pendant Chain Necklace for Men Women, 20-22 Inches (Men:1.71.02” Pendant+22” Chain)Church Supply Warehouse 1 X Large Holy Water Bottle Buffy The Vampire Slayer Scythe

The Many faces of Willow

No character showed as much range in her development as Willow did during the series . From painfully shy , to blossoming on the computer and in college, to powerful witch that is able to kill vampires with a pencil she stays on the move. We see her inadvertently turned into a Vampire

I love nerdy Willow, with her jumpers and tights. But for Halloween it is more fun to look like the evil vampire Willow of the wish. I don’t have the exact costume but you will approximate it well for a red corset and a this black metallic looking bodysuit.

No one will be saying “Bored Now” that is for sure!

But if you can’t stand the idea of Willow evil, how about the Joan of Arc outfit that she wore in Season Four? In his true understated way, Oz put a name-tag that said “God” on a teeshirt on it to accompany her for the couple costume look.

Aanny Women’s Bustier Corset Top Sexy Lingerie Sets Black Satin Waist Cincher Corsets for Women Plus Size Black Corset Sexy Bustier Corset Top Lingerie Forplay Women’s Metallic Catsuit Bodysuit – Shiny Onepiece Jumpsuit California Costumes Women’s Joan of Arc Historical Heroine Costume

Want to dress like Xander for Halloween?

Watch out, you might just end up that way. That is because the Halloween costumes that Xander wore tended to end up as part of him in his future.

Xander’s best Halloween costume was his pirate look. He wore it just because it was funny, and it gave him a chance to say “Aye, matey.” Although this has a tragic foretelling as he loses his eye in the last season from a terrible villain.

Earlier in the series he buys a toy guy from Ethan Raine’s Halloween shop in Season 2 episode 6, “Halloween.” He uses it to go with some Army fatigues that he bought used to create a soldier look. Due to Ethan’s magic he becomes a real soldier, a skill that he can use many times in the series, including being the military lead in the fight against the Mayor in the conclusion of season three.

Spooktacular Creations Pirate Costume Men’s Plundering Sea Captain Adult Set for Halloween Dress Up Party Costume Pillaging Pirate Adult Men’s Halloween Dress Up Theme Party Cosplay Costume Pirate Black Silk Eye-Patch ArtCreativity Ranger Hand-Gun Toy Set Pretend Play Rothco BDU Uniform Set – ACU Digital Camo – MED

Anya – Our Romantic Ex-Vengeance Demon

If you follow the series you will know that Anya used to be human, got changed into a vengeance demons centuries ago, and then loses her special powers and becomes human again.

A human who is in love with Xander. And is full of quirks.

Like a terror of bunnies.

Anya showed up at a Halloween costume with this bunny suit as her scary costume and you can too. Maybe she knows something about bunnies that we don’t . If your Halloween will be spent at home, you can still celebrate a spooky holiday with these deranged bunny one piece pajamas.

Silver Lilly Unisex Adult – One Piece Cosplay Bunny Animal Costume White/Pink NAITOKE Adults Unisex Onesie Halloween Costumes Animal Cosplay Pajamas Slim Fit Animal Pajamas – Adult One Piece Cosplay Bunny Costume by Silver Lilly

Get some Vampires in the Mix

First get the face:

If you want to be an evil character you will undoubtedly want to go as a vampire.

Spike fought and killed a Slayer from New York. In episode “Fool for Love” Season 5 Episode 7 we saw him taking the jacket off of Nikki Woods and putting it on and having it on him almost constantly. It survived years of wear, and even being burned up as he saved the world at the Apocalypse in the Finale of the season.

For some reason Angel wore a long, black coat too although we don’t get to see the history of this one.

I think this leather coat would serve any would be vampire – or even just a stylish guy well.

Men’s Sexy Real leather long Black Coat

Spike is usually seen in black jeans along with a red shirt for most of the series and a classic red shirt that he wore open under his black jacket. As the series evolved he often changed the red shirt up for a black one. Add to that some black boot and you are on the way to your Spike look.

Here is lots of choices where you can have a great Spike Halloween costume and have nice clothes year round.

Wrangler Men’s George Strait One Pocket Button Long Sleeve Woven Red Shirt Mens Black Skinny Slim Fit Stretch Straight Leg Fashion Jeans Pants, Black, 32W Dickies Men’s Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter Jean, Black ZITY Mens Polo Shirt Cool Quick-Dry Sweat-Wicking Short Sleeve Sports Golf Tennis T-Shirt Black-L HARLEY-DAVIDSON FOOTWEAR Men’s Brosner 8″ Lace Motorcycle Boot

A few more options if you want to be Spike or any vampire

If you follow the series , you know that James Marsters, the actor that played Spike was not naturally blonde. He went through some painful dying to get to be the white-haired one. You can just use the wig – and you have to wear the fangs unless you were worn with them.

Anogol Hair Cap+Short Wavy Cosplay Wig Blonde Wigs Synthetic Hair for Anime Wig Costume DelightBox 12 White Vampire Fangs, Plastic Teeth, Costume Accessory Party Favors

An alternative for the crafty – make your own leather coat. You will save a boatload of money. This pattern comes with a back laced vest that you would of course make in red for Spike.

McCall’Sewing Pattern Men’s Wide Lapel Long Leather Coat & Laced Back Vest Costume, Size 38-44

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So one way or another you are going to be looking like a Vampire. If you are bound and determined to look like Angel – just wear black, vampire teeth and brood a lot.

But Vampires were not just a male gig – there were wonderful female vampires on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Drusilla from Buffy Season Two Episode Three

I have mentioned when Willow went vampire, but there were incredibly strong female vampires on Buffy.

The very first person you see in the series is Darla. She has her innocent school girl outfit on but soon she lets us see her powerful teeth – and we know she is a vicious vampire.

But my favorite vampire is Drusilla. This once sweet girl was driven mad by Angel and then turned into a vampire, She was crazy – and crazy strong.

In Wickedly fashionable Landau , who played Drusilla said -“I really like the wardrobe I get to wear as Drusilla. The initial concept of my character was this cross between a Victorian period look and the Kate Moss heroin chic fashion look. Skewing those things together… like the manicure is more along the modern stuff, and then the corsets and the hair I have the period look”

So I think you could get away with the following long dresses and look smashing. Oh, and be sure to take the doll with her, like Drusilla always had her Miss Edith. The white long dress reminds me of Drusilla’s favorite. And even though the red dress was made for another bad girl – Cruella De Vil and I think Drusilla would be perfect in it.

Milumia Women’s Bohemian Drawstring Waist Lace Splicing White Long Maxi Dress Porcelain Doll Victorian Girl Standing Figures with Wooden Stand Cruella De Vil Costume Cosplay One Hundred and One Dalmatians Leather Coat Skirt Gloves Outfit

If you are not up to a full costume: wear a Buffy t-shirt

You May not want to buy a Halloween costume, but you can always use another t-shirt. Why not have one that says “Dingoes Ate My Baby,” or “Welcome to Sunnyvale?”

However you celebrate Halloween – you will have more fun as a Buffy fan.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Seasons 1 -7

It’s Nikki Wood’s Fucking Coat: An Essay About Race In the Buffyverse

A Slayer Comes to Town: An Essay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Spike’s Duster

Wickedly fashionable

The Scoobies made Buffy the Slayer

Buffy Summers was the world’s most powerful Slayer for a lot of reasons. But one of her most valuable assets were her friends.

Besides her own ingenuity, strength and passion, Buffy was so hard to beat due to the people she was surrounded by. When she came to Sunnydale High, she was able to make loyal friends that joined with her no matter what was the challenge.

The Scoobies were misfits

In Buffy’s first school – Hemery High in LA – she was popular and well-liked and even seemed “normal.” She was a cheerleader and the Queen of May, and seemed to be bound to a successful high school career. Well until she saw vampires attack her gym and burned it down to kill them all.

Even after that rocky start, Buffy could have been one of the snobby kids in Sunnydale High. She is courted by “Queen C” Cordelia, who rules the school’s mean girls and is the compass by which one’s popularity is determined. Cordelia thinks that she will fit in nicely with her group: pretty, athletic, from LA and somewhat sophisticated.

But Buffy’s vocation makes it impossible to be with the mean girls. First of all she mistakes Cordelia for a vampire and tries to stake her But Cordelia is turned off by Buffy’s choice of friends – she knows that her royalty could be quickly diluted if “losers” are left in. So Cordelia initially rebuffs Buffy’s friendship.

The first people to help Buffy was her Watcher Giles. He knew her destiny and how theirs was to be intertwined.

But the second people who help Buffy are Willow and Buffy. They get tricked into an altercation with some vampires soon into meeting Buffy – and after the shock of learning that there really are vampires they become allies in the fight against them.

Buffy, and her Two Best Friends formed the original Scooby Gang – and Giles watched over all of them

Buffy is of course the Slayer – she is empowered with supernatural strength and senses to fight demons and vampire , and other assorted evils. For her the call is so deep that she finds that she can’t leave the fight even when she is tempted to.
Much of the series involves Buffy hearing the hero’s call, resisting it and in the end doing the right thing and fighting evil.Buffy is a warm -hearted who sees the truth in others. Therefore she is able to take Willow and Xander as best friends , even though there is social damage to be suffered.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2021-10-05-10.34.28-PM-1024x576.png — Buffy and Best Friend Willow Research Vampires in Season 1 Episode 2

Willow is Buffy’s first friend and the first Scooby

Willow as Buffy’s best friend throughout the series. Buffy and Willow were confidants, sharing their loves, fears, and teenage angst. Add to this that they were in a supernatural world, which made them have a rock solid loyalty because they helped each other out of so many eventual supernatural jams.

She appeared shy and mousy at the beginning of the series , but we quickly learn how valuable she is in both cunning and courage. Willow was so meek that when Buffy met her – she moved away from her, just knowing that Buffy would not want to be seen with her. But Buffy reached out to Willow – which endeared us to Willow as well as binding her to what would turn out to be an invaluable ally.

Willow is loving, although watching her hurt through love breaks our hearts. First, their is Xander who was too blind to see her specialness until it was too late. Then there was Oz, who could not control his werewolf ways around her. When she finally gets a true love with Tara – well that ends way too soon.

And Willow is just so, so bright. We are introduced to her as the Jewish, brainy girl that she was. She was top in all the classes but was not the one the boys wanted. Her first power is with computers – her powers as a geek and eventually a computer hacker helped them with many cases. which alienate her from the popular kids at Sunnydale High . Giles was uncomfortable about her hacking at first. However, the skills that alienated them from the rest of Sunnydale High saved Buffy and the group a multiple of times, as she hacked into municipal back rooms or was able to foil the opposition. It was how she eventually got introduced to Oz , another one of Sunnydale High’s brain. She finally got to have some fun when she went to college and her brain was honored.

It just made sense that Willow would be the witch. And her witchcraft was the strongest in the world. As Buffy was learning to live with her destiny as a Slayer – Willow struggles to learn how to harness her magic. What starts as simple research and floating pencils becomes a terror. The magic will take her over and almost destroy her as well as the world. But one of the most wonderful parts of the series is watching Willow learn how to use her magic as healing . Willow is an invaluable ally to Buffy – and is integral in saving the world in the last episode. In the end I wonder – who was the strongest Buffy or Willow .

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2021-10-06-10.20.12-PM-1024x576.png — Willow Blesses the Slayer’s Scythe to Save the World – Season 7 – episode 22 “Chosen”

The second Scooby was Xander

Xander Harris is just a super-powers or strength. At first glance he looks less than the other adolescent guys that surround Buffy. He has more of his share of teenage insecurities and his dysfunctional family give him terrible examples of adult relationships. At first glance he does not have much to offer Buffy. But we soon see evidence of how Xander’s loyalty and caring make him an unexpected strong soldier. When Xander follows Buffy into the vampire’s lair – a place that he has has no place in – we know that Xander is there for Buffy.

Xander fell for Buffy the second he saw her – literally. When Xander saw Buffy on the first day of school he fell off of his skateboard dazzled by her charm.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2021-10-06-11.01.26-PM-1024x576.png — Xander wipes out on his skateboard after seeing Buffy for the first time – Season one Episode One

The relationship between Xander and Buffy was not to be a romantic relationship, But it was one of Buffy’s longest lasting.

Xander is an unlikely warrior.

At first Xander just uses his love for Buffy and desire to do right to propel him.

But he is left with military powers after a mystical Halloween spent on the Hellmouth.

Xander’s real power is in his heart however, not his physical strength or military cunning. He is able to tap into emotions that the warriors cannot . He is the heart in the enjoining spell . And he is the one who can reign the grief-ridden Willow in when she is bound and determined to destroy the world. He does that not with might, but with love.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2021-10-07-10.54.19-PM-1024x576.png

Giles guided the Scoobies to Success

All Vampire Slayers had Watchers: but Buffy hit the jackpot with Giles.

First of all, he had real experience to back him up. In fact he had not been the stiff librarian they first knew but had been known as a hooligan who dealt with demons as a thrill and lark. This was dangerous territory that came back to haunt him when people from his past in particular Ethan Rayne and the demon Eyghon .

But always as a Watcher he had “field experience.” This is obvious if you compare him to Wesley, Faith’s watcher – who had only killed two vampires in “very controlled situations.” Although Giles did not have supernatural strength he was always brave and willing to risk his life for Buffy and the Scoobies.

And of course, he had the expected academic knowledge that he had gained as he studied years in Watchers’ Academy. He spoke many languages, even extinct languages.

Plus he had an extensive knowledge of the demon world , and was their go to person when they were researching a particular threat .

Besides all the practical help that Giles gave to Buffy and the Scoobies – he also gave him his heart. So much to hat he was dismissed from the council because of his feelings for Buffy.

In “Helpless” the watcher Travers said “She passed. You didn’t. The Slayer is not the only one who must perform in this situation. I’ve recommended to the Council, and they’ve agreed, that you be relieved of your duties as Watcher immediately. You’re fired.
Giles: On what grounds?
Travers: Your affection for your charge makes you incapable of clear and impartial judgement. You have a father’s love for the child and that makes you useless to the Cause.”

But actually, Giles would show over and over that he had much to offer- dynamiting the Mayor, and killing Ben to eliminate any chance of Glory coming back come to mind as two examples.

Cordelia, and Oz were Scooby Honorable Mentions

While Buffy, Xander and Willow were together through all the series to the end they did get some well needed help from other people.

Over the course of the series Cordelia developed as an ally of the group. It was hard for her to believe in the supernatural at first , but it seemed that they targeted her another times that she could not resist. She joined in with Scoobie study when she fell in love with Xander against all odds. At the end of season season Three on Graduation Day Part 2 she staked her first vampire. However, she was to move away from Sunnydale to LA and join with Angel fighting crime, and there she really rose to be a hero.

Oz was Willow’s first lover . He was the sexy, silent guy boyfriend of Willow who just happened to be a werewolf as he was bitten by his toddler cousin Jordy. As Oz fell in love with Willow he joined in with researching with Willow. And what an aid he was – he applied his genius to the book research as they waded through huge tomes of ancient text, as well as well as being a fighter in his own right.

The Scoobies had two Vampire allies – Angel and Spike

At different times both Vampires were at mortal enemies and lovers to Buffy.

They also had essential roles as allies to the group in the fight against evil.

Angel the vampire with the soul had been called to watch over Buffy. But he didn’t realize that he was going to fall in love with her. Therefore he was even more dedicated and loyal than he would have been otherwise. And he was the kind of guy who you wanted on your side. Incredible physical strength, and knowledge of the mystical world, as well as 269 years of life experience gave him a lot to offer the group.

He was helpful many times in the Scoobies -success from rescuing Buffy many times, to providing the historical data that was needed to fight many demons and other threats – often as much as Giles.

Soon after meeting Buffy he fell in love with her. Ironically and tragically it was through their love that he lost her soul again -as the one moment of happiness they shared caused his essential soul to disappear and for him to become a monster again.

Spike came to be of help to the group in a much more circuitous route . He was strictly evil for most of the series -at one time threatening to kill Buffy.

And it was not an idle threat – Spike had fought two Slayers in his lifetime and killed both of them.

But he was slowed down by modern science. The Initiative was a hidden military compound that was able to implant a chip into his head that rendered him harmless.

For a while Spike moped around Sunnydale full of ennui and self-loathing. However, at first he started taking bribes from the Scoobies.

And when he found out that his chip allowed him to kill demons – he was a new man.

He became one of the teams most vigorous warriors, and again his knowledge was essential as when he helped Giles who had been turned into a Fyarl. Because he spoke Fyarl, he was about to get Giles to safely. And because he had been captured by the Initiative he was able to provide valuable information about that.

Spike’s change occurred when he fell in love with Buffy. Believe me, he is not happy about it -after he woke up after a passionate dream with Buffy – his first words were “Oh god no.”

More and more he fought to help her. He drove the big bus to get away from Glory and said ” I should have just taken you and little sis and gone away.”

He was an essential part of fighting Glory- the unbeatable foe.

He surprised us all by “giving Buffy what she wants” and having his soul restored – an incredibly tortuous and painful process.

And in the final season he was essential to saving the world.

Both vampires were super sexy – check out this Buffy, Angel and Spike T-shirt to see if you agree.

Three mystical allies Dawn, Anya and Tara were aids of the mystical nature

A Dawn was not brought to Buffy to help her – but because the monks knew that she would save her. Dawn was the precious “Key” which was essential to Glory taking back her evil kingdom.

She was a typical rebellious teenager, but had those mystical origins as well as being the Slayer’s sister.

But in the end , Buffy and Dawn became very close, and Dawn learned how to fight. Buffy tried to keep her away from the fight – but she refused it, even at the final battle.

We first meet Anya season 3 episode 9 “The Wish.” as she starts Sunnydale high. Cordelia Chase is still hurting from the betrayal of Xander – for which he blames Buffy for some reason. Cordelia says to her ” I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale” and Anya reveals herself to be Anyanka – the vengeance demon who wishes the grants of scorned women. She makes Cordelia’s wish true – and wishes them into a hell time where the Master was the ultimate ruler and he people were slaves or always running away from the vampires , Giles is able to restore the present by breaking her jewel that Cordelia is wearing – and Anya becomes a regular person. She is not happy about that, but she becomes an aid to the group – much because of her love for Xander. She helps Xander mature into a man. And again, since she was a mystical being that lived over 1000 years – she has much knowledge that she is able to bring to the group. She too fights in the final battle, although sadly she is not victorious.

Tara was Willow’s beloved, who was able to finally give her the love she deserved. She also was a powerful witch and provided knowledge to the group they needed. But also she was strong – and when she and Willow combined – they were almost unbeatable.

The Scoobies were dear friends – with challenging relationships

As the series grew, the relationships between the Scoobies grew more and more.Over and over they would help each other through impossible challenges, and even in getting past personal challenges. But there were times when they were very torn apart; when the challenges just got to be too much.You see one of the most terrifying times above when a grief stricken Willow was set on destroying the world and Xander healed her with love.

Another time was in the episode “The Yoko Factor,” where Spike turns the group against each other by playing on each members insecurities.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2021-12-16-9.46.33-PM-1-1024x576.png — The gang splits apart in “The Yoko Factor”

Even in the last season, the group had a serious split as the Potential Slayers and even her own family and the Scoobies turned against Buffy and made her literally leave her own house.

But the fact that they were able to reunite shows the strength of their love – and the power they brought to fight evil.

What the Scoobies gave to Buffy

Hours, upon hours, upon long, long hours researching ancient impossible to read texts in search for a clue on how to beat that season’s unbeatable foe. Plus all the computer research!
Fearlessly going into battle (even when they were shaking in their boots) whenever they were needed.
But most of us love for each other – and it is that love that made us love the Scoobies and indeed the series.

The Scoobies made the Slayer what she was.

It was not normal for Slayers to have a gang – in “The Wish” Buffy learns of the Master and then tells Giles ” I work alone” when he to help her. She dies tragically in that episode. However, in the series where the Master does kill Buffy – she is restored to life by Xander who is helped by Angel. The Scoobies made her stronger.

In the mythology that is the Buffyverse – Buffy is the strongest slayer that has ever lived. But it is essential to realize how much her friends were a part of this. In season 6 – “Seeing Red” Xander comes to Buffy and asks where the villain Warren is. She said that the police got two of the members of the “Trio” – Xander says that “He won’t be much without his friends.” Buffy softly says – “No he won’t,” alluding to some splits that are going on it in the group.

But the folks in Buffy were always able to eventually heal their rifts. In the end they were able to join together and conquer impossible odds to make peace in their little corner of the world.

Interested in Scooby stickers and T shirts? Check out these great options for Scooby stuff on Redbubble

Even in the last season, the group had a serious split as the Potential Slayers and even her own family and the Scoobies turned against Buffy and literally had her leave her own group.

But somehow they were able to work through their grief and hurt – over and over. And the unity that they brought made them able to save the world at the final battle.

Hours, upon hours, upon long, long hours researching ancient impossible to read texts in search for a clue on how to beat that season’s unbeatable foe. Plus all the computer research!
Fearlessly going into battle (even when they were shaking in their boots) whenever they were needed.
But most of us love for each other – and it is that love that made us love the Scoobies and indeed the series.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 Episode 2

The Harvest

While it is probably not the best episode of Buffy – The Harvest is one of the most meaningful to watch, as it sets out the major players and themes of the show.

We left our heroine Buffy in desperate peril at the ending of the last episode. She is trapped in a coffin with the huge monster vampire “Luc” pressing her down and preparing to bite and kill her.

Luckily, as he gets close to her he comes against her cross (the one Angel gave her previously) and he recoils as his skin starts to burn. Buffy takes advantage of this and kicks him off of her, and then is able to escape.

Good timing – because she is able to save both of her new friends – Willow and Xander. Unfortunately she is not afraid to save Jesse and he is captured and taken away to the Master by “that girl” aka uber-vamp Darla.

Giles tells them the truth about this world – which is not what it seems.

They return to the library, which will remain as the meeting place for them until the end of season three.

They are met by Giles, the school librarian who is also Buffy’s “vampire Slayer watcher.” He summarizes what they are facing, and how the world is not as they have believed.

I believe that what he said is really worth studying – enough that I want to present it to you essentially word for word. I hope it also gives you an idea of the phenomenal writing of the series.

Giles started “This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth – made it their home – made it their hell. In time they lost their purchase on this reality. A way was made for mortal animals – for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges – certain magicks – certain creatures.”

Buffy – “And vampires.”

Xander – “Ok, this is where have a problem. We are talking about vampires. We’re having a talk in it.”

Willow – “Wasn’t that what we saw last night?”

Buffy – “No they were just guys in desperate need of a facial. …..And the part where that guy turned to dust – just a trick of light. “

Buffy then explained that was what she thought when she was first exposed to vampires, along with the sheer terror. But then she gradually realized that it was real – and learned how to deal in a world with vampires.

Buffy travelled into the Master’s lair to save Jesse.

As Darla and Luc bring her Jesse to the Master – and worse a Jesse that has been tasted by Darla, the Master realizes that he has more than just something to eat – he has bait. He knows that the Slayer will not be able to turn away from one of her new friends, and she is ready to risk her life for his.

The Master knows that when he has her in his lair, he will have her where he wants her. Vulnerable and surrounded by vampires.

But she does it anyway. Giles stays back at the library and researched what he can about the Master, and what is going to happen during this once in a century opportunity for the Master to rise out of his underground prison. Giles explains that the Master came to the Hellmouth to rule decades ago – but was trapped underground because of an earthquake.

Willow is frustrated that she cannot help – but Giles explains that she can help with computer research. This will be common in the series – Willow Rosenberg is brilliant on the computer – “a whiz if ever a whiz there was.”

Xander wants to come with Buffy, but she does not want him to – she is the Slayer and she does not want her friends to get hurt or worse. He agrees, but ends up sneaking into the crypt after her. He explains that he has a friend at risk – and he is coming to save him.

And amazingly enough – he is helpful. This is another pattern through-out the series – even though Xander appears to be a useless donut toting jokester – he is actually brave, loyal and one of Buffy’s most reliable soldiers.

And in this situation he may even have saved her life, as they escape the tunnel together.

Buffy has one more helper on this quest – the tall mysterious stranger who has been giving her cryptic messages. In the clip below we learn that his name is “Angel.”

Unfortunately in spite of the help, they are unable to save Jesse. He has been turned into a vampire.

The Master prepares to rise – using the blood of Luc to strength him

It appeared that the Master was mystically trapped underground. When the Slayer and Xander return from their unsuccessful rescue, Giles and Willow tell him of the situation. For the first time we hear the words “it is the end of the world.”

Giles explained that the Master had come to the shores of Sunnydale 60 years ago – planning not just to feed but to take advantage of the energy of the “Hellmouth” – what the Spanish had called “Boca del Infierno.” He would have released Hell on Earth then, but he was trapped down underneath by a huge Earthquake, caught in between the Portal of Earth and the one where the Old Ones lived.

Of course the Master’s obsessive desire becomes to unchain himself and rise up.

To do that he needed a vessel.

And he has one in Luc, the vampire that Buffy had met before. Because they were mystically bound, every time Luc fed, the Master grew stronger.

The gang and Buffy try to save the World – by stopping the carnage at the Bronze.

It seems that Luc and his gang have decided to raid the local club “the Bronze” for teenage blood to help the Master rise. That is a common theme – blood is tied with power and sexuality.

Buffy and her gang work as a team to rescue the kids as stop the vampires. Especially Luc, the vessel; who Buffy can recognize by the sign on his forehead.

They are able to work together well, with one snag when Xander is faced with his best friend Jesse who has turned into a vampire and is hence the enemy. As Giles explains he is not looking at “Jesse but instead the monster who killed him.” Xander cannot believe it, and in fact is faced with having a stake in his hand, but being unable to use it. Jesse is accidentally killed when someone bumps into him as they escape and he stakes himself upon the stake that Xander is holding.

Buffy comes against Luc – who is again hard to fight. Actually she is able to fight him using trickery only – which is common.

This episode is essential viewing for anyone learning the Buffyverse

I have mentioned that this is not the best episode of the series. The characters have not matured, and there is none of the special settings like in “Hush,” “Once more with Feeling,” or “The Body.”

But it certainly is enjoyable, and it is essential for the world building of the series.

First of all, we get a closer look at all of the main characters that build up the series. We see how Buffy has a loving mother, a Watcher she trusts – and friends, which are what set her apart from all the other Slayers before.

We even see more minor characters – like school rich bitch – Cordelia.

We understand more about the Master who is going to be essential for the rest of the season. And learn that once a person becomes a vampire, like Jesse – they probably feel great, but the real person is gone.

And we understand the world of Sunnydale – normal Southern California city and school above ground and a living Hell underground.

In fact, Xander and Willow are shocked to see how the students who were with them at the Bronze said that nothing supernatural had happened, describing it instead as rival gangs who just happened to know Buffy.

Plus we hear for the first time – but not the end by far – “the end of the world.”

The second episode of Buffy creates a world that we have to learn more about!

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