Buffy the Vampire Slayer took the late 1990s by storm and is still a beloved series in the years since, with there being fans who loved the show when it came out and others who discovered it years later. However, times have changed since the ’90s, so certain stories might hit a little different than they did when the show first aired.
Some episodes accidentally show their age from how differently the story would play out with modern technology. Other times, a story or idea presented in an episode might have become a heated topic over the years. Characters viewers are meant to sympathize with, for example, might behave in a way modern viewers wouldn’t agree with.
That’s not to say viewers of the 1990s didn’t notice things, but things can become more pronounced after certain issues have gained more prominence. Likewise, some real-life issues over the series’ cast and crew, such as accusations of Joss Whedon’s workplace harassment on the show, can also impact modern viewers when rewatching the series.
10 The Costume Party
Season 2, Episode 4 – “Inca Mummy Girl”
“Inca Mummy Girl” revolves around Sunnydale High welcoming foreign exchange students. However, trouble starts when the titular Inca mummy, referred to as a “princess,” arises from her tomb. Draining victims of their life-force so that she can take the form of a human girl, she steals the identity of Buffy’s would-be foreign house guest, Ampata, and soon sets her eyes on Xander.
Though Ampata’s Princess Costume Suits Her
The climax of the story takes place at a school-sponsored dance, where the kids are encouraged to dress up in the national outfits of various cultures. In the 1990s, the event was likely meant to promote cultural awareness. However, modern viewers could be see as cultural appropriation, especially as most of the American students don’t take the idea too seriously and seem to treat the event like a costume party.
Notably, Willow dons an “Eskimo” costume. While the idea is meant to be that Willow is the only student to take the idea seriously, the costume hasn’t aged well over the years. Interestingly, Xander’s cowboy costume, a nod to Spaghetti Westerns, is probably meant to imply he just slapped something on together, but arguably comes off as one of the less insulting outfits out of context.
9 The Teacher/Student Romance
Season 2, Episode 19 – “I Only Have Eyes for You”
“I Only Have Eyes for You” revolves around ghosts haunting Sunnydale High, both literal and figurative, around the time of the Sadie Hawkins dance. The plot kicks in when Buffy stops a student from shooting another. The gun mysteriously disappears and the two have no memory of why they were fighting. It comes to light that, in the 1950s, a teacher had an affair with one of her students, and things turned deadly when she tried to end the affair.
Ghosts of the Past
The ghosts routinely possess people, constantly repeating the fatal mistake. Things get resolved, however, when the student and the teacher possess Buffy and Angel, respectively. As Angel is a vampire, he survives the gunshot, allowing the ghosts to reconcile.
For modern viewers, the idea of a school shooting can already bring to mind many real-life tragedies that have happened in recent years. In addition, the narrative effectively treats the teacher and student as a pair of star-crossed lovers who reunite in the afterlife. With cases of teachers sexually assaulting students coming to light over the years, a modern show probably wouldn’t portray the teacher in such a sympathetic light.
Interestingly, the earlier episode, “Teacher’s Pet,” portrays a female teacher preying on students as a monster, especially as she turns out to be a literal monster.
8 The Show’s Treatment of Romani
Season 2
Angel is famously the vampire cursed to have a human soul, though the details of his story have proven problematic over the years. Years prior to the start of the series, Angel had claimed the life of a young maiden belonging to, and said to be a “favorite,” among a Romani clan known as the Kalderash. As a vampire is effectively a demon possessing a corpse, restoring his human soul also came with remorse and a conscience.
Though Jenny Preferred Tech to Magic
The show frequently uses the term “gypsy” to describe the Romani people, a term that has been considered offensive over the years. Characters are even credited with the word. Interestingly, in his namesake episode, Angel actually does use the word “Romani” to describe the Kalderash, before realizing Buffy doesn’t recognize the word. Likewise, the idea of portraying the Roma people as having genuine supernatural powers ties into stereotypes associating them with the occult.
Of course, as some viewers have noted, Jenny Calendar, or Janna of the Kalderash, is revealed to be a member of the tribe that cursed Angel and is portrayed as a sympathetic character. Not only does she prefer technology to magic, she attempts to free Angel of his curse, although she unfortunately meets her end at the hands of Angelus, the vampire’s soulless alter-ego.
Related
Famous Actors Who Almost Played Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s iconic turn as Buffy nearly went to someone else back in the day. Here’s a detailed look at the top contenders.
Season 4, Episode 22 – “Restless”
Long before Buffy was called to fight the forces of evil, Sineya was the original Vampire Slayer, having been merged with a demon by the Shadow Men. Having become an outcast among her village, she firmly believed that the Slayer’s lot in life is to be a lonely one. When Buffy harnesses the full power of the Slayer line in a ritual, Sineya attacks Buffy and her friends in their dreams.
The Original Slayer Deserved More Respect
During their confrontation, Buffy insults Sineya’s appearance, particularly her dreadlocks, saying, “In terms of hair care, you really wanna say, what kind of impression am I making in the workplace?” After the natural hair movement, which started in the 1960s, regained prominence in the 2000s, many viewers have especially found Buffy’s comment racist and petty.
6 Angel & Buffy’s Incredibly Creepy Age Gap
Most of the Series
Due to the supernatural nature of the series, many characters are much older than they appear. One of the first such relationships in the series, seeing the Slayer falling in love with a vampire cursed with a soul, right when she was a teenage girl.
Angel’s Been Watching Over Buffy Since Hemery High
Over the years, there have been questions over whether these age gaps, even fantastic ones, are appropriate. While some of the characters start relationships when the human characters are at least adults, Buffy was 16 when she first met Angel, who was 24 when he was transformed into a vampire and has been that age for over two centuries. Adding to this, it’s later revealed that Angel had been watching over Buffy since she lived in Los Angeles.
Another complicated detail about their relationship is that it’s unclear what parts of Angel’s personality are from Liam, the human he once was, or the demon possessing him. This means the Angel Buffy fell in love with is a product of the curse that restored his soul, suggesting Buffy’s in love with a fantasy.
5 The Predatory Implications of “Hush”
Season 4, Episode 10 – “Hush”
“Hush” is one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s most famous episodes, in which mysterious beings called the Gentlemen cast a spell over the town, stealing voices and later hearts on the cover of night. While a human voice can kill them, this has the added effect of no one hearing the victims when they scream for help.
The Story Also Might Work Differently With Cell Phones
One of the scariest aspects of the story is that viewers are never told just why the Gentlemen are collecting hearts. Some modern viewers have noted the villains serve as a parallel to sexual predators, from stealing “hearts” to attacking their victims on a college campus. While not necessarily lost on viewers of the late 1990s, this might be more pronounced after the MeToo movement has brought more issues of sexual harassment and assault on real-life colleges to light.
Another aspect of the story that shows its age is how people have to interact when their voices are taken away. This is explored in different ways, with characters finding different ways to communicate or even learning that language is a barrier. Of course, the story might not work as well if it took place today, as the characters would probably just use cell phones to text each other.
4 The Dated Use of Technology in “I, Robot… You, Jane”
Season 1, Episode 8 – “I, Robot… You, Jane”
In “I, Robot… You, Jane,” Willow meets a boy online, who calls himself “Malcolm.” Little does she realize he is really a demon who has been uploaded onto the internet after an ancient book was scanned online.
“If You’re Not Jacked In, You’re Not Alive”
The message warning young people about the dangers of talking to strangers online was somewhat ahead of its time, but the way technology is presented in the episode is somewhat dated. At one point, When Willow, who is usually meant to be the show’s most computer-savvy character, starts getting annoyed with “Malcolm,” she tries to shut off the computer by turning off the monitor. When Willow and “Malcolm” are chatting together, the text is typed in real time instead of appearing simultaneously.
Another interesting point is Giles and Jenny Caldeniar’s discussions of the virtues of books versus technology. Giles favor information in its classic form, while Jenny points out that technology can make knowledge more accessible. As people have gradually begun to read and obtain more information from technology over the years, it’s easier for modern viewers to side more with Jenny’s position.
Related
10 Actors Who Were on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Before They Became Famous
Whether playing major parts or mere extras, these 10 actors’ appearances on Buffy made for a great story and set the stage for massive future fame.
3 The Potential School Shooting
Season 3, Episode 22 – “Earshot”
In “Earshot,” Buffy starts to hear what the people around her are thinking after a fight with some demons. Initially played for humor, things take a serious turn when Buffy overhears the thought, “This time tomorrow, I’ll kill you all,” in the cafeteria. Suspicion falls on cynical school newshound Freddy and lonely outcast Jonathan, who has even brought a gun to school.
The Episode Actually Had To Be Delayed
The plot, which revolves around a plan to kill students and a possible school shooting, has become an unfortunate reality thanks to real-life cases of school shootings taking place, such as the Columbine and Uvalde school shootings. In fact, the episode was originally set to air around the time of the Columbine Massacre, and ended up being delayed because of the tragedy.
Another point of interest is the story’s twist: Jonathan wasn’t planning on hurting his classmates, but was planning on taking his life, although Buffy is ultimately able to stop him in time. This is somewhat played as a joke, as Buffy doesn’t realize Jonathan’s true intentions until she’s already talked him out of it. With recent discussions of mental health awareness, it can be surprising how lightly the story takes the issue.
2 Spike Assaulting Buffy
Season 6, Episode 19 – “Seeing Red”
Spike, often considered the series’ breakout character, has worn many hats, being a villain, an anti-hero, and even a possible love-interest for Buffy. However, Buffy and Spike’s romance isn’t always the healthiest. In “Seeing Red,” Spike wants to convince Buffy that she loves him, but is just having trouble admitting it.
Buffy doesn’t deny having feelings for him, but feels she cannot love someone she doesn’t trust. Thinking sex will convince her, Spike tries to force himself on her, although Buffy is able to stop him in time.
Some Fans Even Stopped Shipping Buffy & Spike Thanks to the Scene
Notably, Spike is horrified by what he nearly did and tries to apologize, but Buffy points out that he only stopped because she effectively made him. Interestingly, this moment is used to set up his search for redemption.
The infamous scene has brought about a lot of debate from audiences, especially since the Me Too movement brought deeper discussions of rape and assault. Many fans feel the series treated the subject too lightly, with Spike getting off too easy for what he tried to do.
1 Cordelia Being Threatened & Ignored
Season 2, Episode 2 – “Some Assembly Required”
“Some Assembly Required” is Buffy‘s take on the Frankenstein story. A nerdy classmate has reanimated his dead brother and is planning to make him the perfect mate, using parts from different girls. Unfortunately, brain tissue doesn’t last too long, meaning a fresh one is needed, and three girls are chosen as candidates: Buffy, Willow, and Cordelia.
Charisma Carpenter Has Spoken Out On the Show’s “Toxic Environment”
The monster ultimately chooses Cordelia for his new companion, leading to her being kidnapped and nearly losing her head. Seeing Cordelia threatened like this can be hard to watch since, in later years, her actress Charisma Carpenter has since discussed the “toxic environment” of the show during her time playing the character, notably making a statement against series creator Joss Whedon.
When Cordelia is rescued, she tries to thank Xander, only for him to ignore her in favor of Willow. Fortunately, in real life, Carpenter wasn’t so easily brushed over, with other Buffy and Angel alumni showing support for her claims.
