This article contains references to sexual assault and discussions of mental health issues
If people thought that Buffy The Vampire Slayer was long forgotten, they be sorely wrong, because many of the cast members are going to be back for next year's Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, including stars, such as James Marsters and Charisma Carpenter.
Many of them might wish to rewatch the show before attending the panel to refresh their memories, but the show might not be all they remember. When it comes with a show as old as Buffy, it makes sense that some things wouldn't hit the same after all those years, and that fans would have to face some harsh realities.
Angel Was Creepy
Not only did it turn out that Angel had more than a checkered past, but his actions in the present were also deeply questionable. He stalked Buffy before ever introducing himself - stating it was under the ruse of protecting her.
His relationship with Buffy has also made for uncomfortable viewing considering it started when she was 16 and he was a vampire who was nearly 300 years old (so there was quite a clear power imbalance present). His whole story arc in the first two seasons is just creepy.
The Scooby Gang Treated Buffy Horribly
Even if disagreeing was a natural part of growing friendships, there was a clear disdain Buffy's former best friends seemed to feel for her in the later seasons. They ignored the fact that she was in financial trouble (which they helped cause) and ignored the fact that she was struggling with her mental health.
They idolized her to the point that if she even did make a mistake, she faced severe backlash for it. It seemed like no one took the time to understand the burden she had to carry as one of humanity's most important saviors or what she sacrificed in the process.
The Show's Ignorance Of Mental Health
The characters on the show all went through a variety of trauma but were never seen to deal with the effects or impact. The show did a good job of portraying Buffy's depression after her brutal return from heaven. However, she gets zero support from her friends (as some of these Buffy memes perfectly capture).
With all the death and tragedy, none of the gang actually seeks out professional help. They could have all benefited from it, but unfortunately, the Watcher Council didn't predict the need for a mental health professional, just like they did not predict the slayer would also need a salary.
Xander Was A Jerk Towards Buffy For Not Being As Interested In Him
In the beginning, Xander was a dumb but endearing character that everybody seemed to love. However, the writers were not generous with the character development of Xander, and he often made petty comments that were beneath him. The comments often seemed to have something to do with Buffy's choice of men.
The fact was that even though Xander seemed to be in a happy relationship with someone else, he never seemed to get over the rejection from Buffy. He idolized her to the point where she could never live up to his expectations and then acted disappointed when she didn't. Even the Buffy fans on Twitter noticed it (as these tweets show).
Faith's Problematic Scenes The Show Never Addressed
The show has had its share of problematic scenes (especially when it comes to the character, Faith). Although Faith was a villain at the beginning of her arc, there were some things she did that fans have felt extremely uncomfortable about. For example, after Faith took over Buffy's body, she slept with someone without Buffy's consent. There were also two plots where the writers brushed over the fact that Riley and Xander had been sexually assaulted by Faith as well.
What has made fans particularly feel uncomfortable about these storylines was that Faith was never punished for these crimes, but was, instead, given a redemption arc. The writers should have certainly addressed how Buffy, Riley, and Xander felt in the aftermath instead of ignoring them,
Angel Was A Dull Character; Angelus Was Better
Teenagers everywhere were obsessed with Angel's broody nature. However, the harsh reality about coming back to the show years later is that Angel wasn't as exciting as he seemed back then. He barely ever talked, and he seemed to sulk most of the time.
Considering the entertainment factor, Angelus was far more successful in that department. He was funny and even though he was pure evil, his plans were entertaining to watch. It's an interesting discovery when rewatching the show as an adult. At some points he was even sympathetic as a Buffy villain.
Giles Leaving Buffy For Her Own Good Was Horrible
Giles was Buffy's father figure almost from the very beginning, and even though as her Watcher he wasn't supposed to get attached to her, he did. For a couple of seasons, he always seemed to be there for her when she needed him. However, there was a horrible moment later in the show, where Giles failed her as a friend, as a father figure, as a Watcher.
After Buffy was forcibly pulled out of heaven and brought back from the dead, she struggled with everything. She was depressed, she had financial issues, a sister to take care of, and her mother was gone. Giles decided to leave for her own good, because she'd become too dependent on him, but the timing was horrible, and it's hard to see Buffy so down.
Spike Was Better As A Villain
Debates about whether Spike's redemption arc was any good or not are still hot after all these years, and while some fans on Twitter believe he was fully redeemed, others think he had selfish reasons for doing every single good deed. But most people seem to agree that Spike was simply better off as a villain.
Firstly, he brought incredible humor relief to the serious nature of the show. Even though he remained hilarious throughout, he was funnier when he was evil. But even more importantly, he was one of the show's best villains, and nothing was really the same after he crossed over to the good side.
Buffy Is Better Off On Her Own
The debate about which ship was better - Bangel or Spuffy - was a popular one, and still is today. But whether fans believe that Angel or Spike is better for Buffy, upon rewatching the show, it becomes clear that Buffy is a lot better on her own.
She's a human girl, and vampire boyfriends only brought more angst into her already tragic life. So her ending up on her own, with a promise of a new tomorrow really was the most perfect ending they could have written for her.
Source:gamerant.com