Into every generation...

[Feigenbaum]

We all know the drill:

"Into every generation a slayer is born... etc"

My husband asked me this question the other day about this famous Buffy phrase. What exactly does it mean, because it is kind of confusing.

Generally speaking, a generation is a large amount of years. For example, your grandparents are a generation, your parents are a generation and you are a generation. Or it can be a cohort group sort of, like Generation X. So, how exactly does this play out?

If there is only one slayer born every generation, how would they get a new slayer when one died, considering that slayers have short shelf-life. And how do the potentials fit into all this? If only one slayer is born into a generation, what about potential slayers?

I've always wondered about the ages of the slayers we've seen presented on the show. Were Buffy/Faith/Kendra the same age? If they were, how could they all be chosen, if only one is chosen per generation.

This is a question that I'd like to answer. And I'm having a hard time figuring it out. Hopefully, fellow smart Buffy-Board members you will have some interesting input about this situation.

 

[eponinethen]

Yeah, this always bothered me. But I just figured it was a saying, sort of. It sounds good. And when they came up with that "in every generation a slayer is born" thing, they hadn't thought about the whole potential thing, I guess, so.. But yeah, it doesn't really work, logically..
Because yes, at least Buffy and Faith were almost the same age, and definitely the same generation.

(But I hate trying to explain things with the words "they just didn't think about it"..)

 

[Angelic Slayer]

I think when they're talking about the whole "in every generation" thing, they're more referring to the idea that when one slayer dies, another one is called (instead of in a generation such as parents-grandparents etc.) From what I understand there is a large number of girls out there who have the potential to be the slayer (aka potentials) From what we saw on BTVS it seems like SOME are assigned watchers at a younger age to train for/if they are called (obviously some aren't such as in Buffy's case).

Since a lot of slayers don't live very long, it would kind of make sense that they would be around the same age (around 15-17 years old) when they are called. Although I'm not positive on how the actual "being called" process works, I think it's that out of all the girls, the one with the greatest potential in them recieves the powers of the slayer once the current one dies.

That's the best explaination I can think of, the whole thing seems somewhat confusing! I think the best way to describe it is "One slayer dies, the next one is called, and the guys who created the first slayer just sucked at math" 😉

 

[Slaying_Spuffy]

Oh. I'm so retarded, I always thought of generation as a lifetime. Like "Into each life time, a slayer is born" Geez, I'm dumb! :hidesofa:

 

[Feigenbaum]

Thanks for your interesting point of views!

It is such a tricky thing. I'm starting to believe that it's just a 'catch phrase' of BtVS, and did not come into relevance while developing the potential storyline.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

I think it's there because it sounded great as a hookline...or it was magick, or "a wizard did it"😉

 

[Xander]

Well you could say in one way when a Slayer dies she gives birth to a new Slayer, in a mother-like way. As a generation counts as the gap between a parent and child (thats one definition anyway) technically it could work.

Or just "Everytime one Slayer offs it another is called" doesn't sound so good.

 

[Morbid_Much]

Wow, I never thought about that! Your hubby had a good question!

I agree with Xander. There are all these girls who have the potential to slay, but when a slayer dies, she passes her 'gift' onto another. So in a way, that is like giving birth to another slayer.

 

[goldenboy]

I think It should be "Into every generation, 2 or 3 Slayers are born", but it just doesn't sound quite as lyrical that way. Isn't the lifespan of a typical Slayer supposed to be about 10 years max?

I think most people consider a "human generation" to be about 20 years cause you're an adult at roughly 20.

Course you could just say, yes, every generation has it's Slayers, it's an unbroken, unbreakable line.

 

[Innocence]

It is seeming that there is a problem with the statement. Goldenboy's opinion about having two or three slayers into every generation just doesn't have the same punch.

 

[MentPatient]

Maybe it's supposed to specify which generation, like the teens. 'Cause the Slayers are all teens, maybe it's saying that the teen generation is where the Slayer shall be chosen from.

I got lost halfway through...

 

[TheChosenOne]

I think it's there because it sounded great as a hookline...or it was magick, or "a wizard did it"😉

I agree, it makes it sound dramatic.

But like most of you are saying I believe it means when one dies another is called.

Like the idea about the Slayer giving birth, like she releases her power which is born into a new potential.

 

[Primal Slayer]

well you also have to think about orignated the whole prophecy thing about slayers, back than im assume that Slayers lasted a lot longer than 2 or 3 years, like The First Slayer who probably survived a while.