Is the "Buffy is always alone" theme a little played out?

[Robb Stark]

This was a theme that was pushed hard for all seven seasons of BTVS, and despite the seeming resolution of it in "Chosen", was renewed again with the publication of S8. I haven't read S9 yet, so I can't fairly comment on how things are progressing there. However, thinking about it a bit, is the "Buffy is always alone" concept a little tired? I don't know if it ever got to the point for me where it seriously detracted from the quality of the show, but it did in S8. After Buffy's primary arc in S7, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put a close on the loneliness theme. And then, first issue of S8...it's back.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of S8 to begin with, but I remember thinking, "didn't we JUST finish covering this? What's the point of doing it again?". I don't mind the presence of it to a certain degree, but it was always heavily prominent. I don't know how many comic fans we have on BB, but as an avid Batman reader, I can attest that themes of isolation, separation and loneliness can be covered well and still reach a point where the character and reader can move on from the same place with them. Bruce Wayne always has that dimension to his character, but major story arcs like "War Games", "Under the Hood" and the relaunched "Batman and Robin" title also clearly establish that Batman has found a way to connect with his family and deal with those feelings.

The same seems to apply with Angel (until quite recently at least). Compare Angel from his early days on BTVS and S1 of his own series with how he is in S3 and beyond. He still retains the same core aspects of his character which make him, well, "him", but he progresses at the same time. His relationships with his team evolve and grow, and as a result he does as well, all while keeping the things that make him cool to begin with. I can't say the same about Buffy.

I get that isolation is designed as a metaphor in many situations with Buffy, and that as "THE Slayer" that sense of isolation is a part of her, but I feel like that aspect of her hasn't really changed all that much, even if the show/comic says it has. What do you guys think?

 

[Kean]

In terms of S9 it is very much still on the table. Honestly, I don't have an issue with it simply because I don't think loneliness and isolation is ever something Buffy can put to bed. We have seen glimpses of what may have looked like it being "resolved," but as long as Buffy is alive and slaying, this is going to be something constantly explored. I think my only qualm is that it can be very heavy handed in its depiction and I prefer a subtler approach.

As to Angel, he has moved on because he had people in his life that encouraged and nurtured him to do so, people who facilitated that growth even. Buffy doesn't have a Cordy or a Wesley looking out for her personal, emotional well being. I'm not trying to put this on other people but I think it has been glaringly obvious for several seasons that Buffy lacks that kind of influence in her life. For me, it isn't being the Slayer that isolates Buffy, it's her lack of a genuine emotional support and her apparent inability to connect to new people.

 

[Blaze]

Keep in mind this post comes from a person that hasn't read the comic 😛 But as for s1-7, I don't think the loneliness is played out. This is actually the one thing that really makes me connect to Buffy. Of course I'm no slayer, but the way she feels is exactly the way I feel most of the time. I think the whole "the slayer is always alone" is what makes this show, it's the premise of the whole thing, and how Buffy is somewhat able to overcome that even if it's still always a part of her.

Now, I might get tired of it in the comics, because they really took out the premise by having thousands of slayer, but it's actually a neat concept that they showed that even with numbers, the feeling can persist. Everything is in the execution, so I guess if they did that wrong, I can see how it would get annoying.

I also really like the path that Angel took though, but he's very different from Buffy. He was shown to be a group person as a vampire (we don't see many vamp that teams up like the fang four), so I do believe belonging and connecting to people was always his thing, even though he was a bit of a loner for a few seasons. I think it makes much more sense for him to have that evolution and find people that can be his "family" in comparison to Buffy, who even surrounded by friends has that feeling of not belonging there.

 

[EVIL UU]

Buffy's isolation and loneliness is actually an utter bullshit, it's an illusion Buffy created to feel good about herself. It's just a pile of garbage in her head, in reality, she is loved. She has friends, lovers, family members, all of them in the know, all of them ready to be there for her.
[MENTION=11975]Robb Stark[/MENTION]

However, thinking about it a bit, is the "Buffy is always alone" concept a little tired?

It is. It got old in season 2 and largely nonsensical the moment Kendra showed up. There, another slayer, go, make friends, connect, you're not alone. OK, they're not hostile but they're not exactly bonding, right?

And then, first issue of S8...it's back.

The writers tried to tackle the issue of Buffy feeling lonely and isolated among thousands of slayers in "The Beautiful Sunset" and surprise, surprise, we got nothing, more of nothing and Xander's ridiculous theory. On the other hand, Buffy kinda started to build a connection with Satsu but promptly pushed her away and ran. Monsters and apocalypses she can handle but happiness rears it's ugly head? Panic. Shock. Terror.

 

[Robb Stark]

I never really understood the "Buffy will always be alone because she's the Slayer" angle. Really, it kind of feels like a cop out for semi-lazy storytelling. Think about it. Buffy feels compelled to keep slaying because she has the power to do so, and because she has that power it would be morally wrong of her not to do so. I fully agree with that. But that isn't unique to Buffy. It's not because she's "The Slayer". Yes, being the Slayer grants her powers, but Willow has powers. Angel has powers. Spike has powers. Giles and Wesley have uncommon knowledge about the supernatural that gives them the ability to fight. All of these people, among others, have the ability, power or capacity to fight evil and they all do it because it's the right thing to do. That isn't unique to Buffy simply because she's called "The Slayer".

Seriously. Why does Buffy "have" to fight evil anymore than Spike? Or Angel? She doesn't. They're both relatively in the same power sphere as Buffy, Faith or the other Slayers.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

I never really understood the "Buffy will always be alone because she's the Slayer" angle. Really, it kind of feels like a cop out for semi-lazy storytelling.

To play off your sig, look at Batman--the iconic "loner" character in American culture, yet he's surrounded by more like-minded people than any other superhero!

Three major Robins, Alfred, Gordon, Batgirl, not to mention the entire Justice League--Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.--yet he's always classed the loner.

Honestly, as Kean touched on, Buffy is more alone in S9 than ever.

 

[Blaze]

I never really understood the "Buffy will always be alone because she's the Slayer" angle. Really, it kind of feels like a cop out for semi-lazy storytelling. Think about it. Buffy feels compelled to keep slaying because she has the power to do so, and because she has that power it would be morally wrong of her not to do so. I fully agree with that. But that isn't unique to Buffy. It's not because she's "The Slayer". Yes, being the Slayer grants her powers, but Willow has powers. Angel has powers. Spike has powers. Giles and Wesley have uncommon knowledge about the supernatural that gives them the ability to fight. All of these people, among others, have the ability, power or capacity to fight evil and they all do it because it's the right thing to do. That isn't unique to Buffy simply because she's called "The Slayer".

Seriously. Why does Buffy "have" to fight evil anymore than Spike? Or Angel? She doesn't. They're both relatively in the same power sphere as Buffy, Faith or the other Slayers.

To me, the whole point of Buffy is that she really doesn't have to be or feel alone. She has no reason to be or feel alone. You've said it perfectly, Buffy doesn't have to keep slaying, slaying isn't unique to her. But, Buffy herself feels that way. It's shown that although it is fairly common to slayers, that feeling isn't universal. We see Faith basicly embracing being the slayer. Now my point is, you don't need to have a reason to feel alone. Buffy puts the blame on her being a slayer, but it really is an underlying issue. Slaying just makes it worst.

I've been dealing with clinical depression for quite a while now, and I can really relate to that feeling of loneliness. I can blame it on whatever, but truth is I have a wonderful family and wonderful friends that for the most part have always been there to support me. Again, my point is that the feeling doesn't need to be brought on by anything. We're shown in season 6 that Buffy does have strong sign of depression. She also shows some glimpses of it in s2 in my opinion. I think bottom line is, Buffy feels like that not because she's the slayer directly, but indirectly because slaying adds pressure on top of everything. She feels like no one understand her (even if they do, that's not the point, Buffy doesn't feel that way).

Also, I believe Buffy shows some up and downs. In quite a few episodes, we see her show that she doesn't feel alone, or that she's at least reaching out for help. And then once in a while, it comes back up where she has those "nobody understands me" moments.

 

[brinkster130]

Personally, I do think it is a played out theme and mainly because she isn't actually alone. She has friends and family who love and support her and who she can share her slayer burden with. Compared to other slayers we've seen throughout the series she is anything but alone.

 

[NightLady]

I haven't read the comics, therefore I don't know how the "˜Buffy is alone' theme is handled there, but in the show I've never felt this... heaviness. Yes, once in a while it came through but to me it was not played out.

Also, I think that she had every reason to feel that way. But again, I'm talking only of the show; things should have changed after all the Slayer were activated!

 

[EVIL UU]

[MENTION=11975]Robb Stark[/MENTION]

Buffy feels compelled to keep slaying because she has the power to do so, and because she has that power it would be morally wrong of her not to do so.

I don't think it's that simple. Slaying for Buffy is instinctual, it's a hard-wired drive, not something that vampires or humans experience. So yeah, she is different, a unique creature at least pre-Kendra but she's not that different. This whole this is my fight no ancient prophecy about a chosen one and her friends it's destiny something that I can't change something that I can't escape blah blah blah is just Buffy's big ego and insecurities talking because if there are other people that can take care of hell mouth little miss me me me and her precious suffering stop being special. In reality, when Buffy's not up to speed Willow takes the lead and proves capable. This is the real reason why Buffy opposes Willow in the finale in season 6, Willow is simply making her obsolete. Anyway, I am alone because I'm the slayer is complete bullshit and Buffy freaking admits it in "Touched":

I cut myself off from them, all of them. I knew I was going to lose some of them and I didn't… You know what? I'm still making excuses. I've always cut myself off, I've always… being the Slayer made me different but it's my fault I stayed that way. People are always trying to connect to me but I just… slip away.

It's another major character moment that obviously goes down the drain in the comics. The writers really have no idea what to do with this character, don't they?

it would be morally wrong of her not to do so

I disagree. It's her life, there's nothing wrong about living it the way she wants to. If it involves not-slaying, that's fine with me. It's like telling a talented scientist that she should be working on finding a cure for cancer instead of doing research on worms or coding video games. Well, she's happy researching her worms or coding video games so that's what she should be doing, like Buffy, she owns humans nothing. If Buffy does not want to slay, instead concentrating on her career as a drummer in a punk rock band or whatever, this is what she should be doing. Humanity can handle itself, with 7 billion people and oh, thousands of slayers, it's not going extinct any time soon.

 

[Robb Stark]

To play off your sig, look at Batman--the iconic "loner" character in American culture, yet he's surrounded by more like-minded people than any other superhero!

Three major Robins, Alfred, Gordon, Batgirl, not to mention the entire Justice League--Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.--yet he's always classed the loner.

Honestly, as Kean touched on, Buffy is more alone in S9 than ever.

Well, I touched on Batman in the OP. I have no problem with loneliness or a sense of isolation cropping up, everyone goes through that from time to time (which makes it so connectable). The difference with Batman is that he comes to terms with it. They've dealt with those themes extensively in the Batman comics, and even though he still has those feelings, he knows now that he's not truly alone. Dick, Tim, Jason, Alfred, Damian and Barbara are his family. He knows that Clark Kent is his one true friend. He has love interests (Wonder Woman, Catwoman) that mean something to him.

I guess what I mean is that with Batman, he's progressed. His character has evolved. I don't get that sense from Buffy.

To me, the whole point of Buffy is that she really doesn't have to be or feel alone. She has no reason to be or feel alone. You've said it perfectly, Buffy doesn't have to keep slaying, slaying isn't unique to her. But, Buffy herself feels that way. It's shown that although it is fairly common to slayers, that feeling isn't universal. We see Faith basicly embracing being the slayer. Now my point is, you don't need to have a reason to feel alone. Buffy puts the blame on her being a slayer, but it really is an underlying issue. Slaying just makes it worst.

I've been dealing with clinical depression for quite a while now, and I can really relate to that feeling of loneliness. I can blame it on whatever, but truth is I have a wonderful family and wonderful friends that for the most part have always been there to support me. Again, my point is that the feeling doesn't need to be brought on by anything. We're shown in season 6 that Buffy does have strong sign of depression. She also shows some glimpses of it in s2 in my opinion. I think bottom line is, Buffy feels like that not because she's the slayer directly, but indirectly because slaying adds pressure on top of everything. She feels like no one understand her (even if they do, that's not the point, Buffy doesn't feel that way).

Also, I believe Buffy shows some up and downs. In quite a few episodes, we see her show that she doesn't feel alone, or that she's at least reaching out for help. And then once in a while, it comes back up where she has those "nobody understands me" moments.

Awesome, awesome post. I hadn't considered that maybe, Buffy is pretty depressed. She certainly goes through dark periods where she doesn't seem to see any sort of light at the end of the tunnel, where the weight of not just the world, but just living, gets her down so much. And you raise a great point. For the most part, it isn't slaying that causes this. It's Buffy.

[MENTION=11975]Robb Stark[/MENTION]


Anyway, I am alone because I'm the slayer is complete bullshit and Buffy freaking admits it in "Touched":



It's another major character moment that obviously goes down the drain in the comics. The writers really have no idea what to do with this character, don't they?

Interesting point, and another angle I hadn't really considered. I'd forgotten about that line from "Touched", but it's incredibly apt. It makes a lot of sense.

I disagree. It's her life, there's nothing wrong about living it the way she wants to. If it involves not-slaying, that's fine with me. It's like telling a talented scientist that she should be working on finding a cure for cancer instead of doing research on worms or coding video games. Well, she's happy researching her worms or coding video games so that's what she should be doing, like Buffy, she owns humans nothing. If Buffy does not want to slay, instead concentrating on her career as a drummer in a punk rock band or whatever, this is what she should be doing. Humanity can handle itself, with 7 billion people and oh, thousands of slayers, it's not going extinct any time soon.

We'll just disagree here. I think if you have the capacity to help people, to the extent where it's their lives immediately at stake, then you have an obligation to do so. However, that's just personal opinion, and while I don't see eye-to-eye with your view, I do completely understand it.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

This reminds me of something I've been thinking about lately.

Do you think Buffy will eventually, truly die? And if so, how? Alone? Fighting? With her friends by her side? Or of old age? The later seems unlikely.

I know Joss once said that he doesn't like the idea of Buffy ending, that he sees her as living forever-but perhaps he meant that figuratively.

---------- Post added at 06:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:58 PM ----------

I get that isolation is designed as a metaphor in many situations with Buffy, and that as "THE Slayer" that sense of isolation is a part of her, but I feel like that aspect of her hasn't really changed all that much, even if the show/comic says it has. What do you guys think?

I think, in a way, Buffy always feels alone. That is a big part of being a Slayer. No one is like her, no one really "gets" her. Sure, she had family and friends who support her, care about her and fight with her, but in the end, she is the only real Slayer, with the weight of the world on her shoulders, and has to make the tough decisions alone.

 

[Robb Stark]

I think, in a way, Buffy always feels alone. That is a big part of being a Slayer. No one is like her, no one really "gets" her. Sure, she had family and friends who support her, care about her and fight with her, but in the end, she is the only real Slayer, with the weight of the world on her shoulders, and has to make the tough decisions alone.

But ultimately, that's her decision. I mentioned that in my previous post. She is The Slayer, but she's hardly the only person in her world who fights monsters and demons because it's the right thing to do. Angel and Spike do it just as often as she does, and they aren't Slayers, and heck, both of them have the weight of the world on their shoulders too. Gunn isn't a Slayer. Neither is Willow. They all have power too, and as such a sense of responsibility of how to use it, just like Buffy.

I feel like the "I'm alone because I'm the Slayer" sentiment is just a crock.

 

[thetopher]

Honestly I think the whole loneliness thing has little to do with being the salyer, but Buffy doesn't know this.
Holden points this out to her in 'CWDP', saying that everybody feels alone.

Or as Wood puts it (in the only line of his that really hits home to me), 'that's just isolationist slayer crap.'
The fact that he says that to Faith (who actually has similar problems to Buffy, at least about feeling alone) doesn't really matter, it can equally apply to Buffy.

Maybe Buffy will finally learn that feeling lonely is not something that's exclusive to slayers. lots of people feel the same way.
Including Joss, which is why its such a big theme on the show in the first place.

 

[white avenger]

You might consider this Buffy's Karma, if you believe in that sort of thing. She is, after all, the last "one girl in all the world" to be Called. As such, every partner/lover/friend that she has ever had, the Scoobies, Angel, Faith, Riley, Spike, her Slayer Army, winds up going their own way, leaving Buffy to fight her battles alone. Even Giles, Willow, and Xander, her surrogate father and closest friends, eventually move on with their own lives, leaving Buffy pretty much alone. Even when one or the other returns, it's never on anything but a temporary basis, fighting some great battle, then they're gone once more.

At least the Lone Ranger had Tonto, but the Lone Slayer doesn't even have a permanent sidekick.

 

[Blaze]

You might consider this Buffy's Karma

Shouldn't she get good karma from all the good deeds she's done 😛 Poor Buffy can never win.

 

[thetopher]

The thing is this is a writers artifice, nobody wants to see just Buffy the Vampire slayer, they want to see her rubbing shoulders and interacting with all the other characters, the Scooby gang, Angel, Faith, Spike. The fans like her better with company, and I think that the writers should consider this and let her have some good karma for once. Some happiness should come her way.

Who knows, with Giles back and the Scoobs working together again, that may happen.🙂

*sigh* but then again...

 

[white avenger]

Shouldn't she get good karma from all the good deeds she's done 😛 Poor Buffy can never win.

Hey, she's almost certainly in the Spuffyverse, karma don't get no gooder than that.

Seriously, though, Joss seems to gauge his heroes by how much hard luck he can heap on them, bad job, bad love life, betrayal by closest friends, and so on. Buffy has the hardest life simply because she's the strongest character in her universe, and can therefore take the most abuse. Died twice, had one boyfriend try to destroy the world (twice), another develop a taste for vampire ho's, a third one try to rape her, is basically an orphan taking care of a sister who used to be a ball of green energy, has a best friend who goes evil and tries to destroy the world...

Now, really, who else in the whole Buffyverse could take all that? Buffy gets all the crap simply because she is the only one who can take all the crap and still survive and more or less retain her sanity.

But it does get a bit monotonous. "Let's see what we can pile on Buffy this time," is a theme that Joss has just about worn out. Maybe it's time for him to kill somebody else so he can resur... no, wait, he's just done that with Giles. Maybe it's time to leave someone else at the alter.

 

[thetopher]

Hey, she's almost certainly in the Spuffyverse, karma don't get no gooder than that.

Seriously, though, Joss seems to gauge his heroes by how much hard luck he can heap on them, bad job, bad love life, betrayal by closest friends, and so on. Buffy has the hardest life simply because she's the strongest character in her universe, and can therefore take the most abuse. Died twice, had one boyfriend try to destroy the world (twice), another develop a taste for vampire ho's, a third one try to rape her, is basically an orphan taking care of a sister who used to be a ball of green energy, has a best friend who goes evil and tries to destroy the world...

Now, really, who else in the whole Buffyverse could take all that? Buffy gets all the crap simply because she is the only one who can take all the crap and still survive and more or less retain her sanity.

But it does get a bit monotonous. "Let's see what we can pile on Buffy this time," is a theme that Joss has just about worn out. Maybe it's time for him to kill somebody else so he can resur... no, wait, he's just done that with Giles. Maybe it's time to leave someone else at the alter.

Buffy is strong, but bear in mind she's always had somebody to support her. Her Mom, Giles, her stalwart friends, Angel, Dawn.
She not actually alone, she just feels alone.
She goes through stuff and she falters and sometimes picks herself up, sometimes others pick her up. (That's pretty much what Xander does on the show, and Spike does this later on), she has people who would do anything for her because they love her.

I'm not saying that she isn't very strong or doesn't deserve all these friends, but in my mind she's hardly the strongest person out there. She is a hero but she has allies to help her with all the crap flying her way.

You know who gets all the crap but none of the support? Faith.

No Watcher, no Mom, no boyfriend she's let close enough, no friends (apart from Angel, later on) and yet she still keeps plugging away, thanklessly. She never gets one 'you're awesome speech' from some beloved friend or boyfrind.
And Giles, the closest thing she's had to a father figure for a while, just left her to go back to be with Buffy. 🙁

In the end Buffy, has it bad, no question, but she doesn't have to deal with it on her own.

 

[white avenger]

Buffy is strong, but bear in mind she's always had somebody to support her.

I'm not saying that she isn't very strong or doesn't deserve all these friends, but in my mind she's hardly the strongest person out there. She is a hero but she has allies to help her with all the crap flying her way.

You know who gets all the crap but none of the support? Faith.

No Watcher, no Mom, no boyfriend she's let close enough, no friends (apart from Angel, later on) and yet she still keeps plugging away, thanklessly. She never gets one 'you're awesome speech' from some beloved friend or boyfrind.
And Giles, the closest thing she's had to a father figure for a while, just left her to go back to be with Buffy. 🙁

In the end Buffy, has it bad, no question, but she doesn't have to deal with it on her own.

If for mo other reason, I see strength in Buffy simply because she has had all those supportive friends, and, without exception, they have wound up leaving her, usually under less than ideal conditions. Nothing hurts more than losing a friend, and Buffy seems to do it more frequently than anyone else. Granted, there's always someone standing in line to be the next friend, but the kind of trust and support that Buffy needs from that new friend takes time to develop. It's not there immediately

And I could write reams about Faith and the raw deal that she's been dealt. Look up the song "The Second Best Secret Agent In The Wide World" sometime, (my computer will no longer post web sites for some reason, but it's by Sammie Davis on Youtube) and you'll see that it describes Faith's condition perfectly. But I still believe that Buffy constantly losing friends is worse than Faith never having had very many at all. Not by much, but it is worse.