When the slayer dies, another is called

[Carina]

Okay, so I was just wondering about this. When Buffy died in "Prophecy Girl", Kendra was called. And when Kendra was killed, Faith was called. So now there are two..
But when Buffy died (again) in season 5.. who was called then? or was no one called? I don't get this part.
Had Buffy kinda used her quota? She died once, but it doesn't work the second time?

What are your thoughts about this? Or is there a reasonable explanation?

🙂

 

[Chosen Enemy]

After Buffy died the first time, she's not longer the "real slayer", the "official" slayer. Kendra was. When Kendra died, Buffy was still not the official Slayer, Faith was. Faith needs to die to get a new Slayer. It doesn't matter how many times Buffy will die, she won't be the activating one anymore. In season 7 when Buffy says that her death will active one of the potentials, she's either wrong or it's a plot hole.

 

[Ripper666]

Haha asked me the same question very often too!

 

[Carina]

But if it's like Chosen Enemy said, that it's because she is not the "official" slayer anymore, then why does she still have her powers? Shouldn't she have lost her power as well then?? I mean... slayer is a slayer in my opinion 🙂
So I think it's a mistake in the plot 🙂
Or maybe Joss had an ideà¡ of a "lost slayer" or something, that would be interesting 🙂 haha

 

[This Year's Girl]

After Buffy died the first time, she's not longer the "real slayer", the "official" slayer. Kendra was. When Kendra died, Buffy was still not the official Slayer, Faith was. Faith needs to die to get a new Slayer. It doesn't matter how many times Buffy will die, she won't be the activating one anymore. In season 7 when Buffy says that her death will active one of the potentials, she's either wrong or it's a plot hole.

Oh, really? That's a good explanation! I've never thought about it like this, but that must be it.

 

[Steven123]

But if it's like Chosen Enemy said, that it's because she is not the "official" slayer anymore, then why does she still have her powers? Shouldn't she have lost her power as well then?? I mean... slayer is a slayer in my opinion 🙂
So I think it's a mistake in the plot 🙂
Or maybe Joss had an ideà¡ of a "lost slayer" or something, that would be interesting 🙂 haha

Not really. I mean a slayers power in a sense isn't really a "super natural" thing. It's not as though it leaves you when you die and then that power goes to the new one who's been called. As it's been said she pretty much had all the perks of the job without the job title.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

The explanation I believe is:

Buffy died, official 'Called' slayer went to Kendra, which went to Faith.
So at the time Buffy died in Season 5, she was a Slayer but not The Slayer, which is why her death didn't activate a new one.

I believe she kept her powers because, the slayer power isn't something that moves from one girl to the next, it's shared between them, the potentials have that power in them, that is being held back, once their chosen, they get full access to the power.
Don't they say in season 7 that potentials are a little strong/faster then normal people, this would kinda tie into that, that each girl already has their power, their just waiting to get it.

So I don't think a slayer can be deactivated once she's active.

Come season 7 you have Buffy and The First saying Buffy's death will activate the next one, I don't think it's a plot hole because The First believes it (Have no clue why Buffy does)
But I think the explanation is that when Willow brought Buffy back, she wasn't just reviving her, she was rebuilding her, pulling her soul in, restoring flesh etc. I think this kinda works with why Spike could hit her, she wasn't just revived as she was, Willow was bringing her back, but she came back a little different, a molecule to much slayer or whatever. I think Willow slotted Buffy back into the slayer line.

I think Willow "Activated" a slayer without the current slayer dying, so the line got jumbled, which is what "botoxs" eye was talking about when it was saying a disturbance in the slayer line allowed the First to act at that time.

 

[InsaneMystic]

Time to quote myself, again. 😉

And once more (as I say every time when the topic is brought up again 😉)... the "one line through Faith" theory is supported only by Word Of Joss, not by canon. There's at least one scene onscreen - and thus, canon - that supports the "multiple lines" theory (three lines through Buffy, Faith, and the unseen Slayer called after "The Gift"), namely Mayor Wilkins mentioning his fear that the next Slayer called if Angelus kills Buffy might not turn out as swell as Faith.

Anyway, it's all moot after "Chosen". 😉

 

[Black Eye Guy]

^ Interesting, the only reason I don't think that a third slayer exists is cuz I think she would have turned up in Season 7.

Although from the show there is a good set up for it, Buffys death in Season 5 was hidden so if another slayer who wasn't picked up as a potential she might not have been found, as the Council wouldn't have gone looking for her.

But I think it would have been a good story to use in Season 7, like they get a new potential in and it turns out she's already a slayer.

 

[InsaneMystic]

^ Interesting, the only reason I don't think that a third slayer exists is cuz I think she would have turned up in Season 7.

Wasn't it one of those moments that Joss all but outright admitted he forgot about it (it's been known to happen... *cough*

Spoiler

Warren being alive

in S8*cough*) and then basically elevated the "one line through Faith" explanation the fans came up with to Word Of God status? Or am I remembering that wrong?

Anyways, with the status of Buffy having been cancelled and uncancelled on a different network, it's easy to imagine that plot point getting lost along the way.

Although from the show there is a good set up for it, Buffys death in Season 5 was hidden so if another slayer who wasn't picked up as a potential she might not have been found, as the Council wouldn't have gone looking for her.

But I think it would have been a good story to use in Season 7, like they get a new potential in and it turns out she's already a slayer.

Definitely! It would even have had potential (heh) for a full-on spinoff... though only for a mini-series as the S7/S8 established canon makes it obviously railroaded in where the story is leading (and probably, how and when it's ending).

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Wasn't it one of those moments that Joss all but outright admitted he forgot about it (it's been known to happen... *cough*

Spoiler

Warren being alive

in S8*cough*) and then basically elevated the "one line through Faith" explanation the fans came up with to Word Of God status? Or am I remembering that wrong?

Anyways, with the status of Buffy having been cancelled and uncancelled on a different network, it's easy to imagine that plot point getting lost along the way.

True, as far as I remember he did say he completely forgot about the whole thing

Definitely! It would even have had potential (heh) for a full-on spinoff... though only for a mini-series as the S7/S8 established canon makes it obviously railroaded in where the story is leading (and probably, how and when it's ending).

It would have made for a better story seeing as were they headed with the comics

Spoiler

removing the activated slayer, basically undoing the whole thing

 

[Lunchbox]

Come season 7 you have Buffy and The First saying Buffy's death will activate the next one, I don't think it's a plot hole because The First believes it (Have no clue why Buffy does)
But I think the explanation is that when Willow brought Buffy back, she wasn't just reviving her, she was rebuilding her, pulling her soul in, restoring flesh etc. I think this kinda works with why Spike could hit her, she wasn't just revived as she was, Willow was bringing her back, but she came back a little different, a molecule to much slayer or whatever. I think Willow slotted Buffy back into the slayer line.

I think Willow "Activated" a slayer without the current slayer dying, so the line got jumbled, which is what "botoxs" eye was talking about when it was saying a disturbance in the slayer line allowed the First to act at that time.

I really like your theory.

I've heard countless of different explanations whilst searching online, but I always came to my own similar conclusion. Whenever Buffy originally died and was revived by Xander, her revival made the active spot in the Slayer line move on to Kendra. There was no magic during her revival, it was completely natural how Xander pulled it off. Thus, Buffy was able to retain her slayer abilities. However, through the mechanistic way the magic of the Slayer line works, it moved on.

There was not this huge plot hole where Buffy's death would not activate another slayer. The First was right. Whenever Willow revived Buffy in season 6, the amount of magic that was used went beyond the conceivable skills of the Shadow Men. Willow at this point was beyond their level, it was even mentioned on Angel that Buffy was the only human being ever to be brought back from 'Heaven'. So this revival, working through Willow and the god Osiris, created more than just a singularity in the Slayer line. Through Buffy's second revival, a "shield" of some sort which blocked the Potentials from being exposed, was ultimately destroyed or damaged. Thus, The First reared its ugly head and began its hunt to murder the now vulnerable Potentials, and end the Slayer line for good.

I could go on, but this is essentially how I have explained it to myself. 🙂

 

[Carrrrgh]

https://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=52910&highlight=slayer+buffy+dies

 

[Anya2012]

This has always been a sore point with me. I always thought there should have been another Slayer when Buffy died.