Why did she die?

I don't even think it was all about Dawn. i think it was beyond that, it was knowing and accepting her destiny. Realizing her job as protector of humanity. Finally coming to terms with who she was, her purpose as a slayer, and everything leading up to that moment. She found peace with all of it, she found herself most of all. That's why she ended up in heaven and was content. Not only because she was a hero, but because she ended her life in a GOOD place knowing EXACTLY who she was.

That's why being brought back from death was so traumatic. she had found her purpose, her strength, and now she was back and it sort of made her feel that everything she was so certain about at the moment she jumped in season 5 was suddenly not so certain, but chaotic, and she started to once again question her existence and her destiny after being so sure of it.
 
S
Skytteflickan88
I think that pretty much summed up her songs in once more with feeling.
Season 6 was not only difficult time for her, it was so difficult for us Buffy fans. I mean when show started I was in constant fear that she is going to die, but she always found the way to defeat the big bad. But in season 5, I was shocked, because I thought it's going to be the last, and I was sad because I was hoping that end of the show is going to be happy, and open 🙂 no dead Buffy. So I was really happy when I heard there is going to be season 6, but I never thought it's going to be so painful. I felt so bad for her, but in the same time I was happy she is back. So I wish the end of season 5 never happened (but it was well done, really) because I really couldn't find place in my heart for season 6 Buffy.
 
I gotta be honest, several times when watching season 6, I wished the show had ended with The Gift. Willow mind-raping Tara(I know, I know, probably not how Willow saw it, but I bet Tara did), Buffy&Spike having sex, Buffy crying in Tara's lap, the trio almost raping Katrina(I was actually glad when she died, which is so frakked up. That way, no more suffering).

There were times I missed that poignant last scene of Season 5, with the headstone and Buffy's good bye speech. It was so beautiful, and in a way I prefered that sense of closure more than the open end in Chosen.

Don't get me wrong, I watched the entire season 6 in just a few days, but I felt filthy so often.
 
It might have been interesting if they had killed Joyce here instead. After all, she has the same blood, and could have sacrificed herself for her daughters.
 
It might have been interesting if they had killed Joyce here instead. After all, she has the same blood, and could have sacrificed herself for her daughters.

I don't think it would of been as effective if she had died, well it would, but not as, Buffy is the main character!
 
See I don't think it's as effective to kill a character and then bring them back, especially when those dorks like me who follow news about the show already knew there'd be a 6th season. But it was still a very well done scene, even though she comes back, and they did put her through an ordeal coming back, rather than just going "oh, she's back now," which mitigates it a low.
 
See I don't think it's as effective to kill a character and then bring them back, especially when those dorks like me who follow news about the show already knew there'd be a 6th season. But it was still a very well done scene, even though she comes back, and they did put her through an ordeal coming back, rather than just going "oh, she's back now," which mitigates it a low.

But wasn't there a chance the show wouldn't come back?
 
I think she really did it to save her sister as others have said. While shes not Dawns true "sister", in her heart however she is.
 
Not to take anything away from Buffy's sibling love for Dawn, but I think that there's a very good possibility that at least some of Buffy's adamant refusal to even consider any kind of Plan B scenario that would include killing Dawn rather than allowing Glory to get her might have been the result of the spell that the monks cast in creation her and altering everyone's memories in the first place. Remember, they thought that keeping the Key intact while also keeping it out of Glory's hands was worth sacrificing their own lives, even though, in theory, destroying it would have achieved the exact same result. Either intentionally or by accident, that same priority would have been included in the spell that they used to create Dawn. That would also explain why, in Season 7, Buffy reverses her stand and admits that, if all other options failed, she would, indeed, kill Dawn in order to save the world. By then, the effects of any spell would have almost certainly expired.
 
Airam
Airam
good point.
Two things come to mind why Buffy died at tis point, one - 'No greater love etc' oldest sacrifice story on the book. I also think that there was no way that Buffy would let Dawn die is because that is what Glory wanted.
 
Not to take anything away from Buffy's sibling love for Dawn, but I think that there's a very good possibility that at least some of Buffy's adamant refusal to even consider any kind of Plan B scenario that would include killing Dawn rather than allowing Glory to get her might have been the result of the spell that the monks cast in creation her and altering everyone's memories in the first place. Remember, they thought that keeping the Key intact while also keeping it out of Glory's hands was worth sacrificing their own lives, even though, in theory, destroying it would have achieved the exact same result. Either intentionally or by accident, that same priority would have been included in the spell that they used to create Dawn. That would also explain why, in Season 7, Buffy reverses her stand and admits that, if all other options failed, she would, indeed, kill Dawn in order to save the world. By then, the effects of any spell would have almost certainly expired.

Buffy's love was probably almost entirely because of the spell. The monks made sure Buffy would love Dawn like a sister, and protect her. Buffy might have learned to love Dawn more since the spell was done, but the major part of it will always be the spell (including fake memories + fake love, that could have turned into "real" love by now).

I'm not sure if the spell has worn off in Season 7, Buffy still loves Dawn because of the spell. Maybe even more, since she has now her own memories of Dawn and can like Dawn for "real". I think Buffy has just changed her priorities since season 5. She would probably give Joyce up too, if she had too, while I think she might have done everything for her in season 5.

But the fact that Glory died in season 5 might have ended part of the spell, since the Key was no longer in great danger of being used.

It would be interesting to have this spell put in focus again. I case the monks' spell stopped working, all the memories were restored and all things Buffy would have would be the memory of suddenly getting a sister and finding out that sister wasn't real and the stuff after (season 5-8, basically). In case all Buffy had was those memories and any love and sisterhood-stuff developed after the spell, would she still love Dawn?
 
I agree it's most because of the spell. I mean they gave her memories, and with memories came love. You have to love your sibling. Belive me I know. I tried to not love my brother, but I didn't suceed. They put the love for Dawn in her, but after she found out about it that love grew, Buffy is a hero, and she knew Dawn is not an ordinary girl - and she knows that feeling very well. Dawn was important for the world - she got the most annoying role, but hey I would want to protect the girl who could open Hell on Earth , too.
 
I agree it's most because of the spell. I mean they gave her memories, and with memories came love. You have to love your sibling. Belive me I know. I tried to not love my brother, but I didn't suceed. They put the love for Dawn in her, but after she found out about it that love grew, Buffy is a hero, and she knew Dawn is not an ordinary girl - and she knows that feeling very well. Dawn was important for the world - she got the most annoying role, but hey I would want to protect the girl who could open Hell on Earth , too.

False memories, but it was Buffy's real love. Siblings have murdered each other in the past for FAR less, it is not true that it is impossible to do.

I think Buffy's attitude in season 7 changed in spite of the spell. She learned the true importance of what she was doing, the infinite millions of little sisters to someone that WOULD die if she failed, and merely weighed the consequences, as a good commander should.
 
I always saw Buffy's sacrifice to save Dawn over herself to be largely due to the promise she made Joyce in "Listening to Fear"

JOYCE: Buffy, uh, (clears throat) I'm gonna ask you something, a-and if I'm, if I'm being crazy you just tell me, okay?
BUFFY: (nods) You got it.
JOYCE: The other day ... well, actually, I'm, I'm not sure when, the days seem to all bleed together...
BUFFY: It's not important.
JOYCE: No, I guess it isn't. I do know I was ... pretty out of it, and I had ... not-not a dream ... exactly, more like I had this ... knowledge, i-it just came to me like ....truth, you know? (Buffy frowns) Even though it didn't seem...possible, even though I shouldn't even think such things.
BUFFY: What?
JOYCE: That Dawn...

Buffy looks very startled.

JOYCE: She's not ... mine, is she?

Buffy stares at her mom, then looks down. She comes to a decision and looks Joyce in the eye.
BUFFY: No.

Joyce absorbs this for a moment.

JOYCE: She's ... she does belong to us, though.
BUFFY: Yes, she does.
JOYCE: And she's important. To the world. Precious. (Buffy nods) As precious as you are to me.

Buffy smiles and nods again. Joyce nods back.

JOYCE: Then we have to take care of her. Buffy, promise me. If anything happens, if I don't come through this-
BUFFY: Mom-
JOYCE: No, listen to me. No matter what she is, she still feels like my daughter. I have to know that you'll take care of her, that you'll keep her safe. That you'll love her like I love you.
BUFFY: (teary) I promise.
JOYCE: Good. Good.

That was the last promise she ever made to her mother, and the loss of Joyce for Buffy was the greatest loss she ever had to face. That promise carried alot of weight and responsibility for Buffy. I think Buffy realized it would be overall better for everyone and the world to sacrifice Dawn, i mean it clearly, imo, was a very selfish decision for her to jump, it was not what was best as she does later state in S7. But she felt very strongly tied to keeping that promise, like allowing Dawn to die would be a betrayal to Joyce.
 
I think that she jumped not just for Dawn, but for the WORLD.

Think about it- the whole world was ripping apart, almost literally, even after Glory/Ben died... The only way to save both the world and Dawn was for Summers blood to be sacrificed. Her tombstone even read, "She saved the world a lot."

Buffy even went to heaven for giving the ultimate gift- her life. She died so that Dawn and everyone else could live.
 
She had too. She said it herself, when she looked at the end of that walkway, she felt clear minded. At peace. She knew what she had to do, she knew it was her time.
 
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