#10 occasions the Scooby Gang have been the true villains of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Destructoid

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a beloved collection identified for its tacky one-liners, fashionable wardrobe, and “Huge Bads.” I like this present. For a program that debuted the 12 months I used to be born, it holds up remarkably effectively—for probably the most half.

Throughout seven seasons, we watched the Scooby Gang develop from awkward high-schoolers to apocalypse-stopping baddies. As such, we are able to’t anticipate to observe a gaggle of youngsters ascend to maturity with out a few rising pains. Listed here are 10 key moments the place the Scoobies have been the precise worst in each manner aside from committing precise crimes or homicide (taking a look at you, veiny Willow). Put together for spoilers and light-weight character-bashing forward. 

10. No one knew what to get Tara for her birthday

We’ve all been there. Invited to a celebration, maybe as somebody’s plus one, and caught going through the awkward prospect of shopping for a birthday reward for somebody you don’t know that effectively. The problem of Tara’s birthday is a sign of a better drawback. Not one of the Scoobies knew something about Tara aside from that she was a witch and Willow’s girlfriend.

All through the seasons, Tara grew to become little greater than an addition to Willow’s character. I might have cherished for Tara to return out of her shell extra and excel in her personal area of magic. Maybe she might have grow to be a inexperienced witch and used her calming aura to heal others. Solely Daybreak — arguably additionally an outsider — spent any actual time with Tara, and when she and Willow cut up up, nobody bothered to examine in on her, although she was most positively the injured occasion. Briefly, we deserved to see extra of Tara exterior Willow’s shadow.

9. Giles left Sunnydale… once more

I feel the showrunners ran out of concepts for Giles. Most of his character arc within the later seasons agonized over his resolution to stay in Sunnydale or return to England. Though I sympathize with him to an extent, I feel he was a tad egocentric. It have to be tough to see your cost outgrow you and not depend upon you in the identical manner they as soon as did, however Buffy wanted him in a way more vital manner. Maybe she not wanted a Watcher, however she wanted a father.

Giles might have stayed in Sunnydale to supply emotional assist and easily be by her facet. Maybe his hubris obtained in the best way, and he couldn’t keep to observe himself grow to be complacent. Together with the Magic Store, possibly he might have grow to be a professor on campus and taught occult research. Lord is aware of the denizens of Sunnydale wanted all the assistance they may get, and it could have satiated his want to show while maintaining him near Buffy.

8. Everybody judged Anya

Anya might be my favourite character in your complete collection. She is over 1000 years outdated and has an encyclopedic data of assorted species of demons. Regardless of this, the gang hardly ever used her experience or requested her about her life in any manner. I feel it stems from the truth that Xander needed to neglect about her previous as a vengeance demon. The historical past lover in me is crying. If it have been me, I’d demand to know all the things I might about previous cultures, individuals and tales. As an alternative, they mock her and simplify her character into somebody who simply ‘likes cash’.

There’s no recognition of the truth that she modified her complete life to suit right into a society that she hadn’t been a part of for a millennium. She was fairly well-adjusted, all issues thought-about. It’s an analogous difficulty to my level about Tara—they by no means settle for Anya into the gang. Additionally, Xander solely ever commented on her bodily attributes and would typically patronise and put her down in entrance of others. He’s a sleaze.

7. Religion was pushed to darkness

We’ve spoken at size in regards to the Scoobies’ unwillingness to permit different members within the membership. Religion is a main instance. I might even argue that they drove her proper into the Mayor’s arms. Religion by no means had the identical assist community or privileges as Buffy. As an alternative of sympathizing with Religion’s tough upbringing and isolation, Buffy noticed her as a menace. When Religion unintentionally killed a human, as an alternative of giving her some house to type via her feelings, Buffy demanded that she repent with a ‘holier than thou’ perspective that was doomed to irritate Religion.

The daddy-daughter relationship that was fostered between Religion and the Mayor is a traditional instance of searching for solace within the mistaken sources. Why couldn’t Giles supply that position to Religion in addition to Buffy? Even Joyce—who is without doubt one of the most oblivious characters within the present—acknowledged that they wanted to make an effort with Religion. By the point they realized Religion was turning, the harm was completed.

6. The gang resurrected Buffy

Initially of season 6, the gang introduced Buffy again to life and casually forgot to dig up her grave to examine and see if the spell truly labored. Placing this egregious mistake apart, there was virtually no sympathy for Buffy and what she went via. Willow even anticipated a ‘thanks’. They simply anticipated her to slide again into her regular life. Any signal of battle made them unhappy and put a heavy emotional burden on Buffy.

In fact, this all culminated in Buffy’s dalliance with Spike, the one different being who understood her and didn’t decide her. So, what occurred when the gang came upon? They judged her. Buffy carried the load of the world on her shoulders, however the heavier burden by far was the expectations of her pals.

5. The affair that completely nobody needed to see

For no matter unusual motive, Willow carried a torch for Xander for years. To him, she was little greater than his nerdy little sister, nonetheless, and he made it clear there was no room for any romantic improvement. That was till she began courting Oz. Then Xander noticed her as a lady and naturally, made strikes. I’m satisfied no person truly needed to see a Willow/Xander romance as a result of the story was instantly dropped as soon as Ozand Cordelia caught them out. Dishonest is unhealthy sufficient, however dishonest with Xander? Unforgivable. Not less than Cordy had a fortunate escape.

4. Willow and Tara have been mooches

Think about this state of affairs: Your pal tragically dies, and also you agree to maneuver into her residence to take care of her underage sister. You slowly sponge away all your pal’s sources, and cash turns into tight. Do you, get a job and assist contribute to the home you’re residing in, or resurrect your lifeless pal and regretfully inform them that they’ve awoken into destitution?

Yeah. This storyline rankled followers and for good motive. Tara and Willow have been fairly blissful to proceed in school and watched as Buffy needed to drop out to handle Daybreak. It simply made no sense in any way. Additionally, why didn’t The Watcher Council pay Buffy? It was actually her full-time job, and so they had no difficulty with paying the Watchers. We all know they’d sources, so why didn’t they dedicate some the Slayer? It’s of their finest pursuits to have her solely targeted on her duties however she will be able to’t try this if she’s anxious about her home being taken from her.

3. Willow brainwashed Tara

On her journey into magical insanity, Willow thought it was a good suggestion to wipe Tara’s recollections after each inconvenient argument. This got here after the storyline of Glory principally doing the identical factor and leaving Tara with psychological trauma. Looks like a good suggestion, proper?

Placing apart the manipulation and full violation of somebody’s free will, after the gang finds out what Willow has completed, they’ve the audacity to consolation her. They don’t maintain her accountable in any respect. As an alternative, they really feel sorry for her as a result of Tara broke up together with her. The one good factor to return out of this storyline was the ‘Tabula Rasa’ episode, which canonized literal mortgage sharks and showcased the implausible squabbling between Rupert and ‘Randy’ Giles.

2. Anya was left on the altar

Xander had dedication points. I get it. He got here from a horrendous household with dad and mom who ought to by no means have stayed collectively. I additionally perceive why he proposed to Anya. It was an apocalypse, and he thought they have been in all probability going to die anyway. He had a whole 12 months, nonetheless, to inform Anya about getting chilly ft. As an alternative, he let her get all the best way to the altar earlier than ditching her. He then had the audacity to guage her for turning again right into a vengeance demon. Her world had simply been ripped aside, and she or he returned to the one different factor she had ever identified — hardly a shock. Once more, the remainder of the Scoobies by no means held him accountable and comforted him afterwards. There was a definite lack of empathy for Anya. 

1. Buffy was kicked out of her home

Of all of the betrayals and errors the Scoobies have remodeled the course of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, this one is the worst. Within the remaining season, Buffy is up towards her most harmful foe but. There isn’t any room for compromise; the state of the very world is at stake. Throughout this, the cracks which have been forming throughout the Scoobies’ friendship over the previous few years begin to present with drive. There’s resistance to Buffy’s position because the chief, and the gang truly tells her to depart.

After all the things that Buffy has sacrificed, after dying twice to avoid wasting the world again and again, they kick her out of her home. I suppose they suppose that Buffy is being too rash and uncompromising, however to be truthful, given her expertise with apocalypses, I might in all probability give extra credence to her instincts. Lo and behold, as quickly as she leaves, they instantly begin to squabble amongst themselves. There has at all times been a sore spot among the many Scoobies and a few resistance about Buffy doing issues alone, however she’s the Slayer. The accountability is hers alone. Additionally, disgrace on you, Daybreak, for telling Buffy it’s your home, too. You have been actually a ball of power a 12 months prior.