Because I Said So

A Side Note: For the past six years, the Buffyverse has been a very dark place. There are no happy endings or hokey hugs in Scooby gang adventures. So why did Season 6 end with Xander saving the world with a "love conquers all" tactic that nearly put me into a diabetic coma? Could it have had something to do with the fact that this was the first season finale not written by Joss Whedon? Just something to ponder. I was also a little disappointed by the whole Giles-tricks-Willow-into-stealing-his-magic storyline. I could see exactly what he was up to, so why couldn't Willow? On the upside, Spike's trials to regain his soul were the right twist to keep the viewer guessing.

With the final episode of Season 6 ("Grave"), Buffy officially takes on her role as crone. As she and Dawn are trapped in the hole fighting demons, Buffy comes to recognize the importance of passing her knowledge (about Slaying and other otherwise) to Dawn, regardless of Dawn's non-Slayer status. Up to this point in the show, Buffy has treated Dawn's education as being either's someone else's resonsibility or as a burden she tries to avoid. As she watches Dawn fight alongside her, she realizes the fulfillment and meaning she could find in her own life, if she were to serve as Dawn's mentor. "Lessons" (7.1) continues this idea as it begins with Buffy instructing Dawn in slaying tactics, even allowing Dawn to fight an actual vamp.

Initially in Dawn's and Buffy's relationship, it would seem that Buffy tried to follow her mother's example in mothering Dawn. Joyce was more about protecting Buffy than she was about listening to or preparing Buffy (I am mostly referring to the time before she realized that Buffy was the Slayer.) Buffy's answer to everything was to keep Dawn at home where she is "safe," frequently leaving her in the care of others, like Spike or Tara, while she goes off and fights evil. With Buffy's epiphany regarding Dawn's capability and her own need to mentor came a realization that she was repeating her own mother's mistakes. With the beginning of Season 7, we see Buffy recognizing Dawn's capabilities and working to help her become more self-sufficient. Apparently, the writers think this style of parenting is more effective because as Season 7 progresses, Dawn improves from her previously whiny, clepto self.

What seems significant to me is that these major changes in Buffy occur while Giles is absent. Even Spike has fled to his soul quest by the time Buffy turns the corner personally. Earlier in the series, I talked about how Buffy was "controlled" by the men in her life. It seemed that her amazing power was something that was simply harnessed by powerful men (like the Watcher's Council.) Beginning with Buffy's revelation in Season 5 about the Council (when they attempt to pump her for info on Glory) and continuing with the self-realization as she dies to protect Dawn and the world, we see Buffy's growth independent of men. Her changes in "parenting" Dawn are something she arrives at on her own, without guidance from some male sage. Buffy is coming into her own, not just making her own decisions, but also basing those decisions on sound judgement...her own.