We've made it through six and a half seasons of Buffy, and we're still talking about destiny (or at least, I am.) Buffy's not the only one who struggles with the concept, however. With the three episodes we watched for Tuesday, we see the Scooby Gang struggle with destiny and her close cousin, fate.
In "Beneath You," Nancy is running from a giant, killer earthworm demon bent on her destruction. While the Gang initially thinks that this might be the danger from beneath that Buffy fears, it turns out to be Nancy's cursed ex-boyfriend instead. It could be argued that the Earthworm of Death (my name for it, not theirs) could be a symbol of the inescapability of the Gang's (and Sunnydale's) fate. It seems that it is no longer only Buffy's destiny to protect Sunnydale and the world. The Scooby Gang has become an intrinsic part of the good vs. evil struggle at the Hellmouth. Perhaps their resurrection of Buffy united them in a deeper way than their loose confederation as "helpers" had ever done. Even though Willow is geographically distant from her fellow fighters, she, too, is linked to the battle which is forthcoming.
Buffy gets a very personal reminder about fate in "Help" when she attempts to save precog Cassie from her envisioned death. Though she fights fate at every turn, there is no escaping death. This episode points to the idea that Buffy's "deaths" were not "her time" as she was always resurrected. Cassie died despite every effort made by Buffy and the Scoobies to prevent said death. Ultimately, her heart just stopped, and there was no bringing her back. Perhaps Buffy can find comfort in the idea that she was brought back for a "purpose." There doesn't appear to be anything random about the Buffyverse, and if fate brought Buffy back, then it must be her destiny to do, well, something. I'm guessing it will involve saving the world.
"Selfless" explores the idea, not only of destiny, but also the inevitability of consequences. Anya (or Aud or Anyanka) seems destined from the beginning to become a vengeance demon. She certainly has a natural gift, not simply for magic, but for sweet revenge. As we are shown her history, her decision to return to her previous lifestyle (as Anyanka) and even her choice of M.O. (literally ripping out the frat boys' hearts) seem mitigated (or at least, slightly more understandable.) Ultimately, however, Anya's decision to revoke her magic has a cost, and this cost is inesapable and irreversible: death. Anya watches D'Hoffryn kill her friend, Halfrek, and is forever changed by her actions and their consequences.
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Dr. Rose says:
ReplyDeleteIt strikes me as I read this post that the consequences Anya faces, both in terms of her horror at her actions at the frat house, and when she sees Halfrek's death, are some of the first real, irrevocable consequences we see. Cordelia dies early on as the result of a rash wish, but then the wish is revoked, and all is well. Consequences never seem to stick, except for Tara's death and Anya's actions in "Selfless"
Good point. Not even Willow's murder of Warren had any real consequences for her, besides guilt, of course. I suppose this begs the question of how the writers link consequences and the seriousness of the offense/intent of the offender. Though Willow killed Warren, he did kill Tara. All Anya's frat boys did was humliate a girl - not kill or physically harm her. I find it interesting that whenever one of the Scooby Gang falls, they tend to claim mitigating circumstances...except in the case of Anya. Everyone seems to underestimate the damage Xander did when he abandoned her. Is Anya the only one to suffer consequences because she is something of an outsider within the group?
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