It’s not straightforward being Buffy Summers. Whereas Sunnydale has by no means been a traditional city, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) faces a novel problem because the chosen Slayer, gifted with unimaginable powers and a horrible duty she by no means requested for. Regardless of having a powerful help system, Buffy struggles together with her impulses over seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, at all times determined to maintain her personal inside darkness at bay when giving in could be a lot simpler.
These contrasting motivations are sometimes conveyed by characters which can be foils to our heroine. Take Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), who initially represents the blissful ignorance of adolescence till she matures right into a extra advanced member of the Scooby Gang, or Kendra (Bianca Lawson), a fellow Slayer who is simply too inflexible and by-the-book for her personal good.
However the final foil to Buffy is, with out query, Religion Lehane (Eliza Dushku), first launched within the season 3 episode, “Religion, Hope & Trick,” which initially aired 28 years in the past at this time. Religion’s ethical complexity makes her compelling — she is a Slayer extra inclined to embrace the ruthless facets of the job, which in the end leads her down a harmful path. Religion would ultimately be cemented as one among Buffy‘s most beloved characters, however again in 1998, her introduction expertly set the stage for a a lot darker plot line.
Religion makes a splashy introduction
Whereas hanging with the gang on the Bronze one evening, Buffy notices a vampire luring a younger woman outdoors. Often, this is able to be the place Buffy steps in, however on this case, the unnamed girl effortlessly kills the beast herself. Religion then introduces herself as a brand new Slayer. Everybody takes a liking to Religion, however Buffy isn’t too completely happy concerning the prospect of working together with her.
Throughout a joint patrol later, Buffy and Religion are attacked by vampires. As a substitute of serving to Buffy when she’s swarmed by a number of vampires, Religion focuses on beating down a single vamp — and appears to benefit from it. That is simply the primary unhealthy signal of many because it turns into clear that Religion is not precisely a group participant. She’s acquired her personal secret motivations, together with an inclination to fly off the deal with and act with out contemplating the implications.
Religion is a darkish mirror to Buffy
Religion and Buffy ultimately observe down the traditional vampire Kakistos (Jeremy Roberts), who just lately confirmed up in Sunnydale after killing Religion’s outdated Watcher. The brand new Slayer will get her revenge, however Kakistos’s vampire henchman, Mr. Trick (Okay. Todd Freeman), will get away and can later function a key supporter of season 3’s major villain.
Though this episode has plenty of shifting components (Buffy remains to be hiding the reality about what occurred with Angel on the finish of season 2), Religion hogs the highlight, in one of the best of how. Her first look outdoors the Bronze offers us the impression that she’s right here to fill the void that Kendra leaves behind after her unlucky demise in season 2. This assumption is rapidly confirmed false. As a substitute, Religion’s assertive nature challenges Buffy’s true standing as the Slayer. Buffy’s preliminary skepticism would possibly learn as a metaphor for teenage insecurity, however she’s clearly onto one thing. Religion could be a gifted Slayer, however she’s additionally extraordinarily unpredictable. This in the end results in her flip into villainy later in season 3, establishing one of many darkest conflicts in Buffy historical past.
Though Religion’s first episode solely offers us a glimpse into her motivations, it immediately establishes her as a foil to Buffy. Religion doesn’t understand her duties as an ethical duty. As a substitute, she relishes the joys of the hunt, together with the frenzy of energy she enjoys whereas killing supernatural creatures. We see Buffy wrestle with these feelings all through the present, however she by no means comes as near Religion’s unfettered hedonism. From a psychological standpoint, Religion is Buffy’s Jungian shadow. She is every part Buffy isn’t as a result of she was by no means anchored by individuals who cared or caught round lengthy sufficient.
If we have a look at Religion’s position on this episode alone, she serves as an impetus for Buffy to maneuver on. “I’ve been holding on to that for therefore lengthy, it felt good to get it out,” she tells Giles after recounting that fateful last evening with Angel. Sadly, destiny has different plans for Angel’s return, forcing our beloved Slayer to face yet one more trial in a recreation that has at all times felt rigged in opposition to her.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is streaming on Hulu.