10 occasions the Scooby Gang have been the actual villains of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Destructoid Players Enviornment

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a beloved sequence identified for its tacky one-liners, trendy wardrobe, and “Large Bads.” I like this present. For a program that debuted the 12 months I used to be born, it holds up remarkably nicely—for essentially 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 count on to look at a gaggle of youngsters ascend to maturity and not using a few rising pains. Listed below are 10 key moments the place the Scoobies have been the precise worst in each method apart from committing precise crimes or homicide ( you, veiny Willow). Put together for spoilers and lightweight character-bashing forward. 

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

We’ve all been there. Invited to a party, maybe as somebody’s plus one, and caught going through the awkward prospect of shopping for a birthday present for somebody you don’t know that nicely. The difficulty of Tara’s birthday is a sign of a larger downside. Not one of the Scoobies knew something about Tara apart 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 liked for Tara to come back out of her shell extra and excel in her personal area of magic. Maybe she may 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, regardless that she was most positively the injured celebration. In brief, we deserved to see extra of Tara outdoors Willow’s shadow.

9. Giles left Sunnydale… once more

I believe 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 believe he was a tad egocentric. It have to be tough to see your cost outgrow you and now not depend upon you in the identical method they as soon as did, however Buffy wanted him in a way more vital method. Maybe she now not wanted a Watcher, however she wanted a father.

Giles may have stayed in Sunnydale to supply emotional assist and easily be by her aspect. Maybe his hubris obtained in the way in which, and he couldn’t keep to look at himself grow to be complacent. Together with the Magic Store, perhaps he may 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 will have satiated his want to show while retaining him near Buffy.

8. Everybody judged Anya

Anya might be my favourite character in your entire sequence. She is over 1000 years previous and has an encyclopedic data of varied species of demons. Regardless of this, the gang not often used her experience or requested her about her life in any method. I believe 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 the whole lot I may about previous cultures, folks 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 total 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 of. It’s an identical 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 concerning the Scoobies’ unwillingness to permit different members within the membership. Religion is a first-rate 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 by chance killed a human, as an alternative of giving her some area to kind by way of her feelings, Buffy demanded that she repent with a ‘holier than thou’ perspective that was doomed to worsen Religion.

The daddy-daughter relationship that was fostered between Religion and the Mayor is a basic instance of searching for solace within the unsuitable sources. Why couldn’t Giles provide that function to Religion in addition to Buffy? Even Joyce—who is likely 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 injury was accomplished.

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 really labored. Placing this egregious mistake apart, there was virtually no sympathy for Buffy and what she went by way of. Willow even anticipated a ‘thanks’. They only anticipated her to slide again into her regular life. Any signal of wrestle made them unhappy and put a heavy emotional burden on Buffy.

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

5. The affair that completely nobody needed to see

For no matter unusual cause, 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 growth. That was till she began relationship Oz. Then Xander noticed her as a girl and naturally, made strikes. I’m satisfied no one really needed to see a Willow/Xander romance as a result of the story was instantly dropped as soon as Ouncesand Cordelia caught them out. Dishonest is dangerous sufficient, however dishonest with Xander? Unforgivable. Not less than Cordy had a fortunate escape.

4. Willow and Tara have been mooches

Think about this situation: Your good friend tragically dies, and also you agree to maneuver into her house to take care of her underage sister. You slowly sponge away your whole good friend’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 useless good friend and regretfully inform them that they’ve awoken into destitution?

Yeah. This storyline rankled followers and for good cause. Tara and Willow have been fairly blissful to proceed at 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’t do this if she’s apprehensive 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 reminiscences 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 accomplished, 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 come back 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 mother and father 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 complete 12 months, nonetheless, to inform Anya about getting chilly ft. As an alternative, he let her get all the way in which to the altar earlier than ditching her. He then had the audacity to evaluate 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 closing 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 were forming inside the Scoobies’ friendship over the previous few years begin to present with drive. There may be resistance to Buffy’s function because the chief, and the gang really tells her to go away.

After the whole lot 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 assume 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 all the time been a sore spot among the many Scoobies and a few resistance about Buffy doing issues alone, however she’s the Slayer. The duty is hers alone. Additionally, disgrace on you, Daybreak, for telling Buffy it’s your own home, too. You have been actually a ball of vitality a 12 months prior.