5 Saddest Buffy The Vampire Slayer Character Deaths, Ranked

Sunnydale, California is not precisely Seattle Grace Hospital, however it’s nonetheless a harmful place to be for those who’re a TV present character. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” might typically carry a campy tone, however it can be downright brutal, particularly within the later seasons as soon as the principle characters grown up. The path of our bodies left by the Hellmouth is lengthy, together with a couple of standout deaths that also draw tears from followers to at the present time.

At the moment, we’re rating the 5 saddest “Buffy” deaths, however we’re solely taking a look at characters who died in the principle present — no “Angel” deaths, or something from the “Buffy” comics. That mentioned, we’ll think about how lengthy these deaths truly caught, which — on this universe — typically is not very lengthy. A resurrected loss of life can nonetheless be a tearjerker, however a personality might lose factors for leaping again too rapidly.

After all, the saddest loss of life of all would be the canceled “Buffy” reboot, nonetheless seemingly lifeless within the water after it failed to realize floor at Hulu. Within the aftermath of that unlucky destiny, we nonetheless have what “Buffy” followers have all the time had: The following rewatch. Figuring out these deaths are coming, although, hardly softens the blow.

Top-of-the-line “Buffy” characters ever, the reformed vengeance demon Anya (Emma Caulfield) is admittedly not essentially the most high-profile loss of life within the sequence finale. That honor belongs to Spike (James Marsters), who makes a noble sacrifice on the very finish. However Spike will get to come back proper again in “Angel” Season 5, the place he stays vital. His loss of life is an enormous second, to make sure, however the permanence of Anya’s loss of life makes it a lot sadder as a complete.

It is much more tragic while you run by means of Anya’s full arc. After being left on the altar by Xander (Nicholas Brendon) in one of many present’s extra controversial episodes, Anya is left virtually adrift within the bigger story, solely to go on a homicide spree in Season 7 after which, within the aftermath, die fairly unceremoniously within the last episode.

It is an unlucky decline for a personality who was completely implausible in Seasons 4 and 5. It appears like “Buffy” solely killed Anya off as a result of she was the best character to detach from the bigger story by the point the present ended. It is a tragic destiny on two fronts — the everlasting loss of life of a beloved character, and one the place the sufferer deserved a lot better. 

One of many first main character deaths in “Buffy” is available in Season 2, when Angelus (David Boreanaz) murders Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte) within the episode “Ardour.” It is a main turning level for the present, and all of it occurs in actually horrifying vogue — first with a tense chase, then a savage kill, and at last with an additional knife-twist when Angel leaves Jenny’s physique in a mock-romantic setup for Giles (Anthony Head) to seek out.

Jenny Calendar by no means totally reaches foremost character standing, however she’s about as shut as you will get, making this early rug-pull each a well-known “Buffy” second and one of many present’s saddest deaths. It solely makes issues worse to see how Giles reacts within the aftermath. That is the second when it turns into crystal clear that Angelus has no shred of the outdated Angel left inside him.

The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Season 5 finale, “The Present,” is broadly seen as probably the greatest episodes within the present. It options the sequence’ most climactic showdown to that time, and probably the greatest (and darkest) “Buffy” moments for Anthony Head – however the sequence is known as “Buffy,” and Sarah Michelle Gellar completely steals the present. We excluded Spike from this checklist since he comes again instantly and Buffy does the identical, however solely a idiot would say that her sacrificial loss of life would not deserve point out within the high three. Debate rages on whether or not or not “The Present” was conceived as a possible finish for the present, on condition that “Buffy” moved from The WB to UPN for Season 6. Regardless, Season 5 succeeds largely due to Gellar’s efficiency all through, culminating in her heroic sacrifice. 

It is the form of loss of life that elevates the whole character. Though Buffy faces loads of large threats by means of the primary 4 seasons, Season 5 is when she steps totally into maturity, and the accountability that comes with it — a accountability not simply to combat, however to even die if needed. Gellar is excellent as this totally realized model of Buffy, and her loss of life is hardly cheapened by her resurrection in Season 6 (particularly contemplating that the majority of that season is spent coping with the implications). The ability of her dying scene is extra in her willpower to undergo with the sacrifice. There isn’t any sadder shot in all of “Buffy” than her family and friends wanting completely hole within the aftermath.

Any dialogue of essentially the most pointless TV character deaths will conjure a minimum of a reference to Tara Maclay (Amber Benson). Sure, it is the kickoff to the “Darkish Willow” finale arc, which has some standout moments (“Bored now”), however the lasting legacy of Tara’s loss of life is one in every of missed alternatives — a textbook instance of the queer fridging so outstanding on TV within the 2000s (and past). None of that makes Tara’s loss of life any much less unhappy. If something, the unfairness of all of it — the randomness and the best way the gunshot appears like a knife-turn on the viewers itself — solely makes the entire thing extra tragic.

“Buffy” Season 6 is a tough watch. The eponymous hero battles demons and melancholy in equal measure, alongside a wholesome dose of self-loathing, whereas Willow spirals deeper and deeper down a heavy-handed however nonetheless affecting darkish magic habit. Anya and Xander break up. Spike is virtually begging for loss of life. No one is having an excellent time. After which Tara dies, which is the ultimate straw. Whereas Buffy’s Season 5 loss of life might have extra drama within the second, Tara would not get to come back again.

“The Physique” is the best episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It’s the present’s crowning achievement in writing, performing, and dramatic pacing, all centered across the sudden, stunning, horrifyingly mundane loss of life of Buffy’s mom, Joyce (Kristine Sutherland). It isn’t simply the saddest loss of life as a result of it will get its personal episode, or since Joyce was the principle character’s mom. It is as a result of we see the loss of life break each different character in flip — particularly Buffy herself, who for all of her energy and willpower, can solely react the best way kids do when slapped by such a tragedy.

There are different highlights. Anya’s monologue about loss of life, anchored in a soup of grief and confusion, stands out. However actually, that is Sarah Michelle Gellar’s sequence, and her second to show as soon as once more simply how titanic she may be on display screen. “Its conclusion is essentially the most unpopular thought in in style tradition,” Jennifer Armstrong wrote succinctly for Rolling Stone again in 2017. “All of us die, it is nobody’s fault, and there is nothing we are able to do about it.” This is not simply essentially the most highly effective character loss of life in “Buffy,” or one of the affecting character deaths within the historical past of tv. It’s arguably the definitive tv episode about loss of life as effectively.