Buffy, Angel, and Theology

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I believe two of the best television shows of all time are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.   Of course, I get get a lot of grief at times because of this opinion from those who don’t know any better, but that’s just the price one has to pay for being right.

Buffy ended its seven year run on TV in 2003, and Angel ended one year later in 2004 after 5 years. but fans of the series have continued to reflect upon and write about their beloved shows.  In just the last couple of days I have read articles on these series from two different blogs/websites that I subscribe to in my feedreader, and both articles come from a Christian perspective.

In his post Calvin, Wesley and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, John, on his blog Locusts and Honey, examines the two primary vampires in both TV shows:  Angel and Spike.  What’s interesting  about his post is his view that the redemption each vampire seeks roughly correlates to the theological outlooks found in Calvinism and Arminianism, with Angel’s salvific quest more closely resembling the former and Spike’s the later.  It’s a good and a quick read.

Kimberly Conway’s article on the website The Ooze, is no less succinct and informative.  In Buffy on Vocation, she demonstrates that one of the continuing themes in the shows, particularly Buffy, is one’s sense of calling.  As she states:

The series is about vocation; it explores what it means for Buffy to be a vampire slayer, not merely to slay vampires for fun or profit. It shows her struggling to live up to the demands of the role, sacrificing the usual teenage pleasures to meet her unusual responsibilities. It also shows her growth in competence, wisdom, and confidence, and her eventual realization that the sacrifices are worth it.

I particularly like her inclusion of dialogue from the show in her article.  One that aptly illustrates her point is from the very last season of the show and features a conversation between Xander (One of Buffy’s friends in the series from its opening episode) and Dawn (Buffy’s sister):

We are ALL Called - Xander’s Take on Vocation

Buffy - (walks up to Dawn from the kitchen, followed by Xander) Hey. You OK?
Dawn - Yeah, I was thinking of hitting the books. Do some research on The First. It’s
in retreat mode right now, but you’re still gonna need to know how to fight it.
Buffy - Great. Sounds good. (to the slayers-in-training) Hey, you guys, wanna head
downstairs? Get our newest arrival up to speed?
(They all file out, only Amanda acknowledging Dawn’s existence. Xander lingers.)
Dawn - (to Xander) What’s up?
Xander - Aw, I’m just thinking about the girls. It’s a harsh gig, being a potential. Just
being picked out of a crowd, danger, destiny, (grins) plus if you act now, death.
Dawn - They can handle it.
Xander - Yeah. They’re special, no doubt. The amazing thing is, not one of them will
ever know, not even Buffy.
Dawn - Know what?
Xander - How much harder it is for the rest of us.
Dawn - No way. They’ve got?
Xander - Seven years, Dawn. Working with the slayer. Seeing my friends get more
and more powerful. A witch. A demon. Hell, I could fit Oz in my shaving kit, but come
a full moon, he had a wolfy mojo not to be messed with. Powerful. All of them. And
I’m the guy who fixes the windows.
Dawn - Well, you had that sexy army training for a while, and the windows really did
need fixing.
Xander - I saw what you did last night.
Dawn - Yeah, I? (embarrassed) I guess I kinda lost my head when I thought I was the
slayer.
Xander - You thought you were all special. Miss Sunnydale 2003. And the minute you
found out you weren’t, you handed the crown to Amanda without a moment’s pause.
You gave her your power.
Dawn - (shrugs) The power wasn’t mine.
Xander - They’ll never know how tough it is, Dawnie, to be the one who isn’t chosen.
To live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than
anybody realizes because nobody’s watching me. I saw you last night. I see you
working here today. You’re not special. You’re extraordinary. (stands, kisses her
forehead, starts to walk out of the room)
Dawn - (tears welling in her eyes, calls after him) Maybe that’s your power.
Xander - What?
Dawn - Seeing. Knowing.
Xander - Maybe it is. Maybe I should get a cape.
Dawn - Cape is good.
Xander - Yeah. (leaves the room)

Though Buffy is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a “religious” show;  it, and it’s companion series Angel, is all about the human condition.  Both shows grappled with the issues of good and evil, power and its use, loyalty, friendship, calling and vocation, ethical behavior, sacrifice, and the power of love, among many other themes.  This point is more than made by others who have written about these series, and I would recommend the following articles for your consideration:

What would Buffy do?  Feminist ethics and epistemic violence by Shannon Craigo-Snell

What would Buffy do? - the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer - television program review in the Christian Century,

The Door Theologian of the Year:  Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the Wittenburg Door,

Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the blog Pontifications from the Sinister Minister, and

Christian Symbolism in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Berni Phillips

There are, of course, many other interesting articles and blog posts on the religious themes of Buffy and  Angel, many of which can be found by merely goggling the series’ names and faith and/or religious themes.  These, however, are among the best that I have read.  Finally, if you are interested, you might want to check out the website Slayage, The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies (Yes, you read that correctly).