8 Things ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Taught Me About Relationships
It almost goes without saying that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a teenage cult classic. During its six-year run on what is now formerly known as the WB11, Buffy and the aptly named Scooby Gang took us on weekly adventures chasing down demons and vampires, not to mention countless star-crossed relationships: Buffy and Angel. Buffy and Spike. Xander and Cordelia. Willow and Oz. Willow and Tara (R.I.P), and the list goes on.
Buffy provided a lot of hard hitting lessons on the highs and lows of love, dating, and conscious uncoupling. Here are 8 things I learned about relationships by fan girling over the supernatural occurrences of good ol’ Sunnydale, California.
1. It can be difficult to be a hard-working, independent woman in a serious relationship.
When Buffy wasn’t busy kicking some serious vamp ass on the street or in a graveyard, she was watching over her sister and mother, or training with her faithful watcher, Giles. It’s pretty hard to squeeze in time for romance when you’re the chosen one and all, but somehow she made it work, and so can you.
2. Bad boys are dangerously sexy.
Who could say no to a face like Angel’s, or even Angelus’? There’s something oddly endearing about a man who’s protective enough to ease out of shadows to warn you about impending danger, yet dangerous enough to rip your head off in one foul swoop. Everyone has a past, right?
3. It can’t always be just about the sex (no matter how good it is).
Too much sex can be both a blessing and a curse. Buffy certainly learned that the hard way through her twisted on again, off again rendezvous with Spike, and soul-reaping romp with Angel. Copious amounts love making does not a relationship make, no matter how impressive his dungeon is.
4. True love never dies.
Seriously — it doesn’t. No matter how many times you may want it to, despite all your best efforts to put a person out of your mind, the feeling will always linger in your heart. Despite all of their challenges, Buffy and Angel just could never get enough of each other. He was the one that got away, then returned, then got away again.
5. Sometimes relationships can take you to hell and back.
After falling for vengeance demon, Anya, Xander certainly knows what it feels like to go to hell and back in a relationship. Plus, his entire town was actually built on a portal to hell so, there’s that.
6. People can change, especially when their souls are restored.
Once he realized his love for Buffy, Spike went to the ends of the earth to try and get his soul back, and prove himself to her. He even became a hero in the series finale by sacrificing his life for the good of mankind. That’s a long way from killing humans for sport. We see you, Spike.
7. Don’t forget to keep the magic alive.
Tara and Willow were the best at implementing actual magic into their relationship, and they had plenty of supernatural and emotional power brewing to keep things interesting. Anyone willing to almost destroy the world to avenge the death of their gf must have had things pretty good.
8. The best way to slay a relationship is to face the world side by side.
Ultimately, each relationship depicted in the show was at its strongest when the couple worked together to battle adversity — whether emotional or physical. Jay Z pretty much sums things up in a single lyric, “all I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.” Well, and maybe a stake.
