ONTD Original: Top 5 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Continuity/Inconsistency Errors
Greetings, ONTD.
Welcome to the 12th installment of the ONTD Original Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Today, I'm doing an installment on the top five inconsistencies in the series that just drove me nuts. Why five? Because these are the only five I could think of that just seemed to carry on and on and on...
Disclaimer: This post is my opinion, and my opinion only. <3 I love commenting back and forth, and I'm absolutely open to opposing views or critique, but please be kind and respectful to each other/me. These posts are bringing me such joy in the middle of intense isolation, and I truly enjoy making these posts and commenting back and forth with my fellow Buffy fans. <3. That being said, let's jump in!
[If the apocalypse comes, beep me]
5. Vampires Breathing
So what's the deal with vampires breathing? They can't breathe, or they can? They can smoke, but they can't breathe? They can't give CPR, but they can get out of breath and pant to...catch their breath? Make it make sense!
Season 1, Episode 12
Xander: There's a shot... CPR...
Angel: (panting, out of breath from running) You'll have to do it...I have no breath...
Season 2, Episode 22
Spike proceeds to choke Drusilla out, so he can throw her in the car and leave town so Buffy won't kill them...
Season 7, Episode 10
The First instructs the Turok-Han to continue drowning Spike as means of torture.
[Hey Ive died twiiiice...]
4. Buffy's Strength
Buffy's strength seems to depend on what's going on. Perhaps this is similar to a Mom getting strength to lift a car because of adrenaline? I don't know. Either way, her strength throughout the series fluctuates considerably.
Season 1, Episode 2
Giles: We're too late!
Buffy: I didn't know I was gonna get grounded!
Xander: Can you break it down?
Buffy: No, not that thing.
Season 6, Episode 7
Cast: Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, let it burn!
*Buffy kicks down the giant metal door and it goes flying*
Sweet: Show time.
Season 3, Episode 1
Buffy: Ok. This works the abs, and the glutes. *grunts* I'm gonna feel this for a week.
*Lifts a metal gate with seemingly maximum effort*
Season 2, Episode 15
Werewolf Hunter: No wonder this town's overrun with monsters. No one here's man enough to kill 'em!
Buffy: Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that.
*Buffy bends the barrel of the shot gun with seemingly moderate effort*
[Im under your spellll]
3. Slayer Lore
Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world..
One girl? One girl is born in all the world, per generation?
Cut to Kendra being 'chosen' and taken from her family at a young age. Cut to Faith, being ready to be called immediately upon Kendra's death. Cut to Buffy in season 7, asking Giles why when she died, the other slayer wasn't called (even though Faith was alive?) Cut to the small army of girls who migrated to Sunnydale in season 7 that were all 'potential slayers'? I just don't get it. The entire first season is predicated on the "Into every generation, a slayer is born..." only to sh*t on it through the rest of the series? Also, the Oracle, who supposedly knows ALL, says Buffy was the reason the forces around the chosen line to become unstable by coming back from the dead, but Faith is technically the 'active' slayer, who hasn't died. What?
Season 1, Episode 1
Giles: Because you are the slayer. Into each generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a chosen one. One born with the strength...
Buffy: ...the strength and skill to hunt the vampires. To stop the spread of their evil, blah blah blah...I've heard it, okay?
Season 7, Episode 11
Giles: If the First has been around for all time, then why hasn't it attempted something like this before? Why now?
Oracle: The opportunity has only recently presented itself.
Giles: Opportunity?
Oracle: The mystical forces surrounding the chosen line have become irrevocably altered, become unstable. Vulnerable.
Anya: Something the First did.
Oracle: The First Evil did not cause the disruption. Only ceased upon it to extinguish the lives of the chosen forever.
Giles: Then what has caused the disruption? What is responsible for letting this happen?
Oracle: The slayer.
Season 6, Episode 22
Buffy: I just...I don't understand why I'm back.
Giles: You have a calling.
Buffy: But it was my time, Giles. Someone would've taken my place. So...why?
[Bored now...]
2. How Vampires Die
Did you ever notice vampires deaths seem to depend on who they are, who is killing them, and how it suits the story? Is their heart in their stomach, chest, or neck? Does sunlight cause them to vaporize, or just slowly start to cook? Does holy water hurt like a splash of boiling water, or is it more like a slow burn of a semi-corrosive chemical? Hmm...
Season 4, Episode 3
Spike: Take it off me this way, we both burn!
Buffy: Really? Let's see.
*Spike slowly starts to smoke, but has plenty of time to dive into the sewer opening*
Season 2, Episode 21
Vampire: Tonight. You will come to him. You will come to him, or more will die. Tonight. His hour is at hand!
*Vampire has plenty of time to finish her statement while she slowly starts smoking, then suddenly bursts into flames and disappears*
Season 3, Episode 12
Vampire: Ahh, you...you don't seem to understand your place in all of this. Do you have any ide...oh my. What did you... my pills... *grunts*
*Buffy holds up empty vial of holy water*
Buffy: If I was at full slayer power, I'd be punning right about now...
*Vampire slowly vaporizes*
Season 4, Episode 16
*Riley throws vampire into sunlight without his cover*
*Vampire immediately vaporizes*
Riley: Forgot your coat.
Season 1, Episode 2
Willow: Get off of him!
*Willow throws holy water on Darla's face, it immediately begins smoking and melting her face off.*
*Darla runs away screaming and smoking like a hot dog on the fourth of July*
Season 1, Episode 2
Jesse: Phew. Oh right. Put me out of my misery. You don't have the gu--
*random passerby pushes Jesse onto the stake...into his neck*
*Jesse turns to dust anyway*
[Its in about nine hours, moron.]
1. The Location of Sunnydale
It's got docks. It's got woods. It's got a State University. But, we don't have a whole lot of town...right, Cordelia? The crater that's left also isn't that big (see the last screen cap in this post) ... so how on earth did all of this work? This is a case for the FBI.
Season 2, Episode 15
Here are Buffy and Giles in the lovely woods of Sunnydale.
Season 2, Episode 13
Here are Buffy and Angel, at the lovely Sunnydale docks.
Season 1, Episode 12
Here is a lovely overview of Sunnydale, with tons of beautiful foothills surrounding it. So lovely.
Season 7, Episode 22
And here is what's left when Sunnydale sinks into the Hellmouth. Desert and snow capped mountains in the distance. Not an inkling of ocean, woods, docks, none of it. Hmm.
So, ONTD... what are some of the consistency/continuity errors that bothered you throughout the series? Do you think any of mine are wrong, or do you think I missed any glaring ones? (Probable, to be fair, since I only selected five)
If you're interested in seeing the previous posts:
Post 1: Ranking 'Series Regular' Buffy the Vampire Slayer Characters
Post 2: Top 10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer 'Hellmouth' Metaphors for Real Life Struggles
Post 3: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: In Defense of Season 6
Post 4: Top 10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episodes to Fight 2021
Post 5: The Fashion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 6: Character "Best and Worst Moments" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 7: Top 20 Quotes/Lines/Dialogue Moments from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 8: Top 15 "Wee Little Baddies" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 9: Foreshadowing of Future Events in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 10: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast: Where Are They Now?
Post 11: Top Episodes with Power Messages from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sources: My brain, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Welcome to the 12th installment of the ONTD Original Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Today, I'm doing an installment on the top five inconsistencies in the series that just drove me nuts. Why five? Because these are the only five I could think of that just seemed to carry on and on and on...
Disclaimer: This post is my opinion, and my opinion only. <3 I love commenting back and forth, and I'm absolutely open to opposing views or critique, but please be kind and respectful to each other/me. These posts are bringing me such joy in the middle of intense isolation, and I truly enjoy making these posts and commenting back and forth with my fellow Buffy fans. <3. That being said, let's jump in!
[If the apocalypse comes, beep me]
5. Vampires Breathing
So what's the deal with vampires breathing? They can't breathe, or they can? They can smoke, but they can't breathe? They can't give CPR, but they can get out of breath and pant to...catch their breath? Make it make sense!
Season 1, Episode 12
Xander: There's a shot... CPR...
Angel: (panting, out of breath from running) You'll have to do it...I have no breath...
Season 2, Episode 22
Spike proceeds to choke Drusilla out, so he can throw her in the car and leave town so Buffy won't kill them...
Season 7, Episode 10
The First instructs the Turok-Han to continue drowning Spike as means of torture.
[Hey Ive died twiiiice...]
4. Buffy's Strength
Buffy's strength seems to depend on what's going on. Perhaps this is similar to a Mom getting strength to lift a car because of adrenaline? I don't know. Either way, her strength throughout the series fluctuates considerably.
Season 1, Episode 2
Giles: We're too late!
Buffy: I didn't know I was gonna get grounded!
Xander: Can you break it down?
Buffy: No, not that thing.
Season 6, Episode 7
Cast: Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, let it burn!
*Buffy kicks down the giant metal door and it goes flying*
Sweet: Show time.
Season 3, Episode 1
Buffy: Ok. This works the abs, and the glutes. *grunts* I'm gonna feel this for a week.
*Lifts a metal gate with seemingly maximum effort*
Season 2, Episode 15
Werewolf Hunter: No wonder this town's overrun with monsters. No one here's man enough to kill 'em!
Buffy: Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that.
*Buffy bends the barrel of the shot gun with seemingly moderate effort*
[Im under your spellll]
3. Slayer Lore
Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world..
One girl? One girl is born in all the world, per generation?
Cut to Kendra being 'chosen' and taken from her family at a young age. Cut to Faith, being ready to be called immediately upon Kendra's death. Cut to Buffy in season 7, asking Giles why when she died, the other slayer wasn't called (even though Faith was alive?) Cut to the small army of girls who migrated to Sunnydale in season 7 that were all 'potential slayers'? I just don't get it. The entire first season is predicated on the "Into every generation, a slayer is born..." only to sh*t on it through the rest of the series? Also, the Oracle, who supposedly knows ALL, says Buffy was the reason the forces around the chosen line to become unstable by coming back from the dead, but Faith is technically the 'active' slayer, who hasn't died. What?
Season 1, Episode 1
Giles: Because you are the slayer. Into each generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a chosen one. One born with the strength...
Buffy: ...the strength and skill to hunt the vampires. To stop the spread of their evil, blah blah blah...I've heard it, okay?
Season 7, Episode 11
Giles: If the First has been around for all time, then why hasn't it attempted something like this before? Why now?
Oracle: The opportunity has only recently presented itself.
Giles: Opportunity?
Oracle: The mystical forces surrounding the chosen line have become irrevocably altered, become unstable. Vulnerable.
Anya: Something the First did.
Oracle: The First Evil did not cause the disruption. Only ceased upon it to extinguish the lives of the chosen forever.
Giles: Then what has caused the disruption? What is responsible for letting this happen?
Oracle: The slayer.
Season 6, Episode 22
Buffy: I just...I don't understand why I'm back.
Giles: You have a calling.
Buffy: But it was my time, Giles. Someone would've taken my place. So...why?
[Bored now...]
2. How Vampires Die
Did you ever notice vampires deaths seem to depend on who they are, who is killing them, and how it suits the story? Is their heart in their stomach, chest, or neck? Does sunlight cause them to vaporize, or just slowly start to cook? Does holy water hurt like a splash of boiling water, or is it more like a slow burn of a semi-corrosive chemical? Hmm...
Season 4, Episode 3
Spike: Take it off me this way, we both burn!
Buffy: Really? Let's see.
*Spike slowly starts to smoke, but has plenty of time to dive into the sewer opening*
Season 2, Episode 21
Vampire: Tonight. You will come to him. You will come to him, or more will die. Tonight. His hour is at hand!
*Vampire has plenty of time to finish her statement while she slowly starts smoking, then suddenly bursts into flames and disappears*
Season 3, Episode 12
Vampire: Ahh, you...you don't seem to understand your place in all of this. Do you have any ide...oh my. What did you... my pills... *grunts*
*Buffy holds up empty vial of holy water*
Buffy: If I was at full slayer power, I'd be punning right about now...
*Vampire slowly vaporizes*
Season 4, Episode 16
*Riley throws vampire into sunlight without his cover*
*Vampire immediately vaporizes*
Riley: Forgot your coat.
Season 1, Episode 2
Willow: Get off of him!
*Willow throws holy water on Darla's face, it immediately begins smoking and melting her face off.*
*Darla runs away screaming and smoking like a hot dog on the fourth of July*
Season 1, Episode 2
Jesse: Phew. Oh right. Put me out of my misery. You don't have the gu--
*random passerby pushes Jesse onto the stake...into his neck*
*Jesse turns to dust anyway*
[Its in about nine hours, moron.]
1. The Location of Sunnydale
It's got docks. It's got woods. It's got a State University. But, we don't have a whole lot of town...right, Cordelia? The crater that's left also isn't that big (see the last screen cap in this post) ... so how on earth did all of this work? This is a case for the FBI.
Season 2, Episode 15
Here are Buffy and Giles in the lovely woods of Sunnydale.
Season 2, Episode 13
Here are Buffy and Angel, at the lovely Sunnydale docks.
Season 1, Episode 12
Here is a lovely overview of Sunnydale, with tons of beautiful foothills surrounding it. So lovely.
Season 7, Episode 22
And here is what's left when Sunnydale sinks into the Hellmouth. Desert and snow capped mountains in the distance. Not an inkling of ocean, woods, docks, none of it. Hmm.
So, ONTD... what are some of the consistency/continuity errors that bothered you throughout the series? Do you think any of mine are wrong, or do you think I missed any glaring ones? (Probable, to be fair, since I only selected five)
If you're interested in seeing the previous posts:
Post 1: Ranking 'Series Regular' Buffy the Vampire Slayer Characters
Post 2: Top 10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer 'Hellmouth' Metaphors for Real Life Struggles
Post 3: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: In Defense of Season 6
Post 4: Top 10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episodes to Fight 2021
Post 5: The Fashion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 6: Character "Best and Worst Moments" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 7: Top 20 Quotes/Lines/Dialogue Moments from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 8: Top 15 "Wee Little Baddies" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 9: Foreshadowing of Future Events in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Post 10: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast: Where Are They Now?
Post 11: Top Episodes with Power Messages from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sources: My brain, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23