Buffy The Vampire Slayerleft one major plot hole unsolved for the tortured anti-hero Spike (James Marsters) – it was unclear who his vampire sire was, and whether it was Angel (David Boreanz) or Drusilla (Juliet Landau).The conflicting information made theAngelreveal fall flat, and seemed to be a simple attempt at patching up a plot hole. In the show, Angel is born as Liam in 18th-century Ireland, and is revealed to have been turned by his former lover Darla (Julie Benz). He took on the name Angelus, and became the most ruthless vampire in European history.
As viewers learn, he is later cursed with a human soul as karma, and he has to live with all the atrocities he has committed. WhenAngel loses his humanity inBuffy, his evil knows no bounds. After Spike showcasing his own villainy all season, it seems only natural that Angel would have created Spike instead of the weakened Drusilla.Angel should have been confirmed as Spike’s direct sire the entire time, as it would have made the plot a lot clearer and avoided the plot hole that the confusion created, resulting in a rushed patch-up jobby the ending ofAngel.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Switched Spike’s Sire From Angel To Drusilla
Angel Was Initially Widely Regarded As His Sire
In theBuffyspinoffAngel, it is then revealed that Spike’s sire is Drusilla, but that his grand sire is technically Angel.Spike originally claims that Angel is his sire inBuffy. The plot line that Angel created Spike would have been particularly interesting, as the pair struggle with many of the same things but choose to handle them in different ways. Later, both men vie for Buffy’s affections. A deeper explanation of why the pair share such a close bond throughout history would have made their respective plots in relation to Buffy that much richer.
Does Buffy The Vampire Slayer hold up in 2024?
While the series ran for an impressive 7 seasons and produced 144 episodes, plus a successful spin-off series, some don’t find the charm in Buffy The Vampire Slayer watching it today. The WB series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar was hugely popular during its run, and while the stories of the series are typically translatable for the current generation, the graphics of the show can pull viewers out of the magic of the series. I believe Buffy holds up in 2024, but as someone who’s loved the series since its original run, I know my bias is strong.
This in mind, it would make a lot more sense for him to have directly sired and trained Spike in his image, asthe harsh realities show that Spikedoes not bear the same curse and would have carried out his diabolical wishes inBuffylong past Angel regaining his humanity.
Given that Drusilla is largely written to be one of Angel’s earliest victims and is often seen in a weakened state, it doesn’t quite feel convincing that she would be out and about siring other vampires while she is struggling to survive herself. Drusilla is shown to have plenty of her own bloodthirsty desires, but typically has a team of henchmen carrying out her diabolical wishes.
The Angel Spinoff Tried To Retcon Angel Into Being Spike’s “Grandsire”
Angel Made Sire Lines Murky
Unlike later supernatural shows, theBuffyandAngeluniverse left the siring process fairly vague for much of the series. This left room for the plot hole regarding Spike’s sire, as later episodes claim thatDrusilla is the sire and that Angel is the grandsire. Other supernatural shows likeThe Vampire Diarieshave a much clearer identification system for sire lines. InThe Vampire Diaries,all vampires are descended from a member of the original family of vampires.
The switch up felt inconsistent overall, and made the big reveal fall flat.
Since there is no specified system inBuffy,in part due to the show’s focus on other types of creatures and supernatural phenomena, the vampire lore is left too ambiguous. The twist of Angel actually being Spike’s grandsire inAngeldoesn’t feel convincing in the grand scheme of the show’s narrative structure, especially since the opposite is stated earlier on. The switch up felt inconsistent overall, and made the big reveal fall flat.
The “Grandsire” Explanation Was Never A Convincing Way To Fix Buffy’s Plot Hole
The Show Needed To Committ To Explaining Its Vampire Lore In Greater Detail
Because Buffy’s duties as the slayer call her to slay all sorts of creatures, the show tends to lack a commitment to developing in-depth loreabout the more established supernatural phenomena. The show’s vampires and werewolves do each have unique personal backstories, but the rules for their establishment and existence beyond the basics (like inviting vampires into buildings) is what allowed for several plot holes throughout the show’s seven-season run.
Instead of explaining that Angel is Spike’s grandsire, it would have been interesting to learn more about their early relationship and why Angel decided to sire him rather than solely feed on him. SinceAngelis meant to expand upon the character’s unique story beyond his interactions with the belovedBuffy The Vampire Slayergang, keeping Angel as Spike’s sire would have avoided a plot hole and created a more interesting opportunity to unite the two characters.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
