Grave

[skinless]

Hey I just got done watching the four part Dark willow Arc and I noticed something that really Pissed me off. In Grave after Giles Come back, Buffy and him have a conversation about multiple things such as sleeping with spike and DMP and other things. Then Buffy gets to talking about her feelings and crawling from the grave. What happens next is the part that pisses me off and I know alot of you proly know what Im getting at. Anyways Buffys says "But it was my time, Giles. Someone would have taken my place." In all actuality No one would've taken her Place as she was not technically a Slayer sice she died in Prophecy girl. So why even say it? Why did people not catch this before it aired? dont they have People for that, people whose only job it is to keep the continiuty of the show intact. It just pisses me off that they would let something like that slide

[dinamo]

There were a few other instances where Buffy was referred to as THE slayer and so on. Like in the finale about it being HER power and so on. Since Kendra then Faith came along, I've never believed she's THE slayer, she's A slayer, she's like all the other slayers now, just one of many, Faith is THE true slayer in my eyes.

[Nina]

It's not the only time she said something like that.
Didn't Buffy say to the potentials that if she died, one of them would become a slayer?

I don't know if this is sloppy writing or that Buffy has no idea how it works. But it annoys me as well. Because if the line goes through Buffy, there would be another slayer after The Gift, and it would be weird if we never heard about that one.

[skinless]

There were a few other instances where Buffy was referred to as THE slayer and so on. Like in the finale about it being HER power and so on. Since Kendra then Faith came along, I've never believed she's THE slayer, she's A slayer, she's like all the other slayers now, just one of many, Faith is THE true slayer in my eyes.

Well yeah Faith is the true Slayer, (Im not counting the slayer spell as it has not yet happened). Everyone knows the Lineage so i wont explain it but Maybe in an unofficial sort of way or because she was the "Leader" she felt it was her Power

[KingofCretins]

I think it's a mistake to assume Buffy was referring to a Slayer. She certainly didn't *mention* a Slayer. I like to think she's more imaginative than that. Angel, for instance, is not a Slayer. She wasn't thinking of a Slayer to take her place, but a Champion. And, I think she's correct -- someone *would* have taken her place. Perhaps Willow. Perhaps Nick Fury Xander. Perhaps Bethany Chaulk, the powerful telekinetic from Angel 2.04 "Untouched". Perhaps Gwen Raiden. The point is, Champions rise to fill a vacuum, such as the one Buffy would have left. That's all she was talking about.

I think of Buffy as "The Slayer" -- Faith is the "Slayer of record". But it's sort of like when a guy hands over the keys to his business to his son, but then still comes around the office all the time. It's still "his" company, and everyone knows it.

[litzie]

I feel like the slayer lineage was always really unclear...I thought that there was another example in season seven, when Eve-the-potential is actually Eve-the-first and she's trying to scare the other potentials by saying how they could be activated at any moment...but in fact, that was just left ambiguous. I just spent a good ten minutes searching through four differernt transcripts trying to find the right episode, only to realize they never actually say when "Buffy" dies, they say when the slayer dies...sigh. I do think there's another example in season seven of an incorrect slayer lineage reference, but I cant think where it is, and I can't make myself search through anymore transcripts!

I do think the lineage thing was something that was never properly clarified in the text...to my knowledge, it had to be explained by the writers in interviews etc. I know that when I finished watching (I watched on DVDs, not realtime), I was really confused about that. And seeing as I am the smartest person alive, obviously I would have figured it out if it was there in the text...

[dinamo]

Now I think about it I agree with KingofCretins I do think Buffy was referring to someone taking her place as a champion rather than a Slayer. I also guess Buffy is the slayer in a sense because she was the active one who was doing the killing, but I think it makes more sense that the line of activation passes through Faith. Something a bit offtopic but I've always wondered is Faith the longest serving slayer? Buffy died and was brought back so I discount her. (Buffy was brung back by other people, so under her own steam alone she would have stayed dead after the Master) Do we know of anyone who's been a slayer longer than Faith who was talked about even just in passing or something?

[skinless]

Do we know of anyone who's been a slayer longer than Faith who was talked about even just in passing or something?

Im not sure if there was slayer that went for very long but I Would assume that Faith would be the longest serving Slayer in a while though as most slayer dont live very long.

Now I think about it I agree with KingofCretins I do think Buffy was referring to someone taking her place as a champion rather than a Slayer.

Well u got a point here a "Champion" wouldve eventually taken her place

[buffyholic]

Maybe Buffy doesn?t know how it works. She?s always confusing things up or maybe that sentence has to do with her superiority complex. She thinks she?s the only one with the power.

[Cinderela]

I think it's a mistake to assume Buffy was referring to a Slayer. She certainly didn't *mention* a Slayer. I like to think she's more imaginative than that. Angel, for instance, is not a Slayer. She wasn't thinking of a Slayer to take her place, but a Champion. And, I think she's correct -- someone *would* have taken her place. Perhaps Willow. Perhaps Nick Fury Xander. Perhaps Bethany Chaulk, the powerful telekinetic from Angel 2.04 "Untouched". Perhaps Gwen Raiden. The point is, Champions rise to fill a vacuum, such as the one Buffy would have left. That's all she was talking about.

I think of Buffy as "The Slayer" -- Faith is the "Slayer of record". But it's sort of like when a guy hands over the keys to his business to his son, but then still comes around the office all the time. It's still "his" company, and everyone knows it.

And that's a perfect parallel - I also think Buffy was referring to the "Champion" issue - Buffy was perfectly aware there were other slayers - Faith & Kendra, at least. Faith is the slayer of record. Buffy died, Faith was called. But Buffy is the "Slayer Leader", for lack of a better term. Even Faith deferred to her in S7 (after that minor revolt) - and made mention that the weapon "feels like it is mine" - "I guess that means it's yours."

Maybe Buffy doesn?t know how it works. She?s always confusing things up or maybe that sentence has to do with her superiority complex. She thinks she?s the only one with the power.

No, she doesn't think she's the only one with the power. She's perfectly aware that Faith *is* a slayer and has been aware since all the way back in S3 - Faith, Hope & Trick. She knew Kendra is a slayer back in S2.

[TheSlayerInMe]

Just been reading the comment and ninas one stuck in mind because during the duration of season 7 all buffy says is 'my death could make you the next slayer' and so on.... but actually it wouldnt and that has really peed me of lol !

Because season 7 was ones of the best seasons in my view because of the whole salyer lineage thing... and now it just makes me mad to think that they didnt even realise what they was doing with continuity i didnt realise it as i watched season 7 because i was that far 'wrapped up' in the story line i didnt notice it i just 'played along with it' i guess you could say.. but now i know that buffys death wouldnt have activated a new slayer it makes me really mad and to be honest the season itself is now losing popularity from me .. what do you guys think ?

[KingofCretins]

The Slayer lineage thing... we know that the characters were wrong -- Buffy's death would not summon a new Slayer. We just don't know why they were wrong, since it ultimately wasn't relevant to the plot.

In "Grave", the context of the conversation has me all the more convinced neither Buffy nor Giles were talking about the Slayer lineage. This is Giles, he knows what pain and trouble being the Slayer has brought Buffy. I don't think he would tritely say "you have a calling" if he was referring to the mere fact that she's the Slayer. This is his surrogate daughter. *She* has a calling, Buffy Summers. He's reminding her of that. So, in turn, I think Buffy's answer is a more philosophical one -- someone else would have a calling, too. Which is true. One of the fundamental principles of all heroic fiction, all mythology, is that Champions will rise.

[ThePoet's<3]

I think the writers didn't know how the Slayer line worked...

Therefore they continued to have Buffy say these confusing things.

However, Buffy really is The Slayer. Faith may be the Slayer of record - but everyone knows Faith would not be a good "Slayer in Charge". She's working on it though. She continues learn the responsibility of being the Slayer and to grow in Slayer maturity, but she is far from the leader she needs to be to be The Slayer.