Are vampires actually not able to breath?

[holypotatoes]

If you watch Buffy and probably Angel too, you'll here them remark every once in awhile that they (vampires) don't breath. Yet in season 7 we see the super vamp torturing Spike by drowning him. How is this supposed to be possible? Spike also smokes. If he doesn't breath how does he take a drag of the cigarette, you need air passing in and out of your mouth to do that? Throughout the series you also see the vampires running and getting out of breath. Again how is this possible? Your thoughts please!!!!

[Ameer]

In my opinion, they don't need to breathe, but they certainly have the ability to do so, like for instance when Spike wants to smoke. As for when he's tortured by The First, I think we can attribute that to a general feeling of uneasiness that Spike must have felt while being drowned. It wasn't as if he was going to die that way; it was simply instinctive.

[redrevo]

Of course they can breathe. Otherwise they would not be able to talk, sing (in Angel's case) or smoke cigarettes (in Spike's case). There must be air of some sort in their lungs for any of these functions to work. However, I doubt it's oxygen in, carbon dioxide out because in Prophecy Girl, Angel says he can't help Buffy because he has no breath. Either that, or it's a continuity issue, of which there are many in Season 1. The running/getting out of breath is also a mistake or continuity issue, because if vampires don't have to breathe, their muscles should be able to work fine without oxygen. We see a correct example of this in Bargaining Part 1 when Spike runs ahead of the gang and is rather peeved because they can't keep up with him.

[LRae12]

If you want to get, um, private about it, how is it that the vampires have sex? I mean, if they're dead than their blood isn't flowing, and if their blood isn't flowing, then how do certain body parts - function?

[Dorian's Kitten]

I think Ameer has it, they don't need to breath-it's just habit or intent. As far as the drowning thing is concerned, I think it was a discomfort and helplessness thing. With his face shoved in the water, he couldn't even make sarcastic remarks and pump up the adrenaline.

Which is a lovely segue into the other question. The blood certainly flows into all their various parts. It doesn't matter where they get cut, they bleed. As far as the sex goes; I've always figured it might require extra "fuel" if they do it a lot.

[KingofCretins]

Breathing -- they don't need to breathe, and there's really no way to credibly fanwank the Spike torture thing. It was just a goof. Maybe it was 10% holy water or something.

Circulation -- in the original version of "Vampire: The Masquerade" and RPG, it is suggested that a vampire can will the blood in their system to concentrate whereever they wish, thereby affecting sexual arousal. Not that those are the Buffyverse rules, it's just a plausible explanation.

[Dorian's Kitten]

Breathing -- they don't need to breathe, and there's really no way to credibly fanwank the Spike torture thing. It was just a goof. Maybe it was 10% holy water or something.

Circulation -- in the original version of "Vampire: The Masquerade" and RPG, it is suggested that a vampire can will the blood in their system to concentrate whereever they wish, thereby affecting sexual arousal. Not that those are the Buffyverse rules, it's just a plausible explanation.

I don't think vamps in Buffyverse can control their arousal-they actually seem kind of worse at it than humans. Certainly Spike was not thrilled to discover his attraction to Buffy. There was even praying. But it is an interesting theory.

[ThePoet's<3]

Maybe a little of both? Fanwinking and habit?

Same as the eating - they don't need to eat "human food" but like to occasionally. Breathing may be a "habit" sometimes?

There are many times when we catch "breathing" inconsistancies on Buffy. Eac time they're in the cemetary and it's cold I always see "breath". Also, lots of panting, gasping etc. etc. etc. If you don't breath - why are you out of breath??

Sometimes I thought - AHA - breathing!! But mostly I just ignored it...

Now the circulation issues... Where there's a will there's a way...