28 Years Ago, ‘Buffy’s Darkest Villain Got a Perfect Introduction
This Polygon retrospective examines the introduction of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s most significant villain, analyzing how the series uses antagonistic characters as foils to explore Buffy’s internal moral conflicts. The article discusses how supporting characters—such as Cordelia and Kendra—serve as contrasts that highlight different approaches to responsibility and maturity, each representing distinct responses to power and duty. Throughout the series, Buffy struggles to suppress her darker impulses while managing the weight of being the Chosen Slayer, a burden she never requested. The piece contextualizes how the show uses villain introductions and character dynamics to externalize and dramatize the protagonist’s ongoing battle with her own capacity for darkness, illustrating the complex tension between the power she possesses and the moral restraint she must maintain.