Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of the greatest shows – and characters – of the early 21st century. A lot of that has to do with how complicated a person Buffy Summers actually is. The entire premise is built around the joke that a Valley Girl could be a serious vampire and demon hunter.
But Buffy has a lot of layers and a lot of sides. She's a hero without a doubt, but she wasn't always the nicest person. Sometimes, she was like a lot of teenagers: Rough around the edges. Here are five times we felt bad for Buffy, and five times we hated her.
Hated Her: Tried To Fit In With Cordelia
When Buffy first arrives in Sunnydale, she's a little lost. One of the first things she does to orient herself at Sunnydale High is to fall in with Cordelia, popular, beautiful, and though Buffy doesn't know it yet, a monster she'll end up fighting a few times.
Cordelia's monstrosity has to do with her attitudes toward those of a lower social status than her, specifically Willow and Xander. Buffy wants to fit in and be liked evaporates though as she gets to know Willow and Xander better.
Felt Bad: Didn't Know What To Do With Her Life
The series had a remarkable conceit – high school as a horror show. It had an equally remarkable will to do the unexpected, which included leaving behind high school for college.
Buffy's miasma in her first year of college, unsure of what to do with her life (or if there was anything beyond being a Slayer) mirrored a lot of young people as they slowly figure out who they are, and what they want. Some fans may have lamented the show's new direction, but it certainly inspired empathy for Buffy. This was further explored in the subsequent seasons.
Hated Her: Drifted Apart From The Scooby Gang
One thing that wasn't great about the transition to college was the Buffy drifted apart from her core friends, the Scooby Gang. Part of this was inevitable and understandable, as people grow and grow in different directions.
But as Buffy floundered in her first year in college, she grew more and more distant from Willow and Xander. This distance would mend but would become a feature and not a bug as Buffy later continued to evolve (and die, and come back), putting more walls between her and others.
Felt Bad: Resurrected
At the end of the show's fifth season, Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world. Fans understood, but expected her back – plus there was the fact a sixth season was coming later that fall – but when she came back, it wasn't all sunshine. In fact, Buffy was at peace in death.
Buffy's resurrection ripped her out of the peace, putting her into a tailspin back in the world of the living that led to some of her biggest mistakes and greatest heartache.
Hated Her: Wanted To Erase Memories of Dawn
It's probably fair to say not a lot of fans liked Dawn when she was originally introduced. She was annoying, in that way younger siblings can be. But when Buffy discovered the truth about her 'sister' – that she wasn't her sister at all but a magical entity known as the Key and implanted in her memory to hide her from Glory – she first tried to have those memories erased.
The monks that created Dawn had the power to do it, but Buffy eventually came around. Still, it wasn't exactly sisterly.
Felt Bad: Sacrificed Angel
It may have been necessary – and avoidable in the first place – but Buffy's emotional sacrifice of Angel to save the world (again) still hit fans in the heart.
Angel had it coming, after the murder of Jenny Calendar and general villainy, but it was still sad to see Buffy have to put down her friend and lover. Like anybody in comic books, Angel got better and Buffy patched things up with him. Still, some scars never heal and his death left a lasting mark.
Hated Her: Rude To Kendra
It's a little understandable – Buffy was the Chosen One, the only Slayer, called to greatness – but still, it wasn't any fun watching her elbow Kendra. Kendra became the Slayer after Buffy's brief (first) death in season one.
Kendra shows up in Sunnydale looking to kick butt and is as confused as Buffy is. The two Alpha Slayers jostled for position as Buffy tried to stake out her territory. Eventually, Buffy came around (she was great at eventually getting it) and the two became friends.
Felt Bad: Sacrificed Herself
Buffy's second death was more profound. She didn't face it with any less courage or dignity, though. The world is at stake and Buffy has to save it. Again. She does, throwing herself into a portal that requires a Summers to sacrifice themselves.
Glory engineered it to be Dawn, but despite her early antagonism with her faux sister, and despite not being related to her at all, Buffy does the brave and hard thing and fans felt for everything she gave up.
Hated Her: Sleeping With Spike
This is where a lot of fans got off the Buffy train. Her violent, misguided relationship with Spike – a bloodthirsty murderer FYI – came at the cost of her self-respect.
Buffy was admittedly in a lot of pain and confusion after her return from the dead in season six, and people do strange things when they're afraid and confused. But Buffy knew better than to get involved with a man who didn't have a soul, and couldn't have her best interests at heart.
Felt Bad: Lost Her Mom
The absolute low point for Buffy came when she lost her mother, Joyce. It wasn't to vampires, demons, or any end-of-the-world scenario that she could defend against. It was just life, and death, as it is for most people.
Buffy was never more vulnerable and never more heroic than in "The Body." The loss of Joyce, and later, Buffy's own life, contributed to a lot of her emotional turmoil. Fans felt for her, even if they cringed through some of the fallout that followed.