Sarah Michelle Gellar virtually ruined the ultimate season of Buffy

By Chris Snellgrove
| Printed 10 seconds in the past

For probably the most half, Buffy the Vampire Slayer followers had been glad with the ultimate season. Certain, it lacked the emotional and artistic heights of Seasons 2 and three, but it surely felt like a refreshing return to type after the empty dreariness of Season 6. Nonetheless, it seems that the ultimate season was virtually ruined by probably the most surprising supply. of all. Together with co-star Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar initially pitched showrunner Joss Whedon with the concept that Buffy and Xander ought to hook up in season 7.

Buffy and Xander’s romance

Some longtime followers of the present are groaning proper now, and don’t fret…we’ll take an in-depth have a look at why this romantic pairing can be such a foul thought. However first, let’s handle the elephant within the room: why the hell did Sarah Michelle Gellar and his co-star thinks a Buffy/Xander romance can be a good suggestion within the first place? In brief, each of their characters had been coping with heartbreak. Xander left Anya on the altar in season 6, and she or he ended up assembly Spike, Buffy’s enemy with advantages who ended up attempting to rape her earlier than the season ended.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicholas Brendon needed their respective characters to have a romantic, comfortable ending, and so they believed that Buffy and Xander turning into an merchandise would give every of their characters romantic closure. That did not occur, in fact, and Season 7 was all about unrequited emotions for our favourite characters. Buffy did not have an ideal boyfriend, however she needed to complain about each Angel and a redeemed Spike earlier than the tip of the season; As for Alex, he was in a position to reunite with Anya as soon as once more earlier than she tragically misplaced her life within the final episode.

Why Sarah Michelle Gellar was unsuitable

Now, we love Sarah Michelle Gellar greater than a few of our household, so why do we expect she was unsuitable for wanting a Buffy/Xander romance? On the one hand, it felt like a foul throwback. Xander’s crush on Buffy in season 1 highlighted how immature he was, and his later relationship with Anya highlighted how a lot he had grown as a personality. Him and Buffy instantly connecting would make it appear to be his character had regressed and would even devalue his romance with Anya by implying that he by no means stopped wanting Buffy.

Plus, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s nice performing highlighted that Buffy by no means noticed Xander as a romantic curiosity, which is why she spent all her time falling for unhealthy boy vampires and the occasional tremendous soldier corn fed. Abruptly placing her involved with Alex would have appeared utterly arbitrary and unmotivated, and the present would have been infinitely worse, particularly within the last season. Actually, this might have been even worse than Willow’s character assassination in Season 6, the place she went from magical lesbian goddess to magic addict who can not help however damage these she loves most.

The ultimate purpose towards Buffy/Xander

Lastly, a Buffy/Xander romance would have ruined an important side of Buffy’s character: finally, she at all times needs what she will be able to’t have. Falling in love with chiseled however unavailable males was a part of it, a manner for the Slayer to unconsciously forestall anybody from getting too near her. Alex is somebody she may have had at any level within the sequence on account of her embarrassing little crush, and it might be utterly out of character for her to instantly abandon her love for unhealthy boys unavailable in favor of going out with the innocent baby. nerd who has by no means stopped following her since their first assembly.

Fortunately Joss Whedon did not hearken to Sarah Michelle Gellar and Buffy did not find yourself with Xander or anybody else on the finish of season 7. It was unhappy however becoming. As soon as once more, the Slayer saves a world that she can’t absolutely take pleasure in. However let’s be actual: is not it a lot better to be alone than to be with Alex?