27 Years Ago, an Iconic Buffy Episode Changed One Character Forever (And For the Better)

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It’s been 27 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer subtly foreshadowed a big change for one of its main characters. While Buffy Summers was the central hero, tasked with slaying vampires and other creatures, her friends – particularly Willow and Xander – were incredibly important to the story and underwent significant development. A major hint about one of these changes appeared in the season three episode “Doppelgängland,” which first aired on February 23, 1999, and involved characters from a different reality.

This moment was the first indication that Willow would reveal she was a lesbian later in the show. It also reintroduced characters from the earlier episode, “The Wish.” In that episode, also from Season 3, Cordelia wished Buffy hadn’t moved to Sunnydale, resulting in a terrifying, vampire-ruled version of the town – including vampire versions of Willow and Xander.

Willow’s Alternate Version Vampire Led to Her Eventual Coming Out on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In the “Doppelgängland” episode of the series, two key events hinted at Willow’s eventual coming out as a lesbian. The episode centers around Anya, who, now human after losing her powers, seeks Willow’s help to regain them through magic. Unfortunately, things go awry, and Willow unintentionally pulls Vampire Willow—a version of herself from a previous timeline—into the present, just before she was about to be destroyed.

Willow is deeply troubled, particularly when she discovers Xander is alive despite having been previously staked, and isn’t a vampire himself in this reality. Now, Willow and her friends must work together to stop the evil Vampire Willow and her increasing army of vampire followers before they cause irreversible damage.

This episode contained two hints that Willow would eventually come out as a lesbian, even though she was still dating Oz at the time. During her first fight as a vampire, Willow clearly showed attraction to women, which surprised her human self. Willow then wondered how similar she was to her vampire counterpart, and while Buffy dismissed any connection between her human and vampire selves, Angel understood there was a link, but he didn’t say anything. This moment marked the beginning of Willow questioning her sexuality, with Buffy denying the possibility and Angel recognizing the truth.

A memorable moment occurred when Willow managed to persuade Buffy not to kill her vampire self, but to send her back in time with a chance to survive. Willow’s playful question, “Do we have to snuggle?” was a subtle hint at her eventual coming out in Season 4’s “New Moon Rising.” Unfortunately, things didn’t go well for Vampire Willow; the spell sent her back just in time for Oz to lose control and kill her, mirroring the events of “The Wish.”

Willow Ended Up Presenting Groundbreaking Representation For Buffy

Willow and Tara’s relationship on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a significant moment for television, as the show was known for tackling sensitive topics. While Willow had previous relationships with Oz and a brief affair with Xander, her connection with Tara was particularly important, allowing Willow to explore and embrace her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Tragically, Tara’s unexpected death had devastating consequences that nearly led to global destruction.

Despite past challenges, Willow found lasting happiness, especially when she began a relationship with Kennedy in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although she chose Tara over Oz and expressed her love for her, Willow didn’t publicly identify as gay until an argument with Anya in the fifth season episode, “Triangle.” That season further solidified her relationship with Tara when Willow openly described them as lovers to the Waters’ Council and declared she had no interest in dating men again.

Okay, so looking back, the ‘Doppelgängland’ episode was surprisingly foreshadowing for Willow’s eventual coming out. Angel made a good point – becoming a vampire doesn’t change who you are, just removes some…limitations. And that definitely played out with Willow. Her vampire self was instantly a lesbian, and it wasn’t about the vampirism causing it, but rather removing her hesitations. Honestly, all it took was meeting Tara for her to feel safe enough to be herself, and while becoming a vampire sped things up, it wasn’t the core reason. It was always there, just waiting to surface.

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2026-02-23 18:11