Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Reboot Can Easily Bring Back 1 Dead Character To Fix a 22-Year-Old Mistake

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting a reboot, and it’s likely to include characters from the original show – possibly even ones who previously died. While Sarah Michelle Gellar will reprise her role as Buffy Summers, the new series will primarily focus on a fresh group of characters. Leading this new generation is Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new Slayer, Nova, who will have her own team of helpers as she battles evil. However, fans would be very surprised if some well-known characters didn’t make an appearance (though this depends on Hulu ordering the show beyond the currently confirmed pilot episode).

It would be relatively simple to bring back some familiar faces. Having characters like Rupert Giles (Anthony Head) or Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) reappear feels logical, and considering how their stories ended, it wouldn’t take much effort to make it happen. However, Sarah Michelle Gellar has also expressed interest in seeing characters who died return for the Buffy reboot. While some of those returns might only be possible through flashbacks or visions, one of the very best characters from the Buffy universe could and should come back despite having died: Cordelia Chase.

Cordelia Deserves To Return In Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Reboot

I’ve always loved Cordelia, one of my favorites from the Buffyverse, and it’s not just because she had such a quick wit and amazing style in the original series. She was hilarious, and I really enjoyed watching her go from being an enemy to a full member of the Scooby Gang. But for me, Cordy really shined in the spin-off, Angel. She always seemed like there was more to her than met the eye, and that show let her grow so much as a person. It gave her a real sense of empathy, and she truly became a hero – all while still keeping that signature humor and bluntness that I loved.

Cordy’s performance in the early seasons of the show is outstanding, and a true highlight thanks to Charisma Carpenter. However, things took a turn for the worse with Angel Season 4 – arguably the lowest point of the entire series – as Cordy’s storyline was drastically mishandled. She experienced a supernatural pregnancy, had a relationship with Angel’s son, Connor, transformed into the Beast-Master, and ultimately fell into a coma. While taking risks with a character isn’t always negative, these developments didn’t feel authentic to who Cordy was, nor did they serve the bigger picture of the story well.

Even more concerning was the reported conduct of series creator Joss Whedon towards Carpenter (and others) during filming. In a 2021 Instagram post, the actress detailed several instances of how Whedon treated her, including making belittling comments and calling her “fat” while she was pregnant. He also allegedly asked if she was “going to keep” the baby and fired her one season after she gave birth. These claims are consistent with other accusations from people who worked on the show, and they are a significant focus of the new series.

Buffy is getting a reboot without the involvement of Joss Whedon, which offers a valuable opportunity to distance the show’s history from him. The original series has a lot to offer, and we hope the revival will too – especially by giving characters the storylines they deserved but didn’t receive originally. Charisma Carpenter’s appearance in Audible’s Slayers: A Buffyverse Story was a positive move in that direction, but a complete return, if she were interested, would be even better for fully restoring Cordelia’s story and honoring her legacy.

How Buffy’s Revival Can Bring Back Cordelia

The previously mentioned Slayers featured Cordelia from another reality, one where she was the Slayer instead. This created an enjoyable storyline, and it’s an idea the reboot could explore if it chose to delve into the multiverse – a concept already used in the comics. However, I’d rather the Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival avoid this approach. Multiverse stories have become very common lately, and bringing Cordelia back feels like a simpler solution.

Cordelia ended up working for the Powers That Be. Although she appeared to die permanently in the 100th episode of Angel, “You’re Welcome,” that doesn’t rule out the possibility of her returning as a being from a higher plane. There are many situations where Buffy and the new Slayer might need to reach out to the Powers, or receive assistance from them, and Cordy could be the one to provide it.

We’ve encountered characters like these offering insights and assistance in the past, so integrating this naturally into the reboot’s storyline should be straightforward. It wouldn’t require a large part, and that’s okay – it could be a single appearance, a short story arc, or something that happens occasionally. This would give Cordelia the chance to reconnect with Buffy and experience more heroic adventures, which would definitely be fitting and deserved.

What Charisma Carpenter Has Said About Returning For Buffy’s Reboot

A key factor is Charisma Carpenter, and whether she’d be willing to reprise her role. The actress has stayed connected with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanbase over the years, regularly appearing at conventions, which demonstrates Cordelia’s lasting appeal. Carpenter has voiced her desire to be involved in Buffy’s reboot, stating, “it would be very poetic to be invited back.” However, she recently revealed she hasn’t been asked to return: “I am not in the reboot. I am not in the pilot. I don’t even know if the show has been picked up to go to series. I assume it will be.”

However, that might not be the final outcome. Currently, the pilot episode for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot has been filmed, but that’s all that’s done so far. There isn’t a commitment for a full series yet, and it’s unlikely they have completed scripts for additional episodes. We can anticipate learning more about returning characters and actors only if and when the show gets officially picked up, meaning things are still subject to change, and there’s a possibility Cordelia could be included. She certainly deserves to be.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Hulu.

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2025-10-04 19:41