The upcoming reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will bring back Sarah Michelle Gellar as an older version of the Slayer, mentoring the new Chosen One. This idea echoes the storylines from both the original series’ final season and the subsequent comic books, where Buffy took on the role of a trainer. Gellar has hinted that other familiar faces from the show might return, even characters who previously died, potentially leading to some exciting surprises.
Although many deceased characters from the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer could be popular choices to bring back in the new series, there’s one character who should remain gone.
Joyce Should Stay Dead on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Series
Kristine Sutherland played Joyce Summers in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Throughout the show’s 144 episodes, Joyce appeared in 58 of them, primarily offering Buffy a safe and supportive home life as a contrast to her dangerous vampire-hunting duties. While Buffy’s slayer life sometimes caused Joyce stress, she always tried to protect her daughter. Even after discovering Buffy’s secret, Joyce remained a constant source of stability and support.
Sadly, Joyce didn’t die from a vampire or supernatural danger, as one might expect. In Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a new sister, Dawn, suddenly appeared, despite the show implying she’d always been part of the family. Joyce then became ill with a brain tumor, and through this, she discovered Dawn wasn’t her biological daughter, but a being created through magic. Despite this revelation, Joyce embraced Dawn as her daughter, demonstrating her kindness and strength.
Unfortunately, Joyce’s brain tumor didn’t improve, and she passed away in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, “The Body.” Joss Whedon clarified that the tumor simply represented cancer, emphasizing its unpredictable and devastating nature – anyone can lose a loved one to the disease. Throughout the series, Buffy battled countless vampires and monsters, but she was powerless to save her mother. The episode was particularly impactful because it began with Buffy discovering her mother had already died, her only word being a heartbreaking, “Mommy?”
This heartbreaking Buffy episode focuses on Buffy and her friends trying to make sense of Joyce’s death. While bringing people back from vampire attacks is common, Joyce’s death was intended to push Buffy into adulthood – she now had to care for her younger sister and lost the stability of her home. This was a pivotal moment in Buffy’s journey, and reversing it in the reboot would diminish its impact.
Who Could Return from the dead in the Buffy Reboot?
Although bringing back Joyce wouldn’t be a good idea for the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer, several characters could make a welcome return, and one of them could even fix a major issue with the original series finale. Bringing back Anya would be a great choice. She was a beloved demon who fell in love with Xander and was famously afraid of bunnies. Sadly, she died in the final battle without much acknowledgment. Because she’s a demon, a return is possible, and Anya deserves to have her story properly concluded.
It would be great to see Charisma Carpenter return as Cordelia Chase. Her character made a fantastic journey, evolving from a somewhat unpleasant figure in Buffy the Vampire Slayer into a key ally on Angel. Sadly, Cordelia was killed off relatively quickly in Season 5, and many fans felt her character deserved a more meaningful ending. There are numerous ways the writers could bring her back, and her return would likely be very popular with viewers.
Another character potentially able to return is Tara, but bringing her back could create similar issues as with Joyce. Tara’s murder was the catalyst for Willow’s descent into darkness and her near-destruction. Willow had to grow and heal after this loss, and resurrecting Tara might undo that progress. However, it could also give Willow a happy ending that she was denied in the original series.
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2025-12-29 02:42