11 Times We Saw Ourselves In Buffy

One of the most gratifying things about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the agency it gives us to identify with a hero. We don't just love Buffy because of her witty comebacks, we love her because she goes through some serious shit- the same shit we all go through at some point in our lives. Well, maybe not exactly, but you get the picture. Below I've listed these in no specific order; every experience is equally as powerful in its own right.

1. The struggle with her own identity.

At first, Buffy struggled with her identity as slayer. Much like Buffy, we sometimes wrestle with the inability to understand our purpose in life, questioning why we're here. Sometimes we want to kick ass, sometimes we feel like we'll get out own ass kicked.

2. Angel.

We watched Buffy fall for Angel, we were there for the heartbreak, and we were there when Buffy stabbed him in the gut. Romantic, I know. But deeper than that, we are sometimes forced to hurt the ones we love in order to protect them or to protect ourselves.

3. Betrayal.

Buffy seems to get betrayed a lot, and it always seems to be by the people that she is close to. It is always our friends who hurt us the most when they betray us, however it's never too late to accept them back into our lives when you need them most (Faith, you lying ass. It's a good thing you redeemed yourself there at the end).

4. Being helpful.

When Buffy helped Anne find her boyfriend, she ended up freeing the slaves of the largest demon-ran sweat shop the city has ever seen. No big deal. The idea here is that helping these people reminded Buffy of her purpose to help people every day. It is the feeling you can get from helping people that gives Buffy the motivation to do what she does.

5. Spike.

Buffy's relationship with Spike only brought each other pain, resonating through many like a stake through the heart. It was weird to see Buffy's awkward S&M moments with Spike (unless you're into that sort of thing) but it fully captured their relationship in one scene.

6. College.

Now I know not everyone has been to college, but everyone at some point has wrestled with the difficult question of where they are going to go after high school, or after leaving a job. It's always difficult and we never feel certain in making it. It's a terrifying feeling, but gratifying when you realized that you've made the right one. Also, Parker is such a dick.

7. Needing help.

As Buffy learns, you can't do everything all by yourself. Buffy is her best when she is surrounded by the love and support of her friends. She realizes she needs help, even from people she might not want to accept it from when she turns to Spike.

8. Death.

Whether it be family or friends, we are all forced to cope with the loss of a loved one. Buffy shows the impact of this loss perfectly. The disconnection from the world, the inability to speak, or the odd things said or done that don't fit in the usual order of things. Buffy shows us well that these feelings we can't understand and the way we react to them are perfectly okay. When nothing else makes sense, what we say and do under these circumstances shouldn't have to either.

9. Shitty Jobs.

In high school or college especially, we're forced to work a job we hate to make ends meet, such as Buffy's job at Doublemeat Palace. It may be humiliating sometimes, but it is a humbling experience we can all learn from. No matter what, go in to work with a smile on your face and push through.

10. Addiction.

We may not always struggle with this personally, but chances are you know someone who is. Going through it yourself or watching someone you love struggle with it can be equally as hard.

11. Heroism.

Buffy has been able to show us that heroism is a trait not just for inhuman forces, but for the average person as well. It is through her struggles with her own human faults that we look to her for guidance, and see our own lives mirrored in hers. The ability for her humanness and her heroism to coexist gives fans a connection with Buffy that one would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.