This article contains discussions of sexual assault.
As a diehardBuffy the Vampire Slayerfan, I rewatch the iconic series at least once a year, but there’s one episode I skip every time. Impossible to dismiss as just a teen drama,Buffyhad many spectacular episodesthat left an indelible mark on popular culture, from the musical episode “Once More with Feeling” to “Hush,” an episode almost completely devoid of dialogue.
But, like with many shows that are several decades old, there are someharsh realities of rewatchingBuffy the Vampire Slayer. The series' dated VFX are easy enough to overlook, but when it comes to Xander’s blatant misogyny orBuffy’s often-ignorant approach to mental health, not so much. However, one particular episode reigns supreme as the show’s most problematic.
I Love Buffy, But I Can Never Rewatch “Seeing Red”
Spike’s Assault On Buffy Is Beyond Disturbing
Buffyseason 6 is dark enough, but episode 19, “Seeing Red,” takes the show to a whole new level. AfterBuffy ends her toxic sexual relationship with Spike, he’s desperate not to lose her. In a disturbing attempt to convince her that she reciprocates his love,Spike shows up at Buffy’s home and forces himself on her.
With Buffy being badly injured, Spike’s assault nearly turns into a rape, though she’s able to fight him off. Spike is immediately ashamed of his actions and attempts to apologize, but the damage has been done, and he leaves in disgrace.
From ripping her out of heaven to her being flat broke to her increasingly self-destructive behavior, season 6 put Buffy through the ringer.
This is one of the most blatant examples of “punishing” a female character with sexual assault, and it’s incredibly upsetting to watch. From ripping her out of heaven to her being flat broke to her increasingly self-destructive behavior, season 6 put Buffy through the ringer. Given that she gets shot at the end of the episode,this assault really didn’t need to happen.
“Seeing Red” also ruins Spike for me. Like manyBuffyfans, he is one of my favorite characters, and whileSpike does some terrible things inBuffy, making him a would-be rapist isjust taking things too far. It also doesn’t make sense.
Spike allowed his feelings for Buffy to make him cruel and miserable to her, but soul or not, the series makes it clear that he truly loves her. He wouldn’t do this, and the show shouldn’t have gone there.
Sarah Michelle Gellar & James Marsters Also Dislike The Episode
“Seeing Red” Sent Marsters To Therapy
As difficult as the “Seeing Red” assault scene is to watch, it was understandably more difficult to film. Spike actorJames Marsters called shooting it “the darkest professional day of my life,“and revealed that the scene sent him to therapy (viaDeadline).
According to Marsters, the scene was borne out ofBuffywriters being asked to come up with their darkest secrets, and a female writer on the team shared a similar experience.
The actoracknowledged how “problematic” the fandom found it to be, and that he pushed back on including it in the showbecause of how it could affect the viewers. He said, “Everyone who’s watching Buffy is Buffy, and they’re not superheroes, so I’m doing this to every member of the audience.”
Marsters was contractually obligated to shoot the scene, and, as much as he may have wanted to, he “couldn’t say no.” The Spike actor recalled, “We got the scene in the can, and it was hell. I was in [my] personal hell.” He added that he feels a “visceralreaction” to scenes with sexual violence, and purposefully avoids them in movies and TV shows.
Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn’t spoken about her experience filming the “Seeing Red” scene, but she has revealed that she skips the episode when watching the series with her family.
Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn’t spoken about her experience filming the “Seeing Red” scene, but she has revealed that she skips the episode when watching the series with her family. She said, “I have trouble with [season] 6. It wasn’t appropriate for them at the time, and I just don’t want to rewatch it.”
Buffy Didn’t Need “Seeing Red” For Spike To Want His Soul
His Desire To Find True Love With Buffy Was Reason Enough
From a plot standpoint, Spike’s assault on Buffy is the catalyst for his decision to earn his soul. But it didn’t need to happen that way.
All season long, Spike has mistreated Buffy in a twisted way of getting even for her using him for sex while not loving him back, andhis behavior in the previous episode could have been enough to make him realize he needed a soul for it to work with Buffy.
After Buffy makes the mature decision to end their sexual relationship, Spike is at an all-time low, and he seeks refuge in an intimate night with Anya, who’s still heartbroken over Xander leaving her at the altar. Buffy and Xander find out, andSpike’s response is to divulge his and Buffy’s tryst to the Scooby Gang, despite her expressly vocalizing that she didn’t want them to know.
Thatcould have been motivation enough for Spike to realize he’s emotionally destroying the woman he claims to love, and send him on the quest for his soul in order for him to truly be worthy of her love. Rather than an assault, Spike could have gone to Buffy’s to apologize, and when she refuses to accept, the vampire realizes what he has to do.
This wouldn’t have changed the course of the series at all, because the assault is only briefly touched on again, withBuffy confessing her love to Spikein theBuffy the Vampire Slayerseries finale. Ultimately, Buffy and Spike deserved better — as did the actors and the audience.
