She's a Big Kid Now

Our little Slayer is all grown up. The episodes Graduation Day Pt. 1 and 2 and The Freshmen are as defining a span in the female hero’s journey as the smashing of the Master’s bones at the beginning of Season 2. In this arch, Buffy breaks through the major constraints that have held her back as a Slayer.

Graduation Day begins Buffy’s revolt against the powers and authority that have held her down. When Angel is in danger, Buffy finally sees that the Watcher’s Council is of no use to her. Buffy’s gone against their wishes plenty of times in the past, but by telling Wesley to close up shop, she’s completely rejecting the Council’s control. She refuses to follow their orders, and instead uses her own means of saving Angel.

Buffy continues her semi-rebellion with her mother. Joyce has never been a strong parent, often acting as more of an obstacle and annoyance than a guide. Still, she does represent an authority figure, as well as Buffy’s family commitments. By sending Joyce away, Buffy is eliminating the vulnerability of needing to protect her mother, and also switching their roles. For once, Buffy is truly in charge, giving her mom directions without excuses or dancing around the truth. To her credit, Joyce actually listens to her clearly wiser daughter, without to much fuss.

Buffy’s battle with Faith is her final step in breaking free of her constraints. Faith has, throughout the season, acted as a foil for Buffy. She is everything Buffy could be, without self-control and the limitations of those around her. By attempting to kill a fellow human for her personal desires-Angel in this case- Buffy really is in “big sister’s clothes.”

Interestingly though, in The Freshmen this unconstrained Slayer is shown to be as lost and bewildered as any of the other new students at the University. As a recently matriculated freshman, I think the episode does over-do the shock of college. However, it serves to emphasize Buffy’s humanity. She may be powerful when it comes to fighting demons- she still manages to take out a nest of vampires in between classes- but Buffy is still an 18 year old girl, as subject to “normal” pressures in college as she was in high school.