Using three episodes from different seasons the papers intention is to explore the motif of Alternative Realities.

The selected episodes are:

‘The Wish’ 3008

‘Superstar’ 4017

‘Normal Again’ 6017

Via academic referencing and textual analysis common narrative structures and audience realisations will be demonstrated.

Each episode will consider:

• What is feared in the Alternative Reality and why?

• How does that fear/anxiety demonstrate a significant difference between the regular Sunnydale Reality and the Alternative Reality

• How does the use of the Alternative Reality enable the audience powerful realisations about both the Buffyverse and synonymously their own world?

JUSTIFICATION 

Alternative Realities have been a focus for both philosophy and narrative for centuries. Significantly both seek to use the discussion of Alternative Reality for a similar purpose: to explore the boundaries of humanity and to help us realise, as Giles so succinctly puts it “that reality is shaped, even created by our perception” (Out of Mind, Out of Sight 1011)

James Lawler (‘Between Heavens and Hells: The Multidimensional Universe in Kant and Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ cited in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy J. B South ed.) using an extrapolation of Kantian thought observes that “In reality different densities or dimensions of cosmic order may in fact impinge on one another”. He furthers this with the belief that “the Vampire Slayer [is] aware of both the higher and lower dimensions” clearly suggesting that the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not only aware of Alternative Realities, but at times, comfortably moves between them.

It is clearly established via the academia on Buffy that as Wilcox observes (‘There will never be a ‘Very Special’ Buffy Slayage Vol.2, The On-Line International Journal of Buffy Studies) “the series [uses] the symbolism of monsters to represent social problems”. Indeed, this is also arguable for the Alternative Reality as the monsters – or the monstrous – which are encountered in the Alternative Reality are consistently used to enable the audience a comprehension of both the Buffyverse reality and their own.

A fundamental facet of its genre is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer uses elements of the gothic in a very contemporary format. Calander argues (‘Bram Stoker’s Buffy: Traditional Gothic and Contemporary Culture’ Slayage Vol.3 The On-Line International Journal of Buffy Studies) that “the Gothic is a highly adaptive vehicle for expressing the anxieties and concerns of generations”. Again this premise is logically transferable to the use of Alternative Reality. Traditionally the Gothic establishes a narrative which is beyond the ‘normal’ realm of reality to enable the audience distanced and clear observations about society. Buffy the Vampire Slayer uses Alternative Realities as a contemporary means of affording the modern audience similar social observations.

The use of Alternative Reality allows the audience to explore/witness a reality dominated by different powers and character motivations. It is vital to note that the Alternative Reality is always presented as the ‘lesser’ reality and is abandoned by the end of the episode. It is the Sunnydale of the Buffyverse which is ultimately the superior and most beneficial reality for all humanity as it is an ordered world dominated by the moral duty of the Slayer.

SELECTED EPISODE JUSTIFICATION

It is a world of gray and mission brown, of abandoned streets, town curfews and weekly student memorial services. It is Sunnydale – without Buffy Summers. She is battle scarred, sneering and emotionally hard. She is Buffy Summers – without Sunnydale.

The episode ‘The Wish’3008 creates for the audience a journey into an Alternative Reality materialised by Cordelia’s lament “I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale.” As no character except the Vengeance demon Anyanka experiences and remembers this Alternative Reality, the narrative lessons about the characters and the society are exclusively directed at the audience.

‘The Wish’ depicts an Alternative Reality which illustrates what the world/Sunnydale would be like if the Slayer did not daily fight for the protection of humanity from the invasion of the hell dimension.

It is a world of the perfect man – doctor, musician, film star. A fighter with skills that surpass the ‘chosen’ Slayer. A man so quintessentially sexy that  twins, ex-vengeance demons and gay women alike all desire him. He is Jonathan, welcome to his world.

‘Superstar’4017 depicts an Alternative Reality created by Jonathan’s self serving spell to attain two personal goals:

1. To be the most popular man in the world/Sunnydale

2. To finally achieve his inner dream to be an included part of the Scooby Gang.

Only the Government creation Adam is immune to the spell. With the exception of Jonathan and Buffy no other character will retain any memory of Jonathan world. The episode is, as Larbalestier (‘Buffy’s Mary-Sue is Jonathan: Buffy acknowledges the fans’ Fighting the Forces Wilcox, Lavery eds. 2002) argues an ‘homage’ to the Buffy fan. However the Alternative Reality serves another purpose for the audience – it demonstrates the dangers of a world dominated by selfish egocentrism. Jonathan creates a ‘perfect world’ but the illusion of happiness is only for him. Further he uses his Slayer like powers not to protect all – but to defend himself from the negative ‘balance’ resulting from his dark magic.

Jonathan’s Alternative Reality depicts for the audience the problems society faces when the leader is motivated by selfish desire and not moral duty.

She is screaming, in a straight jacket, being sedated. In the padded cell of a psychiatric institution. Her doctor, Mother and Father are there. Her family is whole and she is an only child. Her sworn Slayer duty is an imaginary/psychotic nightmare. If she chooses she can be ‘normal again’ – as she was before she became ‘the Slayer’.

‘Normal Again’6017 surreally suggests Buffy’s potential reality had she not been called to be the Slayer, if her calling was in fact an imaginary psychosis. The episode moves fluidly between the Sunnydale Reality and the Alternative Psychiatric Institution Reality. Only Buffy is aware of both realties – yet she is in control in neither.

Again the Alternative Reality is created for the benefit of the audience. Buffy is forced to choose between the shallow suburban dream or the harshness of her broken life, pained friends and life consuming duty. Yet as difficult as the choice is both the protagonist Buffy and the audience alike comprehend that a life driven by duty is always preferable to a painless, but purposeless Reality.