In the proposed paper, I will explore the important anthropological concept of twinship within cosmological constructions by discussing how characters, storylines and even entire seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were doubled during the run of the television series. In anthropology, twins have classically been described for many cultures as beings-out-category, since they are two who partake of the characteristics of one. Such out-of-category beings are often associated with powerful, creative and destructive cosmological forces and are revered by some groups and feared by others. In the proposed paper, I will argue that, as the Buffyverse became ever more elaborated over time, taking on the layered character of televisual reality both for its writers and, most especially, for its devoted audience, instances of doubling accelerated, moving beyond the level of twinned slayers (or slayerettes) into the wholesale pairing of story arcs. This powerful narrative mechanism, taken from global myth as well as from the conventions of North American popular culture, helped to make BtVS not only an attractive television show but began to develop the Buffyverse, in all its many mediated sites, into a significant, cosmographic space for the show's audience members.

I don't anticipate the necessity of any equipment at this point, since I figure that I'll be dealing with BtVS material that is exceedingly well-known to the audience.