Joss Whedon has stated publicly that continuity and a sense of forward progress is vital to his vision, and BtVS and Angel bear this out. A minor character such as Jonathan will reappear, grow, change and eventually become central. The regular references to past events and the reintroduction of minor characters creates an extraordinarily textured show that is, ironically enough, deeply realistic. In addition to repaying the loyal fan by providing regular in-jokes, every scholar of the shows depends on that careful continuity to support her theoretical claims. Without standard, recurring beliefs, morals and consequences, it would be impossible to read the shows as a single text offering a consistent meaning. Yet continuity only shows up as a topic when writers are nitpicking about how it isn’t maintained.

I want to examine how Whedon’s focus on and interest in continuity necessarily breaks down as the Buffyverse becomes split into two shows, on two networks, and the attempts by Whedon, fans and scholars to salvage it. I intend to look mainly at two continuity concerns. The first is basic to the show’s concept; that the Slayer is the only one with "the strength and skill" to handle demons, a claim that is proven completely false and yet remains vital. The second concerns the attempts to maintain continuity between BtVS and Angel in season 7/4, as crossover conflicts with the realization that two all-powerful demons who wish to destroy the world have both set up shop, at the same time, in Southern California. What happens when external forces dictate the shape of the reality within the show? How far should one (and that one can be a fan, a scholar or Whedon himself) go to maintain the continuity? What does continuity add to both viewing and thinking about the shows? And finally, at what point does the reliance on continuity (especially as it begins to break down) actually damage not only the shows, but the relationship of the viewer with world created by the shows?