"The one with the angelic face" is how Angel is described in the season one episode "Angel" of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS). And that is how evil is generally represented in BtVS. The purpose of this paper is to show how evil is portrayed in BtVS and what it says about how our culture sees evil.

I intend to trace the portrayal of evil from seasons one through to seven in BtVS and show how they reflect events in the real world - internationally and more specifically in the US. I will argue that BtVS started out as reflecting a culture disenchanted with society, very much in the vein of X-Files-type critique of power, authority and institutions; to reflecting a post-September 11 mind-set of facing off an unseen, unknowable enemy.

Times have changed and narratives have changed to give expression to what society sees as the real threat now - no longer the unknown but the unknowable. I will argue that such portrayals of evil while reflecting how our culture sees evil, also shows how we no longer really have a "face" for evil. Evil has mutated - from a very tangible, if unknown devil/Satan/demon/vampire/monster; to something more threatening and unknowable, your best friend, neighbour, or even yourself.

At the same time, BtVS shows us a way of dealing with evil - in whatever form it takes - not through brute force and war but in sharing power. And that is the value of the narrative, as cultural commentary and a means of expressing the utopian spirit of humans.