6 ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Moments Audiences Didn’t Notice Until Rewatching It

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a really enjoyable show, and you often pick up on small details when you watch it again. With a reboot on the way, many fans are rewatching the original series to get ready for Buffy Summers’ return. Both Buffy and its spin-off, Angel, have complex storylines, and because of all the related books and comics, there’s a lot of background information that viewers might have missed.

As a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I’ve noticed that the show is packed with amazing details! It’s famous for its complicated plots, and honestly, there’s so much going on that you definitely miss things the first time around. Little comments or even seeing a familiar face pop up as a guest star – those details are easy to overlook when you’re first watching. It’s only when you rewatch the series that you really start to pick up on all the clever things they added!

6
Giles Mourning Joyce

Season 5, Episode 17 – “Forever”


The WB

The death of Buffy and Dawn’s mother, Joyce, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the show’s most impactful moments. A subtle detail from the funeral episode is both touching and sad: hints of a potential romance between Giles and Joyce. While they seemed to have a connection, particularly in the episode “Band Candy,” it’s revealed this was largely due to a magical influence – they were affected by enchanted chocolate!

It’s possible Joyce had a stronger influence on Giles even after her death than we realize. In the episode “Forever,” we see Giles aimlessly wandering his apartment and drinking. Keen viewers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will notice the record he plays—Cream’s “Tales of Brave Ulysses”—is the same one he and Joyce listened to when they were younger in “Band Candy.”

5
Buffy Predicts Joyce’s Death

Season 4, Episode 1 – “The Freshman”


The WB

In the fourth season premiere, “The Freshman,” Buffy unexpectedly foresees her mother’s death, years before it actually happens. Though Joyce is diagnosed with a tumor in season five and initially recovers well, her condition suddenly worsens, and she passes away, leaving Buffy devastated to find her body on the couch.

While buying textbooks, Buffy jokingly tells Willow she hopes the cost doesn’t give her mom, Joyce, an aneurysm. It’s a chillingly accurate prediction, though Joyce’s actual death is anything but funny, making the Season 5 episode “The Body” a standout and incredibly powerful piece of television. Knowing Joss Whedon planned this connection adds another layer of impact, and it’s remarkable to notice this foreshadowing even now.

4
Pedro Pascal’s ‘Buffy’ Role

Season 4, Episode 1 – “The Freshman”


The WB

Buffy’s show isn’t without its subtle details, and many viewers – even dedicated rewatchers – don’t realize Pedro Pascal made an appearance in Season 4’s “The Freshman.” He played the role of Eddie, a student at UC Sunnydale. Without his signature beard and looking much younger, it’s easy to miss that it’s him, as he looks quite different from how he appears today.

I always loved that little scene on campus! Buffy just bumps right into Eddie, and he’s so sweet, immediately pulling out a map to help her. It’s funny, because he’s really quiet and keeps looking down, so a lot of people miss that it’s actually the actor who plays Eddie! It’s a shame, really, because you get the feeling there could have been something romantic between them. But then, just moments after they say goodbye, poor Eddie gets snatched up by Sunday and a whole bunch of vampires. It’s such a quick, heartbreaking moment.

3
Dark Willow Is Foreshadowed In Season 2

Season 2, Episode 21 – “Becoming (Part 1)”


The WB

Dark Willow is arguably the most compelling villain from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Willow’s descent into darkness truly begins in Season 6, culminating in her transformation after becoming overwhelmed by dark magic. While Tara’s death is the immediate trigger, a rewatch reveals Willow’s ambition and willingness to push her magical boundaries were present much earlier. As far back as Season 2’s “Becoming (Part 1)”, she attempts to use her still-developing powers to save Angel’s soul, hinting at a deeper inclination towards risky magic.

Fortunately, Giles intervenes before Willow can dwell on these dangerous ideas, cautioning her about the risk of losing control permanently. Though the show largely avoids the topic of dark magic afterward, it’s notable that Willow’s interest in experimenting with magic wasn’t solely triggered by Tara’s death. Instead, the tragedy likely pushed her over the edge, revealing a pre-existing inclination.

2
Buffy’s Death Countdown Clock

Season 3, Episode 22 – “Graduation Day (Part 2)” / Season 4, Episode 22 – “Restless”


The WB

It’s easy to miss, even when rewatching, but the show cleverly foreshadowed Buffy’s ultimate sacrifice. While her death in Season 5’s “The Gift” is a powerful moment – Buffy giving her life to save Dawn and the world – the groundwork for this event was laid much earlier, in the Season 3 finale. In a dream, Faith cryptically tells Buffy, “Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0.” This seemingly random line only reveals its meaning as the series concludes.

The nursery rhyme reference to ‘Little Miss Muffet’ hints at Dawn’s introduction and foreshadows the reason Buffy ultimately makes her sacrifice. The number ‘7-3-0’ represents the 730 days that pass between the episodes ‘Graduation Day (Part 2)’ and ‘The Gift.’ Notably, a dream sequence in Season 4’s ‘Restless’ features an alarm clock displaying 7:30, and Tara is right to point out it’s incorrect, as time would have moved forward since the events of ‘Graduation Day (Part 2)’.

1
Willow’s Musical Throwback To Season 1

Season 6, Episode 7 – “Once More, With Feeling”


UPN

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Once More, With Feeling” is widely considered a standout, and many call it one of the best musical episodes of the past two decades. Even if musicals aren’t usually your thing, it’s a fun watch. But it’s also an episode that rewards close attention – particularly during the song “I’ve Got a Theory,” where the characters try to understand why they’re suddenly bursting into song. Willow suggests they might be part of a dream, trapped inside someone’s bizarre Broadway-style fantasy.

Most people dismiss this line as unimportant, but it’s actually quite significant. This connects to an event that happened to Willow earlier in the series, back in Season 1. The episode “Nightmares” features everyone experiencing their biggest fears, and Willow’s is performing on stage in front of a large audience. This fear is also brought up again in the episode “Restless,” which adds another layer to the moment.

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2025-12-03 17:56