Analysis Of The Wiccan Religion In Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The Wiccan religion is highlighted throughout the WB television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Produced by Josh Whedon, he showcases the character Willow as a young witch learning to control her powers. She begins her journey as a shy and mousy girl. But upon discovering her gift, it is revealed that she is incredibly powerful. As she develops, Willow joins a Wicca group at Sunnydale University. Unfortunately, she ends up dismissing their values as they do not pertain to her views. However, through the Wicca group Willow meets Tara, her future girlfriend (Whedon, “Hush”). Once Willow begins to mature, she grows into a confident and formidable witch. This was executed carefully, not to offend the Wiccans or be considered as promoting paganism.

As she sits down to the meeting, they recite a chant and immediately fall into superficial ideals of spirituality (Whedon, “Hush”). While this is a great representation of spiritual ideals, this is not what Willow wants. She brushes off the Wicca group because it seems to be more of self-interest than of witch power, “Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the dark ones.” (Whedon, “Hush”). The spirituality of the religion is at the core of the Wicca group, but the magical power is not, “This might have seemed insulting to Wiccans, but it would also have been an attempt to distance them from Willow in a protective gesture…” (Gibson 175). Whedon did this on purpose as Willow dismisses the Wicca

He worked hard to be sure not to offend the Wicca religion. Several defenses were taken in attempt to distance themselves from the religion, “Willow uses “magic,” but she is not part of a cult or religious group.” (Gibson 175). Willow respects the culture, to some extent, but does not claim it. Whedon is careful not to combine Satanism and Willows magic. Instead, he gives her confidence and makes her a symbol of empowerment as she develops as a person. However, this was nearly destroyed when Whedon’s experiment with a witchcraft storyline changed for the worse. Upon the brutal, unnecessary and abrupt murder of Tara (Whedon, “Hush”) the outcry was significant (…it fell into too many of the old traps, put there by patriarchal demonologists and modern pornographers to sustain its radical intent.” (Gibson 179). It seemed Whedon took a turn down a path he could not recover from. It was disappointing for the viewers as they had watched Willows character develop over time. He ruined the character development for a shock