'Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Most Tragic Villain Deserved More

Article Summary

Drusilla was one of the most complex villains on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and she deserves more recognition.

Angelus deliberately inflicted suffering upon Drusilla, causing her to lose her sanity and ultimately turning her into a vampire. This tragic event turned her into a victim.

Throughout the show, Drusilla was assigned a lesser role as a villain and was unable to showcase her true potential in comparison to other antagonists. Nevertheless, in subsequent tie-in media, she has undergone significant development and growth.

Throughout the innovative seven-season journey of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, audiences are introduced to an assortment of compassionate creatures who reside in a morally ambiguous realm (both demonic and human). Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) on-again, off-again partner Angel (David Boreanaz) was a vampire burdened by his remorseful past. Rebel slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) aligned herself with the forces of darkness. Even Buffy’s closest friend Willow (Alyson Hannigan) fell victim to the allure of dark magic, becoming a villain. Tragedy served as the foundation for these characters' motivations to embrace evil, and each underwent a thought-provoking exploration of their wickedness and subsequent redemption. However, one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s most sympathetic and sorrowful foes did not receive the same appreciation and arguably was unfairly overlooked compared to other villains on the series: Juliet Landau’s tragic antagonist Drusilla, who truly deserved more recognition.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

A young woman embarks on a journey of battling vampires, demons, and other nefarious beings, with the unwavering support of her loyal friends. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Michelle Trachtenberg, Emma Caulfield, and James Marsters, this action-packed series captures the essence of adventure, comedy, drama, mystery, and sci-fi. Released on March 10, 1997, the captivating TV show, encompassing seven seasons, was created by Joss Whedon and produced by Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, and Sandollar Television.

Drusilla Was One of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Most Complex Villains

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer always posed a sense of danger for Buffy and her friends, featuring innovative monsters and terrifying villains determined to harm the Scooby Gang. One of the challenges of creating a show centered around demons is that they are often depicted in simplistic terms of good and evil. In the expansive world of Buffyverse, vampires epitomize a mere shadow of their former selves, having forfeited their humanity and soul, leaving behind only fragments of their true identity. However, there are exceptions to this demonic archetype, namely Drusilla, Angel, and Spike (James Marsters), who have evolved beyond the typical demon or vampire. Particularly, Drusilla stands out with her fragile mental state, childlike demeanor, and ability to predict the future, distinguishing her as more than just the average formidable adversary. This serves as a reminder of how she is concurrently both a victim and a villain in her own right.

When Does Drusilla Arrive in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’?

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After The Master's defeat and Buffy's foiling of The Anointed One's attempts to resurrect him, life on the Hellmouth experienced a short-lived period of peace in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2. However, this tranquility was soon disrupted when Spike and Drusilla arrived in town in the episode "School Hard," determined to wreak havoc. Spike was known to have vanquished two slayers and now had his sights set on killing Buffy. Though he failed to deliver on his promise, Spike remained in Sunnydale throughout the season to support Drusilla in her quest to regain her strength after being lynched and to ultimately take down Buffy. Unfortunately, Drusilla, who had been kept in the shadows for the majority of the 22-episode season and made only sporadic appearances, finally displayed her deadly prowess by battling and killing slayer Kendra. Disappointingly, Drusilla was often portrayed as subservient to the male characters, depriving us of the compelling storyline we had hoped for her character.

Drusilla Is a Victim With a Tragic Story in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans often underestimate the fact that Drusilla is a victim who was intentionally created by Angelus. While Angel was journeying in England alongside Darla, they encountered a young girl in London who possessed the ability to see the future. Drusilla, who was a devout and religious individual, was despised by her family due to her supernatural gift. The wicked Angel relished in challenges and proceeded to brutally slaughter Drusilla's family, forcing her to bear witness to the horrifying acts. He continued to torment her until she reached a state of extreme madness. Prior to her transformation into a vampire, Drusilla sought refuge in a convent, but her attempt at finding solace only resulted in further tragedy and ensured her eternal existence would be filled with suffering, ultimately becoming one of Angel's macabre accomplishments. This unfortunate parallel mirrors Angel's treatment of Buffy and her companions after he lost his soul and transformed into the sadistic Angelus. The crucial distinction, however, lies in the fact that Drusilla lacked the support network of a Slayer friend or the assistance of Buffy. Despite being able to anticipate her fate, she was left with minimal power to prevent it. Another tragic aspect of Drusilla's existence is that her eternal life failed to alleviate much of the suffering she endured. (In the spin-off/continuation comic series, Wolfram and Hart did manage to mitigate her symptoms with medication.)

Drusilla Was Only a Secondary Villain in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel'

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Drusilla, a secondary antagonist in both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and spin-off Angel, always lived in the shadow of another villain. Despite her entertainment value and ability to instill fear, Drusilla never had the chance to shine like Spike, Faith, and Darla. Although we acknowledge her superiority over the vampires she followed and idolized, couldn't the writers have provided her with an arc that didn't involve massacring shops with Darla or flirting with Spike and Angelus? Drusilla possessed more depth than characters like cyborg Adam (George Hertzberg) or Hell-God Glory (Clare Kramer) and would have been a more captivating season-long antagonist. In later comic books, she is explored in a refreshing manner, with storylines delving into her mental health in an exceptionally captivating way.

Juliet Landau Has Remained Active in the Buffyverse

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Juliet Landau has remained active in the Buffyverse since the conclusion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has even authored comic books centered around the character Drusilla. Now, Drusilla is set to be revived in the Buffyverse podcast. The story will revolve around Spike, parallel dimensions, Cordelia Chase (played by Charisma Carpenter), and Landau reprising her role as the audio drama's main antagonist. This adventure takes place in a dimension where Buffy does not exist, presenting an exciting new concept to explore: Cordy the Vampire Slayer versus Drusilla. This opens up numerous possibilities for future episodes and the expansion of the Buffyverse. However, despite Drusilla's continued development in supplementary media, we feel that she deserved better treatment in the original show. Not all of the series' villains were as intricately crafted as Drusilla, with her captivating backstory. Off the top of our heads, there are several villains we feel could have been omitted and a couple who were given an excessive amount of screen time.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is only available for streaming on Hulu in the United States.

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Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have a unique perspective on the character of Drusilla in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Drusilla is a complex and tragic villain who deserves more recognition.

Throughout the show, Drusilla is often overshadowed by other villains, such as Spike and Angelus. However, her story is just as compelling, if not more so. Drusilla was once a human woman who was driven insane by Angelus. She was then turned into a vampire, and her mental state continued to deteriorate. As a result, Drusilla is a villain who is both sympathetic and terrifying. She is capable of great cruelty, but she is also a victim of her own circumstances.

I believe that Drusilla's story is important because it shows that even the most evil people are capable of redemption. Drusilla eventually finds peace and happiness with Spike, and she helps him to become a better person. This shows that even the darkest of souls can be saved.