Unveiling Cordelia Chase's Long-Awaited Justice in 'Slayers: A Buffyverse Story'

The Big Picture

The beloved character development and transformation of Cordelia Chase garnered a significant following, but the tragic demise of her character in the Buffyverse can be attributed to the regrettable consequences of the toxic atmosphere and mistreatment directed at Charisma Carpenter on the set.

In the new Audible project, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, Carpenter now has the opportunity to control her character, Cordelia, and correct past mistakes while providing a sense of closure. Additionally, Benson, who co-wrote Slayers, can shape an alternate version of her character, Tara, and delve into the untapped potential that was prematurely halted in the original Buffy series.

The 1990s witnessed a surge in genre TV shows, many of which became iconic within popular culture. X-Men: The Animated Series and Spider-Man: The Animated Series brought Marvel's superheroes to life well before the onslaught of superhero films. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager breathed new life into the Trek universe. Xena: Warrior Princess emerged as a vastly superior show compared to its flagship series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. However, the most notable breakout of the 90s was unquestionably Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show's protagonist, Buffy Summers (portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar), tackled supernatural threats while also grappling with real-world issues. The combination of sharp and clever writing resulted in numerous monsters symbolizing the everyday problems faced by mankind.

Now, a new project by Audible seeks to revisit the Buffyverse with Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. The majority of the story revolves around Spike (played by James Marsters), a former vampire villain turned reluctant hero, taking on the role of mentor to a newly discovered Slayer named Indira Nunnally (played by Laya DeLeon Hayes). Along the way, they encounter two familiar faces: Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) and Tara Maclay (Amber Benson). The twist is that both Cordelia and Tara hail from an alternate universe where Buffy never existed, prompting Cordelia to assume the mantle of Slayer in her world. This plot development is long overdue, given how Cordelia's story was prematurely cut short in the main Buffyverse.

Cordelia Goes From Mean Girl to Hero in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'

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Initially portrayed as a typical mean girl, Cordelia Chase undergoes a transformation throughout the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After being targeted by an invisible student and saved by Buffy, Cordelia begins to develop a bond with her and her friends. In later seasons, Cordelia becomes more relaxed, engages in an on-and-off relationship with Xander, and endures setbacks that lead her back to her original persona. However, when her parents are arrested, Cordelia decides to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. This leads her to reunite with Angel, a vampire with a soul, and together they form Angel Investigations, solving supernatural cases. Cordelia gains the ability to see the future after the death of her lover Doyle. Throughout their shared experiences, Angel and Cordelia develop romantic feelings for each other, but numerous circumstances keep them apart. Cordelia becomes a half-demon to continue using her visions, enters a relationship with Angel's son, and falls into a coma after giving birth to a supernatural creature. In the show's 100th episode, "You're Welcome," Cordelia reunites with Angel and reminds him of his purpose, only for Angel to discover she has passed away in her sleep.

Toxic on-Set Behavior Led to the Death of Cordelia Chase

The conclusion for a character who experienced significant growth and played a crucial role in the story is extremely peculiar. Cordelia's development and transformation gradually endeared her to fans, making her an ideal fit for the darker and more mature tone of Angel in comparison to Buffy. Not to mention Carpenter's exceptional performance; even as Cordelia became braver and more confident, she never lost her sharp wit. The reason behind Cordelia's demise can be directly attributed to Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and Angel, who fostered a toxic work environment and openly displayed animosity towards Carpenter.

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Whedon's reputation took a nosedive after his ex-wife Kai Cole wrote a scathing guest blog on The Wrap. In her blog post, she accused him of being a hypocrite who preached feminist ideals while engaging in multiple affairs on the set of Buffy. Cole expressed her disappointment, stating that she, along with everyone else, had believed that he was a champion for women's rights and a devoted partner. However, she now realizes that he used their relationship as a shield to protect his questionable behavior with other women and to avoid criticism of his writing. Whedon faced further criticism when Ray Fisher spoke out about the abusive behavior he witnessed during the reshoots of Justice League, implicating Whedon and even accusing him of mistreating fellow cast member Gal Gadot.

This led Carpenter to pen her own extensive statement, where she outlined the adverse effects of Whedon's actions on her physical well-being and emotional state. A significant portion of her distress originated from Whedon's manipulative tactics, wherein he exploited her womanhood and faith, ultimately leading to the demise of Cordelia on Angel despite previous assurances. Back when Angel was still being broadcasted, Carpenter expressed, "Being able to portray a character who is heroic, vulnerable, angry, possessed, and funny all at once... in retrospect, it was a wise decision, whether by me or the creators," during an interview with the BBC. Fortunately, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story provides Carpenter and Benson with the opportunity to rectify their respective characters' arcs.

'Slayers' Lets Charisma Carpenter and Amber Benson Take the Reins of Their Characters' New Stories

Image via Audible

In today's craze for multiverses, the appeal extends beyond the chance to see favorite actors reprising beloved roles. It also offers the opportunity to explore different versions of those characters. This certainly holds true for Slayers; Cordelia, as the sole Slayer, has grown wearied and disillusioned, a complete departure from the spirited and talkative Indira. This isn't Cordelia's first encounter with alternate realities; in the Buffy episode "The Wish," she met the vengeance demon Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford) and wished that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale, while Angel's "Birthday" featured a wish where Cordy abandoned her founding of Angel Investigations to pursue a successful acting career. However, what sets this apart is that Cordelia has become hardened through her battle against Drusilla (Juliet Landau), enduring the loss of both friends and family. Carpenter's performance adds a subtle weightiness, making her the most captivating aspect of Slayers — and undoubtedly reigniting fans' fondness for Cordelia.

Benson has the opportunity to reshape Tara, who has become the Queen of Black Magic and is in a relationship with Drusilla in a different reality. Benson also co-wrote Slayers, where she highlights characters who had potential on Buffy but were overlooked. At this year's New York Comic Con, she expressed her excitement about the multiverse world of Slayers, where she can bring in characters who didn't receive proper recognition and give them a better future. Tara's unexpected death on Buffy was a tragedy, and it's no surprise that Benson wants to rectify that in Slayers. With this new series, Carpenter and Benson can not only correct past mistakes but also forge new paths for their characters. You can listen to all episodes of Slayers: A Buffyverse Story on Audible.

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