Unveiling the Unexpected: Buffy's Vampire Sequel Pays Tribute to Tara & Cordelia

Summary

Cordelia's character finally receives the redemption she truly deserved in the audio drama Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. This remarkable production rectifies the dissatisfaction caused by her departure from the Angel spinoff and tackles the emotional abuse inflicted upon her by Joss Whedon.

Carpenter highlights how the project provides an opportunity for Buffyverse viewers to rediscover the show and its characters, conveying values such as perseverance, hard work, and a sense of familiarity.

The audio drama strives to honor Cordelia, alongside characters like Tara and Anya, recognizing that the success of the show was the result of a collective endeavor involving numerous individuals.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Charisma Carpenter candidly discusses how the sequel series effectively represents her character, as well as other fan favorites such as Anya and Tara. Carpenter, along with other returning Buffy actors, takes the spotlight in Slayerverse: A Buffyverse Story, a compelling nine-episode audio drama set ten years after the show's finale. This engaging project features numerous cast members reprising their iconic roles, including Cordelia Chase, who becomes the vampire slayer in an alternate universe. Co-written and directed by Amber Benson, who also returns as Tara Maclay, Christopher Golden, and Kc Wayland, the audio drama aims to captivate fans once again.

During an interview with Variety to promote Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, Carpenter opens up about how this audio project helps provide some redemption for Cordelia, following the character's disappointing departure from the spinoff Angel and the emotional mistreatment she endured from series creator Joss Whedon. Carpenter emphasizes that the show involved a collective effort from hundreds of people and was certainly not centered around just one individual. She also highlights the distinct approach that the audio drama will adopt:

One of the most significant aspects of "Slayers" for me is the chance to allow fans of the "Buffyverse" to once again relish in the show, the characters, and all that they represent - perseverance, hard work, and familiarity. It has become evident to me how much entertainment, including the previous show and the upcoming one, can provide comfort, empowerment, belief in oneself, and reminders of our purpose.

I believe this is an opportunity to acknowledge and honor the contributions of Tara, Anya, and Cordelia. The creation of the show involved countless individuals, and it was never about just one person. Hence, I feel it is truly a wonderful thing to have the opportunity to bring Cordelia back to life, specifically, and allow her to live a life that is inspiring and empowering. Through her experiences, she can share wisdom gained from her battles. In many ways, it feels quite poetic.

Why Carpenter & Cordelia Deserve A Rewrite

In the Audible audio drama, Spike (James Masters) embarks on a mission to locate a Watcher for his enthusiastic new Slayer protégé. However, their paths intersect with a seasoned Slayer from a parallel reality, where Buffy Summers never existed and Cordelia Chase is the sole Slayer. Cordelia requires Spike's assistance to confront his former love interest, Drusilla (Juliet Landau). The intention of the story is evidently to rectify Cordelia's narrative after her character underwent a compelling and authentic journey in the Buffyverse, which unfortunately took a downward turn in Angel season 3 due to poor handling, ultimately resulting in character assassination.

The circumstances surrounding Cordelia's departure were chaotic and exacerbated by Whedon's treatment of Carpenter, as the actor disclosed. Although Cordelia briefly returned for Angel season 5 in the episode "You're Welcome", she did so with the assumption that her character would not meet a tragic end. Unfortunately, Cordelia was killed off anyway. This was a questionable conclusion for one of the franchise's most captivating characters, a seemingly shallow girl who revealed her inner kindness. Importantly, this was also accompanied by Carpenter's negative experiences on set.

Benson also turned down an offer to guest star in season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer due to her concerns about how Tara's character would be portrayed. Anya's death in the series finale was hardly given any recognition, which left a lingering dissatisfaction among viewers. The audio drama presents an opportunity to correct these lingering issues and give fans a sense of closure.