Unveiling the Whirlwind: Secrets of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Revealed!

"In every generation, a Slayer is destined to emerge." This statement is often recited by avid followers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Alongside their knowledge of the protagonist's background and various plot events, fans may not possess a comprehensive understanding of the intriguing backstories of the show's prominent antagonists, the Whirlwind: Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike.

Although the designation "Whirlwind" was merely mentioned briefly by Darla in a retrospective scene, some enthusiasts may remain unaware that it refers to the collective identity of this group. The intricate details of their origins unfold in the spin-off series Angel. Despite their relatively short tenure as a cohesive unit, they inflicted substantial havoc and shared profound interconnectedness through their collective encounters.

Darla

Angelus

Darla, a human, worked as a sex worker during colonial America and unfortunately contracted syphilis. In her final moments on her deathbed, she was discovered by the Master of the Order of Aurelius, a prestigious group of ancient vampires. The Master turned her into a vampire and immediately welcomed her into his court. It remains uncertain whether "Darla" was her original name in her human life or if the Master bestowed it upon her when he transformed her, as he affectionately referred to her as "Dear One" just before the transformation. Throughout her vampire existence, she alternated between aligning herself with the Master and the other members of the Whirlwind.

In Galway, Ireland, one fateful night, Darla happened upon a man who embodied the very essence of her mortal life's allure. Liam, a hopeless wastrel and a perpetual letdown to his father and entire village, captivated Darla's attention. In addition to his "angelic face," she discerned something extraordinary within him. Consequently, Darla transformed him into Angelus, a vampire, proudly presenting her creation to the Master.

Drusilla

During their time in London in 1860, Darla and Angelus stumbled upon a young woman named Drusilla, who appeared to possess precognitive powers. It was Darla who first noticed Drusilla and her unique talents, drawing Angelus' attention towards her as well. Instantly captivated, Angelus became fixated on making her his new pet project. To maximize his amusement, Angelus chose to exploit her abilities against her. He cruelly mocked Drusilla, suggesting that her instincts were perilous, and to prove his point, he callously slaughtered her entire family right before her eyes. Remarkably, he allowed her to escape, nonetheless.

As she was told that her gifts were sinful, she immediately sought solace in a convent, longing for a religious life. Unfortunately for Drusilla, this provided Angelus with the perfect opportunity to complete his mission of driving her into madness. On the night that she was about to take her sacred vows, he infiltrated the convent and mercilessly ended the lives of every nun residing within, sparing only Drusilla. Angelus, defying Darla's objections, concluded that the most effective means to ensure Drusilla's eternal torment lay in transforming her into a vampire as well.

Spike

Drusilla, after two decades of existing as a vampire, stumbled upon a poet named William Pratt who became the final addition to the Whirlwind. Tired of being the perpetual third wheel to Darla and Angelus, she yearned for a companion of her own.

William, a conventional Victorian gentleman, resided in his mother's residence, indulging in his passion for poetry. Determined to propose to a woman he admired deeply at a party one evening, his enthusiasm was shattered when he overheard her and her companions mocking him. Dubbed "William the Dreadful Poet," they expressed a preference for enduring a railroad spike to their heads rather than enduring another poem from him.

While William grieved outside, contemplating the harsh reality of people's perceptions, he encountered Drusilla, captivating him instantly. Begging her to transform him into a vampire, he failed to grasp the weight of his request. Hastily, he brought her to his dying mother, hoping that turning her into a creature of the night would alleviate her suffering from tuberculosis. Unfortunately, upon transformation, she displayed immediate cruelty, leading William to reluctantly stake her soon after.

The Whirlwind

He gained notoriety through his exceptionally brutal method of killing. Exploiting the derogatory remarks made by his peers, he adopted the more fearsome moniker of "William the Bloody." Subsequently, he began referring to himself as "Spike" after employing railroad spikes to impale his victims' skulls. His penchant for hunting Vampire Slayers grew, resulting in the demise of two within a span of less than 80 years.

Once the four members of the group united, chaos ensued throughout Europe. Whether they were known as the Whirlwind or the Scourge of Europe, their very presence inspired instant fear. Despite some minor disagreements, they proved to be a formidable team until their unfortunate encounter with the Kalderash tribe of gypsies in Romania. It was during this confrontation that Angelus unintentionally eliminated the wrong girl and faced the curse of obtaining a soul. This marked the beginning of the downfall for the Whirlwind. Angelus's newfound soul rendered him incapable of harming the innocent.

Spike and Drusilla were the only ones left in the group after slowly disbanding, until the events of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Darla, on the other hand, decides to leave the couple and return to the Master once and for all, as seen in the pilot episode.

You can stream both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on Hulu.