“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is and always will be my favorite television series. It was the perfect horror-comedy-drama wrapped into one and became iconic for breaking down so many doors for women and unspoken themes in Hollywood. It’s no surprise the show penned by Joss Whedon has such a cult following even eleven years since Buffy Summers and her friends faced down an army of feral vampires. I was one of the few fans who recognized Mr. Whedon as a scriptwriting genius way before he went on to do Cabin in The Woods, The Avengers, and “Agents of Shield.” There is, however, one thing I disagree with him about – how he handled the relationship of Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield).
Xander was already one of the four stars of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” by the time Anya was introduced in season three. She was a vengeance demon, reverted back to a teenager girl after one of her grievances went wrong. She attends Sunnydale High and eventually asks Xander to prom, which he accepts. When Anya finds out that the mayor of Sunnydale is a bad guy and plans to turn into a giant snake-like demon that’s unbeatable in the books, she tries to flee the town with Xander but ends up leaving alone because of his loyalty to his friends. Anya returns in season four and starts a real relationship with Xander that continues for a long time. In the season five finale, Xander asks Anya to marry him just before the final showdown with Hell goddess, Glory. Anya accepts and even stays for this apocalypse, showing that her character has now come full circle. In season six they make it all the way to the alter, but Xander ends up dumping her after a demon convinces him that their marriage will end up just like his parents’ did. Eventually, they become friends again in season seven and are even intimate on occasion, though not in a relationship of any sort. In the series finale Anya dies when she is almost cut in half by a minion of The First Evil. Xander asks Andrew what happened, to which the other man lies, “She was amazing. She died saving my life.” Knowing that to be false, Xander jokes, “That’s my girl. Always doing the stupid thing.” Anya is currently appearing in the official continuation – Buffy Season 10 – as a ghost who only Xander can see.
Since the end of the show both actors have kept up a steady career in Hollywood. Brendon was the star of his own show, “Kitchen Confidential,” and provided voice over work, recurring roles, and supporting roles in “American Dragon: Jake Long,” “Private Practice,” “Hollywood Heights,” and “Criminal Minds.” He’s appeared in six horror films and has a scifi-drama, Coherence, currently in select theaters. Caulfield has provided voice over work and supporting roles in “Robot Chicken,” “Gigantic,” “Bandwagon: The Series,” and “Life Unexpected.” She’s also had guest spots on “Private Practice,” “Leverage,” “Once Upon A Time,” and “Royal Pains.”
The duo are finally reuniting…although it is just an autograph signing at the Oz Comic Con in Brisbane, Australia. Oz Comic Con will be taking place September 6 – 7, 2014 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Center. Tickets are available starting at $30 and you can buy yours here.
Other guests include Orlando Bloom, Dean O’Gorman & Stephen Hunter (The Hobbit), Percy Daggs, Michael Muhney & Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”), Colin Ferguson (“Eureka”), Chris Judge (“Stargate SG1”), Joanna Kelley & Eddie McClintock (“Warehouse 13”), Jason Momoa (“Game of Thrones”), David Nyki & Kavan Smith (“Stargate Atlantis”), William Shatner (“Stat Trek”), and Booboo Stewart (X-Men). Many voice over actors and comic book artists will be in attendance as well.
