aos2

[aos2]

Let’s talk Buffy Summers and her depression

When did it really start?

The show made it clear that season 6 would be considerably darker than previous season which definitely sparked controversy among the show’s enormous cult following. Even 20+ years after its initial release I still see the debate online around whether season 6 went too dark. And one of the contributing factors to that darkness was Buffy’s apparent depression and decent into suicidal ideation.

There’s no doubt that Buffy was suffering tremendously in season 6 with her mental health, that’s not in question. Instead, the question is when did this really start? I see fans who believe it started with her resurrection, some who think it began in season 5 after Joyce’s death and others think she was depression from the moment she first appeared on our screens.

I happen to agree with each of these views. I think Buffy was always depressed one way or another but in season 6 we see her go from having bouts of depression to being severely clinically depressed.

There’s no way in which someone can watch Buffy and not see the negative effect that being the Slayer has on her. In season 1, Buffy is clearly suffering from some traumatic experiences from the burning down of the gym in her old high school and does struggle with the responsibility of being the slayer. But one thing that’s clear is that she doesn’t yet want to die - as she says - she’s only 16. Buffy wants to live, she wants to be a normal teenager. And she’s sad because she longs for normality and can’t grasp it, yet she’s still holding onto that hope that she one day will.

It’s not until season 2 that we’re shown Buffy truly suffering from PTSD and I think this is the beginning of the end for her mental health. Girl has traumatic things happen to her daily and with the death of angel and Ms Calendar and all the changes in Buffy’s life she can’t escape the PTSD that it leaves her with throughout season 2 onwards.

Between season 2-3 is where I think she begins to lose that hope of ever being normal.

Her PTSD is the catalyst for her depression. And as the seasons go on and she adds traumatic event after traumatic event to her baggage we see it manifest in depressive episodes (not quite what we see from her throughout season 6) but there are noticeable moments where Buffy just doesn’t seem as though she wants to continue.

But being the slayer, Buffy has a responsibility to be the strong one and to save everyone and keep Dawn safe after their mothers death so Buffy pushes it down and covers it up with snarky comments and beating her enemies to a pulp. She bounces back every time. But every bounce back starts to take more time and more energy until suddenly she can’t quite manage it anymore.

And then everything bubbles to the surface in season 6.

For me the season 5 finale confirms that Buffy’s depression began long before season 6. She says the hardest thing to do in this world is live in it and then jumps headfirst in a sacrificial suicide to her death.

Do you agree? Let’s chat in the comments :)

[aos2]

No one talks about how Daisy Johnson was Suicidal throughout all 7 Seasons of Shield.

#agents of shield #agents of s.h.i.e.l.d. #daisy johnson #leo fitz #fitzsimmons #fitzskye #jemma simmons #mack #yoyo #phil coulson #avengers endgame #melinda may #deke shaw #avengers #lincoln campbell #aosedit

[aos2]

#agents of shield #hawkeye #yelena and natasha #yelena belova #florence pugh #kate bishop #hailee steinfeld #Clint #avengers #tv

[aos2]

Kate and Yelena need their own show or movie together.

Their dynamic, banta, chemistry is something that isn’t easily come across.

Hailee and Florence did great and marvel would be stupid not to take advantage of that.

#hailee steinfeld #florence pugh #kate bishop #yelena belova #hawkeye #clint barton

[aos2]

Hailee Steinfield on Kate and Yelena :

#hailee steinfeld #florence pugh #hawkeye #kate bishop #yelena belova

[aos2]

Best shot you ever took? Uh, the one I didn’t take.

[aos2]

Clint : “Natasha was the shot I never took”

Later that episode : Kate doesn’t take the shot at Yelena

Is this foreshadowing ? Are they going to be the next great partners?

#marvel #Hawkeye #kate bishop #yelena

[aos2]

Buy some “supply” and bandage the kids 😢

[aos2]

The new black widow and Hawkeye

Marvel make Yelena and Kate Bishop best friends challenge

[aos2]

Marvel make Yelena and Kate Bishop best friends challenge

#yelena belova #kate bishop #hawkeye #mcu #marvel #avengers #black widow

[aos2]

My whole feed is just fuckin’ Wandavision, Villaneve, Nat/Yelena content as if I’m not depressed enough already before opening tumblr

[aos2]

[aos2]

[aos2]

Ouch

― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

[aos2]

Everyone loves Yelena and marvel did a great job at bringing her to life on screen with the help of Florence Pugh and her incredible acting. BUT we have to make sure Yelena Belova gets her story told before it’s too late *cough Natasha cough*

For too many years Natasha romanoff was denied her own movie despite being the first and only female avenger.

This can’t happen to Yelena. She deserves everything

#marvel #Yelena #Yelena Belova #florence pugh #cinema #avengers #black widow #natasha romanoff

[aos2]

Can someone write a fic where Yelena meets Maria Hill/Clint/Fury/Pepper? And they’re all shocked at this kid who just misses her sister and is willing to kill multiple people to avenge her?

#marvel #mcu #black widow #Yelena #yelena and natasha #natasha romanoff #Maria hill #pepper #Hawkeye #fury

[aos2]

“The three of you can live as one small, messed up family.”