Day 23. The saddest character death? The Death of Joyce Summers, episode “The Body”
This was a toss up for between Winifred’s death and Joyce’s death. As Joyce’s death was more real, but Fred’s death was more tragic for me because her SOUL GOT DESTROYED and to add insult to injury her dead body still walked around under the possession of Illyria. But I already talked about Fred’s death, so I’ll talk about Joyce’s.
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Joyce’s death just gutted me. Her death was a death that I’d never saw coming, though I knew they was going to do something with Joyce’s brain tumor storyline, I just didn’t see her dying that way… just.. out of nowhere.
Buffy and the gang has dealt with death before, Willow walked in and was mortified to see causal friends mauled to death in the school’s rec. room, Buffy’s had favorite teachers and councilors die on her, but this is her mother that died this time. Buffy had her ups and downs with her mother, but Joyce was there for Buffy, she was Buffy’s source of comfort and guidance, and now all that is gone in a blink of an eye.
Unlike all the other deaths in the show that was was portrayed in a comic book-like way that had music playing in the background, this death was different from the get-go. During the whole episode there was no music in the background, no comic relief just the numb grief and sadness that comes with losing a mother, a friend and a mentor.
There was periods of absolute silence then periods of sharp hearing, sight would go in and out of focus. Buffy immediately became clammy with sweat and sick to her stomach after finding her mother dead. All of Buffy’s Slayer powers and knowledge could not help her here. Here, by her mother’s side Buffy was just a sad little girl scarred out of her wits.
Every-time I watch this show my stomach churns and I feel like a lost someone to, Joyce was really special. Every characters reaction and emotions after Joyce’s death really hit me and compounded the since of lose, especially Anya’s speech.
Joyce was a caring, strong woman who was in everyone’s heart, and to see her gone like that.. out of nowhere, really makes you feel like you been gutted like a fish.
