Perhaps the most shark-jumping moment on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the sudden appearance of Dawn, Buffy’s younger sister. Created by a group of monks, Dawn is the human embodiment of a mystical ball of energy, a key, that can open the portals to an assortment of unpleasant hell dimensions. They created not only a flesh and blood person but an entire lifetime of memories shared by Buffy, her mom and everyone else in their lives.
Dawn didn’t go over well with fans. Over three seasons, Dawn proves to be an emotional drain on Buffy. Her typical teen angst comes across as trivial in comparison to what Buffy, Giles and the Scoobies endure both before Dawn’s arrival and in the wake of it. Here are the 10 most annoying things Dawn ever did.
She Tries To Bring Joyce Back To Life
Dawn, a product of magic herself, spends a lot of time around people who accept the impossible and inexplicable as everyday occurrences. So it’s not surprising following Joyce’s death that Dawn would believe there has to be a loophole; a way to bring her mom back from the dead on season 5’s “Forever.”
It’s unclear why Willow and Spike help Dawn load the gun and then disappear when she pulls the trigger. Maybe they never thought she’d get the job done, and we don’t know what Dawn brings back, but it doesn’t look very maternal.
She Emotionally Manipulates Buffy After Joyce Dies
When Buffy catches Dawn practicing necromancy on season 5’s “Forever,” she’s understandably upset, and Dawn manages to make it all about herself. Buffy isn’t paying attention to her. Buffy doesn’t care. Buffy can’t stand to be around her. This adversarial relationship can’t even be put on pause because Dawn is in constant need of attention.
No matter what the monks planted in Buffy’s and Joyce’s heads, both mother and daughter quickly realize Dawn doesn’t belong, so how are fans supposed to feel sympathy for her or even take her grief seriously? What’s heartbreaking is Buffy is so distraught, she forgets her reservations and is ready to accept a zombie mom. But Dawn undoes the spell, leaving Buffy to deal with yet another loss.
She Invites Harmony Inside The House
Season 5’s “Real Me” is the first full episode featuring Dawn, and she narrates events from her perspective. There’s a great deal of friction between Buffy and Dawn, hinting strongly at the fact that somewhere in Buffy’s brain, she knows Dawn doesn’t belong. When the lead protagonist of the show is complaining incessantly about a new character, the hostility is bound to rub off on fans.
Even worse, Dawn instantly proves to be a liability. As the sister of the Slayer, she’s been shielded from the big bads of the world, making her an easy target. “Real Me” sets the tone for an entire Dawn-centric season during which Buffy’s constantly rescuing someone we don’t want to be saved. Harmony is too incompetent to be the head of a vampire gang. But thanks to Dawn inviting her inside the Summers’ home, Harmony becomes a more credible threat.
She Falls Under A Love Spell
Buffy’s first go-around with a love spell is far superior to its second on season 7’s “Him.” This time it’s an underwhelming boy with a mystical letterman jacket. While it’s comical to watch Buffy, Anya and Willow fight over the bland R.J., Dawn’s attempts to get his attention are cringeworthy. She also becomes a full-on bad seed, pushing a fellow student down the stairs. Dawn is a tantrum-throwing mess, but she’s not any worse than when she’s not feeling the effects of magic.
She Skips School
It’s fair to say Dawn should get a pass for some of her behavior. She finds out her entire life is a lie, she lives in the shadow of the most awesome big sister ever, and her fake mother dies suddenly from an aneurysm. She’s allowed to feel a bit nihilistic when it comes to mundane things like school, but Dawn’s choices continually blowback on Buffy who is barely holding it together in the aftermath of her mother’s death. Dawn can always be counted on to do the wrong thing, and she doesn’t get a free pass; she’s not the Chosen One.
She Dates A Vampire
Halloween is supposed to be a night for the demons to chill out, but it never works out that way. Dawn and her bestie sneak away to hang out with two cute boys who happen to also be vampires on season 6’s “All the Way.” Buffy and the gang learn Dawn isn’t where she’s supposed to be which sends everyone into a tailspin – a consistently irritating pattern where Dawn is concerned.
Dawn’s date manages to lure her to a spot which is the Lovers’ Lane for the undead. Dawn gets busted, and her sister and Spike have to fight off a ton of vamps. At least Dawn can kill her date without any help from her big sister. She’s, of course, devastated that her first real kiss is with a bloodsucker, so Buffy is quick to let Dawn off the hook.
She’s A Kleptomaniac
Dawn acts out by stealing. She takes things from the magic shop, from her sister’s friends and stores. Dawn isn’t even a clever thief. She gives Buffy a jacket with the security tag still on it. Part of the reason Dawn is such an unlikable character is that none of her behavior is remotely provocative.
We can watch troubled teen girls shoplift on The O.C., Beverly Hills, 90210 and every other teen drama ever made. We expect more from the show that shows one possible outcome of teen sex is losing your soul. Dawn isn’t just one of the most annoying characters on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she would be the character on any YA fare who serves as a cautionary tale and disappears after a few episodes instead of sticking around for three seasons.
She Gets Involved With A Vengeance Demon
Those vengeance demons can be tricky which is how Dawn’s wish that nobody can leave the Summers’ house comes to fruition. Halfrek casts the spell on season 6’s “Older and Far Away,” but Dawn comes out unlikable despite it. She gets busted for all of her shoplifting and has a complete meltdown when confronted. Dawn goes off the rails whenever anyone expects her to be accountable for her actions.
Dawn and Buffy’s relationship demonstrates Buffy’s unconditional love for her sister, but this familial bond feels one way. Dawn resents Buffy for not being present and rejects Buffy when she attempts to connect.
She Bails On Buffy
Season 7’s pending apocalypse proves to be the most challenging for Buffy. This is in large part to a freaky preacher named Caleb and some Potentials who are drawn to Faith’s devil-may-care attitude. After one too many bad judgment calls, the Potentials, the Scoobies and even Dawn decide to oust Buffy as their leader.
Dawn takes it one step further and suggests Buffy leave the house altogether on “Empty Places.” After watching Buffy’s entire existence evolve into the care and feeding of a decidedly unlikeable character, it’s a heinous betrayal that Dawn doesn’t have her sister’s back, front or any other part of her body. It’s hard not to wonder if Dawn doesn’t enjoy humiliating Buffy after years of feeling second best.
She Refuses To Leave Town To Escape The First
First Dawn is involved in a mutiny against her sister. Then she tasers a one-eyed Xander when all he’s trying to do is get Dawn as far away from the First as possible on season 7’s “End of Days.” Xander wants to be part of the fight, but he respects Buffy’s request that he be the one to take care of her sister. Buffy already has her hands full with a bunch of untested and unproven Potentials whose destiny it is to die if it means defeating evil. Dawn isn’t interested in anything other than being part of the action whether she’s capable of surviving the battle or not.
