Harry Potter and Buffy Summers have a lot more in common than you might think … but who’s the chosen one?
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ debuted over 20 years ago, and will not be disappearing from pop-culture debates anytime soon. The series was ahead of its time and had so many genres layered into it! There was camp horror, science-fiction, action, a great deal of teen drama, and if we might add, there was romance! Joss Whedon’s brilliant writing along with the memorable cast ensured that Buffy would be remembered for decades to come.
Highlights:
- Potter and Buffy were both chosen to lead the fight against evil
- The similarities don’t end at Harry Potter and Buffy Summers!
- So, who is the real chosen one?
Harry Potter, too, has been culturally significant for our generation. The highly-successful book-turned-film series is more than just a story today. It has been adapted into several storytelling formats in an effort to communicate with viewers of all ages. There’s a prequel spin-off film series, Broadway plays across the globe, and an amusement park too! Potter’s story of fighting the good fight and triumphing over evil in any guise there may be, resonated with viewers.
Although Buffy might have a slightly older audience, there are many similarities between both franchises’ and their characters. Let’s see how they’re alike and attempt to discover who the real chosen one is, between Potter and Buffy!
Potter and Buffy were both chosen to lead the fight against evil
Through the years, fiction has always had an archetypal representation of characters. There’s the hero, the fun sidekick, the smart one, the wise old personality that steers them all in the right direction, the comic relief, and the villain … or villains.
With Potter and Buffy’s story, the resemblance is striking and impossible to ignore. Both franchises’ have the same heroic arc where one individual must save the world from the perils of great evil. They’re the chosen ones in their own universe and are expected to give their all or die trying.
They are brave but lack confidence, and were suddenly plucked from a life of normalcy before being deemed saviours. And somehow, they always find themselves in the spotlight, with every action, every move of theirs being watched over.
With Harry, a prophecy set course for the young wizards’ story. It was decided he had to kill Voldemort or be killed by him regardless of what he wanted to do. He was just a boy who lived a simple life before discovering that all he wanted was to learn magic.
Buffy too was just 16 when she was suddenly burdened with the responsibility of standing against the forces of evil in her world. She was a reluctant hero and craved a life of normalcy, at first, before eventually learning to embrace her destiny.
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The similarities don’t end at Harry Potter and Buffy Summers!
Potter and Buffy are both parentless and navigate through most of the world alone while being supported by their friends. Whether it’s the golden trio of Hogwarts or Sunnydale’s Scooby gang, both have close friends who look out for them.
What’s really interesting about the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ series is how they truly embraced dark themes. Neither series was afraid of killing main characters. The people on the frontline of each war happily take the fall so that others can be safe again. The final book in the ‘Harry Potter’ series and the last season of Buffy proved that! You have main characters and supporting characters dying but there’s no time to grieve because the war isn’t over yet.
Buffy’s slayer power can be compared with Harry’s as well! While Buffy’s superhuman powers stem from demonic roots, Harry owes his to the evilest wizard of all time. Both series keep you on your toes. You never know who lives and who doesn’t because these characters are anything but predictable, just like their story.
So, who is the real chosen one?
Both Potter and Buffy recognised that they had a calling they couldn’t afford to ignore, making irreversible sacrifices along the line. They were also exceptionally skilled, Harry with his magic and Buffy with her superhuman powers. They’re both invincible with their choice of wood, a wand for Harry and a stake for Buffy! It’d be hard to imagine who’d emerge victorious if they went head to head in a fight.
They took on saviour roles as teenagers and resented power early on because of the responsibility that came with it. While Harry is a significant figure in a conflict in the wizarding world, Buffy battles the terrifying monsters of Hellmouth. Both have an urge to save everyone and feel the need to constantly make everything right even though they’re imploding.
Their close friends have similarities too, with a far greater knowledge of the happenings. Where Hermione has a quick magical fix to Harry’s problems, Willow helps Buffy in the fight while her powers develop.
Ron and Xander are the loveable sidekicks, unbreakable in loyalty and sacrifice. Both stories often give you a glimpse into their version of the social elite and the influence that leads them. It’d be hard to single out the superior one when they’ve both put down their lives for the greater good.
Who do you think is the chosen one – Potter or Buffy? Let us know in the comments!
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