User:JoshuaZ/Buff body count

Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer kept a body count of the vampires, demons, and humans slain by the Slayer, both by episode, by season, and cumulatively for the entire series (all seven seasons).

The practice of keeping a body count probably originated with the U. S. military's counts of the friendly casualties and the enemy dead after major battles. One reason for such a procedure during the Vietnam War was to demonstrate that the United States was winning the conflict. However, the counts were, and continue to be, controversial and, if anything, they perhaps had the unintended consequence of raising questions about the efficacy of the very war that the counts were meant to prove was being won.

Precedent in literary criticism
Although he did not suggest the maintenance of a "body count" per se, renowned literary critic Kenneth Burke, author of the influential Dramatistic Pentad, recommends the use of a metalinguistic approach to literature that investigates the roles and uses of five rhetorical elements common to all narratives, each of which is related to a question. By evaluating which of the five elements is given emphasis over the others, Burke argues, a critic, reader, or (in Buffy's case) viewer, can determine which element can best be understood as providing the motive for the character--usually the protagonist--treated in the literary work. A character's stressing of one element over the others suggests his or her world view.

The five rhetorical elements that comprise the dramatistic pentad are act, which is associated with dramatic action verbs, answers the question what? or whom?, and is related to the world view of realism; scene, which is associated with the setting of an act, answers the questions when? and where?, and is related to the world view of determinism and minimal or non-existent free will; agent, which is associated with the agent, answers the question what? or whom?, and reflects the world view of philiosophical idealism; agency, which is associated with the person or the organization that commits the deed, answers the question how?, and implies a pragmatic point of view; and purpose, which is associated with meaning, answers the question why?, and indicates that the character seeks unity through identification with an ultimate meaning of life.

Uses
Perhaps Buffy fans had a similar motive as the U. S. military had in using body counts, hoping to prove, at least to themselves, that the valiant efforts of Buffy and her friends were, so to speak, making a difference in the age-old struggle of the forces of good against the forces of evil.

The Buffy body count also helps fans, critics, and other interested parties keep track of the episodes in which, in terms of vampire or demon activity, the action was cooling down or heating up; as such, the body count allows individuals to chart the Hellmouth's least and most active periods over a seven-year time frame. For example, vampires appear to be far more numerous (or active) than demons, and demons were twice as numerous (or active) in season two than they were in season one. Likewise, vampires were almost three times more numerous (or active) in season two than they were in season one. Season four, compared to the other six seasons, is almost devoid of vampires, but the demons are more numerous (or active) than ever. In "Triangle," episode 11 of season five, Buffy bags her 100th vampire.

In addition, as Joss Whedon, who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has said that the vampires, demons, and other monsters in the series are metaphors of existential threats, problems, and difficulties that teens and young adults face. For example, Marcie Ross, an invisible girl, becomes invisible as a result of being ignored by teachers and her fellow students. Her invisibility represents being ignored by others, a metaphor used by Ralph Ellison in Invisible Man, a novel that recounts the effects of black men's being ignored by whites during the racially segregated period of the early twentieth century. By adapting Kenneth Burke's dramatistic pentad to the types of demons that attack Buffy and her friends, both as teens and young adults, fans, critics, and others can isolate, identify, and evaluate what category of existential crisis seemed to traumatize these characters during specific periods of their childhoods and later years. Such a tool allows scholars and fans alike the ability to analyze and assess both these threats themselves, the reactions and the responses of the characters who encounter them, and the effects of these threats upon their lives. By decoding the significance of a particular vampire or demon (or human) according to its existential, psychological, social, or spiritual nature and then weighing the number of times during a season (or throughout the series) such threats menace Buffy and her friends, critics and fans can better chart and understand the show's thematic as well as narrative arcs.

First kills
Buffy killed her first vampire in a flashback scene, when she was a student at Hemery High School in Los Angeles, where she received her calling to become the Slayer. However, the first episode to show her kill a vampire was "Welcome to the Harvest." Buffy killed her first demon in "Teacher's Pet."

Season-by-season tallies
The authors of Dusted: The Unofficial Guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer keep a tally of the evil dead whom Buffy dispatches with a stake through the heart or in some other equally effective manner. (They also keep tabs on the number of staff and students killed at Sunnydale High School.) According to their body counts, Buffy slew the following numbers of vampires, demons, and humans during her seven-year reign as the Slayer:


 * First season (grand total = 14 vampires; 3 demons)
 * Welcome to the Harvest (episode 1): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * The Harvest (episode 2): 4 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Witch (episode 3): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Teacher's Pet (episode 4): 2 vampires, 1 demon
 * Never Kill a Boy on the First Date (episode 5): 2 vampires, 0 demon
 * The Pack (episode 6): 0 vampires, 0 demons
 * Angel (episode 7): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * I Robot, You Jane (epidoe 8): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * The Puppet Show (episode 9): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Nightmares (episode 10): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Out of Mind, Out of Sight (episode 11): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Prophecy Girl (episode 12): 4 vampires; 0 demons


 * Second season (grand total = 30 vampires; 6 demons)
 * When She Was Bad (episode 1): 6 vampires; 0 demons
 * Some Assembly Required (episode 2): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * School Hard (episode 3): 3 vampires; 0 demons
 * Inca Mummy Girl (episode 4): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Reptile Boy (episode 5): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Halloween (episode 6): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * Lie To Me (episode 7): 4 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Dark Age (episode 8): 2 vampires; 0 demons
 * What's My Line, Part I (episode 9): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * What's My Line, Part II (episode 10): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Ted (episode 11): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * Bad Eggs (episode 12): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Surprise (episode 13): 2 vampires; 0 demons
 * Innocence (episode 14): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Phases (episode 15): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered (episode 16): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * Passion (episode 17): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Killed By Death (episode 18): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * I Only Have Eyes For You (episode 19): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Go Fish (episode 20): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Becoming, Part I (episode 21): 5 vampires; 0 demons
 * Becoming, Part II (episode 22): 3 vampires; 0 demons


 * Third season (grand total = 43 vampires; 17 demons)
 * Anne (episode 1): 13 vampies; 5 demons
 * Dead Man's Party (episode 2): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * Faith, Hope, and Trick (episode 3): 4 vampires; 0 demons
 * Beauty and the Beasts (episode 4): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Homecoming (episode 5): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Band Candy (episode 6): 4 vampires; 0 demons
 * Revelations (episode 7): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * Lover's Walk (episode 8): 3 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Wish (episode 9): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * Amends (episode 10): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Gingerbread (episode 11): 1 vampires; 2 demons
 * Helpless (episode 12): 2 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Zeppo (episode 13): 0 vampires; 2 demons
 * Bad Girls (episode 14): 7 vampires; 1 demon
 * Consequences (episode 15): 3 vampires; 0 demons
 * Dopplegangland (episode 16): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Enemies (episode 17): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Earshot (episode 18): 2 vampires; 1 demon
 * Choices (episode 19): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Prom (episode 20): 1 vampires; 3 demons
 * Graduation Day, Part I (episode 21): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Graduation Day, Part II (episode 22): 0 vampires; 0 demons


 * Fourth season (grand total = 9 vampires; 17 demons)
 * The Freshman (episode 1): 2 vampires; 0 demons
 * Living Conditions (episode 2): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Harsh Light of Day (episode 3): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Fear Itself (episode 4): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Beer Bad (episode 5): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Wild At Heart (episode 6): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * The Initiative (episode 7): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Pangs (episode 8): 1 vampire; 1 demon
 * Something Blue (episode 9): 1 vampire; 0 demons
 * Hush (episode 10): 0 vampires; 12 demons
 * Doomed (episode 11): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * A New Man (episode 12): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * The I In Team (episode 13): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Goodbye, Iowa (episode 14): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * This Year's Girl (episode 15): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Who Are You? (episode 16): 1 vampire; 0 demon
 * Superstar (episode 17): 3 vampires; 0 demon
 * Where the Wild Things Are (episode 18): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * New Moon Rising (episode 19): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * The Yoko Factor (episode 20): 0 vampires; 0 demons
 * Primeval (episode 21): 0 vampires; 1 demon
 * Restless (episode 22): 0 vampires; 0 demons


 * Fifth season (grand total = 20 vampires; 4 demons; 1 human)
 * Buffy vs. Dracula (episode 1): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Real Me (episode 2): 4 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * The Replacement (episode 3): 0 vampires; 1 demons; 0 humans
 * Out of My Mind (episode 4): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * No Place Like Home (episode 5): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Family (episode 6): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Fool For Love (episode 7): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Shadow (episode 8): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Listening to Fear (episode 9): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Into the Woods (episode 10): 7 vampires; 2 demons; 0 humans
 * Triangle (episode 11): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Checkpoint (episode 12): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Blood Ties (episode 13): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Crush (episode 14): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * I Was Made to Love You (episode 15): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * The Body (episode 16): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Forever (episode 17): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Intervention (episode 18): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Tough Love (episode 19): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Spiral (episode 20): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * The Weight of the World (episode 21): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * The Gift (episode 22): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 1 human


 * Sixth season (grand total = 12 vampires; 16 demons; 0 humans)
 * Bargaining, Part I (episode 1): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Bargaining, Part II (episode 2): 0 vampires; 3 demons; 0 humans
 * After Life (episode 3): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Flooded (episode 4): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Life Serial (episode 5): 0 vampires; 3 demons; 0 humans
 * All the Way (episode 6): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Once More, With Feeling) (episode 7): 3 vampires; 4 demons; 0 humans
 * Tabula Rasa (episode 8): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Smashed (episode 9): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Wrecked (episode 10): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Gone (episode 11): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Doublemeat Palace (episode 12): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Dead Things (episode 13): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Older and Far Away (episode 14): 0 vampires; 1 demons; 0 humans
 * As You Were (episode 15): 1 vampire; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Hell's Bells (episode 16): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Normal Again (episode 17): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Entropy (episode 18): 3 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Seeing Red (episode 19): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Villains (episode 20): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Two to Go (episode 21): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Grave (episode 22): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans


 * Seventh season (grand total = 29 vampires; 14 demons; 17 humans)
 * Lessons (episode 1): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Beneath You (episode 2): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Same Time, Same Place (episode 3): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Help (episode 4): 1 vampire; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Selfless (episode 5): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Him (episode 6): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Conversations With Dead People (episode 7): 1 vampire; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Sleeper (episode 8): 7 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Never Leave Me (episode 9): 0 vampires; 2 demons; 0 humans
 * Bring On the Night (episode 10): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Showtime (episode 11): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Potential (episode 12): 1 vampire; 6 demons; 0 humans
 * The Killer In Me (episode 13): 0 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * First Date (episode 14): 3 vampires; 1 demon; 0 humans
 * Get It Done (episode 15): 0 vampires; 0 demon; 0 humans
 * Storyteller (episode 16): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Lies My Parents Told Me (episode 17): 2 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Dirty Girls (episode 18): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Empty Spaces (episode 19): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Touched (episode 20): 0 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * End of Days (episode 21): 3 vampires; 0 demons; 0 humans
 * Chosen (episode 22): 8 vampires; 0 demons; 17 humans


 * Cumulative Totals (all seven seasons) = 157 vampires; 74 demons; 18 humans

Other Slayers' kills
In addition to these totals, by the end of the seventh season, Faith Lehane has killed a grand total of 15 vampires, 9 demons, and 3 humans. The total numbers of Kendra's kills are unrecorded. On addition, Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and others have killed a few other vampires.

Friendly casulaties
Dusted's authors also keep counts of the friendly casualties that Sunnydale's staff and student body suffered during the first three seasons, during which period many episodes took place, in full or in part, in Sunnydale High School. In this article, only the seasons' totals are enumerated:


 * First Season
 * Staff casualties = 2
 * Student casulaties = 10


 * Second Season
 * Staff casualties = 4
 * Student casualties = 7


 * Third Season
 * Staff casualties = 3
 * Student casualties = 14


 * Cumulative (all three seasons)
 * Staff casualties = 9
 * Student casualties = 21