4. Death Is A Complicated Business
Death is something that happens often in the Whedonverse and which is always different. Much scarier and much more than most other shows where people die and that's it. Whedon always makes sure that the scariest thing isn't just dying - it's what happens during and after. Think about what Buffy shows us about death - in death and in heaven, Buffy finds closure and resolution to her violent life, while being resurrected only brings a disconnection to her life. Vampires are shown to be both monstrous and terribly human, with or without their souls. In Cabin, the deaths are symbolic, ritualistic and important sacrifices to keep the world spinning. Perhaps most shockingly in Dollhouse, the idea of your mind, your soul being destroyed while your body remains is a genuinely terrifying idea - the Dolls are mind-enslaved, imprinted with certain personalities while their originals could be wiped as easily as clearing out your Recycle Bin. Shocking, terrifying and brilliant.