10 Dumbest Decisions In Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Following Joyce’s death in the previous episode, Dawn attempts to resurrect her dead mother by using a book entitled ‘Bynum's History of Witchcraft’, which she ‘borrows’ from Willow and Tara. With Spike’s help, she then retrieves a Ghora demon egg – the final ingredient for the Resurrection Spell.

The magic is successful, and at the end of the episode, Joyce’s silhouette passes by the window of the Summers’ household. Before she arrives, however, Dawn comes to her senses and puts a stop to the magic.

Whilst it’s hard not to feel sorry for the Summers sisters, Dawn’s behaviour was still undeniably unwise. Resurrecting the dead is no simple business in the Buffyverse. And though the episode is deliberately ambiguous about the state of Joyce’s resurrected form, the impression we get is that she’s taken on a zombie-like appearance.

Dawn should have been more open with her sister, and at least discussed the dangers of resurrection with Willow and Tara, rather than charging forward with this foolish scheme.