Content Warning: This list contains mentions of abuse, grooming, sexual assault, suicide, and violence
Considering the campy nature of the 1992 movie, a lot of non-fans might assume the Buffy television series is more of the same. Loyal followers of Buffy Summers' adventures as this generation's Slayer know better, though, because the show got serious on many occasions.
Too many times in the Scooby Gang's lives, real-world troubles popped up among the slaying and demon hunting. The Buffy crew faced nightmarish monsters and other Big Bads all the time in Sunnydale, yet often, the worst things the characters faced were problems rooted in reality.
Grooming
Faith switching sides in the third season began when she replaced Mayor Wilkins' henchman Mr. Trick. From there, the mayor started to exploit Faith's emotions — how she felt betrayed by Buffy and left out of the Scooby Gang. He used that insecurity to his advantage every time and ed it off as his caring for her like a daughter. In time, the Mayor completely isolated Faith from Buffy and the others.
Bullying
While there is a supernatural aspect to Marcie Ross' invisibility, this only happened because everyone around her did not treat her well. From Cordelia and the Cordettes teasing her when Marcie tried to befriend them, to her teacher completely ignoring her in class, Marcie felt unseen.
Season one's "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" is considered a monster-of-the-week story, but this filler episode is still compelling seeing as how it highlighted bullying and neglect in school environments.
Addiction
Season 6 was one giant metaphor for life's problems, but one of the most notable was Willow's excessive use of magic. The issue was finally brought to other characters' attention after the events of "Wrecked."
Xander's father was first briefly seen in "Restless" during a dream sequence; at the top of the basement steps in Xander's house, Anthony Harris stands inebriated and angry. Later in "Hell's Bells," Xander's father becomes intoxicated and makes a huge scene. Binge drinking was brought up in the low-rated episode "Beer Bad," as well.
Domestic Abuse
Season 2's "Ted" is a lot more serious than some fans might . Not only does Buffy "kill" a supposedly ordinary human, Joyce's relationship turns abusive after Ted returns from the grave. It's not as if Joyce and Ted's courtship was innocuous before he was revealed to be a robot; he was dosing her and everyone with drugs to keep them elated. Of course, there was also the fact Ted struck Buffy prior to his first death.
Once he did come back, Ted was overtly aggressive with Joyce and was ready to do to her what he did to his past wives.
School Violence And Suicide
Season 3's "Earshot" was postponed until later due to its timing; the Columbine shooting happened only a week before. The episode involved Buffy temporarily gaining the power to hear other's thoughts and eavesdropping on the mind of a possible school shooter.
As it turns out, the suspect isn't out to harm others. Rather, Buffy's classmate Jonathan was going to take his own life in the boarded-up school tower. Buffy used her words rather than violence to help.
The episode "I Only Have Eyes for You" also brought up suicide when Sunnydale High is haunted by an angry spirit.
Abusive Relationships
When Buffy was dating Scott, she met his friends Pete and Debbie. The couple seemed fine on the outside, but in truth, Pete was abusive towards his partner Debbie.
Pete also had created a potion to make him more masculine. All it did, however, was literally turn him into a violent and jealous monster for a short amount of time. In the end, it was really Pete who had killed the school counselor he suspected was getting too close to Debbie.
Child Abuse
In "Nightmares," everyone's bad dreams come true all thanks to a boy named Billy. The child was in a coma because his baseball coach hurt him after a losing game. The child's fears manifested into a monster called the Ugly Man, which only Billy could defeat in the end.
The fourth season's "Where the Wild Things Are," Buffy and Riley rouse the spirits of abused children who once lived in Riley's frat house.
Coming Out
While Oz went away to deal with his werewolf issues in the fourth season, Willow got closer to her new wiccan friend Tara. Their friendship then evolved into something more right before Oz's return. The two eventually became a couple after Willow settled things with her ex.
Willow was concerned with coming out to her friends, but despite some initial awkwardness, they were accepting.
Stalking
Angel losing his soul and becoming Angelus after being physically intimate with Buffy was another metaphor for abusive relationships in the series. As Angelus, Buffy's former love stalked and toyed with the Slayer, her friends, and her mother. Apparently this was also his M.O. back in the days long before he was cursed with a soul.
Eventually, Angelus changed his tactics and became more erratic and violent with Buffy and her loved ones.
Sexual Assault
There were several instances of sexual assault and the removal of consent in the sixth season. Warren's ex-girlfriend Katrina, last seen in "I Was Made to Love You," is put under a spell by the Troika in "Dead Things;" the villains tried to rape her until the magic wore off. However, Katrina was killed and the Troika manipulated Buffy into thinking she killed her.
Finally in "Seeing Red," Spike attempts to rape Buffy, but she stops him.