“The darkest day of my professional life”: This Buffy scene sent its actress to therapy

If you’re a die-hard fan of the cult series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you’re sure to be blown away by Season 6 Episode 19: Passion Red (2002). During the story, Spike’s character, played by James Marsters, tries to rape a bloodthirsty killer (Sarah Michelle Gellar).

A shocking and disturbing episode

The episode was particularly shocking to fans at the time, as Buffy was considered a feminist icon and Spike was one of the series’ most beloved characters. Additionally, fans had to deal with the death of Willow’s girlfriend, Tara; These deaths are brutal and gory, making this episode one of the hardest to watch.

to the transmission microphone inside youUnder the direction of Michael Rosenbaum, actor James Marsters returned to filming this grueling scene. “Actually, Buffy sent me to therapy. Buffy destroyed me.”– I trust bitterly.

“It’s a troubling scene for a lot of people who love the show. And it’s the darkest day of my professional life.”adds the actor, now 62. One of the writers came up with this idea because in college he broke up and went to his ex’s house thinking that if they had one last sex, everything would be okay.Marsters continues.

This is a problematic scene for many people who love the show. And this is the darkest day of my professional life.

“She kind of pushed herself and he had to physically pull her out of the building, which was one of the most painful memories of that time in her life.”– explains the actor. James Marsters expressed concern about how the scene would be perceived by fans of the series, particularly due to the context of the story’s gender reassignment.

James Marsters isn’t sure

“They thought Buffy was a superhero and they could switch genders because Buffy was able to protect herself from that very, very easily. The writers thought a man could do that to a woman and it would be the same.”indicates the artist.

“I went to them and said, ‘You know, guys, we’re giving the audience a vicarious experience. Everyone who watches Buffy identifies with her, and they’re not superheroes, so I do that to every member of the audience. And they’ll have very different reactions.”The actor claims.

Controversial scene:

A hell of a moment

According to the contract, James Marsters could not refuse to shoot this series. “We shot the scene and it was hell. I was in my own personal hell. I don’t like sexual predation scenes, anything about it.”he emphasizes.

“I don’t audition for stuff like that. If a movie has scenes like that, I’m not going to watch it. If it’s on TV, I have to turn it off or I’ll screw it up. I have a very visceral reaction to that kind of thing.”he concluded. For her part, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy’s legendary interpreter, also avoids re-watching this painful episode.

“Season six is ​​hard for me. It wasn’t right for our characters at the time and I just don’t want to watch it again.”He said in the columns The Hollywood Reporter last year.