Summary
Buffy the Vampire Slayerfeatured a lot of vampire mythology over seven successful seasons, and even more so if you add the spin-offAngelinto the mix. Fans continue to discuss such things to this day, even though the show has been off the air for nearly twenty years now. Despite it being so long since Buffy slayed her last vampire on television screens, the Buffy-verse continues to fascinate and intrigue new and old fans alike. In many ways,Buffy the Vampire Slayerre-wrote the rule book on what was possible for vampires to do, with the next generation of movies and television shows following these rules.
The one thing every vampire wants is to be immortal. They already have a better chance than humans of living forever, as they are able to roam the streets for generations if they are smart about it. But every vampire is susceptible to a stake in the heart, and their long lives can be cut short just like that, especially withthe strongest slayers like Buffyaround to snuff them out. But there was one thing in the Buffy-verse that gave vampires the potential to live forever. That particular thing was known as The Gem of Amara.
What is the Gem of Amara?
The Gem of Amara was a green stone enclosed in a golden ring. It was considered to be the Holy Grail for vampires. When putting on the Gem, it would make the vampire wearing it immortal. The ring would give the wearer enhanced regenerate powers, which meant they would survive a staking to the heart, with the wound closing instead of turning the vampire into dust.
Another great benefit to the ring was the ability for the vampire to stalk the streets in broad daylight, which has always been a downside for vampires, usually resulting in burning to death at the sight of the sun, unlessthe vampire is Blade in the Marvel universe.
Giles was always the character in Buffy who gave important information about the various different vampire mythologies, and this was yet again the case when it came to the origins of The Gem of Amara. He revealed that there was a lot of interest in it during the 10th century, claiming that vampires from all around the world were desperately seeking the Earth for it, but nobody had ever found it. The conclusion was that it never existed in the first place. Giles found a book that referred to the gem as being in the ‘‘valley of the sun’’ in an underground crypt.
What happens to the Gem of Amara?
The Gem of Amara was the focus of the first crossover storyline betweenBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngel.Formermember of the whirlwind, Spikereturned to Sunnydale in the season four episode “The Harsh Light of Day”, and got a group of vampires together to look for the gem. Spike’s girlfriend, ex Sunnydale High student turned vampire, Harmony, found the potential ring in a tomb, and wore it, along with other treasures. In a fit of rage, Spike staked her and to his surprise, she regenerated afterward.
Spike wore the gem of Amara and attempted to kill Buffy in broad daylight, but the slayer took the ring off him in a fight, as Spike retreated out of the sunlight, once again defeated by his nemesis before heturned goodand they became allies. Giles suggested they destroy the ring to keep it from the many vampires who would be after it. However, Buffy suggested Angel would be a safe keeper of the ring, and Oz offered to take the ring to him while visiting Los Angeles for a gig.
TheBuffy/Angelcrossover was now in motion, as Oz arrived in LA in episode 3 ofAngel, titled ‘‘In the Dark.’’ Unbeknownst to Oz, Spike had followed him to LA, and once Angel was in possession of the Gem of Amara, Spike attacked him, fully believing he would be wearing the ring. Angel had in fact hidden the gem, and Spike’s next play was to hire a vampire called Marcus to torture Angel in order to find out the location of the gem. Angel refused to give up the location, so Spike tried to blackmail Doyle and formerScooby Gangassociate, Cordelia to give up the location of the gem in exchange for Angel.
Oz accompanied Doyle and Cordelia to the warehouse where Angel was being held and exchanged the gem for Angel. During a fight, Marcus took the gem for himself and headed for broad daylight. Angel chased after Marcus despite bursting into flames, and the two of them fell in the sea, extinguishing the flames in the process. Angel killed Marcus and took the gem off his finger.
At the end of the episode, Angel chose to destroy the Gem of Amara, deciding it would distract him from his mission to save those who could not ask for help in the dark. In the words of Doyle ‘‘Help the helpless’’. As the sun set, Angel smashed the ring with a brick, causing it to flash green, and forever destroyed the Gem of Amara.
Buffy the Vampire SlayerandAngelare both available to stream on Hulu.
MORE:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: When Did Buffy Find Out She Was A Slayer?
