While Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is of course the focal point ofBuffy The Vampire Slayer, Michelle Trachtenberg’s character Dawn Summers is also a significant part of the story. ManyBuffyfans have opinions about Dawn, whether they find her frustrating or think that she is essential to the plot. No matter what someone thinks about her, her origin story is crucial to Buffy lore and can’t be ignored.

Although some TV shows can disappoint viewers by not fully or properly explaining a character’s background,Buffy The Vampire Slayershares Dawn’s backstory over several episodes. There’s a lot to know about who Dawn is and how she joins the other characters on this popular TV show.

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg) in Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Who Is Dawn In Buffy The Vampire Slayer?

Dawn Summers is Buffy’s younger sister inBuffy The Vampire Slayer. She first appears in the first episode of season 5 called “Buffy vs. Dracula.” While at first, she just seems to be an irritating younger sister,Buffy The Vampire Slayer

character Dawn’s true origins are then explained. She is a magical object called “The Key.” Much like themeta time loop inBuffy The Vampire Slayer, Dawn’s character arc needs some explanation as it can get confusing at times.

Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg) in Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The most important thing to know about Dawn is that she was created by monks who belonged to the Order of Dagon. They turned “The Key” into a human through the “Key embodiment ritual.” The monks decided that Dawn should be Buffy’s younger sister and should live with her. They did this because they believed that Buffy could protect Dawn.

While there are somecreepyBuffy The Vampire Slayerepisodes, the ones that explain Dawn’s origin story are quite emotional. Since Dawn has been transformed into a human, and she’s dealing with all the feelings of a regular teenager as well, she has trouble coming to terms with who she is. She also thinks that Buffy’s friends Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) are cool and wishes that she could hang out with them more often.

IfBuffy is one of the strongest slayers,Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Dawn is one of the most significant characters because of her history. However, while she is The Key, she doesn’t have magical powers. This is so she can blend in with her peers and not attract attention.

Dawn’s Sudden Appearance In Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Explained

Buffy The Vampire Slayerdoes a great job balancingstrong and evil vampireswith human characters like Dawn who are fleshed out over various episodes. At the end of theBuffy The Vampire Slayerepisode “Buffy vs. Dracula,” Buffy sees a young girl in her bedroom. Buffy and Dawn’s mother Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) says that Buffy needs to include Dawn in her social life and bring her to hang out with her friends. This is a big moment in the series as before that point,Buffy The Vampire Slayerfans had no idea that Buffy had a sibling.

In the season 5 episode “Blood Ties,” Buffy finds out that Dawn is “The Key.” The monks make Buffy and her friends think that Dawn and Buffy have been sisters this entire time. Dawn learns about who she really is in this episode as well. She is so shocked and confused that she leaves home.

WhileBuffy fights many eerie monsterswho are a memorable part ofBuffy The Vampire Slayer, Dawn’s existence is also an unforgettable part of the TV series. When Dawn is introduced, the characters don’t seem surprised by her arrival. In fact, they are completely comfortable around her and act as if she has been here all along. The monks made sure that Buffy would remember Dawn. The monks also made sure that the people in her life had memories of her as well.

It’s also important to note that most people look at Dawn and see her as a teenage girl like anyone else. But, if someone is a “Groupie” (humans whose brains Glorificus eats) or sick, they can tell that Dawn is The Key. This happens when Joyce begins suffering from an illness. Before she faints at home, she looks at Dawn and realizes what is going on. When Joyce dies, it’s not only one of thesaddestBuffy The Vampire Slayerdeathsbut also really hard on Dawn. Since she is so young, she has trouble coping, and she and Buffy connect more.

Throughout seasons 5 to 7 ofBuffy The Vampire Slayer, Dawn isn’t always the most popular character. However, Dawn is definitely important, and her backstory becomes relevant during many exciting and dramatic scenes.

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