Who was the First Evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer? The final villain, explained

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an iconic show that mixes snappy jokes, wild action, and just the right amount of creepiness to keep you up at night. Over seven seasons, Buffy Summers and her gang go toe-to-toe with every supernatural freak you can imagine: vampires, demons, you name it, with each season dropping a fresh “Big Bad” villain for her to tackle.

The finales always go huge, topping the pure nightmare fuel of the final villain, The First Evil. So, let’s understand what the First Evil is, where it even comes from, and how Buffy and her crew managed to shut it down.

Who is the First Evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

The First Evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn’t some monster you can just punch. It is more like the original bad guy, ancient and creepy, claiming that it has been around forever, even before the world started. Every terrible thing that’s ever happened? Yeah, it says that it is all its fault. However, don’t expect to catch it lurking in an alley. It has got no body, so forget about dusting it like a vampire.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)

Instead, it messes with your head by showing up as people who’ve died, like Buffy’s mom or old villains, to freak you out. But don’t be fooled. It’s not them, just the First Evil playing mind games and trying to get under your skin. Pretty messed up, honestly.

When did the First Evil show up?

The First Evil first shows up in Season 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in an episode called “Amends.” There, it tries to mess with Angel by reminding him of everyone he has hurt. It doesn’t win, but it shows that the First likes to use guilt and fear as its main weapons.

The real trouble comes in Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though. That’s when the First Evil makes a major comeback, way stronger and way more dangerous. Now, it doesn’t just want to scare people. It wants to end the Slayer line and let evil take over.


The First Evil’s plan: End the Slayer line

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)

The First Evil, the OG of all villains in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, gets that Slayers are the only ones who can take it down. Since Buffy did her whole “die and come back” routine, now there are two Slayers on the board instead of one. That is a problem.

First decides to wipe out not just Buffy and Faith but every girl who might become a Slayer, aka Potential Slayers. It sends out these nightmare-fueled minions called Bringers to hunt them down, and, why not, also creates Caleb, this psycho preacher with a major grudge against women and freakish strength.

The whole evil squad is on a mission to kill Buffy, destroy the Watchers (the bookish Slayer support crew), and end the Slayer bloodline, making sure nobody ever stands up to the First again.

Why is the First Evil so dangerous?

The scary part about the First Evil isn’t just its power. It is how it gets into people’s heads in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It can’t be touched, but it can mess with your mind. It appears as people you love, saying the worst things to break your spirit. Throughout Season 7, the First tricks lots of characters.

It makes Spike think he’s losing it, tempts Andrew with guilt, and even makes Buffy doubt herself. It wins by making people feel alone and hopeless, not just by fighting them.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)

The rise of the Turok-Han in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Another part of the First Evil’s plan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer is to unleash the Turok-Han, also known as Ubervamps. These are ancient, super-strong vampires, way tougher than the regular ones Buffy normally fights.

The First Evil wants to use them as an army to take over the world. When Buffy faces the first Ubervamp, it’s almost too much for her. She barely survives and realizes that this enemy is on a whole new level.

The final showdown: How Buffy shared the power

When the First Evil starts making its move, Buffy isn’t just gonna wait around. She brings in her friends Willow, Xander, Giles, Faith, and the Potentials because, let’s be real, fighting evil is a team sport.

They all head straight for the Hellmouth in Sunnydale. That is where the final battle has to happen. But Buffy knows she can’t do it solo. So, she asks Willow to use her magic and give every Potential Slayer in the world their power. Now, instead of one Slayer, there are hundreds or thousands! The First Evil definitely didn’t see that coming.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Image Source: Prime Video)

This was a major turning point in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The First’s whole plan depended on the Slayer's power being limited. With Buffy’s choice, suddenly, there are Slayers everywhere. The First is outnumbered and outplayed.

The end of the First Evil’s reign

In the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Chosen,” Buffy leads her new Slayer army into the Hellmouth to fight the Turok-Han vampires. It is a tough battle. Not everyone makes it out. But the spell works together, and the Slayers crush the vampire army.

Buffy gets hurt but survives. Spike steps up with a magical amulet, destroying the Hellmouth and himself. His sacrifice brings down the First Evil’s whole plan. A new era for Slayers begins.


The world changes forever

The First Evil was a total nightmare, not just because it had some freaky power, but because it messed with people’s heads, digging up their worst memories and fears for fun. But Buffy and her squad weren’t about to just sit back and take it. They turned the whole game upside down by sharing Slayer powers and sticking together like a real family in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Edited by Debanjana