- “Ooh! Sounds like paranormal phenomena.”
- ―Rupert Giles[src]
Spirit was a disembodied essence or a spectral entity of supernatural nature. The many types of spirits include ghosts, poltergeists,[1] avenging spirits,[2] apparitions,[3] and manifested spirits.[4]
This concept also referred to a vital or animating force within a living being.[5][6]
Types[]
Ghosts[]
- “It doesn't know exactly what it wants. That's the problem. Many times the spirit is plagued by all manner of worldly troubles. But, being dead, it has no way to make its peace. So it lashes out. Growing ever more confused, ever more angry.”
- ―Rupert Giles[src]
A ghost was the spirit of a deceased being, still walking on Earth for having unresolved issues. A ghost would move to another plane after having their problem solved or being subjected to exorcism.[1]
Poltergeists[]
A poltergeist could be a violent ghost, not only able to wreak havoc using telekinesis, reality alteration, and possession. They could either be ghosts of people that had passed[1] or mere apparitions.[3]
Avenging spirits[]
Spirits of the dead that came to be in order to seek bloody vengeance after years of unrest. They could take corporeal form and be banished only by their own weapons. An example of a vengeance spirit was Hus and the Chumash warriors.[2]
Apparitions[]
Apparitions were entities born out of raw emotion and pent-up energy, instead of ghosts of deceased people. They manifested as poltergeists that fed on physical energy and drew it from the living world, until the living participants died. An example included the Lowell House poltergeists, which were in the form of the children's raw emotions, despite these same children being alive as adults.[3]
Manifested spirits[]
Manifested spirits were corporeal beings resembling deceased humans at the point of death, summoned and controlled by a talisman. Destroying the talisman would destroy the spirits.[4]
Physiology and powers[]
- “From what I've read, having a ghost pass through you is a singular experience. It's cold, amorphous feeling, makes your hair stand on end.”
- ―Rupert Giles[src]
A ghost could only be visible to the human eye with ectoplasm. They also absorbed heat and made the area around them a few degrees colder. When Spike was rendered incorporeal following the battle at the Hellmouth, Fred's scans indicated that Spike was technically not a ghost: he lacked ectoplasm, radiated body heat, and had detectable brainwaves, so there seemed to be different kinds of disembodied spirits other than ghosts.[7]
Different cultures displayed different takes on ghosts. An example was the Japanese ghosts had no feet and were drawn to water.[citation needed]
Though incorporeal, ghosts and other such non-corporeal beings were capable of limited interaction with the physical world through intense concentration.[8]
They could turn invisible, phase through solids like objects and people, and use telekinesis. When they were stuck on a loop, they could also influence minds by possessing people into forcing them to repeat an act, which had doomed them in the first place.[1][9] They could also warp reality by summoning and conjuring up monstrous hands, wasps, and snakes.[1]
Known spirits[]
- The ghost of a murdered countess in Dartmoor who used to float along the foothills, seem by Giles prior to his Watchers functions.[10]
- Willow Rosenberg[11]
- Grace Newman[1]
- James Stanley[1]
- Spirit guide[12]
- Maude Pearson[13]
- Dennis Pearson[13]
- Hus[2]
- Chumash warriors[2]
- Lowell House poltergeist[14]
- Sineya — After she died, the First Slayer had the power to come to Slayers in their dreams as a spirit guide.[6]
- The Child of Words — A demon with an incorporeal form.[15]
- Prima Ballerina[9]
- Stefan[9]
- Unidentified spirit[4]
- Darla[16]
- Spike[7]
- Matthias Pavayne[17]
- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce — Became a ghost during the Fall of Los Angeles.[citation needed]
- Angel[18]
- Anya — Initially identified as the ghost of Anya Jenkins,[19] she was actually a spirit with her memories and appearance, made by D'Hoffryn.[20]
Appearances[]
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 | |||||||||||
"Welcome to the Hellmouth" Absent |
"The Harvest" Absent |
"Witch" Absent |
"Teacher's Pet" Absent |
"Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" Absent |
"The Pack" Absent |
"Angel" Absent |
"I Robot, You Jane" Absent |
"The Puppet Show" Absent |
"Nightmares" Absent |
"Out of Mind, Out of Sight" Mention |
"Prophecy Girl" Absent |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 2 | |||||||||||
"When She Was Bad" Absent |
"Some Assembly Required" Absent |
"School Hard" Absent |
"Inca Mummy Girl" Absent |
"Reptile Boy" Absent |
"Halloween" Appears |
"Lie to Me" Absent |
"The Dark Age" Absent |
"What's My Line? Part One" Absent |
"What's My Line? Part Two" Absent |
"Ted" Absent | |
"Bad Eggs" Absent |
"Surprise" Absent |
"Innocence" Absent |
"Phases" Absent |
"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" Absent |
"Passion" Absent |
"Killed by Death" Absent |
"I Only Have Eyes for You" Appears |
"Go Fish" Absent |
"Becoming, Part One" Absent |
"Becoming, Part Two" Absent |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3 | |||||||||||
"Anne" Absent |
"Dead Man's Party" Absent |
"Faith, Hope & Trick" Absent |
"Beauty and the Beasts" Absent |
"Homecoming" Absent |
"Band Candy" Absent |
"Revelations" Absent |
"Lovers Walk" Absent |
"The Wish" Absent |
"Amends" Absent |
"Gingerbread" Absent | |
"Helpless" Absent |
"The Zeppo" Appears |
"Bad Girls" Absent |
"Consequences" Absent |
"Doppelgängland" Absent |
"Enemies" Absent |
"Earshot" Absent |
"Choices" Absent |
"The Prom" Absent |
"Graduation Day, Part One" Absent |
"Graduation Day, Part Two" Absent |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 | |||||||||||
"The Freshman" Absent |
"Living Conditions" Absent |
"The Harsh Light of Day" Absent |
"Fear, Itself" Absent |
"Beer Bad" Absent |
"Wild at Heart" Absent |
"The Initiative" Absent |
"Pangs" Appears |
"Something Blue" Absent |
"Hush" Absent |
"Doomed" Absent | |
"A New Man" Absent |
"The I in Team" Absent |
"Goodbye Iowa" Absent |
"This Year's Girl" Absent |
"Who Are You?" Absent |
"Superstar" Absent |
"Where the Wild Things Are" Appears |
"New Moon Rising" Absent |
"The Yoko Factor" Absent |
"Primeval" Mention |
"Restless" Appears |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 6 | |||||||||||
"Bargaining, Part One" Absent |
"Bargaining, Part Two" Absent |
"After Life" Appears |
"Flooded" Absent |
"Life Serial" Absent |
"All the Way" Absent |
"Once More, with Feeling" Absent |
"Tabula Rasa" Absent |
"Smashed" Absent |
"Wrecked" Absent |
"Gone" Absent | |
"Doublemeat Palace" Absent |
"Dead Things" Absent |
"Older and Far Away" Absent |
"As You Were" Absent |
"Hell's Bells" Absent |
"Normal Again" Absent |
"Entropy" Absent |
"Seeing Red" Absent |
"Villains" Absent |
"Two to Go" Absent |
"Grave" Absent |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 7 | |||||||||||
"Lessons" Appears |
"Beneath You" Absent |
"Same Time, Same Place" Absent |
"Help" Absent |
"Selfless" Absent |
"Him" Absent |
"Conversations with Dead People" Absent |
"Sleeper" Absent |
"Never Leave Me" Absent |
"Bring on the Night" Absent |
"Showtime" Absent | |
"Potential" Absent |
"The Killer in Me" Absent |
"First Date" Absent |
"Get It Done" Appears |
"Storyteller" Absent |
"Lies My Parents Told Me" Absent |
"Dirty Girls" Absent |
"Empty Places" Absent |
"Touched" Absent |
"End of Days" Absent |
"Chosen" Absent |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 10 | |||||||||||
New Rules, Part 1 Appears |
New Rules, Part 2 Appears |
New Rules, Part 3 Absent |
New Rules, Part 4 Absent |
New Rules, Part 5 Appears |
I Wish, Part 1 Absent |
I Wish, Part 2 Appears |
Return to Sunnydale, Part 1 Absent |
Return to Sunnydale, Part 2 Absent |
Day Off (or Harmony in My Head) Absent | ||
Love Dares You, Part 1 Appears |
Love Dares You, Part 2 Absent |
Love Dares You, Part 3 Absent |
Relationship Status: Complicated, Part 1 Absent |
Relationship Status: Complicated, Part 2 Absent |
Old Demons, Part 1 Absent |
Old Demons, Part 2 Absent |
Old Demons, Part 3 Absent |
Freaky Giles Day Absent |
Triggers Appears | ||
In Pieces on the Ground, Part 1 Absent |
In Pieces on the Ground, Part 2 Absent |
In Pieces on the Ground, Part 3 Absent |
In Pieces on the Ground, Part 4 Appears |
In Pieces on the Ground, Part 5 Appears |
Own It, Part 1 Absent |
Own It, Part 2 Absent |
Own It, Part 3 Absent |
Own It, Part 4 Absent |
Own It, Part 5 Absent | ||
"Where Are They Now?" Absent |
Angel: Season 1 | |||||||||||
"City Of" Absent |
"Lonely Heart" Absent |
"In the Dark" Absent |
"I Fall to Pieces" Absent |
"Rm w/a Vu" Appears |
"Sense & Sensitivity" Absent |
"The Bachelor Party" Absent |
"I Will Remember You" Absent |
"Hero" Absent |
"Parting Gifts" Absent |
"Somnambulist" Absent | |
"Expecting" Appears |
"She" Appears |
"I've Got You Under My Skin" Absent |
"The Prodigal" Absent |
"The Ring" Absent |
"Eternity" Absent |
"Five by Five" Appears |
"Sanctuary" Absent |
"War Zone" Absent |
"Blind Date" Absent |
"To Shanshu in L.A." Absent |
Angel: Season 2 | |||||||||||
"Judgment" Appears |
"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" Absent |
"First Impressions" Appears |
"Untouched" Absent |
"Dear Boy" Absent |
"Guise Will Be Guise" Absent |
"Darla" Absent |
"The Shroud of Rahmon" Absent |
"The Trial" Absent |
"Reunion" Absent |
"Redefinition" Absent | |
"Blood Money" Absent |
"Happy Anniversary" Absent |
"The Thin Dead Line" Absent |
"Reprise" Absent |
"Epiphany" Absent |
"Disharmony" Appears |
"Dead End" Absent |
"Belonging" Absent |
"Over the Rainbow" Absent |
"Through the Looking Glass" Absent |
"There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb" Absent |
Angel: Season 3 | |||||||||||
"Heartthrob" Appears |
"That Vision- Thing" Appears |
"That Old Gang of Mine" Absent |
"Carpe Noctem" Absent |
"Fredless" Absent |
"Billy" Absent |
"Offspring" Absent |
"Quickening" Absent |
"Lullaby" Absent |
"Dad" Absent |
"Birthday" Appears | |
"Provider" Absent |
"Waiting in the Wings" Appears |
"Couplet" Absent |
"Loyalty" Absent |
"Sleep Tight" Absent |
"Forgiving" Absent |
"Double or Nothing" Absent |
"The Price" Absent |
"A New World" Absent |
"Benediction" Absent |
"Tomorrow" Absent |
Angel: Season 4 | |||||||||||
"Deep Down" Absent |
"Ground State" Appears |
"The House Always Wins" Absent |
"Slouching Toward Bethlehem" Absent |
"Supersymmetry" Absent |
"Spin the Bottle" Absent |
"Apocalypse, Nowish" Absent |
"Habeas Corpses" Absent |
"Long Day's Journey" Absent |
"Awakening" Absent |
"Soulless" Absent | |
"Calvary" Absent |
"Salvage" Absent |
"Release" Absent |
"Orpheus" Absent |
"Players" Absent |
"Inside Out" Appears |
"Shiny Happy People" Absent |
"The Magic Bullet" Absent |
"Sacrifice" Absent |
"Peace Out" Absent |
"Home" Absent |
Angel: Season 5 | |||||||||||
"Conviction" Appears |
"Just Rewards" Appears |
"Unleashed" Appears |
"Hell Bound" Appears |
"Life of the Party" Appears |
"The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco" Appears |
"Lineage" Appears |
"Destiny" Appears |
"Harm's Way" Absent |
"Soul Purpose" Absent |
"Damage" Absent | |
"You're Welcome" Absent |
"Why We Fight" Absent |
"Smile Time" Absent |
"A Hole in the World" Absent |
"Shells" Absent |
"Underneath" Absent |
"Origin" Absent |
"Time Bomb" Absent |
"The Girl in Question" Absent |
"Power Play" Absent |
"Not Fade Away" Absent |
Angel: After the Fall | |||||||||||
After the Fall, Part 1 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 2 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 3 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 4 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 5 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 6 Absent |
After the Fall, Part 7 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 8 Absent |
After the Fall, Part 9 Appears | |||
After the Fall, Part 10 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 11 Absent |
After the Fall, Part 12 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 13 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 14 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 15 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 16 Appears |
After the Fall, Part 17 Appears |
Epilogue Appears |
Spike | |||||||||||
Asylum, Part 1 Absent |
Asylum, Part 2 Absent |
Asylum, Part 3 Absent |
Asylum, Part 4 Absent |
Asylum, Part 5 Absent |
Spike: After the Fall, Part 1 Absent |
Spike: After the Fall, Part 2 Absent |
Spike: After the Fall, Part 3 Absent |
Spike: After the Fall, Part 4 Absent | |||
Alone Together Now Absent |
What Happens in Vegas, Slays in Vegas Absent |
Everybody Loves Spike Absent |
You Haven't Changed a Bit Vision |
Bedknobs and Boomsticks Absent |
Something Borrowed Absent |
Give and Take Absent |
Stranger Things Absent |
Spike: Into the Light Absent |
References[]
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