Michelle Trachtenberg has sadly passed away, leaving a legacy of impressive performances in her movie and television career spanning three decades. Her costars from Buffy the Vampire Slayer have taken to social media to express their condolences – James Marsters described her as “fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person,” while Alyson Hannigan has praised the “loving energy” she brought to Buffy behind the scenes.
Trachtenberg brought the character of Dawn Summers to life in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5, and this was no easy feat. The character was originally written with a younger actress in mind before Sarah Michelle Gellar recommended her for the role. Viewers see Dawn go from everybody’s annoying kid sister to a strong and compassionate young woman through three seasons of intense trauma and personal growth.
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Dawn Sticks Up For Buffy
Season 7, Episode 2 – “Beneath You”
In the season 7 episode “Beneath You”, Dawn shows her fierceness in a conversation with Spike. Dawn and Spike develop a sibling-like relationship throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer; however, after the events of the genuinely scary season 6 Buffy episode “Seeing Red”, their friendship suffers a major fracture which must be repaired through the remainder of the show. Dawn makes it clear what her priorities and limits are when she says to Spike:
“Well, I can’t take you in a fight or anything. Not even with that chip in your head. But you do sleep. If you hurt my sister at all, touch her? You’re gonna wake up on fire.”
Michelle Trachtenberg’s tone in this scene is quietly intense, and her delivery perfectly communicates the sentiment. Dawn often struggles in her role as the youngest sibling everyone is trying to protect, just like Buffy is struggling as the older sibling trying to keep everything together after Joyce’s death. In this scene, it is touching to see Dawn return the protective sentiment, emphasizing the strength of their Summers bond. She also shows that she refuses to be limited by the fact that she is not yet a fighter – she will use her cunning to avenge her sister if necessary.
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Dawn Gets Comically Paralyzed
Season 7, Episode 3 – “Same Time, Same Place”
Michelle Trachtenberg also showed her brilliance at physical comedy in her role as Dawn. One such example is in the season 7 episode “Same Time, Same Place”, featuring the horrible Gnarl demon, one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s best villains. Her performance in this episode, just one episode after her seriously threatening Spike, showcases her impressive range as a young actor. Dawn gets paralyzed by the Gnarl, and Trachtenberg does not miss the opportunity to inject a panicked comedy into her stillness in the scene.
This episode features the classic Dawn line, “Stop talking about vomit!” Dawn later scowls and groans as Anya puts her in various funny poses during her temporary paralysis. The gang leave her to go and rescue Willow, placing a TV remote in her frozen hand. When the paralysis is broken at the end of the episode, Dawn yelps as she falls off the couch. In an episode about Willow’s intense guilt and fear of seeing her friends again, Trachtenberg adds vital comic relief.
3
Dawn Realizes She’s Not A Potential
Season 7, Episode 12 – “Potential”
Season 7 is a major season for Dawn’s character as she navigates her role in the Scooby gang among an influx of potential slayers. Prior to this, Dawn had often shown her eagerness to train with Buffy, but Buffy feels too protective of Dawn – this begins to shift toward the end of the show. In the episode “Potential”, Trachtenberg masterfully plays Dawn realizing she is not a potential slayer after all, processing what that means for her identity, and showing quick thinking during a vampire attack with the skills and qualities she brings to the table.
Using the lab’s equipment, Dawn sets the Bringers on fire, creating an escape route for herself and Amanda. She then reveals Amanda’s true destiny as the Potential Slayer, relinquishing her own claim and weapon. Dawn clarifies that Amanda’s proximity to the school during Willow’s spell exposed her to the aura cloud, triggering her Slayer potential. Her impressive strength of character in this scene is later reinforced by Xander, who calls her “extraordinary”.
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Dawn Being Comforted By Buffybot
Season 6, Episode 1 – “Bargaining”
Another great element Michelle Trachtenberg brings to her performance as Dawn is making the viewer empathize with the amount of grief she has to overcome in the show. After Buffy’s major sacrifice at the closing of season 5, Buffy’s absence in Dawn’s life is further emphasized by the presence of Buffybot. In the season 6 premiere episode, “Bargaining, Part One”, Buffybot is portrayed as an awkward stand-in for Buffy, and a pale imitation. Regardless, she carries out sisterly duties, like attending Parent’s Day.
Trachtenberg does a great job of acting Dawn’s heartbreak at the loss of Buffy – especially after she has already lost Joyce, and Buffy had been doing her best to step into the role of mother as well as sister. A part of her performance that is a particular gut punch is her cuddling Buffybot, even after the deficiencies she has shown throughout the episode. Even knowing she is not the real Buffy, Dawn seeks comfort in her artificial recreation. The rest of the Scoobies, especially Spike, do their best for Dawn during Buffy’s absence, but nobody can be her sister.
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Dawn Rips Up Joyce’s Photo
Season 5, Episode 17 – “Forever”
In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Forever”, Michelle Trachtenberg is given well-deserved prominence while Dawn navigates the shocking death of Buffy’s Joyce. Buffy is shouldering a lot of responsibility dealing with the practical stressors that have come from their loss, which makes it easy for Dawn to slip through the cracks. After staying with Willow and Tara, she steals a book about necromancy, even after the witch couple urges her not to mess with the laws of nature. This is one of the worst things Dawn Summers did, but has understandable motivations.
Her journey with grief is wonderfully emoted by the late and great actress in “Forever”…
Dawn’s friendship with Spike gets more valuable screen time in this episode, with him accompanying her on her rebellious quest if only to avoid leaving her alone with the likes of Doc. Trachtenberg portrays the headstrong side of Dawn’s character – although misguided, she shows initiative. Her journey with grief is wonderfully emoted by the late and great actress in “Forever”, especially when she reaches acceptance. When Joyce’s shadow approaches the door, she makes the admirable decision to tear the photo and break the spell, rather than face whatever shadow of her mother has returned in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Source: James Marsters on Instagram, Alyson Hannigan on Instagram