Kristine Sutherland Says Buffy’s Darkest Family Moments Were “Unbelievably Painful” to Film

Kristine Sutherland says some Buffy storylines were very difficult to film.

Sutherland, who played Joyce Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, spoke about the role on the podcast The Bitch Is Back, hosted by her former co-star Charisma Carpenter.

She said the hardest part of playing Joyce was acting in ways that did not feel true to the character. She pointed to season 2 storylines where Joyce does not believe Buffy and later tells her daughter to leave home.

“One of the hardest things was telling Buffy to get out and not come back,” Sutherland said. “That was unbelievably painful for me.”

In the episode “Ted,” Joyce is shocked after Buffy kills Joyce’s boyfriend Ted, played by John Ritter. Ted is later revealed to be a dangerous robot who planned to hurt Joyce. In the season 2 finale, “Becoming (Part 2),” Buffy reveals to her mother that she is a vampire slayer after killing another enemy. Joyce reacts badly and tells Buffy not to return if she leaves the house to fight again.

Sutherland said she eventually understood why the writers made Joyce act that way. She believes the audience often sees Joyce through Buffy’s perspective.

“We’re seeing the world through Buffy’s eyes,” Sutherland explained. “Sometimes you’re there to help move the plot forward.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, became known for balancing humor with darker emotional storylines. As the series continued, many plots became more serious and intense.

Other cast members have also criticized some parts of the show. In 2023, Sarah Michelle Gellar said she did not enjoy season 6 because she felt it moved too far away from the heart of the character and the series.