A werewolf. A demon. A witch. A vampire. What do these supernatural icons have in common other than appearing on your doorstep every Halloween demanding candy? Answer: All of them have been, at one time or another, the primary love interest of a main character on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. As followers of the show, we all know that dealings with the dark side are a given around the Hellmouth. For Buffy and company, they are a way of life. And, affairs of the heart, or various other parts of the anatomy, are obviously not exempt from the dangers of associating with Evil and those that are under its sway.

Throughout the series, the writers of the show haven’t flinched in their exploration of all manner of issues surrounding the subject of teen intimacy. Obsession. Promiscuity. Homosexuality. Power plays. Loss of innocence. You name it, they’ve written it. And they have consistently used tremendous deftness, warmth, and genuine affection in their portrayals of teen relationships. But, clearly, when it comes to sex, love, and TV, Sunnydale couldn’t be further in overall attitude from swinging, flirtatious Manhattan.

In this Californian suburb, when a love affair goes bad, it grows fangs. The question is, why?

Fatal Attractions

I’m 17; looking at linoleum makes me want to have sex.

—Xander

Part of the answer may be found in taking a look at one of the basic overall premises of the show. Series creator Joss Whedon has stated in several interviews that  …