Buffy and friends and the original Scooby Gang

You’ve heard Buffy’s friends being referred to often enough as the ‘Scooby Gang’, do you remember the real Scooby gang? Well here’s the lowdown and, just for fun the comparison. The original gang were a group of teenagers and their dog who made up Mystery, Inc. They cruised the nation in their van, trying to make ends meet by solving mysteries. They also liked to run from various ghosts and monsters with a groovy song playing in the background.

Scooby Doo

Despite having to be bribed 99% of the time with a Scooby snack to do the brave thing, Scooby saved the gang on almost every show.

Buffy

Being the Slayer it’s Buffy’s job to save Sunnydale from the evils of the Hellmouth. Unlike Scooby Buffy doesn’t need much prompting to kick ass. Although there are still times when Giles has to encourage her to take her responsibilities seriously.

Freddie Jones

The leader of the gang. Freddie always had something to say, but was rarely humorous. Definitely the straight man of the group. He and Velma seemed to be the only ones that knew what was going on. His famous monster traps were ingenious, yet almost always backfired.

Freddy split the gang up to look for mysteries, but always seemed to split it up where he and Daphne could be alone…hmmm….

Rupert Giles

Giles may not be the leader of the gang but he is the one that the group look to for ideas. He’s huge source of information provides clues and enables them to formulate plans to defeat evil. Giles is also the straight man. He rarely shares the group’s sense of humour or fun. Although he’s received a few bumps and bruises his plans rarely backfire.

Norville “Shaggy” Rogers

Between them Shaggy and Scooby provided the comic relief in the show. With his goatee, bell bottoms and lazy walk he was a groovy kinda guy. Like far out man. He freely admitted to being a chicken and preferred to run and hide rather than stand up and fight. He and Scooby shared a voracious appetite for all things food, which enabled the gang to blackmail him into situations he would never have volunteered for.

Alexander Harris

Xander is the ultimate one liner guy. He provides the wit and the chicken element of the show. Or so you’re led to believe. I think even pre-Xeppo Xander had a certain amount of courage that showed itself given the right situation.

Velma Dinkley

Velma…the brains of the gang. Behind those spectacles lie the eyes of a Hawk. She can spot a clue from a mile away. She can read Egyptian hieroglyphics, Chinese, Latin and knows how to use tracking devices as well as other electronic gadgets.

Willow Rosenburgh

Willow is the intelligent one of the group. Once very shy, her essential role as part of the gang has brought out a lot of confidence in her. She’s now a witch in training and even has a boyfriend who’s a werewolf.

Daphne Blake

A woman of few words. Mostly, she just stood around and looked pretty. Every once in a while, she would stumble upon a trap door, or be kidnapped by a ghost. She was also especially good at messing up Fred’s ghost traps. She seemed to be the “moneybags” of the group…her parents possibly supported the gang as they travelled the world.

Cordelia Chase

Cordy is a woman of many words and most of them barbed and spiteful. She doesn’t stand around looking beautiful because she knows she is. Cordelia may come over as a one-dimensional, conceited prom queen but the girl really does have layers. And she has been known to save the day or at least been of great assistance on occasion.