Ep 3 - The Femme Fatale in 'Witch' & 'Teacher's Pet'

Dames Macabre continue their journey through Buffy the Vampire Slayer by examining episodes 3 and 4 of season one, 'Witch' (S1.E3) and 'Teacher’s Pet' (S1.E4), framing their discussion through the lens of the femme fatale archetype and unpacking how each episode plays with and subverts this classic motif. From the twisted maternal ambition of Amy’s mother in 'Witch' to the seductive predation of the literal man-eater in 'Teacher's Pet', the hosts explore how female power is represented, feared, and punished in early Buffy.

With their signature blend of humour and academic insight, Alex and Meaghan dive into questions of gender performance, the fear of female autonomy, and how Buffy herself complicates the role of the femme fatale. They also touch on the campy joy of these monster-of-the-week plots, the continued development of the Scooby Gang (currently called The Slayerettes), and what these early episodes reveal about the show’s evolving moral universe. As always, the discussion doesn't shy away from critiquing the more dated or problematic aspects of the narrative, while also celebrating its contribution to feminist horror TV.

Dr Alex Carabine: @decadence.and.dark.ages ; literatureunlocked.org

Dr Meaghan Allen: @morbid.mae

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SOURCES MENTIONED:

'Julia Kristeva: Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection' by Theoryish, Season 2 Episode 9, https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QR0EcaywxGjHR3yIimgRy?si=fcfb9bfbf06e49c1

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