Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 8 Times Anya Said What We Were All Thinking

Anya Jenkins is one of television’s most witty and underrated characters.

Throughout her arc on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we saw Anya go from a powerful vengeance demon who wreaked havoc on the Scoobies, to losing her powers and adjusting to life as a regular human.

With that change, Anya needed to learn how to behave and react the way a human would. This led to several humorous moments where her bluntness and misunderstanding made perfect sense to viewers. In fact, she says things that no one else will say, because she has no shame in asking the hard-hitting questions.

Here are just a few of the wonderful moments when Anya said the very thing that we were all thinking, but none of us (or the other Scoobies) were brave enough to say:

“Can I trade in the children for more cash?”

The Game of Life IS hard. Sometimes, it’s even harder than real life! What ARE you supposed to do with a carload of kids and far more money than you’ll ever earn in real life? We agree that it might be better to trade those pink and blue pegs for cash!

“But I don’t understand!”

“But I don’t understand!” One of Anya’s most poignant scenes on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was this moment when she describes her frustration about Joyce’s death. How can someone be here one day, and gone the next?

It’s a relatable moment of how impossible it feels to lose someone and how difficult it can be to understand death.

Joyce will never have fruit punch, or brush her hair, and Anya just wants to understand why. Over a decade later, we still don’t understand it either, Anya.

“Please, continue the story of failure.”

“Please, continue the story of failure.” Don’t you hate listening to someone tell a story you KNOW doesn’t end well? Pull an Anya and get the storyteller to quickly get to the point!

Others may thank you later for such a direct approach.

“Enjoy my personal space.”

You know that feeling when all of the work is done, you’re snuggly in your pajamas, you’ve poured a big glass of wine, and you’re all set for a night of solo Netflix and Chill… and then someone knocks on the door? Yeah.

“When things get rough, he just hides behind his Buffy.”

“When things get rough, he just hides behind his Buffy.” Of course, this is true of nearly every character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, not just Xander.

Thanks for being the only one with the guts to come right out and say it!

“Oh, penis.”

“Oh, penis.” When things don’t go your way? Oh, Penis. When you accidentally butt-dial someone you really don’t want to talk to? Oh, Penis. When you realize you forgot to pay a bill? Oh, Penis.

This single expression can be used in so many ways.

“All you care about is lots of orgasms.”

“All you care about is lots of orgasms.” Relationships are tough, especially ones that revolve around the almighty orgasm. It’s always okay for you to point it out to your partner, Anya style.

You may even get a positive outcome, like she did.

“It must be bunnies.”

Never. Trust. A. Bunny.

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What are some of your favorite Anya”isms”? Share them in the comments below!

Christine Laskodi

Christine is guilty of watching Hart of Dixie more times than the average human will in their lifetime. She's the host of Long Live the Hart: A Hart of Dixie Podcast (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!) as well as co-host on The Shipping Room, a podcast devoted to television's greatest relationships. You can find some of her older television reviews at TV Fanatic and IGN. Christine eagerly anticipates every cheesy holiday movie that networks can throw at her, and current favorite shows include The Good Place, The Resident, Shark Tank, and All Rise.