Okay, now, HOW did that happen?

[Buffy obsessed fan]

In 'Amends', when it started to snow, I realise snow would mean that the sun was pretty dim, but it would still BE there, so how was Angel meant to have walked around with Buffy during the day? I realise that this wasn't real life so anything is possible, but still, there would have been SOME sunlight stop him from being out and about.

[Hit The Books]

It's only direct sunlight that harms vampires:

Angel, in Parting Gifts:

"In fact, you know, we can and do move around during the day as long as we avoid direct sunlight."

Given that dawn was only just breaking and it's winter and there was a heck of a lot of snow it all makes sense.

[Bored of the Dead]

It's only direct sunlight that harms vampires:

Angel, in Parting Gifts:

"In fact, you know, we can and do move around during the day as long as we avoid direct sunlight."

Given that dawn was only just breaking and it's winter and there was a heck of a lot of snow it all makes sense.

Ummm -No it doesn't make sense. LOL

Thats the point.
It is just a freak weather coincidence, is it 'God', is it 'powers that be', we don't actually know.
We have strong reasoning for all of it, but no one actually knows so it doesn't make sense, but by heck its a wonderful end to a wonderful episode.

[Hit The Books]

Yep, it does make sense.

Whatever caused it meant that there was no direct sunlight. Which is why Angel didn't burst into flames. Which is the point I was making.

I didn't say that it made sense that it occurred - I said that it made sense he didn't burst into flames ;).

I'm becoming one of those philosophy students you dislike now aren't I? :p

[Buffy obsessed fan]

Ah, well, both theories make sense, so either way :p

Nah, I just dislike everyone :p Joke, by the way...I only hate mean people, i.e everyone at my school - except my best friends of course.

[Bored of the Dead]

Yep, it does make sense.

Whatever caused it meant that there was no direct sunlight. Which is why Angel didn't burst into flames. Which is the point I was making.

I didn't say that it made sense that it occurred - I said that it made sense he didn't burst into flames ;).

Well if you want to try and explain it logically then!!!

I have to say, I was picking more on the 'its winter' more than anything.
That is the part that didn't make sense in terms of the situation because nothing in that 'made sense' but you know, sometimes it down't have to.
Like Angel saving Kates life in Epiphany.


I'm becoming one of those philosophy students you dislike now aren't I? :p

Nearly, but not yet.

You still have a way to go.

[Hit The Books]

Ahh I getcha. To be honest I never thought that deeply into it, nothing beyond a symbolic level. But I get what you mean.

And give it time. That dislike will win out, eventually ;).

[Bored of the Dead]

Ahh I getcha. To be honest I never thought that deeply into it, nothing beyond a symbolic level. But I get what you mean.

And give it time. That dislike will win out, eventually ;).

I don't know.
You should look at my recent comments and my older ones.
I'm getting nicer than I used to be - i'm turning into a nice person.

[mogwaid]

So what about days when its really really cloudy and raining constantly? Theres no direct sunlight then right? Kinda like the day when Anya and Xander are meant to get married.

[Blondie Bear]

WARNING: Science Content

I suppose it would depend on what's causing the vamps trouble. Is it the actual light, or is it the UV rays? Cause UV rays can still pierce a cloud layer (I'm not sure how thick the clouds would have to be to stop UV--if they even could). If it's just the light, then vamps should be fine on rainy/snowy/cloudy days (though it's probably still not smart to go outside, just in case the sky clears). But if it's the UV . . . well, there we're into continuity errors, and that way lies badness.

[Bored of the Dead]

WARNING: Science Content

I suppose it would depend on what's causing the vamps trouble. Is it the actual light, or is it the UV rays? Cause UV rays can still pierce a cloud layer (I'm not sure how thick the clouds would have to be to stop UV--if they even could). If it's just the light, then vamps should be fine on rainy/snowy/cloudy days (though it's probably still not smart to go outside, just in case the sky clears). But if it's the UV . . . well, there we're into continuity errors, and that way lies badness.

The consistent thing within Vampiric Lore(i'm sure there was even an episode in Buffy that used it) is that it is UV light not White Light that caused the Vampires to combust.

[Buffy obsessed fan]

Ah, okay. I may be a dumb kid, but I do go to school, we've done about that, just...well we tend not to learn about vampires :p

[Lindsey McDonald]

The consistent thing within Vampiric Lore(i'm sure there was even an episode in Buffy that used it) is that it is UV light not White Light that caused the Vampires to combust.



Woah....problems. All Buffy needs is a Big UV light to shine on Vamps then, Willow would more likely have spent time with that than magical sunlight. That way it can be completely independent of Willow being nearby. Anyway, I always figured it was the symbolic aspect of sunlight being pure, like how crosses and holy water work. I'm pretty sure when the PTB balanced the evil of a Vampire by giving them weaknesses they weren't thinking of UV light.

[Bored of the Dead]

Woah....problems. All Buffy needs is a Big UV light to shine on Vamps then, Willow would more likely have spent time with that than magical sunlight. That way it can be completely independent of Willow being nearby. Anyway, I always figured it was the symbolic aspect of sunlight being pure, like how crosses and holy water work. I'm pretty sure when the PTB balanced the evil of a Vampire by giving them weaknesses they weren't thinking of UV light.

Actually, the 'Magical' sunlight would have been because of the same thing.
UV comes from the sun, so for Willow(who is also very intelligent so will be aware of how UV works) wouldn't be creating it because it looked 'purty' but because it would be emitting this harmful radiation.
Not all Suns give off this radiation in this quantity(have a rewatch of the Pylea episode - obviously there is something different about the 'pure' light).
UV waves can be stopped. Interestingly we see in season 5 that W&H have glass windows that allow the natural light of the sun in, but stop the radiation.
Also your flippant comment at the end is pretty stupid.
Ultimately the PTB is Joss, who we know is pretty well versed in Vampiric Lore.
But even in the context the show, your last comment makes no sense.
Why would the PTB's have any say over what weaknesses a Vampire has?

[Lindsey McDonald]

Actually, the 'Magical' sunlight would have been because of the same thing.
UV comes from the sun, so for Willow(who is also very intelligent so will be aware of how UV works) wouldn't be creating it because it looked 'purty' but because it would be emitting this harmful radiation.
Not all Suns give off this radiation in this quantity(have a rewatch of the Pylea episode - obviously there is something different about the 'pure' light).
UV waves can be stopped. Interestingly we see in season 5 that W&H have glass windows that allow the natural light of the sun in, but stop the radiation.
Also your flippant comment at the end is pretty stupid.
Ultimately the PTB is Joss, who we know is pretty well versed in Vampiric Lore.
But even in the context the show, your last comment makes no sense.
Why would the PTB's have any say over what weaknesses a Vampire has?

Stop raising valid points! My theory is full of holes now...

You are perfectly correct about the W&H windows, that does suggest it is a physical property like radiation that causes the combustion. I really don't know too much about UV radiation so forgive me for asking some potentially basic questions.

Firstly, we know that it is only direct sunlight that hurts vampires. We have seen many a Vamp inside with blinds closed or in areas lighted by the sun, but not directly. Does the UV radiation work differently in these situations to visible light? I am aware that I haven't really worded this very well, so I hope you get what I mean. It is just light of a different frequency, correct?

Secondly, are you saying that a certain quantity of UV radiation is damaging to a Vampire? Like how we get sunburn, they get sunburn? I haven't seen the episode you referred to, by the way, but I googled it and the Wiki entry for Pylea stated that their two suns' light doesn't hurt Vampires. They emit less UV, right?

Thirdly, we have sunbeds. These emulate the natural UV coming from he sun to give a person a suntan. These same natural UV rays are deadly to a vampire, according to all the evidence you have given. Why doesn't Buffy (or more importantly, The Initiative) have a powerful UV lamp like this? I realise that this would be far too easy a way out that would seriously cripple the show, but what I want to know is: is there an actual Buffyverse (or Jossverse, or Normal....verse) reason?


Sorry for the barrage of questions, I just want to understand your reasoning. It seems better than mine at the moment.

Also, about the PTB thing, I just gathered from the many comments about The First and the PTB balancng things that when The Old Ones were banished and The First ensuered Evil lived on in demonic form via Vampires, the PTB balanced this with weaknesses. Or is that too much interference from the PTB? Anyway, I realise reading it back that it sounded way too agressive and way too much like I was stating fact rather than opinion. Sorry about that.

[eunsoma]

in like the first episode of AtS we see him walking around in the day when theres like a research montage. But he is sheltered from 'direct' sunlight by the buildings so he doesn't go POOF... if there's something blocking the 'direct' light, whether it be clouds, snow, buildings etc. I think vamps are safe to walk around.. Still tho, I wouldn't risk it.. I mean it just started snowing outta nowhere, what's to say it aint gonna just STOP