The tragic news broke yesterday that actor Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away at age 39. She began her career young and rose to fame after starring in Nickelodeon’s Harriet the Spy in 1996. Over the years, Trachtenberg appeared in films such as Inspector Gadget, EuroTrip, Black Christmas, 17 Again, and more. While many knew her as Georgina Sparks from Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg’s biggest television role was playing Dawn Summers in 66 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Trachtenberg was a shock to fans when she first appeared in the Season 5 premiere as Buffy Summers’ (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister. Dawn was created so Buffy could experience a deep love that wasn’t romantic, and she remained on the series until it ended in 2003.
During her three seasons, Trachtenberg saw Dawn through some tumultuous times. She beautifully captured the difficulties that come with adolescence. It’s not easy being the Slayer’s little sister, and Dawn was put through the emotional ringer. While she was known for her angst, Dawn grew into a capable and brave young woman. In honor of Trachtenberg, here are ten Dawn-centric episodes to revisit if you’re looking for a way to pay tribute to the late star. Warning: Buffy Spoilers Ahead…
“Real Me” (Season 5, Episode 2)
After Dawn’s (Trachtenberg) surprise appearance in Buffy‘s Season 5 premiere, fans were left puzzled by her presence. While Dawn remained a mystery for many episodes, “Real Me” is the series’ first real look into the new character. The episode hints that Dawn may be evil, but it quickly becomes clear she’s simply Buffy’s “annoying” (Buffy’s words) sister. In a season that’s filled with heartbreak, “Real Me” is a fun entry that features a lot of laughs.
“Blood Ties” (Season 5, Episode 13)
It’s eventually revealed that Dawn is The Key, a mystical energy that unlocks other dimensions. She was transformed into a human and sent to Buffy to be protected from the hell god, Glory (Clare Kramer). In “Blood Ties,” Dawn learns the truth about her identity, which isn’t an easy pill to swallow when you’re 14. This episode is an important part of Dawn’s lore and showcases the strong bond between her and Buffy.
“Forever” (Season 5, Episode 17)
Season 5’s 16th episode, “The Body,” is considered one of the best of the series, and easily the most devastating. While it’s a beautiful hour of television, the intense focus on Joyce’s (Kristine Sutherland) death might be tough to watch so soon after Trachtenberg’s untimely passing. Instead, consider jumping ahead to “Forever,” which chronicles the characters as they figure out how to move forward without Joyce. As Dawn pushes Buffy away, she becomes determined to use magic to resurrect her mother. It’s a sad episode but features some great work from Trachtenberg and Gellar.
“All the Way” (Season 6, Episode 6)
Jumping ahead, “All the Way” is the first Dawn-centric episode of Season 6. While galavanting around Sunnydale on Halloween with her friend Janice (Amber Tamblyn), Dawn falls for a boy. However, things don’t go as Dawn had hoped when it’s revealed her date is a vampire (a classic Summers move). Not only is this the first time Dawn is portrayed as a teenager rather than just a kid, but it’s also the first time she kills a vampire.
“Once More, with Feeling” (Season 6, Episode 7)
“Dawn’s in trouble. Must be Tuesday.” Buffy‘s musical episode isn’t exactly a deep cut, but Trachtenberg does too much work for it to be left off this list. When the cast was told they’d be making a musical episode, Trachtenberg requested a dance number. While she does have a few singing lines throughout the episode, her big moment is a lovely ballet sequence. She also has some delightful performance moments alongside the episode’s villain, Sweet (Hinton Battle, who passed away last year).
“Older and Far Away” (Season 6, Episode 14)
“Older and Far Away” is more of an ensemble episode, but it’s a major turning point for Dawn. Her teen angst (and occasional thieving) has been building up throughout the season, and it finally comes to a head. She accidentally makes a dangerous wish which exposes some harsh truths. Dawn is overlooked, has a whole lot of trauma, and faces deadly demons on the regular… She’s bound to make some dumb decisions! Trachtenberg does impressive work as she pushes the character into her next phase.
“Lessons” (Season 7, Episode 1)
The final season of Buffy kicks off with the reopening of Sunnydale High, which Dawn is now attending. In the Season 6 finale, Buffy decides to show Dawn the world instead of protecting her from it. Now, with more freedom (and her own cell phone!), Dawn sets off into the literal Hellmouth. After two seasons of watching Dawn struggle, it’s nice to see her come into her own. She takes action, protects her new friends, and proves she’s old enough to join the Scooby gang.
“Help” (Season 7, Episode 4)
While “Help” isn’t all about Dawn, it showcases the warmth of the character. Buffy is now a school counselor, and she enlists her sister to help a student named Cassie (Azura Skye). Dawn’s new friend believes she’ll die soon, and the Scoobys do their best to save her. “Help” isn’t as crushing as “The Body,” but it does a good job of exploring natural deaths in a world filled with the supernatural.
“Him” (Season 7, Episode 6)
“Him” is a bit of a retread of Season 2’s “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” but Dawn is now the focus. Things get silly when she falls for a jock with a magical girl-attracting jacket. It’s a very light episode and features amusing moments from the entire cast. It’s undoubtedly one of the breezier episodes on this list, but beware… Watching Dawn try out for the cheerleading squad will give you extreme second-hand embarrassment.
“Potential” (Season 7, Episode 12)
Finally, “Potential” marks one of the most important episodes for Dawn. She believes she is a Potential Slayer before realizing the title actually belongs to her friend, Amanda (Sarah Hagan). Dawn shows grace and dignity when faced with the truth. Her behavior inspires a beautiful speech by Xander (Nicholas Brendon). He explains to Dawn, “You’re not special… You’re extraordinary.” The moment truly encapsulates how far Dawn has come in three years, and feels like the best way to end this list.
Currently, you can watch every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu and Tubi. If you have any favorite Dawn moments that aren’t mentioned here, please share them in the comments. Our thoughts are with Michelle Trachtenberg’s friends and family at this difficult time.
