MovieChat Forums > Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) Discussion > Sunnydale

Sunnydale

posted 7 years ago by ADBruno1985 (3303)
3 replies | jump to latest

Given the nature of the show, and Whedon, I'm guessing it was intentional, at the very least just tongue-in-cheek.

But I'm always a bit bothered by how Sunnydale's size just always seems to change on a whim.

At the beginning, Cordelia calls it a 'one-Starbucks-town.' Yet the body found in a locker is just 'some guy.' If you're in a town that small, you likely know everyone you go to school with, especially if Buffy's arrival was such big news to them.

Yet, didn't they mention at some point there were other high schools in town?

And then suddenly in Season 4 it's big enough for a college that draws people from all over.

Judging from the aerial shot at the end, not big enough for all that.

[–] Duke815 (11) 7 years ago

Cordelia's comment about the locker guy was meant to show that she was clueless and self-absorbed and only wanted to know the 'important' people in the high school.

In 'Reptile Boy' the missing girl was from a high school called Kent Preparatory School which they said was just outside of town. I did a little research and found out they mentioned a Fondren High School in 'Some Assembly Required'.

It's not implausible for Sunnydale to have a University of California campus. Santa Barbara has one and it's only about 5 miles by 4 miles in size.

It's a tv show, so the details of the town can change over time to meet the needs of the stories they want to tell.

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

Good points. Also didn't the boy mention that he graduated from Sunnydale recently. When the show starts Cordy was a sophomore and didn't know who the seniors were as her class alone was a hundred students accounting for all who didn't due for graduation. She may have been popular, but that is a big student body to register everyone who attended.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2388) 6 years ago

I assumed she meant that as joke. Cordelia knew Buffy was moving into suburb from LA--which was much larger. This was way of Cordelia showing that Buffy is downgrading into suburb.

It wasn't 'news' more like gossip---kids talk about every thing in high school, remember. They're kids most of them don't HAVE to work to make ends meet, so what else are they going to do with their time.

I doubt UC Sunnydale drew everybody from everywhere. Other than Initiative--which was there for reason, it did not have EVERYBODY. This is like campuses of 'big' colleges which exist hidden away @ suburbs.

And plus they're kids. Cordelia has no clue about what it takes to live/make ends meet before she is actually on her own.