We first learn that vampires can be killed by direct sunlight in 1.02 The Harvest, when Buffy says:
Xander: “So, what else?”
Buffy: “What else what?”
Xander: “For vampire slayage.”
Buffy: “Oh, fire, beheading, sunlight, holy water, the usual.”
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the actors who play vampires can be destructed using sun beams. There are several occasions when direct sunlight lays on vampires in the show without them being destroyed.
- When Angel is sitting on Buffy’s bed in 3.18 Earshot, sun is shining in but he doesn’t burst into flame.
- In 4.19 New Moon Rising Adam confronts Spike in his crypt during the daytime. There’s lots of sunlight around, yet Spike doesn’t dust.
- In 5.18 Intervention, Spike’s face is in direct sunlight when Glory pulls him up by his lip. She then throws Spike on the bed, and his left arm is also in direct sunlight - he doesn’t burn on both these occasions.
- In the scene with Spike and the mannequin in 5.03 The Replacement, Spike has a tan line on his arms, where his t-shirt has been, though it may be possible to tan in indirect sunlight.
- During the Angel episode 1.03 In The Dark, there are quite a few incidents where sunlight is laying directly on vampires without them burning. This can be seen in particular during the warehouse torture scenes, and when Angel is in the van, about to attack Marcus.
- When the demon attacks Angel in his office in 1.08 I Will Remember You, Angel is clearly standing in direct sunlight.
As Harfang says in the comments section of this trivia - vampires’ resistance to sunlight appears to be directly dependent on their importance to the story.
Another point to note is that only direct sunlight harms vampires - and it just kills them. In 2.10 What’s My Line? (Part Two), Angel is seen being weakened by sunlight which is actually nowhere near him.
Related episodes: 1.03 In The Dark, 1.08 I Will Remember You, 2.10 What's My Line? (Part Two), 3.18 Earshot, 4.19 New Moon Rising, 5.03 The Replacement, 5.18 Intervention
Comments on this trivia
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Esual on June 12th, 2006 at 12:33 am
Just wanted to say that Spike flinches when he goes into sunlight while being dragged by his lip. And, it has been seen that Vampires dont dont burst into flames immediately, it takes a very short ammount of time, but its not instant. Maybe this is why he doesnt burst into flames when his arm is in sunlight.
HarFang on April 15th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
That might just be because he’s being dragged by his lip…
And someone once mentioned that the vampires’ resistance to sunlight is directly dependent on their importance to the story.
Jess on April 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I’ve started to group together goofs like this into one place to create just one forum where mythology like this can be discussed. Please feel free to add more vamps in sunlight goofs to the comments and I’ll add them in.