Slayer:She who hangs out in cemetaries?

[ladyparasyte]

Now, maybe I'm just being a little too nit picky but how would a vampire rise from it's grave in modern times. I ask this because wouldn't a body be imbalmed before it is buried?
I can see back in the early days of yore when science wasn't really develped and imbalming hadn't been practiced yet but it just always bothered me.
Anyone else think about that at all or am I alone in my pickiness?

[commandercool]

I suppose it would be embalmed, but that probably wouldn't hurt it. Neither series really specified how long a vampire has to be dead before it rises that I can remember (correct me if I'm wrong) so even after the lengthy embalming and funeral process things should still work just like they used too. Also, every time a vampire came back to life it had to be buried first, so maybe they only return after being buried.

You're too picky! Kidding (mostly).

[Giant Michael]

commandercool said:

Also, every time a vampire came back to life it had to be buried first, so maybe they only return after being buried.

I don't think burial was essential; when Dru sired Darla for the second time, Angel said she'd want to bury Darla, because she's a 'traditionalist'. I'm sure there were vamps that got all lumpy-foreheaded soon after being bitten. In the episode where Buffy takes the Potentials to the crypt, the vampire they mistake for 'leftovers' just gets up and starts swinging, as does Buffy's new BFF-gone-bad in 'The Freshman'.

And I've just out-nerded myself. I'll get my coat.

MB x

[dane5by5]

This may be a stupid question, but why would embalming prevent a vampire from rising?

[ladyparasyte]

Well here's how embalming is done. I just thought the blood is replaced with a preserving chemical. Don't vamps need blood? They feed on it. They need it to live. If the blood inside them is replaces then how does that work.
The actual embalming process usually involves four parts:

1. Arterial embalming, which involves the injection of embalming chemicals into the blood vessels, usually via the right common carotid artery. Blood is displaced from the right jugular vein. The embalming solution is injected through a mechanical pump and the embalmer massages the corpse to ensure a proper distribution of the embalming fluid. In case of poor circulation, other injection points are used.

2. Cavity embalming, the suction of the internal fluids of the corpse and the injection of embalming chemicals into body cavities, using an aspirator and trocar. The embalmer makes a small incision just above the navel and pushes the trocar in the chest and stomach cavities to puncture the hollow organs and aspirate their contents. He then fills the cavities with concentrated chemicals that contain formaldehyde. The incision is either sutured closed or a "trocar button" is screwed into place.

3. Hypodermic embalming, the injection of embalming chemicals under the skin as needed.

4. Surface embalming, which supplements the other methods,especially for visible, injured body parts.

A typical embalming takes one to two hours. An embalming case that requires more attention could take longer. The repair of an autopsy case or the restoration of a long bone donor are two such examples.

[commandercool]

michaelbush said:

commandercool said:

Also, every time a vampire came back to life it had to be buried first, so maybe they only return after being buried.

I don't think burial was essential; when Dru sired Darla for the second time, Angel said she'd want to bury Darla, because she's a 'traditionalist'. I'm sure there were vamps that got all lumpy-foreheaded soon after being bitten. In the episode where Buffy takes the Potentials to the crypt, the vampire they mistake for 'leftovers' just gets up and starts swinging, as does Buffy's new BFF-gone-bad in 'The Freshman'.

And I've just out-nerded myself. I'll get my coat.

MB x

I forgot about those incidents. But, fortunately for me, I am on my way to owning all of the Buffy DVDs so I can nerd it up with the best of you guys. Sadly, the two I still need are seasons 2 and 3, which are the ones that I haven't seen in the longest time.

[matthewblake]

I've always thought it was strange that when a vampire is staked, their clothes turn to dust too. I know, it would be weird if a pile of clothes fell to the ground...

[ladyparasyte]

matthewblake said:

I've always thought it was strange that when a vampire is staked, their clothes turn to dust too. I know, it would be weird if a pile of clothes fell to the ground...

Yeah, and sometimes when it was convenient for the plot a piece of jewelry may fall off them. I remember that happening in one of the early Angel episodes where he meets that blonde girl vamp he new back in the day. I can't remember the name of the episode but it's where that one vamp has a surgery done to make himself almost invincible.Anyhoo, he stakes her and everything but her locket turns to ash.

[commandercool]

I think he pulled the locket off before she died. It always bugged me that the clothes disintigrated. I beleive Joss adressed that in the commentary for Welcome to the Hellmouth. He said that it would have been anticlimactic to have Buffy gathering up piles of loose pants after every battle. Still, it looked so cool in War of the Worlds...

[Jinxieman]

Maybe embalming does stop a Vampire from turning. The length from Death to Raising seems to vary for some reason (probably for plot purposes and inconsistency's) but because it happens in the Buffyverse we can assume that there are variables that make the change faster for some and longer for others. I think that it is shown that typically they die one night and raise on the next. If that is the case then someone wouldn't be embalmed, we can assume that the family wanted them buried quickly for some reason and that they were buried before embalming. As far as I know, a body is only embalmed if the burial service is longer than, I think, three days after death and a family can choose to bury quickly if they want to avoid embalming. I know this because I use to work at a Catholic Church and sometimes we had to rush funeral services because the family did not want embalment.

But on the other hand because there is obviously something supernatural going on with the raising of a demon in the dead body then I think we can assume that the turning returns the body back to its original state. When a vampire raises it's neck wound is healed...it's feasible that the whole body would heal itself.

[matthewblake]

I think it's great that people like to analyze different aspects of the show but I try to just take it for what it is and enjoy it.

[dangerousbydesign]

That angel episode is "Heartthrob" and CommanderCool is right, angel had it in his hand at the time he staked the girl. Speaking on the subject though i do recall there is a episode in season 1 where Buffy stakes a Vamp and his ring is left behind. Maybe it was the one where the Master sent "The Three" to assasin Buffy, not sure though. I've have to pop in S1 and see if i can find it.