it is not through her own agency (or the love of friends/family), but as a consequence of Twilight-related-nonsense
This actually isn't the case, imo. Buffy gains her superpowers from her rage when she calls forth the Goddesses to battle in "Retreat". Her rage is the key. And it's her destructive and reckless energy that sets the stage for the next arc "Twilight". And to drive it home, Whistler explains to Angel that he needs to become Buffy's target, so that Angel then understands he becomes a figurehead to focus Buffy's rage on one central figure so that she can ascend.
So it is in part her agency. "My emotions give me strength." But it's The Monkey's Paw sort of deal.
no subject
One quibble:
it is not through her own agency (or the love of friends/family), but as a consequence of Twilight-related-nonsense
This actually isn't the case, imo. Buffy gains her superpowers from her rage when she calls forth the Goddesses to battle in "Retreat". Her rage is the key. And it's her destructive and reckless energy that sets the stage for the next arc "Twilight". And to drive it home, Whistler explains to Angel that he needs to become Buffy's target, so that Angel then understands he becomes a figurehead to focus Buffy's rage on one central figure so that she can ascend.
So it is in part her agency. "My emotions give me strength." But it's The Monkey's Paw sort of deal.