JOHN WAYNE. BtVS Intertext/Allusion.
The
quintessential American hero of films depicting the Old West. Born Marion Robert
Morrison in Winterset, Iowa.
John Wayne (1907 – 1979) appeared in over 200 films. In almost all of his leading roles, he portrayed a gun-toting, xenophobic, frontiersman, on the “right side” of the law. Wayne won an Academy Award for the 1969 film, True Grit, in which he played an aging, alcoholic, one-eyed U.S. Marshal. Admired for his embodiment of the virtues and aspirations of the American Dream. A staunch Republican, Wayne actively supported Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and spoke out against the dangers of communism.
In Season Two's "What’s My Line," Part 2 Giles explains to the recently arrived slayer Kendra the importance of keeping Spike from curing Drusilla:
Giles: . . . if she’s restored to her full health, then, uh, well, there’s no, absolutely no telling what she might do.
Kendra: Then we will stop Spike.
Buffy: Ooh, good plan! Let’s go! Charge!
Giles: Buffy . . .
Buffy: It’s a little more complicated than that, John Wayne.
In Season Three, the episode “Doppelgängland” has the Scooby Gang trying to come up with a plan for saving people trapped at the Bronze from “Vampire Willow” and her minions:
Xander: So, uh, what do we do now?
Giles: Well we still have to get to the Bronze.
Angel: Well even if they’re supposed to wait for her [Vampire Willow], they may start feeding. Vampires are not notoriously reliable.
Xander: So we charge in, much in the style of John Wayne?
In Season Four, the episode “The Initiative” has Buffy and Riley butt heads on campus grounds. Both are looking for Spike, while trying to keep their secret identities from each other:
Buffy: I need space.
Riley: We’re outdoors.
Buffy: Emotionally. I mean…emotionally.
Riley: You know, there’s plenty of space back in your room. Why don’t I take you? You wouldn’t believe the weirdos out at this hour. (reaches for her arm)
Buffy: (backs away) Whoa! Okay. It’s a free campus. Who died and made you John Wayne?
The comparison here is particularly apt, as Riley also hails from Iowa, and of all Buffy regulars, Marc Blucas (who plays Riley Finn) is closest to John Wayne in stature.
Image from http://www.oldwestshop.com/John_Wayne_An_American_Legend.htm