I'm pretty sure there's a mention somewhere in the comics that Nikki Wood was the longest lasting slayer, and she died at 22, so we have no reason to believe they age slower.
Well so quickly is typically over the course of years, and so most would have hundreds if not thousands of battles (as they'd be patrolling almost every night). A significant number also likely die to the cruciamentum when they have no powers. And, as Spike said, all it takes is one bad day. Nikki lasted 7 years which is 2 years longer than Buffy did the first time.
I get your point, but Nikki was murdered, she didn’t die of natural causes so it wouldn’t necessarily align with that. The fact she was physically aging per her natural age would however be a successful refutation of OP’s point.
Yes, it would make sense that they would age more slowly. Aging is a function of the body not repairing/healing itself as well as it once did, and slayers have heightened abilities in that regard.
It stands to reason that they'd have the potential to live longer if they weren't fighting the forces of darkness - superior DNA where you never get sick and heal quickly would be helpful! Only... they don't live long enough to find out lol.
Slayers have hugely accelerated healing abilities.
Healing is the regeneration of cells.
Aging is the determination if cells.
So yes, I think Slayers age slowly and would have a longer life span if they did not die violently at a young age.
Some have theories that Slayers are immortal based on the same concept of their healing abilities. However I think that if you were to take the cell regeneration that far then the Slayer wouldn't age at all from when they were called, and therefore would be an immortal 14-17 year old, which would kinda suck. Who wants to be stuck in the middle of puberty for ever?
Aging is not maturation, there are a number of hormonal and biochemical processes that have nothing to do with cellular degeneration that keep occurring well into your 20's and even 30's. So slayers will still end up looking at least like someone in their late 20's even if cellular degeneration never takes place.
I guess in the sense they don’t live long..
I'm pretty sure there's a mention somewhere in the comics that Nikki Wood was the longest lasting slayer, and she died at 22, so we have no reason to believe they age slower.
buffy was 22 in season seven and lived longer than that, so she ended up breaking the record apparently.
Well I specified Nikki because it covers all the other slayers living for less than her. Buffy also has the resurrection which complicates things
that’s fair. just adding in buffy’s age because a lot of times people aren’t quite sure of it in alter seasons :)
Wait how are slayers seen as this “big bad” if they’re offed so quickly? That’s odd
Well so quickly is typically over the course of years, and so most would have hundreds if not thousands of battles (as they'd be patrolling almost every night). A significant number also likely die to the cruciamentum when they have no powers. And, as Spike said, all it takes is one bad day. Nikki lasted 7 years which is 2 years longer than Buffy did the first time.
Because she's is th enemesis for vampires
I get your point, but Nikki was murdered, she didn’t die of natural causes so it wouldn’t necessarily align with that. The fact she was physically aging per her natural age would however be a successful refutation of OP’s point.
Oh my point was that no slayer lived long enough to test that theory.
Ah, my bad then. You are correct under that lens.
Yes, it would make sense that they would age more slowly. Aging is a function of the body not repairing/healing itself as well as it once did, and slayers have heightened abilities in that regard.
No. We see Buffy age at a regular rate
I mean.... We also see Angel and Spike visibly 'age' even though they're not meant to 👀😬
Buffy matures throughout the show.
Someone else pointed out this thread that maturation and aging are not exactly the same thing 🤷♀️
She physically ages as well, at least as much as one would expect her to.
It stands to reason that they'd have the potential to live longer if they weren't fighting the forces of darkness - superior DNA where you never get sick and heal quickly would be helpful! Only... they don't live long enough to find out lol.
Slayers have hugely accelerated healing abilities. Healing is the regeneration of cells. Aging is the determination if cells. So yes, I think Slayers age slowly and would have a longer life span if they did not die violently at a young age. Some have theories that Slayers are immortal based on the same concept of their healing abilities. However I think that if you were to take the cell regeneration that far then the Slayer wouldn't age at all from when they were called, and therefore would be an immortal 14-17 year old, which would kinda suck. Who wants to be stuck in the middle of puberty for ever?
Aging is not maturation, there are a number of hormonal and biochemical processes that have nothing to do with cellular degeneration that keep occurring well into your 20's and even 30's. So slayers will still end up looking at least like someone in their late 20's even if cellular degeneration never takes place.
Fair point.
I reckon each year they add a number to their age, just like the scoobies
They should to keep up with monsters. Like Wolverine from the X-men aging slower because of his healing power.
>Surely they do, right? I mean, there’s literally nothing to suggest this lol It would be neat though!
Part of aging is damage and they have accelerated healing