The heartbreaking death of Buffy's mom, Joyce Summers, due to a brain aneurysm in Season 5's "The Body" is one of few deaths on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" that isn’t supernatural.

A fan theory from Redditor u/neelhtac posits that the arrival of Buffy's little sister, Dawn Summers, coincides with Joyce's death, which may make Dawn inadvertently responsible.

Dawn originates as a mystical form of energy known as The Key, who's turned into a human teenager to protect her from dark forces.

Afterward, monks magically implant Joyce and Buffy with new memories to sell the illusion. The theory suggests that the spell used to accomplish this had a deadly effect on Joyce.

While the theory is divisive among the fan base, Reddit user u/Complete-Average-303 noted that Joyce showed no signs of illness before the monk's spellcasting session.

Another Redditor said that creator Joss Whedon explained that the death isn't magic-related during a commentary track, as it was written to be a learning experience for Buffy.

Regardless of which side is true, it's a debate that will surely rage on for as long as the show attracts viewers. Magic has consequences, and nothing is ever that simple.