What are your thoughts on Buffy, just revived by Xander at the end of S1, saying "I feel strong... I feel different"? I'm just watching this again now and thinking about your recent post about Buffy/Spike and deaths/burials/rebirths, and this is another death underground and then rising up again
Oh yes, absolutely. It's been a while since I watched S1 so it's not super fresh in my memory, but it is absolutely another example of death and rebirth, but one that makes Buffy stronger.
When she descends underground, she is dressed in that iconic black jacket over the white dress. When she climbs out of this metaphorical grave she loses the jacket. She sheds the funeral colours as she is reborn.
I think if you view the Slayer as a metaphor for growing up, then it makes sense that in order to fully become the slayer, Buffy must accept her mortality - the ultimate finish line of growing up. She has to literally die in order to reborn as a true Slayer. Her childhood self has to die in order for her to grow up. To paraphrase George RR Martin - she must kill the girl, and let the woman be born.