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[buffster]

This reminds me of when, during my 4th pregnancy, my midwife asked how I was doing. And I said oh you know miserable from morning sickness but WHATEVER and she was like oh are you taking xx over the counter medication? And turns out I could take this and it didn’t 100% cure it but I was able to actually get off the couch and function. No one had ever mentioned it.

the thing is like. i get that it's scary and makes people who do desire to get pregnant uncomfortable when we talk about the brutality and violence of pregnancy and the damage that pregnancy can do to your body

but you deserve to give informed consent to that process.

the lies around pregnancy - that it's inherently safe, that it doesn't do you permanent damage, that it's only extremely rare for people to die of pregnancy complications, etc like

all of these are lies constructed so that more people will get pregnant w/o knowing all that

there needs to be more talk about the impact of miscarriages and how common they are, how different abortion processes are and how accessible they are

but also like. talking about how pregnancy fucks your body up should not be taboo

this is a process that permanently changes most people's bodies, and that's even if the pregnancy doesn't do them like. severe illness or injury

and i just think everybody should have a right to KNOW that

bc to live in a society that intentionally obscures and hides facts about a completely optional and dangerous process does so for a reason, and that reason is based in a very sinister ideology that does not value bodily autonomy or informed consent

#not Buffy #reblog

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why do modern aus exist. what compels people to look at fun characters in unique fictional settings and go omg but imagine if they were boring young adults living in a generic suburb

#I mean no hate #but I don’t understand it at all #what if instead of a vampire she was a teacher #like…why #not a fan #reblog

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the way angel dresses on buffy is sooo like *opens fashion magazine* “okay this is what is in now huh”

#he doesn’t understand what’s going on #he thinks looking at magazines is the easiest/fastest way to fit in #but it just ends up making him Extra #lol #lol tag #angel

[buffster]

the only thing anyone really needs to know if they're new to tumblr is that no matter who you are, on this website you are Just Some Guy. remember this. if you don't, the rest of us will not hesitate to remind you.

#the hiding of followers makes tumblr a different landscape #you might think someone has a following but you don’t KNOW #we’re all just some guy

[buffster]

i think in the wake of game of thrones season 8 being so mindbogglingly horrible, people tend to forget how stupid seasons 5-7 were as well. my favorite moment in the show still remains when cersei blew up the most revered religious building in the country with the most popular royals inside and it had zero - and i mean literally zero - consequence. not even a mildly negative reaction from the people of kingslanding. imagine if the president of italy blew up the vatican with the pope and the kardashians inside and no one batted an eye.

#yes please let’s just realize they had no idea what to do after George stopped writing #we all just hoped it would end well enough to ignore the flaws #but wow NO #forever bitter #got #not Buffy

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scrolling through my own blog like wow this girl has good taste and agrees with me on everything

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unlikely Spike goodness/heroism moments — requested by @chasingfictions

#it’s also interesting to contemplate like…. #how much it matters whether you’re doing a good thing for the right or wrong reasons #I mean good thing gets done #but something sits wrong when someone isn’t doing it for the right reasons #why is that #also I love spike so #here’s a bunch of him #spike #reblog

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What are the theories on how souls work in the Buffyverse?

Why does The Judge say Spike and Drusilla “stink of humanity” but say there is no humanity in Angelus?

Why was it a life-altering deal when Angel lost his soul but if Spike lost his he’d just stroll up to Buffy’s house all “yeah, damn thing ran off again. Should we go get it then? Oh, no, I can absolutely wait until after Christmas.”

#spike #Buffy summers #spuffy #Angel #buffy lore #Buffy/spike

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#every single Riley one kills me #every time #lol #lol tag

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It takes work to curate your online spaces, but if you don't do it, corporations will do it for you using a couple harmful key principles. 1) Negative emotions hold your attention better than positive emotions. 2) Calm/contented people are less likely to spend money.

#it’s taken me a long time to learn this #I don’t engage in online fighting #unless it’s a respectful discussion I’m out #reblog #not buffy #fandom

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I get the vibe that Joss Whedon just does not like Spike very much and was mad that people liked him.

This is 100% accurate! Joss (according to multiple people from the BTVS production, including James Marsters) planned for Spike to have a small arc and be killed off. He was never intended to make it past a few episodes. The only problem? James is a brilliant actor and the fans loved the humanity he imbued Spike with.

Joss was pretty pissed about this, according to multiple sources. If you watch James’ interview on the podcast Inside Of You he goes into detail about how Joss felt like Spike ruined the metaphor of vampires = the problems that teenagers go through and have to overcome (by killing the vampire). He never wanted vampires to be empathetic, and he certainly didn’t want them to be romantic. He’d already caved once with Angel, he was frustrated to find himself with a second vampire who broke the “rules” of the show and was a fan favorite.

James has said numerous times that Joss was so angry about this that he lashed out at him on set, saying he was ruining the show.

Luckily there were plenty of writers who saw the beauty and potential of Spikes character (like Jane Espenson) and they explored him to the fullest (with a few notable hiccups) over multiple seasons + Angel.

#this makes sense #given his history of getting super mad when people change his plans at all #ie charisma getting pregnant #joss whedon #btvsbts #bts #spike

[buffster]

Angel Season One: Overview

Let’s take a look at the season as a whole. Since it’s the first season, no ranking for now.

Character Arcs:

Angel: Angel’s arc this season was mainly surrounding isolation (a theme that will continue for him). As a vampire with a soul that is also cursed to never be happy, just how involved he should be with other people is something we keep returning to. He begins the season trying to aid from the shadows, but Doyle is sent to tell him he can’t cut himself off from humanity and think he’ll remain a hero for long. Cordelia enters his life purely because she’s impossible to push away. Still, the other members of AI tend to do a lot of bonding while he spends time alone. By the end of season, he’s willing to do just about anything to save his friends. He also struggles with finding a purpose to his existence and he’s given hope when he learns he might one day become human. 

Cordelia Chase: When Cordelia first joins AI she’s pretty much just using the job opportunity to keep herself afloat until inevitable stardom. After a while, saving people begins to give her a purpose and makes her happier than she ever thought it would. She’s even a bit jealous of Buffy’s calling now. Of course, all that changes when she’s handed Doyle’s visions. They’re pretty terrible, but they do serve as a reminder of how much pain and suffering is out there. It makes it nearly impossible for Cordelia to look away anymore. 

Allen Doyle: Doyle began the season as a very reluctant hero. He seems mostly focused on being rewarded, and frequently, feeling sorry for himself. When his wife wanders back into his life he’s inspired to change. He’s even getting a good shot at Cordelia before his untimely death. In the end, Doyle decided to do what was right even though it didn’t benefit himself. He was tested, and he passed.

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Wesley starts the season desperate to prove himself after being thrown from the Watcher’s Council. He fulfills Giles’ role on Angel (the book stuff). He struggles with confidence and feeling like he has a place within the group. He’s also tempted by the opportunity to rejoin the Watcher’s Council, but ultimately decides he is doing far more good helping Angel. Still, Wesley is comfortable following a leader and has merely transferred his allegiances. His confidence grows enough this season that he is able to challenge Angel on his decision regarding Faith, but for the most part he defers to Angel.

Charles Gunn: When we meet Gunn, he’s fighting vampires and trying to keep the streets no one seems to care about safe. His sister thinks he likes it a little too much and has gone beyond simple protection, a fact which will haunt him when she’s turned into a vampire. She was really the only thing holding him back and he becomes even more reckless after her death. But he’s game to help Angel out when he needs it. 

Lindsey McDonald: Lindsey begins the season confident but naive. He’s loving his position as a badass lawyer but hasn’t deeply committed to the cause or all the evil he will be expected to do yet. He has a crisis of faith when he’s asked to aid in the murder of children, but when he’s offered a promotion, he returns to evil and seems committed to his choice. Angel cutting off his arm is yet another test for him. We’ll have to see how that plays out next season. 

Kate Lockley: At the beginning of the season, Kate has a crush on Angel and she’s set up as an ally in the police force. But when her father is murdered and she learns the truth about Angel/the supernatural she can’t handle it and becomes a sort of antagonist. The force turns on her as she starts looking into all the supernatural cases and she’s pretty much got nothing left. Even Angel seems tired of her bs. 

Faith Lehane: Faith comes to L.A. fresh off her fight with Buffy. She gets tangled up with Wolfram & Hart and agrees to take out Angel. She also gets to take out some of her rage on Wesley. Angel finally persuades her to try for redemption without sugarcoating how hard that is going to be. She decides she won’t make the one person who believes in her take the fall for her mess and goes to jail. 

Lilah Morgan: Lilah doesn’t get much of an arc this season, but I wanted to mention her since she will continue on the show. This season, we see her as a confident employee of Wolfram & Hart. She’s extremely ambitious and gets rejected for a deal with Angel. 

The Big Bad:

Wofram & Hart: It just hit me that we are going to be talking about this Big Bad a lot. Angel caught their attention this season by boldly ruining many of their plans and refusing to adhere to their warnings. He caught the attention of the higher ups and a huge part of the company began to devote time to taking him down (which we’ll see play out next season). I think Wolfram & Hart provided a contrast for our characters. Each, to a greater or lesser degree, has been tempted by evil and chosen a path of redemption and good. Angel is the strongest example; he lived a life of pure evil for years. Cordelia is an example of a more subtle type of evil; she’s drawn to being shallow and ignoring the suffering of others. Doyle refused the call to help and got drawn into feeling sorry for himself. Wesley followed a corrupt organization. Wolfram & Hart stands as an example of what happens when you totally give in to evil and just stop trying. 

Themes:

Helping the Helpless: Angel focuses on people that everyone tends to forget about. He saves people that some people might think don’t deserve help and that the bigger guys love to stomp on. Whether it’s the homeless, people in abusive relationships, demons, or people that have made big mistakes in the past, Angel offers hope. 

Redemption: Angel is a show for people that need to do some good and make up for mistakes in the past. It’s not about being righteous. When Buffy comes to visit Angel, we see their contrasting viewpoints and how Angel is a different show.  

Purpose: Along with redemption, I think Angel frequently touches on trying to find the meaning of life. Each main character is searching for it, and Wolfram & Hart has given up believing there is a meaning at all. 

The fight to do good: Angel explores the meaning of being a good person far more than Buffy does. Will you fight when it’s hard? When it’s not fair? When you’re not rewarded for it? For the right reasons?

The Best Episodes:

City Of

Rm w/a Vu

Sense and Sensitivity

I Will Remember You

Hero

Somnambulist

The Prodigal

Five by Five

Sanctuary

The Worst Episodes:

Lonely Hearts

Bachelor Party

Expecting

She

#atss1overview #angel #cordelia chase #wesley wyndam pryce #Charles Gunn #faith lehane #kate lockley #Lindsey McDonald #Allen Francis Doyle

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#I love this scene but like does Joyce not have peripheral vision #spike #Joyce summers

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#lol #lol tag

[buffster]

Wow that would have been a super dark ending.

Yes, I was never really on board with the “we don’t kill humans” thing because practically it doesn’t make a lot of sense. The police aren’t going to be able to handle a human who’s got supernatural abilities. If Warren could’ve been somehow cut off from an ability to use magic, then maybe she could’ve let the police deal with him. But I always thought Buffy should’ve had to confront an issue where killing a human was needed.

Then again, I guess we dealt with that in season 5 and Giles just did it for her.

I agree many would’ve been on Willow’s side when it came to punishing the trio. Hell, I did not care when she flayed Warren. She proved he was a psycho before she did it anyway. Jonathan and Andrew might have been an opportunity for Buffy to be the hero and show mercy, especially since I don’t think they’re as clearly evil as Warren is.

How do you wish (dark)!willow arc should have been handled? I agree that introducing addiction didn’t felt fitting for her character yet it could have made sense had they emphasized that it was was about control and insecurities rather than Dark magic=evil.

Agreed.

I definitely don't have a problem with Dark!Willow. In fact, I was really excited about it when it began. The main problem I had with it was that when it started, I had one of those cool lightbulb moments; those moments when you're reading/watching something and you go oh my gosh, yes, how did I not see this coming all along? Willow had issues building up from season one: insecurity, control issues, using magic to try and fix human suffering, etc. In season four, for example, we saw how much Willow struggles to handle her pain. She is overly reliant on magic all the time, but it's especially apparent when she's suffering. If I had any real power, I could have made Oz stay with me. In season five and six these issues increase. She erases Tara's memory to solve their fight. But even then, we see Tara and Willow break up because she uses too much magic. Not because of the real problem.

Willow doesn't have any morals when it comes to magic use.

That's the issue I wanted to see explored. Buffy finally has to face that Willow doesn't have any real morals aside from her own happiness. She is ruthless when it comes to getting what she wants. Tara was the one thing that motivated her to hold back even a little. And then we see Tara fall, and we go...oh, shit.

So! Cool!

And then the message seems to become that magic somehow corrupted Willow. Like she began using darker and stronger forces, and this corrupted her like meth corrupts a drug addict. She was a perfectly normal girl until magic came along and ruined her (which, let's not even get into how this is a great metaphor for a lot of the ignorance around drug addiction itself. Drug addicts need to get to the bottom of why they started this stuff in the first place, not just stop using and think they'll magically be ok).

What Willow does is similar to what Jonathan does in Superstar. She manipulates and controls people like puppets so that she can feel better about herself. I wanted to see Willow confront her own insecurities and see people as people, not just tools for her own self-esteem or as targets for her anger.

Like, look at how she goes after Jonathan and Andrew. They had no part of what Warren did. Did they know some of what he was up to? Should they have done more? Yes. But they're no more responsible for her losing Tara than, say, Jenny was responsible for Buffy losing Angel in season 2. Imagine if Buffy had tried to kill Jenny because she didn't warn her about the curse.

It was honestly made even cooler because, hey, we're pissed too! Andrew and Jonathan are little weasels and we kind of want to see them punished. I wanted us to confront our own morality and see Willow confront hers. It would have been a cool lesson on not externalizing our pain and how we have to be able to see past our own wants and realize other people aren't pawns.

Seeing Willow get "high" and then Giles basically removing the drugs from her system was just...a cheat. Unsatisfying. And then we're still sort of floundering on who Willow is and what her issues are in season 7. Since this is long enough, I'll save my thoughts on that for when I get to the episodes.

#Buffy summers #morality in btvs #warren mears #jonathan levinson #confusedguytoo #willow rosenberg

[buffster]

That’s a fair point. If we’d gone all in with the drug use metaphor and had her get “clean” and then worked on underlying issues that could’ve been neat. I think for me it just felt like the execution was off. One moment Willow had personal problems, the next she was just corrupted from dark magic.

How do you wish (dark)!willow arc should have been handled? I agree that introducing addiction didn’t felt fitting for her character yet it could have made sense had they emphasized that it was was about control and insecurities rather than Dark magic=evil.

Agreed.

I definitely don't have a problem with Dark!Willow. In fact, I was really excited about it when it began. The main problem I had with it was that when it started, I had one of those cool lightbulb moments; those moments when you're reading/watching something and you go oh my gosh, yes, how did I not see this coming all along? Willow had issues building up from season one: insecurity, control issues, using magic to try and fix human suffering, etc. In season four, for example, we saw how much Willow struggles to handle her pain. She is overly reliant on magic all the time, but it's especially apparent when she's suffering. If I had any real power, I could have made Oz stay with me. In season five and six these issues increase. She erases Tara's memory to solve their fight. But even then, we see Tara and Willow break up because she uses too much magic. Not because of the real problem.

Willow doesn't have any morals when it comes to magic use.

That's the issue I wanted to see explored. Buffy finally has to face that Willow doesn't have any real morals aside from her own happiness. She is ruthless when it comes to getting what she wants. Tara was the one thing that motivated her to hold back even a little. And then we see Tara fall, and we go...oh, shit.

So! Cool!

And then the message seems to become that magic somehow corrupted Willow. Like she began using darker and stronger forces, and this corrupted her like meth corrupts a drug addict. She was a perfectly normal girl until magic came along and ruined her (which, let's not even get into how this is a great metaphor for a lot of the ignorance around drug addiction itself. Drug addicts need to get to the bottom of why they started this stuff in the first place, not just stop using and think they'll magically be ok).

What Willow does is similar to what Jonathan does in Superstar. She manipulates and controls people like puppets so that she can feel better about herself. I wanted to see Willow confront her own insecurities and see people as people, not just tools for her own self-esteem or as targets for her anger.

Like, look at how she goes after Jonathan and Andrew. They had no part of what Warren did. Did they know some of what he was up to? Should they have done more? Yes. But they're no more responsible for her losing Tara than, say, Jenny was responsible for Buffy losing Angel in season 2. Imagine if Buffy had tried to kill Jenny because she didn't warn her about the curse.

It was honestly made even cooler because, hey, we're pissed too! Andrew and Jonathan are little weasels and we kind of want to see them punished. I wanted us to confront our own morality and see Willow confront hers. It would have been a cool lesson on not externalizing our pain and how we have to be able to see past our own wants and realize other people aren't pawns.

Seeing Willow get "high" and then Giles basically removing the drugs from her system was just...a cheat. Unsatisfying. And then we're still sort of floundering on who Willow is and what her issues are in season 7. Since this is long enough, I'll save my thoughts on that for when I get to the episodes.

#willow rosenberg #dark willow

[buffster]

How would Warren Mears have behaved if he had fallen in love with a girl during season 6 after he had killed his ex girlfriend but hasn't yet tried to shoot Buffy?

Hmm.

Well, I don't necessarily believe Warren is capable of falling in love. I think he's a psychopath.

Now, as to if he'd fallen into obsession with another girl after killing Katrina...well, that would have presented an interesting dilemma for Buffy. I wonder if she would have just tried to shut down any magic use but let the human police deal with more mundane crimes or if she would have felt the need to handle him altogether. And if so, how? Maybe stripped him of all his magical gadgets and had him arrested? As for Warren, I personally believe he would have killed again. I guess you can just call it my interpretation of his character, but I think he would have gotten a taste for it and liked it. He really shows no empathy for other human beings. That's part of my frustration with Willow's arc, Jonathan's arc, etc. Warren is really an extreme of their tendency to not see people as anything but tools.

Out of the trio, I saw Jonathan as the character with the most potential for redemption. He was the most capable of remorse, I think. Warren not so much. I don't have much hope for the guy. I think how things ended with Katrina would have pretty much been how it went with every girl. Unless he met a fellow psychopath. It's possible he could have been part of a duo, but I think they would have hurt people together.

#ugh warren is the worst #warren mears #ask