It’s been a busy(ish) two weeks, we have not moved on. In fact we’ve barely made it far. I can be so much faster sometimes.
We have a little to cover and still a need to hold back until I actually finish it, but we’re still talking about BtVS and we are loving it.
So, all that said, let’s dive in.
SPOILERS
(But you knew that)
High School Romances
I am now on the tail end of Season 4, which means I have watched a portion over two seasons since we last caught up. I am eager in some ways to finish Season 4, but we will get to that in a second. In the mean time, let’s discuss whats happened.
I feel we must discuss the Bangel years. Season 2 and 3 feature rather prominently the star-crossed pair and their undying love (literally), making them a somewhat significant detail. I don’t sway either way in the ship discussions, but there is a reason I’m looking forward to the upcoming seasons. That said, I do sort of love Bangel (Buffy + Angel). Right time, right place, right people sort of thing. I do, on top of that, wholeheartedly believe they’ll always be in love with each other, as they too seem to and regularly make evident. They will be each other’s true love to the end of time, and if their relationship wasn’t quite literally doomed I’m sure they’d spend every second together.
That said, some of us have responsibilities. I hold the opinion that one of the reasons Angel leaves is for the sake of their character arcs. They love each other, sure, but regardless of whatever place this relationship could go (or not go) they, as a pair, are individually going nowhere. They hold each other stagnant. They got to a good place, or as good a place as they could get, and then… that was just it. All the drama had played out rather beautifully (props to both their performances in Season 2), and while we had the looming threat of a curse for all eternity, they had now been well established that outside of said curse their wasn’t really anything that could… change their relationship. They loved each other, they were loyal to each other, there wasn’t a lot they wouldn’t do for each other if anything. We’ve established what kind of love this is, and it’s the kind that doesn’t waver.
They are Snow and Charming, all “I will always find you.” type deal. Essentially. And while Snow and Charming are their own discussion, let’s just note that 90% of their drama and development is in their past.
Buffy and Angel are lovely, and I love that relationship, I really do, but if Buffy’s going to continue to grow and mature (as is the shows intention) and Angel’s going to do… well, anything… then we’ve got to separate them. By many miles. A fact, I am sure, the writer’s recognised because they are far smarter that I am. So, along comes Angel the Show – which I have not watched because, I don’t know, it’s not quite piqued my interest just yet – Angel vanishes off to LA – which interesting he chooses the city Buffy’s dad is in, but whatever – and everyone gets to continuing doing what all the best characters do, developing. Besides, it was either that or kill him, and one of those options makes them significantly more money.
Now let’s discuss his dumb-ass curse. It’s “one moment of true happiness” and he loses his soul, right? Which one: why? And two: that could mean Anything.
Firstly, ignoring the gypsy stereotypes, why is this the curse they set for him? Like if you designed it, why put this dumb caveat in, and if you didn’t design it, why even bother? “His torture must be eternal” Okay, first of all, that’s a life long commitment you just made. You going to ensure he does that? Are you going to make sure he doesn’t try to make amends or heal? Those are your own descendants you’re making responsible for that. He could run into anyone who brings him happiness any day. What joy for us it was Buffy, but come on, man. One right encounter and someone convinces him to be something a little more, to go down a different path. How are you going ensure that? Really, realistically and logistically can you even do it? Clearly not.
Secondly, what defines happiness? Ya know, for all intents and purposes everyone in the show assumes sex. The only person who has any reason to suspect it wasn’t sex is Angel and for whatever reason he never shares these musings of the peaceful moment post-encounter that was when he achieved happiness and his soul departed. As let’s be clear, as far as the show shows us, it wasn’t the act of sex itself, it was the moment after. However, no one has any reason to think this because Angel’s keeping that one to himself. Though! The fact that that is how the show chooses to depict it really highlights the fact that that moment of happiness could be Anything. One day they have a really blissful morning together and oops! Angel’s evil again. TPN Made some very similar points in his video, so go watch that. Let’s be clear, though, “One moment of true happiness” is so his curse doesn’t sound gross, and it inadvertently made it so stupid.
Angel has a dumb curse, and because of it, their relationship is doomed from Episode 1 of Season 3. There’s no way it can work, it will always loom over them like the ghost of their trauma, and there’s nothing they can really truly do about it. The sex of it aside, being together is a risk all within itself, and I think they’re both acutely aware of this. Future’s be damned, because let’s be honest Spike is going to prove that the vampire of it doesn’t really matter, the issue with Bangel is that stupid curse. Of course, that curse does mean that their relationship is largely asexual and I feel that should be acknowledged. They both claim to be fine with it (they’re not), and while neither of them are intending for such a relationship, I do sort of appreciate that accidental representation.
I think I’m going to save comments on the Spike and Spuffy of it all for when I have watched the relevant seasons. It is certainly quite the discussion, so for now we shall set that aside. I will say, though, that as I watch Season 4, they have amazing chemistry on the screen and I love them. Bickering or otherwise.
College Meet Cutes
Parker.
One. I forget Parker exists and happens every damn time. He is not worth a cell of memory, let’s be honest.
But two. I was just baffled this time around. What is his purpose? Genuine question. I saw the parallels between Parker and Angelus. They are made somewhat evidently clear, even mirroring a shot or two, but why? Has Buffy not been through enough? There was Angelus and what? You decided she needed the tame, human version of that story? I don’t think she did.
Does it set us up for Riley? Is their purpose here I’m missing? How does this help, aid or grow her long term? I don’t- Whatever. He’s Parker. He sucks. All can do better.
Riley, though? Far as I can tell Riley is not well-liked amongst fandom, and Spike’s “Captain Cardboard” was an apt nickname, but I don’t hate Riley. I’m not going to get up on some hill defending him, he has his fair share of questionable scenes that really cause you to doubt his commitment to the relationship or being a good person. He’s plain (mostly), and that’s sort of his point. I like it. Buffy’s two other ships are vampires, and while I am a lover of the vampires myself, after the whole doomed lover’s with Angel thing, I think she earned something a bit more plain. It’s pleasant and boring and plain – and for that reason I don’t hate it.
He is just Riley, though. Best efforts made all around, but Oz was better. I love Oz. I love me some Willow and Tara, but I did love Oz. He is missed… but hey! Tara! Her first episode is “Hush” I noticed this time around which for whatever reason I didn’t know beforehand. I like Tara. Yay, lesbians.
I don’t have a particular ton to say about Season 4 overall, a lot of my current thoughts require upcoming seasons context so I’m going to hold off from voicing them. I will just leave it with this, though:
They’re happy now. I’m excited for what’s to come because I like the upcoming seasons, heartbreak included, but they’re happy now. All of them – including at the episodes I’ve reached, Willow, because she’s found Tara – they’re all happy. Happiest they’ve been in a minute, or will be in a good long while. I don’t want that to end.
The next season can essentially be summed up in “How can we break Buffy?” as her life is turned upside down and she faces one loss after another. Then Season 6 rolls around, infamous as it is, the Dark Era of Buffy, the Slayer is depressed and everyone’s struggling. I love both of these seasons for what they are, they contain some of my favourite episodes of the series (which I’m sure we’ll get to), they’re very well constructed, build upon the past seasons and manage to effectively one up themselves, especially in concern with Season 5. The writing is tight, and I tend not to mind a dark arc here and there, often I quite like them. Season 7 has some cheerier elements to it but it’s also heading towards apocalypse and, of course by then, so much happened in the last two seasons it’s miles away from the sense of happiness they have in Season 4 – which, ya know, is the sign of good TV but still.
I love the seasons to come but right now they’re happy, and as interesting as the darker narratives are I also want to see them happy.
I don’t believe Season 4 is one of their strongest seasons, it had a few hiccups and trouble trying to one up Season 3’s masterclass of a season, but I do enjoy Season 4, if only for the simple reason of them being happy. There’s Tara’s introduction, Spike’s addition to the main cast, and Buffy and Willow sharing a room is some top-tier vibes. This season has a lot of good to love.
I like them happy, I really do.
To Conclude
I could say far more about Buffy the Vampire Slayer – my friends will tell you this – but the majority of what I have to say concerns narratives still to come, and also this post is officially late so I think I’m done.
I could write more, but at this juncture, to be perfectly honest reader, I do not want to.
So! More to come on this masterpiece of a show in the future, I am sure. It is full of depth, intricacy, metaphor and just some damn good characters, so I am sure not only will it come up again, but I will watch it again and I will write about it again.
That said, hope you enjoyed the read. I had a little fun writing it. I hope you’ll join me again in just under two weeks for the next one, which lets be honest, will still be BtVS.
Thank you for reading and I’ll see you in the next!
In the meantime feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM on socials.
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On to the next!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images, narratives or characters present or referenced in this post. All rights belong to WB, ABC, Mutant Enemy Productions, 20th Century Fox and all other relevant parties