Are you still a fan?

[Kean]

I think the fandom offends me now; I think that is what it is. I am offended that just because I was a big Buffy fan that I would accept anything. I think that was the problem that started with the comics, as I began to get more aggravated and then just expanded from that.

Offended in what way? And by whom? PM me if you want to answer there instead. I think you are on to something with this.

 

[white avenger]

Kean agrees: I'm not going anywhere but apart from Lyri you are the only other person to know the extent of how not-fun the last year or two has been for me in fandom. It may not be what it was but somehow I can't seem to stay away.

Then maybe it's time for you to jump the fence, Miss K. All that Bangel broodiness was bound to get to you eventually, and not in a good way. I was over there for just a month, and I started snappin' and snarlin' at my TKD students. Come on over to Spuffy, if just for a short visit. It's parties and dancing girls over here every night, and the weekends absolutely defy description. Just learning the secret handshake and taking the blood oath

(Got cut off there in the middle of a rant)

As I was saying...just learning the secret handshake and taking the blood oath has led to such demonstrations of laughter and revelry that the SWAT team has been called out by irate neighbors. Just last month we voted to give the police their own door key, and it's saved us a fortune in kicked in doors.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Offended in what way? And by whom? PM me if you want to answer there instead. I think you are on to something with this.

Offended that Joss thought he could totally destroy the 'reality' of the Buffy world in which I lived by making it more sci-fi than (pseudo)horror. I was offended that after watching the first episode of the very first airing, following it all those years, investing in the DVDs that his 'ideal' Buffy series would have been that? That is the kind of show he wanted to do all along but could not budget it for the TV? When I read that he finally could make the show the way he wanted all along without the network restraints, I was excited. I felt offended that just because it had the name Buffy and Joss attached it would have assumed our 'fandom' would not be disappointed. Yeah.. I think thats maybe where the problem lies.. at least for me.

I am sorry.. but you can put a bow on a turd but I will still call it a turd... and the turd kept smelling more and more like one the longer season 8 carried on.

 

[Kana]

I saw this thread a while a go but for some strange reason I never paid attention to it.

It's funny really, because I was going to create a similar thread, along the lines of my waning interesting in the Verse.

First, however, I'd like to relate to you a story.

Around 12 years a go I was an awkward teenager who found interest in shiny US shows, whether they be shallow or, well actually most of them were shallow.

I seem to remember it was New Years Day (British viewers tell me if I'm wrong) and I saw this new show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I went down the checklist:

1. Based in the US? Check!
2. Attractive people? Check!
3. Funny Title? Check!

Saw I started watching but I never watched religiously. It wasn't until Angel turned into Angelus that I was hooked. After that I became obsessed with finding watching every single episode. Then I found out that Angel was getting his own series? It felt like all my birthdays and Christmases came at once!

Now by the time Btvs was on its seventh season, I was like "Yeah, ok, I like it" but this season isn't as "˜WOW!' as the previous seasons. When Ats finished, I was devastated but it felt like a fitting end. For both shows, I was more or less satisfied with the character arcs, because to be honest, unlike a lot of fans I don't need everything to be full circle or anything. In other words I was happy where the characters ended up even if they weren't all in the best place (morally or otherwise).

Then the comics came. The problem is, I'm not really a fan of comic books anyway and because I was happy with how things ended on both series, I was biased against it. For me, ATF didn't need to happen, at all and Season 8 feels disconnected from the televised series. We got to see the practical negative consequences of the Slayer spell in Damage, so I didn't need anything else.

This said, I cannot ignore cannon, so I've been loosely following the comic books, but frankly my interest really is waning. Even old episodes don't give the joy they used to. After I finish the arc of Season 8, I think I'm done, but I'm not leaving in anger. It's kind of like falling in love with someone and the relationship being one of the best things that happened to you but realising that the love isn't there anymore. You've both changed and there is no longer that connection. It doesn't mean you can't remember the good times fondly but you realise that it's time to move on. I'm a little sad, but I'll get over it. I liked the television medium for Btvs and the comics aren't working for me. As far as I'm concerned there's no point forcing it.

 

[methos]

Fan of the show and universe, yes, and always will be...

fan of the comics? no way in hell... i've read some of them, and believe me, i've come across better writing and better continuity on Fanfic.net by 7 year olds lol

M

 

[maryperk]

I like to think I am, despite not being all that interested in the comics at this point. I certainly have plenty of ideas for the fanfic that I write.

 

[GrrArghx]

The more I analyse or read analysis of the show, the less I enjoy it. I can't just sit back and enjoy and episode of tv for what it is. In my head I'm deconstructing it. And what I find more than anything is that the more I tear it apart, the less I like it. Any of it. The writers, the seasons, the characters...everything. As well as that fandom got really not fun for awhile, to the point where it was a burden and that's just crazy to me, so I pulled way back.

I find this so interesting because I was always a bit jealous of those who analyzed the show and were able to put more insight into the episodes and characters. On my last rewatch, I tried to pay more attention to the show instead of just sitting back and watching, in hopes I'd be able to do the same, but now you've made me realize that it isn't such a bad thing. I'm fairly new to the fandom and developing more insight to the show sometimes sounds intriguing, but I don't want to end up critiquing it to the point where I absolutely hate it.

It's only happened to me once and that was after all the discussion about Season Six, I started to think that it was lackluster compared to the other seasons, and then I came to a point where I struggled watching it, and then I actually started wishing the show had ended at The Gift. I loved BtVS soooo much the first time I went through the entire series last year, including Seasons 6&7 even if I still preferred the first three, that I didn't really understand why I was suddenly struggling to get through a rewatch, but I think you've pretty much pin-pointed the reason.

I can only imagine how bad it was back when the show was still airing. Luckily, I, myself, haven't encountered anything bad enough in the fandom to where I'd want to leave.

To answer the original question, yes, I'm still a fan. The comics are a tricky thing for me. A few months ago, I was one of those arguing the canonicity of it, but now I've embraced them. Still though, I find it hard not to separate them from the actual show. My original argument of not reading S8 and After the Fall was the fact that the actors themselves weren't involved; Willow (or whomever) wouldn't invoke the same emotion on paper if she was crying as she would if it were onscreen. Basically, I wouldn't be able to "feel" the story like I could on TV. And, even though, I'm "good" with the comics now, those reasons are still why it's never really "clicked" in my head that Season 8 is 100%, no questions asked, the official continuation of the show.

Do I still wish BtVS/ANGEL had ended with Chosen and later Not Fade Away? Yep, I sure do. (Unless they were going to make more televised seasons)

But, the comics are here and they're official, so I read them. It may never really click in my head like the TV show does, but they're there anyway and I've been highly entertained by them, even with the latest issue that has many completely flipping their lid.

Although, maybe S8 didn't invoke enough emotion from me because I was so spoiled by everything happening. We'll have to see with S9.

 

[Buffed]

I'm still a fan, but much less of a fan than before. I used to watch at least one episode a day, usually before I went to bed. But then now when I watch Buffy, I can't help thinking of Season 8, and it makes me less enthusiastic..then they announced the movie (ug). I stopped checking various Buffy forums, and watch an episode maybe once a week. I've been searching for other good shows and haven't found any I love nearly as much as Buffy.

Instead I bought a Kindle and have been reading a lot lately, instead of watching Buffy.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I don't think I'm less of a fan. But people do tell me that I talk about Buffy less than before. I don't agree with them. I mean, yes, I used to talk ALOT about Buffy, but now I have new interests, and that doesn't mean I think less about Buffy. I've been a fan for the past 12-13 years, and it's not gonna change soon. I will still be watching the DVD's when I'm 70, read and talk about it at forums, enter sites, try being in the loop and be excited with all good Buffy related stuff. Maybe it will be less vocal, but I'm not going to stop the fannig anytime soon, it's my life. I can't really live without Buffy.

 

[Abbeycat]

I think even though I don't show it or talk about it as much as I use to that it doesn't make me any less of a fan. I'm still a fan.

 

[Anya2012]

I'm now in denial that the comics aren't canon. None of them are. I'm still a huge fan and plan to hide my comics in the back of the shed or bury them.

 

[sosa lola]

Actually, if S8 didn't exist, I'd probably have stopped coming to forums since 2008. 😀 S8 brought new materials to discuss, Chen's awesome covers, new relationships, new fanfic, new fanart, new excitment every month. It kept fandom alive.

 

[Flannen]

I've been thinking about this for a while now myself and then saw this thread pop up. I will always have a special fondness for BtVS but the older I get the more distant the feelings become! Season 1-3 are the only series that are in my heart and I could safely not watch 4 onwards again and not feel a pang of sadness over it.

The comics, however, have absolutely nothing to do with it, they only, in some ways, make me happy that I'm NOT as big a fan as I used to be. I used to idolise Buffy; she was my hero but now I cannot stand her lol. The only characters I still like, no holds barred, are Giles, Faith and Oz (if it wasn't for Cangel, Angel would be there too 😛). Like Kean and Sco have both suggested a heck of a lot of how I feel now is down to the fandom. Some discussions (not going into detail here I'm afraid) really made me sit up and think 'Joss Whedon, you're a tool, look what you've done'. I used to love the show and thought Joss was a genius and one day I woke up and thought about it and now have so little respect for him which is also why I struggle to 'love' the show now. I find more bad things to say about it (post season 3) than good things. But I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm okay with that. I'm not a drone to it any more. I'm past thinking that Joss Whedon is a god and I have to accept what he does or I'm a bad fan.

Season 1-3 still hold a special place for me and I will always be happy to watch them but after that I feel the show became a parody of itself and it started to think a little too much of itself and the comics even more so.

End of ramble...

 

[Kean]

I've been thinking about this for a while now myself and then saw this thread pop up. I will always have a special fondness for BtVS but the older I get the more distant the feelings become! Season 1-3 are the only series that are in my heart and I could safely not watch 4 onwards again and not feel a pang of sadness over it.

The comics, however, have absolutely nothing to do with it, they only, in some ways, make me happy that I'm NOT as big a fan as I used to be. I used to idolise Buffy; she was my hero but now I cannot stand her lol. The only characters I still like, no holds barred, are Giles, Faith and Oz (if it wasn't for Cangel, Angel would be there too 😛). Like Kean and Sco have both suggested a heck of a lot of how I feel now is down to the fandom. Some discussions (not going into detail here I'm afraid) really made me sit up and think 'Joss Whedon, you're a tool, look what you've done'. I used to love the show and thought Joss was a genius and one day I woke up and thought about it and now have so little respect for him which is also why I struggle to 'love' the show now. I find more bad things to say about it (post season 3) than good things. But I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm okay with that. I'm not a drone to it any more. I'm past thinking that Joss Whedon is a god and I have to accept what he does or I'm a bad fan.

Season 1-3 still hold a special place for me and I will always be happy to watch them but after that I feel the show became a parody of itself and it started to think a little too much of itself and the comics even more so.

End of ramble...

Totally agree (except on the Buffy and Angel parts 😛). The older I get and the wider my tv/movie knowledge becomes the more I can see how Buffy and Angel were fantastic, spectacular at times, but they weren't exceptional. I've spoke with TK about this yesterday; I've just started to watch The West Wing and that show is scary good. Aaron Sorkin could write circles around Whedon. I'll be killed for saying that but I believe it to be true.

I can't help but feel that my intense loyalty to the show is not justified. Not only that, that loyalty has kept me from some truly quality entertainment and thought provoking series.

 

[fly on the wall]

Um, well, considering I just got my second Buffy-related tattoo...yes, I'm still a fan. 😛

Now, I'm not even nearly caught up on the comics. I think I've read the first four or five? But even though the comics are technically canon, I still view them as separate from the show. Because even though they're canon, they ARE separate from the show. They are two different medias and, in my opinion, tell two different stories. So it's not difficult for me to separate the two and therefore, whatever happens in the comics, the integrity of the show will remain intact. And permanently on my body.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I'm very sad to see the fandom lose fans. But I understand. It's natural to lose interest in things as time goes on. We develop new interests. I've been a big fan for 5 years now, and I don't see it waning, but who knows? Maybe someday it will. I might not always be as active in the fandom as I am now, but Buffy will always have a very special place in my heart.

 

[mayfever]

I only got back into watching the shows a year ago, and only discovered fandom this summer, so I'd say of course I am "still" a fan. There is so much about Buffy that I love that I honestly don't think that I'll ever stop being a fan.

That said though, that doesn't mean that I don't realise that the shows are far from perfect. I absolutely loved the first three seasons (and parts of the fourth) and I keep rewatching them, but I never do that with anything that comes after, because I just cringe too much. I just started watching Angel about a month ago, and I don't even want to go there. There are definitely a fair number of good moments, but - even if I'm probably gonna be shot for this in present company - I really don't think it's a good show overall.

And then the comics - I just ordered my first issue and as others have said, I have a huge problem accepting them as canon. It's just so different from everything I loved about the show that I have difficulties to view it as anything else than well-written fanfiction.

As far as I'm concerned, BtVS ended with The Gift.

 

[BuffangelLovE]

I don't care for S8 at all. So it doesn't affect my fan-ness. In time I may find distractions, but Buffy will always remain special to me.

 

[Doppelgang]

I went through a phase of not watching it, but then I came back to it, realising it is an important part of my life. Over time you have to be a fan of it in a different way, you don't watch it quite as much, but thats because its stored in your memory, and so you can draw upon it when ever you want or need it 🙂

 

[Washburne]

I have no trouble at all calling myself a fan. My interest in the show goes up and down and has since the moment I first started watching. I see the comics as canon and I doubt I'll ever change my mind about that. Even if I have some catching up to do.

There's things I really dislike in the show, things I dislike, things I don't care for and some things I think I'm getting pretty good at ignoring. Not because I think they're bad as such, it just doesn't fit with how I want things to be. Like Dawn's whining. If you concentrate on that she'll be difficult to stand, yet I'm "protecting" her. I concentrate on what I love about the show and I don't see that changing. In fairness I haven't watched an episode of the show for over a year. It has no connection to the comics though so don't try and blame them. And I'm certain that I'll watch all seasons of both Btvs and Ats from time to time in the future. I just don't watch it all the time.

I didn't think Buffy was the greatest show ever, or put it at the top of my all time favourite shows when I joined the boards. I still don't think or do that. But to me it's a great show in many ways, I love it and it will always have a special meaning to me. It's more than just a way to spend the time.