As You Were

B

Blondie Bear

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I just rewatched this episode last week and had a sudden attack of Riley loving. I realized that THIS Riley is the Riley that Buffy needed all along. He's strong, self-confident, and not at all needy. If he had been like this during S4-5, I don't think Buffy would have let him go. I don't think it would even have been an issue.

My hubby thinks that, as long as they were together, Riley could NEVER be the strong, self-confident man he is in "As You Were." He thinks that Buffy's neediness translated to a Riley neediness and Riley could not have become a strong individual while dating Buffy.

What do you guys think?
 
Ooh yes I loved Riley in this although I never disliked Riley (apart from right at the start.) I agree that there were faults on both sides but to be honest I don't think it's fair to say that they couldn't have made it as couple because we'll never really know. Buffy didn't get enough insight into the issues until Xander pointed it out and I'm not of the opinion that Buffy simply makes a crap girlfriend. I definitely don't think Buffy was needy. Just the opposite, she didn't seem to need him enough. I don't blame either of them though. Riley was supercool and I must say not judgmental even though he could have been.
 
Probably Riley's relationship with Sam had a lot to do with his new self assuredness. He finally had a woman who loved him who couldn't mop the floor up with him, who could share his work and let him be an equal partner rather than just back up. (Then again, maybe the government just had him pumped full of drugs again)
 
i agree with WA. That was the basis of Riley's Frustration. The Fact that Buffy could whoop him whenever she wanted to drove him nuts. He wanted a girl who could hold her own, not hold her own and his own. Sam can hold her own but sam still needs Riley to "protect" her. I personally hate Riley and he's always been too whiney. But that's just me. Why anyone would have a sudden attack of Riley love is by me 😉
 
B
Blondie Bear
I think it's because the Black Ops Army thing reminded me of my hubby. :)
To be honest I don't know why people focus so much on the 'superpower issue' when it's more than that. Riley admitted as much. The main point was whether Buffy actually needed him, which is irrespective of physical strength. Riley was deft enought to realise she needed Angel and what Riley and Buffy don't know is that she was emotionally responsive with a human Angel too. At first the strength thing was simply about the macho pissing contest but it was more about trying to discern what Buffy wanted. Riley's rubbish response was not to her strength but to her behaviour.
 
As weird as it is to say, I think your hubby may be right! It sounds like he's onto something there!

Wonders never cease, I suppose. Husbands CAN be right sometimes....or at least make a good arguement for their case. Not mine, but other people's husbands, anyway.
 
I like Riley when he was confident and not whining about Buffy not spending time, or forgetting plans. He's more fun when he's not all "weak and kitteny" (great line lol).

Seeing Riley with Sam was heartbreaking. And it was because I was seeing it from Buffy's point of view. When she finally decided to realize that Riley was a good guy and the one who will stay around forever, it was too late, and he was gone. Then seeing him with another woman? Yeah, I felt bad for Buffy in that moment.

But it was good to see Riley back being Mr. Confident-Military guy again. (however, this in no way means that I am a fan of Riley. I like him as a character, but not with Buffy. I loved Spike and Angel with Buffy... :whistle🙂
 
I just thought it was sad that she finally finds THE person that she needs to help her through the state she's been in for the last half season, and--bonus!--it's someone she's already had a relationship with, and then he's married. But he did still manage to help her, even if he didn't get to stick around or promise a long-distance relationship or anything.
 
There's a name for what Buffy and Riley went through in S5. "Complementary schismogenesis." If person A sees a problem, he acts in a way to attempt to resolve that problem (Riley: I'm just another member of Buffy's team and I can't protect her more than she can protect herself which goes against my self image.) Person B sees the new pattern of action as a problem (Buf: I'm supposed to be needy so he can feel better about himself? Screw that. He's the one with the problem. I'll show him how not needy I am.) and reacts in a way that attempt to resolve THAT problem, but which exacerbates the problem that bothers person A. Rinse and repeat until there is no couple anymore.

In As You Were, they got to relate to each other without any (or less) of the baggage that derived from trying to fill "that role" for each other. They could just be Buffy and Riley (like early S4.)
 
I think it broke my heart because Riley still clearly loved her. And i always liked Riley. So yeah, this episode sort of makes me sad about the whole thing. I don't think he could ever let go of her.
 
At first I wasn't too thrilled to hear that Riley's character was making an appearance, but I also had a sudden influx of Riley likeage. He was a lot different than when he left the show, and I actually did have quite a bit of respect for the way his character was presenting himself (as well as how he dealt with the whole "Buffy's sleeping with Spike" thing). And this from an avid Riley-basher, so that's saying something! I think even now to see him in Season 8 I'd be okay with it. The more and more time he isn't on the show the more I grew to admire some things about him.

I definitely agree with your hubby on this one though! I really don't think that he could have turned into "the better" Riley if he had stayed with Buffy. Yet another breakup that although it sucked at the time, seemed to have turned out for the better (on his part anyway!). He and Buffy had a really wierd codependent relationship but in the most incompatible way: Riley was a caring guy but just went crazy for Buffy. He wanted to be physically stronger than her I think, so that he knew he was of value to her (in his commando mindset, I'd suppose), and Buffy needed someone stable. Riley was either 110% there for Buffy or not there at all, you know? And vice versa on her end. Two great people, but very incompatible.

But yeah, awesome episode. I love the bit when Willow keeps trying to say how much she hates Sam :silly:
 
It always seems like no one was really too broken up about Buffy letting Riley go. It seems like most of the talk is about her and Angel or of course, her and Spike...but I seriously cried when Riley left. It was just so damned tragic. He really, really loved her and pretty much gave up everything for her. It wasn't really his fault he was insecure. They were great together. I understand why they broke up and all, but I still think it was very sad.
Anyone agree?
 
I thought As You Were was a terribly jarring and awkward episode. No chemistry, I thought the dialogue was kinda lacking... I was happy leaving Riley gone.
 
All I know is that Buffy NEVER told Riley she loved him. Never said those words - EXCEPT to Angel (on Ats cross-over "I have someone in my life now; someone that I love.") For whatever reason she just couldn't (or WOULDN'T) tell Riley that she loved him. She had no problem telling Angel. And she FINALLY told Spike (tho many didn't believe her! :lol: ) but she NEVER told Riley she loved him. So I think Riley was onto something when he told Xander "but she doesn't love me."
 
Airam
Airam
YES! perfect and SO true!
The rerun just aired tonight (and I taped it - they're now in that part of S6 which I've already seen before, but don't yet have on tape). Man, if only Riley could have been more like this earlier, I wouldn't have minded him as much as I did in S4-5! Even visually (the scar does look damn good on Blucas!). And I actually liked both Sam a lot (who in the German dubbing, if I'm not totally mistaken, has the same synch voice as Lucy Lawless in "Xena", nice fit!) and Willows totaly cute "I'll hate her for you"-attitude towards her.
 
I feel sorry for Riley because he loves Buffy and his old farm boy actions take place when he hits Parker it is so endearing.
But i hate the Character to be honest everytime i watch him i cringe i dunno why lol .

I do think that if he had'nt left he would still be running after Buffy , i'm Glad he came back a better Riley more strong and confident x
 
I love S4 Riley because he was sweet, solid, just what Buffy needed. Plus, teaming up with Willow to win her heart was too cute. And the obvious: punching Parker made me swoon. But, once S5 rolled around, I got so very annoyed by him and wasn't too broken up to see him gone. But, strangely, I got so excited when he came back in 'As You Were'. And did have that inkling of hope that maaaybe something would happen between them again since nothing really got resolved. At least the two kicked it off as though they had just worked together the previous night. It was cute and Riley was much more likable. A good farewell for his character.

My favorite line: "My hat has a cow."

And I never noticed if she told Riley 'I love you' in Season 4 or 5. I'll have to watch that more carefully next time.
 
B
Blondie Bear
Apparently the words never left her lips.
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