Buffy and Angel a forever love

[Gnomie192]

Angel tells Spike that he and Buffy have a "forever love"

Is he correct or did Angel and Buffy outgrow each other and tefuse to admit it?

 

[CHK DeWilSon]

As a BAngeler/BAngel fan, I absolutely believe that Buffy and Angel have a 'forever love' irrespective of whether they were to ultimately end up together.

For me they both believe this even with them loving others.

Of course there is no guarantees that IF Angel was to become human properly and they were to settle down together that it would be happy ever after. The situation with them has always been that outside forces have come between their relationship where they have to break up or there will be repercussions for so many people. And that I feel is the reason why they both have it in their heads about their feelings towards one another.

It's a case of what could have been for them if they could have lead normal lives that will linger in their minds for a long time.

Now if you were to ask a non BAngel fan, well......

 

[Bop]

I see nothing to indicate that they outgrew each other they both changed a lot separately but they can't move on because what forced them apart had nothing to do with not wanting to be with each other. Especially on Buffy's end she never wanted to not be with Angel.

 

[Angel6]

They only grew better and better for each other. They both become more complete people after a bit of time to breathe on their own, and I actually think even without Angel being shanshued they would choose to be together as best they could now, I’m sure willow could removes the perfect happiness clause now, she’s a super powerful witch!

 

[Faded90]

I don’t think they ‘outgrew’ each other, they both grew but that’s not a bad thing. I think it’s obvious that they will always love each other. Whether they end up together is all in everyone’s headcannon really but even if they don’t I’ve no doubt they’d love each other forever

 

[BaskingINBangel]

I absolutely do believe that they have a forever love. In my opinion, they had a deep connection and understanding that transcends anything else that either of them experienced with any of their other romantic relationships throughout both series. They will always love each other, and while there are no guarantees that it would work out in the long run, I'm sure they would both jump at the chance to be together if that opportunity were to present itself.

All that being said, for me, it doesn't mean that they could never move on and fall in love with other people and be happy. (Although I do have a bit of an issue with Angel having a serious romantic relationship, due to the whole "true happiness" clause.) And as far as them outgrowing each other, no I don't think they did.

 

[Oromous]

You know that first love you had that will always have a special place in your heart? That's Angel. Regardless of whom Buffy eventually falls in love with, the love between Bangel is special and unique to Buffy in the only way Angel could provide, at least in my point of view prior to watching season 6. I feel like that's true for any real life relationship anyway, having that one special friend who really, really meant a lot to you, and being separated doesn't necessarily mean those memories you shared aren't as special anymore.

 

[BibliophileAnn]

Yes I agree with Angel on that because he and Buffy do have a forever love. That kind of love never dies. They may not still be together but will love each other for the rest of their loves. I believe if circumstances allowed them to they would be together no matter who else they have been with in the meantime.

 

[Oromous]

I believe if circumstances allowed them to they would be together no matter who else they have been with in the meantime.

I haven't seen the rest of Angel past season 1 yet, so I'm not sure of the details... but damn, when I heard that there might be a way for Angel to become a human again in the season 1 finale, "To Shanshu in L.A.", it just made me feel a little bitter inside, knowing that Spuffy would eventually become a thing, and all hopes for Bangel becoming a thing again is lost. God, in an ideal world, Angel would be rewarded the ability to become human at the end of AtS and he could return to Buffy again.

See, Joss? If you really wanted Buffy to have a healthy and happy relationship, you would've made Bangel happened at the end of AtS! 😆 (Don't hurt me, Spuffy fans)

 

[BibliophileAnn]

I haven't seen the rest of Angel past season 1 yet, so I'm not sure of the details... but damn, when I heard that there might be a way for Angel to become a human again in the season 1 finale, "To Shanshu in L.A.", it just made me feel a little bitter inside, knowing that Spuffy would eventually become a thing, and all hopes for Bangel becoming a thing again is lost. God, in an ideal world, Angel would be rewarded the ability to become human at the end of AtS and he could return to Buffy again.

I hope I didn't spoil things for you too much. I try to avoid that since I don't like those who do that to me. I am glad that you didn't let the crossover in Sanctuary stop you from being a Bangel. I have not given up hope yet and still think they will end up together again at some point. It is too important not to and I don't give up hope that easily. It can happen especially through fan fiction if nothing else. Being together again is owed to Buffy and Angel after all they have been put through and all they have gone through apart.

 

[gwenogjones]

You know that first love you had that will always have a special place in your heart? That's Angel. Regardless of whom Buffy eventually falls in love with, the love between Bangel is special and unique to Buffy in the only way Angel could provide, at least in my point of view prior to watching season 6. I feel like that's true for any real life relationship anyway, having that one special friend who really, really meant a lot to you, and being separated doesn't necessarily mean those memories you shared aren't as special anymore.

I agree with this. She will always love Angel - in way that she will never love anyone else ... but that doesn't mean that she won't love other people, or that they won't mean as much in other ways or that Angel is ultimately the right person for her. She has done a lot of growing up between the end of s3 and s7, and all of that has been done away from Angel. And Angel's gone through a lot of changes too. They're not the people they were when they were together. Maybe - if he became human - they could still find a way to be together and grow together, maybe they're already too far apart or on too different paths for it to work out. But whether or not they ever find each other again, or even want to, what they had will always be special and they will keep it with them forever. And in Angel's case ... forever could be a very very long time.

 

[Oromous]

but that doesn't mean that she won't love other people, or that they won't mean as much in other ways or that Angel is ultimately the right person for her. She has done a lot of growing up between the end of s3 and s7, and all of that has been done away from Angel. And Angel's gone through a lot of changes too. They're not the people they were when they were together. Maybe - if he became human - they could still find a way to be together and grow together, maybe they're already too far apart or on too different paths for it to work out.

I think that, using real life relationships as a point of reference, where couples just couldn't get together again because of differences in their worldviews or some other more serious reasons (drug addiction or alcoholism), I just couldn't picture realistically Buffy and Angel wanting to get back together again, especially with both of them having experienced their own relationships and having moved on: Buffy with Riley and Spike; Angel with Cordelia. Even if some of these romantic relationships are no more, I just feel like getting back with your ex, especially one as previously toxic as Angel was during his Angelus phase, is just pretty challenging even if he does become human again. God knows that the Bangel fan in me wants them to reconcile more than anything in the world, but looking at it realistically, I'm a cynic about the chances of success.

For the sake of context, it seems only 6% of divorcees are willing to remarry their partner.

 

[gwenogjones]

The thing is with people who break up - they break up for good reasons, and no matter how much they might miss each other, it doesn't take too long back together before those reasons crop up once again.
Yes, If Angel becomes human then the reasons they broke up for back in s3 won't be the same barriers they were - but all the reasons he decided to become a vampire again in IWRY will still stand. The fact is: Buffy can't have a normal life, even though that is what Angel tried to push her into having. As long as he is a vampire they're relationship can't work because he is immortal and she is not, plus the curse - but we've seen that Angel isn't going to be happy in a relationship where he is just an average Joe and she is still a slayer either. He can't stand not being able to help her - he would be at risk of becoming Riley 2.0 bleating on about how she only wanted a superhero and he wasn't enough for her now he couldn't kill things. Even if he managed to avoid that pitfall and become a supportive ally, like Xander, he might find the constant worry, her shortened lifespan and her dedication to the mission too much to handle. It would be brand new territory - even he doesn't know how he would handle it, but at the slightest sniff of her losing her life he gave up his humanity which doesn't bode well for him being chill about her being the slayer when he can't really help.
For it to truly work, all evil would have to be vanquished and they would both have to be able to give up their powers and retire but by the time they get to that point (and let's be honest - that would never happen) - they're not even going to know each other anymore. They might be able to reconnect and build something completely new, but if they fell into it expecting it to be the way it was when Buffy was a teenager and everything was life and death they would be disillusioned pretty quickly.

 

[Antho]

The thing is with people who break up - they break up for good reasons,

Not always. And that’s why lot of people give a second chance to their story

 

[gwenogjones]

Not always. And that’s why lot of people give a second chance to their story

I'm afraid I've seen far too many people give it a third, fourth and fifth, chance ... it always end the same. Lots of people are willing to go back and try and rekindle, that doesn't make it a good idea or guarantee better success next time. Which isn't to say no one in the history of the world wasn't broken up with someone for a stupid reason and then decided to give another go and gets to be happy, or break up for an uncontrollable external reason and are then given a chance to reconnect ... but Buffy and Angel don't break up stupid reasons, and even when the external reason of his being a vampire is removed - it still can't work out for them, and that is a choice Angel makes of his own volition.