Question Buffy and Riley in As You Were

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

When Riley and Buffy are in the sewer fighting the demon, Riley pins Buffy against the wall and they share a smoldering look rife with sexual tension. It seems as if they are about to kiss.

Do you think, if Sam hadn't interrupted them, would Riley and Buffy have kissed?

Do you think both of them still have feelings for each other at this point?

 

[Joshua]

That was the only time I could stand Briley imo

 

[white avenger]

I think that Riley was intentionally trying to create a situation in which Buffy would try to kiss him just so that he could tell her that he was married in a way that would embarrass her. As I've said before (and I'm going to try very, VERY hard to resist dragging out my whole "Suvolte demon conspiracy theory" here) I believe that Riley had a lot more of an agenda planned for his return to Sunnydale than just chasing a (supposedly) extremely dangerous demon and capturing some fictional international arms trader.

As for whether or not the two still had feelings for each other, I think that Buffy WANTED to still have feelings for Riley, but, remember, this episode took place smack dab in the middle of Buffy's "I want the fire back" depression. She was having trouble experiencing any real feelings for anyone at that time, so why would Riley be the exception to that rule?

 

[Carrrrgh]

i really thought they were going to kiss 🙁 i wanted it so bad!

 

[Jules]

I noticed that look. I think that Riley, on some level still had feelings for Buffy, but like white avenger has said, I think Buffy wanted to have feelings for Riley. He was certainly more stable than Spike, she'd be judged less by her friends.

 

[Kean]

Regardless of the question of whether Buffy was ever in love with Riley (which I don't believe she was) I fully believe she did love him. I think he is very dear to her heart. And I think Riley feels the same way. There is definitely achemistry, a rapport between them, we saw that again in S8 and S9, but I don't believe he would have kissed her. Given that Buffy didn't know about Sam, I think there is a shot that she would have kissed him. Having Riley around allowed Buffy to reset time almost. She could be who she used to before her mother died, before the tower, before her resurrection. She could be that girl again and I think that appealed to her greatly.

But no, I don't think they were ever going to over step their boundaries.

 

[Flannen]

I think that Riley was intentionally trying to create a situation in which Buffy would try to kiss him just so that he could tell her that he was married in a way that would embarrass her. As I've said before (and I'm going to try very, VERY hard to resist dragging out my whole "Suvolte demon conspiracy theory" here) I believe that Riley had a lot more of an agenda planned for his return to Sunnydale than just chasing a (supposedly) extremely dangerous demon and capturing some fictional international arms trader.

I'm really unconvinced by this. Regardless of the fact that I do believe Spike was the demon they were looking, I could possibly swing towards Riley trying very hard to make it, or wanting it to be, Spike that was the culprit. I cannot, however, ever see Riley being the type of person who would "set up" a situation where Buffy might kiss him only to then rub his marriage in her face and humiliate her. In that episode, Riley showed that he far too much respect for Buffy to do that to her, especially once he was caught up with what she had been through.

I think that, at first, Buffy almost saw Riley's return as the plaster she could put over the gaping hole in her life. He was stable and strong and could be the pillar she needed that wouldn't feel the need to hide from her friends (unlike Spike). She seemed quite impressed with this "new" Riley, like he could sweep her off her feet and fix everything. I do think there was some chemistry in that scene and if there was going to be a kiss, I think it would have been initiated by Buffy and not Riley. Simply because, Buffy didn't know he was married and Riley does not strike me as a cheater. I think he would have, in his true gentleman fashion, stopped anything from going further and gently explained that he was married, had Sam not interrupted herself.

 

[EvilWillow]

I was kind of under the impression that they were still attracted to each other, and maybe he had feelings for her, but I think it was more of an embarrassment for her. I would be pretty embarrassed if my ex showed up while I was working at the DMP. Just sayin.

 

[white avenger]

This entire episode was a set up, from how Riley knew that Buffy was working at the Double Meat Palace without either going to or calling her home, to how NOT surprised he was to walk in (at precisely the right moment) and catch Buffy in bed, or at least naked under the blankets, with Spike. And part of that set up was to show Buffy, by the most drastic method possible, just how happy a relationship with a normal, ensouled, HUMAN partner could be. The plan was only a partial success, because Buffy didn't stake Spike. Otherwise, it ran with perfect military precision.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I wanted them to kiss so badly until I found out Riley was married. I whole-heartedly believe Riley would never do something like that while in a committed relationship. That said, there is definitely an attraction between them - how could there not be? They were together over a year, were intimate, and when they broke up it wasn't really because they both just decided there was nothing there, neither was getting what they needed/wanted from the other.

I don't think Riley was trying to rub anything in Buffy's face. I think he was trying not to do that, which is why he didn't tell her he was married right away. Buffy was maybe thinking she was going to get a second chance at a relationship with Riley, which at this point (to her) might mean a more normal, happy life and maybe he could pull her out of her rut. Though really, his showing up did knock her out of the "using Spike" rut she was in.

Riley told Buffy that she's always going to be a part of him as the first girl he ever loved. It is obvious he still holds her on a pedestal. There will always be a mutual love and respect relationship between them.

 

[strawberryeve]

I think she totally wanted him so she could forget about Spike for a minute and all her other problems, (for a minute!) Someone else mentioned it above - that he is a reminder of a time before everything went in the sewer. I think the writers definitely built up the sexual tension between them on purpose so we could get upset or be thrown off when Sam shows up. And, yes! I completely believe they would've kissed - I don't care how 'good' Riley is. And I kinda think Sam would get over it because she is so forgiving of the relationship and knows how gaga Riley was over Buffy. Her confidence is so forced and she looks up to Buffy. Like the "5 famous people my boyfriend is allowed to kiss" Buffy is like one of the people on Riley's list. Anyway, I'm rambling... I say yes, of course they would've kissed
[btw, is that a sewer? I thought it was a dam? I've gotta go watch again now 😛]

 

[Icarium]

This entire episode was a set up, from how Riley knew that Buffy was working at the Double Meat Palace without either going to or calling her home, to how NOT surprised he was to walk in (at precisely the right moment) and catch Buffy in bed, or at least naked under the blankets, with Spike. And part of that set up was to show Buffy, by the most drastic method possible, just how happy a relationship with a normal, ensouled, HUMAN partner could be. The plan was only a partial success, because Buffy didn't stake Spike. Otherwise, it ran with perfect military precision.

Why in the name of Zeus would Riley need Buffy to stake Spike? He could (and should) have easily done that himself long ago. There was about as much need to frame Spike as there would be to frame Jack the Ripper - no frame-up except something ridiculous like making Spike seem on the verge of destroying the world could make him look any more of a monster than he already was.