Buffy Message

[Cast No Shadow]

Ok, so we have a few threads on your favourite buffy quote, a few on your favourite buffy episode and a few ranking series from best to worst.

I'm sure there will have been a topic on this before, but I've not seen any yet. What's your favourite/least favourite message youve inferred from btvs? If you could list a top 5 that would be fab!

For example, I know a lot of people love the idea of female empowerment and dislike the metaphor of of willow's over use of magic as a warning against drugs.

I know I dont need to say it but please be aware that the message you receive from an episode may be completely different to that of your peers so please be respectful.

Ps, sorry for grammatical/spelling errors, im using my new phone and haven't quite got the hang yet!

 

[Skytteflickan88]

That sexually assalting males is funny or simply not as evil as when it's done to women (not counting when Amy brain controlled the girl at the Bronze so that girl would want Willow, that was kind of ignored or atleast without more consequence that the other abuses of magic).

For example, Angel being harrassed/raped by Darla, Xander maybe being made to do things with Dracula in season 8(they seemed to boyfriend-y) Giles being harrassed by Dracula's brides. Maybe Faith kissing Xander counts, that wasn't exactly portrayed as okay.

Comapare that to Warren and the other controlling Katrina, Buffy almost being raped by the swim team after being harassed earlier, Buffy being attacked by Xander and Buffy being attacked by Spike. None of those events were overlooked the same way as Darla's actions (Cordelia even made a insensitive remark) and none were suppose to be funny, like Giles' scene way (I'll admit, I laughed the first time I saw it).

It just seems like men don't have the same value as women, and/or that they simply don't mind being used.

That is probably not the message the shows want to send out, and is hopefully not any writer of the show agrees on, but it comes off that way.

 

[Goby]

WARNING: ANGEL SEASON 5 SPOILER​

The saying, "It's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game."

I possibly love "Not Fade Away" more than any other episode in the Whedonverse. I absolutely love that the Fang Gang is going to battle evil, and that they know they are going to die. They have a mission. It is their duty. And they are willing to sacrifice their lives for the battle that has occurred since the beginning of time... and that occurs in our lives: The battle of good vs. evil.

So what side are you on? Are you willing to lose everything, including your life, to do what's right?

In the end, they didn't run, they didn't hide. They fought evil. It was a fight they knew they would ultimately lose. And a fight they did lose and paid for with their lives. (I don't care what happened in the Season 6!). And even though they lost, they are among the greatest heroes in all television.

The lesson of "Not Fade Away" can be applied to our life every single day....

Do what's right, regardless of the cost.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I love the message that you don't have to be born special, or smart, strong, etc etc to be extraordinary, a message that was very clear in Potential.

 

[Goby]

I love the message that you don't have to be born special, or smart, strong, etc etc to be extraordinary, a message that was very clear in Potential.

Good point. I find the message much more powerful in Xander. Here's a guy with no special powers, can't find a job, doesn't go to college, not particularly smart, etc..., yet he is perhaps the most important person in Buffy's life. He is there when she needs him. He is ready to die for Buffy in the fight against evil.

Xander is amazing, because there nothing particularly special about him, just like you and me. Unless, of course, you do have superpowers. I don't want to offend anyone. 😉

 

[Icarium]

Favourites:

- "Research is very important. Nerds are cool".
- "There is always a choice. Having a sucky life is not an excuse to kill people"
- "Friends are more important than lovers"

Least favourite:

"Research is a waste of time. Nerds are sociopathic losers, beware of them. Posers bad boys/girls with black leather clothes are the height of cool, you should all emulate them"
- "It's totally cool to give a million chances to serial killers. And you are practically obliged to do so if, you or one of your friends is sleeping with them. In fact, no relationship can match the romance between people who have tried to kill each other a number of times"
- "Friends? What's that? It's my two love that's everything in my life, you should follow my example. people".


Yes, I realize that the my favourite messages are the exact opposite of my least favourite but what can I do when the show changed its attitude towards most things and ended up sending many contradictory messages?

 

[Ripper666]

What a great question! I think that there are a few points which are critiziced:
1) The american school system with it's "invisible" students! There are at least two episodes that shows that. The one with the invisible girl and when Jonathan tried to run amok!

2)It doesn't care who you are you can archieve your own goals in life if you fight for them.( American dream)

3) Friends and family are the two most important things on earth!

4)Enjoy life it could be harder. Just think WWBD!

5)Never give up. shit happens, people(vampires) change, life goes on!

6) there are some social problems which are discussed. for example what happens when a family member dies?

7)Don't handle rush and out of anger or torn. Think about what you will do and how your action can influence your friends.

8) Look at Icariums favorites

9)Don't get a sucking vamp(ire);D

10) 10 reasons are more impressive than just 9

 

[caritas08]

Positive Messages for Me: Everybody is ultimately alone and dealing with their own pain. You aren't anymore alone or in any more pain than anybody else.

Negative Messages: Love has to be painful, unpredictable (even abusive at times) to be real, deep or mean anything.

 

[Kean]

It used to be to keep trying. That no matter what, you dust yourself off, and go again and eventually, it will be worth it.

But now it's suffer through an angonising life and if you are very lucky you will die, most likely rise again, for an even suckier life. Peace doesn't exist. Lessons are never learned. You can't change.

Sorry, I didn't mean that to be so bitter. But yeah, Buffy used to be (for me) about being strong, I'm more than a little pissed that it has turned into how to be weak.