Buffy : Unpopular Opinions

[Evil Seal]

I don't see the problem with Kennedy and I would love it if someone who hates her would explain (calmly and with valid arguments of course) why. I thought this could be the right thread 😛

 

[ChaseRules]

I could try . First could you tell me why you don't have a problem with Kennedy & I give you the rebute to those points ok ?

 

[PaulParmar1]

I could try . First could you tell me why you don't have a problem with Kennedy & I give you the rebute to those points ok ?

I don't have a problem with Kennedy either @Evil Seal haha
I love Kennedy's spunk and confidence 🙂

 

[ChaseRules]

You in a small group here then 😀

 

[crazysoulless]

I don't see the problem with Kennedy and I would love it if someone who hates her would explain (calmly and with valid arguments of course) why. I thought this could be the right thread 😛

So you want something more eloquent than Willow calling Parker a poophead.

In Bring on the Night, Buffy saw Giles for the first time in possibly 7 months and immediately went to hug him but Kennedy got in front of him, entered Buffy's home without an invite or even Buffy knowing who she was, took one look at Buffy, said, "You're the Slayer? Humpf" and walked on unimpressed.

Kennedy never acknowledged Summers casa was Buffy's house and no one elses. She was letting them all stay there rent free, use her electricity, eat her food, etc. But they acted like it was a group home that belonged equally to all of them.

In The Killer in Me, she thinks Willow being a witch is cute and completely misses the seriousness of the occult and what Willow did in s6 (nearly murder everyone and end the world). It's not real to her. And yet she will spend the rest of the season idolizing and praising Willow for being a witch.

In Get It Done, she said "You're not even the strongest person in this room." Buffy rightly replied "You're wrong because I use the power that I have" which was the entire point of Buffy's speech! She was trying to get them (especially Willow) to deal with their issues and level up but Kennedy acted like it was baseless bullying, when she was the one who called Chloe a "maggot" and acted like the drill sergeant they accused Buffy of being. Kennedy thought she was a better fighter than a 150 year old vampire who killed two Slayers because "I've been trained." She gets upset with Willow and shuts her out of her own bedroom because she needs time away from her when she sees that Willow's "powerful" magic use wasn't all kittens and rainbows.

In Empty Places, she was one of the main people to orchestrate the mutiny.

In Touched, she said they should decide things on who's been there the longest as though that would make her in charge since she trained with a Watcher (she's Wesley in s3). Buffy was an active Slayer killing thousands of monsters and the Scooby Gang (with Buffy as their leader) averted over half a dozen apocalypses. Kennedy helped kick out the person with the most experience. Kennedy ****ed Willow in Buffy's old bedroom in Buffy's house not even knowing where Buffy was staying after they kicked her out of her own house she had been living in for 7 seasons.

In End of Days, she was *so* concerned for Faith's wellbeing after that obvious trap, which was very different from how she acted after the vineyard.

 

[Evil Seal]

Thanks @crazysoulless that was exactly what I wanted and more ! Very detailed and to the point.
I agree with all of this but somehow it really doesn't affect me and it doesn't change the fact that I don't have a problem with her. I'm not saying I like her but I think at this point in the story Willow needed to be pushed a little bit past her comfort zone to get back on her feet and deal with her issues and Kennedy was perfect for that. I obviously don't want Willow to end up with her when all is said and done, but for a short-ish relationship, it was a pretty good call.
As for all the Buffy-related comments, I totally agree and I really didn't like all the "we're throwing you out of your own home" thing. But I don't associate it with only Kennedy so she's still largely bearable in my book.
 

In Bring on the Night, Buffy saw Giles for the first time in possibly 7 months and immediately went to hug him but Kennedy got in front of him, entered Buffy's home without an invite or even Buffy knowing who she was, took one look at Buffy, said, "You're the Slayer? Humpf" and walked on unimpressed.

And this was to introduce the fear that Giles might be the First since nobody touched him 🙂 (and also to introduce all the potentials)

 

[ChaseRules]

I don't like Kennedy for the reason she went after Willow just so she could have control & that was the only reason I think she went after her.
There other reasons but they were already mentioned .

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Just have a look at all my posts detailing why I hate Kennedy.

 

[ChaseRules]

And you got a number of posts on Kennedy 😀

 

[crazysoulless]

I don't think Willow needed someone to prop her up (outside of Buffy getting her to deal enough to contribute magically) because Willow's entire series arc was about a desperate grab for power. She needed to hit bottom and deconstruct everything she believed about herself and realize who she is as a person instead of the gifted academic, the hacker, the sorceress, & the worshipped-girlfriend.

When she returned in s7, she was barely at the beginning of that. Then Kennedy arrived and thought she was seducing sweet innocent season 1 Willow, no clue about the rank arrogant amateur who D'Hoffryn wanted to recruit who lashes out when ignored or criticized to pay back for all the years she felt like Marci.

She had the same problem as Warren, bullied as an adolescent and now wants to show the world "I'm not a loser" and you should fear and respect me.

Warren: Shut up and get on your knees.

Tara: What do you want me to do, just sit back and keep my mouth shut?
Willow: That'd be a good start.

Warren: You and your jock buddies used to give me such a hard time.
Willow: Picked on right up til college.

Warren: Buy the guy who killed the Slayer a drink.
Willow: Now I'm the Slayer.

It's like Kennedy walked into a rehab clinic on visitor's day and started yelling at all the people who have been hurt throughout the years by the addict and assumed because they were airing their stories and holding her accountable for everything she did while using, it meant she was the victim.

 

[ChaseRules]

Don't forget that Kennedy was from money & had her own Watcher for a number of years so knew what was going on & didn't want to lose out on getting the power unlike Buffy who didn't want it but was doing the best she knew how .

 

[Evil Seal]

Just have a look at all my posts detailing why I hate Kennedy.

I'm interested! Where did you post them?

I don't like Kennedy for the reason she went after Willow just so she could have control

Control over what? Over Willow?

It's like Kennedy walked into a rehab clinic on visitor's day and started yelling at all the people who have been hurt throughout the years by the addict and assumed because they were airing their stories and holding her accountable for everything she did while using, it meant she was the victim.

So are you saying that Kennedy shouldn't have treated Willow that way? How should she have treated her?
 

Don't forget that Kennedy was from money & had her own Watcher for a number of years so knew what was going on & didn't want to lose out on getting the power unlike Buffy who didn't want it but was doing the best she knew how .

Yes but I feel like this one is just a question of education. And Buffy is obviously the better character/Slayer/person of the two, I'm not questioning that.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

I'm interested! Where did you post them?

Everywhere. The quickest thing to do might just be to use the search feature. Type in Kennedy in the search bar then put my name in the box under Posted by Member. Normally anytime I mention Kennedy it's to do with how much I hate her and why.🙂

 

[ChaseRules]

Kennedy wanted control & I willing to bet if she knew Buffy was gay would went after her instead of Willow .

Yes but I feel like this one is just a question of education. And Buffy is obviously the better character/Slayer/person of the two, I'm not questioning that.

Sorry . I didn't know that 😎

 

[crazysoulless]

So are you saying that Kennedy shouldn't have treated Willow that way? How should she have treated her?

Kennedy should have treated Willow as Willow instead of s4 Tara.

Willow spent years with a superiority complex masking an inferiority complex. She had no inner self worth. She gained confidence from outside sources; grades, boyfriend, girlfriend, magic.

Kennedy was the LAST thing Willow needed in s7, the dating equivalent of that room in the Pleasure Dome on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, full of adoring fans who know nothing about the person standing in front of them thus making the adoration false, unhealthy emotional manipulation.

Willow needed to learn how to handle criticism and be secure in herself. She couldn't do that with her little attack dog protecting her delicate feelings like she was Faith in Sanctuary.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

Kennedy was the LAST thing Willow needed in s7, the dating equivalent of that room in the Pleasure Dome on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, full of adoring fans who know nothing about the person standing in front of them thus making the adoration false, unhealthy emotional manipulation.

Willow needed to learn how to handle criticism and be secure in herself. She couldn't do that with her little attack dog protecting her delicate feelings like she was Faith in Sanctuary.

Isn't that how love works? You realise that you have this inexplainable fascination with a person you've just met and you want to spend all your time with them and tell them how awesome they are. It is only after it's been a while you know where the two of you are compatible or not. I am sure Killow could have matured over time.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Kennedy wanted control & I willing to bet if she knew Buffy was gay would went after her instead of Willow .

I agree. I don't think she would've gotten very far with Buffy though. Willow was still emotionally vulnerable when Kennedy targeted her. That backyard drill sergeant scene is awful and show just how much Kennedy would abuse any power she got. She calls a younger potential "maggot", humiliates her in front of her peers, then gloats about it to Wood as if it is something to be proud of. She gets no reprimand for this type of behaviour, it's no wonder Kennedy then ups her level of wanting control by initiating the mutiny to get rid of Buffy, all because she wanted a bigger say in the running of things and Buffy wasn't letting her have it.

 

[Evil Seal]

She calls a younger potential "maggot", humiliates her in front of her peers, then gloats about it to Wood as if it is something to be proud of. She gets no reprimand for this type of behaviour

Yeah but this is the typical US Army scene that you see in a lot of movies/series. I don't think this one is the character's "fault", this is on the writers who wanted to get a laugh by imitating drill sergeant scenes. And I think it's only recently that people pay more attention to this kind of abuse.
Anyway, the character is supposed to be this drill sergeant type I think. And that's why I tolerate her, she is supposed the be the jerky type and she's only a bump on the road (not only for Willow but for everybody) who Willow dumps after a while anyway. That's also the beauty of Mutant Enemy's works : they create all kinds of characters, not just likeable or plain evil ones.

I'm only at s02 of my rererewatch but when I get to s07 I'll pay more attention to all the details you guys pointed out.

And @ChaseRules don't worry, Kennedy is not even in my top 10 characters on BtVS, so you'll never ever hear me side with her over Buffy 😉

Now, I have another question : do you wish that the character didn't exist at all or do you still see a value to the story even though you hate her? (because for example Joffrey in GoT was the worst person ever and I hated him, but I'm certainly not saying that he shouldn't have existed at all in the story)

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Yeah but this is the typical US Army scene that you see in a lot of movies/series. I don't think this one is the character's "fault", this is on the writers who wanted to get a laugh by imitating drill sergeant scenes. And I think it's only recently that people pay more attention to this kind of abuse.
Anyway, the character is supposed to be this drill sergeant type I think. And that's why I tolerate her, she is supposed the be the jerky type and she's only a bump on the road (not only for Willow but for everybody) who Willow dumps after a while anyway. That's also the beauty of Mutant Enemy's works : they create all kinds of characters, not just likeable or plain evil ones.

Thing is though, in the US Army movie scenes, the drill sergeant is in a legitimate position of authority over the privates. They've come in and the sergeant is already in that position of power. Kennedy isn't. She came in as one of the potentials, yet just because she's sleeping with Willow, she now considers herself above them. She skives off going to the desert with the other potentials, she invites herself to Scooby meetings, she thinks she has the right to throw her weight around etc. Kennedy does nothing to earn Scooby membership. Even Anya, Spike and Tara had to earn their place (even then Spike and Anya were still on the fringes), Kennedy just gets handed it on a platter all because she's sleeping with an emotionally vulnerable Willow.

There is also the fact that she doesn't acknowledge the role she played in Chloe's suicide and therefore shows no remorse for it.

@ChaseRules is right when she says Kennedy wants control. She tries to tell Willow how she should be feeling by having a go at her when she either sticks up for Buffy or looks like she's going to.

Now, I have another question : do you wish that the character didn't exist at all or do you still see a value to the story even though you hate her

I wish Kennedy had gotten eaten by Gnarl.

Kennedy is the type of character that, if they do exist in the story, then they need to get a comeuppance (like Joffrey in GOT). It's the satisfaction of karmic retribution that makes hateable characters tolerable. However, Kennedy never got that comeuppance and as a consequence, she is easily one of the most hated characters in the Buffyverse. Death by Gnarl is the only way for her to garner any ounce of sympathy as he peels her skin from her body whilst she's still alive and eats it strip by strip......

 

[Evil Seal]

@DeadlyDuo I agree, she's pushy and doesn't know her place. She's coming between people that have known each other for 7 years and doesn't really care who she hurts. Thanks for all these posts, fellow Buffy buffs ! (lol I'm sooo funny...)

I wish Kennedy had gotten eaten by Gnarl.

Btw, I genuinely laughed out loud when I read that, thanks.