Can Bangel fans give me a good reason why Buffy and Angel are the better ship?

[hoponlilmama]

You know, in universe time could well have helped. In S5 in universe, Riley was coming down and withdrawing from whatever hellish combination of experimental drugs, mind control and surgery he had been subjected to, mostly unknowingly, at the hands of Maggie Walsh. And it looked like he was her primary guinea pig. Unlike the rest of the Initiative survivors, he wouldn't have been getting any help either. Witness the difference between Riley and Graham in Out of My Mind, or S6 Riley after rejoining. Given what he was subjected to, it's amazing he was even vaguely sane trying to recover without help.

Huh, I didn't even think of that. Makes sense! I mean Riley's lucky, those drugs could've caused permanent damage to his heart/other organs.

I agree that he likely was Maggie's primary guinea pig - and by the way, I am forever creeped out that Maggie was watching him have sex with Buffy.

 

[NotASlayer]

Huh, I didn't even think of that. Makes sense! I mean Riley's lucky, those drugs could've caused permanent damage to his heart/other organs.

Yeah, there was no way Riley was in his right mind in S5. Drug withdrawal from experimental drugs, health issues from experimental surgeries, his own surgery without anaesthetic to remove a chip, Adam's meddling, combinations of all these... "Out of My Mind" was a very accurate title that could be applied to all of Riley's behaviour by that point.

and by the way, I am forever creeped out that Maggie was watching him have sex with Buffy.

You mean the whole "Don't worry, mommy's watching..." vibe? 😀

 

[hoponlilmama]

Yeah, there was no way Riley was in his right mind in S5. Drug withdrawal from experimental drugs, health issues from experimental surgeries, his own surgery without anaesthetic to remove a chip, Adam's meddling, combinations of all these... "Out of My Mind" was a very accurate title that could be applied to all of Riley's behaviour by that point.

Riley went through a lot in s5 - trust issues, loss of identity and everything you mentioned above.

You mean the whole "Don't worry, mommy's watching..." vibe? 😀

Thank you for creeping me out even further....AAAAHHHHH!!
😱🤣


EDIT: 100% Riley did need therapy after what he went through.