Does your 'shipping affect the way you see the shows?

[VisionGirl]

I was wondering if your 'shipping preferences affect the way you view the shows/episodes/scenes etc? To explain further, I just posted on an episode discussion thread in which it seemed that some people disliked the episode strictly because it showcased one particular 'ship. Well, maybe that's the way I read it, but it does seem at times that some people take 'shipping to the extreme so that they dislike complete episodes or seasons or scenes not based on their own merits, but simply because their favored 'ships aren't in them. Personally, I don't get that. I could never take it that far, and then I don't really see the point of being a fan of these shows. I have recently come out with my Bangelness, but I can easily say that I adore FFL, or the church scene in Beneath You, or Spike's sacrifice in Intervention. I don't consider myself a Cangel at all (well, I love the friendship, just not the romance), but even I am moved by the sexiness of WITW or the kiss in You're Welcome. 'Shipping doesn't affect the way I see those things. Well, I am grossed out by Cordy & Connor, but then again, so is everyone!!

So, is anybody with me here, and does this annoy you? Or if you're someone who has a hard time seeing anything other than your OTP, why?

 

[EvilBuffy]

Nope, I don't dislike episodes because of ships. If I don't like an episode, it's because it bored the crap out of me, which has nothing to do with who is coupled up.

 

[Blondie Bear]

As long as the 'ship is serving the storyline, I like it. I don't really consider myself a "Bangel" or a "Spuffy" or whatever; I like them all when it's their time to be in the spotlight in the show. (Mostly, when people ask, I say I'm a "Sparmony.") I think the issue comes in when people decide that their 'ship is the be-all-end-all and no 'ship will ever transcend its glorious beauteousness . . . or whatever. Blinders. People have them.

Edit: When I say "all," I am, of course, not including Willow/Kennedy. Because that's an abomination. 😉

 

[xaphania]

Not really. I might enjoy the Spuffy episodes more than the Bangel ones, but I don't actively avoid the episodes that are heavily Bangel in rewatches.

 

[Tillow4ever]

I only do that with the whole "Willow/Kennedy" thing. I don't like season 7 cause Tara's gone. But other than that I don't mind, I like how the characters progress through out the seasons with different relationships, like, even though I'm a Tillow, Spuffy, Xanya, I still don't mind Woz, Bangel, Briley, and Cander infact I like the high school relationships and the episodes... I don't know if this really explains what you asked... but I hope it does

 

[prophecygrrl]

Good question!

Well, I definitely enjoy things more when my OTP is featured or good things are happening for them. I think that's like with any storyline, really, except with shipping. But yes, shipping is obviously a bit more emotional and requires more investment from the viewer than other storylines do, so I have to confess that shipping does affect my judgment. For better or worse, I don't know. All I know is I like seeing some quality Spuffy on my tv screen!

As for ships I don't really like, I try not to let it bother my enjoyment of the story, and I try not to judge based on that. I usually appreciate all the shippy moments that you know are supposed to tug at your heartstrings even if they're not my OTP, like with Bangel in IWRY, Fresley in AtS Season 5, etc. I'm not the biggest fan of either, but I think it's beautifully portrayed and those ships still say a lot about the individual journeys of the characters involved. I get that.

 

[GrrArghx]

I'm with you, 100%. 🙂

If that were the case, I wouldn't like anything past S3, lol.

 

[brinkster130]

So, is anybody with me here, and does this annoy you? Or if you're someone who has a hard time seeing anything other than your OTP, why?

I don't dislike certain episodes because of certain ships. In all honestly, I typically find myself enjoying most ships. 🙂 Sometimes it is annoying to hear about people hating certain episodes only because its about a different couple. I must say, that what I find most annoying is when people hate one couple only because it isn't their OTP couple.

Although, if you really hate a certain couple I can see why it might make an episode unenjoyable.

I could never take it that far. I have recently come out with my Bangelness, but I can easily say that I adore FFL, or the church scene in Beneath You, or Spike's sacrifice in Intervention. I don't consider myself a Cangel at all (well, I love the friendship, just not the romance), but even I am moved by the sexiness of WITW or the kiss in You're Welcome.

I totally agree with you here. I LOVE Bangel but I do enjoy a little Spuffy and Briley from time to time 😛 and yes, the kiss in You're Welcome was awesome!

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

Nah, don't think it ever happened to me.

I would love some episodes even without Bangel in them. I don't like Smashed and Dead Things, well yes, because of Spuffy.. but not as much because they mind me as a couple, but because of those scenes I find disgusting.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Im not sure, I hate the last bit of 'Beneth You' when Buffy runs off after Spike, cuz that bores me, I turn the epside off by that stage, don't see the point in watching it.

But that may be cuz I don't like Spike, not just Buffy/Spike

 

[StarSlayer]

My shipping preferences make me like some episodes more than others, but I don't avoid or refuse to watch other episodes/scenes where they aren't featured and other ships are the focus (except maybe Amends because I always get so mad when I watch it). For example, I absolutely love season 2, and I'm a Spuffy shipper, not a Bangel shipper. I also absolutely love "Chosen," even with the Bangel scenes and I don't skip over them.

 

[Wishing Oceans]

Well, my dislike of Buffy/Angel pretty much makes me dislike most (if not all) scenes with the two of them.

But other than that... 😛

Let's see, explainy time! (sw)

I believe that disliking 'ships and liking 'ships are two sides of the same lovely, sparkly, bedazzled coin. You like 'ships for certain reasons, such as liking the character, the dynamic, the chemistry between the actors, and how well-written the scenes and dialogue are. I think that you dislike 'ships for the same general reasons. I don't like the Bangel dynamic, and that makes me not like the two together. So it makes sense to generally dislike scenes with the two of them, even if the scene was written well.

For example: I Will Remember You. Iconic in the Buffyverse. It was written pretty well, but I don't like the episode and will probably skip it in a rewatch. Why? Because I don't like the Bangel dynamic, and that exact thing pretty much took over the whole episode.

 

[xaphania]

I have to amend what I previously said and agree with Ori: IWRY is the one ep that I'd hate to watch because of how sugary-sweet Bangel it is.

I made Kean a IWRY picspam for Merrick's Secret Santa and it just about killed me. 😉
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[The Unspoken]

Come to think of it, it's not that irrational to dislike episodes or even entire seasons because of a certain couple, since their dynamic can shape so much of the plot. For example: when I watched 'Surprise' recently, I cringed when Angel jumped after Buffy in the water while a vamp run off with one of the Judge's parts.

She can bend steel bars. Yeah, I think it's safe to say she can at least hang in there for a few minutes.

 

[zobothehobo]

My shipping definately affects the way I watch the shows. Bangel heavy episodes like Amends make me want to vomit. (well Amends makes me want to vomit, not most Bangel heavy episodes). There are some times I defend Bangel in cannon. For example it's an unpopular opinion, but I side with Buffy in Revelations. I know why she didn't tell them and I agree with her. It was the right thing for her to do.

but yeah I'm sure there are episodes I like more because I'm a Spuffy too. I'm not sure I would like season 7 HALF as much as I do if not for my love for Spuffy and I know that. But honestly, that's the fun of shipping.

 

[Zeppo]

Definately it affects my perspective on the show. If it affects mine then it definately affects a Spuffy's viewing of the show. When we argue on the boards it's always about our perspectives.

See, I go through the show watching Buffy move on from Angel even though I believe she'll always love him and settles always for second best because she has no choice to. So basically, there was always this anticipation of whether or not they could ever be. While a Spuffy will watch and consider Bangel an in-the-moment thing and that Buffy moves on from Angel and completely falls for Spike. 2 different shows. Shipping definately affects the way we watch the shows because or own personal values surface and are placed on the characters.

 

[Abbeycat]

My ships don't always effect the way I watch shows. Maybe sometimes it does but not all the time. I know on another show my ships effected the way I watched the show. Because I didn't care for the couple and everytime there was lots of scenes with that ship, it made me nauseated.

 

[EvilBuffy]

I'm posting again because I want to. TRY AND STOP ME! 😉

(For me) Watching any show isn't about ships. Here is my example: My favorite character is Buffy. She loved Angel. Then Riley. Then Spike. I love that she loved them all because it helped her become who she is. Relationships are fun to root for and all, but I watch for the journey. I like to see how they change and grow. Ships come and go but the journey is forever.

Or until they die. Well, ya know, die for good.

Maybe I'm just a weirdo.

 

[VisionGirl]

I'm posting again because I want to. TRY AND STOP ME! 😉

(For me) Watching any show isn't about ships. Here is my example: My favorite character is Buffy. She loved Angel. Then Riley. Then Spike. I love that she loved them all because it helped her become who she is. Relationships are fun to root for and all, but I watch for the journey. I like to see how they change and grow. Ships come and go but the journey is forever.

Or until they die. Well, ya know, die for good.

Maybe I'm just a weirdo.

No, I'm with you. Love this post, just couldn't give you any more rep)! 🙂

For some of the others of you, that's exactly what I was talking about. I guess we come at it from different perspectives. Maybe I like Amends or IWRY because of Bangel, I don't know, I just always thought I liked the storyline (Amends) & the acting (IWRY). But some of you have demonstrated exactly what I was talking about: you dislike these two episodes particularly because of the 'shipping aspect. And while I respect that some people come at 'shipping like that, I don't. Maybe I'm just not very 'shippy, and I don't have any desire to be like that. I don't get it. But I don't have to. We're all different, so other people can watch it however they want, despite what I think LOL!

 

[A Flawed Fashion]

I've found that most people in the Buffy fandom enjoy episodes without their ship, but what I've found to be the biggest difference is how people interpret the same lines in a million different ways. There are so many different ways to logically interpret the show and that is completely understandable because everyone has built up a different interpretation of 7 years of episodes by the time it ends.

Spuffy in nearly all of seasons 4 through 6 frankly makes me cringe, but I can still enjoy the episodes with Spuffy . I just naturally focus more on everything else and pay minimal attention to the Spuffy. It only really bothers me in the episodes I think either Buffy or Spike does something creepy or horrible to the other -- which I'm not a fan of happening to any relationship and it isn't exclusive to Spuffy. Unfortunately, there are a few episodes that get brought down a few levels in my book because the plot is based around the type of Spuffy I hate.

On the other hand, I find I have a better emotional attachment to Buffy/Angel scenes than I do the Spuffy scenes for no other reason that I like them better. There isn't a relationship on this show that was perfect, but I like some of them better than others.

Even tiny moments can add to an episode. If you ship Xander and Anya and they are randomly holding hands in a scene but no attention is called to it, you would have a happy reaction to it. If you didn't, you wouldn't even pay attention.

Everyone who watches the episode sees the same thing, but the audience splits on what they think of it. I don't think that any side is right. Its all open to interpretation.

Because of all of that, it is inevitable that people with different shipping habits(including a lack of shipping) will have completely different views on an episode. People who don't ship anyone aren't going to get little thrills from every little ship moment between a favorite pair, but they also aren't going to be brought down as much by a couple imploding and will see it in a completely different light.

A good example of shipping preferences shaping reactions to a scene is in season seven in Touched(I think that's the episode) where all the couples get closer. I was REALLY happy to see Xander and Anya have sex. I got as much enjoyment out of that as the Spuffy shippers got out of the Spuffy scene..... but did the Spuffy shippers who don't ship Xander and Anya share the same feelings... nope. They celebrated Spuffy while to me Buffy could have been with anyone in that moment and I would have had the same reaction. Buffy was seeking comfort after being betrayed, but if someone else was on her side all along instead of or along with Spike it would have been the same scene to me because the sentiment wasn't just about the Spike/Buffy relationship to me, but it was a huge meaningful Spuffy moment to them. I see where they are coming from, but it makes no difference to me.

As a whole scene without any single bias taking over, I love that it was a nice scene of everyone coming together days before all hell breaks loose in Sunnydale and I love it for that as well. I enjoy that scene for showing how everyone seeks comfort and love.

In the end, this show is a hell of a lot better than who I think should end up with who. All the relationships on this show mean something to each character and take the characters to new places and different self discoveries even if I didn't always enjoy it, so that's how I like to look at the show as a whole. This show is about the Journey through life and each relationship was important. My enjoyment of the show as a whole goes far beyond what I thought of a ship.