Empty Places

[Cast No Shadow]

What would you have done in Buffy's situation? There's something that really doesn't gel with me that they threw Buffy out, there was a part of me that wanted her to be like, "Hell no! This is my house, I've paid the bills, put food on the table, what have the rest of you done?!"

If I'd raised my little sister, and then she demanded I leave on the grounds that it was "her house too", I'd be more than a little bit annoyed.

I get why she did, I know the potentials needed somewhere to train and they all needed somewhere to meet, and Buffy wouldn't have just cast a bunch of potentials out into the streets when they were at their most vulnerable, but still, it really didn't sit right.

---------- Post added at 12:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 AM ----------

Just realised I've put this in S6, I'd be grateful if someone could move it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

Honestly, I think I'd have done exactly what she did. She was just so exhausted at that point, physically and especially, emotionally. It must have been overwhelming, to say the least, for all whom she loved and trusted the most, (except for Spike), to kick her out of her own home after making a decision that no one else had the misfortune of having to make. In theory, I'm sure a lot of people would say that they'd yell, get angry, set everyone straight. But I think in the moment, there was nothing left for her to do.

She'd already had her "what is it that you do" moment in "Get it Done," and it didn't seem to matter any more. Honestly, at that point, I think she was completely done. Finished. It was all too much. I know I'm a Spuffy so you'll all just take this with a grain of salt, but I honestly believe that Spike's comfort in the next episode is the only thing that got her through that, and through the final battle. If he hadn't returned, or hadn't done and said what he did at the right time, I don't know if she could have come back from--really--the ultimate blow of the series, in "Empty Places." It's one thing to expect evil from demons, but from your family? Unbelievable.

 

[white avenger]

I can agree that Buffy was pretty much on the verge of collapse at that time, and that getting away from that pressure was probably the best thing for her (which in no way keeps me from becoming infuriated every time that I see the episode) Despite being in proximity with the others, Buffy, through her duties as leader and guardian of the whole gang, had been both overwhelmed by the sheer number of people under her protection and isolated by the duties required to provide that protection. Those few hours away from that pressure, being held by someone who genuinely cared for her and made no judgements or demands of her quite literally replenished her strength, determination, and focus on the mission at hand.