Forever

[Lila]

What does the episode name refer to? Is it Buffy's comment to Angel, when he returns to comfort her after her mother's death? Angel tells her that he'll stay for as long as she wants him around. Buffy replies: "How about forever?" and they kiss.

I know Buffy has the right to be upset and needy (her words), but still. Riley had just left.

It also made me wonder if Riley was right when he told Xander that Buffy didn't love him. Or is it just that Buffy, at this point in time, will always wish Angel was around?

 

[Mr Trick]

What does the episode name refer to? Is it Buffy's comment to Angel, when he returns to comfort her after her mother's death? Angel tells her that he'll stay for as long as she wants him around. Buffy replies: "How about forever?" and they kiss.

I know Buffy has the right to be upset and needy (her words), but still. Riley had just left.

It also made me wonder if Riley was right when he told Xander that Buffy didn't love him. Or is it just that Buffy, at this point in time, will always wish Angel was around?

Well I think you are right that Buffy didn't love Riley, but then I don't think he loved her he just thought he did. Besides were they going out long enough to fall in love?

I took the title to refer to them trying to bring Joyce back, but then the reality than once that didn't happen than she was gone forever, but you could be right.

 

[vellavu]

What does the episode name refer to? Is it Buffy's comment to Angel, when he returns to comfort her after her mother's death? Angel tells her that he'll stay for as long as she wants him around. Buffy replies: "How about forever?" and they kiss.

I know Buffy has the right to be upset and needy (her words), but still. Riley had just left.

It also made me wonder if Riley was right when he told Xander that Buffy didn't love him. Or is it just that Buffy, at this point in time, will always wish Angel was around?

After Buffy said "How about forever", she was fully aware that she was acting like a spoiled brat. But yes, I think we should cut her some slack because her mom just died.

Both of them knew that thinks couldn't work out long before, and several Buffy's comments like this in extreme circumstances are not going to change that.

But does she wish that Angel is around all the time? Yes. She also wishes that Xander, Willow, Giles, Spike, Riley, her slayer army, are all around all the time.
In S6 and S9 she was pretty alone and no one was around, we can see how that turned out to be for her. I think she needs a lot of accompany and this makes her the strongest slayer of all time.

 

[Mr Trick]

After Buffy said "How about forever", she was fully aware that she was acting like a spoiled brat. But yes, I think we should cut her some slack because her mom just died.

Both of them knew that thinks couldn't work out long before, and several Buffy's comments like this in extreme circumstances are not going to change that.

But does she wish that Angel is around all the time? Yes. She also wishes that Xander, Willow, Giles, Spike, Riley, her slayer army, are all around all the time.
In S6 and S9 she was pretty alone and no one was around, we can see how that turned out to be for her. I think she needs a lot of accompany and this makes her the strongest slayer of all time.

Agreed, think she got caught up in the moment. Having lost her Mum it was a releaf to see Angel again and brought back happy memories. But she had moved on this point too. Also, it happened not long after Riley had left so that was another factor.

 

[Blaze]

I always took the meaning to be about Joyce's death, not Angel.

 

[nancylives]

i think all of these are correct, and the title is intended to refer to everything that it could possibly stand for.

 

[Taake]

I think of it akin to the ending of Lie To Me where she asks Giles to lie to her.
Buffy: Does it ever get easy?
Giles: You mean life?
Buffy: Yeah, does it get easy?
Giles: What do you want me to say?
Buffy: Lie to me.
Giles: Yes. It's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and... everybody lives happily ever after.

It's like a... pure, childish urge where you just feel (consciously knowing you can't or won't) like you want to be able to take an easy option. Stay with me forever, comfort me, make life easy, lie to me... For just a moment it's nice to toy with the idea of not being strong, of just giving into a more simplistic, make-belive, worldview. "Forever" represents that urge in Buffy to me.