Healthiest Relationship

MarlieTheSlayer

Bangel shipper
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Black Thorn
What was the healthiest relationship in the Buffyverse?

If you can't chose one of the "official" ships, you can always "make up" your own.
Maybe you think Faith and Buffy would make a great pair or maybe Fred and Willow?
 
Are we talking an actual romantic relationship? Then it's probably Buffy/Riley- the amount af angst they had to simply invent to make this couple 'interesting' and then break them up.

Other contenders are Fred/Gunn, Oz/Willow and Xander/Cordelia.

Fred/Gunn ws healthy. Boring but healthy.

Oz was very much the anti-angst guy (except for the whole werewolf thing), he was cool, unflappable, and gave Willow a whole bunch of self-confidence.

If Xander hadn't cheated on Cordy they'd probably still be together, they wierdly balanced each other out. Also Cordelia grew up a lot during the run of both shows (Xander less so but still) so they would've evolved as a couple.


Much as a love Fuffy it wouldn't have been 'healthy' exactly. Faith has too many issues with relationships, but it would've been dramatic, fun and hot! 😀

Maybe if it happened now it would have a good chance of working, Faith has grown a lot and is damn near the most likeable/mature character in the comics at the moment...
 
MarlieTheSlayer
MarlieTheSlayer
Great answer(s)! And yes I mean romantically relationships :)
My first thought was - no one.
Lol, guess that sums up my view of Buffyverse relationships 🙂
That was my first thought as well. I had to think abut it, and decide what I consider healthy. Willow and Oz were pretty healthy, they worked through their problems and concerns. Xander and Cordy didn't start off healthy, they were hiding in closets and using each other to make out with. Fred and Gunn were a healthy couple in S3. There's not a whole lot of examples of healthy couples in the Buffyverse. It's just not as interesting, plus relationships in real life aren't perfect and people have flaws, so it's nice to see that in the show.
 
As a whole, sadly not a whole lot of them. But if we go season by season there's a few healthy relationships. First off though, in my books, even if there's a heartbreak or someone gets hurt, it doesn't necessarily mean that the relationship was not healthy. I think it's possible to have a very healthy relationship still end badly. Unhealthy to me would be more along the lines of abusive, continually bad physically or mentally for one of the party, a relationship that is truly bad for both people involved (a bit like happened with Bangel) etc. Now for the healthy ones:

Willow/Oz-for the most part they're a healthy relationship. They're not without their problems (cheating mainly), but generally they are good
Willow/Tara s4-5 - They are pretty much the definition of healthy relationship in their early stages, s6 threw that out of the window
Willow/Kennedy - Actually, these two have a flipping healthy relationship, they are good for each other (no counting the comics)

Buffy/Satsu - finally a one/two night stand portrayed in a healthy way

Xander/Cordy - about same as Willow/Oz

Fred/Gunn - they were pretty good from what I remember in s3
Fred/Wes - I mean, for their whole 5 min spent together, what could go wrong
 
WillowTaraHolic
WillowTaraHolic
Well, there wasn't enough time for the Willow/Kennedy relationship to develop problems, but otherwise I agree.
Maybe the trick here would be, find the strongest stretch of any relationship because I'm near certain they all come to an end one way or another.

I do believe that Angel and Cordelia were on their way to having the strongest relationship. It was set up out of such a strong friendship first that they could have lasted.

I think Oz and Willow had an enjoyable, real, nice relationship. Honestly, for a werewolf teenager and a witch living in a hellmouth city they held up pretty well before life just caught up. I think they had a good relationship.

Buffy's only healthy relationship was probably just the beginning stages with Riley.

Xander and Anya's was weird at first. It's like it was one-sided for the longest time, and right when things are about to line up perfectly and take flight.. Joss Whedon swifly cuts it down, lol.

Willow and Tara's was nice at first. Anything pre-addict-Willow, lol
 
Angel and Cordelia by far.
Their interactions, the atmosphere and the development of their relationship were the most natural. Friendship is one of the most important components of real love and with them it went back even further. Cordelia was the one who was always there and had an effect on him that no one else ever did, even during their BTVS days but he didn't really see her at first while she was drawn to him right away but was blocked by Buffy. I love that they took that kind of cliche concept and presented it in a not so obvious way so that it was interesting and real.

They brought out the best and most real parts of each other which were perfectly complimentary. He never really smiled or laughed around anyone else, something that goes back to the BTVS episodes 'Halloween' and 'Some Assembly Required' and may be related to the fact that she was the only one who was never awkward or wary around him. She was the only one who never judged him based on Angelus but rather gave him confidence in what made him different from Angelus, in the goodness in him. This in turn gave him more focus and purpose. While he taught her to be a fighter, to be stronger of mind and will. He was the first and only person she ever valued more than herself.

Now I could go on for at least two more paragraphs not counting quotes about how I'm convinced that Cordelia was the love of Angel's life not Buffy but then I'd be getting into Bangel bashing territory. Which wouldn't be appropriate since this is a multi-ship zone and not specifically a debate. Like Cordy I have a very raw honesty, I don't do tact and my view of Bangel is quite loaded. So I shall refrain. I'll just leave it at this; I don't believe what Angel and Buffy had was love at all, more like a fetish. What he felt for Cordelia is what love is.
 
bespangeled
bespangeled
I actually like this - there was no real problem until Cordy was no longer a part of the relationship because....Jasmine
The closest thing to a "healthy" relationship in the Buffyverse, though short lived and unconsummated, was Giles and Jenny Calendar.

As for an imaginary ship, Spike and Faith in a sloppily romantic, disgustingly sweet, exasperatingly tender high school type first love kind of romance would be, I think, great.

Not to mention, it would drive Buffy running duck insane with jealousy.
 
Fuffy Baith
Fuffy Baith
Spaith! Yes, they're an interesting fantasy ship.
Cordy_Chase
Cordy_Chase
I agree, I was enjoying them and seeing that more human, playful side of Giles.
I wouldn't say any of the relationships were entirely healthy, but if we're putting them on a spectrum here, I would say Willow and Oz probably come closest. I realize Tara was supposed to be Willow's Great Love (capital G, capital L), but I thought she grew up in a healthier way when she was with Oz. Closeted sexuality notwithstanding, I think Willow grew for the better when she was with Oz: learning about self-esteem and forgiveness (two important components of a healthy relationship). Not that it was Tara's job to police her girlfriend or anything, but Willow did a whole lot of character regressing when she was with Tara. Her increased self-esteem was perverted into abject arrogance, and the things she seemed to have learned about forgiveness with Oz turned into her simply taking her loved ones for granted. All this to say, I think Oz and Willow really brought the good out of each other, so I'll have to go with them.

Runner up, Xander and Anya. In some ways echoing Willow and Oz, I think these two really grew up together, and became better individuals because of each other. Even if Anya reverted back to her demonic ways (but her heart was broken!), at no point during this reversion did she not feel remorse for her renewed vengeance acts. I like to think that being with Xander taught her something about love and humanity, and even though she no longer had powers, I think she grew to prefer humanity to demonhood because of her relationship with him. Likewise, I think Xander grew a lot being with Anya. Just like Oz helped Willow grow in self-confidence, Anya did the same for Xander. In one of his rare heartfelt speeches to her, Xander tells Anya that she makes him feel like he never has before: like a man. I think she genuinely cared for him and took the time to really know him. Despite that they constantly pointed out each others' flaws (often played for comedic effect), they also seemed to love each other for their unseen strengths. In these ways, I think they brought out a lot of good in one another. Even if they got off to a rocky, somewhat one-sided start, it's the fact that they grew to love each other that makes this relationship a good one. I wouldn't be lying if I said I was disappointed that they eventually broke up. And in true Whedon fashion, it had to be in some really dramatic way.

As for the unhealthiest (I know this isn't the question, but I can't resist answering):

Buffy and Spike. I just don't understand how people can forget how sick and twisted their interactions were. It astonishes me that there are hardcore Spuffy shippers out there who think they belonged together. Sex on the balcony, violent sex in the crumbling building, Buffybot, rape attempt, psychological abuse, need I go on? Perhaps he was somewhat reformed by the end of S7, but when they were actually "together"? Yikes.

Buffy and Riley. Widely recognized as one of the most boring couples in Buffyverse history, I consider this relationship unhealthy because Buffy was just using him (albeit in a different way than she was using Spike). In fact, I don't think there was a singly guy Buffy wasn't simply using post-Angel. Don't get me wrong. I think she cared about Riley in her own way, but I think ultimately she simply liked the idea of him rather than loving him at all. And even though, deep down, she knew she didn't love him, she held on to him because he was comfortable and easy and because she knew how much he loved her. When you realize you don't love the person you're with, you have the decency to break it off cleanly. Buffy did Riley no such favors, and the writers had to create some kind of ridiculous vampiress hooker storyline to break them up. I'm not saying Riley was great or anything (again, the boring thing), but namely I say this was unhealthy because it went on way too long considering how long the two characters knew it wasn't working out.
 
Cordy_Chase
Cordy_Chase
Couldn't agree more regarding Spuffy and Ruffy. Not to mention in the case of Riley he had serious Ex issues which in some ways may have been valid but what it led him to was just as sick as Buffy-bot for Spike.
"It astonishes me that there are hardcore Spuffy shippers out there who think they belonged together."

Well you'll just have to carry on being astonished then because there are still plenty of fans who loved this pairing and even though Buffy is technically a dead show, still create fans works based on this idea.

"Horses for courses" and all that. 🙂
 
Buffy and Spike. I just don't understand how people can forget how sick and twisted their interactions were. It astonishes me that there are hardcore Spuffy shippers out there who think they belonged together. Sex on the balcony, violent sex in the crumbling building, Buffybot, rape attempt, psychological abuse, need I go on? Perhaps he was somewhat reformed by the end of S7, but when they were actually "together"? Yikes.

I know. A lot of these people ignore all the foul and disgusting things said by Spike to Buffy(in S6), his stalker behaviour, the violence (done by both of them to be fair but almost always brought on by Spike) and the ample evidence that he's still, y'know, a hateful, evil like snot, to go 'ooh, he's so bad/sexy. Look he's all naked!'
Not to mention Buffy's deprression and self-disgust at herself for lowering to sleeping with something that was beneath her. 🙁

Well you'll just have to carry on being astonished

I'm not really astonshised any more, more saddened and also a little nauseus by all the blinkered views of that so many have of S6 Spuffy- in every way the anti-ship, where two people make each other worse off by getting involved in a relationship.

I mean, I can at least on some level understand S7. I don't see it myself but there are some okay moments, but otherwise...*looks in vain for the disgust emoticon* 😵 (this will have to do)
 
Well many concentrate on season 7 Spuffy as there was respect and love there imo.

"I don't see it myself but there are some okay moments, but otherwise...*looks in vain for the disgust emoticon* 😵 (this will have to do)"

Oh there's a big surprise. :lol:

"(done by both of them to be fair but almost always brought on by Spike)"

Not always, no. I suggest you go back and watch a few episodes.

"lowering to sleeping with something that was beneath her"

Yes he was beneath her quite a few times in that season wasn't he. 😀
 
I am surprised no one said this so I suppose I will have to. From what was shown Faith and Wood looked the best to me. Second would be Fred and Gunn but it seemed very saccharine to me. But I never really liked Fred so.. maybe that's why.
 
....And with that the interweb dies. Boufay agreed with me...
 
Giles and Jenny came to mind instantly for me. To me, it was very much and adult relationship, with a certain level of maturity... but no less deep.
Others I'd go with are: Angel and Cordy, Gunn and Fred, Wesley and Fred.

And you know who else I'm gonna give a thumbs up to? Roger and Trish Burkle.
 
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