INTO THE WOODS-byebye Riley (for a season at least)

[VisionGirl]

As I continue my season 5 rewatch, I'm struck with how Buffy is not confiding with anybody, not just Riley. She has not broken down and cried to anyone about her mom, or about Dawn being the key. The closest she has come is talking to Giles about it. This seems different for her: remember her crying to Willow when Angel changed in season 2? Or all of her and Willow's talks about Parker and Riley in season 4? And even her letting go with Tara about her relationship with Spike in season 6. She doesn't do that at least up to this point in season 5. Maybe she feels she can't; that with her mother ill and Dawn's survival on the line that she has to be strong, although I do think some of it is this newfound confusion about her identity as a Slayer that comes from the events in Restless. But Riley definitely gets the brunt of it. Or, maybe it's just that he's the one that seems to need it [it being her needing him] the most, so feels it the most.

 

[Goby]

I love the whole scene with Anya & Willow. "Thank you Willow for taking time out of your busy life to come and get in the way of mine." LOL!!! Xander's speech to Buffy at the end tears me up & I found myself cheering for Buffy to catch him because I really don't think she realized that she had shut down after Angel left. But everything happens for a reason & Buffy & Riley just weren't meant to be. This is a great episode though.

I'm not the biggest Xander fan. I think Nick's lack of previous acting experience shows. although after 7 season I have grown to appreciate him.

But when Xander hits a home run, he really hits it. Most of the comments have been about Buffy and Riley, but I believe Xander is the star of this show. Even though his lines are few, I thought these are some of Xander's finest moments.

First the speech to Buffy. He stands up to Buffy's pitty party and speaks the truth. His acting is great.

Then the speech to Anya. Wow! His words, and Anya's reaction brings tears to my eyes. What a wonderful scene. The only Xander moment that tops this is the Season 6 finale.

I know this is known as a Briley episode, but for me this is Xander at one of his finest moments, and Nick at his best.

 

[Gotham]

I don't feel sorry for Riley at all in this episode because he's the one that was cheating on Buffy with a bunch of vampire prostitutes, and I'm proud of Spike for showing Buffy what Riley was doing because she did need to know and I actually felt sorry for her because Joyce was getting very sick when she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her.

Spike did that purely for selfish reasons in my humble opinion.

When you put aside the Vampire suck jobs, on a basic level I really feel for Riley. I can relate to him. I mean a lot of us have been in that situation where you are hopelessly fighting a losing battle, where your second best to something that's not even there anymore.

 

[BuffangelLovE]

I don't hate Riley, but boy, I was relieved he was finally gone! 😀

 

[LadyLavinia]

I don't hate Riley, but boy, I was relieved he was finally gone! 😀

It would have been interesting to see if Buffy and Riley could have continued their relationship as friends. I don't see how his departure could been viewed as a relief.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I posted my thoughts on the ep in the Episode Discussion Thread, so I won't rehash.

I DO, however, have a question I haven't seen asked yet:

If Spike hadn't revealed Riley's little secret and Briley hadn't imploded that night, do you think Riley would have left? Would he have told Buffy he had the option of going military again and talked out their relationship?

I would like to think he would have gone. The military is his calling, what he is talented at and enjoyed. He wasn't really doing much in Sunnydale, which is just wasted talent. Yes, he and Buffy could have had an amazing relationship and fallen in love and all that, but I don't feel Buffy was truly ready and able to have that kind of love yet and Riley would be hurt in the end.

On the flip side, maybe he would have stayed, done nothing with his life, and he and Buffy would stay in their "relationship" until something really bad happened. Buffy was oblivious to what was going on with them, and Riley was apparently willing to just go with that and be used as needed. I'm thinking at some point Riley would have gotten so reckless he would have been killed by a vamp, or Joyce or Xander would have slapped Buffy upside the head to knock some sense into her.

 

[Taake]

I DO, however, have a question I haven't seen asked yet:

If Spike hadn't revealed Riley's little secret and Briley hadn't imploded that night, do you think Riley would have left? Would he have told Buffy he had the option of going military again and talked out their relationship?

I would like to think he would have gone. The military is his calling, what he is talented at and enjoyed. He wasn't really doing much in Sunnydale, which is just wasted talent. Yes, he and Buffy could have had an amazing relationship and fallen in love and all that, but I don't feel Buffy was truly ready and able to have that kind of love yet and Riley would be hurt in the end.

On the flip side, maybe he would have stayed, done nothing with his life, and he and Buffy would stay in their "relationship" until something really bad happened. Buffy was oblivious to what was going on with them, and Riley was apparently willing to just go with that and be used as needed. I'm thinking at some point Riley would have gotten so reckless he would have been killed by a vamp, or Joyce or Xander would have slapped Buffy upside the head to knock some sense into her.

I would like to think that he would have gone too but I'm not sure he would have. Considering what was going on in Buffy's life with her mom and all that - without that forced confrontation - I wonder if he would have felt comfortable putting that ultimatum to her without 'reason' so to speak.

I think it was best for both that he did go of course because like you described above I'm sure a prolonged stay in Sunnydale would have led to little good for Riley. Especially as Buffy at the point seemed thoroughly oblivious to any problems between them... and with Dawn and her mother she would only further have neglected Riley for the sake of them and her duty, surely spurring him to further recklessness :S

 

[brinkster130]

I DO, however, have a question I haven't seen asked yet:

If Spike hadn't revealed Riley's little secret and Briley hadn't imploded that night, do you think Riley would have left? Would he have told Buffy he had the option of going military again and talked out their relationship?

Yes, eventually he would have left. Maybe not as soon as he did, but eventually he would have. Riley knew their relationship was far from perfect and he knew Buffy didn't love him the way her loved her; as much as he cared for her he had to know it wasn't going to work out. I think it was only a matter of time before Riley spoke up about their relationship and things were discussed.

For the most part, Riley was pretty straight forward and honest with Buffy so I doubt he would have left for the Military with out telling Buffy about it.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I would like to think that he would have gone too but I'm not sure he would have. Considering what was going on in Buffy's life with her mom and all that - without that forced confrontation - I wonder if he would have felt comfortable putting that ultimatum to her without 'reason' so to speak.

Ooo, good point. I couldn't really see him bailing when Buffy's mom was sick.

 

[Willow My Love]

I posted my thoughts on the ep in the Episode Discussion Thread, so I won't rehash.

I DO, however, have a question I haven't seen asked yet:

If Spike hadn't revealed Riley's little secret and Briley hadn't imploded that night, do you think Riley would have left? Would he have told Buffy he had the option of going military again and talked out their relationship?

I would like to think he would have gone. The military is his calling, what he is talented at and enjoyed. He wasn't really doing much in Sunnydale, which is just wasted talent. Yes, he and Buffy could have had an amazing relationship and fallen in love and all that, but I don't feel Buffy was truly ready and able to have that kind of love yet and Riley would be hurt in the end.

On the flip side, maybe he would have stayed, done nothing with his life, and he and Buffy would stay in their "relationship" until something really bad happened. Buffy was oblivious to what was going on with them, and Riley was apparently willing to just go with that and be used as needed. I'm thinking at some point Riley would have gotten so reckless he would have been killed by a vamp, or Joyce or Xander would have slapped Buffy upside the head to knock some sense into her.

That's an interesting point you raise. I think that even if Spike hadn't interfered, Buffy still would have found out about Riley's dealings, and he still would have left.

Doesn't mean I don't always shout, "LOOK SLIGHTLY TO YOUR LEFT!" at the end of the episode... 😛