Love And Buffy

[white avenger]

Looking back over Buffy's various romantic encounters, Angel, Scott, Parker, Riley, Spike, and now, at least for the moment, even Satsu, does anyone else notice the old classic pattern of the tragic hero, the guardian/protector/whatever, whose fate is to never know or be allowed to share true, lasting love because of the nature of their very life and duty? Lancelot, Arthur, Galahad, Beowulf, Sigfrid (?), Heracles, Achilles, all of those old classic heroes, right up to the cowboy hero who rides off into the sunset. Even James Bond, Batman, Superman (the one from my childhood, not the new married to Lois version) they all seem to share that common trait.

And no, this isn't a 'ship argument. Buffy ain't got NOBODY on a real long term basis, not even the prospect of anybody, and her future chances seem equally dim.

 

[Joyce Summers]

Hmmm....I'd always slightly noticed that but never seriously condsidered the point as a whole, but is true. And to me seems a little unfair as it appears the more a hero sacrifices the less they are allowed in return- in particular, a partner.
With most of those that you listed though it seems that the inability to have a relationship was due to circumstance more than anything- an unfortunate series of events so to speak that just keep it from happening or continuing, but in Buffy it seems to be more personal reasons- both hers and the other half. I think it's only really Buffy and Angel that were the same victim of circumstance and nothing more.
I mean Buffy and Parker: Personal. He was One Night Stand Man. She was Lasting and Meaning Girl.
Buffy and Riley: Riley was eventually unable to cope with her strength if she didn't share it with him. Buffy always felt she could never let anyone fully into that area of her life because no one but her understands being a Slayer.
Buffy and Spike: He was love with her, she was, initially at least, just using him.

So aside from Bangel, it seems that the lack of relationships never has any connection to personal sacrifice, circumstance or even directly linked to Buffy's role of the hero. Those break-ups could have happened in an ordinary world, if you know what I mean. So I'm wondering whether this is all just purposeful coincidence. Except for Buffy and Angel which of course was the typical tragic hero scenario. Haha.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Buffy is a cookie horde; no one gets the cookies.

 

[white avenger]

Buffy is a cookie horde; no one gets the cookies.

She's saving herself for "Milk Pitcher Guy," then, is that what you're saying?

 

[palabravampiress]

I think Buffy's mighty young, yet. It's normal for people to be in their early twenties and not to have found the "long haul guy." I think her slayerness might have something to do with that, yeah, as it's not every day you find a guy who's willing to deal with demons and an early expiration date. Even so, I don't think she's doomed to live life alone. Unless she dies young (again), which she might, I think it is entirely possible that she'll find Mr. Right.

 

[Crazy Flakes]

I think Buffy's mighty young, yet. It's normal for people to be in their early twenties and not to have found the "long haul guy." I think her slayerness might have something to do with that, yeah, as it's not every day you find a guy who's willing to deal with demons and an early expiration date. Even so, I don't think she's doomed to live life alone. Unless she dies young (again), which she might, I think it is entirely possible that she'll find Mr. Right.

I suppose Buffy has been through so much that people forget how young she is...I mean, how old is she at the end of the series? 22, maybe 23? In real life, I don't think there are that many people her age who have been in relationships that went on much longer than Buffy's with Angel or Riley, and they're certainly not Slayers.

 

[Spirit_Of_Fred]

okay, i havent read season 8, so dont spoil me, but i want to jump on the bandwagon that its a joss thing 🙂. i mean, its not like 'oh, buffy's the hero with the burden; she's the only one who cant find love.' as of the end of the show, xander was single, for example. he had lost cordy, and lost anya (both relationship-wise and then in death), not to mention that he kept having the bad luck of dating demon girls. even willow had lost two loves. joss just likes to build up drama and all and keep people apart. we saw what happened with fred and wes, who barely got to be together :cry:. i dont think its buffy's hero burden that keeps her out of relationships...i think its because of what i just said. and also, i agree with practically everything thats been said 🙂.

although maybe giles might be an example of this? i dont know if its a stretch, but he kind of "sacrifices his life" to be buffy's watcher. not quite the "hero", but still. even when he's not her watcher he stays with her for a long time. he loses one of his loves directly due to his slayer (since she "caused" angelus), loses the other because she cant handle magic, and remains single as the show comes to a close. hm...........i feel ponderous ???.

 

[cryptwarmer]

I was just watching an interview/commentary the other day that sums it up...when Buffy's happy, the fans are sad, when Buffy's sad, the fans are happy.

While they managed to cram BTVS full of philosophical and artistic merit, in the end, without ratings the entire thing grinds to a silent halt.

We liked Buffy happy for an occasional episode, but truly, what would be the point of watching if everyone was rolling in puppies?

 

[LorneyTunes]

Its the Classical tale really , a true hero stands alone, without love or any kind of romance without it going wrong.
Even evil doesn't get love I suppose its a balance , you need to concentrate on the job at hand without wondering about wedding bells .

Buffy is given a birth rite that she is the protector the "slayer" its her job. She knows this ,she is doomed for an unhappy romantic life because of who she is nothing more nothing less. Either the guy/girl is somewhat jealous of her strength her power or even just her status she will always be defeated in love.

Its sad I know but look at all the heros in Buffy , Giles, Xander, Willow, Dawn, never seem to get any love relationship right .

The biggest example of this is Fred and Wesley, doomed to be together for a second of totall bliss then it is snatched from them.