One thing I hated about Season 4

[Joshua]

The only thing I hated about season 4 was how pathetic they made Buffy when Parker used her for sex.

Like get freaking real here Buffy; HE WASN'T THAT GREAT, HE'S NOT HOT, Riley & Angel were hotter than that pig.

So why did Joss & Co. make Buffy so pathetic over him? Especially in "Beer Bad" like lets get real here

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I think the commentary said something about a cut out scene where Buffy talks about how she did it to prove she was over Angel or something. I think it was Jane Espenson who talked about it, and that having that scene would have made a lot more sense, to show where Buffy was emotionally.

I personally get it, after hearing that. And when you think about it, is it that weird that Buffy gets that attached to the first guy that seems normal and sweet, after she loses the love of her life again (one could argue about if he really is or not, but I think it's very likely that's what atleast a part of her was thinking in early season 4). Let's remember that her life is also generally sucky and that he was a part of what made her college life made sense. He was one of the first things that made her fit in, and then that was ruined.

To sum up, I don't think she was that pathetic. Just very human.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

Actually, I think it was extremely relatable. I know I experienced the same thing at that age and reacted pretty similarly. Realizing for the first time that people take no issue at all with using you in that way in particular can be a really shocking experience and when it happens it has little to do with the particular guy/girl who did it, but rather with the notion itself. And how expendable you feel. But, then, that's what college is for right? 🙂

In any case, I actually really appreciated just how real they wrote this. From the grand gestures, to the morning after, to the multiple episodes of moping, to the "seeing him with other girls" thing.

 

[VisionGirl]

Like get freaking real here Buffy; HE WASN'T THAT GREAT, HE'S NOT HOT, Riley & Angel were hotter than that pig.

I so agree with this! 🙂

But I have to agree with the other posters, the storyline is fairly realistic. What I do dislike is how Buffy is made out to be a slut because she has a one-night stand (that she thought to be more than that). That doesn't hapen to any of the men in the series.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I think it made THE SLAYER more human. Sometimes it's easy to forget, that even though Buffy is a slayer, she's still human. Therefore, she will experience human things, including being dumped after sex. Not only as a human, but also as a woman. She wasn't the super woman, she was just her - the girly girl.

 

[Icarium]

What I do dislike is how Buffy is made out to be a slut because she has a one-night stand

Huh? How exactly was Buffy made out to be a slut?

 

[VisionGirl]

Huh? How exactly was Buffy made out to be a slut?

Comments on this post
[MENTION=10352]Chosen Enemy[/MENTION] agrees: she said that herself

Right, plus comments by both Spike & Faith (not reliable as far as character goes, sure, but it reinforces the idea).
ETA- nope, I'm wrong about Faith, that was about Riley. But the point stands. 🙂

 

[Icarium]

And Willow once said she was a dog that needed to be shot, does that make it true? What about Xander describing himself as king of cretins? The show very clearly represented Parker as the wrong party in the situation, not Buffy. After what happened with Angel, I for one find it perfectly understandable that Buffy would have major intimacy issues. I for one couldn't care less about what Spike or Faith thought.

 

[kittenpoker]

Actually, I think it was extremely relatable. I know I experienced the same thing at that age and reacted pretty similarly. Realizing for the first time that people take no issue at all with using you in that way in particular can be a really shocking experience and when it happens it has little to do with the particular guy/girl who did it, but rather with the notion itself. And how expendable you feel. But, then, that's what college is for right? 🙂

In any case, I actually really appreciated just how real they wrote this. From the grand gestures, to the morning after, to the multiple episodes of moping, to the "seeing him with other girls" thing.

Totally agree! And "expendable"... good - well apt word.

Honestly, I love this whole mini arc and how it takes buffy's primitive mind to recognize the truth - "Parker bad". Like, beneath all the b.s 🙂

 

[Gum Gnome33]

Well, I think Spike would have said anything to upset her and was also totes jealous of Parker given his level of attraction to Buffy, though he hadn't realized it yet, (unless you count Dru pointing it out to him). Anyway, I think it really struck when it came from her. That's another example of something they did so well. So realistic.

I also remember some talk back when it came out, both in the real world and in the forums about her behavior being "slutty." As a teenage girl, it was pretty terrifying to hear that at the time.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I also remember some talk back when it came out, both in the real world and in the forums about her behavior being "slutty." As a teenage girl, it was pretty terrifying to hear that at the time.

I remember that too. Before I knew anything about season 4, I read that buffy had become a slut in college. Can't really agree with those sicky spoilers that look at Buffy and her growth thinking the word 'slut' fits her change this season.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

The show very clearly represented Parker as the wrong party in the situation, not Buffy.

But, see, that's the point. We knew, as well as Buffy's friends and pretty much any objective viewer, that Parker was in the wrong. The fact that Buffy let the experience make her feel differently--negatively--about herself is what was so heart-wrenching and so realistic, (unfortunately). She couldn't see what everyone else saw. And yes, add what had happened with Angel to that, and you have a mess of damage.

I remember that too. Before I knew anything about season 4, I read that buffy had become a slut in college.

Wasn't it awful? Ugh.

 

[kittenpoker]

But, see, that's the point. We knew, as well as Buffy's friends and pretty much any objective viewer, that Parker was in the wrong. The fact that Buffy let the experience make her feel differently--negatively--about herself is what was so heart-wrenching and so realistic, (unfortunately). She couldn't see what everyone else saw. And yes, add what had happened with Angel to that, and you have a mess of damage.

Right, exactly!!! And this is totally what happens, I feel.

It would be so much better if a guy were to be honest! "Hi, I like the way you look and I'd like to have sex with you." Instead of all the pretense.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

The most horrible part in this, is that Buffy thinks it was her fault. Just like girls who have been raped feel.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

It would be so much better if a guy were to be honest! "Hi, I like the way you look and I'd like to have sex with you." Instead of all the pretense.

Exactly. And "We can hang out tomorrow and the next day, as long as it's just more of this and you don't expect me to ever be committed in any way, ever."🙄

 

[Steven123]

I think iv'e read somewhere before about that and it said that Buffy had thought that there was a "connection" between the two of them, and that he wasn't just using her, and i don't think that she wanted to think that either.

I can see why she did it, and i think many,many people would have done the same thing in that situation if they had thought that there was a "spark" between the two people.

I don't think she was quite over Angel at that point though, i think that she did it more to "forget" what had happened and to try and move on, and when Parker just used her, i don't think she wanted to feel like she had been left again.

 

[xfivebyfive]

I think Buffy was kinda stupid and I felt they dragged it out a little long I was like get over it.

But what bugged me more was that Willow was really supportive of her even though Buffy barely knew Parker and was being overdramatic. And yet when Oz leaves Willow Buffy is all she needs to get over this. Like really buffy?

 

[SlayerFest]

I so agree with this! 🙂

But I have to agree with the other posters, the storyline is fairly realistic. What I do dislike is how Buffy is made out to be a slut because she has a one-night stand (that she thought to be more than that). That doesn't hapen to any of the men in the series.

How was she made out to be a slut? I didn't get that vibe at all. She liked him and thought they were going to have some type of relationship which is why she was so hurt. I mean I doubt she would have slept with him if she knew that he was going to never really talk to her again/compare her to a toilet. She felt stupid and vulnerable and that...isn't a grand way to feel.

 

[rentheadperson]

I felt that this was actually very realistic and relatable. If you think about it, it's not that far a stretch. Buffy has had sex exactly twice in her life at this point, and both times, the guy has changed dramatically afterwards. Granted, it wasn't Angel's fault that he changed, but he changed nonetheless. Buffy even said something to Willow to the effect of, "Why is it that every time I sleep with a guy, he turns evil afterwards?" Buffy thought that Parker was a nice, normal guy (a fantastic change from Angel, the tortured vampire with a soul), but he turned out to be a horny frat guy whose sole goal in life was to sleep with as many different girls as possible. Is it really so shocking, after her experience with Angel, that she would be completely devastated when Parker turned out to be a jackass?

I actually have to hand it to Joss Whedon and his team of writers for dealing with this sensitive issue so well. Obviously, this show was geared toward teenage girls, and a lot of what teenage girls think about sex is informed by what they watch in movies and on TV. So, seeing what Buffy went through when she slept with people she didn't know very much about was a good life lesson for the girls watching the show. Especially for when the show aired, I was very impressed by how well Joss and his team dealt with this and other teen issues (like underage drinking, both in Reptile Boy in S2 and Beer Bad in S4).

 

[david4wt]

Especially for when the show aired, I was very impressed by how well Joss and his team dealt with this and other teen issues (like underage drinking, both in Reptile Boy in S2 and Beer Bad in S4).

I felt that, especially in Beer Bad, they failed big time. 🙂 It was really moralistic, as if only stupid people drink alcohol.