Opinions.

Xanderectomy

Xanderectomy

Professional Procrastinator
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Oct 12, 2016
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When i first joined Buffy Boards,I had some really strong opinions about certain characters such as
I hated Spike and I loved Xander but recently when i was rewatching Btvs I found myself disagreeing with Xander alot and Agreeing with Spike way more
and I kinda realized that after being on Buffy Boards for some time and debating people with different opinions then mine,my perspective on certain characters has completely changed like I get why alot of people dislike Xander in the high school seasons and why alot of people love Spike so much
and im kinda thankful to Buffy Boards for giving me sort of a different perspective on certain characters and their actions.(specially @sosa lola @Athena @Last Watcher and @DeadlyDuo)

So i wanted to know if any of you had your opinions on certain characters change after joining Buffy Boards.
 
Last Watcher
Last Watcher
Glad to have the chance for friendly debate! Thanks :)
Well I wouldn't say my opinions changed directly because of Buffy-Boards, but I do think it had a hand in it. Before joining, I really didn't see anything wrong with the show at all. I thought it was perfect in every way (besides obvious crap episode like IB,YJ and Some Assembly Required). After coming here and reading a few negative opinions about different aspects I sort of came to realize that there's nothing wrong with critiquing the stuff that you love. Buffy can still be an amazing show while having some issues. For example, I had NO idea that S6 was regarded as one of the worst seasons. It was my favorite!

However, my opinion definitely have changed and developed over the years. On this latest watch-through I'm finding myself seeing things quite a bit differently from before. As a teen I was pretty much just into it for the action and supernatural elements. Obviously the characters, writing, and drama are what made me a lifelong fan, but at first the fight scenes and such were about 50% of my enjoyment. I even remember going through and watching every major fight scene in every season finale... God, I was weird. Lately, I find the action kind of boring. Partly because I already know what's going to happen, and partly because of the crappy stunt-double work (not saying the stunt-doubles are bad, just that it's obvious when they're onscreen). I do think the action gets better with every season though.
I also find myself having different viewpoints on the characters, for example:
Buffy: I used to find slightly boring. She was more of a plot-driving force to me. In my last few watches, she's jumped to my favorite character, without question. I love her ability to lead in the face of overwhelming adversity and never take shit from anybody, but my favorite quality about her is by far the fact that she is kind to every single person she meets. She doesn't know how to not be nice. I'm sure some people find this a little lame, but I think the way people treat others is pretty indicative of how good of a person they are.
Willow: Not much has changed here, but I tend to put myself in her shoes more often than any other character. Her arc from shy weirdo to a strong woman who has complete agency over herself and her actions, but then fails (sometimes tremendously) at upholding that standard in herself is incredibly believable and relatable. Plus the whole gay thing is pretty umm... relatable as well.
Xander: Now this is the one I've shifted the most on. He used to be my favorite character because he was funny and well.. the guy of the group. Now I find him really off-putting sometimes and often emotionally inept. I don't think that takes away from his character at all... He's supposed to be all of these things. I've actually found him to be one of the most engaging characters specifically because of my annoyance with him. He's a dolt and a goofball, that is way more focused on trying to be witty and charming, rather than be an actually good person and friend. I think the perfect thing about Xander is that he legitimately is a good person, he just has trouble being that person all the time.

Anyway, I hope that wasn't too ramble-y and maybe made sense along the way. Your post kind of got the wheels turning.
 
November
November
Great post :)
i think my core opinions have always remained the same but theres definitely small changes. I use to really dislike Angel; which i think was just because of the ship which isnt one of my favs and i let that create an opinion on angel himself. but when i put that aside i actually warmed to him and really enjoy his character.
 
There was a couple of times I thought, "Whoa, excellent point." And it changed my mind fast on something, which almost never happens (I do change my mind, probably more than most others, but it's normally a slow process). But the points were so trivial and/or about season 7 (that I just can't take seriously) that I can't recall what those were.

I have rethought the issue of vampires, souls, and personal identities since coming here. I can't say I've wholly changed my mind, but more like I've come to accept how incredibly murky the concept is (and have some biochemical and psychological ideas on why some vampires claim to be different people while others claim to have just been augmented and "freed" but otherwise themselves), and think to myself this must be how theologians feel as they discuss such metaphysical concepts to each other, which makes me laugh. At least I don't feel that the fate of my own (supposed) eternal soul is at all dependent on what the truth of the matter is. 😉
 
I don't think any of my POV has changed by being in the fandom, actively or lurking, for the past 15+ years. My opinions changed as I changed. I was the same age as the Scoobies. So I was young back then, I'm an adult now with years of life experiences in me that have changed me. This has also changed how I view movies/tv shows etc. and the topics those deal with. I don't think a discussion will ever change my mind about anything regarding this show. But I can easier understand how someone with a different opinion got to that point with certain aspects of this show.
 
I enjoyed Spike throughout the show. After joining the boards and conversing with others, i grew to despise the character (In Buffy, not Angel) past his introduction.
 
I have the same basic opinions about all the characters that I had when I first got here- I still like/dislike who I did before, its just the intensity in which I feel them has changed.
Also the ability to articulate why I like/don't like somebody has gotten better (I think. I hope).

Generally speaking I've grown to like Xander, Angel and Riley a bit more, because they get too much unwarranted crap flung at them . I've grown to dislike Spike more in some respects (specifically making a distinction between Spike with and without a soul) because of the over-romanticizing on the part of fandom.

But I think its more my perception of seasons and relationships have changed. I don't mind the slush of Bangel as much as I used to, or Willow's magic/drugs misuse road. Some seasons have risen in my estimation but then again S6 remains my least favorite after my most recent re-watch.
 
My opinion on season six has changed quite a bit since joining the boards, I have a feeling that it's going to be my least favorite season this time around...
 
My feelings and opinions seem to change over time as I do rewatches. I think it has more to do with what is going on in my own life, and that causes me to relate to the characters and story line differently. I'd say that the edge has been taken off of some of my "hate" that I had the first time around.

My first watching, I was easily led by the writing. Emotionally manipulated etc. I saw what was made most obvious and reacted to it, some predictably, some in the exact opposite of the way I think they intended me too. But then I watch again and again and see things I didn't notice before, and make new connections and start asking questions about the things that don't add up.

That's when being part of the fandom kicks in, when I start discussing with other fans and listening to their interpretations and trying them on for size.

I dont' think I've had any huge defection occur as the result of discussion as far as which characters I enjoy, but it has made a big difference on how I feel about plot lines.

I like the characters that entertain me, whether they are good guys or bad guys. So that has remained fairly stable. Riley is boring, so even if I may have more or less sympathy for his character than I first did, he is still boring and I don't like or hate him any more than I once did, but I DO think of him differently.
 
I think my opinion on character hate changed - I used to hate Buffy, Angel and Riley because of fanfic character bashing, but after years of rewatching and board discussions, I found myself drawn to hated characters more than popular ones. I enjoy putting myself in the hated characters' shoes and seeing things from their prospective. On the other hand, I started nitpicking popular characters and finding their flaws.

Another change would be that I no longer hate a character. I find passionate character hate a waste of time and I'm not interested in it at all. I'd rather talk about characters I love and enjoy rather than engage in a debate about a character I'm not interested in.
 
Xanderectomy said:
So i wanted to know if any of you had your opinions on certain characters change after joining Buffy Boards.
Click to expand...

"Maybe" a little, but no biggie, thats for sure. But I always liked all the characters overall. The board couldnt change that in some kind of negative way. Also I am not much of an influenceable-person.
Even the most " excellent points" dont affect me in some way. Brainstorming, ok, but nothing more to me.
Because, like always:
"The only statistics you can trust are those you falsified yourself" 😉
Meaning, its up to the storyteller, to drive the topic in any possible direction. Positive, negative, whatever is needed...
This leads to situations, when in example Spike is the coolest character while also he is the uncoolest. Everything at the same time, its the point of view that matters. Whats fact and fiction, also that is based on the point of view in that scenario. Thats also why I cant take anybody serious, who is complaining about, in that example, Spike ruining everything (the show) while also showing me "his facts" that proof it "as it happens". Sure, thats believably. A coin toss has a better change in being right in that scenario.

But hey, thats just me. I am not big in religion, so belief is just not my thing. 😉
 
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