Parker

[Cast No Shadow]

What are your general views on the whole "Parker" thing? I hear a lot of Parker hate, but not much else.

Do you think Buffy's reaction to the situation was right? Or were people too sympathetic with Buffy, should it simply be one of those mistakes that a lot of people makes in college, and she should have just got over it quicker than she did?

Was it irresponsible of her to go out drinking after it had happened? Or is it something you can see playing out in real life?

Anyone have any thoughts about Parker that go deeper than "he's bad"? Is he a reflection of a lot of college boys, young and should be forgiven his mistakes? Lots of people have one night stands right, it's harmless (as long as you take precautions etc).

I'm not leaning to one side or the other here, I'm just interested to know what you guys think.

 

[Living Dead Boy]

My view on Parker.

from "Beer Bad"
PARKER: Buffy I dunno how to say this. I'm sorry for how I treated you before. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry. You were great tonight, really. I might not deserve this but do you think that you could forgive me?

(Buffy wacks him with the club again and knocks him out.)

😀

No seriously I thought she kinda exaggerated the whole thing a bit. She barely knew him from a can of paint, yet she's moping over him? Dude must have had "mad skills".

 

[BuffyElevated]

...
No seriously I thought she kinda exaggerated the whole thing a bit. She barely knew him from a can of paint, yet she's moping over him? Dude must have had "mad skills".

I agree with this. I think Parker is a little bit of a douchebag, but also he's just a normal guy from what I saw in my college experience. There are lots of guys who are just in it to "get some and get gone". Buffy acted like they had been dating for months or something, when all they had was a few good conversations.
That being said, I do feel for Buffy. She obviously really liked him and felt like they connected, but he was never in it for the long haul. Stuff like that always stings.

 

[Joshua]

I was embarrassed by Joss Whedon and the writers of Beer Bad and episodes before that on how pathetic they made Buffy feel, sure I get she shared something personal with him but she barely knew him they had sex big deal get over it Buffy.

 

[Living Dead Boy]

I agree with this. I think Parker is a little bit of a douchebag, but also he's just a normal guy from what I saw in my college experience. There are lots of guys who are just in it to "get some and get gone". Buffy acted like they had been dating for months or something, when all they had was a few good conversations.
That being said, I do feel for Buffy. She obviously really liked him and felt like they connected, but he was never in it for the long haul. Stuff like that always stings.

Yeah you could tell she liked him alot. She got all "googly eyed". 🙂 She wears her heart on her sleeve sometimes, and it hurts her in the end.

 

[kittenpoker]

hmmmm....

I see what you guys are saying, but I have a slightly different take on this....

I see parker as a predator. I think he feigned a real heart to heart connection that he didn't feel.... he made buffy believe that he was someone who understood her pain, he made her feel that he was someone she could trust, with her heart, with her pain... someone who understood... he made her feel it was ok to trust him, to open up and be voulnerable. He made her feel he really cared about her and that he wanted to form a bond between them, but he only wanted to get laid....

yes, I know this is common

but I agree, with willow. He's a poophead.

 

[Ripper666]

I was surprised that Buffy fell of his trick! I always thought that she could have known better. Or Parker is an excellent actor. But I think it was a nice idea to bring a situation like this in BTVS because it shows reality and that Buffy is just a human beeing with emotions and human needs too!

 

[sisterofmercy]

I think it was understandable how she reacted. Buffy was used to having guys swoon after her, so to have someone just leave and not respect her that much would have been a bit of a wake up call. Plus I think she was still a bit wounded from Angel leaving and was a bit vulnerable. I think it's one of those typical uni things that a lot of people go through in some form or other. I don't think it was irresponsible to go out drinking afterwards either, that's what students do. No harm in it (unless you turn into a cavewoman I suppose).

 

[brinkster130]

I don't think Parker was bad, but he was a jerk. He was looking to sleep around and was only nice to girls in hopes that they would hook up with him. I doubt Buffy was the only girl to fall for him.

Buffy's reaction had to do with more than Parker not wanting a relationship with her. I think a lot of it had to do with her lingering feeling for Angel and the disappointment she felt that he left. I think she also had some abandonment issues that the Parker incident brought up. On top of that she was embarrassed. I don't think Buffy drinking to make herself feel better about the situation is unrealistic. Many people use alcohol as a crutch, and this was the first time Buffy was around drinking like that so I thought it made sense.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

What are your general views on the whole "Parker" thing? I hear a lot of Parker hate, but not much else.

I agree with what you're saying - that Parker wasn't all that bad, considering.

My general views on Parker? Well, honestly, Buffy should have known better. I hate to see Buffy sad, but that said, I don't think Parker did anything wrong, really. He didn't lead her on. He was honest with his intentions. The issues was that Buffy wanted more when he'd done nothing to make her think that it was more then sex.

That said, I do think that hitting on Willow was pretty low, and comparing Buffy to a toilet seat was pretty harsh. I certainly don't like Parker, but I do think that the fans vilify him when he doesn't deserve it.

Perhaps this is for another thread, but I do think Buffy should guard her heart more. She's so - especially then - loving and open. That said, though, you can't choose who you "fall" for. I know what it's like to fall for someone that makes no sense.

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

I'm surprised of how people are saying that Buffy should just grow up and move on. I understand how this can be a big deal for girls, just being used like that. I think you should give Buffy some credit. So what if she got drunk, some girls react way worse. Just because she's a slayer, doesn't mean she has a heart made of tin. She's still a girl and she still has feelings.

 

[EvilBuffy]

My opinion of Parker is that he's a douchebag. You know, if he had asked Buffy on a date and flat out said 'Well I'm not looking for a relationship, but I am in the market for some sexin', I would have been cool with him. But all I remember is him saying some crap about 'living for now' which was a very subtle and entirely missable hint that he's just looking for a one night stand. It seemed to me that he just twisted his actual intentions into words that a lot of women wouldn't think twice about until he threw it back at them later, unless they took the hint from his cold shoulder. Didn't we see him saying the same stuff he said to Buffy to another girl? I can't remember.

 

[OhWow]

I understood the moping. Buffy was acting reasonably. I think she felt inadequate given her previous experiences with Angel. She meets this really great guy and they have an amazing night and then he's gone...there's a pattern here.