Riley

[babyo0ogirl]

I finally got my Season 5, and started watching it. I'm so freaking happy that Riley is gone! Just wanted to share that 🙂 And, I know I'm totally a Bangel, but after Riley, I'm really looking forward to Buffy getting with Spike. I find the more I watch the show, the more I like Spike. He's so fun.

 

[DarklyDreamingDrusilla]

Yeah I was happy when Riley left because I thought he was being a bit of a whiny little boy.

 

[babyo0ogirl]

I just never really got into his character, he seemed so needy in Season 5. Like if Buffy wasn't there every second and needed his help, then he wasn't happy.

 

[white avenger]

The main problem with Riley, even from the beginning, when he had his own chip and was getting pumped full of drugs by the Potential, was that he just never measured up to Buffy's other men (except Parker, but I don't consider him either hers or a man). Whether you're Bangel or Spuffy, both, neither, or just couldn't care less one way or the other, Riley was always Buffy's weakest boyfriend, but sadly, he was also the one one who tried the hardest to be her equal. That made him the biggest failure of the three.

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

i still think he was the best for her, as far as normal, happy relationship goes. and watching the series for the 3rd time now, i REALLY really like him. he loved her so much. she just took him for granted big time.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

The main problem with Riley, even from the beginning, when he had his own chip and was getting pumped full of drugs by the Potential, was that he just never measured up to Buffy's other men (except Parker, but I don't consider him either hers or a man). Whether you're Bangel or Spuffy, both, neither, or just couldn't care less one way or the other, Riley was always Buffy's weakest boyfriend, but sadly, he was also the one one who tried the hardest to be her equal. That made him the biggest failure of the three.

If you watched the show in order then by the time Buffy and Riley came to pass she'd only 'had' Angel, Pike(if you include the movie) Scott and Parker - Spike wasn't a love interest.

I think as 'pretty' as Riley was he was punching above his weight. You have your own level on all levels and they just never gelled.

I would have been more interested in Willow and Riley, there was a chemistry there at the beginning.

It would have been interesting to have had Xander turn gay, Riley stay until season 6 when Willow, high on Magic seduced Riley and created a rift between Buffy and Willow THAT caused Riley to leave and her to fall into the arms of Spike.

Edit:

Blondie Bear agrees: That's actually not a bad storyline.

I have my moments and its very believable in a real world situation.

Friends have been known to to do things like that

 

[Joyce Summers]

I am from a rare species of people who liked Riley from the beginning. He was just such a genuine sweetie and the fact that he constantly tried to match up to Buffy made him even sweeter.
He was a typical corn-fed, Iowa-raised, all-American boy- and admittedly this deal makes me swoon. However I am the first to admit that he and Buffy were alas not meant to be. I would have loved it if they had been though. There were too many problems though on both sides. Riley's instincts were to protect the woman he loved and with Buffy being the Slayer and therefore stronger than him, that was never necessary and this unfortunately caused him to constantly feel inadequate which is not a good feeling to have in a relationship. Whereas with Buffy I think subconsciously she was always comparing him to Angel and she never wanted to completely open up to him because her heart, no matter how much both she and Angel knew it wasn't possible and tried to move on, belonged to another. Also with everything going on in her life she was finding it more and more difficult share her emotions, thus effectively cutting Riley off.

And the whole vampire-whores thing kinda finished the deal, I believe.

I always thought the potential was there between them but it was all wrong timingyness and bad settings just causing everything to end up wacked and off between them. Boy how I wish it had worked out though; I mean the guy clearly adored her, loved her, worshipped her, he'd do anything for her. And what he says to Xander at the end of The Replacement always breaks my heart.

And so when he left and she's just running trying to catch him on time...I get all weepy, hehe, I'll admit it. It's when she realizes Riley has the potential to be the one. :sigh:. You're probably going to all throw rotten fruit at me now for showing the Buffy/Riley love.....*raises shield for protection just in case*

 

[Kana]

I did feel for Riley, it was a little tragic. His little-too-late emotional honesty in Into The Woods had me almost clutching at my Kleenex.

Riley lost his career and instead of getting closer to the girl, he felt as if he was losing her. Riley was kinder gentler than most guys out there but there was the fear that he wasn't enough. Unfortunately it's not hard to see why. Dawn and Spike respectively remind him that certain darker types can bring out feelings in Buffy that he cannot. Also Buffy does hold back emotionally and takes Riley for granted. This isn't simply about Riley not being able to cut the mustard (be strong enough etc) this to me seems situational. Buffy holds back because she's been hurt before and she does sometimes do the loner hero thing (Fear Itself, Yoko Factor). Riley didn't handle it in the best way.

We'll never know what might've been but it had a chance of working. most of Buffy's trainwrecks were situational and not necessarily about the guy being the 'wrong fit' as a person. Whether it's mystical curses, being the rebound guy, or being the willing participant in an abusive relationship. I actually wanted her to want him but I'm glad it didn't work out in a way because, we love the darkness and pain that leads way to light (Spuffy). I actually enjoyed the dichotomy. It was different from Spike and Angel, it explored something. Spike was right about one thing, dispite the vamp, suckjob, Riley didn't have 'it' in him. I actually thought that could be seen as a compliment seen as Buffy saw her apparent attraction to the darkness as a horrible point of reference in terms of definition.

In short, Riley was ok. I need different shades in my characters and in relation to Buffy's other lovers, he certainly provides that.

 

[Vicariously]

uggg I agreee I was so glad when he finally left!

 

[IdiotJed]

What I find odd is that the only 'men' in Buffy's life that actually left a lasting impression with her were dead. Angel-First love/ True love. Spike-Seedy, sexual affair/lasting affection. In all of her relationships the only guys that stayed in her life, 'killed half of Europe".

Riley, though, was a dud.

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

i actually just watched into the woods, and honestly realized how much i loved Riley, although i am def the minority. but i felt so much for buffy when she ran to catch up with him... its SO sad. and truly, if buffy were ever to have a "normal" life itd be with him. ugh. it just kills me.

 

[Joyce Summers]

i actually just watched into the woods, and honestly realized how much i loved Riley, although i am def the minority. but i felt so much for buffy when she ran to catch up with him... its SO sad. and truly, if buffy were ever to have a "normal" life itd be with him. ugh. it just kills me.

Into the Woods is always the one that emphasizes my RileyLove too. It was only at the very end of that episode that Buffy realized that yeah, Riley was The One. (Alive-wise anyway before you Uber-Bangel people start shouting at me). As Xander said Riley is the one that comes along once in a lifetime. I mean yeah there was passion and romance with Angel but it was a deadly relationship, painful and destructive. Tragically romantic and beautiful but way too Shakespeare to ever survive for more than it was. Any longer together (Potential Shanshuing aside) and it would have been self-destructive for both Buffy and Angel. Riley was definitely the healthier choice and his intense love for Buffy and her eventual realization that she felt the same way gives him The One Status, whether you like Riley or not.

 

[BuffyBloke]

Yeah I was happy when Riley left because I thought he was being a bit of a whiny little boy.

My exact sentiments. There was one scene in season 5 where he was whining to Buffy about her not letting him in with her problems and then he walks out of her house. I mean come on dude - Her mum isn't well and she's like distracted. Cut her some slack. He just lacked any sort of sympathy towards Buffy when it came to crunch time, I think Buffy at this point was probably numb to the love of the relationship and it seemed that she was dis-interested - but clearly there are different views on this. I got the impression sh was just seeking an Angel replacement. May have to watch season 5 again - but Riley's whiny behavior really annoyed me.

He seemed way too immature for Buffy. I was glad when he left. 🙂 No offense to any Riley fans.

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

i dunno, i can understand his sentiment. no one in a relationship likes to feel like they are being shut out. I have had a lot of stuff go on in my life, and sometimes my boyfriend feels like i don't tell him things, and it can lead to fights but its understandable. Everyone wants a relationship where they can be open and honest and where they can depend on someone and feel that someone can depend on them. Riley wanted Buffy to know he was THERE for her but she wouldn't let him be. And i have been "buffy" in that sort of situation and realized i was wrong. If you shut out the one you love of course they are going to feel unwanted and worthless. I don't see it as whiny at all, especially when you are that far a long in a relationship where honesty and being vulnerable with each other is important.

I think he had PLENTY of sympathy for buffy, she just blew him off because like he said prior, she didn't really love him. i think in one of the Angel episodes she tells Angel she's with someone new who she loves, but i don't think she ever says "i love you" to Riley (if she does, please correct me). So i felt really bad for him, because he was giving so much more of himself and she was not returning it at all.

 

[caitaintdead]

I was glad when Riley left but I actually liked him. Sometimes when I've been in relationships I've actually got where he was coming from... Having low self esteem I find it really hard to be with someone that is more popular/better looking/smarter etc. And then I automatically feel clingy and jealous. I agree with you LittleMissLikesToFight (wow that's a nice long name to write!), Buffy just doesn't give her all to her relationship with Riley and if I was in the same boat with my boyfriend I would definitely run into the arms of someone that genuinely appeared to need me and want me.

But despite all this Buffy is at her best when Riley isn't around... I think it would be interesting to see what would have happened if Buffy had met Riley when she was in her 30's rather then still being so young.

 

[Xin Rong]

Riley leaving the show may have been the single greatest moment of the entire show, and there were loads to choose from

 

[Jaded Wolf]

I'll write more on this in another thread but I really hated to see Riley go. Joss Whedon really did a good job depicting a man's (Riley) struggle with finding his identity and the need to feel wanted. I'm not saying Riley was a little off base messing around with vamps but still he had a point of needing to feel needed.

 

[Jaded Wolf]

I liked Riley as well. The problem with Riley is the problem with most men. He gave up the fight of being a man. Riley fell into despair of trying to equal up to Buffy, his woman, and that does something to a man's ego when he feels he cannot measure up. Buffy didn't help things either with her neglect (it was there believe me). Riley should have sought Buffy from the beginning but instead became passive and sought another answer which was wrong. Again, like so many other men (I'm a man speaking from experience). That's why I liked him because I can relate and I think the writers did a fantastic job of portraying a man without the fundamentals he needs to live: a purpose in life and a beauty to have. Strip those away llike Riley was (his career and Buffy) then all you have is a hollow shell.

 

[Giants Rule 04]

I never really liked Riley and always thought that he was the weakest (not only physically) of Buffy's boyfriends. He loved her very much, but he was very insecure and whiny. I started to like him a little more towards the end, but I was still glad to see him go and the show move on.

Also, I just happen to be watching the episode where he leaves right now.

 

[Hello Cutie]

Wasn't a fan of the Buffy-Riley concept. She does need a little monster in her man, and Riley just couldn't give her that... how could an extraordinary woman expect to live happily ever after with what in essence is an ordinary man?