Spuffy Post Season 7

[Allchoseny]

My take on Spuffy post season 7

The word that comes to mind is free

I know a lot of people couldn't really get into the comics. While I did enjoy the Dark Horse run, even I have to admit that some of the stories seemed a bit outlandish. I recall Joss Whedon remarking that the comics allowed the writers to explore different plots and visuals they couldn't do on the show. I mean, I guess. There is such a thing as "doing too much." That aside, I liked the comics. I think most of my enjoyment came during season 9-11 because that's when Spuffy fans got to see a healthy Spike and Buffy relationship in all its shippy glory.

Season 6 was such a dark spot for the show and the characters. During its original run, I enjoyed the darker tone of the story, but it really pained me to see a Spike and Buffy relationship that was rooted in self-loathing and destruction. After the bathroom scene, I stopped shipping Spuffy for awhile and went back to my tried and true Bangle love.

Bangle was nice. It was a teenage love. However, seeing Spuffy come into fruition during the comics gave the readers a vision of Spuffy that we deserved. No, the relationship wasn't perfect. What relationship is? I read a wonderful love story between two people who were committed to each other and to their cause. I loved the way Spike doted on Buffy. Without a soul, Spike's adoration for Buffy was bastardized into an obsession that was often violent. Spike with a soul (I know we got a glimpse of this during season 7), treated their love with care. He was just as vulnerable as a boyfriend as he was a passionate lover. On her part, Buffy accepted his love and reciprocated it.

After reading and seeing a healthy Spuffy relationship, it's hard for me to go back to that time of angst between them. I want to write so much fluff for these two. I signed up for 15 kisses on DW just for that purpose.

Have you read the comics? What are your thoughts on Spuffy post TV canon?​

 

[one eyed chicklet]

I've read the comics seasons 8-11 but I started season 12 and straight away felt bored so I haven't read much past the first pages of the first issue of it. I don't mind the relationship, it was nice to see the AR get discussed on both sides and how it still affected Buffy, and also to see them trust each other so much, especially in season 11. It was annoying where they could never decide whether they liked each other romantically or kept randomly breaking up but apart from that, it was nice. I don't really have much thoughts beyond that.

 

[white avenger]

I thought that Spuffy in the Dark Horse series was just about the most stable, mature relationship that was ever depicted in the entire post TV Buffyverse. When they were openly together in Seasons 10 and 11, there was no need for secrecy, everyone seemed to accept the couple together, and Buffy actually seemed to be happy with her boyfriend, something that has been very rare. Even Giles seemed to have accepted things, and Angel was actually jealous, or at least that was my interpretation of his reaction. "Give him time. He'll screw it up. That's what Spike always does." (Really? Wasn't Spike the one who remained faithful to one person for over a century? And wasn't it Dru who broke it off, not him?)

 

[Allchoseny]

I've read the comics seasons 8-11 but I started season 12 and straight away felt bored so I haven't read much past the first pages of the first issue of it. I don't mind the relationship, it was nice to see the AR get discussed on both sides and how it still affected Buffy, and also to see them trust each other so much, especially in season 11. It was annoying where they could never decide whether they liked each other romantically or kept randomly breaking up but apart from that, it was nice. I don't really have much thoughts beyond that.

I felt the same way about S12, too. I think that was a fix it season for the Fray arc. I loved the Fray comic, but I couldn't get into that last season. I started reading the Boom! reboot and I am not sure what to think about it so far. I thought the AR was handled very tastefully and it helped to redeem Spike in my eyes. I only recall them breaking up or discussing breaking up once. I think this was after Angel came to town and put a bug in Spike's ear. I didn't like how they actually broke it off at the beginning of S12. I think that was part of the reason I lost interest.

I thought that Spuffy in the Dark Horse series was just about the most stable, mature relationship that was ever depicted in the entire post TV Buffyverse. When they were openly together in Seasons 10 and 11, there was no need for secrecy, everyone seemed to accept the couple together, and Buffy actually seemed to be happy with her boyfriend, something that has been very rare. Even Giles seemed to have accepted things, and Angel was actually jealous, or at least that was my interpretation of his reaction. "Give him time. He'll screw it up. That's what Spike always does." (Really? Wasn't Spike the one who remained faithful to one person for over a century? And wasn't it Dru who broke it off, not him?)

I agree. It was very refreshing to see a healthy Spuffy relationship! Angel has always been petty and jealous. It makes fr good comedy. I really wonder what Boom! Is going to do about this complicated relationship.

 

[white avenger]

I really wonder what Boom! Is going to do about this complicated relationship.

I get the sneaking feeling that all of the 'ships that we were familiar with in the original show are going to be tossed out the window, at least initially. Cordy is interested in Spike, Buffy seems interested in Robin, Xander may get paired up with Dru, Giles and Joyce will be together, and Willow has a girlfriend who's a totally new character. I'm looking for Oz to show up with his new girlfriend, Tara, and Anya will wind up with Jonathan, who is secretly a soldier working for the Initiative. This ain't our old Sunnydale, folks.

 

[white avenger]

(llchoseny Yeah... that Cordy/Spike thing really threw me. I'm honestly not feeling it. I know they are trying not to rehash old story lines, but I'm a little worried. I do like that Willow is already openly out. Although I really loved Willow and Oz together.)

This is kind of like in Season 1, when Cordy had the hots for Angel. The girl just seems to be consistently attracted to blood suckers. It may get her in some real trouble with this one, though.

 

[one eyed chicklet]

I felt the same way about S12, too. I think that was a fix it season for the Fray arc. I loved the Fray comic, but I couldn't get into that last season. I started reading the Boom! reboot and I am not sure what to think about it so far. I thought the AR was handled very tastefully and it helped to redeem Spike in my eyes. I only recall them breaking up or discussing breaking up once. I think this was after Angel came to town and put a bug in Spike's ear. I didn't like how they actually broke it off at the beginning of S12. I think that was part of the reason I lost interest.

Breaking up Spike and Buffy off the comics seemed like fan service to me to leave an ambiguous ending where Buffy could end up with Angel or Spike (again) or someone completely new as I'm pretty sure the writers know about the whole Spuffy vs Bangel war. It personally just seemed quite lazy, they could have broken up for literally any reason but the "I'm not feeling it anymore" just didn't feel right, especially seeing them through both the show and the comics. Don't get me wrong I'm perfectly happy Buffy ended up single (or even if she ended up with Angel), but no other relationship would be treated like that in the Buffyverse. I did find that post season 8 did tend to get more relationship orientated in general which I found kind of dull but it really brought it back with season 11 because all though the comics were never my Buffy, it was fairly entertaining watching demons get affected by politics and getting slayers involved too. I could complain about the comics all day, I treat it as an alternate reality anyway, I have no time for them retconning both the Angel and Buffy series and just making random storylines.

 

[Priceless]

The comics seemed ready made for Spuffy fans and each season Spike and Buffy became closer and closer, until in S11 they felt like a truly connected couple. The 'I love you too' kept me smiling for days 😊 I think Gage (and Whedon?) took his time over 9, 10 and 11 to really build a loving, honest and strong relationship.

Season 12 . . . well what can I say? I'm sure all Spuffy fans feel the same about this season. Very disappointing.