Unacknowledged ways that characters are alike

bespangeled

bespangeled

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Black Thorn
The lampshading thread brought this to mind - unacknowledged ways that characters are alike:

Willow and Faith. Both had pretty shitty lives (although Faith's is implied to be far worse), gained new, amazing abilities which they began to abuse, causing problems. After a great trauma they turned evil, trying to kill Buffy and end the world (or, in Faith's case, do whatever the Mayor was trying to do). They were both brought down by someone showing compassion when they really didn't deserve it, leaving everyone they knew for a while and then returning in Season 7 with more control over themselves, but distrusted. One wonders what they talked about during that car ride.

Any others - I have a few but I'll wait and see!
 
A lot of the characters are set up this way, probably intentionally:

Buffy and Faith, obviously, since Faith was actually intended to be Buffy's 'shadow self'. It's not so apparent at first, but as the series progresses, we see that Buffy is way more like Faith than she wanted to admit, especially in Season Six.

Angel and Spike, which Faith even acknowledges in the comics: "Both vampires with a soul, both hung up on Buffy... you understand each other better than anyone on Earth."

Faith and Spike. Always second best to Buffy and Angel. Also, their relationship with Buffy is suspiciously similar, to the point where they have a conversation about it in Season Seven...

Willow and Warren. Both started off as geeky teens, were consumed by an overwhelming desire for power and went dark because of it, neither were above using magic to make a girl sleep with them, and attempted to (or in Willow's case, succeeded) kill someone out of vengeance.

Giles and Wesley, both willing to commit lesser evils for the greater good (Giles smothering Ben and having Spike set up for slaughter, Wes kidnapping Angel's son and keeping Justine chained up in a closet...)
 
Samuel Reyes said:
A lot of the characters are set up this way, probably intentionally:

Buffy and Faith, obviously, since Faith was actually intended to be Buffy's 'shadow self'. It's not so apparent at first, but as the series progresses, we see that Buffy is way more like Faith than she wanted to admit, especially in Season Six.

Angel and Spike, which Faith even acknowledges in the comics: "Both vampires with a soul, both hung up on Buffy... you understand each other better than anyone on Earth."

Faith and Spike. Always second best to Buffy and Angel. Also, their relationship with Buffy is suspiciously similar, to the point where they have a conversation about it in Season Seven...

Willow and Warren. Both started off as geeky teens, were consumed by an overwhelming desire for power and went dark because of it, neither were above using magic to make a girl sleep with them, and attempted to (or in Willow's case, succeeded) kill someone out of vengeance.

Giles and Wesley, both willing to commit lesser evils for the greater good (Giles smothering Ben and having Spike set up for slaughter, Wes kidnapping Angel's son and keeping Justine chained up in a closet...)
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I would apply this more to Jonathan. I mean was Warren a geeky teen? We never saw him during those years. I know that he was the more sinister of the trio, but still wouldn't connect him to Willow.

Buffy and Cordelia. Since Buffy was the Cordelia at her old school, and from time to time still flirted with at least wanting that life style. Then again Cordy learnt from Buffy too and matured as a result.
 
Samuel Reyes
Samuel Reyes
Cordelia was basically Buffy without potential
More Faith and Spike. They've redeemed themselves and done many heroic things, they're still second best to Buffy and Angel, something which pisses both of them off in that no matter how much good they do, they will always be compared to their respective rivals.
 
Samuel Reyes
Samuel Reyes
Gotta love TV Tropes lol.
Mr Trick said:
I mean was Warren a geeky teen? We never saw him during those years. I know that he was the more sinister of the trio, but still wouldn't connect him to Willow.
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Warren was a geeky adult, so it's only a reasonable assumption he was a geek in high school as well. I don't see how it connects to Jonathan.

Also, Riley and Adam. Both 'created' by Maggie Walsh, and Adam even refers to Riley as his 'brother.'
 
Samuel Reyes said:
Warren was a geeky adult, so it's only a reasonable assumption he was a geek in high school as well. I don't see how it connects to Jonathan.

Also, Riley and Adam. Both 'created' by Maggie Walsh, and Adam even refers to Riley as his 'brother.'
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I don't know I think Warren gives geeks a bad name😉 I just consider Jonathan more of a geek, and he did use powers for bad such as in Superstar and later with the trio.
 
bespangeled said:
Anya and Tara - both lovers of a Scoob but never really part of the group. Both kind of awkward, not quite onto Scoobie speak. Both die tragically - murdered in one brief moment.
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Agree with Anya, but I do think that over time Tara was accepted as part of the gang, even if you don't think of her as being a classic scooby member. Would you say Cordy fits into that catagory? I mean at times she was linked to Xander and not the others so much, although I do think her and Willow got on.
 
Mr Trick said:
Agree with Anya, but I do think that over time Tara was accepted as part of the gang, even if you don't think of her as being a classic scooby member. Would you say Cordy fits into that catagory? I mean at times she was linked to Xander and not the others so much, although I do think her and Willow got on.
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I think Cordy was one because she shared place and history. She knew the Scoobs from the start and spoke their language. I do think Tara was better liked then Anya, but comments about showing her her insect reflection, and sitting in the bathroom waiting for the big fight to be over - not a sccob. Once Tara and Willow broke up, it was Tara who left the group - just like once Xander left Anya at the altar, the group worried about Xander.
 
bespangeled said:
I think Cordy was one because she shared place and history. She knew the Scoobs from the start and spoke their language. I do think Tara was better liked then Anya, but comments about showing her her insect reflection, and sitting in the bathroom waiting for the big fight to be over - not a sccob. Once Tara and Willow broke up, it was Tara who left the group - just like once Xander left Anya at the altar, the group worried about Xander.
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Yeah tend to agree. I do like how they slowly built Cordy's role up too, like the way she was helping out here and there late season 1-early S2 before becoming more established later.
 
Buffy and Xander: Both started off seeking gender norms and suffering because they don't meet society's expectations. Their journey is to accept their roles and learn to appreciate themselves for who they are and their capabilities.

Buffy and Xander again: Both watched a loved one turn evil, both tried unsuccessfully to reason with him, both ended up killing him. (Angel for Buffy, Jesse for Xander) Both also dated and fell in love with someone with a murderous past and both had to face the ugly truth that the person they're in love with must be killed. (Angel for Buffy. Anya for Xander.)

Buffy and Xander yet again: Both had a bad experience losing their virginity, ended up being mocked, hurt and almost killed by the person they slept with.

Xander and Spike: Both had an unrequited love for the hero and did not take rejection well, but have risen up to the occasion and stood by the hero's side regardless of her lack of feelings for them.
 
Wood and Holtz - Both have a personal vendetta against vampires that killed their loved ones (the vamps in question also just so happen to be Spike and Angel).

Giles and The Mayor - Both replacement father figures to a Slayer.
 
Tara and Riley:

Both actually became close friends with their partner's friend. Riley was closest to Xander, out of all the romantic interests for Buffy and Willow. Tara was closest to Buffy, out of all the romantic interests for Willow and Xander.

Both were controlled by their family, Tara by her real family, and Riley by the Initiative.

Both were completely in love with a Scooby, but in both cases love was not enough to keep the relationship together and they had to break it off in order to take care of their own lives.

Both reconciled with their partner (even if with Riley, it was not romantic).

Both were keeping secrets from the gang when introduced, Riley being a commando guy, and Tara thinking she's part demon.

...both were into girls 😛

(This was kind of fun to come up with, Tara is one of my favourite character, and Riley one of my most hated.)
 
Mr Trick
Mr Trick
Even if I disagree about Riley loving Buffy that's a great post and I really agree.
S
sosa lola
That was very interesting and I agree with everything.
Cordelia and Snyder: Both are assholes to the Scoobies but secretly wish to hang out with them.

Angel and Andrew: Both make up heroic stories to make themselves look good. Both like dramatic entrances and exits. Both prefer quick fixes to solid slow atonements. Both are unreliable without a lot of interventions.

Dawn and Fred: Both a much more competent than what other people think they are. Both are babysit by the team for no reason.
 
S
sosa lola
[No message]
vellavu said:
Cordelia and Snyder: Both are assholes to the Scoobies but secretly wish to hang out with them.

Angel and Andrew: Both make up heroic stories to make themselves look good. Both like dramatic entrances and exits. Both prefer quick fixes to solid slow atonements. Both are unreliable without a lot of interventions.
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Well did not expect these pairings! Think Snyder would have eaten by a giant snake if you said that to his face😀

You really don't like Angel do you?😉
 
Angel and Joyce: both become parents to a kid by supernatural means, who ultimately affect the memories of their nearest and dearest.

Buffy and Darla: sacrafice their life for their child's life (surrogate child in Buffy's case).
 
Mr Trick said:
You really don't like Angel do you?😉
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Angel does not belong to my top5 favorite characters. He made his way to my top10 though.

I don't hate Andrew that much. His similarity to Angel should be a reason.
 
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