Was Anya Modeled After Cordelia?

[palabravampiress]

They both filled a certain role on the show, yes: Xander's blunt, funny girlfriend.

Those similarities come from very different experiences, though. Cordy was the b****y prom queen type. She was afraid, deep down inside, that she didn't deserve her privilege, and so she went about forcing herself and everyone else to bow to her "obvious" greatness. To that end, her sense of humor was intentionally biting and mean. She understood the world around her. She understood the emotions of the people around her. She manipulated those people and that world to suit her purposes. Her attraction to Xander was, to Cordy, a weakness. He was beneath her. It wasn't until she lost everything and got out on her own that she began to mature out of this very immature, very selfish, and yet very human mindset. If her parents had never lost their fortune, I don't think she ever would have matured out of that mindset.

Anya was "new." She was blunt and funny, yes, but she didn't understand the world around her. She didn't understand the emotions going on inside her or inside anyone else. She was not intentionally mean. She stated the things that no one else would state not to prove she had the stones for it, but because she didn't know she wasn't supposed to state those things. Anya was a very honest character. She didn't really hide anything. She didn't try to manipulate people, either. She didn't know how. Her attraction to Xander was equally honest and new. She didn't understand it. She just loved him. She was a work-in-progress, always maturing and always learning.

So even though I think they fit a certain niche in the group dynamic, I can't say Anya's character was modeled on Cordy's.

 

[Bangelxx]

Anya was a great character and yes she is very different from Cordy! I'm not exactly a fan of Anya. I find her kind of a nuisance sometimes but shes ok!

 

[Randy Giles]

They both filled a certain role on the show, yes: Xander's blunt, funny girlfriend.

Those similarities come from very different experiences, though. Cordy was the b****y prom queen type. She was afraid, deep down inside, that she didn't deserve her privilege, and so she went about forcing herself and everyone else to bow to her "obvious" greatness. To that end, her sense of humor was intentionally biting and mean. She understood the world around her. She understood the emotions of the people around her. She manipulated those people and that world to suit her purposes. Her attraction to Xander was, to Cordy, a weakness. He was beneath her. It wasn't until she lost everything and got out on her own that she began to mature out of this very immature, very selfish, and yet very human mindset. If her parents had never lost their fortune, I don't think she ever would have matured out of that mindset.

Anya was "new." She was blunt and funny, yes, but she didn't understand the world around her. She didn't understand the emotions going on inside her or inside anyone else. She was not intentionally mean. She stated the things that no one else would state not to prove she had the stones for it, but because she didn't know she wasn't supposed to state those things. Anya was a very honest character. She didn't really hide anything. She didn't try to manipulate people, either. She didn't know how. Her attraction to Xander was equally honest and new. She didn't understand it. She just loved him. She was a work-in-progress, always maturing and always learning.

So even though I think they fit a certain niche in the group dynamic, I can't say Anya's character was modeled on Cordy's.

Very, very well put. I agree.

Although I must say that - despite Cordelia being a biatch sometimes, I liked her from the very first episode, she was very funny. Mean, yes, but written and portrayed in a way that makes you (well, me, at least) feel sorry for her in a way, and she's very human. She can be mean, but she's good inside, she just has to mature, but to be honest I like both Biatch Cordy and Nice Mature Cordy.