Was anyone else bothered by Buffy's behavior in The Gift?

[kikimm]

So I just finished watching season 5 yesterday and it was awesome and such, but something that really bothered me, and maybe I'm taking this the wrong way, but it was how it seemed that she was willing to basically let the world get screwed over because she wouldn't let her sister die. I mean, I know it's Dawn, she's a part of Buffy, she's her sister, etc, but...come on. It's so selfish. And to be willing to sacrifice not just the world but all your friends, who have given up so much for you. I really side with Giles in that whole conversation. 😛

Anyways, like I said, maybe I took it totally the wrong way, but her words really bothered me. If I was Willow or Xander I'd be like hey what the hell? And I would like to hear what you guys think about it! =)

 

[Kean]

I don't think Buffy is willing to sacrifice the world for Dawn, as was shown by her swan dive, but she would go to her absolute moral limitations to keep those most important to her, even if means others suffer for it.

We saw her do that with Angel, Willow and Spike too. The only people she wasn't willing to go to her limit for was Anya and Faith.

 

[Wishing Oceans]

I also was. 🙂 I mean, if she saves Dawn, then it will be Hell on earth, and Dawn will have to live in Hell (which will most likely kill her as well as MANY others). If she doesn't save Dawn, then she'll end up saving EVERYONE.

Of course, I understand that it would be next to impossible to kill your own sister, but still, her philosophy seemed pretty flawed to me. 🙂

 

[Vengeance]

I didn't get it either for the reasons above. Also, she killed Angel to save the world too.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

From how I saw that situation, Buffy wanted to stop the every universe from ending (as Gregor had told her), she also wanted to save Dawn. Yes, she knew what might/ would happen, but as far as I remember she kept looking for an alternative. As it was, she found the truth of how death is a gift.

 

[MinwaraYana]

No, I wasn't bothered. She did the right thing. Even it's real or not, Dawn is her sister. The only family she has. And if she killed her, I think it would be like she kills her father or mother.

You can't compare Dawn to Angel. It's different kind of love. She grew up with Dawn, but Angel is who she met later. And I think Buffy loves Dawn more than Angel.

 

[Foster]

Some of you have said what Buffy thought with the whole Dawn-over-the-world was flawed or logicless....well, of course it was! It was about her sister, her blood family...her only blood family left really. And in a matter of the heart such as this all logic would fly out of the window- she was convinced until the very last minute that Dawn didn't have to die to save the world (Which is when she gets her own Death is my Gift epiphany). If she had been detatched and unbiased she would have said yes, many lives out weigh the one and thus for the good of the world, Dawn must die. But she wasn't detached and unbiased- this was her sister and no matter how much she tries not to be selfish...I doubt anyone would have the capacity to be so selfless as to essentially kill their own sister.

It's like that question 'There's a burning building who do you save? One sibling or five strangers?'. The correct answer is really 'five strangers' but I bet most, if not all of you, would answer one sibling. I know I would.

 

[GrrArghx]

Nope. I don't have a sister, but I can definitely understand. Dawn was apart of her; the love of her life and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her no matter what.

Selfish? Maybe. But, Dawn was her sister and her only family left.

 

[white avenger]

Quite likely, Buffy's extreme protectiveness toward Dawn during Season 5 was an element of the original spell that the monks invoked in creating her. That would also explain why, just two years later, her feelings on the subject had changed. The spell was wearing off.

 

[TheVoid68]

Hmm.... on on hand, I admire her behaviour. I think that a true hero should never sacrifice one person to save a hundered, but try to save all 101.

On the other hand, with Buffy it seemed like it was one rule for those she really cared about, and another rule for everybody else. Which I think is unfair, selfish and rather unheroic.

 

[saturn5]

I think we have to let Buffy have this one. She and Dawn love each other beyond earthly reason, she says so herself in The Gift, they're more than sisters (as there are various hints of throughout the series)

 

[Skytteflickan88]

As someone who has a little sis, I can say that I understand Buffy. When I try to put myself in her situation a part of me dies.

I would have been bothered if she accepted Dawn dyingas if it was nothing. Not to say I would say she was inhuman is she had finally decided to let her die (as I think she was ready to do in season 7).

Let's also remember that whatever Buffy feels for Dawn is manifactured. I'm sure the monks did they everything they could and/or had the time to do to protect Dawn, including making Buffy love her above all, so this might not be nomral love, it could be superduper love.

 

[Eleftheria]

I understand Buffy. Totally. What if someone told me that my brother or sister should be killed in order to save the world? I would work my ass off to find another way. I understand both Giles and Buffy. She is not selfish. But even if Dawn isn't her true sister, she has memories of her, of growing up together, she made a promise to her mother. They are sisters, she loves her.

And I don't think that she stopped believing that in s7 cause the spell of the monks stopped working, I just think Buffy became colder and started looking at the big picture and the reason she is a Slayer. I do not agree with this kind of behaviour in s7 but the girl climbed all the way from her grave, she fell from Heaven and went through Hell here on Earth. So, maybe that led her into a colder behaviour.

 

[discereaude]

Quite likely, Buffy's extreme protectiveness toward Dawn during Season 5 was an element of the original spell that the monks invoked in creating her. That would also explain why, just two years later, her feelings on the subject had changed. The spell was wearing off.

I disagree because even though Buffy says she would sacrifice Dawn in S7 or S6 can't remember, in the last episode or second last of the TV series she sends Dawn away with Xander. She didn't want Dawn in the fight and she didn't want to say goodbye to Dawn either in the last episode. Actions speak louder than words everyone. When it comes down to it, Buffy protects those she loves the most.

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

I disagree because even though Buffy says she would sacrifice Dawn in S7 or S6 can't remember, in the last episode or second last of the TV series she sends Dawn away with Xander. She didn't want Dawn in the fight and she didn't want to say goodbye to Dawn either in the last episode. Actions speak louder than words everyone. When it comes down to it, Buffy protects those she loves the most.

Yes but in that situation of the last battle, her death would be unnecessary. Where as in season 5, it had a whole lot more weight to it. So im not sure you can really compare the two situations. I think she meant it when she said later on she'd sacrifice Dawn because she had plenty of time to think about the situation and consequences, time she didn't have in The Gift. She wasn't saying it in the, i want my sister dead way. But in an insightful, wisdom filled kind of way that came with time to really assess the scenario.

 

[zotlot]

Also, sacrificing Dawn would be killing an innocent human, which Giles said only a few minutes before Buffy couldn't do. Killing Angel was different because he wasn't innocent (or human, but I don't essentially think that's the point) and even with his soul back it wasn't the same. He was her romantic love, and so it would have seemed a lot more selfish to destroy the world for her boyfriend as opposed to her sister. Family love is percieved as a lot more selfless (not necessarily my opinion, just a perception). I think a lot more people would be questioning this if she'd let Dawn die, than doing what she actually did.

 

[Chris2]

I wasn't bothered by it. In fact, I think any other response would have been out of character for her at the time - she loves Dawn beyond reason (and also feels responsible for her, which is another reason it's different from her killing Angel) and would do anything to protect her.

I don't think she would have let the world be destroyed in the very end, though. When Dawn tells Buffy that she (Dawn) has to jump, I think Buffy would have realised that she had to let her do it. If she hadn't realised she could close the portal herself, that is.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I don't think Buffy is willing to sacrifice the world for Dawn, as was shown by her swan dive, but she would go to her absolute moral limitations to keep those most important to her, even if means others suffer for it.

We saw her do that with Angel, Willow and Spike too. The only people she wasn't willing to go to her limit for was Anya and Faith.

Very well said, Kean... I wasn't bothered by Buffy's actions. Hell, if it were my sister, I'd feel the exact same way. I understood.

 

[kikimm]

Yeah, I definitely get the sibling love part of it. I have two younger brothers who I do unfortunately love very much! 😉 And I know she isn't willing to literally give up the world for her because Buffy herself jumps, but I mean BEFORE she knew she had to do that. The whole line that goes kinda like "the ritual starts, we all die," I was just like uh what. I like to think that you are right, though, Chris. =)

 

[MergedLoki]

Hmm.... on on hand, I admire her behaviour. I think that a true hero should never sacrifice one person to save a hundered, but try to save all 101.

On the other hand, with Buffy it seemed like it was one rule for those she really cared about, and another rule for everybody else. Which I think is unfair, selfish and rather unheroic.

I agree with you on the point that it did seem selfish/etc. of buffy. But keep in mind she's not a 'superhero' in the comicbook sense of the word (ala superman, highest moral ground, NEVER does wrong etc. etc.).

But one of the greatest things (i've found) about buffy is that even with her strength/other gifts as a slayer, she's still a human being, and can be as close minded, selfish, confused, compassionate, caring etc. as any of the rest of us can be given the circumstances.

And as has been stated above, it's her family, flesh and blood. I mean if someone gave you a gun and said 'ok kill your parents or I will kill your 5 friends' what would you do? I mean your friends are your friends but family is family. (yea a lil microcosim senario of the whole S5 buffy/end of the world thing). but still. If buffy had been able to just say 'well.. she's a spell and i really dont want the world to end so whatever c ya dawn' what? S5 would have lasted all of 5 episodes? lol. Had to draw it out somehow. 😛