Was Dawn neglected in Season 6?

[Enemies]

I myself am not a huge fan of Dawn as a character, but I can't help but feel sorry for her in Season 6 everytime she's left alone. I think a lot of the time Dawn puts on a brave face but it's obvious that this really upsets her. I know the gang has a lot of work to do seperately and together, but do you feel Dawn was neglected? She is only 15 years old and although she is growing up she's still not an adult.....

 

[Hale Caesar]

In general I don't like Dawn, and Season 6 is probably the biggest reason why. Season 5 Dawn was annoying but it was the first time we got a character like her so it didn't bother me. But in Season 6 she just did the same thing...complain. Season 7 Dawn was too little too late and the fact that Michelle Tratchenberg couldn't act didn't help (IMO)

Was she neglected though? Probably, but Buffy just died and the Scoobies were breaking up. I just wanted to tell her "Shut up, there are more important things going on"...it sounds mean, but it's how I felt, I have no sympathy for the character lol

 

[Willow My Love]

I can't stand Dawn, but yes. She was. Buffy had to work, Willow was trying to get off magic, Tara had left Willow, Xander and Anya were planning a wedding, and Giles had the store, and books to keep him busy. Where does a teenager fit into all that?

Not to mention that Buffy had the dealing with coming back from the dead thing, and the Spike thing that was going on, on top of the usual patrolling and slaying.

Dawn learned what all of us with single-working-parents learn: You have to fend for yourself. I was planning dinners for the week at 12. You do what you have to. You grow up early, but it makes you way more able to handle the real world when you get to it. I thought they aptly portrayed how it is when your parent can't be there all the time. It is kind of lonely. I just think Dawn complained WAY too much.

I think that's why she stopped whining so much in s7. (Thank, GOD.)

 

[Icarium]

On the one hand, many 15 year olds actually like it when they are often home alone. I know I did. Also, nothing was stopping Dawn from finding some friends of her own.

Still, in less than a year she learned that she was not a real girl and her memories were not her own, her mother died, her father didn't even show up for the funeral, then her sister died to save Dawn, then said sister came back but was strangely cold and detached. Then the replacement parental figure that Dawn had become very attached to left, the sister revealed she had been pulled from heaven which must have made Dawn feel all the more guilty because she was supposed to die that day, not her sister. Let's just say that after all that it was a miracle Dawn didn't try to kill herself rather than just throw hissy fits and become a kleptomaniac.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I agree with what's said above, expect that she complained too much. In season 5, yes, but I can't recall any inappropiate whining in season 6. Dumb decisions madethat she really was too smart to make, specially at Halloween, but not too whiny for someone in her situation.

She was alone, surrounded by people that loved her, but didn't see her. She had been used to being babied by her mom for her entire life (or, you know, fake-life) then her mom dies, her sister dies, her sister's friends try to be there, but they have their own things going on. Then Buffy comes back and everyone probably assumes Buffy will be there for Dawn but she can't replace Joyce, specially not while being depressed and busy with her own things. A child is suppose to have two parents, and Dawn had a half one. And she wasn't used to that, which I guess he got by season 7, when Buffy was also more "there".

And as said in season 8, Dawn felt like Willow was like a mom to her(if I recall right), which I guess happened during the summer Buffy was dead, so during season 6 when Willow was busy being addicted and all, and as I said above, probably expected Buffy to be there, Dawn might have felt like she lost her bonus mom, missing Willow more than the others.

---------- Post added at 01:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 AM ----------

On the one hand, many 15 year olds actually like it when they are often home alone. I know I did. Also, nothing was stopping Dawn from finding some friends of her own.

Friends and family aren't the same thing. And she did find friends... bad ones that tried to kill her and her friend. She seemed to have better ones too though.

And I think most teens like the option of being on their own, but want there to be someone waiting for them at home. Dawn didn't always have that. Her alone times weren't by her own choice.

Still, in less than a year she learned that she was not a real girl and her memories were not her own, her mother died, her father didn't even show up for the funeral, then her sister died to save Dawn, then said sister came back but was strangely cold and detached. Then the replacement parental figure that Dawn had become very attached to left, the sister revealed she had been pulled from heaven which must have made Dawn feel all the more guilty because she was supposed to die that day, not her sister. Let's just say that after all that it was a miracle Dawn didn't try to kill herself rather than just throw hissy fits and become a kleptomaniac.

I agree. Not many people seem to think about the guilt she must have felt. I can't believe the writers never touched on that.

 

[Icarium]

And as said in season 8, Dawn felt like Willow was like a mom to her(if I recall right), which I guess happened during the summer Buffy was dead, so during season 6 when Willow was busy being addicted and all, and as I said above, probably expected Buffy to be there, Dawn might have felt like she lost her bonus mom, missing Willow more than the others.

I don't see why she would be missing Willow that much. Willow was living in the same house and presumably her classes were mostly at the same time when Dawn was at school. Willow struggling with her magic addiction shouldn't have stopped her from being there for Dawn, at least once she hit rock bottom in Wrecked. As far as I remember Dawn was missing Tara more than Willow. Which made her not mentioning Tara not even once in S7 seem incredibly stupid but that's a rant for another day.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I don't see why she would be missing Willow that much. Willow was living in the same house and presumably her classes were mostly at the same time when Dawn was at school. Willow struggling with her magic addiction shouldn't have stopped her from being there for Dawn, at least once she hit rock bottom in Wrecked. As far as I remember Dawn was missing Tara more than Willow. Which made her not mentioning Tara not even once in S7 seem incredibly stupid but that's a rant for another day.

I didn't think about that they lived in the same house and that Tara actually left. Come to think of it, maybe they were both her bonus moms, maybe Tara even more.

I do still believe Willow wasn't there for Dawn as much as before, and I imagine Dawn had a hard time being around Willow for a while after Wrekked. but in season 7, they seem friendly again. I can't recall if they had a bonding moment after Wrekked, but before season 7.

 

[orpheusxi]

I think as far as Dawn I agree with most of what Hale Caesar said.She went through a lot in Season 5 & acted out so it was understandable. In Season 6 she definitely was neglected, but I feel like the writers could have used to propel her into kind of what they wanted her to be in season 7. Someone who had inner struggles yet still found the strength to overcome it & she'd be able to relate to her sister on a lot of levels.

 

[OhWow]

Yea, Dawn was neglected in S6 I guess...everyone had their own stuff to deal with.

Home life is really important to me and for other teens I assume. Being in a home where your family is always around and hanging out, watching tv together, eating dinner and whatnot is really comforting and predictable. But coming home to an empty house every day is just depressing and boring. I can see where Dawn is coming from...

 

[Icarium]

Friends and family aren't the same thing. And she did find friends... bad ones that tried to kill her and her friend. She seemed to have better ones too though.

And I think most teens like the option of being on their own, but want there to be someone waiting for them at home. Dawn didn't always have that. Her alone times weren't by her own choice.

I didn't mean Dawn didn't need parental figures if she had friends. It's just that sometimes the show forgot all about Dawn's friends and presented the situation as if she would be all alone all the time unless the Scoobies were willing to entertain her. Like in Older and Far Away when she wants to go to the mall, everyone else is busy and no mention of even the possibility of her deciding to go with a friend is made. And then she says: "You have all these friends. You have no idea what it's like." Which kind of confuses me because I am pretty sure we saw Dawn having friends in other episodes. I wouldn't mind if she overreacted considering the circumstances but the writers seem to pay this total lack of friends straight in this episode.

I do still believe Willow wasn't there for Dawn as much as before, and I imagine Dawn had a hard time being around Willow for a while after Wrekked. but in season 7, they seem friendly again. I can't recall if they had a bonding moment after Wrekked, but before season 7.

I can only think of Seeing Red when they talk about Spuffy and Dawn is incredibly happy that Willow and Tara are back together. My favourite Dawn scene ever. 🙂

 

[Hale Caesar]

On the one hand, many 15 year olds actually like it when they are often home alone. I know I did. Also, nothing was stopping Dawn from finding some friends of her own.

Still, in less than a year she learned that she was not a real girl and her memories were not her own, her mother died, her father didn't even show up for the funeral, then her sister died to save Dawn, then said sister came back but was strangely cold and detached. Then the replacement parental figure that Dawn had become very attached to left, the sister revealed she had been pulled from heaven which must have made Dawn feel all the more guilty because she was supposed to die that day, not her sister. Let's just say that after all that it was a miracle Dawn didn't try to kill herself rather than just throw hissy fits and become a kleptomaniac.

I really like this post.

I think the writers should have highlighted what Dawn was going through in Season 6 more, and maybe I would have been more sympathetic towards the character. I feel we never got to hear what Dawn was feeling, we never got that moment where Dawn really put her emotions onscreen. I blame poor writing for Dawn in season 6, either that or them managing too many characters and stories at once (take your pick), but that's just my opinion.

 

[BuffyElevated]

Dawn was definitely neglected in Season 6. It's true that there were some major things going on around her, and the lives of the people who were supposedly responsible for taking care of her were unraveling, each in their own way. I know that Xander, Willow, Anya, and Tara weren't Dawn's legal guardians, but I always felt aggravated when they'd leave her alone. They'd always talk about how it wasn't safe for her to walk to a friend's house alone, and they treated her like a kid a lot by not discussing things like sex or whatever in front of her, but they thought nothing of leaving her at home alone a lot? The only one who ever seemed to really care that Dawn shouldn't be by herself so much was Tara.

 

[Kairos]

She was absolutely neglected. By the writers and the audience almost as much as by the other characters: she's annoying, so we don't like her, so we don't pay attention to her. Sucks to be a lonely teenager. Sometimes you don't know how to not be annoying.

 

[Kean]

There is no question that Dawn was neglected in S6. The problem is that the people who were supposed to be looking after her were basically children too and couldn't even look after themselves.

Her father, and I think Giles too, really have no excuse for not being there for her.

 

[The Scourge]

It didn't help that even Spike ditched her as soon as Buffy came back. It was a shame too, I really liked their scenes together.

The only one who took time for Dawn was Tara.

 

[WillowHallow]

I think it's a mixed bag with Dawn. She expects Buffy to look out for her, yet Buffy is still getting over the fact of her mothers death, and her resserection. Which is a lot for Buffy to deal with, and she has Spike to help her through that sort of, when he is supportive of her. But could Dawn have not found some of her own friends? It's not like she was bound to the house, or magic box. She could have easily made friends at high school, like Buffy did when she moved to Sunnydale.
Dawn may have been ignored sometimes by the Scoobies, but she could have done something about it instead of sitting around, stealing items and generally being annoying.

 

[Enemies]

I agree with @TheScourge. Spike's scenes with Dawn, for me personally, showed a human side to Spike which I hadn't really seen before. He seemed to genuinely care for Dawn but as soon as Buffy's back he switches allegiance to her. I think Dawn has lost a lot of people and at that age when life already seems so hard she's also protecting her sisters secret, dealing with death and loss on a regular basis and growing up far to fast. She never has time to just be a child. She never has family time with Buffy even to just sit down and have a proper meal. The only time we see anyone spending time with her is Tara. And even though Willow isn't lost or dead she's so wrapped up in her own drama she doesn't realise Dawn. I feel genuinely sorry for her but I would have liked to see an episode when Dawn and the gang confront these problems rather than avoiding them.

 

[zobothehobo]

No. It confuses me when people say Dawn was neglected in season 6. By 15, someone should be able to make dinner for themselves and eat it at a reasonable time, do their homework at a reasonable time, take a shower at a reasonable time, go to bed at a reasonable time, make friends, hang out with them until a reasonable time, etc all on their own. Buffy worked late a lot... But she kinda HAD to... or else they couldn't pay the bills. There are SO many American families in the predicament right there: the parental figure cannot be home a lot because they HAVE to work to keep their family afloat. Remember that out of the four (then three) people who lived in that house, Buffy was the only one who worked. You cannot fault her for working late.

Some people say "well then she had sex on Dawn's food." I think that's a little ridiculous. It's not like she took the food out of the bag and smeared it on her and Spike then put it back. The bag got smushed. It seems like a bit of an awkward unfortunate circumstance more than "neglect."

I've heard people say "she [Buffy] didn't want to be there" to justify saying Dawn was neglected. I'm not sure this is necessarily true. I think Buffy didn't know what she wanted. It's like "when you don't know what you want, nothing's ever enough." She wasn't happy at home and wanted to escape... and she wasn't happy at work and wanted to escape... she wasn't happy anywhere and the only place that even sort of made sense was anywhere with Spike but she didn't even know she wanted that or why. And I don't think you can say that because Buffy was depressed, she was neglecting Dawn. Again, there are SO many families all over the world that have this issue... parental figure is depressed. When it happened to me and my dad was so depressed he would barely get out of bed all day, I was 9. As far as I'm concerned, Dawn's lucking it happened when she was 15. At 15, you're much better equipped to take care of yourself.

Then there's the "Dawn was lonely" argument. I find that ridiculous. 1. she went to school with people she could have made friends with. 2. If that didn't work by this time (2001-2002), the internet was already a tool she could use to make friends. I had friends on the internet during that time, and I was younger that 15. Also, using that as an argument implies that any time a teenager is lonely, it is the parental figure's responsibility to hang out with them and make them not lonely... but if that's the case, the child will never learn to find friends on their own.

I think in a lot of ways it appears that Dawn was neglected to her and to viewers because of how much attention she had in the previous season vs how much attention she had in season 6. In season 5, she was the linchpin of the whole thing... and in season 6, she had little to do with the plot of the season. It MUST have been a crazy shock for her, and her kleptomania is her acting out and trying to get attention again... and I'm guessing it's a shock for some viewers who aren't sure about the GIGANTIC loss of importance in Dawn's character.

 

[Ripper666]

I think yes she was neglected. But why? Did nobody saw it ? I always think common guys... she steals and has a bad schooleducation. She crys all the time! Why none of the Scoobie Gang saw her screams for attention!

Sometimes I think why Dawn don't have friends in school but hten I think, Buffy just have friends because they know about the Slayer. Dawn isn't allowed to talk about this to her friend at school (if she has some)

So I really feel sorry for her no Mom (no sister sometimes). I love her but she is the one with the hardest childhood I think!