What is it you don't like about the Buffy character?

Silum said:
It seems by general consensus that Buffy is disliked when compared to other characters. Reading peoples responses, most people sympathise with various characters but still view Buffy as thinking she is superior or lacking humility in some way.

I'll take the 'Empty Spaces' thread as an example. A LOT of people side with those rejecting Buffy and they have their reasons. Im more interested in what they think lead them to think Buffy was any less of a hero. Its a combination of both what people think makes Buffy less a hero and why people dont like the character.

...im curious if people can express clearly why Buffy falls short. I dont expect a big thread, im more intersted in some thought provoking opinions to represent their ideas.
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Do some people really think Buffy is less of a hero?!! I mean, I understand why she's not everyone's favorite character but she'll always be a hero. If she wasn't a hero or any less of a hero there would be no series called Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Buffy has flaws, she's the slayer. She has ultimate responsibility at all times. She can't allow herself to be completely happy so eventually we see a slayer that doesn't want to be a slayer anymore. Does that make her less of a hero? No, it makes her more of a hero because she never gives up. There is no other side of the argument. Without a heroin you don't have an epic story. She just happens to have the best sidekicks in the universe!

The reason she's not my favorite character is because of her sometimes distance emotionally to the viewers. Of course that's not always true but there are times when I'm not as captivated by her like I would be with Spike or Willow. Buffy can be a real bitch, sometimes even annoying....she's tough and angry a good percentage of the time. And when she's not she's good ole happy buffy, ready to make a witty observational remark.

There's no way Buffy could be any less than a heroin! I do apologize if I seem like I'm defending but couldn't help it!!!.:fighting1
 
I don't like when Buffy momentarily develops a superiority complex, as when she threatens Robin Wood's life or lectures Xander about his love for Anya. But this can be interesting, as when she
robs a bank vault (as revealed in "Anywhere But Here")
, or eventually realizes the error of her ways.
 
Did you get what needed for your essay? I'd say that we hold Buffy up to a high standard because she is the hero. We except her to save the day, keep everything together, and keep everyone inspired to keep fighting. Other characters, such as Xander, we don't hold to such a high standard and therefore are more easily forgivable.

Sure, she's human. She has flaws. She makes bad calls. So what? We all do. Can you even imagine what it must be like to be in her shoes? I'm surprised she didn't lose her mind a long time ago.

I find it pretty puzzling that some people claim to not be able to relate to Buffy or claim to dislike her considering it's her show. I mean, she's the reason they're all there. The reason they're fighting - for her.

Personally, the way she treated Spike in S6 has always gotten to me. I see her motivation, but it still bothers me. I can't even stand to watch that scene in Dead Things where she's beating him up in the alley. It kills me. I can almost physically feel her self-loathing and Spike's willingness to take the beating makes me want to cry. He loved her so much he was fine with being her punching bag. Yeah, so Buffy's use of Spike for sex and as her stress-reliever bothered me. But other than that, I can see her reasoning behind most of her actions. I say; Give the poor girl a break.
 
I know what Faith & Spike don't like about her...

Spike: You know why I really hate you, Summers?
Buffy: 'Cause I'm a stuck-up tight-ass with no sense of fun?
Spike: Well, yeah, that covers a lot of it.
Buffy: Cause I could do anything I want, and instead, I choose
to pout and whine and feel the burden of slayerness? I mean, I could
be rich, I could be famous, I could have anything. Anyone.
[Buffy moves closer and puts her hands on Spike's chest.]
Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs
buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never
even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm
champagne, and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more.
And you know why I don't? [She moves closer and looks up at him
pursing her lips.] Because it's wrong. Humh humh. [She moves off.]

Spike: I get this chip out, you and me are gonna have a confrontation.
Buffy: Count on it.
[Spike throws his bottle into the wall and walks off. He shoves someone
and clutches his head.]
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I love Buffy, I really do, but she comes off a bit headstrong at times, which grates in my nerves, and usually gets her into trouble.
 
I like and relate the most to Buffy out of any character in fiction ever but I sometimes don't like how she treats people close to her. Spike, Dawn, Giles, her mom, the scoobies, sometimes get taken for granted in how much they help her or do for her. Still, I really love the her character.
 
caritas08 said:
I like and relate the most to Buffy out of any character in fiction ever but I sometimes don't like how she treats people close to her. Spike, Dawn, Giles, her mom, the scoobies, sometimes get taken for granted in how much they help her or do for her. Still, I really love the her character.
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You save the world on a regular basis, have sex with two vampirs, are friends with a witch, wereworlf, and a venegance demon, and have a ball of energy as a sister?!?!?

:silly:
 
clemxens said:
You save the world on a regular basis, have sex with two vampirs, are friends with a witch, wereworlf, and a venegance demon, and have a ball of energy as a sister?!?!?

:silly:
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LOL. I didn't mean that. I meant I have a similar personality to Buffy. The non mystical social stuff. The way she acts with relationships, friendships and family. Her attitude about things, etc.
 
SPIKE
You listen to me. (kneels in front of her) I've been alive a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I prefer you didn't. I don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain. So I make a lot of mistakes, a lot of wrong bloody calls. (looks into her eyes) A 100+ years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of: you. (Buffy looks away; he reaches toward her face) Hey, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. (a tear rolls down Buffy's cheek) I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy

It is same for me too. I love the way she is. Actually thats why i love her. Because she is not perfect... Just like us.
 
TheChosenTwo said:
What annoys me about Buffy, is that she's always like: "You wouldn't understand"
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Very true. So many times she wouldn't let her friends try to understand.It was all "I've got to do this on my own." Or,"It's not your responsiblty,it's mine.I'm the Slayer.Not you." The Scoobies helped many-a-times,but I think it wasn't untill S7 that she truly appreciated their help.
 
There are some things I don't like about her, sure (for example, the way she sometimes ends up using people around her), but I can always see where she's coming from. Which kinda makes me sympathise with her a little more, before getting ticked off again at something she's done...hmm, all very confusing. Simply put, she's imperfect.
 
Hmm... Well, I agree with most others-- I DO like Buffy quite a lot, I just happen to like other characters more.

I guess my biggest personal issue with her is that really, she is so average. They [the writers] tried very hard to make her just the average girl-- friends, family, semi-okay social status, etc. Yet still, everyone just loved her so much. All the guys crushed on her and of course she was witty and strong and everything. Probably it has something to do with me feeling like in real life she wouldn't be a "dork" at all, but a natural member of Cordelia's posse (seasons 1-3), though being known perhaps, as a bit odd and a little nicer. She doesn't have any special computer talents like Willow, or anything besides slaying that really defines her to me. She's the golden girl who can do no wrong. For me, I'm not that average girl. Or maybe I am average because I'm not average if that makes sense. Someone like Faith is edgy and that's why I find her more interesting. Willow, being actually dorky, with her clothes and skills and everything, and her later loss of control with something like magic (along with her insecurities initially about Tara and abandonment from everyone else) is more relatable to me. Her growth is realistic from beginning to end, and I feel like she could be more than Buffy's sidekick. The things Dark Willow said to Buffy made me happy to have her, because that's the same way I felt. Maybe it's a jealousy factor or something but it brings to mind a quote from Michelle Trachtenberg's movie, Ice Princess, "Well, I guess no matter how old we get, the rest of us will still always hate the prom queen."

Why does everyone always hate the protagonist in movies and books?

Is it awful for me to say that the thing I don't like about her is that she has good morals and often does what's right BECAUSE she's a hero?

I hope that helps with your essay, but once more, I'd like to say that I DO actually quite like Buffy. These are just the annoyances I felt watching her.
 
I think I'm the only one, but I think Buffy is a little bit of a... hypocrite (or however you spell that)

I mean, after Angel left she had Riley. And she had a "thing" with Parker. After she sees Angel hugging Faith she freaks out (Though I don't think it was the hug, more the fact that it was Faith. But I'm pretty sure if it was Cordelia or a girl she didn't know, she reacted like that too)

She's mad at Faith because she did horrible things to her. And yeah, that true, but Buffy tried to kill Faith.

- She can be very bossy and I can't stand people who think they're better than other people (like she admits in "Conversations with dead people", but she admits it, that's a good thing)

- Like I said before the "You wouldn't understand" "I'm the slayer, not you" annoys me so much

But Buffy has things I like too. Especially in the earlier seasons. She's funny, cute and a hero, ofcourse.
 
I love Buffy, but there are a few things I get miffed about.

She gets so obsessed with her relationships. God only knows how everyone felt about her with Angel. Even the crazed Bangel fans can admit that he was all that was on her mind. I understand that it was her first adult relationship, but Jesus.

Parker - Not a relationship, I grant you, but when he dissed her, like half of the college guys do, she was HEARTBROKEN. Like, seriously, you don't even know him. You're a bit of a whore for putting out so early, so how can you not expect him to treat you like one?

Riley - At first, like Angel, they were ALWAYS together. Then she pushed him to the side, like a frigging old toy or something. I hate Riley, but what the hell?

Spike - It was all about the sex. Lots and lots of it. Not until the series finale is it confirmed that she loves him, and even then we're not positive. This is my favorite of Buffy's relationships, but it has many flaws.
 
The main thing that always bugged me about her was how arrogant she could be. She thought she was superior to everyone in every way and sometimes she just really needed a slap. Sure she was imperfect just like everyone else but her holier-than-thou attitude really knew no bounds.
 
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