What's Your Perception?

[Kelsey]

I think this is where this belongs, since I'm basically asking about your favorite characters, but what I really want to know about is your perception. You've probably said it or read it in a debate before: "It's all about perception!" So, how do you view your favorite characters on BtVS/AtS? How do your past experiences affect the way you choose which characters you like and which characters you don't? What traits draw you to them?

Try answering these other questions:


Who is your favorite character (or characters)?


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?


It's always fun to debate about them, but I thought it would be interesting to talk about why we like the character that we like. I have a input of my own, but I'll wait for people to reply before giving my reasons. No shipper wars, please! And I repeat: No shipper wars, please!

 

[BuffyElevated]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
My favorite character is and always has been Xander.


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?
I have empathized a lot with Xander over the course of the show. I never lost an eye or anything, but I felt his pain a lot, especially on the fact that he never could seem to attract a nice normal girl who would love him for him. When he admitted his feelings to Buffy in "Prophecy Girl" and she said she didn't like him that way, it cut right through me 'cause I'd just gone through something like that. I've also been guilty of, in my circle of friends, being the one who says what's on my mind without thinking how it's going to cut someone or affect them later, which is a quality of Xander's.


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?
I like that he's a normal, human guy who just wants to do the right thing. Here he is, with no super powers or magical abilities, yet he's willing to lay down his life for the good of the world, and for the people he cares about. He has the biggest heart of anyone on the show. I wish I was as funny as Xander, too. 🙂

How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?
I think Xander acts out of his love and passion a lot. Sometimes it makes him misunderstood or hated on 'cause people don't understand the reasons behind his words or actions. But I love that he is so passionate and that he cares so deeply. Even with his flaws, he's still one hell of a man.

 

[Kean]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Angel and Buffy


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

It's kind of hard to have experiences that mirror Buffy and Angel's because everything they do is so extreme but there are somethings that I certainly relate to.

For Buffy I know what it's like to feel different from your peers and be let down by friends, for them to not get who you are and reject you for that. Much in the same way that her Hemery friends did to her.

My sense of humour would bevery akin to Buffy's too.

Mostly though I feel I have alot more in common with Angel. I'm Irish 😉I like being alone, I like brooding (sue me), reading poetry is the definition of relaxation to me, I walk the line of being utterly sure that if I wanted/needed to achive anything I could whilst not really ever believing that I deserve to achieve these things. I feel that I need to be a better person now to make up for a past that wasn't entirely my fault, I read people very well, I will always make a personal sacrifice rather than have someone I love hurt or in pain, I hold grudges, I can be passive aggressive, the reasons I do things can often be misinterpretated (vague much?), I have small group of fantastic friends but that doesn't mean we haven't had our differences (big and small), I generally think I am right until I feel guilty and then everything is my fault 😉, I'm proud and not in the good sense of the word, after years of keeping to the background I now tend to be the leader, I take charge of situations and I try to look after everyone and everything-I'm an absolute control freak! Also, I don't tan, date and only rarely sing in public 😛


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

They never give up even when their blood is screaming at them to just give in, they never really do. There is nothing I admire more than that. They refuse to be beaten, when they go through something painful they learn from it, they aren't afraid to lead and make the truly tough decisions that nobody else wants to consider, they have the irrepressible combination of fire in the heart and conviction of the mind, they love wholly and completely, they are brave, especially when they are petrified, they believe in themselves even when every other person they know doesn't. I think that more than anything is what I admire and adore about these two. They're just big damn hereos.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

I think I pretty much answered this already. People rail at Buffy and Angel for pulling away from people and being laws unto themselves but they are the only two people in the verse who are Generals, they are the only two with lives literally in their hands so I when they makes decisions that the rest of fandom hates I tend to see their side only, I understand their motivation. Much more than any other of the characters I think.

 

[thevikingsgirl]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
Spike.


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?
I also used to be evil 😉 Ok, not really, but I spent my 20s focusing on becoming more compassionate and empathetic. I didn't have as many obstacles as Spike with the whole soulless vampire thing, but I can relate to his journey in a way.


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?
I love how funny he is. I love his sarcasm. I love that he's love's bitch and not afraid to admit it - even as a vampire. I think he's one of the more complex characters in the Buffyverse, and I loved watching his character evolve. I also love his pecs 😉


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?
That he became a better man when everything was stacked against him.

 

[sosa lola]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Xander.


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

I guess I relate to him in some ways. The fact that he's looked down on, being dismissed, and being bullied. Been there. Also, how he views himself as someone who's not important. Then there's the whole hiding pain and insecurity with false smiles and lame jokes.

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

The bravery. Seriously, I'm not a brave person. The fact that he doesn't have superpowers and yet still fights the good fight. I'm not sure I'm also as loyal. I don't think I would have stuck by Buffy's side after hearing about vampires, I'd have disappeared to the other side of the globe.

I also love how he tries to prove himself by standing side by side with his super powered friends. As a feminist, I actually sees him as a role model, Xander/a woman trying to prove himself/herself that he's as useful and important as the super powered/men.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

Xander's love and passion about his friends. His bravery and his loyalty. He's so unappreciated and he knows it but it doesn't stop him from lending a hand when needed.

 

[white avenger]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Spike



Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

Like Spike, I was, and still am, to some extent, the geek who lives with his nose in a book, vicariously sharing in the adventures and experiences of literary characters. Like him, my comfortable existence was shattered by outside forces (not a beautiful vampire, but military service) that totally changed my life forever. And, like Spike, I had parents who encouraged and supported me in everything that I ever attempted to do. Luckily, I never had to stake either of them.



What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

I like Spike's bravery and determination. No matter how many times he gets knocked down, he always gets up and contonues the fight. Also, his sense of loyalty and devotion to those he loves and feels protective of, even when that loyalty and devotion are misplaced, as with Dru.



How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

As Spike once said, he follows his heart, not necessarily his brain. He doesn't desert, hurt, or allow to be hurt, the people he loves or feels responsible for, and if by by some chance he does, he immediately does whatever it takes to correct the situation.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

My favourite character is Buffy. I had life similar to hers, that had to change in the second, two or three times. I never became vampire slayer from pouplar girl, but I had my demons I had to fight with. Maybe some stuff that looked easy for other people, but for me, they were most difficult things in the world. And I think that's what I share with her. Everytime when she said she wants things to be like they were, I understood that. Because I don't think we know how things are beautiful and precious to us until we loose them.

I like how strong she is. In the begining, I think she had to be strong, but after some time, that became her good side. I like how she thinks of others, but sometimes she thinks a lot so that's a down side. Sometimes you should think about yourself first, but I guess that's hard when you have to carry whole world on your shoulders. Sometimes I wish I'm special like she is, I would like that people show me that they need me time to time, so I can say "I fit in this world". I want to have love like she had. I want to love like that, and to be loved like that.

I've always admierd her. She was my hero since I was a little girl. When all the other kids wanted to be presidents and models, I wanted to be Buffy 😀 All her actions I tried to understand, to be honest, I never tried so hard to understand someone.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I think this is where this belongs, since I'm basically asking about your favorite characters, but what I really want to know about is your perception. You've probably said it or read it in a debate before: "It's all about perception!" So, how do you view your favorite characters on BtVS/AtS? How do your past experiences affect the way you choose which characters you like and which characters you don't? What traits draw you to them?

The ability for me to relate to a character isn't nessesarily the reason I"m drawn to them, although it is one of the reasons. And yes, the things I've been through in my personal life greatly influence how I can relate to a couple and/or character. I've said before that the reason I like Spuffy so much is because I can relate to it.

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Always has and always will be Spike, closely followed by Buffy and Angel.

Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

Well, not technically, as Kean pointed out, it's hard to relate because everything is so extreme. But yes, everything the characters went through was symbolic of some real life issue, only exaggerated and with monsters.
I can relate to how Buffy felt in HS. I was sort of a loner like her, with a few good friends, and a lot of other responsibilies that often hindered me from socializing as much as I would have liked too. But unlike Buffy, I grew up in a big city, not a small town. And like Buffy, my father wasn't around when I was growing up.
And believe it or not, I can totally relate to what Buffy went through with social services regarding Dawn. My mother is a social worker as well as a licenced foster parent, and growing up, we have different children who lived with us. My mother worked for CPS at one point, and I remember how difficult it was for her because she always felt overwelmed with cases and felt like she couldn't give each case the attention it deserved. Eventually, due to the lack of support from the system, she quit taking in foster children.

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

Spike: his bravery, his loyalty, his utter honesty, and his devotion, even when the person he's devoted himself too doesn't deserve it 🙂 I also love Spike's dry, witty, and sarcastic sense of humor, and his intelligence. Most of all, I admire Spike's ability to adapt to any given situation. I call him my little Vampire Chameleon 😉
Angel: This manpire is a true hero, enough said. He's everything a good, classic hero should be; tortured, ambiguous, tall, dark and handsome, badass, and most of all he never gives up, never backs down. He just keeps on fighting, even when everything is against him. Best of all, he makes mistakes and bad calls, but always because he truly thinks what he's doing is the right thing. I also think Angel is really funny, in a subtle way.
Buffy: What can I even say? She's my hero. A culture icon. She's a normal girl, but she's not. She's a hero trying to reconcile a normal life. She had her faults, her insecirities, but in the end, she saves the world. A lot. Like Angel, she is a true hero.

How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

Hmm. I hold my favorite characters to a high standard, so therefore I'm not afraid to critisize their actions.
I've always been sort of in love with Spike, so I have to be careful to not attempt to justify everything he does. For me, he's the perfect character. It's also hard for me to judge Buffy, because overall, I understand the decisions she makes and respect her judgement. With Angel, I've had serious issues with some of the choices he's made, but in the end, I am very attached to his character, and wish he could be truly happy someday.

I think we're often attracted to fictional characters that either mirror us in some way or who posses qualities we wish we had.

I've always been very cynical. I have always have to struggle to look on the "bright side." I am easily defeated and easily jaded. It's hard for me to trust people and there have been times in my life where I felt like it was impossible to connect with people. I can relate to how Buffy feels at times regarding these issues. Like, when she said "I don't know how to live in this world, if these are the choices."
Or in Season 6, where she's sort of him her own little world and can't see that others are just trying to help her.

 

[Kana]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Angel, Faith and Wes

Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

Well in terms of self loathing and vascillating between idealism and nihilism, then I relate unequivocally to Angel. I've had a fascination with the dark side whilst attempting to salvage the lost remnants of my 'soul' and this relates to Angel and the other two. I also believe Angel to be the ultimate existential character, mainly in terms of his philosophies heavily rooted in human dignity and choice. Again, I'm very much attracted to these philosphies. I also relate to idea of making mistakes in your past and subsequently trying to be a better person.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

For Angel it's how he keeps getting knocked down and keeps fighting. Thematically that's what I like about NFA, no matter if the odds are steeped against him he'll still fight because he believes in the mission. Also Angel sense of self-sacrifice. Others believe this to be part of his self-loathing but I disagree. There was a reason that he is person with biggest heart that Cordy has even known.

Wes? Although I don't always agree with his Utilitarian principles, I admire his courage to make hard decisions often in spite himself. More than anything Wes is wonderful to watch, and is perhaps the most developed character in the verse.

Faith? Her redemption story is imo the best, beating Angel, Spike and Willow etc. It's not just about making up for her past crimes but dealing with issues going back to her possible abusive childhood. Her loneliness and low self esteem has little to do with being a Slayer, it's a part of her and this leads her to rage and promiscuity but despite all these things she is a champion. I love that she'd rather risk herself than Angel life when attempting to capture Angelus. Also she realised before Buffy the primal nature that comes with being a Slayer. Unfortunately she went a bit too far.

 

[Bluebird]

I don't think I've really had a favourite character on either show, and not because I'm not passionate about them, I am. Maybe it's because I see things I like in all of them, and can relate in some way to each. But I would say Xander is the one I relate to the most, the way he sees life and how he reacts in certain situations.

 

[faeriegrrl27]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?

Willow Michelle Rosenberg

Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

I think I'm progressing much like Willow did. A few years ago, I was extremely nerdy and lacking in the friends area. My best friend wasn't my crush, but there was a sort of estrangement there, a barrier between us. As I got older, I became more confident, got new friends, developed a quirkier style, finally made with the smoochies. And I imagine myself in college sort of like Willow was. I can totally relate to her knowledge/sex thing at the beginning of the Freshmen. Regardless of what it was actually about, it *is* hard to learn things in high school, where being smart is looking down on. I literally can barely wait until college.

I also feel like my relationship with my best friend is similar to Oz and Willow. As we see in Season 4, Oz is really what gave Willow her confidence, the thing that made her "cool." Once he left, it was like she was nobody anymore (not what I think, just as I think *she* perceived it). I'm extremely socially awkward and my best friend is really socially adept, so when we go to social situations, it's Shelby that keeps me from lurking in a corner. She takes me to meet people, makes sure I'm included in conversation, gets me high-sugar foods if necessary. When I go out without her, I feel lost and can't figure out how to get myself included in things.

Plus, I'm "kind of gay." 😀

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

I like Willow's humor and knowledge. But mostly, I like how she interacts with people. She is, I think, the deepest character on Buffy, and I can relate to her in all her forms. Willow, Vamp Willow, Dark Willow... I love the way each has its special trait but is still Willow. Willow is the adorable, smart girl who is both self-conscious and extremely self-assured. Vamp Willow is in control of her sexuality, knows exactly what she wants, and does her best to get it. Dark Willow says exactly what's on her mind with no barriers. The barrier also applies to her feelings; she feels and says *everything.*
I also like the particular way in which Willow speaks.

How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

I can understand just about everything that all of the Willows do. Even if I don't agree with them, I can understand the motive. Willow is truly a good, pure soul, but she has darker edges, which her very complex and interesting. I admire Willow for her kindness, her admittance of what she feels, and that she represents the person I wish I could be.

 

[Kelsey]

Wow, great responses, guys! I'm really impressed with the answers everyone has given. It's definitely interesting! Here are my own thoughts:

Who's your favorite character?

My favorite character is definitely Spike. I find his situations so relatable, because I've been in a lot of them, myself. And like Joan said, I'm a little bit in love with him.


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?

First, Spike's loneliness. It always seemed so obvious to me that he was desperate for companionship. And one way or the other, whether he was in the Fang Gang or the Scoobies, he was always on the outside. Drusilla never really loved him the way he loved her, and Angelus was quite cruel. Similarly, he could never be a part of the Scoobies because of what he was. I understand why they didn't let him in, but I felt incredible sympathy for him. Even to the outsiders, Spike was an outsider. And the Scoobies had each other, but Spike had no one. He couldn't exist in the human world except when the Scoobies needed his skill, and he couldn't exist in the demon world once he started killing demons. He was truly cut-off from everyone. I've been there, where I've felt like nobody around me really gave a damn. Granted, it was never as dramatic as Spike's isolation. Like a lot of you said, everything is exaggerated on Buffy. But the general experience I understand.

Also, Buffy's treatment of him in S6 really hit home with me. I've had numerous people tell me, if not by words than through actions, that I wasn't good enough. Aside from how I looked and the physicality of it, there was nothing about me that made them want to stick around, to know me. My personality, my intelligence, and everything about me basically wasn't more important or more worthy than how I looked. This is probably why I tend to side with him.


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

I love his unfailing devotion, and his dedication to the ones he loves. I love how far he'll go to protect Buffy, even if that means drastically altering himself in the process. He's not the people's hero (or at least he wasn't until the series finale and Angel S5) but he was a hero on a much closer scale. He was the source of strength for the true hero, Buffy. He was her support system, and he enabled her to save the world. I love how closely he stuck by her, even if she was wrong (though usually I didn't think she was).

I want to be like that, but I also want a person to be like that for me. It's probably why I support Spuffy so much; that, to me, is the ideal. Having someone that you can always depend on, who will love you even after he sees the absolute worst of you. And being the same for that person, in return.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

Hmm, didn't realize how alike this question was to the previous until now, hah. I always tend to view Spike on a more positive note. And on a broader sense, I think I do that because I like seeing the good in people. I like to believe that most people have good in them, and that transformations are possible. I love Angel to death, but his plotline didn't quite do that for me because it was so abrupt. He was evil without a soul, and good with it. For Spike, it was a constant, uphill battle, but he eventually made it up that hill. Stories like that remind me that people can change. Not all people, of course, but someone's "goodness" or "badness" is not set in stone.

I also realized that my favorite characters tend to be men rather than women. In fact, my top three favorite characters of all time are Spike, Captain Mal Reynolds, and Dean Winchester. Of course I love Buffy and lots of other female roles, but they don't usually win the overall Favorite Character catagory. I think the only female lead that broke the cycle was Veronica Mars, believe it or not. I loved her more than anyone else on her show.

 

[CrystalW187]

Dang, Kelsey just hit the nail right on the head for me. I have nothing else to add. She perfectly captured most of the reasons I love Spike. I especially agree with the lines about him being an outsider, and the differences between his and Angel's plotlines.

My favorite characters are also usually men, and it's usually the "bad boy." I wonder what that says about me.

 

[Emzzie]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
Anya and Fred


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?
Anya- not really. It gets hard when the world gets tough and everyone seems to be able to understand and pull through while you are left behind and confused, but that is about the only common experience I share with her.
Fred- I share alot. The feeling that you're friends are better than you and having a different perspective on the world being two big ones. However I'm also awkward, shy and have a quirky sense of humor once I open up to you, which I see in Fred.


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?
Anya- She is just so funny! Her literal perspective on the world can be heartbreaking or side splitting. As the episode chosen proved to us, Anya was a fighter. Against her beliefs, she loved Xander to pieces, and that is admirable. I wish that I could have been as confident as her
Fred- She was quirky, intelligant and could fight if she needed too. Because I did see some of myself in her, I enjoyed seeing her stronger side because that uplifted me. I loved watching her grow, her love with Wesley and overcoming the obstacles that had been placed in front of her. Sometimes I think Fred was seen as weak, but when she needed to be she was one of the strongest ones there. I wish I was as smart as her.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?
Anya- I perceive her personality as confident, selfish, loving and brave. While she was funny, it was not because of her sense of humor but because of her perspecitive on the world. It gave me a breath of fresh air on the show to have her there. I admire her ability to be so brave when she could have run away. I doubt I would have been able to ever do that.
Fred- I think I've said most of this before, but I see her as quirky, intelligant, strong and much more. I admire that while faced with certain death, she was trying so desperatley not to be afraid, to fight it and was even cracking jokes. I would have never been able to do that and it was so brave of her to.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
Cordy is my favourite, though there's a lot more I also like a lot.


Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?
Not really...
Well, something she said on the show once sort of shapes my life. Whenever I think about it, I feel way more ambitious all of the sudden. The quote I"m talking about is from You're Welcome, "We take what we get, champ, and we do our best with it."


What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?
Her honesty, how self-assured she is, and the way how she started out at this bitca on Buffy and developed into a champion on Angel.
It's not really characteristics I feel I want to have more than I already have them, but it's what I like about her.

How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?
Above mentioned honesty really mirror's in her actions. Even in the early seasons, when she was a bitca, she was still always true to herself and never got hypocritical, I like that.
On Angel she has insight in everyone's actions and stuff, and gives them advice and support. This is also something really admirable, considering how self-absorbed she used to me.
All in all, Cordy has never betrayed herself, and made the best out of herself, and that's why she's the best.
Also, notice how she seems to be the only character who didn't have a bad moment (not counting the possession, cos that wasn't her). Buffy had her issues from time to time (mainly involving her guys), Willow turned evil, Xander left Anya at the altar, Anya chose to become a vengeance demon again...Okay, they all came back from these things, but Cordy never had to go there to begin with!

 

[Professor Walsh]

I'm not good with favourites or lists. If I say that Giles is my favourite, I start thinking about how much I love High School Willow, or how I spent reading and re-reading the scripts with Angel in them when I felt guilty over the break up I handled so badly. Besides, I'll start thinking about Buffy herself, about Faith and about Spike's development. Fiction can never recreate reality, but I find moments, emotions and story arches that resonates with me. I can't really answer your questions directly, so I'll just ramble a little instead.

Right now, I'm very fond of Joyce even if I don't always agree with her actions. Kristine Sutherland paints a good picture of some of the feelings I've met myself after becoming a mother, like how to keep your self (by running the gallery) and not allow the mothering role to be all your person is about no matter how much we want to protect our children from the big, scary world. In one sense, my children are the center of my world; the most important factor when I make my life decisions these days (Joyce moving from L.A. to start afresh with Buffy) but at the same time I must keep in touch with what's important to me.

Willow was probably the first I felt related to. I, too, was a geek in high school, even if it wasn't in the computer department. Being a book-reading horse lover and pagan, frequently dressed in my auntie's quirky clothes from the late sixties and my stepfather's cast of Levi's jeans was not the fast route to street cred in my high school. If I had found a source of power akin to Willow's magic, I can see myself loosing control like she did.

Another moment I love a lot is Tara's and Giles' duet in OMWF. That feeling of having to leave even if it will hurt someone you care about "¦ Yeah. Been there. And, as I wrote further up, I did a lousy job of it. I knew I had to leave. I'd realised that in the long run neither of us could live in the life that would someday make the other one happy. But I didn't give him any warning what so ever, just threw the news at him one beautiful morning. Up "˜til then I believe that he thought we had kids, old age, picket fences and tea cosies coming.

A season episode I've thought a bit about lately is the one where Willow turns into Warren. I can relate to that feeling of guilt and grief when you start realising that you are actually happy at times, that your life hasn't stopped, and that you are allowing that to happen. I've found that stage to be almost more complicated to handle than the acute, clear-cut, desperate grief just after bereavement.

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

For Joyce, even if she isn't my one, single fave character, this pretty much sums it up:

JOYCE: That Dawn... She's not ... mine, is she?

(Buffy stares at her mom, then looks down. She comes to a decision and looks Joyce in the eye.)

BUFFY: No.

JOYCE: She's ... she does belong to us, though.

BUFFY: Yes, she does.

JOYCE: And she's important. To the world. Precious. As precious as you are to me.

(Buffy smiles and nods again. Joyce nods back. )

JOYCE: Then we have to take care of her. Buffy, promise me. If anything happens, if I don't come through this-

BUFFY: Mom-

JOYCE: No, listen to me. No matter what she is, she still feels like my daughter. I have to know that you'll take care of her, that you'll keep her safe. That you'll love her like I love you.

I admire the ability to willingly extend your care outside your immediate family, and to an extent I think I share it. It is something I like about myself, and that I hope to see grow in the years to come.

Giles "¦ Much as I love watching Giles and enjoy how many facets this character has, his ruthlessness holds me back a little from flat out admiring him. I admire him (and Willow, and Oz) a lot for their brains, I've always wanted to be smarter than I am, but I'm not sure I can agree with his morals any longer. It makes him a more interesting character, though. Black and white isn't all that interesting in the long run.

So. Here's my ramblings for today. A different day I might have written about Angel, or Buffy, or Oz. Or about how much I care for the ensemble as a whole. I'm not good with lists and favourites.

 

[Flannen]

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
Giles and Faith.

Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?
Not really, which I guess is a good thing! I relate to them because of who they are, not because of what they have done.

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?
Giles - He's just solid and consistent. He has a huge capacity to love, he's humble and modest and kind. He sacrificed so much but he never blamed anyone for it. He made the hard decisions that the others wouldn't make and he was always steadfast in his principles. I'd wish for his patience and his loyalty and the ability to believe in the people he cared about.

Faith - She kicked adversity's ass. Everything was against her, she went to hell and back and she came through it. After her time in L.A, I love her for the fact that she didn't deny who she was and what she had done. She stood up and would say she was that person once, but she isn't now and be a physical example of how much one human being is capable of change. I'd like to have her ability to admit and learn from her mistakes and the drive to continue to be better.

How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?
Giles - He doesn't lie or make excuses for his actions. He follows his instinct and acts upon what both his head and his heart tell him to. I admire the fact that there is a lot he could have and should have had to certain people but he didn't.

Faith - Her redemption is the most touching and 'real' redemption story of the show. I admire her emotional strength and the way she handled herself in season seven. She didn't deserve the way she was treated by Buffy but instead of lapsing back into the old Faith, she proved to Buffy who she had become by not stooping to her level and that is a true credit to her progression from season three.

Sorry, I was late to the party. I've tried posting in this thread several times but never found the right words. Still don't if I have! 😛

 

[Eleftheria]

All of you gave wonderful answers!

Who is your favorite character (or characters)?
Buffy and Angel. ( I also respect Faith a lot and Giles has appealed to me as well.)

Do you have any experiences that mirror your favorite character's experiences?


Well of course I could never go through the exact same experiences of a fictional world...but still I can relate to them.

Buffy is a person who wants to be accepted by others. Although the life of a Slayer is about being alone, fighting alone and dying alone she wants to be surrounded by love and friends. That is also my wish. Although Willow is not one of my favourites i used to be a study geek like her, best student...so some people in junior high were not accepting this so well and i kinda felt rejected. But in senior high and Uni i found real friends who accept you the way you are. So in my school years i understand how both Buffy and Willow feel.

Also I like the fact that Buffy is not judgemental of her friends. And I mostly am that way too. I will be the last person in our "gang" who is gonna complain about someone's faults. I want to accept others as they are.

Angel...well this is hard. Sometimes I get broody and I don't wanna smile. I figure life is too hard and that there are too many problems around. I get over this depression phase though! 🙂
Angel never gives up...and I have always tried not to give up. I thank my family for the loving support cause sometimes I felt just too tired to go on and they gave me strength.

What do you like about your favorite character? What traits do you wish you shared with him or her?

Buffy is a fighter. She does everything to keep her family and friends safe. She is a true hero. She is powerful but she doesn;t know what her potential is...I believe that in "The Gift" she finally felt complete both in her "job" which is her destiny, and as person.

She makes many sacrifices. She maybe doesn't like that but she has to. This is sth i can definitely relate and explore further in my life. I like the fact that she doesn't judge her friends. She doesn't get mad at them unless they judge her back...and they do that a lot. Also her humorous approach of many things is sth I like.In season 6 , i can hardly relate to her though. I have also felt that life is possibly the biggest big Bad...but self hatred and unhealthy relationships, those I can't relate to.

Also I would really love to have more confidence in general like Buffy.

Angel...another true hero. A person who didn't want to be a hero.He just wanted to redeem himself for all his past actions even though he was a soulless demon back then. But his great love for a person he didn't expect to love, his soulmate, led him to a journey of redemption. This love motivated him to become a true Champion.
Angel also does everything to keep his loved ones safe.Also...the no tan, no date, no sing in public...yeah my kind of thing!:lmao:

What do i admire about both of them? Their eternal love that can only happen once in a lifetime. They could do anything for each other and yet they had the maturity to make sacrifices for each other and for the world. Only real heroes can do that.


How do you perceive their personality and actions? What is admirable about them to you?

I have already answered that probably. Buffy and Angel are heroes. They started with reluctance and they ended with great acceptance of their true role and destiny.
Buffy didn't want to be the Slayer...then she was seeing it as a "job" and finally she understood it was her real purpose. And Angel was motivated by his love and hope,Buffy, to make a difference as a vampire.