Who likes Riley?

[Mazikeen]

RE:

I don't feel that his reasoning for leaving was lame at all. True, he may have gotten a bit needy there at the end, but honestly...what did you expect? Since the removal of his "chip" Buffy was continuously pushing him away. For Dracula, Spike, Angel and any other issue that arose. She made him feel like an outcast and above all took away his manhood. He just wanted to feel that he belonged and that he could still provide some support or service to her not only as a lover but as her man. I think his leaving was completely valid.

 

[palabravampiress]

I think the fact that Riley, Spike & Satsu have all come to the conclusions that Buffy doesn't love them says something.

About them personally, or about Buffy's capacity for love?

I ask because although whether you like him or not, most people tend to agree that Riley was a pretty good guy, just a little dull. The same might be said for Satsu, who is a pretty cool girl, but also maybe a little dull. But Spike? "Dull" is not a word that I would use to describe his personality.

I don't think the fact that Buffy didn't love Riley (or, at least, that she didn't realize that she loved Riley until it was too late) says anything about Riley as a person. He can still be a likeable guy and even an interesting and worthwhile character without receiving Buffy's undying affection. In general, I liked Riley. I liked his role in the verse and the issues that he brought to the table. For me, he doesn't have to be the great love of Buffy's life to still be a valuable asset to the show. Look at Oz, for example. Buffy never loved Oz, but he still has plenty of fans. Same for Faith. Riley may be a little dull, but I think that's part of his charm. He brings a new perspective to the verse.

 

[Flannen]

When I was younger and Season 4 started I hated him on principle that he wasn't Angel! But as the series went on, and now when I watch it and I'm a bit older, I grew to love him. He was really sweet and a real 'man of honour' (he must be a feminist's dream lol) and I think Buffy treated him unfairly towards the end. I was gutted for him when he gets told from Spike that Joyce was in the hospital and Buffy hadn't told him. I think his reason for leaving was valid, even the strange vamp-whoring he got into was easily 'justified' (I use the term loosely, as in it made sense for him to do something like that). I don't think Marc was a bad actor either. I think he played the withdrawn Riley (Goodbye, Iowa) and crazy Riley (Out of My Mind) really well.

Still - he's not Angel 😀

 

[Aiysha]

At first I liked Riley when him and buffy first met, but when we started to find out more about him and the Initiative i started to dislike him, i didnt like it when he wanted vampires to bite him, that was annoying and stupid. he is good looking though 🙂

 

[white avenger]

Revolver disagrees: Pre-soul Spike really doesn't deserve any sympathy even when he was harmless. It was funny to see him get beaten
Vampmogs agrees: Whereas Spike was such a gentleman to Riley? Who cares if Riley bullied Spike, at that time Spike didn't deserve to be treat nicely, he was killer. Riley had a very good reason for disliking Spike.

There is never an excuse for taking your frustrations out on a helpless victim, regardless of what that victim might or might not have done previously. It's not self defense, and it's not punishment. It's torture, pure and simple, and at the very least, it lowers you to the level of the one being tortured. Riley Finn had taken a stand against that very thing when he released Oz from the custody of the Initiative. At that time, he had no idea whatsoever whether Oz had killed or not, he simply knew that torturing a helpless person, for any reason, was wrong.

Now, you can justify Riley's actions however you wish, but the simple fact in Buffy's world is this: If something is a menace, you destroy it (unless, of course, you adhere to Buffy's human exemption). You don't keep it around to torture and intimidate whenever your girlfriend frustrates you in some way. Spike was under Buffy's protection, reluctantly at first, to be sure, but nonetheless under her protection. Riley knew that, just as well as he knew how she would feel about his trysts with vampire prostitutes. He chose to ignore her feelings on both issues.

 

[AngelGirlie]

I like Riley a lot in s4... but later on, he was starting to get annoying. I will always have a soft spot for Riley though...

 

[Willow-Tree]

I hate Riley. He was no fun and all his lines were serious. I was SO glad when he left. I even hated when he came back in Season Six, even though it's my favorite season.

 

[Kean]

I hate Riley. He was no fun and all his lines were serious. I was SO glad when he left. I even hated when he came back in Season Six, even though it's my favorite season.

I'm not too fond of Riley but he had some good lines...

Buffy: There something you want to tell me?
*Riley looks up at the gay pride banner he just hung*
Riley: Yes, I am a lesbian.
Buffy: Well, it's good that you are so open about it.

Riley: A lot of young people are experimenting with shortness now-a-days, gotta nip that in the bud.

Buffy: Nice wheels
Riley: Came with the car.

 

[Lauryn Summers]

I'm not a fan of Riley and each time I watch the season it gets worse. I don't like the Initiative either Corney story line in my very humble opinion. I do enjoy Riley at times, but most of it not really.

 

[palabravampiress]

Revolver disagrees: Pre-soul Spike really doesn't deserve any sympathy even when he was harmless. It was funny to see him get beaten
Vampmogs agrees: Whereas Spike was such a gentleman to Riley? Who cares if Riley bullied Spike, at that time Spike didn't deserve to be treat nicely, he was killer. Riley had a very good reason for disliking Spike.

There is never an excuse for taking your frustrations out on a helpless victim, regardless of what that victim might or might not have done previously. It's not self defense, and it's not punishment. It's torture, pure and simple, and at the very least, it lowers you to the level of the one being tortured. Riley Finn had taken a stand against that very thing when he released Oz from the custody of the Initiative. At that time, he had no idea whatsoever whether Oz had killed or not, he simply knew that torturing a helpless person, for any reason, was wrong.

Now, you can justify Riley's actions however you wish, but the simple fact in Buffy's world is this: If something is a menace, you destroy it (unless, of course, you adhere to Buffy's human exemption). You don't keep it around to torture and intimidate whenever your girlfriend frustrates you in some way. Spike was under Buffy's protection, reluctantly at first, to be sure, but nonetheless under her protection. Riley knew that, just as well as he knew how she would feel about his trysts with vampire prostitutes. He chose to ignore her feelings on both issues.

I like Riley, but I agree with you that his conduct toward Spike was beneath him (and the whole Scooby gang).

That said, Riley's treatment of Spike becomes worse and worse the closer Riley gets to leaving the show (with a demon hunting arm of the military, of course). I think it has to do with his personal issues with Buffy and his feelings on Spike's intentions, but I also think that Riley's abusive treatment of a defenseless creature represent a return to his former way of looking at all things demoney. When Riley was with Buffy and leaning toward Team Scooby, he started to absorb their values, which is why he saw the Initiative's treatment of helpless creatures like Oz as wrong. When he mistreats Spike, Riley is leaning more toward the military view of all things demoney, which is that they are to be used as humans see fit. It's sort of like an animal rights issue. The Scoobies respect the creatures that they kill, but the military has no respect for the creatures' lives or for the quality of those lives. As much as the Riley/Spike conflict is an interpersonal one, I think it is also a political one and an indicator of Riley's changing position on the Scooby - Initiative moral spectrum.

 

[Lou]

Technically, we've hit our limit, those who like Riley, feel free to start another thread......