i get that spike/spuffy antis have to hate season seven on principle (and the fact that they act like spike’s arc is entirely frivolous and unimportant is so wildly dismissive of buffy’s i don’t think they actually even like her!), but so many are straight up factually incorrect about what actually happens. i don’t know if it’s a media literacy issue or a choice to be obstinate. probably a mixture. when you want something to be a certain way, misunderstanding something gives you room to declare yourself right.

their main talking point is that ensouled spike forces his presence on buffy. this… just doesn’t happen even once in the season. at all.

spike doesn’t return to sunnydale to see buffy. he goes back to the hellmouth. probably because it’s all he knows, as a demon he considers it home, and not for nothing he’s already being controlled by the first who wants him in place for a specific purpose.

in the first episode, lessons, buffy comes across spike on her own. he’s at some of his most insane for this interaction, and he walks away from her. in the next episode, beneath you, buffy seeks spike out. she goes to the basement and can’t find him. he’s actively hiding from her.

later in the same episode he gets himself cleaned up and goes to her, for the first and only time. he says it’s because something terrible is coming and he wants to offer his help. he tells her if she doesn’t want him around, tell him and he’ll leave and she can revoke his invite (which notably is still active). she doesn’t. she accepts his help.

they talk while looking for the demon and buffy says she can tell something is different about him but she doesn’t know what. spike makes a point to say he isn’t going to tell her what it is. that’s MAJOR. spike does not want buffy to know about his soul. he doesn’t put it on her, and he doesn’t make it her problem. he ends up telling her only after it’s nearly forced out of him and he’s triggered back into insanity after a lucid period. after he reveals his soul, he leaves.

in the next episode, same time same place, buffy seeks spike out. he’s once again hiding in the basement, so she knows where to find him, but he does not go to her. she enlists his help that episode, twice.

the next episode is help. buffy goes to the basement to see spike. she asks if he knows anything about cassie. he later helps buffy save cassie from the boys trying to sacrifice her.

in the next one, selfless, buffy once again goes to spike. it’s a definite a pattern. buffy seeks out spike. it’s actually a lot like much of their relationship in season six, only much more one sided. she tells him to leave the basement because it’s bad for him.

the next episode, him, sees a big shift. it’s still buffy going to spike, but this time she doesn’t just leave him in the basement. she actively chooses to help him out of it, getting xander to let him move into his apartment. there’s a huge and important change in their dynamic now. they are solidly in each other’s lives, and that was and continues to be buffy’s choice.

i won’t do little synopses for each episode from the rest of the season, but from here spike offers to leave at minimum four additional times, half a dozen or more total all season.

he earnestly wants buffy to kill him in sleeper and never leave me, because he’s devastated and terrified that he’s killing. buffy says no, she’s going to help him and she believes in him. she rescues him, because she wants to, and moves him back into her house.

later on spike seems to be gaining back control of his mind, but when the first threatens him he once again says he’s a danger and needs to leave and buffy says no because shes not ready for him not to be here.

buffy wants spike in her life. she makes that fact extremely clear. maybe at first it wasn’t for the healthiest reasons, but a major theme of season seven is spike and buffy healing both as individuals and growing closer together because of it. their relationship empowers and strengthens buffy, and the final episode is called chosen for a reason. this season is about buffy’s agency. that starts when she decides who’s in her life and who isn’t.

there’s never a single moment where spike makes that decision for her. he doesn’t once tell buffy she has to accept him, or that he should have access to her. he doesn’t come around when she says to leave, because she doesn’t say to leave. he stays away from her until she beckons him back. over and over.

spike doesn’t think he deserves anything from buffy. he believes the opposite, even encouraging her to date and hiding his heartache about it. he doesn’t make his insanity and suffering her problem. she volunteers to help him.

i understand having issues with the writing choice of spike back in buffy’s life at all after what happened in season six, but only if you’re engaging with it honestly. you can dislike that buffy makes the choice to have spike around, but it’s obvious when you disregard her agency and pretend he’s the one calling the shots. you hate a story that didn’t happen, and it’s impossible take seriously.

hello !! I’m watching Buffy for the first time and I’m in deeeeppppp lmao. I’m on season 6 now and semi recently I saw you make a post about seeing the spuffy of it all in a way that you didn’t when you first watched it and I’m curious about your take, if you wouldn’t mind sharing!

first of all. i’m sorry for what you’re about to see(/may have already seen bc you sent me this message a few days ago and i’m just now responding). i hope someone spoiled you for “seeing red” because it’s a rough episode to go into blind. enjoy “once more with feeling” though!!!

when i was younger i was like “spuffy is toxic. spike is abusive. buffy should be with angel” LMAO i thought bangel was peak romance

i stand by some of it - spuffy, as it’s presented on the show, is toxic. spike is abusive at times. so is buffy. then there’s the whole issue of spike not having a soul. how can buffy be with someone who claims to love her but cannot actually feel love in a meaningful way? (that’s at least my interpretation of what it means to have a soul - to have compassion)

spike’s love for buffy is actually infatuation/obsession - he wants to have her, to possess her, physically and emotionally. i’m loath to mention it, but the buffybot is, like, exhibit A.

but the thing that makes his love for buffy different from whatever he felt for drusilla is that some part of him wants buffy to possess him, too. maybe it’s a remnant from his days as a lovestruck dandy before he became a vampire. a part of him that lay dormant for a long time, reactivated by his impotence as a vampire. he’s helpless, so he looks to the strongest person around for protection - trying all the while to get the better of her and reclaim his power.

buffy is definitely attracted to spike, and she’s also definitely in denial about it for most of the series. i mean, spike is the scooby gang’s punching bag (especially xander’s). always suspected, never trusted. he’s subhuman - literally. but he’s useful, so buffy uses him.

from here forth there will be spoilers for season seven:

the game could change once spike gets his soul. because now buffy sees him as a person and not a thing. she sees his potential. she tells him she believes in him. she comes to rescue him from the first. 

but spike is still obsessed with buffy! getting his soul back doesn’t make that go away. i do believe that he loves her in a more three-dimensional way once he has a soul, but he’s still obsessed with her. and now that he has his soul, he’s suddenly even more helpless than he was before. he needs to be taken care of.

and buffy, with the whole world already on her shoulders, adds his emotional needs to the load. 

i haven’t reached the end of season seven in my rewatch, so i won’t say any more about their ever-changing dynamic until i have a fresher perspective on how it ends.

but i think that spike and buffy could have been and could be good together, if things were a little different. if they were clearer from the get-go that they were using each other, for example. there’s poetry to the fact that they’re both undead in their own way. but i don’t think it ever could last between them. it’s not practical (buffy will age and die) and they both deserve better than what they give each other.

so i just finished rhonda wilcox's essay on hush, and she comments that - much like angel the episode predicts what will happen to buffy and angel - hush predicts that riley will go on to rip buffy's heart out by becoming part of a patriarchal institution (wilcox does a lot of work establishing what the gentlemen represent and focuses on the moment in buffy's dream where riley turns into one of them). (1/2)

(2/2) so my question for you is do you see that any one episode cleanly predicts the path spike and buffy eventually go down together? and if there isn't, how does that deviation from the pattern affect the reading of the spuffy dynamic, if it does at all?

hmm, really interesting question. sorry it took me a while to answer! the thing about the spike/buffy dynamic is that we know a lot of it wasn’t planned out. i don’t have links to interviews at the tip of my fingers, but it’s something i’ve seen mentioned multiple times. that they didn’t know that spike would fall in love with buffy until starting season five, but that it was like they’d been writing to it all along. which means that we’d need to look to season five to find a thesis statement episode for the relationship. in which case, as obvious as it might sound, i think the episode we’re looking for is fool for love.

here’s why. i’ve talked about the spike/buffy storyline as being about both boundaries and the id before. but actually perhaps the more obvious thing to say their relationship is about, is power dynamics. and what power dynamics mean for love. and fool for love is all over that.

first, what fool for love does is it establishes spike as someone who wants two different things. he wants power and confidence, and he wants to be loved. when he becomes a vampire, he is able to find that power and confidence through violence. instead of caring about the opinions of his peers, he puts railroad spikes through their heads (or is implied to, anyway). his relationship to love and women is also all wrapped up in violence. heartbreak leads directly to him becoming a vampire, and therefore a soulless killer. drusilla turns him (a violent act), delights in his violence, and sexually responds to him killing the chinese slayer. more importantly, i don’t think you can or should get away from the imagery of slayer-killing as well, the violent conquest of powerful women. i see people claim that if slayers were men, then spike would be just as obsessed with killing them, that he just loves violence for the sake of violence. but whether or not that claim is accurate, i think it misses the fact that this is buffy, in which so much of the horror is various, more or less supernatural, versions of violent misogyny. so while i agree that spike is a person who takes glee in destruction of all kinds—his love of killing demons, “a little violence before bed time”, etc—and is not specifically obsessed with destroying women for being women the way, say, the trio (or ted, or pete, or etc) are…he does, nonetheless, relate to women in ways that we are meant to see as bitter and resentful or otherwise messed-up. his treatment of harmony, his frustration at dru leaving him, and of course everything in crush. that’s sort of the contradiction of him. he genuinely loves women, and makes himself abject to them and to the act of loving, but he also genuinely has a messed-up relationship to all of that. in other words, whether or not spike at all cares about killing slayers because they’re women, it still matters, in terms of symbolism, that he is a man killing women. his relationship to killing slayers is undeniably sexually coded, too. everything from his innuendo and sexually loaded gazing in school hard, to him asking nikki if “this is good for [her]”, to him asking buffy if she’ll “like it as much as [nikki] did.”

with that in mind, i would say that the problem the show is trying to have spike resolve, and the reason that he’s the id of the later seasons, is that he has this sincere desire to love and be loved, as well as to generally be confident and appreciated, but the only tool he has—especially when it comes to slayers—is violence. ie, acts of domination and power. or at least, violence is the only tool that’s ever rewarded him. he was a doting caretaker to drusilla, yes, but he only got drusilla in the first place by becoming a murderous creature. and later lost her by “going soft.” killing a slayer made drusilla sleep with him, while helping a slayer made her leave him. so in total, you have this character with all of these very human yearnings, but who has them repeatedly frustrated, and so tries to fulfill them through monstrous, vampiric behavior—through acts of power. his instinct when he is in love is to be a doting, romantic lover, but his instinct with slayers is to kill them. so by loving buffy he is made to confront the contradictions in his attitudes towards women, love, and power.

one of the fundamental questions of buffy is “how do you act when you feel like you have no control?” and in fool for love, both buffy and spike are feeling out of control. buffy feels out of control of her mortality, and later out of control of her mother’s mortality. meanwhile spike feels out of control of his deviant feelings for a good person that he cannot have. both characters have a tendency to assert control through violence, which is one of the reasons that spike is such a good id for buffy. buffy is used to protecting herself and the people she loves by physically fighting things, and struggles every time that’s not an option (but also struggles with what she thinks it says about her, that she is so intimate with violence). so in fool for love she goes to spike hoping that he’ll give her some sort of violence-related answer to her problem. she wants to know how he killed the other slayers, so that she can physically protect herself. moreover, she repeatedly manhandles him to get that information. meanwhile spike tries to seductively intimidate her, playing up his physical dangerousness, and ends up offering her a violence-related answer that she realizes she doesn’t actually want: him killing her. except that answer is as much about him as her. spike doesn’t really want to kill buffy, he wants to kiss her (or to be fair, let’s say he at least wants both), but when it comes to interacting with slayers, all he has is that language and mindset of violent conquest. so spike tries to assert control over buffy (“you know you want to dance”) and buffy responds by asserting control right back (“you’re beneath me”). she wins the contest of wills, and establishes herself as the person with more power in their dynamic. for all spike’s posturing all evening, buffy ultimately stands over him, dismissively tossing cash at him.

but the episode does not finish on that note. instead, it finishes with buffy feeling powerless yet again in the face of her mother’s sickness. spike goes to buffy, standing over her with a gun, intending to reclaim his power in the way he knows best: killing a slayer. but ends up as powerless in the face of his emotions as ever. instead of ending on an unbalanced power dynamic, the episode ends with buffy and spike on the same level, equally bowed by the weight of the feelings that they can’t control. neither standing over the other. neither asserting power over the other.

all of which is, in my opinion, their entire arc in microcosm. their story is the story of two people who struggle to relate to each other in a way that isn’t fraught with issues of power, especially sexual, gendered power. and who eventually, with up and downs, succeed. over the course of season five, spike lets go of more and more of his control. in crush, he’s tempted to return to his vampiric ways—keep in mind that for spike vampirism is associated with empowerment—and tries to literally shackle up the women he loves. which ends badly. in intervention he tries to cheat by only controlling a fake version of buffy. but that ends badly too. it’s only when he gives up control in the gift and doesn’t try to get in buffy’s house, that buffy begins the process of equalization by letting him in. using fool for love as a model, you might say that spike spends the season learning over and over how to set down his gun, to let go of the idea of an upper hand, and respond with his more humane and caring half.

but their dynamic is still very uneven. spike letting go of his power is not the same as them being equal. and season six digs into why that’s a problem if two people are involved. if fool for love is the spike/buffy arc in microcosm, then i would say that the alley scene is their season six arc, and the porch scene is their season seven arc. in season six, both spike and buffy feel out of control the way they felt in fool for love, and try to regain that control by playing violent power games with each other. even if it’s not what they actually want. spike’s intimidation/seduction during the alley scene reminds me a lot of his attempts to keep buffy at his level during their sexual relationship, because he thinks he can’t have her otherwise. buffy having a death wish, buffy belonging in the dark, etc. the ambiguity about whether spike fully believes what he’s saying, and is trying—in his vampiric way—to be helpful, or whether he’s bullshitting, seems similar in both situations too. meanwhile buffy’s flustered violence towards him (slamming him against things, choking him), reminds me of her side of their sexual relationship. she feels freaked out about her mortality, just as she feels freaked out about her “deadness” in season six, and turns that into conflict with spike (note how in both instances spike is a figure of a death, and buffy is reckoning with death). the scene then ends, just as their season six relationship does, with spike pushing buffy because he thinks she feels something (“come on, i can feel it slayer”), and buffy decisively pushing him away. revealing to spike that he’s misread their interaction.

season seven then is about the mutual laying down of arms. if season six is about love as a power struggle, then season seven is about love in the absence of power struggles. the implication is that letting go of power struggles and uneven dynamics is necessary for genuine and healthy love to develop. i’m very interested in the choreography of buffy and spike’s scene in touched. spike starts out above her, standing while she sits on the bed. then he kneels so he’s below her. then they end up on the same level on the bed together. much as they ended up on the same level on the porch in fool for love. they are not trying to take power from each other. spike gives his power. and so she stops looking down on him, stops trying to keep him at a hierarchal distance, and invites him to her level.

(there’s a parallel there with smashed, too. both scenes take place in an abandoned house, but instead of crashing to the basement and missing any sort of bed, they are in an upper-level bedroom together. and the next day she returns home—ie, returns to herself—empowered, rather than bruised and ashamed. in other words, their interaction was an affirmation of self rather than a destruction of self. in a relationship that is a power struggle, people will end up dragging each other down to the basement, in a race to the bottom. whereas in a relationship that is not, people elevate each other.)

honestly, for all that i understand why people don’t like it, i do think it’s a pretty potent storyline for a season that claims it’s “about power,” but turns out to be about sharing power. the bait-and-switch of thinking that power is about violence and control, when it’s actually about generosity, is basically the whole spike and buffy dynamic. both spike and buffy often think that violence is the only way to solve their problems, but yearn for things that don’t involve violence in the slightest. so for them to finish the season and the show peaceably sleeping in each other’s arms, on the same level? it strikes me as a very coherent resolution of their arc as a whole.

so, there’s your answer. fool for love. i also think it’s telling that in fool for love spike noticeably supplants riley in importance, and occupies buffy’s attention. which predicts the fact that he will ultimately replace riley as a sexual/romantic interest.

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, March 23

Buffy: Okay, let's get the books someplace safe. Where are they? Angel: Actually, there's been a slight change in plan, Buff. Buffy: Buff? You just called ... What's the matter with you? Angel: Nothing. (his face has vamped) Matter of act, I haven't felt this good in a long time. Buffy: Angel? Angel: You know, I never properly thanked you for sending me to hell. Buffy: No. Angel: Yeah, and I'm just wondering where do I start? Card? Fruit basket? Evisceration? Buffy: No. Angel: Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Maybe there's still some good deep down inside of me that remembers and loves you. If only you could reach me. Then again, we have reality. Buffy: I will kill you before I let you touch me. Faith, we need to get out of here, now. Faith: Speak for yourself, B. Me, I like it here.

~~Buffy Episode #51: "Enemies"~~

The Sunnydale Herald is currently looking for a few good editors! Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! For more information, send us an ask (on Tumblr) or post a reply to this post (on Livejournal or Dreamwidth)!

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

The In-Between (Willow/Tara, G) by onebuttoneye

The grudge won't die (Ensemble, T) by Aragorn_II_Elessar

A lesson from the classics (Ensemble, T) by Aragorn_II_Elessar

little, mangy stray that needs a home (Buffy/Spike, T) by jurassic

Face your demon () by prose-for-hire

Pain (Buffy/Faith, unrated) by sevens-evan

Choices (Faith/Reader, unrated) by prose-for-hire

[Chaptered Fiction]

() by

The Vampire and his Human Child, Ch. 3 (Ensemble, unrated) by authorgirl1111

Time After Time - Dawn's Light, Chapter 21 (Buffy/Spike, E) by MissLuci

A Chance In Hell, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Grief Counseling

Daughter of Aurelius, Chapter 25 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Loup Noir

Broken Bridges, Chapter 14 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Dusty

Death Is Buffy's Next Great Adventure Ch. 35 (Buffy, T, Harry Potter xover) by Sharie

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Reboot Buffy Sketches () by BrendanT

Artwork:Willow () by jelyrvial

Artwork:Faith () by tothetoonandback

Artwork:Faith () by punksouthie

Artwork: Spike () by railroadz

Artwork:Willow () by damascenaandbones

[Community Announcements]

Call for Banners by seasonal-spuffy

[Fandom Discussions]

Who would be interested in some BTVS/ATS icons if I made them? by spikesredqueen

I just want to say I ADORE Operation Red Zone by melonsmessymusings

Hot take of the day: The Scooby gang having their own version of the Great British Bake off. by melonsmessymusings

I keep rewatching the ending scene of s3e7 ‘revelations’... by buffy-thoughts

Reformatted my fanfic timeline by aliceinwondrbra

MacBuffy by Spanky

How long (or often) was Xander considered a potential love interest for Buffy ? by Cheese Slices

Buffyverse Tattoos by Stoney

Reacting to Reactions! - BtVS Season 3 by Stoney

Writing Spuffy Fanfic by Multiple Authors

I don't think we can blame the spell for this one Dawn. by LightBlueSky55

“Did I get it?! Did I get it?!” Underrated episode. by HummusOffensive

I wish Christophe Beck had scored Season 7 by BuffySummers22

Imagine what a PITA it'd be if Vampires Bodies Just Remained Dead on the Spot Just like in the Movie by EvaWolves

What’s the main reason season 6 is rated the worst? by Mediocre-Income-859

An interesting analysis of the three personnalities of Angel (Liam/Angelus/Angel) by CangelFrance

Why wasn't Amy a scooby by The810kid

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but... by Proud3GnAthst

Fixing Season 7 (My Version) by interband96

I absolutely love this scene by rabenstolz

Faith in season 4 of Angel by jendelacreme

I get so petty everytime Spike or Dru don’t bring each other up by lizlikesmgmt

Faith and the Mayor poisoning Angel by Antho

Dozens of students and some school staff have been killed. Is this situation ever going to be addressed by EdvinRama

thoughts on Anya? by thatlebanesechick

Favorite Cordy-centric episode? by DarkstarX84

What Does Buffy See Out the Window in The Body? by Beer_Bad

Watching “The Replacement” tonight and this made me laugh! by oliveGOT

a perfect example of the lack of continuity in season 7 by lqvewillow

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Everything We Know About Buffy's Revival by Screen Rant

PUBLICATION: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: 10 Episodes To Watch If You Miss Willow & Tara by Screen Rant

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Can you see ships like Spuffy and Klaroline ever working long term? I would love to hear your opinion!

Well first of all, thanks! I’m always touched when people write me to hear my opinion about anything! :)

And to me, it depends on how….this is kind of hard to explain…how much change is made to the Klaus or the Spike in the ship in the long term because I ship a lot of these kinds of ships and it always makes me want them to be more of a brotp if the way they are once they get together is that all of the bad guy’s snark and wildness is gone and he’s just way too good, you know? You gotta improve, but don’t do a 180, which is why I tend to like Spuffy more as a brotp in the long term. I mean, they were romantic and stuff once he got his soul and all that, but I liked the real-ness of them when they were just frenemies/allies, sometimes sex partners (like his reaction when he finds out she’s back in afterlife, the words he says, the look on his face, it still makes me tear up!) cause that had both romance AND a bit of badass danger. (But then again, I haven’t watched season seven of Buffy in a while so it could be there and I don’t remember.)

Klaroline is closer to what I would say would work long term. For one thing…Same species. Yay! Both have to deal with the same moral issues (although it’s more of a struggle for Caroline than Klaus cause you know, he does whatever). But like we saw with his birthday speech to her, and her reaction to it, he makes her want MORE even though it’s really hard for her to admit cause she likes her safe little town and her safe little box.

He gives her the push she so badly needs to be the person we all know that she wants to be. He challenges her, he supports her, he gives a crap and actually works to understand her and she does the same for him. They could truly be good long term, I think because it doesn’t take a lot of change to get them to a good place. They basically remain essentially themselves, just bringing out parts that they hide in the presence of others out of fear of judgment or whatever and being someone’s security and safe place, and knowing that each has that sort of trust in the other has the makings of a really good long term relationship. But that’s just me. I know these are the two examples you gave me, but if you want me to analyze more, lovely Nonnie, I would love to. :)

Another Ranking game Buffy edition - Rank all the original Scoobies (Giles, Buffy, Willow, Xander) in order of your favorite to least favorite. Again no ties allowed ;) Rank these Buffy ships: Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Spike, Buffy/Riley, Willow/Oz, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya. Rank the relationships: Buffy/Dawn, Buffy/Joyce, Buffy/Giles, Buffy/Willow, Buffy/Xander, Xander/Willow. And, finally, rank the seven seasons from your favorite to least favorite. Have fun!

Sorry about taking a while to respond to this, I’ve been crazy busy at work and like to take the time to properly consider my responses to asks like these. 

The original Scoobies

1. Buffy - I love Buffy so much. She’s one of my all time favourite characters. There are few characters that are as well written as Buffy; she’s so complex and multi-layered. I love her strength, courage and resillience, and that despite being the Chosen One, she’s deeply flawed.

2. Giles - I love Giles’ wit, sarcasm and intellect. He can always make me laugh with his one-liners. I like that despite being a cerebral type that’s always got his nose in a book he’s also the kind of man that wears and earring and likes to play his guitar. He’s just a very lovable character.

3. Xander - I really like Xander and think he gets a lot of unfair hate. He’s not perfect, but none of the Buffyverse characters are, that’s what makes them so amazing. He’s funny, loyal and a genuine hero.

4. Willow - I’m not in love with Willow’s character, but appreciate the journey she goes on across the series. She undergoes huge change from season 1 to season 7 and seeing her transform from a nerd who lacks in confidence to a powerful witch is interesting to see.

Romantic ships

1. Buffy/Angel - Obviously Bangel were going to take the top spot. They’re one of my greatest OTPs and I’ll always love them. Their relationship is the definition of star-crossed lovers and it’s portrayed so well. Their connection and chemistry will always blow me away. There is simply something profound about their relationship which trumps any other relationship on BTVS.

2. Willow/Oz - They’re so adorable and a genuine partnership. I don’t agree with or like what was done to them in season 4 and find it to be completely OOC for Oz to cheat on Willow. Oz was the first person to genuinely like Willow for who she was and to boost her self-esteem. They were on the same wave-length, they knew how to laugh together and they were always united. They’re not an in-your-face type ship, but they’re the kind that are always there in the background holding hands or exchanging a loving look, and I really like that about them.

3. Willow/Tara - I love how Willow and Tara started out; how they bonded over magic and Willow saw herself in Tara who was somewhat of an outcast and painfully shy and unconfident. I love how they came to develop feelings for one another so authentically just by simply spending time together as friends and how their romance blossomed naturally. I have issues with certain things that happened between them in season 6 and I do think that overall, the relationship was really unhealthy for both of them particularly towards the end, but I see the love and connection between them and I believe it.

4. Buffy/Spike - It may surprise some that Spuffy are so high on this list because I don’t actually ship them at all, but I still enjoy their dynamic. Buffy and Spike are very strong as individual characters, so when they come together they’re compelling to watch. I don’t ship them because I think the relationship was incredibly unhealthy and damaging to Buffy, however, I’m able to see the allure of the ship and think that it’s actually a very unique and authentic relationship considering it follows the enemies-to-lovers trope.

5. Buffy/Riley - I’m pretty indifferent to Buffy and Riley. I don’t ship them but I don’t hate them either. I think they had some sweet moments and weirdly, Riley was probably the best relationship Buffy had in regards to being able to live a relatively “normal” life with him. I also think that he was a positive influence in Buffy’s life, particularly in the beginning. However, Riley was always intimidated by Buffy’s strength and powers as the Slayer and he let his insecurities get in the way as a result. I also think that Buffy, despite loving Riley a lot, was never able to open her heart to him completely because of her history with Angel. By the time Buffy realised how much she loved Riley and was prepared to fully open up, Riley had already decided to move on. Buffy and Riley aren’t and never will be epic love, but I think they loved each other a lot more than people recognise and that Riley was definitley more than just a rebound relationship for Buffy. 

6. Xander/Anya - Once again, I’m indifferent to Xander and Anya. I don’t find anything appealing about them as a ship, but I don’t dislike them either. I don’t think they were ever really well-suited and that they only got together because Anya pursued Xander and was pretty forceful with him. In the end, the relationship was never going to work because they were too different. However, I appreciate that they really did love each other and they had some pretty funny scenes together.

Platonic ships

1. Buffy/Dawn - Buffy and Dawn’s relationship is one of the relationships that is the heart of the show. The fact that Dawn was created and in a sense was never truly Buffy’s sister meant that Buffy could’ve easily rejected her. Instead, Buffy accepted Dawn as being her own flesh and blood; a part of her. They argued and disagreed on occassion, just like all siblings do, but they were fiercely protective of each other and loved each other deeply. After Joyce’s death, Buffy took on a parental role and not only had to be Dawn’s sister, but also her mother, father, teacher, guide, friend and everything else in between. Dawn looked up to Buffy as her role model and Buffy allowed Dawn to grow into a strong, beautiful and compassionate young lady. Buffy said that Xander was her strength, but so was Dawn. I think without Dawn in her life she wouldn’t have had the same will to carry on after Joyce’s death.

2. Buffy/Giles - I just love Buffy and Giles’ dynamic. Giles was assigned to be Buffy’s Watcher and had a professional obligation to guide her, but their relationship became so much more than that. Giles saw Buffy’s strength, courage, vitality and compassion; he saw beyond her being the Slayer and understood that she was a girl. His greatest fear was failing her and he did everything he could to guide and protect her for as long as he could, even after his official duties as her Watcher ended. Giles fulfilled the father-figure role in Buffy’s life since her biological father was absent from her life, and Buffy greatly benefitted from that. There were so many people in Buffy’s life who she couldn’t have made it without, and Giles is certainly one of those people. It’s not just his knowledge as a Watcher that made him so needed, it was the wisdom and guidance he provided Buffy with whenever she was in need as a Slayer or as a girl.

3. Xander/Willow - Xander and Willow remind me of the relationship I have with my best friend. When you have a friend that you’ve grown up with and that has been there with you all your life you bond in an inexplicable way. That person almost becomes a part of you. That’s the kind of bond Xander and Willow have. They know and understand each other better than anyone; they accept each other completely and everything is effortless with them. Because they’ve known each other for so long they’re naturally on the same wave-length and get each other. The scene where Xander brings Willow back from the darkness always makes me so emotional and proves how strong their bond is. There’s no one else in the world that could’ve brought Willow back in that moment.

4. Buffy/Joyce - I’m a sucker for mother/daughter relationships. Buffy and Joyce’s relationship is so endearing. Joyce is a devoted mother who always does her best by Buffy. She accepts her being the Slayer and does anything she can to try and make Buffy’s life easier. It’s not a relationship that’s exactly given a lot of focus, but when Joyce dies you immediately feel the significance of that relationship in a way you don’t before then. Joyce is Buffy’s everything and without her Buffy feels like she’s floating in space and completely alone. I think the fact that Buffy’s parents split meant that Buffy and Joyce developed an even closer relationship than before. Joyce most likely felt like she had to try and make up for the absence of Buffy’s father and try and be both parents at the same time. Initially, their relationship wasn’t ideal because Buffy was always having to lie and keep secrets from Joyce, but once Joyce found out Buffy was the slayer they seemed to become closer than ever before.

5. Buffy/Xander - Their friendship is sweet and understated, but it doesn’t stand out to me as being one of my favourite dynamics on the show. I think maybe because Xander has an unreciprocated crush on Buffy in the early seasons it meant that they had a slighly unbalanced relationship initially. However, their friendship was consistent and Xander was fiercely loyal to Buffy and by far the most consistent male presence in her life.

6. Buffy/Willow - Again, Buffy and Willow’s friendship is sweet. I like that on paper they’re unlikely friends with Buffy being the stereotypical popular pretty girl and Willow the stereotypical unpopular nerdy girl. But actually, they were able to connect beyond that and their differences meant that they complimented one another and worked together well. The only reason they’re ranked last is because I feel that Willow massively betrayed Buffy with her actions in season 6 and although it was understandable given the circumstances and Buffy forgave her, I do think that created some ongoing friction between them which simmered beneath the surface from that point on.

Seasons

1. Season 2 - I love this season and my latest BTVS rewatch reinforced my love for it. Spike and Dru are an epic pairing that are intruiging and fantastic villains; Oz and Willow are adorable and their relationship is fresh; Xander and Cordy are an unexpected but again fresh dynamic; we finally see Giles meet someone who genuinely connects with in Jenny; Buffy and Angel’s relationship is compelling and the Angelus arc is fantastic. All of the characters develop so much more in this season in comparison to season 1. The stakes are raised and there are some major moments with Jenny and Kendra’s deaths, and Buffy sacrificing Angel to save the world. All in all it’s a strong and consistent season.

2. Season 3 -  It’s a strong season. The Mayor is a great villain, Faith is a complex character who is fresh and intruiging, Buffy and Angel’s relationship is compelling and it feels like there’s a coherent arc and build-up with a strong ending with The Graduation two-parter.

3. Season 5 - The first time I watched BTVS I wasn’t a fan of season 5, but I think that’s because I wasn’t a fan of Dawn. Now that I love Dawn I also love this season. Dawn is a fantastic addition to the show, her entire arc as The Key and Glory as a villain is one of the strongest of any season. Joyce’s death is shocking and heartbreaking resulting in one of the most powerful episodes of television ever made. Willow’s magic grows, Buffy’s character grows more complex and the premiere with Dracula shows that immediately and despite the immorality and to be frank, grossness, of Spike creating the Buffybot, she’s a humourous addition to the show. But the Glory and Dawn plot is definitley what makes this season so strong.

4. Season 6  - Despite the fact that this season breaks away from the humour that BTVS was built on, I really like the change in direction. This season shows the characters going through real hardships in a way we’ve never seen before. BTVS is known for using metaphors to portray the different stages of life and growing up, and this season does the same and shows how incredibly hard life can suddenly become when you enter adulthood. Buffy’s resurrection and consequent depression is hard-hitting and powerful, Xander and Anya’s relationship break-down is sad, Willow’s descent into dark magic is difficult to watch and Tara’s death is shocking and traumatic. And the Trio as villains defy the general expectations of what villains should be. There’s no denying it’s the darkest season of the show, but I appreciate the new depths this season goes to and how far the characters are pushed.

5. Season 4 -  This season has grown on me a lot over the years. There are some really great episodes (Something Blue, Hush, A New Man) in this season and I enjoy the humour and lightheartness of it. Spike as a season regular works and I love the humour he brings and the complicated and contradictory nature of his relationship with the Scoobies whereby he’s their enemy but also their ally. I also think that the transition from high school to college is done pretty well considering how important the high school setting was for the show. We see Buffy, Willow and Xander all change and mature as they enter the next phase of their lives. Willow and Tara’s blossoming relationship is a joy to watch and Tara is a nice addition to the group. However,  Adam as the Big Bad of the season and the Initative storyline generally massively lets the season down.

6. Season 1 - It’s not a bad season, but I just find season 1 generally slow and a bit dull. It took me about 4 attempts to actually get through the whole season and I didn’t actually fall in love with the show until season 2. It’s a safe season and a good introduction to the series but is pretty forgettable and doesn’t stand out in my mind.

7. Season 7 - This is a bad season, and lets be honest, probably shouldn’t have happened. Willow’s entire development and arc from season 6 is dismissed and it does her character a huge disservice; the Potentials are so dull and it just doesn’t work; The First as the Big Bad is a poor one to finish with; the Buffy and Spike relationship doesn’t work for me and overall it’s a pretty meh finish to an otherwise brilliant series.

BtVS Sunday challenge: Name your five favorite and three LEAST favorite episodes from each of BTVS's seven seasons :) Have fun!

This’ll keep me busy at work, so thanks for the ask!!These will just be in order of appearance! Also, I’m gonna just list my least favorites, no explanations.Season 1:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Teacher’s Pet2. The Pack3. The Puppet ShowFAVORITE:1. Welcome to the Hellmouth - of course, right? It sets up the characters and the show too perfectly. 2. The Harvest - sort an extension of my reasoning for the first one.3. Angel - I LOVED this episode when I first saw it because it just had the most beautiful story, and of course, is where I fell in love with Angel.4. Nightmares - this is just a solid episode. And who doesn’t wanna see Buffy as a vamp?5. Prophecy Girl - I feel like Buffy is quite good with strong season finales, and no wonder, because they started off great with this one.Season 2:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Ted2. Bad Eggs3. Go FishFAVORITE:1. School Hard - even before I knew Spike was my favorite character, I was hooked to this episode. What can I say? James and Juliet owned it.2. Halloween - from the early seasons, this is probably one of only a few I’d frequently go back and watch so…there ya go.3. Surprise - other than being a good episode anyway, that end scene with Buffy and Angel just before he loses is soul is one of the most beautiful scenes of any show.4. Passion - this episode showcases the horror of Angelus in such a brilliant way.5. Becoming: Part 2 - speaking of beautiful Bangel scenes. Another heartbreaking finale.Season 3:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Anne2. Dead Man’s Party3. GingerbreadFAVORITE:1. Band Candy - super funny episode. One of my favorites involving Giles.2. Lover’s Walk - at this point, I already loved Spike. I looked to see if he was in season 3 at all, and when I saw this one episode, I was super excited. Great quotes, as well.3. Helpless - such a good episode for Buffy. Phenomenal acting.4. Doppelgangland - I mean, come on. Vampire Willow? Nothing better.5. The Prom - simply a great episode for Buffy, Bangel, AND the rest of the high school. Buffy being shown appreciation for protecting the school and town is very heartwarming.Season 4:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Beer Bad2. Superstar3. RestlessFAVORITE:1. Pangs - we got Angel, we got Spike, we got a bear, what else do you need?2. Something Blue - hands down, one of the funniest episodes of the show. Not just because of Spuffy, but because of everyone. Blind Giles? The best.3. Hush - I think this episode is one of the most inventive, and still full of fun and creeps without even having dialogue!4. Doomed - everything about this one. Xander, Willow, and Spike especially. And the Hawaiian shirt. Always.5. Who Are You? - as much as I don’t like Faith, her fucking with people (Spike) as Buffy is the best.Season 5:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Buffy vs. Dracula 2. Real Me3. I Was Made to Love YouFAVORITE:1. Fool for Love - HANDS DOWN, my favorite episode of the whole show. Spike and his backstory can’t be topped for me. And the bit at the end with Buffy? Wow.2. Crush - Spike’s got a lot of centric episodes this season, huh? This episode is beauiful for him. His pain, his love, all of it.3. The Body - this episode just…hurts. But it also means a lot to me as a viewer. Willow and Tara had their first on-screen kiss, Anya’s speech was beautiful, and Buffy and Dawn broke my heart.4. Intervention - the introduction of the BUFFYBOT! Spike’s journey here, and his interactions with Glory are awesome. Not to mention, Buffy finally realizing he really loves her in the end. 5. The Gift - no doubt, the show’s best season finale. There’s Spuffy and Twillow and Xander proposes to Anya! And when everyone sees Buffy’s body, that’s so very sad. Season 6:LEAST FAVORITE:1. All the Way2. Doublemeat Palace3. Seeing RedFAVORITE:1. After Life - Spike and Buffy. That’s it. I love Spuffy.2. Once More, With Feeling - no one can convince me that this isn’t the best musical episode in the history of ever.3. Tabula Rasa - how do you follow up a musical? With this. I love seeing characters interact in new…and old ways. That end sequence is beautiful as well.4. Gone - super funny episode. Glad Buffy got to have some fun…in every way possible.5. Grave - Willow is my second favorite character and everything about this episode made me fall in love with her even more. Very, very saddening, though.Season 7:LEAST FAVORITE:1. Him2. Conversations With Dead People3. StorytellerFAVORITE:1. Beneath You - absoloutly lovely. The church scene, where Buffy learns about Spike’s soul, is my favorite scene from the whole show. Haunting, but lovely.2. Sleeper - Spike being so terrified of hurting someone, just…ouch.3. Never Leave Me - EVERYTHING about this one. Buffy learning to respect Spike and well as care for him makes this whole episode so satisfying to watch.4. Touched - if I had to define beautiful, it would be the “you’re the one, Buffy” scene. Made me bawl my eyes out.5. Chosen - of course, the series finale. Full of heartbreak, yes, considering Anya and SPIKE. But the goodbye from the show was everything I needed it to be. Not to mention, the conclusion of Spuffy was transcendent and absoloutly beautiful.Thank you again! This was really fun to do!Send me Buffy asks!!