Dear Sarah Michelle Gellar
First of all, I absolutely adore you. You are the consummate actress. Because you know what? I had no effing clue that at the end of the day, Buffy preferred Angel (except for loose interpretations of the cookie dough speech, but that's another post). Buffy's last words on the subject (and the show) were "I love you" and "Spike." I took her at her
( Read more... )
I think that the fans maybe wanted her to express a more articulate opinion? But, yeah. I mostly think that they wanted a little Spike appreciation from her. I can relate. I loved her work as Buffy, I think she should have won an Emmy (Or two?) for it and I think that she gave something unique and deeply human to Buffy, that makes me love her as a character.
I used to think that actors are like clay, that the authors' opinion is much more important. I guess I really get the writing part of a story. It's easier to me to understand how you feel when you want to express something with your writing. (No, I'm not a real writer XD I'm just a girl with some weird ideas and stuff. I'm nobody XD) But I can get that aspect more.
The thing changed recently for me, when I read about Tom Hiddleston's work on Loki and I truly understood how much power the actor actually have. I don't know if Sarah had all that power, certainly not for the first seasons, but she was Buffy's body and emotions so she was pretty important. And, as a Spuffy shipper, I can understand why is so disappointing to see her just going for a short answer (That is not what I was hoping for) and basically dismiss my favourite pairing. I'm honest, I would have been happy if she answered "Spike".
That said, it changes nothing about my perception of the characters and relationships. I still appreciate many Bangel moments (Some fans made me hate the pairing, but I've always been very Bangel friendly) but for me Spike should be the endgame.
(Sorry for the long rant)
Reply
basically dismiss my favourite pairing.
I think it's fandom that's basically guilty of dismissing one pairing or the other - shipper wars etc. "It has to be MY guy that Buffy loved and my guy only! The other guy didn't count!" Sarah is asked an either/or question, and she gives an either/or answer - after years of avoiding it or dancing around it altogether (Paleyfest 2008 for instance); and as this demonstrates, with good reason.
I used to be in that mindset two years ago and now? Not so much. I have preferences of course, but the whole "Who did Buffy love most" thing is a huge turn-off for me. Bored now. I dislike the idea of a predetermined endgame. She could be with Angel, she could be with Spike, Faith, with someone completely new, with no one at all if that's what makes her happiest. I don't think she HAS to be with Spike or anyone else. But that's just my opinion.
Every faction in the shipping wars think they're different to all the others, but from the outside they all look alike to me.
Reply
I do believe that she loved them both (Spike and Angel) with all her heart, and it's a huge thing because she spent her energies protecting them, comforting them and even fighting with them. Which is exausting and shows how truly she cared. **
I'm a little bit pissed these days because while I've always respected people for their ship or tastes I wasn't respected for mine and that kinda sucks.
I'm also a little bit tired of the eternal dance in the comics. If the Buffyverse ended with Chosen I could be content with what I saw. Buffy was only twenty-two when the show ended. She didn't have to *marry* someone at twenty-two. She was young, dealing with a hell lot of stuff and if she was confused ... well, she was just human. I believed her when she said to Spike that she loved him and I believed in him, in his redemption of his past sins and his truest, now generous and truly noble, love.
Since they metaphorically brought back to life Buffy - AGAIN - I'm just pissed that they're still dancing with the whole Bangel VS Spuffy, especially when they know it's a hot topic for the fandom. So, yes, now I want to get a final answer (Which is not coming from Sarah, since she's obliviously not interested in coming back as Buffy) and now I want to see if Joss can do an established, constructive and adult relationship. And, damn, I'm a shipper so I'm hoping it is Spike and Buffy in the end.
Now that I said all these stuff I feel better. I'm putting my feral!Buffy icon.
**Oh damn, she loved also Riley, expect that she was loving him in her own way (as it should be) and not by his expectations.
Reply
Honey if you're waiting for the outcome you want, you'll be waiting until your deathbed and beyond. Joss ain't gonna give you what you want. I don't know why anyone thinks he will. He will, however, make sure to keep teasing you (see the recent teasers for the first issue of S10 online) to keep you buying and hoping.
Barb was right when she said that Joss won't let Buffy grow up. It's true and it's an absolute shame because the tv series was about growing up. Buffy frozen in time (regressed if anything) feels absolutely wrong to me. But that's apparently what he wants from her.
And anyway, I don't consider the comics the same canon with the series. They only exist to piss me off. To quote kwritten: Let us speak no more of those filthy things.
Unless of course to mock and satirize. Then I'm all for it!
Since they metaphorically brought back to life Buffy - AGAIN - I'm just pissed that they're still dancing with the whole Bangel VS Spuffy, especially when they know it's a hot topic for the fandom.
Exactly. It keeps people reading, buying, wishing, hoping, bitching and talking about them, even if in reduced numbers. Fandom is being played; and we're letting ourselves be played.
(Which is not coming from Sarah, since she's obliviously not interested in coming back as Buffy)
Sarah NEVER had the final word even when she was in the series. She certainly had nothing to do with the comics. at the end of the day Joss does and half the time I don't think he knows his own mind; he just says whatever comes to the top of his head or what he thinks will play well in the room, he contradicts himself so often.
Sarah has nothing to do with the comics. And even if she came back on tv as Buffy, she wouldn't have the final say. She did what she was paid to do and tried to influence the direction of the character and the show the best she could. but you have Joss and Marti and umpteen writers and actors and producers all doing that at the same time as well.
The thing is - the original question had to do with Sarah's preference for Buffy. I think too many ideas and concepts are being squashed together here.
now I want to see if Joss can do an established, constructive and adult relationship.
That we agree on. I would LOVE to see that. And again - Joss has had more than enough opportunities to work with that if the subject interested him. It apparently doesn't.
And I would certainly want to see something more than "SPike got his soul for her so now he's THE PERFECT person for her and all is forgiven and shiny and new" without seeing something more than that. Yes, they loved each other, it's canon, does that make them "right for each other"?
A couple of noble deeds do not a healthy constructive relationship make.
I guess after two years I know I prefer Spuffy in S7 in canon (not before that) but in general I'm over "shipping".
**Oh damn, she loved also Riley, expect that she was loving him in her own way (as it should be) and not by his expectations.
And we agree on that as well.
Reply
Honey if you're waiting for the outcome you want, you'll be waiting until your deathbed and beyond.
I KNOW. *iz a loser*
I know and the eight and nine seasons prove it perfectly. It's just that ... they have this great story with a lot of possibilities. They can go anywhere with it, as they previously did with the show (and BtVS wasn't perfect but hell if it wasn't interesting and brilliantly executed) and the actors, the music and everything are part of it, but mostly important, at least to me, are the ideas. With a good idea you can create art even if you don't have enough money. Joss is capable of having good and even great ideas and the comics are so disappointing in that way. The most disappointing thing is
Barb was right when she said that Joss won't let Buffy grow up.
FUCK THIS. For serious. The best thing about Buffy is that she changed through the years. I know that many people liked her when she was younger and despised her more mature version but I fucking loved her in S7 and I don't know why they have to regress on that matter.
I can understand - now that I'm actually living my mild twenties - that you're not as grown up as you think. I feel more confused now that when I was younger and maybe that's just me. I still can relate to some level to Buffy being not mature as she supposed to be, but they are regressing her so much.
And I have to underline something: being "mature" or making Buffy more experienced doesn't mean that she has to marry Spike tomorrow. The 'ship thing is another sort of thing. Still she did a lot of things with Spike. She built something in terms of mutual trust and understanding. It's more than romance and I don't understand why they can't more foward with that. (Again, she's young, she doesn't have to swear her eternal love now, but I'm talking about little steps. Big things come from that) In a way I'm shipping it more right now because, as you say, a couple of good deeds don't make the relationship. In fact I want more. (Hence the desire to see something now)
Sarah NEVER had the final word even when she was in the series.
Eh. She didn't so I don't understand why people are thinking that her opinion settles the matter. It's an opinion and I respect it because I respect Sarah and her work. It's the *final* word on this matter? Hell to the no.
Reply
Check out the Carbon Grey series - I discovered it at the local comics store and flipped through it because of the artwork. It was EVERYTHING the Buffy comics could have been. Gorgeous visuals, young female warriors, queens, etc, geopolitics and international warfare in an AU version of our world, a propaganda war being waged against the female warriors in addition to the military one. And I stood there at the store and flipped through it and understood EVERYTHING in it.
http://carbongrey.blogspot.com
I know that many people liked her when she was younger and despised her more mature version but I fucking loved her in S7
S7 Buffy is MY QUEEN, BITCHES.
And OMG sweetie wait until you hit your mid-40's. I'm STILL waiting to feel like a grown up, and I've just about accepted the fact that I never will. :)
Reply
. Buffy frozen in time (regressed if anything) feels absolutely wrong to me.
I think that's even being too generous to the characterization. Even Buffy in WTTH had more maturity and wherewithal than comic. She at least knew right from wrong. Comic!Buffy is basically a sociopath and a dumb one at that.
But yeah, Joss pulls shipper strings because it creates buzz. Look at S9 when he had everyone in a tizzy over the party and who the father would be. Xander? Riley (There, apparently, for no other purpose than this), Spike, the neighbor?
And it's nothing new. That's why Angel was in the finale. He more or less admitted it.
And I would certainly want to see something more than "SPike got his soul for her so now he's THE PERFECT person for her and all is forgiven and shiny and new" without seeing something more than that. Yes, they loved each other, it's canon, does that make them "right for each other"?
A couple of noble deeds do not a healthy constructive relationship make.
I guess after two years I know I prefer Spuffy in S7 in canon (not before that) but in general I'm over "shipping".
Amen to all of this. And largely, I think that was the point of a lot of her arc in S7. It's not that she didn't have feelings/love Spike, she just didn't see much of a future for the relationship. He's a still a vampire and she a Slayer and outside of the dramatics, they really don't have a great deal in common. Hence the maybe when and the cookie dough speech. Maybe it would work out, maybe not. The impression was given it might be worth a shot. I once read an interesting fic where Spike came back human, they got married and ended up getting divorced. Had to stop reading because it was veering toward Spike/Dawn which is a big no-no ship for me.
But yeah, Sarah doesn't have any final say. She didn't think Buffy would sleep with Parker, either, but she did. Though I guess in some ways she does since I really doubt she'd agree to do Buffy again (not that I think there is any intention to) if Spuffy is in the cards. Joss said at once point he'd never recast Buffy. But who knows, he apparently thinks Jeanty's doodles are suitable.
Reply
No disagreement on any of those points whatsoever.
But yeah, Joss pulls shipper strings because it creates buzz.
I saw the preview pages of S10.1 - there's a close-up on a hand catching a tossed stake, a black cuff, and a tiny "Oi." Gee, wonder who it could be? *snorts*
Why people are still hoping they will put the question finally to rest re: "Who wins Buffy?" is beyond me at this point.
Hence the maybe when and the cookie dough speech. Maybe it would work out, maybe not. The impression was given it might be worth a shot.
With the help of some serious couples therapy - ok, now where is THAT fic?
Buffy was right when she said "You don't know me, you don't even know you." (She could have easily have said it to Angel.) Do any of them really know themselves at that point? Buffy is, what, 21 or 22?
Though I guess in some ways she does since I really doubt she'd agree to do Buffy again (not that I think there is any intention to) if Spuffy is in the cards.
he apparently thinks Jeanty's doodles are suitable.
At least Rebekah Issacs work in S10 doesn't make my eyes bleed. (Which isn't a low bar so much as a twig on the sidewalk.)
Reply
Gee, wonder who it could be?
Yeah, Spuffy-baiting already. Though it could be anybody since no one talks like they did on the show. I still cringe at Buffy saying 'balls' and muppety-odin.
With the help of some serious couples therapy - ok, now where is THAT fic?
Well, that would imply that Spike brings some pretty heavy baggage to the relationship himself and we can't be having that.
At least Rebekah Issacs work in S10 doesn't make my eyes bleed. (Which isn't a low bar so much as a twig on the sidewalk.)
She's not as bad as ol' George, but I wonder how much that'll change with DH's workload. I don't think she's terribly great either. At least they look semi-adult.
Reply
Leave a comment