Episode Poll: 3.20 The Prom

[gabrielleabelle]

Guys, I need a poll today because my mood is gloomy so we're doing this thang early. I command you all to vote, comment, and entertain me. Go!

Next poll will be over the Graduation Day two-parter (MEGA POLL). Next week, I'm gonna be in England, and I honestly don't know if I'm gonna do the poll or not. I'm gonna have to wait till I get there to

Comments

[angearia]

I'm sorry there is woe. This might cheer you up. *hugs*

And now I'll answer the poll in great detail!

I'm kinda okay with Joyce interfering, but not with her doing it behind Buffy's back. I think she should've tried to talk with Buffy first.

I think Joyce sped up Angel's leaving, but he was already starting to get antsy. If Angel hadn't broken up with Buffy and they were still together during Graduation Day, then I imagine Faith would've still poisoned him, Buffy would've still nearly killed herself to save Angel, and Angel would've freaked and ran off after that because he doesn't want to be the cause of Buffy dying.

Do you think Angel leaving Buffy at this point was ultimately a good thing for her?

Yes, though I think the best thing for her would've been if he'd never come back. His coming back and the on/off games they played and then his break-up -- it did a lot of damage which Buffy carries with her.

Do you think Angel leaving Buffy at this point was ultimately a good thing for Angel?Yes, I think he needed to

[gabrielleabelle]

Buffy-love pleases me. :)

Yes, though I think the best thing for her would've been if he'd never come back. His coming back and the on/off games they played and then his break-up -- it did a lot of damage which Buffy carries with her.

See, I wavered on this one. I think separating from Angel would be a good thing for her - on many different levels. But I think the wishy-washy way it was done leads to her massive Angel Issues (and abandonment issues) later on. I don't think the Healthy Alternative is for him to have stayed, but for him to not have framed the break up as being "for her own good".

I gave it 4 stars 'cause I love this episode. Even the Buffy/Angel drama gets to me. It's all good and then the Class Protector moment is PERFECT.

*nods*

[angearia]

I don't think the Healthy Alternative is for him to have stayed, but for him to not have framed the break up as being "for her own good".

Yeah, you're right. I think the healthy thing for Buffy would've been for her to realize on her own that he needs to go. Instead, Joyce and Angel make all the decisions for her. And it really plays up that she's totally blind and emotionally out of control -- leading to her Romeo-and-Julieting herself on his fangs (ok, I realize that's not a perfect metaphor...). I just hate how it's all about taking control away from her, taking away her choices. Maybe the way the choices are taken away from her is why she's so willing to give her life for him, but still I wish she could've come to her own conclusions about Angel needing to leave. Instead, his departure and even Riley's later on just end up giving her major issues. Both guys get to make the strong final statements on their relationship and I want Buffy to reclaim her agency.

[gabrielleabelle]

Very much. I'm not sure whether to glare at Angel or the writers for that one, though. On the one hand, I think it's in character for Buffy to hold onto Angel so tightly. On the other, with "graduation" being the major theme at the end of S3, it's frustrating that Buffy doesn't willingly choose her graduation from Angel. It's foisted upon her, unlike her leaving the Council or fighting the Mayor. It's like a tiny step back in her big step forward.

Maybe that's the point? I don't know. It's disheartening, especially as it later becomes a pattern and plays into Buffy's big abandonment issues.

[angearia]

Your thoughts are my thoughts, basically.

[samsom]

Glare at the writers. They could have started the process, and made it more evident, a lot earlier on. Instead, they prevented Buffy the right to decide when a relationship was unhealthy in order to ensure maximum angst at the worst possible moment for an eighteen year old - right before Prom. They basically threw out potential character growth for the 'heartbreaking sewer talk' because Joss is an angst whore.