I actually liked the Buffy/Riley relationship in S4. It seemed functional and healthy. Riley's sudden insecurities that "she doesn't love me" seemed to come out of nowhere. And those insecurities could have easily been put to rest if Riley had just talked to her. Granted, Buffy's never been the best communicator, but she is capable of opening up when pressed.
So, yeah, maybe Buffy was a little shut down. Or preoccupied with mom possibly dying. But that in no way absolves Riley of his infidelities/blood abuse/whatever. Or of trying to lay it all on Buffy's shoulders.
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy. It would have been far more believable if Riley had just staked Spike outright. (Although, speaking as a Spike fan, I'm glad he didn't. :)
I actually liked the Buffy/Riley relationship in S4. It seemed functional and healthy.
Ditto. Though I don't know that Riley's insecurities come out of nowhere. They seem to me to be foreshadowed with S4's The Yoko Factor where Riley randomly thinks Buffy cheated on him with Angel. I don't think he ever gets over Buffy's past with Angel.
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy. It would have been far more believable if Riley had just staked Spike outright. (Although, speaking as a Spike fan, I'm glad he didn't. :)
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy. It would have been far more believable if Riley had just staked Spike outright. (Although, speaking as a Spike fan, I'm glad he didn't. :)
Agreed, on all counts. It was just a way to give the episode a "shocking!" act break, while ignoring the fact that the very existence of a plastic wood grain stake makes no sense whatsoever. Where did Riley get it at, The Stake Store (Serving Both Your Real and Fake Stake Needs Since 1982)?
Where did Riley get it at, The Stake Store (Serving Both Your Real and Fake Stake Needs Since 1982)?
Surely there's a market for it in Sunnydale? Between all the various magic shops, demon bars, etc... The forces of darkness need silly novelty items too.
Hee, I imagine the owner of the leather pants boutique was able to retire early and move to a safer location before Sunnydale turned into a hole in the ground.
The forces of darkness need silly novelty items too.
Mom! Sally's pretending to be a slayer again! She's scaring me, make her stop!
The plastic wood grain stake is clearly a vampire sex toy. Dru had it commissioned for naughty play time when she had Angel all tied up in "What's My Line?"
the very existence of a plastic wood grain stake makes no sense whatsoever. Where did Riley get it at, The Stake Store (Serving Both Your Real and Fake Stake Needs Since 1982)?
YES. Every single time I watch that scene I end up muttering to myself about how that plastic stake just makes no sense at all. Where did it come from? Why? How?
Right?? Why would anyone even make plastic stakes??
Oh. You know what we need? A Fake Stake Ficathon, in which people come up with reasons why Riley might've had that on hand. (The crackier the better, obvs.)
Riley's sudden insecurities that "she doesn't love me" seemed to come out of nowhere
To be fair, they could have come out of his growing realization that he was in love with her. I think Riley's marriage in Season 6 shows that he was in an emotional place where he was looking for The One, and he wanted it to be Buffy, but he was starting to suspect that the feeling wasn't mutual.
In fact, if this particular episode were better handled, I would really like the reversal of the traditional sex roles -- the guy who's looking for serious commitment, the girl who's, like, "what are you talking about, we're barely twenty."
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy.Maybe, except I love the way that scene plays out, where Riley is trying so hard to be self-righteous and then realizes he's the asshole and gives up. (He doesn't stake Spike, because he wants to kick Spike's ass
( ... )
So, yeah, maybe Buffy was a little shut down. Or preoccupied with mom possibly dying. But that in no way absolves Riley of his infidelities/blood abuse/whatever. Or of trying to lay it all on Buffy's shoulders.
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy. It would have been far more believable if Riley had just staked Spike outright. (Although, speaking as a Spike fan, I'm glad he didn't. :)
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Ditto. Though I don't know that Riley's insecurities come out of nowhere. They seem to me to be foreshadowed with S4's The Yoko Factor where Riley randomly thinks Buffy cheated on him with Angel. I don't think he ever gets over Buffy's past with Angel.
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy. It would have been far more believable if Riley had just staked Spike outright. (Although, speaking as a Spike fan, I'm glad he didn't. :)
Haha! But they needed a dramatic act closer! :)
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Agreed, on all counts. It was just a way to give the episode a "shocking!" act break, while ignoring the fact that the very existence of a plastic wood grain stake makes no sense whatsoever. Where did Riley get it at, The Stake Store (Serving Both Your Real and Fake Stake Needs Since 1982)?
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Surely there's a market for it in Sunnydale? Between all the various magic shops, demon bars, etc... The forces of darkness need silly novelty items too.
I'm convinced there's a 24-hour leather pants boutique for the recently evil, myself.
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The forces of darkness need silly novelty items too.
Mom! Sally's pretending to be a slayer again! She's scaring me, make her stop!
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YES. Every single time I watch that scene I end up muttering to myself about how that plastic stake just makes no sense at all. Where did it come from? Why? How?
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Oh. You know what we need? A Fake Stake Ficathon, in which people come up with reasons why Riley might've had that on hand. (The crackier the better, obvs.)
Reply
To be fair, they could have come out of his growing realization that he was in love with her. I think Riley's marriage in Season 6 shows that he was in an emotional place where he was looking for The One, and he wanted it to be Buffy, but he was starting to suspect that the feeling wasn't mutual.
In fact, if this particular episode were better handled, I would really like the reversal of the traditional sex roles -- the guy who's looking for serious commitment, the girl who's, like, "what are you talking about, we're barely twenty."
Also, stabbing Spike with plastic wood grain was just a stupid writing ploy.Maybe, except I love the way that scene plays out, where Riley is trying so hard to be self-righteous and then realizes he's the asshole and gives up. (He doesn't stake Spike, because he wants to kick Spike's ass ( ... )
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