Buffy is So Whiny…

[102bb]

Except, anyone who has spent five minutes speaking to me knows that I don’t really think that at all.And yet, I find that is a really popular opinion, and it begs the question, why that is

Comments

Re: augh, teal deer

[noisyhearts]

And I loved the ending so much, how she was not the individual hero defeating evil, but rather, she empowered a new generation of women to be strong and stand up for themselves and humanity, without the restrictions placed by a patriarchal order.

This. I didn't love the last couple of seasons but that was such a brilliant ending.

Re: augh, teal deer

[zoram]

I loved the ending, too. Except... Didn't pretty much all of the potentials die? It sort of ruins the "everyone gets superpowers! yay!" thing when, like, five people actually get them.

[spankmypirate]

This is a really interesting article, thanks for posting. It always got on my nerves when fans would complain about Buffy being whiny... like, hello? Look at all the stuff she had to deal with during S5 and 6. They're not my favourite seasons, but I think they encapsulated the feeling of growing up and dealing with young adulthood plus all the tough shit that comes with it pretty accurately.

Mind you, in my opinion much of the resentment towards Buffy stemmed from the whole Spuffy saga (which I hated and will never forgive whoever was responsible for it). Whenver a female protagonist treats the sexy male character (in this case, Spike) less than favourably fans will almost always turn on her. Happens in every fandom.

[havealemon]

Mind you, in my opinion much of the resentment towards Buffy stemmed from the whole Spuffy saga (which I hated and will never forgive whoever was responsible for it). Whenver a female protagonist treats the sexy male character (in this case, Spike) less than favourably fans will almost always turn on her. Happens in every fandom.

Oh god, this is so infuriating. Boohoo, the soulless vampire without a conscience who has tortured and killed without remorse has been romantically rejected for perfectly sound reasons! Let us weep for him; his sexy blonde hair, his muscled abdomen, his leather coat!

[spankmypirate]

My favourite is when fans try and justify Spike's rape attempt because 'Buffy was just as strong as he was and besides she was treating him just as badly, so she had it coming'. Or something on those lines. Unnngghhh.

My dislike of Spike had already been cemented way before that episode but after he attacked Buffy he was basically dead to me. I couldn't believe that they actually tried to redeem him after that and I still don't give a damn that ~~ he got a soul ~~

[noisyhearts]

ALSO THIS. I hatehatehate Spike and no one can ever seem to understand why. As someone who has BEEN IN THAT SITUATION, if a dude tries to rape a girl the there is NO coming back from that as far as I'm concerned.

[bazcat89]

Ah yes, the famous fandom female double standard.

(intentional icon is intentional, and jsyk i am mentally super-imposing ginny weasley onto it as well)

[maynardsong]

Yes, everyone forgives Harry for being bratty in Book 5, but Cho Chang gets called all sorts of nasty names even though she got out of it just as well as Harry did.

[bazcat89]

And Lily's an awful person for not wanting to date/be bffs with someone who was aiming to be a part of an organization that hated her and wanted her dead.

[maynardsong]

I've never heard that one before. I've heard a lot of woobie-fication of Snape, and I myself have done it, but I've never heard any demonization of Lily. I mean, AFAIK, she hasn't done anything bad, and Harry takes after her personality-wise.

Not Buffy, but SMG's performance

[kwritten]

Now, as a *huge* BtVS fan, I have to admit (first) that I have problems with Buffy's whiny-ness post S1. However! I often don't see this as a reflection of the actual character on the page, but in SMG's acting. I know I may get stabbed, but I have been noticing lately that my problems with Buff's "whiny" tend to not be the *words* themselves, but the *performance* done by SMG. A lot... nay: MOST fans <3 <3 <3 SMG and I really, really take issue with her. I feel often that in big-group scenes she's whiny instead of standing up for herself (even when the script itself suggests the latter). For all the shit that her make-shift family gives her for not being strong enough (especially post-Angel's death) it's totally acceptable to me that she be pissed off at the ones that *should* be supporting her. It often appears (to me) that when with the Scoobies, Buffy relaxes and softens, which (when done by a not-so-great-actress) just comes off as "whiny". (My prime reasoning is that Cordy and Buffy begin their journey's in a very similar place

Re: Not Buffy, but SMG's performance

[clafount]

It often appears (to me) that when with the Scoobies, Buffy relaxes and softens, which (when done by a not-so-great-actress) just comes off as "whiny"

I just don't see this at all. But I actually think SMG is a great actress (at least in the Buffy series). I mean, just look at the episode where Faith/Buffy switch bodies. SMG nailed Dushku's mannerisms and everything, whereas Dushku just looked like she was doing a really bad impression.

IMO of course.

Re: Not Buffy, but SMG's performance

[102bb]

SMG is really underrated, tbh. Season 5 Buffy/Sarah acting was AMAZING, especially.

Re: Not Buffy, but SMG's performance

[angearia]

She was nominated for a Golden Globe for that season and she should've won. UGGGH.

Unsung much?

Somebody go watch her performance in The Body in the beginning when Whedon does one of those long shots following her around the house--not CUTS--and tell me she doesn't break your heart with how she portrays grief. Dear God, that woman is WONDERFUL.

[havealemon]

Yes to this article