Expectations, Fears, and Perceptions: Buffy and Riley in S5

[gabrielleabelle]

So, you know how people always point out a few scenes as examples of Buffy pulling away from Riley in S5? I wanted to sit down and examine those scenes and show how Riley's perception (Buffy pulling away) didn't quite match what was actually going on.

In doing so, I think I actually managed to key into some interesting parts of Riley's arc. This pleases me, as the Riley meta I'd been working on fell by the wayside (I just wasn't happy with how it was coming out).

You'll notice, at first, Riley's perceptions match pretty close to reality. However, as the episodes go on, there begins a shift, pretty much around the time Joyce falls ill. More and more, the incidents reflect more of what's going on with Riley rather than what's going on with Buffy. The tragedy after ITW, of course, being that Buffy ends up shouldering the blame.

I think this progression is interesting in of itself, so I'm gonna lay it out there for you guys. Comments? Always lovely.



Buffy vs. Dracula

• The Incident
  
  RILEY: Hey. (grabs her arm and stops her) Take off that scarf.
  
  BUFFY: What? No. (puts hand over scarf)
  
  RILEY: (gives an "I knew it" nod) You're under the thrall of the dark prince!
  
  BUFFY: (scoffs) I am not under the thrall of the dark prince.
  
  RILEY: Then take off the scarf.
  
  BUFFY: Oh, let go of me! This is ridiculous. (tries to break arm out of Riley's grasp but he holds on)
  
  Riley rips off the scarf as the others come out too. Everyone looks at Buffy's neck. She sits on the edge of the stone fountain and puts her head in her hands.
  
  GILES: Why didn't you say anything?
  
  XANDER: Cause she didn't want to worry us, right Buffster? It's nothin'. Just a scratch.
  
  WILLOW: Two deep, puncture-y scratches.
  
  Buffy looks apologetically at Riley.
  
  BUFFY: I'm not sure why I tried to hide it. Uh, there was just this voice, and it was, it was telling me to cover it.
  
  RILEY: And what did I tell you? (to the others) That's thrall.
  
  XANDER: You're saying Dracula has some sort of freaky mind control over her? You're watching too many creature features, man.
  
  BUFFY: But it does seem like he has this ... control over me, I ... even though a big part of me is resisting.
  
  During this speech we see Xander grab a fly off a nearby leaf and eat it.
  
  RILEY: No, that's okay. I shouldn't take this personally. I mean, what with Angel, I mean, it's understandable that there would be transference. I mean, they're both broody immortals.
  
  Buffy looks dismayed and gets up to walk close to Riley.
  BUFFY: (firmly) I am not transfer-y. (quieter) I swear to you. I'm your girl, and I'm gonna stay that way.
  
  RILEY: Okay. But you are not going anywhere near him again.
  
  
• Riley's Perspective
  
  This is confirmation to Riley of what he suspected way back in The Yoko Factor: Buffy has a thing for vampires. He talks about "transference", because everything goes back to Angel for him. He is convinced that Buffy's still caught up in Angel.
  
  
• Reality
  
  There may well be some truth on this one. This episode is about Buffy being tempted by her own darkness, so the vampire-attraction thing may be on point. However, there is also the fact that Xander falls under Dracula's thrall, much like Buffy, and I don't think anybody can argue that Xander has a big yen for vampires.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Negligible. Buffy reassures Riley that she's "[his] girl". He seems to take heart in this. Then they defeat the evil. Next!
  

The Real Me

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: Well, this is a surprise of the nicest kind.
  
  RILEY: Now it's my turn to be surprised. I thought we had plans today.
  
  They sit on the sofa.
  
  BUFFY: Plans? We planned plans?
  
  RILEY: Well, you said, uh, "come over tomorrow and we'll hang," and then I said, "OK." Not the invasion of Normandy, but still a plan.
  
  Buffy nods in resignation.
  
  BUFFY: Right.
  
  RILEY: (studying her expression) We're not hangin' today, are we?
  
  BUFFY: Giles is on his way to pick me up.
  
  RILEY: Oh, slayer training.
  
  BUFFY: Slayer shopping, actually, but equally as important.
  
  RILEY: I have no doubt. Okay, well, we'll hook up later. (Starts to get up)
  
  BUFFY: Are you mad at me?
  
  RILEY: Oh, no, not at all. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way. (Smiles)
  
  BUFFY: Good.
  
  RILEY: Look, Buffy, I know what this means to you. I think it's great that you've got this new mission. I'll see you tonight.
  
  (Smooch. Riley gets up.)
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Riley sees this as an encroachment of Buffy's Slayer duties onto their relationship.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Yeah, it is. Buffy made a major miss. She does the same with Willow when she tells her that she can't take drama class with her. The fact that Buffy forgot to tell Riley, though, is worrisome.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Riley takes it in good humor. He's supportive of Buffy's Slayer exploration. And later in the episode, Buffy and Riley patrol together, at Buffy's suggestion. There don't appear to be hard feelings in any direction.
  
  

The Replacement

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: Riley, do you wish-
  
  RILEY: No.
  
  BUFFY: No? You don't even know what I was gonna say.
  
  RILEY: Yes, I do. You wanted to know if I wished you got hit by the ferula-gemina, got split in two.
  
  BUFFY: Well, you have been kind of rankly about the whole slayer gig. Instead of having slayer Buffy, you could have Buffy Buffy.
  
  RILEY: Hey. I *have* Buffy Buffy. Being the slayer's part of who you are. You keep thinking I don't get that, but...
  
  BUFFY: It's just ... I know how ... un-fun it can be. The bad hours, frequent bruising, cranky monsters...
  
  RILEY: Buffy... if you led a perfectly normal life, you wouldn't be half as crazy as you are. I gotta have that. I gotta have it all. I'm talkin' toes, elbows, the whole bad-ice-skating-movie obsession, everything. There's no part of you I'm not in love with.
  
  Buffy looks up at him. He glances at her. She smiles a little, then looks out her window.
  
  BUFFY: We better get there soon. If Xander kills himself, he's dead. (frowns) You know what I mean.
  
  Riley nods.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  He just gave Buffy a rather impassioned declaration of love, poor timing notwithstanding. She doesn't voice reciprocation, a fact that Riley picks up on as noted at the end with his conversation with Xander.
  
  
• Reality
  
  It's pretty straight-forward. Riley takes this as a sign that Buffy doesn't love him. He could be right. However, as the rest of the series shows, Buffy does have issues with the l-word (love, not lesbian), so it may be more an issue with her expressing love rather than feeling it. Arguments can be made either way.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Riley's conviction that Buffy doesn't love him stems in part from this missed moment. His speech to Xander at the end of the episode sets the tone for the rest of their relationship wherein Riley becomes more and more desperate to get something from Buffy.
  
  

Out of My Mind

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: Better keep out of my way, Spike. I'm not gonna take this much longer. (Riley walks over to join them.)
  
  SPIKE: And I should do what in my spare time? Sit at home knitting cunning sweater sets?
  
  BUFFY: Would it keep you out of my way?
  
  RILEY: She's right. You shouldn't be out here when she's patrolling.
  
  Buffy turns to Riley in exasperation as if she's going to say something, but she doesn't.
  
  SPIKE: Oh! I saw that. Looks like neither boy's entirely welcome. You should take him home, Slayer. Make him stay there. I've got knitting needles he can borrow.
  
  Riley looks annoyed.
  
  BUFFY: Spike ... I just saw you taste your own nose blood, you know what? (Spike grins at her) I'm too grossed out to hear anything you have to say. Go home.
  
  She stalks off. Riley gives Spike a dirty look, then follows. Spike looks injured.
  
  SPIKE: (yelling after them) It's blood! It's what I do!
  
  Cut to Buffy walking along, looking tired and annoyed. Riley catches up with her.
  
  RILEY: Hey, hope I didn't get in the way.
  
  He puts his arm around her. She gives a fake smile.
  
  BUFFY: Of course not. I-I was just ... startled. And, you know I don't ... love the idea of you patrolling alone.
  
  RILEY: Not much for bench-warming.
  
  BUFFY: No, you made the squad. You ... threw that vampire like he was a ... teeny-weeny little vampire.
  
  RILEY: (grinning) Hey, wanna go again? Come on, I bet this place is just teeming with aerodynamic vampires.
  
  Buffy looks around.
  
  BUFFY: Nah. (pauses) Unless you wanna go back and kill Spike for the fun of it?
  
  Riley raises his eyebrows in a sort of shrug. They both turn and continue on their way.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  I don't know that Riley even noticed this one overly as he seems to be on an adrenaline-high. However, he seems at least somewhat aware that Buffy was as put off by his appearance as she was by Spike's.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Yep. Buffy was unhappy with his showing up.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Negligible. Riley's so bouncy with the adrenaline, he barely even notices the incident.
  
  

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: Riley?
  
  She rounds a corner and finds Riley punching the rock wall. There's a large cavity in the wall where he's clearly been punching for some time. He's shiny with sweat and looks tired.
  
  RILEY: (not looking at Buffy) You know, this doesn't even hurt.
  
  BUFFY: Your hand is bleeding.
  
  RILEY: (looks at her) Don't feel a thing.
  
  He moves to punch the wall again but Buffy stops him.
  
  BUFFY: This stops now. I'm taking you to the doctor.
  
  RILEY: The one from the government, you mean? Like the ones who did this to me in the first place? (Puts up a hand in a "no thanks" gesture and backs away)
  
  BUFFY: (moving toward him) He's the only one that understands what's wrong with you. He's the only one that can help.
  
  RILEY: What's wrong with me? I'm more powerful than I've ever been, Buffy. Most people would kill to feel this way.
  
  BUFFY: Yeah, and this feeling is *going* to kill you. Riley, your body was not built for this kind of strength-
  
  RILEY: I can handle it. This is my deal, Buffy, just ... back off.
  
  He walks past her. She turns to watch him.
  
  BUFFY: What is this?
  
  He stops walking, turns back to her.
  
  BUFFY: What's happening to you?
  
  RILEY: I go back ... let the government get whimsical with my innards again ... They could do anything that- Best-case scenario, they turn me into Joe Normal, just... (sighs) Just another guy.
  
  BUFFY: And that's not enough for you?
  
  RILEY: It's not enough for *you*.
  
  BUFFY: Why would you say that?
  
  RILEY: Come on. Your last boyfriend wasn't exactly a civilian.
  
  BUFFY: So that's what this is about? You're going to die, all over some macho pissing contest.
  
  RILEY: (shakes his head) It's not about him. It's about us. (Buffy shakes her head, not understanding) You're getting stronger every day, more powerful. I can't touch you. Every day, you're just ... a little further out of my reach.
  
  BUFFY: You wanna touch me? (walks toward him) I'm right here. I'm not the one running away.
  
  RILEY: Not yet.
  
  BUFFY: So you have this all figured out? I'm bailing because you're not in the super club.
  
  RILEY: (shrugs) It's human nature.
  
  BUFFY: (angrily) Don't Psych 101 me. (Riley looks away) Not now. Not after everything that ... Nobody has ever known me the way you do. Nobody. (Riley doesn't look at her) I've opened up to you in ways that I've never opened up to ... God, you're just sitting back there thinking that none of this means anything to me.
  
  RILEY: (still not looking at her) I never said that.
  
  BUFFY: (teary-eyed) Because it obviously doesn't mean anything to you. Do you really think so little of me-
  
  RILEY: Buffy.
  
  BUFFY: No! No. Do you think that I spent the last year with you because you had super powers? If that's what I wanted, then I'd be dating Spike. (quietly) Riley, I need you. (He looks at her, looks apprehensive) I need you with me ... and I need you healthy. But if you wanna throw it all away because you don't trust me, then ... (firmly) then I'm still gonna make you go to that doctor.
  
  Riley looks at her, looks away. He sighs.
  
  RILEY: Take me to him.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  This entire exchange predicts the rest of their relationship problems. Riley believes he has it figured out. He's been very concerned with Buffy's apparent penchant for vampires ever since the previous season when she had told him about Angel. He feels he has to measure up by being something more than "Joe Normal". If he can't, he won't be able to be with Buffy as a partner.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Riley firmly believes it when he says, "It's not enough for you." He doesn't think a non-superhuman could maintain a relationship with Buffy. Arguments could go either way about whether he's correct. For her part, Buffy argues quite passionately for the "Riley's wrong" side.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Most of the upcoming relationship problems stems from the beliefs Riley espouses here.
  
  

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: How's it goin' in there?
  
  RILEY: Good. Back to normal.
  
  Buffy leans her head against his chest to listen to his heartbeat.
  
  BUFFY: Yep.
  
  He strokes her hair. She leans back and takes his bruised hand in hers, pulling his hand to her heart.
  
  BUFFY: And see ... I'm still touchable.
  
  RILEY: (nods) Give me a week or so to heal, and ... I'll take full advantage of that fact.
  
  Buffy smiles, still holding his hand
  
  BUFFY: Are you gonna be okay? 'Cause I should really go check on my mom.
  
  Riley looks up at her.
  
  RILEY: Yeah. Yeah, go ahead. I'll be fine.
  
  BUFFY: I'll talk to you later.
  
  He nods. She leans up and kisses him softly, then turns away.
  
  Shot of Riley's hands as Buffy pulls her out of his grasp and leaves.
  
  Shot of Riley watching her go, looking pensive.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  She's already pulling away. Literally.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Buffy has two loved ones in the hospital. One is post-surgery and patched up, the other's status is unknown. She checks on Riley and asks if he's going to be okay. He tells her that he is and to go check on her mom. So she does. Buffy's prioritizing her responsibilities, of which Riley is one of many.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  That spells out the problem. Buffy has many responsibilities. Riley has Buffy. When she pulls away from him, he has nothing else. His conversation with Graham hammers it home: he doesn't have a mission anymore. He's putting all of his worth and effort into being with Buffy. And without any sort of super-strength, he feels he can't contribute in any meaningful way to her.
  
  

No Place Like Home

• The Incident
  
  RILEY: May be more where that came from. I say we go back out again tonight.
  
  BUFFY: Um... sure.
  
  DAWN (to Riley): You can't patrol. Buffy said.
  
  BUFFY: No, I didn't.
  
  DAWN: Yeah, remember? You said it'd be easier if you didn't have to look out for anybody.
  
  BUFFY (nervous): Well, I wasn't talking about Riley.
  
  RILEY: Don't worry about it.
  
  DAWN: Oh, she just said you look even cuter when you're all weak and kitteny and she'd better go solo or you'd get hurt. So welcome to the club. She'll never let me go either.
  
  Buffy is mortified and furious. Giles, Willow and Riley look away, uncomfortable. Dawn finally registers the awkward silence.
  
  DAWN: What? What?
  
  RILEY: Giles, you got that danger room set up out back? I'm feeling the need for a little physical rehab about now.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  He can't help Buffy anymore! Just as he feared, he's useless without that super-strength. Buffy wants to patrol without him. He can't touch her anymore. She's gonna be losing interest in him soon.
  
  
• Reality
  
  There are several things to point out here:
  
  1) We're getting what Buffy said as interpreted and relayed by Dawn. There's every likelihood that Buffy didn't say things like that.
  
  2) As a point against Riley's "she doesn't want me" belief, Buffy - according to Dawn - said that Riley looked cuter when he's "weak and kitteny". That's not exactly a point in favor of Buffy's confidence in Riley, but it seems she still digs him.
  
  3) In just the previous episode, Riley nearly died and had some intensive heart surgery. Buffy's concern over Riley patrolling with her may stem from his non-superpowered status or it may stem from her concern over his post-surgery state.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  We see later in the episode that Buffy makes an effort to include Riley in the trance ritual. It's a transparent effort, and Riley calls her on it.
  
  RILEY: So you need me to light incense and pour sand?
  
  BUFFY: Magick incense... and spooky sand... and the ritual itself is-
  
  RILEY: Something you do alone. You sure this isn't just your way of trying to make me feel less- what are the words?- cute and weak and kittenish?
  
  BUFFY: Kitteny.
  
  RILEY: Right. Much manlier. Look... I really am okay.
  
  BUFFY: I know.
  
  RILEY: So I'm not quite Super Guy anymore. It was borrowed power anyway. Had to give it back some time.
  
  BUFFY: I know you can handle yourself. I just didn't want to see you get hurt.
  
  RILEY: Maybe instead of you trying to take care of me, we agree to take care of each other. Deal?
  
  Buffy smiles and nods.
  
  BUFFY: Done.
  
  They have a couple's talk about the situation. The resolution rings empty, though. "Agreeing to take care of each other" is a vague, ill-defined agreement, and the ensuing episodes will show the difficulty in this as Riley and Buffy have different views of what constitutes "taking care" of one another.
  

Family

• The Incident
  
  BUFFY: She makes me crazy. (Walks past Riley into the living room)
  
  RILEY: That's ... kinda the word I was searching for.
  
  BUFFY: (sits on sofa) What? She shouldn't be going over there.
  
  RILEY: Yeah, a lot of young people nowadays are experimenting with shortness. Gotta nip that in the bud.
  
  BUFFY: She ... can't be running out whenever she'd like.
  
  RILEY: (walks forward) It's more than that.
  
  BUFFY: What do you mean?
  
  RILEY: (sits next to her, shakes his head) You tell me.
  
  BUFFY: We all have to be careful. This ... demon chick is ... exciting and new. I don't know what I'm up against.
  
  RILEY: If we're in trouble here I could contact Graham, maybe get the government boys on it-
  
  BUFFY: No! No, I-I-I don't want them anywhere near this.
  
  RILEY: (annoyed) Just a suggestion.
  
  BUFFY: Look, the fewer people that are involved, the safer I will feel.
  
  RILEY: Every time I think I'm getting close to you ... (shakes head) I gotta take off. (Gets up)
  
  BUFFY: (gets up to follow) Wait! What?
  
  RILEY: (walking toward front door) I'll call you later.
  
  BUFFY: Riley! (He stops walking) I *want* you to help. I'm not-
  
  RILEY: Yeah. Know you got a lot on your mind. You decide you wanna let me in on any of it, (opens door) let me know. I'll come running.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Buffy's refusing all his attempts to help. Already, she's becoming distant.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Buffy knows that Dawn's the Key while Riley doesn't. This puts a different spin on everything. Buffy's initial decision to keep the truth about Dawn's identity is a Slayer decision made to keep her friends safe. In this way, this is another instance of Buffy's Slayer responsibilities mucking up her personal life.
  
  Furthermore, Buffy balks at Riley's suggestion of getting the government involved. This is understandable when one realizes this would mean putting Dawn at risk, but Riley doesn't know this. He takes it as a rejection of his idea and his identity (he still associates with the government).
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Riley thinks Buffy's not abiding by the agreement they made in the previous episode to take care of each other. Instead, she's rebuffing all of his attempts to help.
  
  From Buffy's viewpoint, this all makes sense and is the inevitable downside of being the Slayer - something she can't share with Riley.
  
  When Riley leaves at the end of this scene, he goes to Willy's.
  
  BARTENDER: You shouldn't be coming in here. (Turns and takes a glass from a shelf) You got a rep with these monsters. (Puts glass on the bar, shakes head) But you come in here... (turns and gets a bottle) night after night. (Pours into the glass, looks up at the customer) Are you lookin' to get killed?
  
  Shot of Riley sitting on a bar stool, watching the bartender pour.
  
  It's not made clear exactly when Riley had started frequenting the bar. "Night after night" suggests at least since the last episode, though chronologically, this episode starts up on the very next morning after No Place Like Home. So it's more likely that Riley's visits to Willy started after Out of My Mind at the latest.
  
  Buffy's not the only one keeping secrets, in this case, and Riley doesn't have the noble reason of protecting loved ones to explain his. He's flirting with the darkness that he thinks is pulling Buffy away from him. And yet, we'll soon see, it is his flirtation with the darkness that pulls him away from her.
  
  Unlike the previous episode, Riley and Buffy don't attempt to talk about things at all. When conflict emerges, Riley cuts off the conversation and leaves. He visits Willy's, meets Sandy, then shows up for Tara's birthday later. Riley's reached the point where he's stopped trying to talk things out with Buffy, partially because he's put off by her unreceptiveness.
  
  

Fool for Love

• The Incident
  
  RILEY: So Dawn takes household duty. I'll take tonight's patrol.
  
  BUFFY: By yourself?
  
  RILEY: Just a sweep.
  
  BUFFY: Do me a favor? Will you take the gang along with?
  
  RILEY: Okay. I will patrol with the group tonight.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  As before, Buffy has no confidence in him. He can't do anything to help her.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Buffy had just had a near-death experience while Slaying. If she had been patrolling solo, she would likely be dead. It's not a surprise that she'd be nervous about any loved one patrolling after that. She has had it made clear to her that even a Slayer can be taken out by one vamp.
  
  What's more, Riley clearly did just contribute to her slaying. For one, he saved her from the vamp that had attacked her. For another, he bandaged her wounds, an act she praised him for.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Well, this is the episode where Riley blows up a crypt.
  
  He's starting to self-destruct. While he keeps seeing Buffy pushing him away, he's going to further and further extremes to explore the darkness he thinks attracts her. He's lashing out as he lacks a mission, and all he hears from Buffy is that she doesn't need him (despite the fact that reality is quite different).
  
  Buffy is oblivious. Last she knew, they'd had an altercation in Family, but that seemed to be smoothed over when Riley showed up for Tara's party. Buffy doesn't have a clue that Riley's been visiting Willy's and going Rambo on vamps in his spare time. She's not aware that there are any relationship difficulties.
  
  

Shadow

• The Incident
  
  SPIKE: Hey, watch it! Easy, you're bruising the leather! (They reach the bottom of the stairs and Riley lets go) Look. I know for a bleeding fact the Slayer wouldn't mind me being here.
  
  RILEY: Right. What's a little sweater-sniffing between sworn enemies.
  
  SPIKE: Your girl in the habit of buying her enemies drinks? 'Cause she spent the better part of last night with me, (smugly) doing just that.
  
  RILEY: 'Cause you guys are such tight pals.
  
  SPIKE: Yeah.
  
  RILEY: That's good. Tell me another.
  
  SPIKE: Okay, how 'bout this one. Twice in recent memory, she's had the lover-wiccas do a deinvite on the house. Keep out specific vamps. Ever ask yourself why she's never taken my name off the guest list?
  
  RILEY: (falters for a moment) Because you're harmless.
  
  SPIKE: Oh yeah, right. (scoffs) Takes one to know, I suppose. Least I still got the attitude. (looking Riley up and down) What do you got, a piercing glance? Face it, white bread. Buffy's got a type, and you're not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region. (patronizingly) Not that she doesn't like you ... but sorry Charlie, you're just not dark enough.
  
  Riley scowls, grabs Spike, opens the door and thrusts Spike out into the sunlight.
  
  SPIKE: Hey ... Hey! Hey! Hey!
  
  RILEY: Am I dark enough for you now?
  
  SPIKE: Bloody pull me back in, you sod, I'm starting to sizzle!
  
  RILEY: You don't know anything about Buffy, you never did. I'm the one who knows what she needs.
  
  SPIKE: Oh yeah? That's why you're with her at hospital right now, giving her what she needs.
  
  RILEY: (pulls Spike back inside) What are you talking about?
  
  SPIKE: Don't you know, didn't she tell you?
  
  RILEY: You tell me.
  
  SPIKE: Mum's sickly. Buffy took her to the hospital for a bit of prod 'n probe. Bite-sized one went too. (needling) You know, it's-it's funny her not calling you about that. I've known since last night.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Not only is Buffy still distancing herself from him, she's getting closer to a vampire, confirmation of what Riley has long feared. Buffy not only had drinks with Spike last night, she confided in him about her mother's illness.
  
  
• Reality
  
  It has to be said, there is no more unreliable narrator than Spike. We know that his description of his night with Buffy ("buying her enemies drinks") is misleading. It's not unlikely that his portrayal of how he knows about Joyce is also misleading. I tend to doubt that Buffy would have left Spike alone in her house. Odds are, he snuck in after Buffy, Dawn, and Joyce left. There's every possibility he knew about the hospital trip because he eavesdropped.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  This is the first episode that Riley allows himself to get bitten by a vampire.
  
  At first, it seems that Riley's unaffected by Spike's deception. When he gets to the hospital, we get a reassuring exchange between him and Buffy:
  
  Cut to Buffy in the hospital, pacing outside a door marked "Examination Room." She twiddles her fingers nervously and sighs. A hand appears and grabs her shoulder; she spins around.
  
  BUFFY: (sighs) Riley.
  
  RILEY: Sorry. I heard. I thought maybe you'd ... need ....
  
  Buffy hugs him.
  
  BUFFY: I do. I do. I'm glad. (pulls back) I just, I-I didn't ... I mean, until we knew what it was...
  
  RILEY: I understand. How's she doing?
  
  Buffy turns to look at the door.
  
  BUFFY: Well, she just had a CAT scan. I was about to go in and find out. Will you ... sit with Dawn while I talk to Mom? She's in the waiting room.
  
  RILEY: Yeah, yeah, you got it.
  
  When Riley appears, Buffy is so relieved. She hugs him and explains why she hadn't contacted him. Riley says he understands. Then Buffy asks Riley to sit with Dawn.
  
  So in that exchange, we get evidence of Buffy needing Riley for emotional support, and we get her asking him for help.
  
  Things should be peachy-keen, ostensibly. Except that Riley had, on some level, bought into Spike's taunts as they lined up with his already existing insecurities.
  
  

• The Incident
  
  DAWN: I'm really glad you're here.
  
  RILEY: Thanks.
  
  DAWN: Buffy's glad too.
  
  RILEY: (smiles skeptically) Yeah?
  
  DAWN: She sure cries a lot less with you than she did with Angel.
  
  RILEY: (surprised) Angel ... made her cry a lot, huh?
  
  DAWN: Everything with him was all ... (grimaces, makes claw motions with hands) eee, you know?
  
  RILEY: All...?
  
  DAWN: You know ... "my boyfriend's a vampire" crazy crazy. (Riley nods) Every day was like the end of the world. She doesn't get all worked up like that over you.
  
  Riley looks stung, but tries not to show it. Dawn realizes she didn't say the right thing.
  
  DAWN: I think you've been really good for her.
  
  She smiles encouragingly. Riley tries to return her smile, but he doesn't really feel it.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Buffy doesn't feel much for him at all. She doesn't get "worked up" over him. There's no passion. No need. No heat.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Riley is currently watching Dawn, something that Buffy had asked him to do for her. Earlier, Buffy had shown clear relief at his presence at the hospital.
  
  Additionally, Buffy crying all the time over Angel isn't a good thing, emotionally speaking. What Dawn describes as Buffy's relationship with Riley is a lot healthier than her relationship with Angel. Having every day "like the end of the world" sounds nice and romantic, but it's a crap way to live.
  
  Dawn ends with the assurance that Riley's been "really good for [Buffy]."
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Again, in this episode, Riley takes the step of getting bitten by a vampire, Sandy. He stakes her not too long after she starts drinking from him, but we'll see later that this begins a habit for him.
  
  This immersion into darkness is Riley's attempt to, well, figure out the vampire thing. Figure out why Buffy's so attracted to it. Glean what he feels to be missing in their relationship. At this point, Riley's perceptions are almost wholly detached from reality. Without any sort of mission in life, his fears and insecurities are snowballing, building upon each other and keeping him in a state of perpetual agony. Because Buffy's busy looking after her mother, there's no opportunity to have a couple's talk (though it's unclear whether Riley would attempt to do so even if there were an opportunity at this point).
  
  Riley's pretty much officially gone off the deep end. He's on a kamikaze path, and he's largely oblivious to anything that doesn't match his pre-held conception of how things are. Anything, everything, just further confirms his fears.
  
  

• The Incident
  
  Buffy turns and goes to the door, lets Dawn in. Dawn smiles nervously and walks over to hug Joyce. Buffy pauses in the doorway to watch them embrace.
  
  RILEY: (OS) Buffy...
  
  Buffy leaves the door slightly open, turns to walk toward Riley. He's wearing a turtleneck sweater.
  
  RILEY: You okay? You look pretty beat up.
  
  BUFFY: (nods) Minimal damage of the fighting kind. It's all the other kind.
  
  RILEY: Come here.
  
  He hugs her.
  
  RILEY: It's okay. Just let it out. I'm right here.
  
  BUFFY: I can't. (sniffles, pulls back) Not now. (glances toward the hospital room) They need me. If I start now ... I won't be able to stop.
  
  She bites her lip and we see tears in her eyes. Riley starts to lift his hand to her face.
  
  JOYCE: (OS) Buffy?
  
  Buffy turns and walks back to the hospital room door, wiping her eyes. Riley watches her enter the room and close the door behind her.
  
  Long shot of Riley standing in the hallway, putting his hands in his pockets. Blackout.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Buffy won't cry in front of him. She isn't in love with him and doesn't feel close enough to him to cry.
  
  
• Reality
  
  Just before Riley had entered, Joyce had asked Buffy to stay close while she tells Dawn about the brain tumor. Buffy has a responsibility to her family. She can't let herself break down in tears when she might be called on for emotional support, herself.
  
  Buffy leaves Riley when Joyce calls out to her.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Riley needs support of his own right now. He's shaken from his run-in with Sandy wherein he let her bite him and then staked her. He needs someone to help him. His girlfriend, however, is unavailable. Xander made an attempt to lend friendly support to Riley earlier in the episode, but Riley didn't respond.
  
  Instead, Riley's convinced that the problem is not necessarily with him. It's with how Buffy feels about him, and how insufficient it is. She's not letting herself go in front of him. She's not crying in front of him. She's not letting him help her. All of this despite the fact that he has been helping her throughout the episode (giving her supportive hugs in the hospital, watching Dawn).
  
  The distance between them is palpable. The kicker is that if Buffy did lean on him for emotional support moreso than she is now, Riley wouldn't be in a position to provide it. He's in his own emotional mess.
  
  

Listening to Fear

• The Incident
  
  Riley looks at Spike and Buffy apparently holding hands. Spike gives him a sour look.
  
  RILEY: (to Buffy) Are you okay?
  
  Buffy frowns at him, then rushes to the stairs.
  
  SPIKE: (to Riley) You just missed a real nice time.
  
  Riley looks down and sees the Queller lying dead with the knife in its back.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Not only is Buffy spending more time with Spike, she's not at all happy to see him and doesn't even acknowledge him upon his entry.
  
  
• Reality
  
  By this point, Riley's in his own headspace. At the beginning, Buffy's confident that Riley is patrolling "in her place" with the others. However, we're then shown that the Scoobies are on their own while Riley's hitting up the vamp blood-sucking trade.
  
  Additionally, Riley immediately calls in the military upon discovering the demon/alien had crashed. He actively hides their involvement from the others until the end, when the commandos burst onto the scene.
  
  Buffy is, understandably, concerned about her mother and sister who had just been under attack (while her mother is ill). Spike was in the house because he was in the basement stealing photos of Buffy. Buffy had been in the middle of catching him out when the Queller demon attacked.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  These two might as well be in separate worlds right now. Buffy's completely caught up in her mother's illness. She is relying on Riley to help her friends patrol and watch Dawn when necessary so that she can concentrate fully on helping Joyce.
  
  Riley, though, is immersed in his own issues. He's stopped being there for Buffy. He's taken to getting his blood sucked as a habit. He's also started to fall back in with his old institution, the military. While Riley is undergoing an acute identity crisis, he's going back to what's comfortable and familiar to him.
  
  

Into the Woods

• The Incident
  
  RILEY: I want tonight to be special for you.
  
  BUFFY: It's more than special. It's perfect.
  
  RILEY: Well, I'm glad. You deserve it after everything you've been through.
  
  BUFFY: Well, it's nothing compared to what my mom had to deal with.
  
  RILEY: (nods) It was a lot. And you were incredible.
  
  BUFFY: (smiles) Not really. Just covering for the weepy chicken within.
  
  RILEY: Don't sell yourself short. You stayed strong throughout, Buffy. You never even cried.
  
  BUFFY: Oh, I cried. I cried so hard, I didn't think I was gonna be able to stop.
  
  Riley looks surprised. She puts her head on his shoulder.
  
  RILEY: Oh.
  
  BUFFY: That's all in the past now. Mom's out of the woods, and I'm here with you. That's all that matters.
  
  
• Riley's Perspective
  
  More proof that she's distanced herself from him. She never let him take care of her, even when she obviously needed it.
  
  
• Reality
  
  We've seen in episodes past that Buffy was relying on Riley to cover for her in patrolling. She also relied on him to look after Dawn while she was taking care of her mother.
  
  In this episode, as soon as her mom is successfully through her surgery, she boots Dawn from the house and plans an intimate night alone with Riley. When she tells Riley about how difficult it was for her while her mother was sick, she is, in fact, confiding in him.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  Well, this is the episode where Riley leaves town. After he and Buffy have sex that night, he leaves to get his blood sucked by vamps.
  
  

• The Incident
  
  (From the shooting script)
  
  INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
  
  Buffy and Riley lie together in bed, post lovin'. Buffy's sleeping contentedly - but Riley's awake, holding her.
  
  Instinctively, in her sleep, Buffy rolls AWAY from him. A beat as Riley takes this in.
  
  
• Riley's Perception
  
  Even in her sleep, Buffy pulls away from him.
  
  
• Reality
  
  ...she rolled over in her sleep. It's a thing people do sometimes.
  
  
• Relationship Outcome
  
  This small action seems to be what pushes Riley over the edge to visit the vamps that night.
  
  

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