Tough Decisions Poll: The Scoobies

[gabrielleabelle]

If you've been following along the past couple days, you'll know that I'm doing some polling regarding decisions our characters have made. Buffy started things out on Tuesday, and Giles' day was yesterday. If you haven't checked them out yet, please do so and vote for whether you agree or disagree with those big decisions

Comments

[rahirah]

1. I can't really agree or disagree with this because I don't know why Xander did it. On the one hand, it kept Buffy from holding back through false hope. And it's not like it prevented Buffy from realizing when he did get his soul back. On the other hand, I'm not sure Xander's motives were entirely unmotivated by jealousy.

2. Bringing back the dead? Never a good idea

[gabrielleabelle]

I wrote up my thoughts on Xander's lie in my review of Becoming. I do think it was selfishly motivated on his part, though I really couldn't say that he shouldn't have done it because it's impossible to know what might have happened if Buffy had had that information.

On #4, I tend to agree with you that it's OTT. Especially with The First out there with Bringers and such, sending Buffy out by herself is short of insane. I think there's a middle ground that they missed in sending Buffy away, entirely (And I was happy to see Spike tell them off in the next episode).

[2maggie2]

Re: #4 -- I forced my brother to watch all of Buffy and when he got to this episode he was 100% convinced that they were all under a spell. He was really crushed when I told him that they weren't (so far as we know). As you say, there were problems, but this just blew right past that into ridiculous.

[victorialupin]

I'm pleased to see that (so far) the majority of people agree with Xander's decision. I've seen a lot of people question it but I've never thought it was the wrong thing to do. Knowing that Angel might be re-ensouled could have affected Buffy's judgment in the fight. Then again, like rahirah said, Xander may have been partly motivated by jealousy. Still, I agree with the actual decision even if I might disagree with Xander's motivations.

Disagree with #2 and #3.

I went with 'other' for Dawn kicking Buffy out of the house. I don't think it was the right thing to do but I think something needed to be done. Buffy's instincts were right but there was no way to know that--I can see how the Scoobies easily saw it as Buffy making a reckless decision. That said, I wish there were some sort of way to resolve the problem without kicking Buffy out and isolating her from everyone (except Spike).

[gabrielleabelle]

I'm pleased to see that (so far) the majority of people agree with Xander's decision.

I'm surprised at that right now, actually. I'd have thought more people disagreed just judging from complaints I've heard. Though it's still a little early to call.

[ladylavinia]

1. Xander failing to tell Buffy about the resouling spell? Disagree. I doubt that Xander was thinking about the good of the world when he failed to do this. I suspect that he was simply being spiteful.

2. Resurrection spell? Disagree. The Scoobies - especially Willow - didn't even bother to use a spell to learn what had happened to Buffy's soul. And once she had resurrected, they were so thoughtlessly joyful over her return that they blinded themselves to what it might have cost her.

3. Willow's murder of Warren? Disagree. Definitely an act of evil.

4. Dawn kicking Buffy out of the house? Disagree. The Scoobies and the Potentials had every right to turn their backs on Buffy. But they did not have the right to kick her out of her own house. I think they took advantage of Buffy's shocked reaction.

[gabrielleabelle]

4. Dawn kicking Buffy out of the house? Disagree. The Scoobies and the Potentials had every right to turn their backs on Buffy. But they did not have the right to kick her out of her own house. I think they took advantage of Buffy's shocked reaction.

Well-said. I kinda wanted Buffy to come back and ask Dawn who was the one working and providing for all the people in the house when Dawn stated that it was her house, too, and that Buffy should leave.

[gabrielleabelle]

Heh. #2 is gonna be a difficult one for people, I'd bet.

[snowpuppies]

3 - I disagree, not because of what she did to Warren, but because of what Willow did to herself.

4 - "Other" Honestly, I think this was very out of character for Dawn, especially a Dawn who threatened to set Spike (who was once 'the coolest' and - in the opinions of many in fandom - her friend) on fire if he hurt Buffy again. Naturally, I agree that something had to be done to get Buffy to snap out of her tunnel-vision, but I think it was a pretty bad move.

[snowpuppies]

1 - disagree. Yes, there's a possibility that Xander was motivated by jealousy/spite. Even if he wasn't, however, he displays a tremendous lack of faith in a friend that has saved the world (and his life) many times before. The only other possible motivation would be because he didn't want her to get distracted and possibly let the portal open. If he'd had faith in her, he'd have known that she would save the world, even if it meant killing Angel...which it did. I think this decision is a terrible blow to their friendship. :(

[gabrielleabelle]

Pretty much agree with you on that as far as Xander's motivations. Using my own words from my Becoming Pt. 2 review (because I am too lazy to come up with new words

[snowpuppies]

You very much hit the nail on the head. Generally, I'm a fan of Xander, but he really shows a lot of immaturity here (granted, he's still in HS, so that's not unexpected or unusual), and that's a disappointment.