Shipper Theory 101, veering back into Spuffyland

[mollyringwraith]

Some people have studied, written, and taught, in quite scholarly fashion, upon the subject of fanfiction. I'm not one of them. I only dabble, as I do in so many things. But concerning the "shipper" variety of fanfic--that is, the overwhelming majority of fanfic; the ones featuring romantic relationships between characters--I have always assumed

Comments

[eskiden]

You know, I was a huge Angel/Buffy shipper back in the day, so when Spuffy came around I was a little dismayed. Even Riley warmed my heart a little more than Spike.

But as the seasons progressed, and they got into the difficulties of a "I hate you but I'll screw you" relationship type thing, I saw that there was some method to the madness. There will be people, no doubt, who eternally feel that Spike and Buffy are wrong for each other. But what seals the deal for me concerning Spuffy is that he is almost the antithesis of everyone she previously loved - everyone who let her down. He is twisted, somewhat weak, sadistic; he makes no apologies and he doesn't try to be anything else. And I think that's precisely what Buffy needs after Angel and Riley jumped ship: somebody she can look at and actually know, regardless of whether she likes him.

[mollyringwraith]

Yes, exactly: Spike is totally incapable of hiding things, especially from Buffy. And as a plus, he will not leave even when she repeatedly tells him to. (Which is good, because she probably doesn't really want him to.) Angel's silent gloom and Riley's silent sulkiness were no help to her ultimately.

[mollyringwraith]

Ah ha, I can see you understand! :D Well, I'm with you so far, though I suppose I should withhold total judgment until the series is finished.

Still, I meant to say that they remind me of another legendary romantic couple: Rhett and Scarlett. The tension and flirtation runs high, they snipe and snarl at each other and say the cruellest and truest things they can, but they also sometimes do these amazingly beautiful good turns for each other. And there's a reason half the romance novels in the world (and possibly Joss Whedon) follow Gone with the Wind's relationship model--it's got chemistry oozing out of all its pores.

From what I've seen, there's NC17 for just about any pairing imaginable, but yes, these two are asking for it more blatantly than most. :D And what I've seen of Nautibitz's work is really good so far!

[dirae]

Using the GWtW analogy even further, Angel would be her Ashley Wilkes, meaning it is her childish "love affair" and it hurts her tremendously, thus paving her way to the sexually stimulating albeit dysfunctional relationship with Spike. In GWtW Ashely tells Scarlett of his fears: "Mostly of having life suddenly become too real, of being brought into personal, too personal, contact with some of the simple facts of life... You were too full of living and too real and I was cowardly enough to prefer shadows and dreams...But where do I fit in the world any more? I tell you I am afraid." In Buffy, Angel is her "girlish" love affair which cannot possibly be a reality--you know, with the curse and all. Like Ashley, he "martyrs" himself by denying his obsession because the relationship is "unfair" to the female involved and because it is "too real" (see above Ashley quote). You will see how Angel becomes more of an "Ashley" as Buffy and Angel continue. Also, like Ashley, he is tormented by his obsession with "the one" he can never be with (

[mollyringwraith]

Ooh, I like this! I hadn't thought about it much beyond the Spuffy = Rhett/Scarlett part, but you're right; the parallels go much further

[bookgirl2632]

I came to Buffy late, not watching it until it's fourth season. I was not privy to the great love affair of Buffy and Angel until the show hit syndication. So I have always been a Spuffy fan, ever since "Something Blue" in season four. The chemistry was completely evident to me. And I didn't have Buffy and Angel to compare it to. Of course, having seen the first three seasons many times over by now, I can see why they worked as well. But I always go back to Buffy and Spike. To me, they are far more interesting, far more complex. Angel is her first love, but I truly believe that Spike is her soul mate. Many will disagree and have done so vociferously. But that's the way I see it.

By the way, when you are all caught up on Buffy, you have to check out Season Eight. It's in comic book form and is being written by Joss and his Scooby Gang. There are three issues out so far and it is fantastic. I love seeing where there characters have gone and how they've grown.

[mollyringwraith]

I suppose I'll have to see all of "Angel" and "Buffy" before delivering a final verdict, but so far the Spuffy pairing does feel much more complicated and grown-up.

I've heard about this season 8 comic! How exciting. Maybe I'll finally catch up to the current state of the series if I hurry. :)