Random Buffy Thought

[rahirah]

Post-Chosen stories where Buffy is a suicidal wreck because Spike is dead puzzle me. I can believe she had feelings for him at the end. I can believe those feelings were love, in the moment of his death. (I also think that if he had survived, she'd very likely have panicked and backpedaled and been very glad of that "no you don't" out, but that'

Comments

[therck]

She doesn't seem to have contemplated suicide when she sent Angel to hell at the end of season two, and I think that was worse than Spike's death. Not because of greater strength of emotion/attachment but because she was younger and less used to sacrifice and also because Spike made a choice, knowing what he was doing. Buffy would feel guilty about Spike, but by season seven, she has a very different view of life.

I'm pretty sure that Buffy contemplated suicide during season six, though. If she'd had to deal with the crap of season six earlier in her life, she might have done it, but I think she would be more likely to run. I think that running at the end of season two taught her that, no matter where she goes, she carries herself with her. But, in season six, she has memories, vague memories but still, of things being ever so much better while she was dead.

[rahirah]

Yeah, I do think that Buffy was not... trying very hard to avoid getting killed at some points in S6? In fact, I think that she may have been secretly thinking that Spike would kill her once he found out the chip didn't work on her, and whether she realized it or not, part of the reason she treated him as she did was an attempt to goad him into doing so. (By the time he finally did attack her, she no longer wanted him to.) But I don't think she would see that as the same thing as doing it herself.

[kassto]

Apologies if someone else has said this, as I don't have time right now to read all 31 comments..... I agree that generally Buffy is not the suicidal type, but I think she is coming pretty close in Once More With Feeling where she starts to dance and burn and Spike has to stop her....

[rahirah]

True. As I said, I'm not saying I think Buffy would never contemplate suicide ever, for any reason.

[lynnenne]

Agree 100%.

[rahirah]

Glad I'm making sense. Sometimes I can't tell! :D

[local_max]

Because love isn't real love unless it's accompanied by suicide, apparently? I don't really get it either, except that I do think that there is this...need to *prove* that characters feel something by having them literally die over it, as if that really were the only proof. I actually think I understand that impulse, unfortunately, but it's not healthy or realistic or, in particular, true to Buffy's character.

[rahirah]

The whole Romeo and Juliet thing, alas...

[brunettepet]

I agree with you. Buffy has suffered great loss and heart ache and moved through them. I think she'd do the same with losing Spike.

[rahirah]

Yep.

[ayinhara]

I agree. Suicide doesn't seem to be part of her mindset.

[rahirah]

It's a duty thing, I think. If she takes incredible risks saving the world, or even saving just one person, and happens to die, that's all right. But deliberately doing herself in would be Wrong in her view.