elisi | Something Blue...

So... how does AOQ like our beloved ep? Well, he's not as keen on it as he was on 'Pangs', but it still gets a 'good'. And although he fails to appreciate the full glory that is Spuffy, he's very perceptive. A few quotes:

in my mind the problem is simpler than that: *Riley* is boring.

Probably more so than before, the end of the episode gives her [Willow] a chance to see some consequences of her tendencies to be reckless and to lash out, and I think it'll be interesting to see whether this is the one that she'll take to heart and remember... it'll tell us a lot about the character.

I'm assuming that chunks of this episode were written to cater to the segment of the fanbase clamoring for Buffy and Spike to get together. But such a romance would be hindered by the tiny trivial fact that, at least at the moment, it would make no fucking sense whatsoever

Something Blue.

Now AOQ mentioned how IWRY was 'the yang to the yin of "Pangs."' This is wrong, but we can't tell him so. The yin/yang episodes are IWRY and 'Something Blue' - both of these are 'fantasy' episodes, with Buffy and a vampire who has his 'perfect day'. And looking at them in the context of their relationships, they're very interesting. For a start, one comes at the very end of a relationship, the other at the beginning.

Starting with IWRY: Angel always had Buffy's love. Their love could fill boatloads and reduce hardened men to tears. But... he only had one night with her, and he knew that that was it - in the end he had to leave, so as not to accidentally hurt her again. And what is the main part the 'perfect day'? Sex - and lots of it. With ice cream and peanut butter and lots of fun.

Now 'Something Blue' is different of course, because they don't actually love each other yet. But in time Spike will fall for Buffy, and later still she will give him her body - over and over again, doing things that are very hard to spell. But he only gets her love for the shortest while, since she only tells him when it's almost too late. So his 'perfect day' is a day full of love - Buffy disregards her friends, her Watcher - steamrolls anyone who questions the relationship.

But for the relationships themselves... there are problems in both, the problems inherent in any relationship, only more so because of who they are. Both men worry about Buffy:

Angel: "If this thing with me and Buffy is going to work, I need to be able do this on my own. I can't keep risking her life every time some minion of hell...
He's having this conversation with Doyle, having left Buffy to fight the Mohra demon on his own... which is the problem. Angel is forever making decisions on his own, cutting out Buffy (and anyone else). He doesn't see them as equals, and I think this is why they could ultimately never work.

Now contrast with Spike. He has the same imulse:
Spike: They're strong, and I can't fight. If they get in, I don't know if I can protect you.
Buffy: You think you have to protect me?
Spike: Oh, not with the Girl-Power bit!
The two of them argue an awful lot, but everything is out in the open - it's a straight back-and-forth, which might look worse, but is *a lot* healthier!

But I must run - I have been very neglectful today! I hope you thought this at least a little interesting...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dang. Great observations. I love the comparison between how Angel and Spike both think they have to protect Buffy, but their differing methods of how to go about it. There's something key there about Spike and Angel in general - Angel keeping to himself, thinking he has to solve eveything on his own, feeling alone no matter how much help he gets (a quality he somewhat shares with Buffy), and Spike wanting the intimate connection, wading in and arguing directly.

Thanks! *g*

There's something key there about Spike and Angel in general
I'd actually never thought about it before, but pondering the two episodes last night it suddenly became clear.

I could write essays upon essays about this, but sadly I don't have the time... or maybe that should be 'fortunately'!

Excellent observations and comparisons between IWRY/Something Blue and Angel/Spike. To me, there was always something slightly creepy about Angel's "happiest moment" being have sex with Buffy. I mean... I'm sure it was great and all but... yeah. Creepy old man.

As for AOQ, I guess it's natural to see the Spuffy in Something Blue as some wacked out silly freak accident. Once he hits season five and becomes familiar with the range of Spike's character and Spike/Buffy interactions, I'm sure he'll realize that Spuffy is a wacked out silly freak accident that is aaaaaaaawesssssssome.

Angel's happiest moment was being trusted to fall asleep aside Buffy in the afterglow, not during the sex itself. The timing is pretty clear in Suprise/Innocence since the soul removal itself is pretty painful.

I hope that's less creepy.

Eh, yeah, I guess that makes sense timing-wise and it does make him less creepy. It just seemed that the characters in the show always referred to the Happy Moment as the "having of sex". But oh well.

Thanks! :) And I see that

owenthurman already answered your first point. Re. your other comment, then it is an understandable assumption on the part of the other characters.

it's natural to see the Spuffy in Something Blue as some wacked out silly freak accident.
Which of course makes it so much more funny that it all comes true! :) Have you seen

spikeylover's vid Wedding Bell Blues? (Does 'Something Blue' foretell the future just like Restless...)

More than a little interesting...

later still she will give him her body - over and over again, doing things that are very hard to spell.

And am I incredibly naive or just spell way better than Spike? Because not too many things come to mind which are that hard to spell.

I think he might have been referring to the Latin names...

But thank you for reading! :)

Say what you want about the ancient Romans, but...

theirspellingissophonetic

Bwah!

I like it when Buffy takes over your brain. :) Your Angel/Spike comparison in relation to their reactions toward Buffy are perfect. I am really surprised AOG likes Pangs more than Something Blue...it was a good ep, but I felt Something Blue had many more LOL moments (in addition to the Spuffiness of it). I absolutely loved Xander and Anya's reaction to Buffy & Spike kissing. Xander's "Can I be blind too?" and Anya looking sick to her stomach is just hilarious!

I like it when Buffy takes over your brain. :)
Good - I do worry that I'll bore people put of their minds! *g*

Your Angel/Spike comparison in relation to their reactions toward Buffy are perfect.
Thank you. I was rather pleased with it myself.

And yes, I fins SB funnier too... but it's a close call! I just settle for loving both. :)

I think neither vamp is happy with half a glass. Angel believes he has all of Buffy's love but he wants her body as well and he thinks that's something he can never have. Spike has oodles of sex with Buffy but believes that she can never love him even when he regains his soul. In fact once he does get that pesky soul he's positive he doesn't deserve her love. So they're both screwed in their own minds; Angel can't bring himself to re-establish a relationship for fear of losing his soul and Spike doesn't believe he can ever be worthy of Buffy's love.
And that's the ultimate tragedy of Buffy and her two vampire lovers, they're Hamlet with fangs.

I think neither vamp is happy with half a glass.
That is very true!

they're Hamlet with fangs.
Bwahahaha! Although we all know that post-NFA Spike went off to live with Buffy. *nods*

The two of them argue an awful lot, but everything is out in the open - it's a straight back-and-forth, which might look worse, but is *a lot* healthier!

SO true. It's always the quiet ones that end up splitting apart because they can never work out their difference because they refuse to face them.

::nods::

Don't know if you've read

rahirah's Girltalk which contains this wonderful observation:

What I had with Angel was like some exotic night-blooming orchid, and Riley was like a--I don't know, a philodendron, but me and Spike? Crab grass. You can mow it down and dig it up and poison it, but it's always going to grow up through the cracks.

Oh and it's so nice to see you around again! :)

Ooh, interesting thoughts. Angel and Spike's perfect days, yes, the inverse which is pretty telling. I always thought part of Buffy and Angel's problem is that they are too much alike in some of the ways that don't make for a good relationship. Which is probably why in B/A/S Spike is so often the mediator between them. He serves the same function for both really.

they are too much alike in some of the ways that don't make for a good relationship.
I think so too. And coupled with Angel's tendency to make decisions on his own, that really doesn't bode well!

He serves the same function for both really.
Which is why I love him so much on AtS. :)

Something Blue...

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