A thought on B/A in S3

[elisi]

For most of us, I think, the B/A relationship in S3 is very frustrating. The two of them seem to go backwards and forwards with no real rhyme or reason until Angel finally leaves at the end of the season.

I watched ‘Lover’s Walk’ last night (happy sigh). This brought on some thoughts and I *think* I might have found a reasonable excuse for the behaviour:

In ‘Lover’s Walk’ of course, Buffy gives Angel that wonderful speech that she seemed to completely forget come season’s end:

Buffy: We're not friends. We never were. And I can fool Giles, and I can fool my friends, but I can't fool myself. (shakes her head) Or Spike, for some reason. What I want from you I can never have. You don't need me to take care of you anymore. So I'm gonna go.

Now of course Spike’s visit and insights helped this along, but something else happens in this episode too: They get their SAT scores. And Buffy’s are very good. It gets mentioned over and over again, although of course Cordelia is the most blunt:

Cordelia: Well, I think this is great! Now you can leave and never come back!

For the first time since she was called, Buffy can actually contemplate a future without Slaying. A future where she might not die young. And all that’s keeping her in Sunnydale really is - Angel. He’s very much part of the Slayer-side of her I think. A Slayer doesn’t think about the future, about children and education. A Slayer can have a boyfriend who doesn’t age, because she probably won’t ever get old. But if she can leave... that changes things. If she can let Faith be Miss Sunnydale in the Slayer Pageant, then where does that leave Angel? If there is the possibility for a normal life, she has to let go of those things that can’t work.

The events of “Amends’ do not help. She’s suddenly desperate not to lose him completely - to be abandoned. So in the next few episodes she appears to have forgotten the lesson she learned in ‘Lover’s Walk’ - she tries to ‘be friends’.

But then of course Faith goes over to the dark side. And I think that with her new shiny future suddenly taken away, Buffy falls back on Angel. She is the Slayer again. She won’t be leaving Sunnydale. The normal life that she might have had has vanished, so why not hook up with him again? Of course it doesn’t work like that...

ETA: Why does Angel stay for so long? I think it's important to remember that he spent the previous 100 years doing nothing much at all - and the last 20 living on the streets. Buffy was his mission, his reason to change his life. Without her what would he do?

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

For the first time since she was called, Buffy can actually contemplate a future without Slaying. A future where she might not die young. And all that’s keeping her in Sunnydale really is - Angel. He’s very much part of the Slayer-side of her I think. A Slayer doesn’t think about the future, about children and education. A Slayer can have a boyfriend who doesn’t age, because she probably won’t ever get old. But if she can leave...
Very true especially for Buffy who always seems to resent the fact that she is the Chosen One. If Kendra was meant to be a typical Slayer, a person with no family, no friends, no wardrobe even, no one but the Watcher; then Buffy with a Mom, best friends, a life before Slaying really is the mold breaker. She wants everything the Watcher's Council tells her she can't have and when Faith comes along...there's a way out. She can be normal college girl with the human boyfriend/husband.
I've always thought that was one of the reasons that Joss did what he did in Chosen, he gives Buffy back her choice to walk away from being the Slayer or her choice to stay with the program. Either way it's her choice, not the Council's.

[elisi]

a life before Slaying really is the mold breaker
Very true. She doesn't want to give up her powers ('Helpless'), but she would like to let go of the responsibility.

And I love the fact that in the end she can have her cake and eat it! I always found it a very satisfying end to the series. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

Yeah, that makes sense. But the execution still doesn't make watching it less of a pain. ;-)

[elisi]

Sadly no. I was just desperately trying to rationalise it somehow.

(And that icon is one of my favourites!)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

I always wonder about those who rave about the season, because I can't fathom raving about something that devotes a large part to a storyline that's so dreadfully dull half the time and completely incomprehensible all of the time. Not to mention the stupidity of his reason for leaving. And don't even get me started on IWRY. *shudder*

I think it's the s3 B/A that taints my view of it, because when I watched season 2 I thought it was quite cute, actually. And then dark and terrible, but that's always fun too!

And thank you! =)

[elisi]

I have quite an odd 'relationship' with S3, because it was the only season I didn't watch when it first aired. I caught up post-Chosen and it struck me then (and still strikes me now) as a season full of stand-alones. 'Lover's Walk', 'Band Candy', 'The Wish', Gingerbread' etc. all do very little for the over all arch. They're brilliant episodes in their own right, but it doesn't make for a good season as such. And the Bangel gets very tiring.

[swsa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's sort of how I feel. And even the Faith eps work individually, but when you watch them in a row, make absolutely no sense. Buffy's horribly jealous and insecure about Faith, now they're dancing buddies with a special Slayer bond! In this one she's trying to frame Buffy for murder, and now Buffy just wants to do better than her in the Slayer physical! It's sort of odd in that S5-7 are always said to work best if you watch the season straight through, but S2-4, to me, work best if you kind of ignore the way the eps connect and just focus on each individually.

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

I think the Faith arc works for Faith, although there's still a bit of a jump from The Zeppo to Bad Girls, but agree Buffy's reactions are all over the place. It's as if ME were still learning their trade on character arcs - I'm trying hard to think of an episode that isn't a complete stand alone in terms of character development. The Zeppo, Dopplegangland, Helpless - they all seem to telegraph an issue (Xander's a sidekick, Willow's a good girl, Giles isn't Buffy's father) tie it up in a bow at the end and the next episode it's as if nothing had happened.

[elisi]

Those are *excellent* points. I guess it's very human to learn a lesson and then forget it again, but it makes for annoying storytelling. I think that S3 could probably benefit from a deluge of FitBs to try and make the episodes join up.

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, yes!

The only question I have is how it is that s3 is perceived as the apex of Buffyverse, after which everything went in decline...

[molly_may]

I'm trying hard to think of an episode that isn't a complete stand alone in terms of character development. The Zeppo, Dopplegangland, Helpless - they all seem to telegraph an issue (Xander's a sidekick, Willow's a good girl, Giles isn't Buffy's father) tie it up in a bow at the end and the next episode it's as if nothing had happened.

I think that's actually the key to why so many people rave over the brilliance of S3. So many of the standalone episodes are brilliant, but you don't have to follow a complicated character arc week after week. So for the less obsessed casual viewer, it's an easier, more accessible viewing experience. Whereas for people like us, it can be frustrating to see the issues raised in the episodes so neatly boxed away.

[elisi]

So for the less obsessed casual viewer, it's an easier, more accessible viewing experience.
I think that's it in a nutshell. I love the later seasons and mostly, I think, because of the complexity and the richness. Hardly anything gets wrapped up, and many things only make sense if you've been watching from the start.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

Yes, the stand-alones are good, and I still love the Mayor to tiny little pieces, but there's only so much you can turn a blind eye to and season 3 crosses that line and just keeps on going.

[elisi]

Everyone loves the Mayor - and I also adore Faith. It's just a shame that the rest is so... fragmented.

[marsterslady.livejournal.com]

This icon is one of my favorites, too. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

Hee, thanks!

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

If she can let Faith be Miss Sunnydale in the Slayer Pageant, then where does that leave Angel?
Even Joyce mentions that Buffy can let Faith be the Slayer and go on to other things, doesn't she? I forget the episode - was it Lover's Walk? I have to say that the SAT scores were always a bit much for me - it sorta seemed as if it popped out of the air.
It'd be interesting to chart when Buffy's sense of purpose about being the Slayer starts, stops, really kicks in; does she have it in Season 3 like she does in Season 5? Is it always there? In essence, is she a bit of a control freak/in tune with her destiny and wouldn't really have given over the Slayer gig to Faith? Who knows?
That was a long ramble not about Bangel.
but I can't fool myself. (shakes her head) Or Spike, for some reason.
That line always gets me. I'm so glad they brought him back :)

[elisi]

Yes, it's all in 'Lover's Walk' - even Giles thinks that 'taking a break' from Slaying would be good. As to all your other points, I think someone ought to write an essay! ;)

And how I love Spike - and the way he and Buffy just get each other. She guesses where her friends are with no problems f.ex. They think alike! I love my ship! :)

[molly_may]

It'd be interesting to chart when Buffy's sense of purpose about being the Slayer starts, stops, really kicks in; does she have it in Season 3 like she does in Season 5?

I think she feels a strong sense of duty throughout the series, but that her real sense of purpose kicked in after the enjoining spell and "Restless". After that she talks a lot less about the idea of having a life without being the Slayer, and she takes her training up to a new level in S5.

[marsterslady.livejournal.com]

I always love your thoughts.

I think that with her new shiny future suddenly taken away, Buffy falls back on Angel. She is the Slayer again. She won’t be leaving Sunnydale.

Very nicely said.

[elisi]

Thank you. I like it when my thoughts make sense - very often they don't! ;)

[shapinglight]

Bangel is very odd in season 3. It's moving at first when Angel comes back from hell but it rapidly becomes quite irritating, and I have to admit that my favourite Bangel moment of the whole season is when it's sent up mercilessly in The Zeppo.

FWIW, though, I think that Angel's reasons for leaving are quite valid, but that he should have done it before, for Buffy's sake.

[elisi]

my favourite Bangel moment of the whole season is when it's sent up mercilessly in The Zeppo.
Oh, mine too! The music! The deep looks! *sigh* I want to go re-watch it now... ;)

Logically Angel should have left after 'Lover's Walk'. Effectively Buffy dumps him and he should have taken the hint and gone to LA (or where ever). Would have saved a lot of heartache.

[shapinglight]

Not to mention a lot of yawning and impatience with the whole thing.

[elisi]

Heh. Too true. Angel benefitted SO much from getting his own show!

[frimfram.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, but I can understand why, even if he knew leaving would be for the best, Angel might have felt paralysed. He didn't strike me as a character who was about to leap up and do something positive at this point. As someone else pointed out, he had essentially spent the previous one hundred years loafing. Sacking up to leave would have been a huge step.

[ladycat713.livejournal.com]

I think I missed the Zeppo but I liked the way that Wesley and Cordelia explained the Bangel thing to Fred in Fredless (I think that's the title).

[shapinglight]

Yes, that's very funny too, and quite accurate in its own way.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Nice post.

I never got the big big Buffy/Angel attraction anyway. Angel made such a huge deal about making himself a mystery, that this great love relationship seems more about the way they look then actually "knowing" each other. I often compare it to GONE WITH THE WIND's Ashley/Scarlett in that regard. She professes to loves him deeply but does she even know him? He continues to lead her on, but he keeps pushing her away.

[elisi]

Thanks. :)

And no - I don't really see the big attraction either. It's a lovely Romeo/Juliet story, but in R&J they both die - since they couldn't kill of their stars it just sort of fizzled out.

I like your 'Gone With The Wind' comparison - and I think it's probably the biggest problem with the relationship: They never really knew each other. Which is why I'm such a Spuffy fan I guess...

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I think this says it all..

I would say Angel and Buffy really had more of an idealized first love while Spike and Buffy have the more adult, messy, kind of love which is more realistic. That's right. It's not idealized and it's just so often ugly and yet when James Marsters does stuff where you look in his face and you go 'Oh, my God, he loves her so much!' Ahh! It's just so wonderful." - Jane Espenson (Btvs writer)

[elisi]

I recall reading that somewhere, and it's definitely spot-on. But then Jane Espenson generally is! :)

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

I was quite secure in my s3 non-love, and now you have to come and try to make sense out of it!

I always consider s4 to be fragmented - but it is because the season ark got broken several times, the characters' development from episode to episode is rather consistent...

[elisi]

now you have to come and try to make sense out of it!
Hee! I have no great love for S3 either - I like individual episodes, and I love the Mayor and Faith, but overall... not that bothered. If I made a list it'd be near the bottom - just over S1.

Good point about S4 - but then I guess that it's almost supposed to be fragmented. It's about changing and moving on and the Scoobies and their friendship fragments greatly as they all go different ways. Although Adam is *lame*!

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I remember when Enemies first aired and Buffy is casually kissing Angel after seeing a movie with him. I blinked at that. In Revelations Buffy insists to her wary friends, "We're not together any more" and there doesn't seem any real discussion happens between B/A. Rather the show has them drifting back into a relationship, no matter what little sense it made. Do they even discuss the curse and lack of sex?

I'm another one that actually liked Bangel in seasons 1-2, but season 3 finished me off :p Even Joss admits they were running out of stories for them in season 3. Boy does it show.

[elisi]

Do they even discuss the curse and lack of sex?
There is Buffy's line in 'Lover's Walk' "What I want from you, I can never have." but that's about it. I think this is one of the main problems with the relationship - they never talked about it. *sigh* And in S3 they really, really needed to talk about it. (And Buffy and Spike talked in S7, which I loved. Because it meant that they had a future!)

[yourlibrarian]

Hmm and yes. What you said makes sense to me. Although I always had a problem with Buffy's SAT scores. How realistic is that? Why does she need to be book-smart? She could leave town with normal SAT scores too.

[elisi]

What you said makes sense to me.
Oh, good. Doesn't make it any less boring of course.

And re. the SAT scores - I suppose she just performs well under pressure?

[molly_may]

The later seasons often seem to come under attack by people for not being consistent, but I think S3 is where the writer's really lacked consistency. It's funny, I don't think Buffy or Angel really act out of character, exactly, just that the writer's jerk their relationship around so much that they feel inconsistent. In "Amends" she obviously still has very strong feelings for him but has resolved not to have a relationship with him. That attitude still seems to be in place in "Gingerbread" when they have a nice, but unromantic, scene together. And then suddenly in "Helpless" they're sweaty and training and Buffy's straddling him and I think Angel may even be shirtless. It's like there's a missing episode that explains how they got back to having such a physical relationship. So yeah, I think the writers did a disservice to B/A in S3 by making it so nonsensical.

[elisi]

the writer's jerk their relationship around so much that they feel inconsistent.
As I said somewhere else, S3 could *really* benefit from some FitBs. I know that in S7 a lot of the action takes place 'off screen' which is frustrating, but it usually makes sense. In S3, not so much.