I agree with almost everything you say here except that. When Riley did not show up to patrol as the Scoobies expected and therefore left them in danger (while Buffy felt comfort in knowing that he was with them), he started to become, if not a villain, then at least a bit more than just "dumb/insensitive". He said he wanted Buffy to NEED him, but failed to show up when she needed him to be with her friends and protect them. I suppose he needed her to need him in very specific ways, but the fact is he put the Scoobies in danger; then went off getting his vampire suck jobs. That is just ABUSIVE, and incredibly disrespectful of Buffy IMO.
Now it certainly does make him a more interesting character, and makes sense in light of a lot of things, but blaming Buffy outright is like a drug user blaming other people for their addiction.
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I agree with almost everything you say here except that. When Riley did not show up to patrol as the Scoobies expected and therefore left them in danger (while Buffy felt comfort in knowing that he was with them), he started to become, if not a villain, then at least a bit more than just "dumb/insensitive". He said he wanted Buffy to NEED him, but failed to show up when she needed him to be with her friends and protect them. I suppose he needed her to need him in very specific ways, but the fact is he put the Scoobies in danger; then went off getting his vampire suck jobs. That is just ABUSIVE, and incredibly disrespectful of Buffy IMO.
Now it certainly does make him a more interesting character, and makes sense in light of a lot of things, but blaming Buffy outright is like a drug user blaming other people for their addiction.