I also really liked Riley's being OK with Buffy's Slayerdom (telling her not to hold back in fights, &c). Also, although I didn't much like the character, Marc Blucas sold "But she doesn't love me" so completely my estimation of him as an actor kicked up 110%. But speaking of gender dynamics I grew to loathe the B/R breakup arc because they flipped the "typical" scenario where the female wants to get emotionally closer and the male partner draws away and yet STILL tripped right into stereotype, because of course Buffy as a powerful (literally) woman can't be "feminine" and offer comfort and support at a time in her life when a lot is being asked of her.
Also, those breakup conversations were agonizingly realistic (a problem I would go on to have with all the emotional problems in S6). They were just hard to listen to, because at that point I liked both characters, but they were treating each other so badly....
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Tue, May. 25th, 2004 03:16 pm (UTC)I also really liked Riley's being OK with Buffy's Slayerdom (telling her not to hold back in fights, &c). Also, although I didn't much like the character, Marc Blucas sold "But she doesn't love me" so completely my estimation of him as an actor kicked up 110%. But speaking of gender dynamics I grew to loathe the B/R breakup arc because they flipped the "typical" scenario where the female wants to get emotionally closer and the male partner draws away and yet STILL tripped right into stereotype, because of course Buffy as a powerful (literally) woman can't be "feminine" and offer comfort and support at a time in her life when a lot is being asked of her.
Also, those breakup conversations were agonizingly realistic (a problem I would go on to have with all the emotional problems in S6). They were just hard to listen to, because at that point I liked both characters, but they were treating each other so badly....