Gakked from xlivvielockex

[samsom]

Since I'm not actually writing anything worth reading, I thought this character meme looked fun. Any excuse to talk about the Buffyverse.

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1. The first character I fell in love with

Cordelia. Anyone surprised? I like the others, and was drawn into the story from the get go. I felt bad for Buffy after she made it clear to Giles during their first meeting what being a Slayer meant to her, because I hadn't thought about it like that before. But Cordelia, when she was in a scene, I was focused on her. She was funny and fearless, and didn't give a fig about what anyone thought. But I sort of figured she'd die in the pilot, just because that was always the type of girl to die, so I didn't get attached.


2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now

Um. I've pretty much been consistant with my likes and dislikes since Welcome to the Hellmouth, but I suppose I'd have to say Wesley. I wrote him off like most everyone did, and never thought I'd have such affection for him like I do now. He was sweet and earnest and smarter and more practical than he was given credit for, even during Buffy's 3rd season. I hate that he died. Hate it.


3. The character everyone else loves that I don't.

Please don't kill me, anyone who may love him, but sometimes, I have such a hard time understanding the love Xander's shown by fandom. He had such serious boundary issues with Buffy and...there were times I wanted to tell him to back the fuck off and let her make her own romantic decisions. He never seemed to want the woman he was with as much as the ones he wasn't with, and he could be so hypocritical (thinking of his attitude towards Buffy slaying Angelus versus 'we can't kill her, I love her' spiel about Anya in S7). Second was Connor, but he had a childhood that put Xander's to shame, so meh.


4. The character I love that everyone else hates

I'm not sure Cordelia counts. I love her, but then so do a lot of my flist, so possibly I'd have to hang out in other circles to find the hate for her. Though I can't say it would be something I'll be doing any time soon. Oh! I know! Darth Maul. He was the villain and he killed Liam Neeson, but damn - talk about a badass. :P


5. The character I used to love but don't any longer

No one. Like I said, I've been pretty consistant.


6. The character I'd want to be like

Oh Cordelia - how I feel ya! LOL! Seriously, give me a fraction of her confidence and strength, and I'm good to go. Oh, and her looks too. High school would have been so much more fun.


7. The character I'd slap

Hmm. Hate to admit it, but Xander. But only during his less than stellar moments. There were other times I thought he was rockin -like when he faced down the zombie with the bomb in the Zeppo, or when he faced down Angelus in the hospital in KBD.


8. A pairing that I love

C/A, baby. C/A. My OTP. Second would be Spuffy, my other OTP. Also, I really liked the possibilities of Joyce and Giles. Xander/Anya could be sweet, and Willow/Tara were as true love as anything I ever saw, until Willow fucked it up.


9. A pairing that I despise

Sigh. Here's where I'm going to be completely predictable. Angel/Nina. But to be fair, I'll hate anything that comes after C/A. Oh, and I never got Fred/Wes, and hated how it broke apart Wes and Gunn. Grr.

That was fun!

Comments

ooh dear..

[yursare.livejournal.com]

'stead of working i'm gonna go with this memo myself, coz - Whedonverse talk! Always worth it.

1. The first character I fell in love with

Cordelia. Duh. In episode one, she was the only person I could identify with, or relate to. It was probably the moment when Buffy judged her attitude and behaviour towards Willow and decided to act all morally superior, not really knowing anything about either girl excapt their appearence (oh, and the fact that Cordy was the first person to genuinely try to make a new girl feel comfortable). I kinda felt insulted on behalf of Cordelia. And then she flipped her hair in that manner of hers and walked away all strong and fearless and ironic, and I knew I fell in love with the character.


2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now

Oh, well, that'd probably be Tara. I must admit I had a soft spot for Wes (until he lost his eyeglasses and sense of humor), so that's not the case with me. I may have misjudged him just like anybody else, but I still felt for him, especially because everybody else acted like asses for no particular reason. But Tara really annoyed me at first. It wasn't until she's shown some spine in mid-season 5 and later in season 6 that I started to genuinely like her. And then I looked back and found that she's really pretty nice. She can be fun, and stick up to what she believes in, and she can stay on the outside of the whole Scooby dynamics and, like Cordelia, be at peace with own self and confident of her strengths.


3. The character everyone else loves that I don't.

I'm the weirdest kind of fangirl ever. I don't know other fangirls. Well, I do know some, but most of them share my opinion on other characters. So, presuming people actually like Xander - yeah, he's it. I hated him. I mean the dislike was instant, but he managed to continuously annoy me and make me want to bitchslap him to the next week. Then the rebar incident happened. Then the almost wedding happened. So yeah, I hate him. For hypocricy and inability to take any decisions whatsoever, for seeing the truth only when it's slammed in his face.. Well, I have trouble liking Xander.
Also, most of the time I have trouble liking Buffy. I mean, I have a huge respect for the girl.. No, let me rephrase that. Were she a person, not a fiction character, I never would have wanted to meet her, God forbid befriend her. She has this severity and fierce egocentrism about her that I'm just scared of. Buffy's not the person I could ever like. But Buffy as a Slayer deserves all the respect and admiration she get's. I just can't seem to understand the way the fandom makes her seem kind or gentle or forgiving when she's never even been close to things like that. She's not a nice girl, and most of her character's traits and experiences make her an outstanding slayer yet a complicated and not in any way amiable woman.

Re: ooh dear..

[yursare.livejournal.com]

4. The character I love that everyone else hates

If there are people that hate Cordelia, she's it. Other then that, oh, I don't know.. I kinda sympathise with Dawn and I get Connor. I hardly ever approve of their actions or choices, but these guys I can understand and forgive. Maybe I should just list them characters I like? I'm pretty sure most of them are hated by somebody=)

5. The character I used to love but don't any longer

Lindsay. I liked him when he was cute and troubled. Obsessed and one-track-minded, he was just annoying.

6. The character I'd want to be like

I kinda like being me=) And anyways, that's be a mixture of many characters I want to become when I grow up.

7. The character I'd slap

So, so many! There are times I'd even slap Cordy, just for the hack of it. Joss makes his characters so blind and plainly stupid sometimes!

8. A pairing that I love

I love my ship!

9. A pairing that I despise

Surprisingly enough, I do not despise C/other or A/other. Them others had their place in C/A life and well, what a place it was. I don't like those pairings, but I can get it. It's life, shit happens. Nina and Groo both... well, C and A didn't get any in ages. And it's not like they could go at it together. It's not pretty, but a girl(vampire)'s got to do what a girl(vampire)'s got to do. And no bad feelings involved, since all of their others have something to like. They're not everything, not even close to it, but the best thing about it is that they do not pretend, and don't aspire to be this "everything".
I hate many unconventional pairings, any slash involving Xander or Andrew, is simply ewwwww. Spike and Dawn in s5 is ewwwww. Words Harmonoy and pairing are just not right in the same sentence.
I could never like or understand Buffy and Angel together because they just don't make sense in my head. And I know that love doesn't always make much sense, but to me - it just has to if it wants to work.

Now I've gone and written a whole lot of nonesense and spammed your comments. Sorry=)

Re: ooh dear..

[califi.livejournal.com]

1. The first character I fell in love with

Giles. The initial reason was he reminded me of my father, lol...well, to be honest, my father is more a blend of Giles S3 and Wes S2/up to mid S3. I think that is why I love writing them into fic so much (but not as an OTP with C or A *snikker*) As for all-time character love: has to be Cordelia. late S3 and the tiny bit I saw of S4 had me yelling at the screen a bit, but the yelling was aimed at Josshat.


2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now

Surpise! Angel. S1/S2 BtvS I wasn't too attached face-wise, as he looked so young, (and I'm pretty old, gah, lol) and I thought of him as a one-note character. Angelus... so many peeps go on about that Buffy S2 arc, but I found, except for a few stellar moments, he felt to me more of a lets-poke-fun-isn't-he-dumb? for Spike to bounce off. S3...he filled out, and I do so love my men with teh bulk *licks*.
He was still pretty much bg furniture, but towards the end, when he finally realised he was fooling himself and decided to leave (I still think it wasn't *just* to make it easier for Buffy, but he'd got fed up of all the tragedy too (not fun being miserable all teh time) - but that could be the C/Aer in me :P)


3. The character everyone else (seems to, not fully certain) loves that I don't.

Fred *don't kill me* I took a dislike for all the wrong reasons in her debut episode (cos, yeah, trying her out for size with Angel really peed me off- plus, come on! Angel is drawn to strong-willed women.) Then although the ditzy was cut(ish) at first, ot got wearing- AND she took airtime from Cordy.

Wes/Gunn going all gaga over her. They have a hottie like Cordelia around and their loins stir over Fred?! I can kinda get why Wes was drawn, cos he seemed the type of guy ho'd go for 'delicate flowers'. But Gunn. It beggers belief. Although I'm glad G/C didnt get together, if I was forced into a position of having to choose another guy for Cordelia, it would be Gunn. (or G/Faith, :P)


4. The character I love that everyone else hates

samsom: I'm not sure Cordelia counts. I love her, but then so do a lot of my flist, so possibly I'd have to hang out in other circles to find the hate for her. Though I can't say it would be something I'll be doing any time soon.

I would tend to agree. When she was pregnant, 'general' fandom forums couldn't post fast enough to go on about how 'fat' & ugly Cordelia had become. Okay: I admit to being uber passionate over my OTP, but that was just... *rolls eyes*

Besides that *gasp* Holland (not in a yummy way, btw, lol). He may have been evil, but he had class and a bearing that demanded attention.


5. The character I used to love but don't any longer

No one. Like I said, I've been pretty consistant. Same.


6. The character I'd want to be like

Oh Cordelia. And.... if I was a guy? Giles, S2 onwards. He had interesting layers that came out as the show progressed.

con'td next entry:

Re: ooh dear..

[califi.livejournal.com]

and on....



7. The character I'd slap

Teh list is long, eep! BtvS: Willow. I actually preferred Vamp!Willow (and Vamp!Xander) *snikker* At least she didn't bother hiding the not so savoury side of her character. Although I'm a C/Aer, the things she said to Buffy/Giles after turning evil showed seasons of resentments coming to a head. *slap* I often had the urge to slap Buffy- but that was more of a need to yell "snap out of it! Climb outta the damn box!" along with the slap.

Kate teh coplady. Coulda been interesting- but was way too whiny 'poor me' all the time. Plus I hated it that Angel had his 'realisation' talk with Kate and not the FG. He shoulda had that talk with the FG. Not her. Any gal that Angel looked twice at... B/A have history, and I (mostly :P) respect that- but ME trying to relight it after he'd admitted to being in love with Cordelia? And then becoming a vamp-whore through S4/5? Let us just say: I wouldn't want a guy so fairweather in my life- no matter how much of a hottie he was.


8. A pairing that I love

C/A, baby. C/A. My OTP A big fat ditto to that, M.
Second would be Spuffy, I always felt they were more suited than B/A, personality-wise - and that isn't the C/Aer in me talking, lol. I also liked the idea of Gunn/Faith - or, *giggle* Wes/Faith. And, cos I loved the way they bitchslapped each other half to death, Lindsey/Lilah.



9. A pairing that I despise

samsom: Sigh. Here's where I'm going to be completely predictable. Angel/Nina. But to be fair, I'll hate anything that comes after C/A. Oh, and I never got Fred/Wes, and hated how it broke apart Wes and Gunn. Grr. Again, have to agree totally. ;-) but will add *again* Gunn/Fred. That, to me was even more weird, lol.


That was fun!

I must agree to that too, lol. Been a while since I did something like this, re: BtVS/AtS.

Ta muchly *loffs*

Re: ooh dear..

[samsom.livejournal.com]

You know, I was thinking about this way too much today and it occured to me that there is a character that people adore that I really don't. Willow. I mean, yes, there are times when Xander makes me scream from frustration, but Willow made my jaw drop in terms of selfishness.

She was fine the first few seasons but the second the addicted to power thing began to manifest for real, I had a hard, hard time not hating her. For her arrogance in expecting Buffy's gratitude, her assertion that she was doing the right thing when, really, she was doing it because she's always taken shortcuts through her pain, and bringing Buffy back was just one more. And her 'poor me' crap even after she realized what she did to Buffy, for not offering to help pay the bills though she was living in Buffy's house, for her callous treatment of Tara's love and mind...crap. For so many things. But I should probably stop now.:P

Re: ooh dear..

[yursare.livejournal.com]

Nah... I agree with the whole not-liking-Willow point, but to me, Xander's still worse. He, like Willow, is most of those things you listed, but he's also.. well, male. Which, I agree, is totally not objective, but a factor nevertheless. It's probably a female in me talking=)

And where I can stand 'poor me' crap in a girl, I just can't see it in a guy. Shoot me for that=)
And leaving Anya on their wedding day with lamest excuse ever? Gah! I still place Xander on top of my shit-list

Re: ooh dear..

[samsom.livejournal.com]

#3. I agree, Buffy can be harsh, and strict, but I tend to see that as an extension of the Slayer power inside of her. She's a warrior, in her bones. It makes the softer emotions hard to keep touch with, when every night is being the better hunter, the better killer. That mindset bleeds over into her 'normal' life, I think, and makes if really hard to connect to the people that she loves. Plus, I think her losses made her more harsh. She started out softer, more understanding but as the years go on, you can see her whittle away until the heartwood is the only thing left.

Being Chosen was a raw deal, same as getting visions not meant for humans. Only difference is, Cordy stopped whining about it and Buffy never accepted it - to the point where she changed the rules (in Chosen).

Re: ooh dear..

[yursare.livejournal.com]

And again I have to agree.
It's not that I blame Buffy for being harsh or I think it's necesserily a bad thing... s'just that I don't like that in a person - any person. And it's tragic for Buffy, but it's tragic for most of Joss's characters, he's kinda sadistic that way. I just think I wouldn't like it being friends to Buffy or Willow or Xander, whereas I'd enjoy friendship with Cordy and Anya and Gunn and Wes. And that's basicly how I place my likes and dislikes towards Whedonverse folk.
That and the hotness factor, of course=)

Re: ooh dear..

[samsom.livejournal.com]

The thing about being Cordy's, or even Anya's, friend is that you will always get the unfiltered truth. They'll never lie to you or try and pretty up the ugly side of things. Xander and Willow, to some extent, act like they own a piece of Buffy, that she belongs to them and they guard their places in her life quite jealously. Friends like that are too needy. I have a friend very much like Cordelia - she never has an unexpressed thought, and sometimes I get irritated by it. Actually, sometimes it pisses me off, but I know that she'll never lie to me. Give me that over tact any day:P

Another reason why I love Cordy so much - I'm naturally drawn to her type of friendship.

As far as hotness goes - if we aren't talking about Angel or Spike, then I'd have been the librarian's assistant. Giles was hot:D

Re: ooh dear..

[yursare.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all of that=)
The thing about Cordy, Anya and Gunn is they never filter their emotions. What they feel, they express, however non-verbal. And they never let you wallow in despair and self-pity. Also, it's plain fun hang around them. The thing about Wes is... he knows stuff. Not just rogue demon hunter stuff, he knows about people around him, what they feel and how they are. He pays attention. That makes for a great friend.

Hotness factor - agreed again, on all three=) But I believe Gunn was hot too (there's a general Gunn liking in my comments, I admit).

As to generally liking characters - I adored Oz. And - weird - I kinda liked the Mayor. He's one of my favourite villains of all time=)

[gabs186.livejournal.com]

he could be so hypocritical (thinking of his attitude towards Buffy slaying Angelus versus 'we can't kill her, I love her' spiel about Anya in S7).

I actually understood Xander at that point to be honest - I was happy that he was at least standing up for the woman he claimed to love, rather than siding with Buffy and Willow. And you know my skepticism on Buffy and the Angelus arc so you can see why we differ here... ;o)

But yeah, Xander used to piss me the fuck off more than I loved him - though when I loved him, I really did love him. And if it weren't for him screwing up then Angel would never have landed Cordy so yay!

Agree with more or less everything else you said, though Buffy would probably be the character that others love that I really, really dont. Though to be fair, I'm not entirely sure how many people actually love her so much as tolerate her, but I cant stomach that either. That being said, I dont know who I cant stand more, Buffy or Wllow...OR FRED! Guh, I couldn't stand Fred, though again, not sure how many people loved her...

Wes/Fred I actually *liked*, though more the idea of it than anything else. I would have prefered it if they'd got them together in season 3 instead of breaking Wes' heart and all the angst that followed, for ALL the characters. WITW should have ended differently I tell you!

I will say this - I hated what Fred did to the whole Wes/Gunn dynamic too, and for that and attempting to steal Cordy's thunder (though Cordy she will never be), I dislike her. Intensely.

[samsom.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind Fred until I realized they were grooming her to be the heroine...sometime late, late season 3. I couldn't figure out how Wesley could obsess over her and why Gunn and Wes were so willing to thrash their friendship over her.

But by WiTW, I was thoroughly done with Joss's whole philosophy of 'hurt them because it's fun - it wasn't fun to see Wesley drag himself around the theater after seeing Gunn and Fred kiss, and it was. NOT. FUN. seeing the look on Angel's face when Cordy ran to Groo. Again.

As for Xander - yes, I agree it was nice seeing him stand up for Anya for a change. But at the time, all I thought was too little, too late. I also didn't like that his whole argument over not killing Anya was because he loved her. It was Buffy's whole reason for being unable to deal with Angel in s2, and Xander mocked it, ridiculed it and threw Jenny in her face when she wanted to restore Angel's soul - six or so years later, the shoe is on the other foot and he was still acting like the victim being wronged. It drove me nuts.

But I know that Buffy was being as sympathetic to him as he was to her in s2 - and her relentless 'I have to kill Anya' thing was a bit scary because I kept thinking of it in terms of the Terminator - 'she couldn't be reasoned with, she couldn't be bargained with, she felt no remorse and she would absolutely not stop until Anya was dead'. LOL.

But again, this is where we differ in opinion. I give Buffy a huge pass because she's done nothing but lose and lose for the run of the show - the worst of which was her mother - and she kept going when nearly everyone else but Cordelia would have laid down and given up. (did I use that phrase right? I have such a hard time with lay/laid/lie).

But hey - thank god for Xander's waffling on the women in his life or Cordelia might not have gone to LA and become Angel's love. We could thank him for that, at least:D

::hugs::