And why exactly is that a bad thing? Why can't roles can't be shifted as the narrative progresses and the characters develop? Why should Willow continue to represent Buffy's humanity through 7 seasons? Frankly it makes far more sense that as Willow grows up and has her own experiences and story that her relevance to Buffy's story changes. In the early seasons she was innocent and naive so she worked well in that role, but no one stays like that forever. As Willow grows up she becomes more powerful and makes her own mistakes so she just wouldn't be able to function so well as symbolic of Buffy's humanity anymore; she isn't an innocent and she isn't a damsel. It makes total sense for Dawn to take over from that. And really, for a show that is supposed to be about female experience and growing up it would be an absolute waste of a character - not to mention utterly boring - to have Willow stay stuck in that role forever.
Way to overlook the important thing in what you quoted, which was easy to spot since it was in capital letters. Willow was someone Buffy CHOSE to care about and she was also a representation of what Buffy was fighting for. And where, pray tell, did I say that Willow had to stay that for the rest of her life? Dawn was literally the replacement for every role that Willow had in Buffy's life and story. And I don't have to like that, mainly because one involved choice and the other didn't. And because the Scoobie bond was shot to oblivion with Dawn's introduction despite what nonsense the show sprouts about family (no B/W/X scene in S5 is all the evidence I need). They replaced her chosen family with one that she didn't chose and arguably (depending on where you stand as too how far the monks took it) was programmed to chose above everything else.
How does sacrificing herself in the end instead of her sister make Buffy a villain?😵😵
Where in the everloving hell did I say that? How about you stop misquoting me or don't put words in my mouth. Buffy was a villain because of the decision she made prior to the asspull, retcon (that shouldn't have worked). How much clearer do I have to write that? Another novel?
And was Buffy sacrificing herself supposed to make her heroic or a hero? For me there is nothing heroic in suicide. Which is exactly what that was. Buffy wanted out (Willow's walk through Buffy's mind pretty much proved that, as did her talk with Giles). And that is how I interpret 'death is your gift'. It's not a gift to the world or her sister or whatever. It's a gift to Buffy. That she ended up saving the world in the process doesn't matter because there were other ways. PG Buffy was heroic because she didn't want to die. The Gift Buffy wanted it all to end, so good for her she got what she wanted. She got her death gift.
She still saved the world! You seem to believe that just because Buffy wasn't willing to kill Dawn that she was willing to let the world go to hell instead, when that is in no way indicated by the story.
Yes it was. When Buffy didn't have her nonsensical stupid way out yet, Dawn was willing to sacrifice herself. Buffy told her no, despite Buffy having NO OTHER OPTION at that time. So Buffy chose herself over the world. Sorry but there is no other way to look at it. She was willing to let the world die, and Dawn with it btw, just because she couldn't bring herself to kill Dawn/watch Dawn sacrifice herself. And I'm not going to cut her any slack on that.
She's not S7 Buffy who is willing to make those hard decisions, she's S5 Buffy who has had to endure a lot and doesn't want to lose one more person.
Season 7 Buffy is a monster who would gladly sick vampires on humans if she has a bad day. Hell, she gladly lets monsters go on murder sprees if she used to bone said monsters. Or houses monsters in her home that would happily chomp on anyone in the house. That's not hard decisions, that's an egomaniac with no morality. And a grade a brainless moron.
And if S5 Buffy doesn't want to lose another person. Open a freaking portal to another world and leave this rotten Earth dimension, then she and Dawn would be save. Go to a world full with lollipops and candy canes and puppies or something.
I think you just have to attribute the apparent lack of Buffy in some fight scenes to mistakes in scene structure and filming/editing decisions - the narrative implies that she was there in the middle of the battle even if she is offscreen sometimes, so we should accept that. You can criticise the flaws in how those scenes are written or put together, you can say that there should have been more focus on her side of the fight but you can't just assume she'd dissappeared or run off somewhere because we have no evidence of that at all* - plus it makes no sense.
Buffy is nowhere to be seen on any of the battle fields/action sites = Buffy not there. She is literally NOWHERE to be seen. It's really easy logic. You think that's the only stupid thing in this episode? Because it's not. When did Xander get x-ray vision? What's with the sudden upgrade from troll to troll god? I could go on and name even more things but why bother.
* I know you're probably just being dismissive because you don't like how the episode works but still you seem to be blaming the character for some perceived absence rather than the writing.
I just can't stand the episode (or Season) because it's just dumb and hurting my brain with the constant attack of 'stupid'. My question is why does a different opinion bother so many people? Again for emotional people it works. I'm a logical person first. Doesn't mean something has to be sound logic for me to get emotional. But when I'm distracted by too much stupid or OOC or both, chances of me getting emotional are slim to none.
