I'm a little rusty...

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Still patiently waiting on one for Tabula Rasa 😉

 

[XanderesqueMan]

I love Faith, too! I have gotten a little heated, myself, before when defending her character. LOL

Of course, you do. You're too smart not to. 😉

Faith was absolutely a victim who had trauma, and her actions were completely understandable. In the Angel comics they work together which is aewsome. Angel knows Faith well, and believed in her redemption. I think they have a really cool friendship.

It's easy to dismiss her actions in Faith, Hope, & Trick as cowardice, but when you consider what happened to her, I can't imagine anyone not behaving the way that she did. She had no proper parental figures in her formative years and grew up forced to look out for herself on the mean streets of South Boston, not the nicest environment as I understand it. Then she meets her Watcher. He tells her she's special, that all her suffering has a purpose, that the tough skin she's been forced to build, the damage she's taken, has a purpose. And he cares about her. He listens to her. He protects her. And then she sees him murdered. Murdered because she wasn't good enough. At least that's how it felt to her. And, at the same time, she, who had been told, who had learned through experience, that she was tough, capable, and unstoppable, found out there was something out there she couldn't even begin to handle, a threat that seemed insurmountable.

She's dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Unresolved grief. Survivor's guilt. Feeling responsible for the death of the only person who ever cared about her. A lifetime of neglect, of being told she isn't worth loving or protecting. She's a really complex character who develops a deep self-loathing after accidentally killing a human (the deputy mayor), and her redemption is one of the most satisfying arcs in the franchise, in my opinion. I think Five by Five and Sanctuary is one of my favorite arcs in all of Angel as well.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Of course, you do. You're too smart not to. 😉



It's easy to dismiss her actions in Faith, Hope, & Trick as cowardice, but when you consider what happened to her, I can't imagine anyone not behaving the way that she did. She had no proper parental figures in her formative years and grew up forced to look out for herself on the mean streets of South Boston, not the nicest environment as I understand it. Then she meets her Watcher. He tells her she's special, that all her suffering has a purpose, that the tough skin she's been forced to build, the damage she's taken, has a purpose. And he cares about her. He listens to her. He protects her. And then she sees him murdered. Murdered because she wasn't good enough. At least that's how it felt to her. And, at the same time, she, who had been told, who had learned through experience, that she was tough, capable, and unstoppable, found out there was something out there she couldn't even begin to handle, a threat that seemed insurmountable.

She's dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Unresolved grief. Survivor's guilt. Feeling responsible for the death of the only person who ever cared about her. A lifetime of neglect, of being told she isn't worth loving or protecting. She's a really complex character who develops a deep self-loathing after accidentally killing a human (the deputy mayor), and her redemption is one of the most satisfying arcs in the franchise, in my opinion. I think Five by Five and Sanctuary is one of my favorite arcs in all of Angel as well.

Have to agree! She is a fantastic character. I love her dynamic with Angel and well. Also worth noting is her first Watcher was actually a woman. We never learn her name, but we know that she was killed by Kakistos in front of Faith. I agree that had to have been deeply traumatic for her. Perhaps she was a mother figure to Faith.

My favorite characters are in this order:
Spike
Buffy (love both equally)
Wesley
Darla
Faith

I will die on the hill that having a Faith spinoff would have been awesome. Spike and Angel couldn't have guest stared and it could have crossed over with Angel. In my dreams I guess...

 

[XanderesqueMan]

Have to agree! She is a fantastic character. I love her dynamic with Angel and well.

Her best relationships are with Angel and Wesley, I think, yeah. I think it might have been nice to see more between her and Xander after she came back. Given that she took his virginity and he was the only one besides Angel who stuck his neck out to help her when she was spiraling (leading to her assaulting him because she couldn't face up to how she felt about what she'd done.) It wasn't necessary, but it would have been nice to see more there. I think the redeemed Faith and grown-up Xander should have been good friends, all things considered.

Also worth noting is her first Watcher was actually a woman. We never learn her name, but we know that she was killed by Kakistos in front of Faith. I agree that had to have been deeply traumatic for her. Perhaps she was a mother figure to Faith.

Fair. I must have been confusing her Watcher with Kendra's, who I know was a man, for some reason. Still, my analysis holds otherwise. We know she respected her Watcher, that she didn't have a good parental figure, mother or father, that she grew up having to look out for herself, and that she took to slaying like no one's business. I think that it's a solid bet that her Watcher gave her a sense of purpose where she didn't have one, seeming to be the one person who saw value in her, and that she must have cared a great deal for them. Regardless, though, it's obvious it must have been exceptionally traumatizing to see her mentor murdered.

My favorite characters are in this order:
Spike
Buffy (love both equally)
Wesley
Darla
Faith

It's hard to say, but off the top of my head, for me, it'd probably be Xander, Tara, Faith, early Willow (seasons one to three), Giles, and Spike for major cast members. Wesley supplants Spike if we're talking about Angel as well. I didn't love the character until his time on that series (though he was enjoyable, even on Buffy.) Wesley, Doyle, Xander, Tara, and Faith would probably be my top picks for the franchise as a whole. And I think it's a testament both to the show's writing and to Glenn Quinn's acting that Doyle makes that list despite having only ten episodes to do the work the others did in seasons of material.

I will die on the hill that having a Faith spinoff would have been awesome. Spike and Angel couldn't have guest stared and it could have crossed over with Angel. In my dreams I guess...

No need to die on any hills, Joanie. You are objectively correct. In my subjective opinion. 😉

I think, if he hadn't died, a series with Faith as the protagonist and Wesley in the "Watcher" role could have really worked well. It would have been distinct enough from Buffy because of the personalities involved, not to mention their dynamic together. And having Angel and Spike show up occasionally would have made perfect sense, especially the former, given their relationship. Another route to go would be for Faith to be the mentor figure of a new Slayer, one of the Potentials, and Wesley's presence would be as the knowledge guy and the one who Faith can turn to when she needs advice, but also the one who watches her, pun not intended, makes sure she doesn't crack under pressure.

It'd be great. But, as you say. In our dreams. Much like the potential Ripper series that never materialized.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Her best relationships are with Angel and Wesley, I think, yeah. I think it might have been nice to see more between her and Xander after she came back. Given that she took his virginity and he was the only one besides Angel who stuck his neck out to help her when she was spiraling (leading to her assaulting him because she couldn't face up to how she felt about what she'd done.) It wasn't necessary, but it would have been nice to see more there. I think the redeemed Faith and grown-up Xander should have been good friends, all things considered.

You're right honestly. I don't think too much about her relationship with Wesley but I should. And interesting point about Xander. I can't recall if they have any interaction post TV series in the comics...

Fair. I must have been confusing her Watcher with Kendra's, who I know was a man, for some reason. Still, my analysis holds otherwise. We know she respected her Watcher, that she didn't have a good parental figure, mother or father, that she grew up having to look out for herself, and that she took to slaying like no one's business. I think that it's a solid bet that her Watcher gave her a sense of purpose where she didn't have one, seeming to be the one person who saw value in her, and that she must have cared a great deal for them. Regardless, though, it's obvious it must have been exceptionally traumatizing to see her mentor murdered.

Faith is such an interesting character especially when juxtaposed to Buffy. The whole shadow self thing...Faith is what Buffy would have become if she hadn't had had a good upbringing, and family and friends. See: WishVerse Buffy.

It's hard to say, but off the top of my head, for me, it'd probably be Xander, Tara, Faith, early Willow (seasons one to three), Giles, and Spike for major cast members. Wesley supplants Spike if we're talking about Angel as well. I didn't love the character until his time on that series (though he was enjoyable, even on Buffy.) Wesley, Doyle, Xander, Tara, and Faith would probably be my top picks for the franchise as a whole. And I think it's a testament both to the show's writing and to Glenn Quinn's acting that Doyle makes that list despite having only ten episodes to do the work the others did in seasons of material.

Interesting! I l find high school Willow endearing, but not adult Willow. After high school, she becomes arrogant and selfish. Do you feel the same?
I think it's so interesting to hear what fans fav characters are. I'm curious, is Xander your favorite because you relate to him?
I like Tara too and of course Giles. A show with so many incredible characters it is hard to choose!

No need to die on any hills, Joanie. You are objectively correct. In my subjective opinion. 😉

I think, if he hadn't died, a series with Faith as the protagonist and Wesley in the "Watcher" role could have really worked well. It would have been distinct enough from Buffy because of the personalities involved, not to mention their dynamic together. And having Angel and Spike show up occasionally would have made perfect sense, especially the former, given their relationship. Another route to go would be for Faith to be the mentor figure of a new Slayer, one of the Potentials, and Wesley's presence would be as the knowledge guy and the one who Faith can turn to when she needs advice, but also the one who watches her, pun not intended, makes sure she doesn't crack under pressure.

That could have been so interesting!