I watched BtVS for the first time as an adult and one of the things I really appreciate about it is it's willingness for the characters to be broken, and wrong, and flawed and then they hurt each other and then forgive each other and grow. It's so incredibly relatable.
@amieridley1150 Buffy gained the telepathy that was the aspect of the demon in episode 18 of season 3, because what aspect has meaning as part or feature of something?
Buffy is an amazing character I really enjoyed her arc throughout the series Sarah Michelle gellar did such a great job in the role she's truly underrated
@buff_0292 Buffy gained the telepathy that was the aspect of the demon in episode 18 of season 3, because what aspect has meaning as part or feature of something?
Re terminology, I’d use the phrase “healthy interdependence” rather than “healthy codependency”; the term “codependency” specifically refers to negative patterns, while “interdependence” highlights the reality that humans need one another.
I agree with your conclusion. Compare Buffy to somewhat like Bella from Twilight. Now I don't think all of Twilight is bad, but as a protagonist, Bella is as shallow and flimsy as the paper she was created on. She does have codependencies too over the course of multiple films, but they aren't healthy like Buffy's and her character doesn't change much from the first film to the last unlike Buffy's which undergoes the unbelievable progress and arc you highlight here. Good video essay.
The Critical Drinker made a video “Why Modern Movies Suck - The ‘Strong Female Character’”. That video explains that most female characters in movies and TV have been reduced to shallow, heartless, soulless, overpowered girl bosses who have no character flaws, no human personalities or redeeming character traits, and never struggle or fail at anything.
I also liked this video about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the part about Buffy Summers' cast of supporting characters reminded me of these brilliant ideas for upcoming Author's Anvil videos in the future: How to create the definitive versions of Superman's supporting characters, including Jonathan and Martha Kent, Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Cat Grant, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White, and a character analysis/"how to properly write" video for Superman's other antagonists, including Winslow Percival Schott AKA Toyman, Bizarro, the Parasite (either Raymond Maxwell Jensen, Rudy Jones, or Joshua Michael Allen), Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Lobo, and Mongul. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen should certainly have their own videos, and so should Toyman, Mr. Mxyzptlk, and Lobo. Character analysis/how to create the definitive Batman. Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Richard Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon, Vicki Vale, and Commissioner James Gordon should also be included. Character analysis/How to create the definitive versions of Batman's other antagonists, including Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman, Pamela Lillian Isley AKA Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Oswald Cobblepot AKA the Penguin, Roman Sionis AKA Black Mask, Edward Nigma AKA the Riddler, Basil Karlo AKA Clayface, Dr. Jonathan Crane AKA the Scarecrow, Dr. Hugo Strange, Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot, Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke, and Bane. Character analysis/how to create the definitive Wonder Woman, along with her supporting characters, including Queen Hippolyta, Antiope, Artemis, Steve Trevor, Major Keith Griggs, General Phillip Darnell, Etta Candy, and Donna Troy, and Wonder Woman's antagonists, including Baroness Paula Von Gunther, Doctor Poison, Doctor Psycho, Giganta, Cheetah (either Priscilla Rich or Barbara Ann Minerva), Ares, and Circe. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Hal Jordan, Kilowog, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, the Manhunters, Doctor Polaris, Black Hand, the Star Sapphire Corps, Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps, and Sinestro and the Sinestro Corps. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Captain America and his supporting characters, including Peggy Carter, Sharon Carter, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, and Sam Wilson AKA Falcon, and Captain America's antagonists, including Johann Schmidt AKA the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, Baron Heinrich Zemo, Baron Helmut Zemo, Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, Batroc the Leaper, Brock Rumlow AKA Crossbones, Karl Morgenthau AKA Flag-Smasher, the Hate-Monger, and Taskmaster. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of the Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm), Namor, Doctor Doom, Kang the Conqueror, Galactus, and the Silver Surfer. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Bruce Banner/Hulk and his supporting characters, including Rick Jones, Betty Ross, Dr. Leonard Samson, and Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, and the Hulk's antagonists, including General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Major Glenn Talbot, Samuel Sterns AKA the Leader, Emil Blonsky AKA the Abomination, the Absorbing Man, and Zzzax. Character analysis for Peter Parker/Spider-Man that includes Ben and May Parker, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, Liz Allan, Debra Whitman, Mary Jane Watson, and Gwen Stacy. Character analysis for Adrian Toomes AKA the Vulture, Dr. Otto Octavius AKA Doctor Octopus, Dr. Curtis Connors AKA the Lizard, William Baker/Flint Marko AKA the Sandman, Quentin Beck AKA Mysterio, Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin, Sergei Kravinov AKA Kraven the Hunter,,Michael Morbius, and Eddie Brock/Venom. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Thor Odinson, along with his supporting characters, including King Odin, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg), and Thor's antagonists, including Amora the Enchantress, Skurge the Executioner, Laufey, Loki, Malekith the Accursed, Kurse, Hela, Surtur, Jormungand the Midgard Serpent, and Gorr the God Butcher. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Tony Stark/Iron Man, along with his supporting characters, including Edwin Jarvis or JARVIS, Happy Hogan, James Rhodes, Pepper Potts, and Iron Man's antagonists, including Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Whiplash, Whirlwind, Blizzard, Ghost, Count Nefaria, Madam Masque, MODOK, AIM, Controller, Living Laser, Justin Hammer, Obadiah Stane, Fin Fang Foom, and the Mandarin. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Charles Xavier AKA Professor X, Scott Summers AKA Cyclops, Jean Grey, Dr. Henry McCoy AKA Beast, Ororo Munroe AKA Storm, Piotr Rasputin AKA Colossus, Kurt Wagner AKA Nightcrawler, and their antagonists, including Raven Darkholme AKA Mystique, Magneto, Mister Sinister, and Apocalypse. Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Wolverine and his antagonists, including Cyber, Dr. Abraham Cornelius, Sabretooth, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike, Silver Samurai, Romulus, Ogun, and Lazaer. Character analysis for Sherlock Holmes including the original literary Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, compared to the portrayals in film and TV, including Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing, Christopher Plummer, Jeremy Brett, Robert Downey, Jr., and Benedict Cumberbatch. Character analysis for Count Dracula, including the original literary Dracula written by Bram Stoker, compared to Bela Lugosi's Dracula from Universal's 1931 film, Christopher Lee's Dracula from Hammer Studios' 1958 film Horror of Dracula, Gary Oldman's Dracula in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula, Dracula Vlad Tepes from either Castlevania the video game or the anime, or Adam Sandler's Dracula from Hotel Transylvania. Character analysis for Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro, including the original literary Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks's Zorro from the 1920 silent film The Mark of Zorro, Tyrone Power's Zorro from the 1940 film The Mark of Zorro, Anthony Hopkins's Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro from the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro, and Antonio Banderas's Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro from The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, and by extension, Puss In Boots by DreamWorks Animation, appearing in Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Puss In Boots, and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, who was basically Puss In Boots in name only, and just Zorro as an orange cat wearing a pair of black leather boots, a black leather hat with a yellow feather, a black cape, who fights with a sword. Character analysis/how to create the definitive James Bond, including the original literary James Bond written by Ian Fleming, compared to the on-screen portrayals by Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Can also include his villains from the novels compared with the film versions.
That dude is a jerk who completely misunderstands and generalizes it in general he’s completely false there are a lot of modern female characters like that they prob just aren’t in things he’s watched
If they have zero flaws they are soulless Mary sues if they have too many flaws they are annoying and unlikable People like him need to shut up and make up their minds and stop spreading hate and negativity
Healthy codependency. That’s a really good way of putting it. I often talk about how codependency depicted in this show is bad or negative surrounding the characters of Willow, Riley and even Xander. But codependency in itself is not bad or negative. There is heathy versions just as there are unhealthy versions. And yes, despite how much I can’t stand the way the Scoobies treat Buffy sometimes, she’s definitely better off with them in her life than without them. And vice versa of course. The main problem I have with Season 7 is really how they don’t consider this even half as much as they used to even though it’s the season where they need to work as a team the most. I mean the ‘father figure’ starts to act like your average Council Watcher again and a lot is taken away from Buffy and Giles’ dynamic because of it. The intelligent nerdy girl and best friend is suffering with her own self-control issues and therefore can’t be as useful as she probably wants to be to the Slayer. Plus their relationship is in shambles following the events of Season 6 and doesn’t get properly reconciled. It’s sort of just skimmed over as a “necessary” requirement to the final plot. And as for Xander… well… perpetual victim mode is just something that never really seems to change for him and as for how that informs his relationship with Buffy… well, let’s just say he deserved to say what he did in ‘Empty Places’ as much as I hate that episode. I don’t know. They’re all just sort of ‘Scooby Gang but less’ in this final season. They’re so distant and empty. It’s not enjoyable to watch. It’s frustrating because everything just feels forced rather than natural. The organically built significant character interaction just isn’t there between really any of the main characters and because they bring in a load of other characters (the potentials) that may be the focus of the season but don’t really get proper development either, it all plays out like one big chaotic mess. But not like the way it does with Season 6 - which the point is for it to play out like one big chaotic mess for the sake of the main character’s representation and development (both negative and positive). In other words: it feels unintentional and therefore unnecessary. Like the writers didn’t know what they wanted to do but because it was the season to end off the entire show, just did what they thought might be entertaining and compelling but, to me, ended up being anything but. Yeah, Buffy is one of the greatest superheroines ever. But only when they they knew what they were doing. And I’m not convinced they always did. Still, it’s a hell of a lot better than what we get today with female superheroines - which as you’ve pointed out - may as well be cardboard cut outs given the lack of emotional vulnerability they display on screen. You’ve got to hand it to Gellar - she definitely knew how to portray a very relatable and human superheroine. And you can see how she was stronger for it, not weaker. That is indeed the problem with depiction of “feminism” on TV today. Which is why I just turn it off. It is not inspiring or motivating to watch. It’s fucking insulting. Well-written characters have layers… depth… nuance. They fluctuate because real people fluctuate. They’re flawed because real people are flawed. Females characters in particular get shafted of all of this characterisation because it’s “feminism” written by people who don’t know or understand how important keeping the balance is. Sure most of it is because of how she’s written. But Gellar understood the assignment. I just wish they ended the show the way they began it. As a family. You have the parallel shots of Buffy, Willow and Xander walking off side by side together and Giles staying behind and making a witty comment about how “the Earth is doomed” with this rag-tag lot in ‘The Harvest’ and ‘Chosen’ which is meant to be as a tribute to how far they’ve come but that they’re still the same as they always were and it just doesn’t land in the same way because of how much they’re NOT “together” in it. Other people might think that that’s a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful character-driven saga but I don’t feel it because it’s contrived. I like the idea. I like the message. I just don’t like the execution of it all.
Yeah season 7 is definitely a little bit off for me for the reasons you've described and I thought the finale was a bit too convenient (trying to be spoiler-free here...). And yeah I definitely want to do a video about Buffy's relationships with men, but will have to try and do it in a way that is respectful and self-aware of my limitations as a man x)
@@AuthorsAnvil ah don’t worry about it. your thoughts are your thoughts. Doesn’t matter what gender you are. I mean I’m a female and I blast Willow (who’s my favourite Buffyverse character) to all hell for basically date-raping her girlfriend since the narrative never seems to acknowledge rape/sexual assault when it’s a women that is the perpetrator rather than the victim. Hell, that needs an essay all of its own. Which I’ve actually already written 🤣 I mean despite ‘BTVS’ being a cult classic, it definitely is a product of its time when it comes to the subject of informed consent or lackthereof.
@@Girl4Music I would love to read your essay on the topic of how Willow abused Tara. Have you published it? I have never seen that issue analyzed and it definitely needs to be thoughtfully deconstructed.
I watched BtVS for the first time as an adult and one of the things I really appreciate about it is it's willingness for the characters to be broken, and wrong, and flawed and then they hurt each other and then forgive each other and grow. It's so incredibly relatable.
@amieridley1150 Buffy gained the telepathy that was the aspect of the demon in episode 18 of season 3, because what aspect has meaning as part or feature of something?
Buffy is an amazing character I really enjoyed her arc throughout the series Sarah Michelle gellar did such a great job in the role she's truly underrated
She's an icon she's a legend and she is the moment, NOW COME ON NOW
@buff_0292 Buffy gained the telepathy that was the aspect of the demon in episode 18 of season 3, because what aspect has meaning as part or feature of something?
Re terminology, I’d use the phrase “healthy interdependence” rather than “healthy codependency”; the term “codependency” specifically refers to negative patterns, while “interdependence” highlights the reality that humans need one another.
Buffy rocks better then the girls of today.
You can uplift something without tearing down something else they all have their own charm it’s not a competition
Buffy gained the telepathy that was the aspect of the demon in episode 18 of season 3, because aspect has the meaning of part or feature of something?
I agree with your conclusion. Compare Buffy to somewhat like Bella from Twilight. Now I don't think all of Twilight is bad, but as a protagonist, Bella is as shallow and flimsy as the paper she was created on. She does have codependencies too over the course of multiple films, but they aren't healthy like Buffy's and her character doesn't change much from the first film to the last unlike Buffy's which undergoes the unbelievable progress and arc you highlight here. Good video essay.
The Critical Drinker made a video “Why Modern Movies Suck - The ‘Strong Female Character’”. That video explains that most female characters in movies and TV have been reduced to shallow, heartless, soulless, overpowered girl bosses who have no character flaws, no human personalities or redeeming character traits, and never struggle or fail at anything.
I also liked this video about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the part about Buffy Summers' cast of supporting characters reminded me of these brilliant ideas for upcoming Author's Anvil videos in the future:
How to create the definitive versions of Superman's supporting characters, including Jonathan and Martha Kent, Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Cat Grant, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White, and a character analysis/"how to properly write" video for Superman's other antagonists, including Winslow Percival Schott AKA Toyman, Bizarro, the Parasite (either Raymond Maxwell Jensen, Rudy Jones, or Joshua Michael Allen), Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Lobo, and Mongul. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen should certainly have their own videos, and so should Toyman, Mr. Mxyzptlk, and Lobo.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive Batman. Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Richard Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon, Vicki Vale, and Commissioner James Gordon should also be included.
Character analysis/How to create the definitive versions of Batman's other antagonists, including Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman, Pamela Lillian Isley AKA Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Oswald Cobblepot AKA the Penguin, Roman Sionis AKA Black Mask, Edward Nigma AKA the Riddler, Basil Karlo AKA Clayface, Dr. Jonathan Crane AKA the Scarecrow, Dr. Hugo Strange, Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot, Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke, and Bane.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive Wonder Woman, along with her supporting characters, including Queen Hippolyta, Antiope, Artemis, Steve Trevor, Major Keith Griggs, General Phillip Darnell, Etta Candy, and Donna Troy, and Wonder Woman's antagonists, including Baroness Paula Von Gunther, Doctor Poison, Doctor Psycho, Giganta, Cheetah (either Priscilla Rich or Barbara Ann Minerva), Ares, and Circe.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Hal Jordan, Kilowog, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, the Manhunters, Doctor Polaris, Black Hand, the Star Sapphire Corps, Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps, and Sinestro and the Sinestro Corps.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Captain America and his supporting characters, including Peggy Carter, Sharon Carter, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, and Sam Wilson AKA Falcon, and Captain America's antagonists, including Johann Schmidt AKA the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, Baron Heinrich Zemo, Baron Helmut Zemo, Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, Batroc the Leaper, Brock Rumlow AKA Crossbones, Karl Morgenthau AKA Flag-Smasher, the Hate-Monger, and Taskmaster.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of the Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm), Namor, Doctor Doom, Kang the Conqueror, Galactus, and the Silver Surfer.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Bruce Banner/Hulk and his supporting characters, including Rick Jones, Betty Ross, Dr. Leonard Samson, and Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, and the Hulk's antagonists, including General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Major Glenn Talbot, Samuel Sterns AKA the Leader, Emil Blonsky AKA the Abomination, the Absorbing Man, and Zzzax.
Character analysis for Peter Parker/Spider-Man that includes Ben and May Parker, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, Liz Allan, Debra Whitman, Mary Jane Watson, and Gwen Stacy.
Character analysis for Adrian Toomes AKA the Vulture, Dr. Otto Octavius AKA Doctor Octopus, Dr. Curtis Connors AKA the Lizard, William Baker/Flint Marko AKA the Sandman, Quentin Beck AKA Mysterio, Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin, Sergei Kravinov AKA Kraven the Hunter,,Michael Morbius, and Eddie Brock/Venom.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Thor Odinson, along with his supporting characters, including King Odin, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg), and Thor's antagonists, including Amora the Enchantress, Skurge the Executioner, Laufey, Loki, Malekith the Accursed, Kurse, Hela, Surtur, Jormungand the Midgard Serpent, and Gorr the God Butcher.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Tony Stark/Iron Man, along with his supporting characters, including Edwin Jarvis or JARVIS, Happy Hogan, James Rhodes, Pepper Potts, and Iron Man's antagonists, including Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Whiplash, Whirlwind, Blizzard, Ghost, Count Nefaria, Madam Masque, MODOK, AIM, Controller, Living Laser, Justin Hammer, Obadiah Stane, Fin Fang Foom, and the Mandarin.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Charles Xavier AKA Professor X, Scott Summers AKA Cyclops, Jean Grey, Dr. Henry McCoy AKA Beast, Ororo Munroe AKA Storm, Piotr Rasputin AKA Colossus, Kurt Wagner AKA Nightcrawler, and their antagonists, including Raven Darkholme AKA Mystique, Magneto, Mister Sinister, and Apocalypse.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive version of Wolverine and his antagonists, including Cyber, Dr. Abraham Cornelius, Sabretooth, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike, Silver Samurai, Romulus, Ogun, and Lazaer.
Character analysis for Sherlock Holmes including the original literary Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, compared to the portrayals in film and TV, including Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing, Christopher Plummer, Jeremy Brett, Robert Downey, Jr., and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Character analysis for Count Dracula, including the original literary Dracula written by Bram Stoker, compared to Bela Lugosi's Dracula from Universal's 1931 film, Christopher Lee's Dracula from Hammer Studios' 1958 film Horror of Dracula, Gary Oldman's Dracula in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula, Dracula Vlad Tepes from either Castlevania the video game or the anime, or Adam Sandler's Dracula from Hotel Transylvania.
Character analysis for Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro, including the original literary Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks's Zorro from the 1920 silent film The Mark of Zorro, Tyrone Power's Zorro from the 1940 film The Mark of Zorro, Anthony Hopkins's Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro from the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro, and Antonio Banderas's Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro from The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, and by extension, Puss In Boots by DreamWorks Animation, appearing in Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Puss In Boots, and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, who was basically Puss In Boots in name only, and just Zorro as an orange cat wearing a pair of black leather boots, a black leather hat with a yellow feather, a black cape, who fights with a sword.
Character analysis/how to create the definitive James Bond, including the original literary James Bond written by Ian Fleming, compared to the on-screen portrayals by Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Can also include his villains from the novels compared with the film versions.
That dude is a jerk who completely misunderstands and generalizes it in general he’s completely false there are a lot of modern female characters like that they prob just aren’t in things he’s watched
If they have zero flaws they are soulless Mary sues if they have too many flaws they are annoying and unlikable
People like him need to shut up and make up their minds and stop spreading hate and negativity
@@friedrodent112which car grant
Did u comment this cuz u agree with it or just to point out that it exists cuz it’s clearly false
Healthy codependency.
That’s a really good way of putting it.
I often talk about how codependency depicted in this show is bad or negative surrounding the characters of Willow, Riley and even Xander. But codependency in itself is not bad or negative. There is heathy versions just as there are unhealthy versions. And yes, despite how much I can’t stand the way the Scoobies treat Buffy sometimes, she’s definitely better off with them in her life than without them. And vice versa of course.
The main problem I have with Season 7 is really how they don’t consider this even half as much as they used to even though it’s the season where they need to work as a team the most. I mean the ‘father figure’ starts to act like your average Council Watcher again and a lot is taken away from Buffy and Giles’ dynamic because of it. The intelligent nerdy girl and best friend is suffering with her own self-control issues and therefore can’t be as useful as she probably wants to be to the Slayer. Plus their relationship is in shambles following the events of Season 6 and doesn’t get properly reconciled. It’s sort of just skimmed over as a “necessary” requirement to the final plot. And as for Xander… well… perpetual victim mode is just something that never really seems to change for him and as for how that informs his relationship with Buffy… well, let’s just say he deserved to say what he did in ‘Empty Places’ as much as I hate that episode.
I don’t know. They’re all just sort of ‘Scooby Gang but less’ in this final season. They’re so distant and empty. It’s not enjoyable to watch. It’s frustrating because everything just feels forced rather than natural. The organically built significant character interaction just isn’t there between really any of the main characters and because they bring in a load of other characters (the potentials) that may be the focus of the season but don’t really get proper development either, it all plays out like one big chaotic mess. But not like the way it does with Season 6 - which the point is for it to play out like one big chaotic mess for the sake of the main character’s representation and development (both negative and positive). In other words: it feels unintentional and therefore unnecessary. Like the writers didn’t know what they wanted to do but because it was the season to end off the entire show, just did what they thought might be entertaining and compelling but, to me, ended up being anything but.
Yeah, Buffy is one of the greatest superheroines ever. But only when they they knew what they were doing. And I’m not convinced they always did. Still, it’s a hell of a lot better than what we get today with female superheroines - which as you’ve pointed out - may as well be cardboard cut outs given the lack of emotional vulnerability they display on screen.
You’ve got to hand it to Gellar - she definitely knew how to portray a very relatable and human superheroine. And you can see how she was stronger for it, not weaker. That is indeed the problem with depiction of “feminism” on TV today. Which is why I just turn it off. It is not inspiring or motivating to watch. It’s fucking insulting. Well-written characters have layers… depth… nuance. They fluctuate because real people fluctuate. They’re flawed because real people are flawed. Females characters in particular get shafted of all of this characterisation because it’s “feminism” written by people who don’t know or understand how important keeping the balance is.
Sure most of it is because of how she’s written. But Gellar understood the assignment. I just wish they ended the show the way they began it. As a family. You have the parallel shots of Buffy, Willow and Xander walking off side by side together and Giles staying behind and making a witty comment about how “the Earth is doomed” with this rag-tag lot in ‘The Harvest’ and ‘Chosen’ which is meant to be as a tribute to how far they’ve come but that they’re still the same as they always were and it just doesn’t land in the same way because of how much they’re NOT “together” in it. Other people might think that that’s a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful character-driven saga but I don’t feel it because it’s contrived. I like the idea. I like the message. I just don’t like the execution of it all.
Yeah season 7 is definitely a little bit off for me for the reasons you've described and I thought the finale was a bit too convenient (trying to be spoiler-free here...). And yeah I definitely want to do a video about Buffy's relationships with men, but will have to try and do it in a way that is respectful and self-aware of my limitations as a man x)
@@AuthorsAnvil ah don’t worry about it. your thoughts are your thoughts. Doesn’t matter what gender you are.
I mean I’m a female and I blast Willow (who’s my favourite Buffyverse character) to all hell for basically date-raping her girlfriend since the narrative never seems to acknowledge rape/sexual assault when it’s a women that is the perpetrator rather than the victim. Hell, that needs an essay all of its own. Which I’ve actually already written 🤣
I mean despite ‘BTVS’ being a cult classic, it definitely is a product of its time when it comes to the subject of informed consent or lackthereof.
@@Girl4Music I would love to read your essay on the topic of how Willow abused Tara. Have you published it?
I have never seen that issue analyzed and it definitely needs to be thoughtfully deconstructed.
my number one fave show and you summed it up beautifully :)
Thanks! Hoping to do more Buffy content in the future!
How dare you jump scare me with Doug Ford at 0:22
It’s quake for me but buffy is cool
I would love to see a video on angel I watch season 1 of it and thought it was a good first season
😎🙏💯
Not the best Superhero at all.
because its BUFFY...forever she will reign