#rose re watches btvs

[biblicalhorror]

tagged by @chasingfictions - tag 9 people you want to get to know better (thank u for tagging me 🩷)

1. three ships: this is the hardest question idk! Probably in terms of ships I've been Thinking About the most lately I'd have to go with Coffy btvs, SamFrodo lotr and Leatin the wilds

2. first ship: probably also zutara. Lol

3. currently listening: I've had Saskwatch's entire discography on repeat this morning but specifically the Nose Dive (2014) album

4. last movie: I think it may have been like 2 or 3 weeks ago when my bf and I watched the Mitchells vs the Machines. It was cute 💙

5. currently reading: so many different things lol I have a v hard time finishing books. The Power by Naomi Alderman, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (almost done with that one), A Court of Roses and Thorns by Sarah J. Maas, Becoming Dangerous (various authors), I've also technically started The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but I haven't picked it up in months lol

6. currently watching: My bf and i have been (re)watching Gravity Falls, him for the first time and I've seen bits and pieces but not all of it, so that's been fun! We've also been rewatching Community but we both might as well have the whole thing memorized

7. currently consuming: coffee and some (mildly burnt) blackberry cheesecake brownies I made last night

8. currently craving: hmmm. Noodles I think. Idk what kind though. Maybe spicy teriyaki with some tofu and broccolini and peppers

People I'd like to get to know better/ppl i know well but should do this anyway: @mustlikemeforme @sweetrevelation @sweetwateriver @meitantei-lavi @breathtakinglymiraculous @moonwitchery @mythris @questionablespecies @nightowlin

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter - Monday, January 2

BUFFY: Pressure's definitely on. I'm telling you, if I were her, I'd get outta Dodge post hasty. (Faith turns from looking at the noticeboard.) FAITH: But you're not me.

~~This Year's Girl~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

[Podfic] Secrets (Buffy/Willow, G) by Jet_pods (Jetainia)

Happy to Help (Giles/Jenny, T) by Buffy606

Ashes to Ashes (Buffy/Yakuza AU, T) by madimpossibledreamer

[Chaptered Fiction]

Origins Chapter 26 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Niamh

The Goldfish Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by honeygirl51885

take me home Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by HappyWhenItRains

Randy + Joan: As Long As You Love Me Chapter 15 (Buffy/Spike, R) by BewitchedXx

If Only Chapter 22 (Buffy/Spike, R) by MixSaysRawr

Better the Devil You Know Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, R) by SlayrGrl

The 12 Days of Christmas Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by RavenLove12, Geliot99

take me home Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by HappyWhenItRains

The Thing About Being on the Road Chapter 19 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by scratchmeout

Break Even Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike,PG) by violettathepiratequeen

The Odd Couple Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike,NC-17) by honeygirl51885

Roses for the Devil Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike,NC-17) by davidf89

[Images, Audio & Video]

Art: Happy new year everyone!! by str4berry-goblin

Art: Angel in Passion by CellStation

Art: 🧀 BTVS 422. Restless 🧀 by tmcarlee

[Fandom Discussions]

reasons why Cordelia should’ve been allowed to crossover to BTVS by someonefantastic

buffy re. Spike in 5.18 vs 5.19 by womanaction

The whole idea of “if you love something, set it free” as shown in Buffy is troubling to me by stiney

Xander and Anya in Tabula Rasa by over-the-misty-mountains

the difference between Buffy summers season one vs Buffy summers season seven just bites a chunk out of my heart by fiona-apple-stan-faith-lehane

Jeremy Renner 'critical but stable' in hospital after snow plough accident by Cheese Slices

All the weird of Season 6 is worth it for this single moment by JeSuisLaCockamouse

Angel by Alan_is_a_cat

help me place this reference by Most_Conversation595

Spoilers s1 five by five by Heavy-Ambition1161

Who wins in a fight? Glory vs Illyria by buffyandwillowbtvs

No matter what you think of the pairing, this is good advice by reina_sin_corona

Can someone explain by cutestcatlady

Everyone with Buffy collection in DVD! by AprilLutkaWings

Which character would you describe as the outcast of team Scoobie? by Opening_Knowledge868

What does everyone think of Holtz? by jdpm1991

Why didn't Angel ever collect his Vegas winnings? by simpersly

At what age did you start watching Buffy? And why? by MatchingMyDog1106

A couple of things I noticed while rewatching season 5 by Brilliant-Problem605

What would Anya and Cordelia’s interaction be like?

Ok, people of this sub, what do we think about the writing on Buffy? by Buffvamporigfan

Do you think it’s scary “Normal Again” could’ve been the reality of the show by buffyandwillowbtvs

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[juniperhillpatient]

Me: I love how Buffy is stronger than any man, that’s my favorite part of BTVS, screw obsessing over her romantic interests, that’s not the point of the show

Me after two glasses of wine: *literally sobbing my eyes out because Buffy trusted Spike to look after Dawn and Joyce before even knowing he was in love with her, just believing there was something good in him that would help her defeat this impossible evil that was unlike anything she’d dealt with*

[ayanak-archive]

hey homestuck friends, im re-reading again (using the download)

Thoughts so far:

The Sylladex jokes in the early acts continue to be hilarious, particularly John's disastrous modus - the comedy of watching the pager slip closer and closer to the last slot is really something

Every time Mom Lalonde appears on screen I feel things strongly

I love the exact brand of badass that Rose is, it's the kind that makes me laugh while I'm reading

Before Kanaya's intro, she pops up continuously in other people's introductions, trying to improve their lives (meddle). She's sweet.

Vriska.

First read: Hated her until I Suddenly didn't. Magical. Had the same reaction to Faith from BtVS (the og Vriska archetype).

Second read: Knew I would someday not hate her, but could not help but admit she started out the Worst.

Third (full, linear) read (this one): Finally I have unlocked the truest Vriska. Everything she says, from the beginning, is her trying to hold onto control while also being controlled by her Lusus, Scratch, and the guilt she feels. She's desperate to have people want to be her friend despite the terrible things she's done to them, and every time she feels that slip from her, she makes more harmful choices. It's as Kanaya says, she may step on fewer dice if she cleaned up a bit.

You remember that time when Kanaya licked her own Lusus' blood off of her hand bc she loved vampires so much. That was fucked up. I love her.

[whitewolfofwinterfell]

🔥Bangel :)

Once again, thanks so much for sending this in :)

Oh, Bangel… Where do I start with this ship? They are one of my biggest OTP’s for so many reasons -  the chemistry between the characters/actors, the passion they have, the tragedy of their story, how they’re the love of each other’s life and the fact that they have the star-crossed lovers trope down to a T (you can read more about my feelings on Bangel here and here). Bangel are really what made me fall in love with BTVS when I first watched it, because it was such an emotional and heart-wrenching story about two people who loved each other with their whole heart and soul but were never able to be together because of external forces. 

However, since this is my honest opinion I have to admit that my feelings towards Buffy and Angel have changed quite significantly since watching ATS and my recent re-watch of BTVS.

Warning: Below the cut is some mildly anti-Bangel content (wow, I never thought I’d say that on my blog), but better safe than sorry.

Seeing the development of Angel’s character on ATS (and his relationship with Cordelia) has definitely made me view the Bangel relationship in a new light. Before watching ATS I largely viewed the relationship from Buffy’s POV (since BTVS is primarily about Buffy), but watching ATS has shifted my perspective towards Angel, who I’ve completely fallen in love with as a character. Although Buffy is a constant presence in Angel’s heart, Angel goes through so much on ATS and establishes his own life completely separate from Buffy which brings purpose, family and love into his life in a way we’ve never seen before. Likewise, Buffy’s life changes a lot in Angel’s absence and she grows and changes significantly. When Buffy visits Angel in L.A. in ATS 1x19 their interactions really emphasised that fact for me - they no longer fitted in each other’s lives and Buffy didn’t have a place in Angel’s world. That doesn’t change the fact that Buffy and Angel always remained the love of each other’s lives, I strongly believe that. But I do think that Angel (not Buffy) moved on from their relationship. In ATS season 3, he grieved Buffy’s death, but he also admitted that he wasn’t broken by it like he expected to be - he was okay. He loved Buffy, but he was no longer in love with her. He’d reached a place whereby he could look back on his relationship with Buffy and remember it fondly and keep her and the love he had for her in his heart forever without it consuming him or causing him pain. That’s why ATS 5x20 is one of the most cringey and stupid episodes ever because it enters Angel into childish squabbling with Spike over who loves Buffy more and who’s more deserving of her, when Angel had spent 5 years growing and developing beyond his love for Buffy and the pain of their break-up. Without getting into the Angel/Cordelia relationship too much (because that’s a separate issue), I think that Buffy and Angel were pushed at certain points on ATS and post-season 3 of BTVS (particularly the finale) when it no longer made sense for either character because Whedon was so invested in them and they were so popular with the fans.

In regards to the Bangel relationship on BTVS, on my most recent re-watch I loved watching them as much as I always have, but I noticed the complete lack of development in their relationship, particularly in the beginning. They meet briefly a couple of times, Angel is a mysterious figure that Buffy knows little about (she doesn’t even know he’s a vampire until after she’s kissed him and he’s spent the night at her house) and then are head over heels in love with very little basis for that (with Angel it makes more sense since he had watched Buffy from afar before they met). Bangel will always be that couple whose connection goes beyond logic - it’s love at first sight, it’s intense, it’s life-changing, it’s soul destroying, it’s spiritual - and that’s what I love about them. At the same time, they are missing that foundation in their relationship and there’s no denying it. They aren’t really ever a couple in the traditional sense, there’s always some huge drama, fight or obstacle that’s in their way (not to mention the huge obstacle Angel’s vampirism in itself was for them). In comparison to Angel’s relationship with Cordelia, which involves consistent interactions in seasons 1-3 of ATS including working together, living together and going through shared traumas together (e.g. Doyle’s death), Buffy and Angel’s interactions are lacking and sporadic although they’re much more intense. Angel randomly appears, the two have a brief exchange and then he disappears again for weeks or months. There’s no consistency, there’s no opportunity for them to spend time getting to know each other or bond properly (I also have to admit Angel watching/stalking 15-year-old Buffy is kinda creepy). Essentially, their entire relationship is built upon the attraction and inexplicable bond that exits between them. That bond between Angel and Buffy can’t be quantified but everybody can see it. Like I said, it’s what I love about them, but I also appreciate ships with a more prolonged development (like Angel and Cordelia) because that feels more realistic and grounded.

My BTVS re-watch has also allowed me to see how damaging their relationship potentially could be for both Buffy and Angel. They loved each other as much as two people can love one another, and they had moments of happiness, but overall they brought nothing but misery to each other. That wasn’t directly their fault, it was usually the fault of outside forces and the nature of the supernatural world they were caught up in, but it doesn’t change the fact that they never truly made each other happy (with the exception of ATS 1x09). The fact that they were a slayer and vampire came between them, hurt them both and after the Angelus debacle, they were never the same. It doesn’t matter that Angel technically wasn’t responsible for Angelus’ actions, it was still a huge trauma for Buffy and it still remains a grey area as to how much Angel should be/can be held accountable for what he did without his soul. This is really a personal issue for me, because there are so many inconsistencies in the Buffyverse regarding the vampire with a soul vs vampire without a soul that I can no longer simply excuse Angel’s actions by saying, “It wasn’t really him”, because on some level it was (again this is a separate issue). The point is that no matter how much they loved each other, Buffy and Angel brought more heartbreak and upset to each other’s lives than anything positive. I think their relationship particularly had a significant impact on Buffy, who being so young and inexperienced in love was profoundly affected by what happened with Angel. It wasn’t just what happened when Angel lost his soul, it was also a trauma for her to have to kill him, to witness him coming back from the other side and help him heal and it was a trauma for her to see him engage romantically/sexually with Faith (even if it was part of their plan), it was a trauma for her to see the man she loved on the verge of committing suicide and it was a trauma when Angel broke up with her (despite Angel doing it for the right reasons). Buffy never opened up romantically to anyone like she did with Angel, because of the hurt she endured at his (and Angelus’) hands. How much Buffy loved Angel didn’t erase the trauma she endured because of him.

Although I have come to view the Bangel relationship in a different light, and see some of these more negative sides to their relationship, it doesn’t change the love I have for them. Nothing ever could. Watching ATS (and re-watching BTVS) has just simply removed the rose tinted goggles through which I used to view Bangel (and tend to view most of my favourite ships) and allowed me to acknowledge that their relationship isn’t perfect, which I personally see as a positive. Buffy and Angel’s actions and the ways in which they hurt each other is what makes their relationship so organic. No great love ever comes easy and it’s impossible for any couple not to hurt each other at some point during their relationship. The fact that Buffy and Angel endured so much heartbreak and couldn’t be together because of supernatural forces, the fact that they continued to love each other, yearn for each other and be there for each other is a testament to that love. There’s no other ship that comes close to having the kind of connection Buffy and Angel have in that way. Most relationships that end on TV just end, regardless of how in love the two people were, but Buffy and Angel were two people, who no matter how much time passed or who else they fell in love with, always loved each other. Their love was once in a lifetime love - they changed each other’s lives completely and their love was so strong that their connection never wavered, no matter how much time they spent apart. They had an inherent understanding and unspoken connection, and despite being natural enemies they reached each other in ways no one else had before. I also can’t speak about Bangel without mentioning Sarah and David’s chemistry which is also incredible. Their natural chemistry brought the profound connection and love between Buffy and Angel to life and made it feel completely authentic.

Phew, so those are my thoughts on Bangel. Sorry that this got so long (as always) and thanks again for asking :) 

[ialwayscomewhenyoucall]

Some of My Favorite Ladies

I was tagged by @fangirlingtodeath513 to share some of my favorite female characters...and wow, this was hard. If I could just pick ten, it would be easy as pie, but the rules say from ten different fandoms and I am a good girl who never breaks the rules. ;) I managed, but it was a close thing. (Honestly, I wanted to pick nearly all of them from Doctor Who...!)

Anyway...

The rules are to list ten of your favorite female characters from ten different fandoms and then tag ten different people.

1. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Battlestar Galactica) - I may be 39 years old, but I still have days when I say “I want to be Starbuck when I grow up.” Yes, she is deeply flawed. But she is strong, and she cares deeply, and when she has a task she throws herself into it with her everything. She is my patronus, my spirit animal, and I will always cry when I think of “Maelstrom” and the BSG finale.

2. River Song (Doctor Who) - What can be said about River that hasn’t already been said? So much of her story is some dude saying “you can’t do that” and her saying “watch me,” kicking ass while reapplying her lipstick or flirting with the Doctor. She shot a Silence she couldn’t see (behind her)--or even remember--all because she saw that Rory had a scared look on his face [”Day of the Moon”]. She loved her parents, she loved the Doctor, and she did the hard things even when she knew what was coming after. ((I need a hug))

3. Charlie Bradbury (Supernatural) - Of course. Charlie rules. But I’m not bitter. Clever, funny, adorable, just snarky enough when it’s needed...Charlie is (I refuse to even think the past tense) perfect.

4. Olivia Dunham (Fringe) - Oh Chuck how I miss this show. (And yes, I know I just mixed my fandoms. Deal with it.) Olivia is the perfect mix of strong and vulnerable. She is way badass and can take down any bad dude you throw at her, but she is so soft with Peter, or Walter, or any child who needs help. She takes the insanity of Fringe division in stride, and she survives the alternate universe on her own. Seriously amazing.

5. Luna Lovegood (the Harry Potter books) - Luna, I’ll admit, reminds me of me. Quirky. Unconcerned with what other people think. Fiercely loyal. Bookish. She is, I think, smarter than me, but she’s fictional so I don’t feel too bad about that. ;) I love her. I’ll admit it: when I re-read the series, I find myself thinking, “okay, but when do we get to Luna again??” as I read the earlier books!

6. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - this one was easy, but also not. Easy because BtVS was my first true obsession, television-wise. It was the first show I watched over and over and over, the first show I could quote long sections of, the first show I actually cried when it ended. But it was not easy too, because I also love Willow with my whole heart. And if you’d asked me to choose fifteen years ago I almost certainly would have chosen Willow. But these days I identify more with Buffy. No, I don’t have a weighty destiny or super powers (I wish), but I do have three children, and that in itself puts what sometimes feels like the weight of the world on my shoulders. Fifteen years ago I didn’t know what it felt like to be truly responsible for the life of another. Now I’m responsible for three (along with my husband, of course). It’s not the same, I know, but since my first son was born just about ten and a half years ago I find myself identifying with Buffy more and more. It’s funny how perspectives change.

Anyway, personal introspection aside, Buffy saves the world. A lot. Do I have to say more?

7. CJ Cregg (The West Wing) - Okay, I know this show has been off the air for ages. I don’t care. I love CJ. She has an impossible job and she does it with grace and courage with the whole world watching her...and then she gets an even more impossible job, and she’s even better. And she’s not afraid to speak her mind to the president, or whoever needs to hear it. Awesome.

8. Alanna of Trebond and Olau (Song of the Lioness quartet and other books of Tortall by Tamora Pierce) - And here’s where I delve into places it’s likely fewer people have gone....but really should. I first picked up Alanna: The First Adventure, the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet, when I was 12. I found it on a paperback rack in my middle school’s library. I was instantly hooked, and I’ve never looked back. Ten year old Alanna and her twin brother, Thom, have a problem. Alanna is supposed to go to the convent to learn to be a lady. Thom is supposed to go to the palace to learn to be a knight. But Alanna wants to be a knight and Thom wants to study magic. So they trade places. Alanna becomes Alan, hiding her sex. (Thom is lucky; at the convent they train boys to use magic as well as training up girls to be young noblewomen.) It is never easy, but the lesson is a good one--not that “boy” things are better, but that one should be free to choose whichever path they want in life, if they are willing to work for it.

I’ve read and re-read these books over and over and over again. It was actually difficult to choose my favorite of Pierce’s heroines (each quartet focuses on a different character but they all take place in the same world and interconnect). Alanna will probably be my favorite forever just because she was the first, but I also love her daughter, Aly

9. Lirael, daughter of the Clayr (the Old Kingdom books, by Garth Nix) - These books are very, very high on my list of all-time favorites, and Lirael herself is a big part of that. For a long time she struggles with finding her place in a world that doesn’t seem to want her, but when she finds her true calling she steps into her place without hesitation. It’s beautiful to “see”. Plus she starts out as a magic-wielding, crossbow-carrying librarian. Awesome.

(Okay, feel free to laugh at me for this last one, I can take it...)

10. Fluttershy (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) - Yes. My Little Pony. I started out watching this with my little girl...but I kept watching it on my own. I’ve seen every episode...more than once. Shh! It’s our secret, okay?? ;) All of the mane six have qualities that I admire, but Fluttershy is my favorite. Again, she reminds me most of myself. She is quiet and reserved, keeping mostly to herself unless she is around her friends. But if you wrong one of her friends or her animals--watch out! She becomes a force to be reckoned with. I love that, and I can so relate.

Honorable mention: Jody Mills (SPN), Rose Tyler (Doctor Who), Donna Noble (Doctor Who), Amy Pond (Doctor Who), Willow Rosenberg (BtVS), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), Astrid Farnsworth (Fringe), Keladry of Mindalen (Tortall), Aly Homewood (Tortall)

Because who cares about the rules

And now I tag...

@bend-me-shape-me @bold-sartorial-statement @starsinursa @gneisscastiel @aldehydean @nera-solani @heyitsmebee @wanderingcas @magicknightriderjellyfish @allofmystudentsrunaway

[sulietsexual]

You did a similar thing with Charmed, so what would you say is the most traumatic thing each of the scoobies went through? (Within btvs universe)

Okay, so I’mjust going to go with the Core Four Scoobies (Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander)otherwise we’ll be here forever, given the rotation of characters on Buffy. So,here we go.

Buffy

So, for me,Buffy’s biggest trauma is somewhat complicated, because what I believe to her biggest trauma and whatthe show presents as her biggesttrauma are completely different. So I’m going to list both, and explain myreasoning behind both.

Narrativelyand within the context of the show and the character and the way the seriestook her characterisation, I would list Buffy’s resurrection as her biggesttrauma. While Buffy undergoes numerous traumas over the series and we have seenher previously suffer PTSD in the Season 2 opener When She Was Bad, herresurrection at the beginning of Season 6 seems to have traumatised her onseveral deeper levels, and it  takes hernearly the entire season to recover from the after-effects.

Not only isBuffy’s trauma linked to being violently pulled out of Heaven, she is furthertraumatised by the fact that she is resurrected in her own grave, effectivelyexperiencing what it is like to be buried alive which, thanks to the Season 1episode Nightmares, we know is one of Buffy’s biggest fears. The entireexperience, coupled with the depression she was already suffering from Season 5, combines to cause so much trauma to Buffy that she literally shuts down andcloses off from human emotions in order to cope.

That beingsaid, I personally believe that thebiggest trauma Buffy suffers is the abuse Spike puts her through. She spends allof Season 6 being victimised by Spike, emotionally and sexually. What we watchunfold over Season 6 is a classic example of an abusive relationship, and whileBuffy is trained/used to dealing with supernatural threats and living inconstant danger, she is not used to apartner who emotionally manipulates and abuses her, pushes her sexualboundaries, sexually assaults her and then attempts to rape her. Buffy might bethe Slayer but she is also human, and abusive relationships have devastating effects on the victims,often leaving them with trauma and PTSD for years afterwards.

Of coursethe show completely ignores this in favour of having Buffy prop up, coddle andcomfort her abuser, and so the trauma and PTSD she would definitely have suffered as a result of the relationship is neitheracknowledged or explored.

Giles

I would saythat Giles’ biggest trauma was losing Jenny and being the one to find her body,especially considering the manner in which he found her body.

As aWatcher, Giles is somewhat used to death and he mentions that he has lostpeople before, but Jenny seems to be the first death of someone truly close tohim, someone he loved. And while he does lose Buffy down the track, as aWatcher, he was always prepared for the day when he would lose his Slayer.Jenny’s death, however, came completely out of the blue and just as he was acknowledging hisfeelings for her again and moving towards a reconciliation, so the trauma andpain of her death cuts through him sharper and deeper than any other loss he’shad, up till that point and after.

As I pointedout, there’s also the way in whichGiles discovered Jenny’s body, which would definitely have added to his overalltrauma, as Angelus set everything up to provide maximum horror and trauma, withthe implied romantic evening, candles, roses, all leading to Giles findingJenny’s corpse in his bed, her eyes wide and dead and seemingly looking at him,a final message that he couldn’t save her. Giles’ breakdown after her death andthe way in which he recklessly goes after Angelus really shows how deep thetrauma went, as Giles is usually quite adept at keeping his emotions in check.The visceral reaction to Jenny’s death has me convinced that it was and remainsGiles’ greatest trauma.

Willow

I think theentire fandom can agree that Willow’s greatest trauma was Tara’s violent andabrupt death. As with Giles, losing a partner in such an unexpected andgruesome manner severely impacts Willow, and her subsequent rage and griefdrive her magical roaring rampage of revenge.

It’s nothard to pin down why this death traumatised Willow so much, as we know frompast experience that Willow does not handle grief or people leaving her well.When Oz cheated on her, her reaction was to cast a vengeance spell, and when heleft for good, her grief caused her to spiral so badly that she lost control ofher magic and power and put her friends in danger. So it’s no wonder thatlosing Tara in such a violent way – and actually having Tara die in her arms –had such a deep and traumatic effect on her, and given Willow’s previouscharacterisation and unhealthy coping mechanisms, it’s easy to understand whyshe went off the deep end following Tara’s untimely demise. I wish Season 7 hadexplored this grief and trauma better, instead of hurriedly shoving her into anew relationship, as the show never really allowed her to grieve properly forTara, nor work through the trauma that was so clearly still with her.

Xander

As withBuffy, I believe Xander has two traumas that vie for top billing, and evenworse than with Buffy, the show tends to gloss over both in favour of keeping Xander as the comic relief character, asopposed to trying to explore the effects of these traumas.

The firstone is somewhat of an ongoing trauma in Xander’s life, and that is his abusivehome life. Xander’s home situation and the abuse and neglect he suffers throughis alluded to numerous times throughout the show and many hints indicate that the abuse is not only emotional butphysical too, with the episode Restless all but confirming this. This ongoing abusehas an extremely detrimental effect on Xander and we clearly see this in hisday-to-day behaviour, his attitude towards women and his fears in the laterseasons of becoming an abuser, just like his father. A childhood filled withthis kind of emotional and physical abuse would have and very obviously didhave a deep and lasting impact on Xander.

The secondtrauma, and this is the one that the show completely ignores, is losing hisbest friend in such an abrupt and violent way, and being given no grieving timebefore he is instructed to kill Jesse if he gets the chance. I have spoken numerous times about the effect thistrauma had on Xander and how it is clearly shown in his attitude towardsvampires and his reaction to the Angelus period. Without re-hashing old points,Jesse’s death was traumatic enough to Xander that he was never able toreconcile Buffy allowing not one, but twovampires to survive and thrive next to the Scoobies, and he never fullylets go of his distrust towards the undead.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, December 25

Xander: So, you doing anything special? Buffy: Tree. Nog. Roast beast. Just me and Mom and hopefully an excess of gifts. What are you doing for Christmas? Willow: Being Jewish. Remember, people? Not everybody worships Santa.

~~Amends~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Feast of the Gods (Crossover with Yakuza AU, T) by madimpossibledreamer

Where the Love Light Gleams (Angel/Cordelia, G) by FanFreak611

It's a Wonderful Spike (Buffy/Spike, M) by ladyemma42

Bad Influence (Giles/Jenny, T) by RoselynnThornwood

Christmas Gift (Crossover with Supernatural, NR, Italian language) by SonGoku97

The Magic's In The Music, And The Music's In Me (Giles/Jenny, G) by ImaginationFlight

Cancelled Flight (Xander/Spike, T) by forsaken2003

All Through The House Not A Demon Was Stirring (Misc Christmas crossover, FR13) by Manchester

Last Christmas (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by honeygirl51885

The Final Straw (Buffy/Spike, 13+) by Zab Jade

[Chaptered Fiction]

years of nothing have subsided, Chapter 3 (Giles/Jenny, T) by The_Eclectic_Bookworm

Pageant of Pestilence, Chapter 1 (Giles/Jenny, NR) by KJMoran

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Chapter 1 (Giles/Jenny, E) by RachaelJurassic

Buffy Summers: Was Not The Vampire Slayer?, Chapter 19 (Buffy, T) by LadyJDee

Roses for the Devil, Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by davidf89

She Came Back Wrong, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Desicat

Ending and Beginning, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by bramcrackers

He used to be Mine, Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by DeamonQueen

It's Easy Time, Until It's Not, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, AO) by hulettwyo

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Echoes of Beljoxa, Chapter 25 (Spike/Buffy, 18+) by myrabeth

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The Body • S05E16 • TPN's Buffy Guide by Passion of the Nerd

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[Fandom Discussions]

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[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

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[juniperhillpatient]

me: I'm not gonna get emotional this time during my BTVS re-watch, I've seen this show enough times not to take it too seriously

the porch scene at the end of Fool for Love: BET

[juniperhillpatient]

We don’t talk enough about how when Darla turned Angel into a vampire it was this aesthetic Victorian setting and everything was all gothic and edgy looking and then she just straight up pushed his face into her titties and had him motorboat her 

[juniperhillpatient]

I’m on the episode “Innocence” in my Buffy re-watch and I think this era in the series really pins down why I could never get behind Buffy/Angel the way I did Buffy/Spike. Yes, Spike was a villain but he was INTRODUCED as a villain and we got to see him develop and grow and change and fall in love with Buffy even without a soul. Angel, on the other hand, was introduced as a love interest for Buffy and then totally betrayed Buffy (and by extension the audience) by going dark. I totally get the love for Bangel and yes it’s romantic and it was their first love and I absolutely love Angel as a character, I just never felt like Spike betrayed Buffy or the audience as a character even though he was a villain for a while. He developed instead of...regressing? Not sure what the right word is but I really prefer the slow burn development of Spike’s character vs. the little development and then evil-turning we got for Angel.

*disclaimer: I’m stating my personal views, there’s nothing wrong with preferring Bangel it’s all in fun it’s just shipping. Also, I’m ignoring the episode “Seeing Red” here because I believe it was poorly written shock value trash and I’ve only watched it once years ago and never will again because it’s super triggering so yeah I’m pretending that one episode isn’t canon ok*

[juniperhillpatient]

Buffy and Tara’s friendship makes me feel so warm inside and their platonic love is so underrated 🥰 Yes Tara and Willow’s romantic love is SO beautiful but I really appreciated how Buffy made sure Tara knew she was part of their little found family originally because she knew Willow loved her, but their friendship only grew over time 💞

[juniperhillpatient]

Now ‘Spangelus’? That’s a ship I can get behind 

[juniperhillpatient]

You know we really can’t ignore that Xander and Spike were roommates for almost half a season and Xander drank with and played pool with Spike when he was upset about a fight with Anya

[juniperhillpatient]

Not to be a Spuffy stan on main but Buffy had NO personal motivation for hiding Spike from the Initiative in season 4. They supposedly weren’t even allies at that point, and when Riley questioned her about why she had been hiding him she had no answer. She protected Spike because she saw something good in him and you can rip that head-canon from my cold dead hands. 

[juniperhillpatient]

literally anything big or important or meriting an emotional response in my life: *happens* 

me: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

an emotional moment in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 

me: