Question for Spuffy Fans

[gryfndor_godess]

I typically don’t stray outside Spuffy fandom on LJ, but the impression I’ve gotten over the past few months (and it could be wrong) is that S8- and let’s face it, mostly #39-40, ‘cause they were fine with the spacefrak- caused many Bangel fans disavow the comics, change their tune on the comics’ canonicity, or simply lose interest in the ship and series because they were so disgusted. It also seems as though even fans who didn’t like the comics to begin with have been turned off of fandom.

I don’t expect Spuffy to end up happily ever after.  However, I also can't imagine Buffy and Spike ever fading into a lukewarm, 100% platonic relationship.  So that begs the question, what will Joss do to ensure that they cannot be happy together?  Knowing the way Joss’s twisted little mind works, part of me thinks he’ll set up Spuffy on a grand scale only to knock it down in a horrible fashion, a la Twangel, so as to put both ships on even, scorched earth. Frankly, I’m not sure that Joss could ever do anything to destroy Spuffy as thoroughly as Bangel has been destroyed because Spike and Buffy have already dragged each other to hell and back. Barring Spike killing Dawn or actually raping Buffy, I’m not sure what he could do that would betray Buffy as much as Angel betrayed her (although I’ve probably jinxed it now that I’ve said that).

In any case, let’s suppose that Joss does his worst and ruins Spuffy as horribly as Bangel has been ruined- that Spike betrays Buffy as badly as Angel did. My question is, how would you, as a Spuffy fan, react? Would you be able to stay in fandom as usual and love Spuffy- TV Spuffy, S8 Spuffy, your own version of Spuffy, etc.- as whole-heartedly as ever? Would you be able to ignore the comics? Or would you be so disgusted that it would tarnish your love for any kind of Spuffy and make you want to leave fandom?

I’m not certain what effect it would have on me, but I think my Spuffy love would survive the trauma. Barring a miracle movie or show with all the actors, for me, canon will always have ended with NFA; so while I enjoyed the lovely Spuffy bits in S8, I wasn't and still am not heavily invested in the comics. However, I know there are Spuffy fans who take the comics a heck of a lot more seriously.

In conclusion, thoughts please: Whether you’re a fan of the comics or not, would a Spuffy implosion of Twangel proportions in the comics hurt your love? How do you think it would affect our awesome corner of fandom?

Comments

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

Barring Spike killing Dawn or actually raping Buffy, I’m not sure what he could do that would betray Buffy as much as Angel betrayed her (although I’ve probably jinxed it now that I’ve said that).

Hopefully I'm not jinxing it too, but I could envision an epic implosion due to Spike and Dawn fluking (Xander's the only one not aboard the angst train right now, and we know Joss won't let that one slide for long).

In conclusion, thoughts please: Whether you’re a fan of the comics or not, would a Spuffy implosion of Twangel proportions in the comics hurt your love? How do you think it would affect our awesome corner of fandom?

I doubt it would have much effect. The fact that many shipping communities exist despite their ships being imploded in canon suggests that Spuffy will survive in spite of any sort of implosion in the comics (which some people don't consider canon anyway).

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

but I could envision an epic implosion due to Spike and Dawn fluking

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA that would actually be hilarious in an awful way. As in, it would be complete and total (and terrible) crack!fic, and you're right, Joss is actually effed up enough that I can see it happening. And then Xander would be conveniently free for Buffy. Oh, that would all be beyond the pale.

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

And then Xander would be conveniently free for Buffy.

Or Willow. Or Andrew. =P

Or Buffy would be conveniently free for Willow! Or, *man-squee*, Willow and Xander!

Hmm, thinky thoughts: Josh once said that Xander was originally his author avatar, but the role was taken over by Buffy. Does that mean that a Bander-centric S9 would basically be Josh self-abuse in comic book form? o.O

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Does that mean that a Bander-centric S9 would basically be Josh self-abuse in comic book form? o.O

It is called narcissism (and i detect lots of that in season 8, too).

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

Touché.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

The fact that Xander was originally Joss's author-avatar is what made the Dawn/Xander stuff so icky to some fans, including me. It's like Joss is the stereotypical Rejected By Girls Nerd who then gets to reject the Popular Girl (Buffy) for a Carbon Copy (Dawn).

In any case, the idea of Buffy being his new author insert is just insulting 'cause S7 Buffy is way too good for Joss's twisted mind.

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Every female recurring and main character (with the exception of the "old" and "really lesbian") either had sex with or the hots for male-author-stand-in Xander (talk about narcissism...).

It's... eye-roll-worthy.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

It's also EW!!! Also, I don't get it. No, seriously--I don't find Xander in the least bit attractive. The S1 Willow-has-a-crush-on-him makes total sense, and I liked his dynamic with Cordy for a bit. But I seriously don't understand what everyone else sees in him.

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Well, attractiveness is subjective, i suppose. And, really it was mostly the comics which ramped that up to eleventy (with Redshirt #2, Dawn and Buffy falling over themselves to get into Xander's bed). And season 8 depicted Xander as some kind of american dream (yes, i reference Frank Zappa here). So, fanbois writing for fanbois, i presume. Narcissistic (or: the author wanking in his mind. With Jeanty's "art" as stimulus and the pen as condom).

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Of course it is. Like, I don't find Riley attractive at all, but I know a lot of people do and it makes sense to me that Buffy does. But it's too much of a stretch to me that EVERY SINGLE WOMAN would find Xander attractive. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

So, fanbois writing for fanbois, i presume.

You presume correctly, methinks.

the author wanking in his mind. With Jeanty's "art" as stimulus and the pen as condom

I will never not be laughing at this sentence.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

So, fanbois writing for fanbois, i presume.

The Bander fans I've met are also Chuck fans are also Spiderman fans. The math has been done on this.

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

So, fanbois writing for fanbois, i presume.

It's not an uncommon trope for comics, to be honest.

The audience surrogate (whether the kid sidekick or the young hero) starts off as a nerdy-yet-witty-and-lovable-loser, and eventually grows up to be a true superhero (despite comparatively limited or no powers) that all the ladies have the hots for (e.g. Dick Grayson, Bucky Barnes, Peter Parker, Kitty Pryde as a gender-flipped version).

I think the idea behind this is that people (or at least the comics fans) like to believe that if a regular guy like them were thrust into extraordinary circumstances, that they would eventually adapt and mature into the role and achieve stereotypical success (in the shape of power/money/fame/sexual attractiveness/etc). Even if most people would never want to endure horrific tragedy and train/fight on a daily basis, the idea that even a typical loser might have the potential to be a badass and a stud is a compelling one. The idea here is not dissimilar to the one behind The Replacement.

Then again, wish fulfillment is to some degree the driving force behind much of fiction, so it's probably not limited to the comics.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

This is very true. And the fanboys were pandered to in Season 8, in my humble opinion, because Xander was suddenly The Dude every girl wanted - even Buffy (though I'd argue it was the same need for connection that caused her to boink Twangel caused her to think Xander was a viable sexual partner, incestuous as that seems to everyone but Banders).

To me, it all seems pandering. Like I said. Pandering, pandering, pandering.

I like the word pandering.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

But I seriously don't understand what everyone else sees in him.

Same, mostly. I wouldn't say no to going on a date with S7 Xander 'cause by then I think he's mostly okay, personality-wise (although by that point I no longer find him physically attractive). Objectively speaking, I think S5 Xander is an attractive catch, but only if I didn't know about all the crap he pulled in earlier years, like the love spell in BBB and the hyena memory-forgetting.

Either way, the fact that every female falls for him eventually is ew, suspicious, and deeply offensive.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Your thoughts are almost mine exactly. He started out cute enough (if not at all my type) but SUCH A HORRIBLE PERSON (he's got good qualities, but there are too many moments that make me furious at him for me to really love him), then by the time he finally became a good guy (S7), I'm like you and no longer think he's cute.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I'm like you and no longer think he's cute.

I feel shallow for thinking that way, but how am I supposed to help myself with Spike around for comparison?? :D

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

He started out cute enough (if not at all my type) but SUCH A HORRIBLE PERSON (he's got good qualities, but there are too many moments that make me furious at him for me to really love him)

I'd argue he starts out as a 'typical' teenage boy, as befits his intended everyman status. YMMV, of course, on whether it's intentional that the average teenage guy is a horrible person when it comes to dealing with girls.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

Someone on one of the Whedon coms I follow on LJ posted the first part of a very x-rated Bander fic for all to see, then put the rest under the cut. There were quivering members and wet cores involved. I needed to bleach my brain, and then I thought of you, because I knew you'd have the same reaction.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

And offensive. Ugh, I hadn't even thought about that.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

S7 Buffy is my faaaaaave.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

Mine, too! :D

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Personally, I've always felt that the "Buffy is me" stuff was a tacked-on attempt to make the story seem deeper than it is.

Or he actually equates him writing a story, which he controls every aspect of, with the struggle for gender equality.

[bluemage55.livejournal.com]

See, the second one sounds ridiculous enough that it couldn't possibly be the case, but with people like Josh, you can never tell. :D

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I think his ego might be that big. :P