Question for Spuffy Fans
Jun. 13th, 2011 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gryfndor_godessI 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?
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?
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no subject
Date: 2011-06-15 08:54 am (UTC)I think it was season 6: from OMWF to SR. That said, recently Joss started recycling his storylines (another Dark!Willow twist in s8), so everything is possible.
My only problem with Spuffy in season 9 is that I don't see any base for a real, juicy conflict between B&S. A global conflict. Unlike Angel, Spike won't be pondering upon "Buffy or the world" question. He'll choose Buffy without hesitation.
I can see small, soap-opera conflicts, like Spike visiting Angel and Buffy getting mad at him, though. This idea has already got explored in "Embers" by Coalitiongirl.
But we all know that Joss loves conflicts of epic proportions. And - he loves to surpass himself. So, either Spike's epic story is done and he'll be turned into the exposition man instead of Giles, or we'd better buckle up and prepare ourselves to major GWA (gut-wrenching angst). And I don't even know what's better.
I try to not take comics seriously. But I know I can't unsee what I saw. So far, so good - Spuffy friendship, Buffy's UST, Spike's cluelessness, their mixed signals. It's too good to last long. Not in Jossverse.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-15 07:07 pm (UTC)I'd be fine if there were neither huge conflicts nor soap-opera conflicts between Buffy and Spike. There's going to be enough non-romantic conflict in the post-seed world to deal with that it would make for a nice change of pace if Buffy and Spike just got to be in a strong, solid, explicitly romantic relationship for once. It's not like it would be treading old territory.
Everyone praises Joss for his creativity and willingness to take risks, but really, he's a coward, too; he won't portray healthy love in the long-term. He can't use the excuse that there are no happily ever afters, b/c they do exist (he and his wife certainly seem to exemplify successful love), so he just won't rise to the challenge of portraying it.