Official Joyce Appreciation Month

[SlayerLV]

February is...

Joyce Appreciation Month!

Tell us your favorite

• Moments
  
• Quotes
  
• Episodes or scenes
  
• What do you like most about Joyce?

[willowsummers]

Joyce is one of those characters that I didn't realize how much I liked until I saw the whole story and saw her as a whole and then I really appreciated her. My favorite moments are well almost all of School Hard hehe, her and Buffy having "the talk" about Angel, and when she's in the hospital and she tells Buffy that she knows Dawn isn't hers but she loves her anyway. Joyce may not have always been able to be the perfect parent. For one thing, there's no such thing, and for another, she was having to do it all herself. And she had Buffy to raise. lol But when things were important or when she was really tried, she always did exactly what she should have and exactly what Buffy needed.

[drusillacakes]

I think Joyce is one of those characters you can't appreciate until she's gone. In fact, The Body is still the hardest Buffy episode for me to watch. I think I've only seen it once or twice because I can't bear to watch what happens to Buffy, and her friends once Joyce dies. She was the sole source of non-slayer/mystical strength to Buffy, like her only "real" connection to a normal life. Before she was the slayer, she was just a regular girl, and I think Joyce gave Buffy that sense of normalcy.

My favorite Joyce moments pretty much includes any kind of interaction with Spike. Whether they're drinking hot choco with marshmellows, or watching Passions together, or Spike's getting hit in the head with an ax, it always made for entertaining scenes. And that short while where Joyce wanted to be involved in Buffy's slaying, and accompanied her on patrol. I also love watching Joyce revert back to her high-school persona. Who knew she wasn't such a Betty Sue and was into bad boys (like Ripper)? Hmm.. like mother like daughter?

[buffyfan21]

Yay for Joyce appreciation month. I have been waiting for this one! As you can see by my icon and banner I am a huuuge Joyce fan (I am currently playing her in the All Seasons Buffy RPG )! Sure she was only a recurring character, but definitely one of my favorites. I dunno what it is about Joyce, but I have loved her from the beginning. Watching Buffy as a teenager I often wished that Joyce was my mom. lol. Though Joyce and Buffy's relationship wasn't perfect, the fact that they really loved and cared for each other always came across, even during those times when they weren't getting along very well. You always knew that Joyce loved Buffy very much and that there wasn't a thing in this world she wouldn't do for her daughter. Like drusillacakes, I have only watched The Body a handful of times, maybe 4 at most? While it is a brilliant episode, I just can't bear to watch the death of one of my favorite characters. Favorite Joyce moments include:

Any of the moments with Spike: When they are enjoying hot chocolate together in Lovers Walk, watching Passions together in Spike's crypt. Laughing together in the Summers' kitchen as Joyce tells Spike funny stories. Hitting Spike over the head with an axe in School Hard. But my favorite Joyce/Spike moment has to be in Becoming Part II when they are sitting awkwardly together in the living room. Any time Joyce and Spike got together it was always really special. I only wish we had gotten more.

Any of the Buffy/Joyce mother/daughter moments. My favorite being in Becoming Part II when they are sitting on the couch together and Buffy lays her head on Joyce's shoulder and allows her mom to comfort her. The moment in S5 right before Joyce goes into surgery and she and Buffy have that talk. She tells Buffy how proud she is of her. A really touching moment between the two of them. Buffy and Joyce's "talk" in Passions. Awkward to watch but still a great mother/daughter scene. The ending of Anne when she and Buffy hug. The Christmas scene at the beginning of The Body. Joyce going with Buffy on patrol in Gingerbread. Joyce telling Buffy to take care of Dawn and to love her.

Other great Joyce scenes:

When Joyce recaptures her youth in Band Candy!
Twirling around in her dress wondering if it's too "momish."
Teasing Buffy about her date with Brian.
The "pumpkin belly" moment with Dawn - so cute.
Standing up to Faith in This Year's Girl.
Her talk with Angel in The Prom
All the times she told Principal Snyder where to shove it!
Joyce beating demons with a baseball bat in DMP.
And in the S8 comics when Buffy dreams that she is back in high school and Joyce is there.

Joyce was a loving mom and tough lady who didn't take crap from anybody. She wasn't afraid to stand up to anyone when it came to her family. For a woman with no supernatural ability whatsoever, she was surprisingly fearless. Which is something I have always admired and appreciated about her character.

[willowsummers]

Joyce was a loving mom and tough lady who didn't take crap from anybody. She wasn't afraid to stand up to anyone when it came to her family. For a woman with no supernatural ability whatsoever, she was surprisingly fearless.

I particularly liked this and it's so true.

[Randi Giles]

Joyce is not one of my favorite characters, but she is one of those characters worth appreciating. Pretty much every scene with her and Spike I love. I also like her scenes with Giles too.

[Jsebold87]

Joyce isn't one of my favorite characters, but I do like her. My favorite Joyce scenes would have to be the Spike/Joyce ones, they had such odd chemistry, and were incredibly interesting to watch.

[buffyfan21]

Feb 2, 2010 13:00:34 GMT -5 drusillacakes said:

She was the sole source of non-slayer/mystical strength to Buffy, like her only "real" connection to a normal life. Before she was the slayer, she was just a regular girl, and I think Joyce gave Buffy that sense of normalcy.

Good point. I definitely agree.

[CourtneyDax]

I just listened to some commentary for some random Season 3 Buffy ep, and one of the writers said they really loved Joyce because she kept the show grounded, and sometimes the show was about a girl and her mom, and those moments were special.

[buffyfan21]

^^ Aww, completely agree, Courtney. Which commentary is that?