If Hank showed up again ...

[tkts]

A little post-Fathers Day musing. I think it's safe to say that in and after Season 5, Hank is not Buffy's favorite person in the world. She never shows a lot of anger -- more just a calm acceptance that he's a deadbeat -- but there's no way she wasn't deeply hurt by being completely abandoned by the father she used to adore.

If Hank came back into the picture -- maybe in Season 8 -- would Buffy's first response be hot or cold? Would she react with anger, or would she just freeze him out? Could she eventually forgive him? Is there any way he could redeem himself in her eyes, or is it too late?

[wenxina]

Probably more distant curiosity than anything else. He was pretty much MIA post-S2. He bailed on her for the ice show, and that was that. She was hurt then, but she was also 17 going on 18.
Since then, well, Joyce died, Buffy's had to grow up fast, assume the role of mother-sister-guardian-mentor-role model (hey, Dawn's first kiss was a vampire! ), and save the world.
So, I don't think anger is really in the cards anymore. Even post-Joyce's death, Buffy just displayed a resigned acceptance towards Hank's MIA-ness.
So if he were to pop up, I'd imagine her first response being along the lines of incredulousness.

[Billie Erin]

I think she'd forgive him for hurting her but he abandoned Dawn and didn't attend her mum's funeral so I think these things would cause her to freeze him out.

[Jsebold87]

I think he really showed his colors when he didn't show up for Joyce's funeral to be there for Buffy & Dawn. Before then he was a deadbeat dad. but that act really showed who he really was. I see Giles as a more father figure to Buffy than Hank ever was.

I can relate, my real father is a deadbeat, and has been for almost all of my life.

[Tea - Total]

I didn't like Hank form the start,he cheated on Joyce which i found to be silly because Joyce can do 10 times better.But when he didn't attend Joyce's funeral then his personality really shined threw,that he was a bad dad.

Joyce's and Buffy relationship was special, their were very close which is relatable to single parents. Which i thought the bond was special.

[wenxina]

Jun 25, 2010 15:27:53 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Joyce's and Buffy relationship was special, their were very close which is relatable to single parents. Which i thought the bondage was special.

Wow... did that just go to a disturbing visual place...
I'm pretty sure you meant "bond", not "bondage". I only bring it up since this is the nth time I've seen you mix those up.
Unless you've been reading some skeevy fanfic where Buffy and Joyce tie each other up... which I don't want to hear about.

[Jsebold87]

Disturbing visual place indeed....

[Skytteflickan88]

Hank cheated? I really need to re-watch the show.

[Eric]

Jun 25, 2010 16:58:57 GMT -5 Skytteflickan88 said:

Hank cheated? I really need to re-watch the show.

Hank and Joyce were already broken up at the beginning of the series, so it's not like it's shown or anything. I think it was merely implied early on, but in "Conversations With Dead People" Buffy tells Holden that she thinks he might've cheated.

That's all I can remember.

[Tea - Total]

Jun 25, 2010 15:34:30 GMT -5 wenxina said:

Jun 25, 2010 15:27:53 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Joyce's and Buffy relationship was special, their were very close which is relatable to single parents. Which i thought the bondage was special.

Wow... did that just go to a disturbing visual place...
I'm pretty sure you meant "bond", not "bondage". I only bring it up since this is the nth time I've seen you mix those up.
Unless you've been reading some skeevy fanfic where Buffy and Joyce tie each other up... which I don't want to hear about.

God!,thanks for putting that in a embarrassing way.

You know what i meant, i meant that their have a great bond.

[Silver]

I thnk she would be cold with him, she might forgive him but never forget andthat would alwys be in the way of their relationship. I was surprised that he did not go to the funeral, they wwere quite friendly and buffy as far as I can remember was close to her father at the. He may not have accepted Dawn because he may not have had the memory planted into his mind. The monks (or whatever theywere) may have only done the menmory thing on the inhabitants of Sunnydale(?).

Yesss, just noticed got my century post up at last

[tkts]

Jun 27, 2010 9:09:02 GMT -5 Silver said:

I thnk she would be cold with him, she might forgive him but never forget andthat would alwys be in the way of their relationship. I was surprised that he did not go to the funeral, they wwere quite friendly and buffy as far as I can remember was close to her father at the. He may not have accepted Dawn because he may not have had the memory planted into his mind. The monks (or whatever theywere) may have only done the menmory thing on the inhabitants of Sunnydale(?).

I'm assuming Hank was completely unaware of Joyce's and Buffy's deaths, rather than knowing about them and not coming. While Buffy tried to get in touch with him after Joyce died -- and I think there's a reference somewhere to her trying to call him when she got sick -- there's never any indication that she succeeded in reaching him.

Re: Dawn, I think her addition was global. Otherwise, society being as connected as it is, the illusion would fall apart too quickly. We know for sure that Faith has memories of Dawn, despite having been in a Los Angeles prison when she shows up.

[Billie Erin]

^^^I think Buffy said she'd called trying to contact him but he was on holiday in Spain with his secretary or something to that effect- living the cliché

[tkts]

I got the impression that he was actually living there, but I guess that's left open to interpretation.

[Tea - Total]

I think if Hank showed up it would spoiled the show.