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Post by nl197 on Oct 3, 2010 19:18:29 GMT -5
After reading some Buffy season 6 talk, and finding my own thoughts on it have changed over time I started to wonder how common it is for that to happen.
I see a lot of absolutes when it comes to liking/disliking characters, episodes and even shows. A year ago I would have said Buffy Summers was the one character on her own show I flat-out didn't like, but that all changed when I revisited the whole series earlier this year, enjoying her journey so much that I'm doing it again. The passage of time has mellowed me on seasons 6 and 7 as well. I used to think the series ended with "The Gift", and now I can say with certainty that there isn't a single episode of either series I can think of as just plain not liking. There are still disagreements with how certain things play out, but that's as far as it goes. Exceptions to this are Andrew, Warren and "Evil" Cordelia. I still despise them.
"Dollhouse" was a show I found interesting, then lost that fast in season 2 when it became a game of Beat The Clock, cramming all sorts of kitchen sink ideas in there before the show ended, and I have no desire to ever see it again. Maybe time will change that, but that proves it obviously goes both ways.
So...anyone else here kind of mellow out on any of the series or characters as time has gone on, or have you found yourself doing the opposite, leaning more towards more absolute love/hate opinions instead?
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Post by orangejuicepony on Oct 4, 2010 0:43:51 GMT -5
I really hated season 7 the first time I watched it. I hated post-evil Willow, I hated General!Buffy, I hated Kennedy and her relationship with Willow, I liked crazy Spike but then he turned all timid and I disliked that. I didn't like how little Willow, Xander, and Dawn had pretty much nothing to do for the second half of the season just to make room for the potentials who I did not care about in the least. I hated Caleb, and I was extremely bored with watching everyone stuck in the house for most of the season. The first time I watched it I was highly disappointed and I complained about it loudly to anyone who would listen. Then when I decided to re-watch Buffy I was definitely not looking forward to making myself sit through season 7, but I decided that I was going to watch it and concentrate on all of the good things in it. I watched it again and realized that the way the characters were acting really fit well with where they left off in season 6, so I was okay with it. I didn't dislike Kennedy as much as I had during my previous viewing. I still thought she was too bratty, and still didn't like Willow with her but there wasn't any intense hatred there. Caleb, I realized was a good villain (I still hate him though because what he did to Xander is the only scene in the series that I cannot bring myself to watch. But I watched the 7th season and picked out all of the awesome dialogue and it helped me to like it more. I payed more attention to Andrew, and I tried to give the potentials a chance instead of just disliking the fact that they were there and taking time away from Willow and Xander. I came to realize that I actually really liked Vi and Amanda. With all those things taken into consideration, when I watched it a second time, I actually enjoyed the 7th season. Then my Buffy-loving fans jumped down my throat and told me how wrong I was for thinking that, but all I really want is for more people to give the 7th season another chance. Look deeper into the characters and it's all very enjoyable.
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Post by whitecandy on Oct 4, 2010 3:57:53 GMT -5
When I first watched Buffy I loved the relationship between her and Angel, and how tragic and painful it was. Then as I got older it started to annoy me, I started to see Angel as a bit annoying and drippy (in Buffy not in Angel the series) and I got annoyed with Buffy for being so weak and wussy over him all the time. I guess my feelings changed towards them as my feelings changed towards my own perception of relationships and what I liked in men.
I also wasn't keen on series 7 when I first watched it, but my appreciation for it has grown as I have realised its place in the buffyverse.
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jellymoff
Ensouled Vampire
Claimer of Funn[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,174
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Post by jellymoff on Oct 4, 2010 9:38:59 GMT -5
I think our opinions and views change as we change. You may be able to identify with a character or situation better after you have certain experiences. Love is a perfect example; I think people look at things differently after they have been in love for the 1st time. You know, certain songs you thought were lame now make sense, etc.
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drusillacakes
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Teacup Humans
Fond memories[Mo0:19]
Posts: 1,680
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Post by drusillacakes on Oct 4, 2010 9:51:48 GMT -5
I used to be quite anti-Riley, but especially since I joined SA, and re-watched S4, I definitely have started to see him differently. He's not so bad after all.
Time has not changed my love for Spike or for Dru however.. that has stood the test of time.
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Post by dragonweaver on Oct 4, 2010 14:02:51 GMT -5
I agree with jellymoff. I think a lot of opinions we have can change with time and experience and Buffy is no exception.
In fact as I've grown older my opinion on certain aspects of Buffy, both the show and the characters, has changed a few times. Episodes & characters I originally didn't like have become favorites while others have lost their appeal. And then later on I've changed my mind again after re-watching the series. Also watching with other people adds another perspective to the show I didn't have when I originally watched on my own.
If you'd like examples, didn't like Riley at first, now I love his character. Couldn't care less about Buffy and Angel together, but now I feel their love story is one of the best I've seen. Season 6 & 7 originally left me feeling the hollow and uninterested, but upon re-watching I learn to really find the positives and I learned to love those seasons and what they offered to the Buffyverse.
People change, and in spite of all the changes and experiences I've gone through, Buffy still remains one of my favorite shows...ever.
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Post by henzINNIT on Oct 4, 2010 14:38:48 GMT -5
Change? Absolutely. Mostly my opinions become stronger over time rather than a change of perspective, but they are often shifting.
I always disliked Season 6, but now I've all but disowned it. I keep the DVD because the bits that tie to Angel make it too hard to erase totally. I've already gotten rid of all traces of season 8, it was a source of constant frustration and I'm much happier without it in my life, haha
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Post by midwesternwatcher on Oct 4, 2010 19:41:46 GMT -5
Mostly, my opinions also get stronger. I loved season 6 from the beginning, and as time goes on, I love it more and more. I'm rewatching it right now. One change: at first the Spike-Buffy romance didn't make sense to me, but the more I see it and think of it, the more it makes sense.
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Iceeh★
Bad Ass Wicca
Also, Angels.
Somewhere, along in the bitterness.[Mo0:7]
Posts: 2,298
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Post by Iceeh★ on Oct 4, 2010 19:42:04 GMT -5
Season 6 used to be my absolute favorite, and now I pretend that it doesn't exist. I also used to be a big fan of Season 8... but...
And I used to HATE Season 4, until I realized that it was a season full of awesome episodes with a bad main arc.
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Jezebel Jinx
Descendant of a Toaster Oven
[Mo0:15]
Posts: 640
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Post by Jezebel Jinx on Oct 4, 2010 23:07:08 GMT -5
There are definitely some opinions that I had when I first watched the show (both shows) that I don't have now or don't feel nearly as strongly as I did when the show first aired. But there have also been opinions that have stayed the same or have gotten stronger over the years.
With Cordelia, for example, I started watching Buffy when I was in high school and I had been picked on by a couple of girls who were very Cordelia-esq. They made a huge deal about how much money they (their parents) had, they were in a popular crowd, and they would make fun of me for the dumbest things. So I hated Cordelia during my original viewing of BtVS and even much of Angel. However as I've gotten further away from high school I don't hate Cordelia anymore (except in a couple of episodes here and there). Again during my original viewing, in the ep Lover's Walk I felt heartbroken for Oz but I didn't care and was even a little joyous that Cordelia got her heart smashed. Now when I watch that episode I feel so much pain for both Cordelia and Oz.
On the flip side of that I didn't really find Dawn all that annoying on my first watching. Didn't love her character but she didn't get on my nerves a lot. However years later I can't stand her. There are very few episodes where I say that I liked Dawn for the whole ep.
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N.D.U.O
Rogue Demon Hunter
The Bird Lady of Alcatraz
The Shape of Buffy's nose is weird...[Mo0:25]
Posts: 450
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Post by N.D.U.O on Oct 5, 2010 14:55:51 GMT -5
I used to hate Angel - with a passion. Now he's my 4th favourite character. I think I realised that Bangel wasn't for me at all. But Angel without Buffy is a really good thing.
I used to love Spuffy - they wer hot and sexy and passionate. But now they're violent and abusive. I suddenly see them as people. I wouldn't want to be on either side of that relationship.
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Silver
Potential Slayer
Done & Dusted[Mo0:3]
Posts: 154
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Post by Silver on Oct 5, 2010 17:17:57 GMT -5
My two pet hates caharacter wise has always been Riley and Faith. My opinion on Faith has softened over the years but not Riley, maybe one day that will happen.
I usually find my opinions change on plots more than anything else. For example when Xander makes a right pratt of himself to do with the Inca Mummy Girl. When I first watched I though that it was great, then another time stupid. I think it all comes down to the mood we are in at the time.
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Post by Jsebold87 on Oct 5, 2010 17:26:05 GMT -5
I really hated Anya my first time through the series, but I loved her after I saw Selfess. That episode changed my views on her. Now she's my favorite character.
I was also a huge Bangel fan when I first watched the show, but not so much anymore.
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foxchyck
Innocent Bystander
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 12
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Post by foxchyck on Oct 5, 2010 19:47:41 GMT -5
When I first watched the show I remember slowly growing to not care for Buffy much, but the more recently watch-thru I sympathized with her more. What surprised me is how much I grew to dislike Xander on the recent watch-thru, due to how often he was actually kinda mean and pig-headed. Seasons I previously thought were the pinnacle (2 and 3) I now found kinda boring and skipped through (yay Netflix streaming!), and I loved the lighthearted feel of a lot of season 4. There's probably more, but yeah, my opinions did change.
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Post by dragonweaver on Oct 5, 2010 21:42:33 GMT -5
When I first watched the show I remember slowly growing to not care for Buffy much, but the more recently watch-thru I sympathized with her more. You know I felt that way too. Growing up watching the show I always sympathized with the supporting characters more and didn't really feel all that connected to Buffy herself, especially in later seasons, but after re-watching the series I've actually grown to really love Buffy as a character. Funny how that works.
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Randi Giles
Wise-cracking Sidekick
I Want to Believe
Moon Eyes in disguise.[Mo0:34]
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Randi Giles on Oct 6, 2010 16:59:34 GMT -5
I've have changed my mind many times over time. I used to not like Anya because I thought she was just a Cordelia replacement for Xander, but now she's too adorable not to like. Especially after I watched Selfless. I used to think season 1 was the worst season. I really can say I don't think that anymore. I used to not like Angel much at all, but I realized that I just like him better on ATS. I used to not like Riley at all. I also tend to shift a little. That's all I can think of for now.
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TheDancingSlayer
Potential Slayer
Why don't just run for a shorter distance?[Mo0:16]
Posts: 109
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Post by TheDancingSlayer on Oct 7, 2010 2:48:26 GMT -5
The second time I watched buffy all the way through I realized how amazing season two is, and how much season 1 dosent rock Season 1 seams really good if you havnt seen the other seasons! The second time I watched Angel, I couldn't belive that i even had problems comparing season 2 with season 3! What I didn't realize the first time around is that Angel is such an ass-hole for the whole second half of season 3 and personly I think Cordelia's character jumped the shark aftr she came back from her holiday with groo... and I also realized how much I love groo
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Post by nl197 on Oct 7, 2010 3:38:10 GMT -5
What I didn't realize the first time around is that Angel is such an ass-hole for the whole second half of season 3 You mean, when Angel is all distraught over losing his baby son, thinking he's dead after he was taken by one of his closest, most trusted friends? And then when he comes back he's a teenager who was raised to hate him and tries to kill him on sight? You mean that second-half of season 3? Sorry, but I fail to see how anyone can be blamed for not being a super-nice guy after that, but maybe that's me...
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BuffyFanOne
Ensouled Vampire
Warm, Delicious Cookie-Me
Claimer of Duchess Buffy![Mo0:24]
Posts: 1,933
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Post by BuffyFanOne on Oct 7, 2010 11:05:03 GMT -5
I agree about season 1 I didn't realize how much I didn't like it until I tried to get my little cousin into it and I was watching the first season w her and she HATED it. It made me realize that I still love it as cannon to the series arc but that the season is pretty weak. You can tell that they were trying to facilitate a complete story arc incase they didn't get renewed.
I also revisited my feeling for Spuffy after my season 1 revelation. I was soooo anti Spuffy that I couldn't even stand Spike as a character but going back into the series, I feel like I have a different tolerance for the Spuffy arc now that I know how it all plays out.
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Post by orangejuicepony on Oct 7, 2010 16:26:37 GMT -5
Other things that have changed upon re-watching...
I have found an appreciation for Gunn, he annoyed me the first time around because I didn't like the first few episodes he was in and I guess it stuck with me. The second time around I realized that he was a pretty amusing character, and I loved him with Fred, equally as much as I did with her and Wesley. I as the Angel characters I liked the first time around, but he did not bother me at all the second time around... except in those first few episodes.
I grew to tolerate Faith. The first time around I thought "What an idiot, she deserves to get her ass kicked." The second time I realized that she was a good villain, and that I actually liked her when she came back in dirty girls, and I loved her in every episode of Angel she was in.
I realized the same thing Iceeh did, season 4 had a lot of good episodes, but the main arc was crap. I have since embraced season 4.
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