Couples that never were

[XanderesqueMan]

Buffy & Owen - they were cute together and eventually her closest friends were an integral part of her fighting evil (which is what she wanted to keep Owen away from...even though she agreed to let Willow & Xander help/work with her). He would've been great at research since he's a bookworm- Giles would love him; Owen the watcher in training. He lived for the excitement and action too. They could've had him last a bit longer in s1 anyway and maybe even into s2 have Angelus kill him to really hurt Buffy even more.

I really liked Owen. I understand why Buffy felt uncomfortable with continuing to see him, not just because he would get himself hurt as she says, but also because she would always wonder if it was her that he liked or just the excitement. That said, I think he was a good guy, and it could have been interesting to keep him as a background/supporting character for the first season at least.

 

[fauxindigo]

I really liked Owen. I understand why Buffy felt uncomfortable with continuing to see him, not just because he would get himself hurt as she says, but also because she would always wonder if it was her that he liked or just the excitement. That said, I think he was a good guy, and it could have been interesting to keep him as a background/supporting character for the first season at least.

Yeah but he was really into her well before he had any inkling she was a vampire slayer.

 

[XanderesqueMan]

Yeah but he was really into her well before he had any inkling she was a vampire slayer.

That's fair, and I agree with you, but I don't think that logic would have stopped Buffy from feeling that it might be the reason he stayed even if it wasn't the reason he arrived. And she wouldn't be wrong to wonder, because she wouldn't really know, not for a fact. She could only draw inferences based on his actions.

She had a different baseline for a "healthy" reaction to what she does in Xander and Willow. They want to help her, but not out of a desire for excitement. They'd rather not have the excitement. It (rightfully) scares them. They just feel it's the right thing to do, and they feel loyalty to her because she saved their lives and they've become friends as a result. Owen's reaction stood in contrast to that and it (rightfully) concerned her. She might have been wrong, but she wasn't wrong to be concerned, in my opinion.

 

[BuffyElevated]

Buffy & Owen - they were cute together and eventually her closest friends were an integral part of her fighting evil (which is what she wanted to keep Owen away from...even though she agreed to let Willow & Xander help/work with her). He would've been great at research since he's a bookworm- Giles would love him; Owen the watcher in training. He lived for the excitement and action too. They could've had him last a bit longer in s1 anyway and maybe even into s2, have Owen comfort Buffy after Angel breaker her heart and then Angelus kill him to hurt Buffy even more.

I agree with this... I liked Owen and would have loved for him to become part of the Scoobies! Even if Buffy didn't date him, like you said, he could have been excellent for helping Giles research.

 

[BaskingINBangel]

Gunn & Gwen

By far one of my favorite pairings in the Buffyverse, even with the little we got of them.

Gunn & Faith

Spike & Anya

Giles & Anya

Riley & Willow

Wesley & Fred

Doyle & Cordy

Warren & Amy
I dont know why but they strike me as a good match. 🤣

Buffy & Parker
Clearly in an alternate universe where Parker was not a player.

 

[Btvs fan]

Wes and Fred did get together in Season 5 before she was killed

Illyria and Angel is another

Spike and Willow

 

[fauxindigo]

Okay hear me out …

Kathy & Clem- Sure Kathy was sucking Buffy’s soul but she just wanted to get an education and live life outside whatever hell dimension she’s from. I feel like her personality (if she wasn’t like actually evil) would bounce off of Clem so well.

Glory & Warren- after Warren makes April & the Buffybot in s5, Glory recruits him as her human minion to help her manufacture the altar tower and to fight Buffy; he (a misogynist) is threatened by her strong boss b!tvh energy but they share a violent relationship before she ends up killing him and he is never in s6. Willow still goes dark in s6 only without Tara dying; she just basically overdoses on bad magic thanks to Amy & Rack. Tara is the one to bring Willow back to normal not Xander.

Harmony & Lorne— I always felt like Lorne was gay coded (& I love it bc gays are so demonized in society) but I loved the dynamic between these two & I feel like they could’ve been a power couple or duo anyway without it being sexual at all. A lavender marriage if you will.


Other total fantasy, that I don’t think would actually make a good couple or could’ve/should’ve been but I’d still love to see play out…

Buffy & Groo- how jealous Angel would be
Willow & Fred- 2 peas in a pod
Spike & Angel- so hot- who lands on top?
Lilah & Angel - hot chemistry
Nina & Oz- obviously
Olivia & Giles- she should’ve stayed
Amy & Warren (though there is the season 8 deal which is technically canon)

 

[XanderesqueMan]

What’s with the Willow & Riley?! Horrible pairing imo

I don't know if I would want to see them together, but I think they did have chemistry. He got along with Willow and Xander both really well, and played off both greaet, Xander like a brother and Willow as a friend. So it's not like they didn't have something to work with.

Honestly, I would have liked to see more of Riley and the Scooby Gang. I think he was much better with them than he was with Buffy (which I do think comes down to Buffy more than him, her being more withdrawn than she was in her relationship with Angel; I think she loved him, but I don't think she was excited by him, which was their relationship's downfall, him being too safe for her.)

 

[NoShip]

My Top Ten......

Willow and Anya
Willow and Riley
Parker and Pre-Chip Spike
Angel and Faith
Buffy and Xander (The Original Designated Love Interest)
Cordy and Oz
Buffy and Oz
Vamp Harmony and Parker
Buffy and Faith

@Joan the Vampire Slayer - Parker and Spike had all the potential in the universe. Think about their meet-cute, Spike hauling the half dead human out of the party. The sexy subtext to their hostile introduction. Spike and Parker's aching glances as Spike flees a self-righteous Buffy......