Why did buffy leave Sunnydale and not stay with her friends
- Thread starter Gibby11
- Start date
-
- Tags
- buffy mutantenemy sunnydale
Ethan Reigns
Scooby
I presume you mean at the end of Season 2. Joyce had told Buffy that if she walked out that door, she was not welcome to come back. Buffy took her at her word but she had to stop Angel from activating the Acathla spell. Snyder had expelled her, so she had no ties to the school anymore. She had just consigned her lover to hell in order to stop Acathla. She was not attracted to Xander as a lover, only as a friend. (This would change in the comics, but by then, Xander had moved on.) Willow did not know she was a lesbian at the time and there was nothing saying that Buffy was although that also changes in the comics.
If by sleep with Xander or Willow meaning she crashed at their houses, she would still have their opinions to deal with and she had to get away from everyone else's opinions.
If by sleep with Xander or Willow meaning she crashed at their houses, she would still have their opinions to deal with and she had to get away from everyone else's opinions.
thrasherpix
Scooby
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2016
- Messages
- 5,314
- Age
- 43
She was wanted by the police. (Even if charges of murder were dropped, she still assaulted police officers so they'd still be after her, and even if she wasn't wanted, they'd want to ask her questions that she couldn't answer without getting herself into more trouble.) Buffy's mother also told her to leave.
The only place I could see her staying is with Giles, and the police would likely look for her there thanks to Snyder.
Her heart was utterly broken, and as far as she's concerned, she just did worse than kill someone who meant everything to her. Most people aren't going to to feel better through sex after that. I expect even Faith wouldn't be comforted, though she might seek it out anyway (but Buffy is not Faith).
In case it needs to be said, love and lust are very different things. You can lust for people you hate, let alone don't love. (Granted, Joss and Marti both seemed to find this a difficult concept to understand, at least to put into a story.) You can love others without feeling any sort of lust.
Xander and Willow were firmly in the latter camp of people she loved but did not feel lust for.
And trying to think, but Buffy has never been into casual sex. Not even season 6 counts as casual sex (even if it was, it was years away after significant life changes.)
On top of that, there'd be the emotional trauma of what happened when she had sex with Angel (as the old saying goes, a cat that jumps on a hot burner won't jump on another, nor a cold one, either). That is, on a gut level she'd fear what happened with Angel (turning evil, death following, then sending him or her to hell) would happen again. Not until she processed it. Plus, abandonment issues which all of this would aggravate.
In any case, she'd need time to deal. She couldn't with anyone there, nor were there hotlines to call (even if they were, it wouldn't mean they're any good).
The only place I could see her staying is with Giles, and the police would likely look for her there thanks to Snyder.
Her heart was utterly broken, and as far as she's concerned, she just did worse than kill someone who meant everything to her. Most people aren't going to to feel better through sex after that. I expect even Faith wouldn't be comforted, though she might seek it out anyway (but Buffy is not Faith).
In case it needs to be said, love and lust are very different things. You can lust for people you hate, let alone don't love. (Granted, Joss and Marti both seemed to find this a difficult concept to understand, at least to put into a story.) You can love others without feeling any sort of lust.
Xander and Willow were firmly in the latter camp of people she loved but did not feel lust for.
And trying to think, but Buffy has never been into casual sex. Not even season 6 counts as casual sex (even if it was, it was years away after significant life changes.)
On top of that, there'd be the emotional trauma of what happened when she had sex with Angel (as the old saying goes, a cat that jumps on a hot burner won't jump on another, nor a cold one, either). That is, on a gut level she'd fear what happened with Angel (turning evil, death following, then sending him or her to hell) would happen again. Not until she processed it. Plus, abandonment issues which all of this would aggravate.
In any case, she'd need time to deal. She couldn't with anyone there, nor were there hotlines to call (even if they were, it wouldn't mean they're any good).
no I didn't mean sleep with them in same bed xander and willow just like in house as friends not lovers
AlphaFoxtrot
Scooby
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2017
- Messages
- 4,533
- Age
- 45
Story wise, Joss wanted to write about the emotional aftermath of Buffy's trauma and actions in the season finale, and there's no real good way of doing that without sending Buffy away for the summer. It also allows ME to dispense with the stupid consequences, like, did anyone really think the police were still searching for Buffy regarding her involvement in Kendra's death?
Besides, it was the 90s, you should be happy the story actually had an ending, and the cliffhanger was just a set up for next season, as opposed to "Mr Worf, don't set Agent Mulder on fire for saying "Rachel" and you only get an ending four months later after baseball season is over. But it's still the art of the cliffhanger, you ensure people will talk about the series over the long teenage summer well into early September.
Besides, it was the 90s, you should be happy the story actually had an ending, and the cliffhanger was just a set up for next season, as opposed to "Mr Worf, don't set Agent Mulder on fire for saying "Rachel" and you only get an ending four months later after baseball season is over. But it's still the art of the cliffhanger, you ensure people will talk about the series over the long teenage summer well into early September.
telperion66
Potential
Buffy was understandably heartbroken that she had to kill Angel and send him to hell. (Or so she believed she had done before he was "sent back").
I think her melancholic state at this time was very powerful television, and brought out the the best (or at least my favourite performances) of a heartbroken Buffy.
The episode after sending Angel to hell, 'Anne', gives us a morose and detached Buffy, which brought out a great performance of angst by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Anyone that has experienced heartbreak could relate to what she was portraying here.
Angel was the love of Buffy's life. She couldn't deal. She had to get the heck away from Sunnydale to experience the personal growth of those emotions (of killing Angel, and just dealing with that pain, all by her lonesome).
I believe the love she had with Angel was too powerful to just carry on and pretend that everything was OK after he was sent to hell. Xander couldn't help her, and neither could her best friend, Willow. It was just something she had to deal with on her own until she found the strength within herself to come back to Sunnydale and "resume" her normal life as best she could.
I think her melancholic state at this time was very powerful television, and brought out the the best (or at least my favourite performances) of a heartbroken Buffy.
The episode after sending Angel to hell, 'Anne', gives us a morose and detached Buffy, which brought out a great performance of angst by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Anyone that has experienced heartbreak could relate to what she was portraying here.
Angel was the love of Buffy's life. She couldn't deal. She had to get the heck away from Sunnydale to experience the personal growth of those emotions (of killing Angel, and just dealing with that pain, all by her lonesome).
I believe the love she had with Angel was too powerful to just carry on and pretend that everything was OK after he was sent to hell. Xander couldn't help her, and neither could her best friend, Willow. It was just something she had to deal with on her own until she found the strength within herself to come back to Sunnydale and "resume" her normal life as best she could.
thrasherpix
Scooby
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2016
- Messages
- 5,314
- Age
- 43
I know that storywise they couldn't have done it, but can you imagine if Buffy returned because of the news...Joyce's mask had drawn the living dead and she was now one herself. Even worse, she might return to find Joyce was the new Big Bad of Sunnydale (or rather the Big Bad was using Joyce's corpse as its vessel). The angst just writes itself, and can also help explain why the police were no longer interested (as many cops would've fallen to the living dead so most would be new, the few remaining far too grateful for Buffy showing up and the problem then going away). I don't think even the Angelus arc could've outdone that.
famicommander
Scooby
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Messages
- 1,238
- Age
- 35
Buffy's choice to leave is validated by how she's treated when she returns.
In a very short span, Buffy:
-Had her boyfriend, upon taking her virginity, turn evil and begin murdering her friends and devoting his existence to terrorizing her
-Was kicked out of her house by her mother upon "coming out" as the Slayer to her; her mother outright rejected her identity and obligation to save the world
-Got the only person who understood what it was like to be her (Kendra) killed, her father figure (Giles) kidnapped, and several of her friends severely injured by predictably falling for Angel's ruse
-Was accused of being the one who murdered Kendra, who was, again, the only person on the planet who know what it was like to be Buffy
-Was forced to enter into a devil's pact with her mortal enemy (Spike) to save the world and rescue Giles
-Was expelled from school
-Was lied to by Xander (though she didn't find out until much later) about Willow's intentions to restore Angel's soul
-Was forced to impale her boyfriend through the chest with a magic sword and kick him into hell at the moment he regained his true identity, looking to her in confusion and fear but trusting her
-Literally saved the entire world
-Ran away and was forced to get a crappy job as a minor in a major city (at which she was sexually harassed) to support herself
And when she comes home, every person she loves and relies on takes turns unloading guilt trips and insults on her. And she just has to sit there and take it, because she's the chosen one. It's literally her lot in life to be better than everyone around her. She has to let these people put all their BS on her because she can shoulder it and they can't. She's not allowed to defend herself or explain her actions. Her choices are to be alone or put up with people that don't hold themselves to the same standard they hold Buffy to, nor even close to the standard Buffy holds herself to.
This is reinforced throughout the series. Giles poisons Buffy for that stupid test and conspires with Robin behind Buffy's back to murder Spike. Willow and Tara move into Buffy's house and happily attend college while they rip Buffy out of heaven to support them, herself, and Dawn on fast food wages. Xander spends most of the series trivializing Buffy's agency as a person, especially in regards to her love life. Willow drives while intoxicated and goes to a magic crack house with Dawn in tow. The entire gang turns on her and kicks her out of her own house for attempting to do exactly what needed to be done in season 7. Joyce utterly and completely fails Buffy as a parent about 90% of the time in the show.
For the most part, Buffy can only count on herself. Usually, but not always, Giles comes through. Xander often ultimately comes through in the end, but he also has more than his fair share of failings. Willow has a few triumphant moments but spends most of the series taking more than she gives when it comes to her friendship with Buffy. None of Buffy's romantic partners in the show are worth a damn.
In a very short span, Buffy:
-Had her boyfriend, upon taking her virginity, turn evil and begin murdering her friends and devoting his existence to terrorizing her
-Was kicked out of her house by her mother upon "coming out" as the Slayer to her; her mother outright rejected her identity and obligation to save the world
-Got the only person who understood what it was like to be her (Kendra) killed, her father figure (Giles) kidnapped, and several of her friends severely injured by predictably falling for Angel's ruse
-Was accused of being the one who murdered Kendra, who was, again, the only person on the planet who know what it was like to be Buffy
-Was forced to enter into a devil's pact with her mortal enemy (Spike) to save the world and rescue Giles
-Was expelled from school
-Was lied to by Xander (though she didn't find out until much later) about Willow's intentions to restore Angel's soul
-Was forced to impale her boyfriend through the chest with a magic sword and kick him into hell at the moment he regained his true identity, looking to her in confusion and fear but trusting her
-Literally saved the entire world
-Ran away and was forced to get a crappy job as a minor in a major city (at which she was sexually harassed) to support herself
And when she comes home, every person she loves and relies on takes turns unloading guilt trips and insults on her. And she just has to sit there and take it, because she's the chosen one. It's literally her lot in life to be better than everyone around her. She has to let these people put all their BS on her because she can shoulder it and they can't. She's not allowed to defend herself or explain her actions. Her choices are to be alone or put up with people that don't hold themselves to the same standard they hold Buffy to, nor even close to the standard Buffy holds herself to.
This is reinforced throughout the series. Giles poisons Buffy for that stupid test and conspires with Robin behind Buffy's back to murder Spike. Willow and Tara move into Buffy's house and happily attend college while they rip Buffy out of heaven to support them, herself, and Dawn on fast food wages. Xander spends most of the series trivializing Buffy's agency as a person, especially in regards to her love life. Willow drives while intoxicated and goes to a magic crack house with Dawn in tow. The entire gang turns on her and kicks her out of her own house for attempting to do exactly what needed to be done in season 7. Joyce utterly and completely fails Buffy as a parent about 90% of the time in the show.
For the most part, Buffy can only count on herself. Usually, but not always, Giles comes through. Xander often ultimately comes through in the end, but he also has more than his fair share of failings. Willow has a few triumphant moments but spends most of the series taking more than she gives when it comes to her friendship with Buffy. None of Buffy's romantic partners in the show are worth a damn.
thetopher
Member of the Church Of Faith
Because Buffy felt that there was nobody to turn to when she was in so much pain. She was wrong, of course, and would go on not learning that specific lesson for a good long while.
Plus most of the issues listed above were resolved in precisely one/two episodes, some of them with a throwaway line 'Oh, just so you know you're not wanted for murder anymore' etc.
Plus most of the issues listed above were resolved in precisely one/two episodes, some of them with a throwaway line 'Oh, just so you know you're not wanted for murder anymore' etc.
Because Buffy did not have anyone she could trust.
1. Joyce kicked her out of the house and forbade her return.
2. Xander lied about Willow's plan, making Buffy believe that her very closest, bestest friend (NOT Xander) was as hell bent as Xander to kill the love of Buffy's life, even though Willow knew Angel was the love of Buffy's life.
3. Xander had a psychotic hatred of Angel and would not tolerate Buffy's grief.
4. Giles had been tortured by Angelus and the love of his life was murdered by Angelus. By any thought process Giles would not be particularly supportive of Buffy grieving. Plus, the murder charge, and, Snyder pointing the cops in Giles direction.
5. Cordelia? Right.....
6. The cops were hunting Buffy for killing Kendra.
So.....she could not stay in Sunnydale. Buffy had no reason to believe anyone would have her.
Next best choice? The familiarity of her home town where she could disappear in a part of the world she kinda knew.
Makes a sad kind of sense.....
1. Joyce kicked her out of the house and forbade her return.
2. Xander lied about Willow's plan, making Buffy believe that her very closest, bestest friend (NOT Xander) was as hell bent as Xander to kill the love of Buffy's life, even though Willow knew Angel was the love of Buffy's life.
3. Xander had a psychotic hatred of Angel and would not tolerate Buffy's grief.
4. Giles had been tortured by Angelus and the love of his life was murdered by Angelus. By any thought process Giles would not be particularly supportive of Buffy grieving. Plus, the murder charge, and, Snyder pointing the cops in Giles direction.
5. Cordelia? Right.....
6. The cops were hunting Buffy for killing Kendra.
So.....she could not stay in Sunnydale. Buffy had no reason to believe anyone would have her.
Next best choice? The familiarity of her home town where she could disappear in a part of the world she kinda knew.
Makes a sad kind of sense.....
thrasherpix
Scooby
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2016
- Messages
- 5,314
- Age
- 43
Xander and Giles both showed Buffy understanding despite their feelings, in both season 2 and 3. Giles even tried to help Angel directly after having been tortured by Angelus and Jenny killed, even if he did so with a crossbow in his hand. (He even invited him in though I saw no need when it was "just to talk" and even Angel should not want to return to the scene of a horrific crime of Angelus.)
Still, those are where the police will look. And the parents of Willow and even Xander likely to report her.
I have to head canon why she wasn't arrested for assault on police officers and resisting arrest which she did do (and cops take seriously, sometimes more than murder), though the head canon is satisfactory to me (in addition to other elements of the show that helped me overlook such things more than in later seasons).
The part that I was once tempted to write a fanfic about to try to explain it is how Buffy got a place without references or deposit along with a waitress job that supported it. It could be done, and I'd have added supernatural elements to it, but it's not something she'd know how to do. Remember, she doesn't have any form of identification so she's not legally renting or working. But that she did is yet one more reason (with much better ones to add to this) why I reject the season 6 "Buffy needs to grow up."
Still, those are where the police will look. And the parents of Willow and even Xander likely to report her.
I have to head canon why she wasn't arrested for assault on police officers and resisting arrest which she did do (and cops take seriously, sometimes more than murder), though the head canon is satisfactory to me (in addition to other elements of the show that helped me overlook such things more than in later seasons).
The part that I was once tempted to write a fanfic about to try to explain it is how Buffy got a place without references or deposit along with a waitress job that supported it. It could be done, and I'd have added supernatural elements to it, but it's not something she'd know how to do. Remember, she doesn't have any form of identification so she's not legally renting or working. But that she did is yet one more reason (with much better ones to add to this) why I reject the season 6 "Buffy needs to grow up."