Spuffy, Bangel or Ruffy?

[Deleted]

I did vote for Spuffy on this one, not that I hate the other two it's just this ship just has something in it that the others just don't have.

Firstly the passion of the two, I personally liked them in Season 6 more than in Season (not because I'm a lover of soft porn, and anyway I don't think the relationship was about that essentially), but because of the rawness, the down to earth grittiness of it.

I prefer it to Bangel because it's more realistic (to me at least.) In my view Bangel is a little bit of a fairy tale story which is nice, but not totally my cuppa tea. The two seemed to have an almost instant attraction to one another, there wasn't a build up and development to the relationship which was an added bonus that Spuffy has more than Bangel or Ruffy.

I also prefer it to Ruffy because, I didn't find the relationship terribly interesting. Admittedly Riley is the best guy out of the three for her, but... I'm a selfish little bastard! I'm more of a fan of darker, more fleshy relationships than the fluffiness of Ruffy, that's how the relationship appeared to me during Season 4, but during Season 5 I have to say it grew on me, I loved the problems they were going through then, my heart totally broke at the end of The Replacement when Riley told Xander how he felt about Ruffy at the time . Poor guy.

I just love the development of the two characters, at the beginning of the show any fan would have thought Spuffy an impossible relationship, but look what Joss did and how brilliantly he did it. He made Spike into a champion (for selfish reasons yes, but still sort of a champion) and completely changed Buffy, a change which I didn't really mind. They've both come from completely different roots and at the end, came together. It was a gradual process which made for good telly.

[Beck]

nopowerintheverse said:

just a thought, have you ever considered changing Ruffy to Biley as it sums up there relationship in 1 word ;D
i am a spuffy fan mainly because buffy had become a woman while she was still pretty much a girl with Angel

i think buffys greatest BTVS relationship was with parker just kidding

LMAO @ Glenn the Spuffy shipper My, how things have changed

[Glenn]

Yeah, wow that was harsh of me huh. I think that was almost my first post on this site and i was desperate to fit in

I remember liking Riley but i hated their relationship but i have come to appreciate the more delicate relationship between riley and Buffy.

I do like Spike/Buffy but only during season 7.

[Paul]

i think i preffered bangel, not a fan of ruffy and i only liked spuffy from spikes point of view, buffy wasnt really into it like she was with angel

[Lizzie]

LOL yeah, Buffy was just into the physical side of things with Spike. I think she might have actually loved Angel, but it just squicks me a bit.

[Laura]

My favorite relationship was definitely Bangel. I loved Spike, and I love Buffy, but not really together (until the 7th season).

I know a lot of people bash Bangel, but they were definitely my favorite. I know a lot of you think it is too melodramatic , but I think that was important. It was a high school relationship- high school is melodramatic! It was the start of the show, and it was the characters at their start. The relationship helped Angel and Buffy grow into the people they were in their last season.

[Amber]

I never posted in this thread? Seriously? Um. Wow.

Anyway, I voted for Spuffy. Yeah it started out as completely bad for both of them and I'm not saying that their relationship was a trip to Funland, but hey. Being in that relationship helped them be made into who they are today.

Plus, Bil- I mean, Ruffy? It was really boring. Don't get me wrong, it's not like it was totally horrible but it was just...blah. And Bangel was pretty gagworthy too.

[spikeluvva]

It was a close call, but in the end, I had to vote Spuffy. I just loved the way their relationship was. It was so wrong, yet it was right, if anyone gets that. I mean, she's the Slayer and shouldn't be with a vampire, but she broke that rule when she was with Angel, even though being with Spike, to her, is worse because he had no soul. I really didn't like the way Buffy and Angel's relationship ended right before the prom and thne ended up with Angel leaving town even after Buffy risked her life to save him and in the end allowed him to feed off of her her knowing the risk! I think he shouldn't have left.

Also, I didn't like the way Riley and Buffy's relationship ended either. However, you had to see it coming. They were distant ever since she found out about his heart in Out of My Mind, only she didn't see it as well as Riley did. And then he went and had himslef bit by vampires! It was all just a little too weird for me. And I hated the fact that he left her to go back into the military where he just got into trouble in the first place. And I really didn't like it when he returned to Sunnydale with Sam and didn't tell Buffy right off the bat that he was married.

I son't know if you could actually say Spike and Buffy's relationship ended in Season 6 because there was still some heat when it was over. You could tell that when she saw Spike and anya having sex on the table at the Magic Box. And then he tried to rape her which in my opinion was not necessary, but he is known for doing stupid things, I guess. But then I liked the way it picked back up in Season 7 and stayed strong. And when he died to save the world, and she told him that she loved him, I really think that she meant it. I wish he wouldn't have died, I really would have liked to see where their relationship would have gone afterwards, you know if the show hadn't been discontinued.

[Beck]

The way Riley left Buffy has ALWAYS bugged me. I HATE ultimatums and it was ridiculous of him to expect her to forgive him in less than a day! What he did was not only gross it was a betrayal of everything Buffy worked for imo. Then he says, I am leaving tomorrow unless you forgive me now. What an ass.

[Allan]

I don't think it was as simple as "I am leaving tomorrow unless you forgive me now". The way I see it is, he knew what he did was wrong, and he never thought Buffy was going to forgive him. He ran, and hoped that she would forgive him so they could work it out. But I think the ultimatum was his way of running, but escaping the blame.

So, no less of an ass, but probably more so.

[Beck]

I watched it last night. While Xander's speech is nice, I think it was harsh to Buffy. She may not have treated Riley perfectly, but he should have said something to her, not gone to vampire whores :rolleyes: He was totally in the wrong and if she meant that much to him he should have stayed and tried to work it out instead of running away.

[Vyse]

admin said:

The way Riley left Buffy has ALWAYS bugged me. I HATE ultimatums and it was ridiculous of him to expect her to forgive him in less than a day! What he did was not only gross it was a betrayal of everything Buffy worked for imo. Then he says, I am leaving tomorrow unless you forgive me now. What an ass.

Woah... it's the first time I see you so mad at him, Beck But I do understand where you are coming from.

He was totally in the wrong and if she meant that much to him he should have stayed and tried to work it out instead of running away.

If you allow me to say this, hon, I don't believe Riley was "totally" in the wrong. He was wrong in that particular circumstance and shouldn't have treated Buffy that way after being caught like that. But I do believe he has some reason if you look at the bigger picture. He tried to "communicate" with Buffy, to make her understand that something was wrong... but she didn't, or just couldn't, get it. And again if I'm allowed to say this, I don't really believe he intended to give her an ultimatum. That's the way it sounded to her, but it was not his intention in the beginning. He even says so ("Buffy no, that's not what I meant"), but nobody ever notices it. He asked her for a reason to stay. To me, that sounds like "Tell me that you want me here at your side". It doesn't necessarily mean "Forgive me now". Riley was suffering, and he desperately needed Buffy to tell him that he was important to her. That's what he meant. We all need to hear that from our girlfriend/boyfriend once in awhile But Buffy of course is mad (with good reason) in that moment and she takes it the wrong way Riley shouldn't have done what he had done. I agree with that. But it happened because of the pain he was feeling, not because he wanted to be mean to her.

[Beck]

When did he tell her there was a problem? When did he say to her "Buffy I feel this way" NEVER. Not once. He did not try to tell her there was something wrong. He sat there and let himself feel that way without trying to talk to her about it. So he didn't try. He didn't ever try to communicate he felt neglected, unwanted, whatever. And it was an ultimatum. I tell you this now, if Bernie and I had such a falling out NO WAY NO HOW would I say give me a reason to stay or I will go. I would stay. Fighting for him IS a reason to stay as it should have been for Riley. Instead he runs away instead of dealing with the fact that he was an ass.

[Vyse]

Ouch Sorry hon, didn't mean to offend you

Anyway, what I was referring to is the following: in my eyes, actually Riley did try to tell her. But everytime Buffy rejects his approach (not intentionally, please don't take what I am saying as an attempt to put the blame completely on her). A few examples ? What about these:

- the whole speech in the cave in Out of my Mind. He mentions that every day she's a bit more out of his reach. That her last boyfriend "wasn't exactly a civilian".

- in the hospital, Riley tells Buffy to let her feelings out. But she refuses and shuts him out again.

- when he says "every time I feel I'm getting close to you..." after Buffy almost bites his head off for offering (in good faith) to ask the military to find out information about Glory. And then "You wanna let me in on any of it, you let me know. I'll come running".

Buffy doesn't get any of those signs. Ok, maybe she was too busy with Glory, her mom and her sister. But Riley couldn't know. And ok... maybe Riley wasn't explicit enough. He just sent "signs" to her without going straight to the point. But if you allow me to say this, Riley was intimidated by Buffy. He was scared to do that. Buffy had not been totally honest with him in the past either (not telling him the *true* reason Angel turned evil, trying to hide from him about Dracula). That's why Riley ended up not telling her straight out. He was afraid of her. How do I know ? Because I can totally identify with him... and *I* am afraid of Buffy, while being so incredibly attracted to her

I hope nothing I have written in here has hurt you hon... if it did, I apologize in advance :hug:

[Beck]

Not offended, but I do disagree

Thats three times. The first time - his insecurities and she disputes it. The second - her mother is in hospital. So she doesn't feel like talking, again that is Riley's damage not hers. He thought of himself only in getting upset from that. The third time I actually don't remember

Buffy was going through an INCREDIBLY hard time, of course Riley isn't the only thing on her mind, as he shouldn't be. He shouldn't expect to be - but because of his own insecurities, he blows it into thinking she doesn't care enough. Riley DID know all that she was going through. The Angel thing - she told him everything except the one detail that was incredibly private and likely to hurt Riley more. If Riley was afraid of Buffy then it was never real love I don't think thats the case. He may have been scared she would confirm his fears, but he wasn't scared of her. But the only time he truly tries to discuss it with her is after he is caught out with the vamp whores.

[Vyse]

I get what you mean. I'm not saying Riley has no responsibilities at all. I'm just saying he doesn't have all of them either.

About the Angel thing... I understand why Buffy didn't want to disclose that. It was extremely personal. But unfortunately it's not a tiny detail. It's fundamental and completely changes the way events must be looked at. So, while I understand from a human point of view why Buffy didn't tell, I do believe in the long run it proved to be a mistake.

And yes, it would have hurt Riley. But finding out the other way (through Xander) hurt even more. I believe that being honest and telling the truth, even if painful, is always the best thing. Lies and/or omissions are painful just as well, even more. And it happened again with the Dracula thing. The first time, they had cleared up the misunderstanding. But if it happens again a second time, doubts will come back
to haunt you. Also, keep in mind that at the same time Spike was manipulating him to increase his fears, and Dawn too unintentionally contributed to that by telling him that Buffy cried a lot for Angel but didn't get so much worked up about him too. Those things hurt badly, hon

And you are right saying that Buffy didn't feel like talking in the hospital... but she does tell things to Spike. Yes I know, he just happened to be there, she didn't mean to tell on purpose. But Riley CANNOT realize this. He can only perceive it as "Buffy trusts an enemy more than she trusts me".

Sincerely, I think this is one of those situations where the disaster cannot be avoided. Both people involved perceive the situation in a different way and know things the other one doesn't. Thus, there is no way out

And I still believe in what I said before about the ultimatum. It came out like that, but Riley did not mean it that way. He just worded it extremely badly and shouldn't have threatened to leave.

But I agree with you that all of this cannot be a justification for betraying Buffy's trust by going to a vamp brothel. On that, I have nothing to say. You are right.

[Deleted]

Spangel

[Dana]

Personally Bangel have always been my couple. All these years later, they're still my couple!
But unlike so many bangels out there in the world, I don't mind spuffy or ruffy. I get why they existed and I definitly accept them. I had loads of fun cheering on Riley to make his move before they got together. Not to mention that I was, to my recollection, not unpleased by the spuffy kiss in omwf. both ruffy and spuffy came at points in buffy's life that it was just logical for those kinds of relationships. And no, I didn't find Riley boring!

[jeanvic]

dana said:

Personally Bangel have always been my couple. All these years later, they're still my couple!
But unlike so many bangels out there in the world, I don't mind spuffy or ruffy. I get why they existed and I definitly accept them. I had loads of fun cheering on Riley to make his move before they got together. Not to mention that I was, to my recollection, not unpleased by the spuffy kiss in omwf. both ruffy and spuffy came at points in buffy's life that it was just logical for those kinds of relationships. And no, I didn't find Riley boring!

Wow, this is the first time that I've seen a Bangel fan that allows other relationships. I have been talking to one recently who said that Angel and Buffy never loved anyone else, when that is clearly not true. Anyway, it's good to see one that isn't so jaded.

[Shaun]

jake said:

Spangel

Spangel isn't on the poll and one word posts are spam Try to put reasons and contribute to the discussion