Buffy and Faith...Friends?

[white avenger]

I asked this once before at the beginning of Season *, but I think with the information we have now we should try it again: Are Buffy and Faith friends?

[GATEGOD]

I thought they were at the end of 7... not so much so now that I've read the comics. :cry:

[caitaintdead]

buffy and faith will never be friends. even in season 7 their relationship was plagued with the past, jealously and lack of trust.
with faith being buffy's shadow self (and i think faith said in seven 7 at some point that there was only ever meant to be one slayer which is why they'll never get along) maybe they just arent supposed to exist in the same world.
with everything that faith and buffy have done to each other it would surprise me if they were ever able to be pure friends.

[white avenger]

(I forgot to warn about Season 8 spoilers at the beginning of this, but be warned as of now)



Yeah, I had really hoped that the friendship they had been beginning to form in Season 3 would start up again, and maybe it would have if they had stayed together after Sunnydale, but I guess, what with Buffy in Scotland and Faith in Cleveland, it's kinda hard to mend those broken bridges...

[Keanoite]

At the beginning of season 3 I thought that maybe they could be friends, real friends. Faith understood Buffy in way that at the time Willow couldn't comprehend, while Buffy presented Faith with something she had never had, family. I think Faith needed Buffy, as a friend, as her only friend but the thing is Buffy didn't need Faith. Especially not after Angel's return. I think this is when it all goes to hell. Faith has spent her entire life NOT being needed. Her mother from what we know was a drunk, all drunks NEED is drink. So Faith would have fallen way down on her list of priorities. There is no mention of her father, her relationship with the Mayor shows how much she craved a father figure. Another reason why Faith and Buffy could never really be friends. Buffy had Giles, and she wasn't going to share, having her own father and abandonment issues to deal with.

So here is Faith, having never been given a reason in her life to feel special and suddenly she is the Slayer, The Chosen. Then bam! she is knocked right off her pedestal by Buffy who is not only a slayer but The Slayer...capital T capital S. Once again she is chasing to catch up and try and prove herself good enough. The thing is it can never happen because she is trying to prove herself to BUFFY'S friends, family and lover. They will ALWAYS be on Buffy's side. By now she knows that she is important or at least she should be important and isn't prepared to play second fiddle, so instead of being the second best good slayer she will be the Best Bad Slayer...something that is her own. I don't for a second think Faith was evil. I think she was incredibly sad and lost and filled with a self loathing that would put Angel to shame. If someone has feelings like that festering inside them they need an outlet, its like poison otherwise. Faith didn't have someone to confide in, not really so she channelled the pain through a dagger...not the best career move but she didn't have the family, friends or upbringing to teach her diffrently.

I think Buffy and Angel could have helped her but they were too caught up in their own drama and Faith was too immersed in what the Mayor was telling her. It's a hell of alot easier to be bad then do whats right. If she hadn't shot Angel I think they could have still been friends but trying to kill him was a step too far for Buffy, like she said herself 'Nobody messes with my boyfriend'. Faith called Buffy out and Buff stepped up and I think that kinda surprised Faith, well I suppose a dagger to the gut will do that to a girl. But in a way I think it really really hurted her that someone that she viewed as her only friend could kill her or at least try to kill her so easily.

I think the whole bodyswitch and Buffy going to L.A. had more to do with Angel and Buffy's unresolved issues with him more than her need for revenge over Faith. I don't see it as a real stumbling block in their relationship.

What I do think prevents Buffy and Faith being buds is very simple, Buffy's pride. Her inferiority/Superiority complex tends to come into full effect when it comes to Faith. Buffy feels challeneged by her and doesn't like it. She likes being the leader, the boss but by being friends with Faith she would have to relinquish some of that power. I mean look at the comic, Faith gets a dingy flat for one in Cleveland while Buffy and co get a castle!

After jail and Angel and everything else she has gone through Faith NOW knows her worth, she's not perfect but she's worth saving. Faith needs someone to make her feel wanted, feel needed and with Buffy all she will ever feel is in the way.

[FaithyFivebyFive]

I also thought they were friends at the end of Season 7... I don't like how quick Buffy was to turn on Faith in the comics, not even considering all the good that Faith has done.

Of course they can't be friends, Faith has too much lust for Buffy clouding her judgement and what not!
(Look, when Faith and Buffy are in the same conversation topic, get used to comments like this lol.)