FellDownAlone
The Slaying Vampire
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- Dec 7, 2015
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- 32
Which character, for you, changed the most? Which changed the least? What do you like and/or dislike about these, or lack of, changes?
Change in Characters?
- Thread starter FellDownAlone
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SB4thewannabes
Townie
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2015
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- 48
Of those who stayed on Buffy, probably a toss up between Buffy, Spike and Willow.
Buffy seemed fairly consistant between series 1-5, then came back from the dead somewhat more hardened, grimmer and distant for 6 & 7
Willow was a bumbling computer nerd who progressed into a (mostly) self confident witch, then uber baddie, then a bumbling witchy nerd at the end. She had a journey, although mostly by the end was still close to how she started out.
Spike, well, vicious baddy, to caged puppy, to whining loser at the end. Redeemed a bit by dying.
Of those who moved to Angel.
Cordy - Mega bitch, to caring, tragic heroine.
Wesley - Utter wimpy knob, to brutal, tragic hero. Probably my pick of the bunch.
Honourable mention to Anya, who changed a lot, but maintained her personality throughout.
To be fair I liked nearly all the changes, as they seemed to 'fit' with what the characters had going on in their lives over time, but Spike seemed a bit contrived because they were desperate for Buffy to go for a 'bad boy', or, to be honest, absolutely anyone after the charismaless meat sack that was Riley.
Buffy seemed fairly consistant between series 1-5, then came back from the dead somewhat more hardened, grimmer and distant for 6 & 7
Willow was a bumbling computer nerd who progressed into a (mostly) self confident witch, then uber baddie, then a bumbling witchy nerd at the end. She had a journey, although mostly by the end was still close to how she started out.
Spike, well, vicious baddy, to caged puppy, to whining loser at the end. Redeemed a bit by dying.
Of those who moved to Angel.
Cordy - Mega bitch, to caring, tragic heroine.
Wesley - Utter wimpy knob, to brutal, tragic hero. Probably my pick of the bunch.
Honourable mention to Anya, who changed a lot, but maintained her personality throughout.
To be fair I liked nearly all the changes, as they seemed to 'fit' with what the characters had going on in their lives over time, but Spike seemed a bit contrived because they were desperate for Buffy to go for a 'bad boy', or, to be honest, absolutely anyone after the charismaless meat sack that was Riley.
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Samuel Reyes
Chilling in SunnyD
Most to least:
Wesley (no doubt about this one)
Faith
Cordelia
Willow
Spike
Buffy
Tara
Fred
Gunn
Giles
Dawn
Anya
Angel
Xander
Lorne
Joyce
Wesley (no doubt about this one)
Faith
Cordelia
Willow
Spike
Buffy
Tara
Fred
Gunn
Giles
Dawn
Anya
Angel
Xander
Lorne
Joyce
Lila
Townie
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2015
- Messages
- 28
In BtVS, I think the characters who changed the most were Spike and Willow.
I kind of preferred bad Spike & good Willow. But I guess for the ending of the show Spike had to be different so there's that. 🙂
I think Buffy herself changed quite little, but maybe it's not surprising since she was kind of the constant of the show. Obviously her character was more grim towards the end. I thought there was a little inconsistency in that she was portrayed as not very good at school at first. she had to ask Willow for a lot of help and generally she just didn't seem interested. But then at the time of the college applications she suddenly got really high scores. I was a little surprised, but I guess it's a minor thing.
I kind of preferred bad Spike & good Willow. But I guess for the ending of the show Spike had to be different so there's that. 🙂
I think Buffy herself changed quite little, but maybe it's not surprising since she was kind of the constant of the show. Obviously her character was more grim towards the end. I thought there was a little inconsistency in that she was portrayed as not very good at school at first. she had to ask Willow for a lot of help and generally she just didn't seem interested. But then at the time of the college applications she suddenly got really high scores. I was a little surprised, but I guess it's a minor thing.
thetopher
Member of the Church Of Faith
Changed the most:
Wesley (Easily)
Faith
Cordelia
Willow
Xander
Buffy (to say that she's the main character and, to an extent, has to remain 'constant' she changes quite a bit)
Characters who I would've liked to have changed more:
Anya (I know that the writers acknowledged this in 'Selfless' but afterwards there didn't seem like any growth from her at all. Still blunt, still sex obsessed/jealous. Boo)
Spike (not be love's bitch)
Dawn (I know she changed a lot in three seasons but I'd like to see more in the comics and not just abandonment issue retreads again and again)
Wesley (Easily)
Faith
Cordelia
Willow
Xander
Buffy (to say that she's the main character and, to an extent, has to remain 'constant' she changes quite a bit)
Characters who I would've liked to have changed more:
Anya (I know that the writers acknowledged this in 'Selfless' but afterwards there didn't seem like any growth from her at all. Still blunt, still sex obsessed/jealous. Boo)
Spike (not be love's bitch)
Dawn (I know she changed a lot in three seasons but I'd like to see more in the comics and not just abandonment issue retreads again and again)
vellavu
Scooby
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2015
- Messages
- 3,114
I dislike the lack of change in Snyder.
He should have grown closer and more friendly to the Scoobies just before he got eaten.
I mean the ending of S3 was too happy. Faith didn't die. Angel didn't die. Larry and Harmony died but we can't care too much. Giles got fired but his uselessness was only rendered in S4. So more tragic should happen. Making we care more about Snyder may be a good idea.
He should have grown closer and more friendly to the Scoobies just before he got eaten.
I mean the ending of S3 was too happy. Faith didn't die. Angel didn't die. Larry and Harmony died but we can't care too much. Giles got fired but his uselessness was only rendered in S4. So more tragic should happen. Making we care more about Snyder may be a good idea.
Fuffy
We Don't Need The Law, We Are The Law
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2015
- Messages
- 2,880
Wesley:
He turned from an annoying, stuffy watcher to a completely different person by season 1 (and then we have dark Wesley in seasons 3-4), need I explain more ?
Willow:
She went from being a shy, wimpy high school girl to one of the most powerful witches in the world (and she's also confident now 🙂).
I know that a lot of people hate how Willow changed, but I see Willow's changes being mostly positive (except for Dark Willow...)
Cordy:
She went from being a tactless snoot to a person who helps the people she cares about (even if it's the last thing she will do).
I hated how they ruined Cordy's character in season 4, but 'You're Welcome' made up for it 🙂.
Buffy:
Season 6 changed her character for the worst and she never really recovered (proves that resurrecting Buffy was a bad idea...)
In the early seasons she quipped a lot, but it got lost somewhere (along with her common sense) when they resurrected her...
Faith:
While she definitely changed for the better and did a great job at redeeming herself, her way of thinking/acting didn't change much (as seen in 'Empty Places' when she impulsively takes the potentials out for a drink and how Buffy reacts to the whole thing).
Xander:
In 'The Zeppo', he finally starts to see what he brings to the scobbies.
I also like the yellow crayon speech, because he sees that he can save the world with words, not skill 🙂
Angel:
He develops a personality that has things other than brooding in LA, so he deserves a mention 🙂
Gunn:
He went from being a vampire hunter to an AI member to signing W&H's documents, which killed Fred 🙁
Giles:
He abandoned Buffy when she needed him most, he would have never even thought of doing that in the earlier seasons 🙁
Dawn:
Season 5:
12 year old in the body of a 14 year old.
Season 6:
Klepto.
Season 7:
She has grown a lot since her klepto phase.
Spike:
Spike is one of my favorites, but getting a soul and a chip didn't really change him.
Honestly, the only thing that changed in him is that he went from loving Dru to loving Buffy...
Tara:
I would have liked to see her develop a bit of a mean side, I like that she was nice, but sometimes she was a bit too nice...
Anya:
All she did was say pervy and blunt things, the writers didn't deal with her well...
Fred:
After she recovers from being in Pylea, she doesn't change much and it seems like she is there just for being eye candy 🙁
Riley:
He stays cardboard-y the entire time, the writers wasted his potential 🙁
Oz:
Out of everyone, he probably changed the least (with the exception of Anya), but I don't think that Oz needed to go through much changes (with the exception of how he treats work...)
The beginning of character change start from:
Buffy: Angel losing his soul. She hardened a little and became withdrawn and less her peppy self. Her character even became more depressed post-S2. I'd say some of her spark returned in S4 only to die again after her mother's death in S5.
Xander: He used to be more outspoken and told it as it is, also dating Cordelia boosted his confidence a lot. He never thought he was less than anyone. Always believed he was an important and essential part of the team. However, things went downhill for him after he was caught cheating with Willow. Cordelia didn't want anything to do with him anymore. His friendship with Willow was ruined. He and Buffy weren't that close due to his assholic behavior when it came to her and Angel. He lost his confidence, and never really regained it.
Willow: Casting that spell to restore Angel's soul was the beginning - her interests started to drift from computers to witchcraft. As she grows stronger as a witch, she grows more confident. She will lose that confidence post-S6 and will regain it in S8.
Buffy: Angel losing his soul. She hardened a little and became withdrawn and less her peppy self. Her character even became more depressed post-S2. I'd say some of her spark returned in S4 only to die again after her mother's death in S5.
Xander: He used to be more outspoken and told it as it is, also dating Cordelia boosted his confidence a lot. He never thought he was less than anyone. Always believed he was an important and essential part of the team. However, things went downhill for him after he was caught cheating with Willow. Cordelia didn't want anything to do with him anymore. His friendship with Willow was ruined. He and Buffy weren't that close due to his assholic behavior when it came to her and Angel. He lost his confidence, and never really regained it.
Willow: Casting that spell to restore Angel's soul was the beginning - her interests started to drift from computers to witchcraft. As she grows stronger as a witch, she grows more confident. She will lose that confidence post-S6 and will regain it in S8.
YummySushiPJs
Scooby
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2011
- Messages
- 543
When I go back and watch season 4 I'm always surprised how different Anya is to how she becomes in season 5 onwards. (I won't mention her few appearances in season 3 because she was a new, guest character at that point and they were still making her up as they went along.)
She seems much more cynical, sarcastic, and dry-witted in season 4. She's direct and to-the-point of course, but in season 5 onwards she does it with a much more cheerful disposition, and more of a blissful ignorance of society's norms rather than a disdain for them. In season 4 she's kinda grumpy. Still love her though, she's still funny.
Anya: Xander's trapped.
Giles: Where's Buffy and the others?
Anya: Oh, they're trapped too. But we've got to save Xander.
😀😀😀😀
She seems much more cynical, sarcastic, and dry-witted in season 4. She's direct and to-the-point of course, but in season 5 onwards she does it with a much more cheerful disposition, and more of a blissful ignorance of society's norms rather than a disdain for them. In season 4 she's kinda grumpy. Still love her though, she's still funny.
Anya: Xander's trapped.
Giles: Where's Buffy and the others?
Anya: Oh, they're trapped too. But we've got to save Xander.
😀😀😀😀
bespangeled
Scooby
Wesley - had an unbelievable arc - and Denisoff pulled it off well. His arc was amazingly organic - coming from choices that you can see he had to make, and then adapting and changing.
Spike - from badass slayer of slayers to souled and searching for redemption. I see the Spike who took his people to pig out at the all moron buffet as quite different from the haunted and crazy Spike who draped himself over a cross and asked if he could finally rest .
Willow - had an incredibly organic growth because we could see all the seeds of who she would be. She started out intrigued by dangerous dark magic and really wanting to help. She ended up trying to fix people to her liking, and addicted to dark magic.
Buffy - she learned to trust herself. She went from being uncertain to the one in charge, and everyone followed her lead. Then she died, came back angry and dark and depressed, and finally tried to go back to who and what she had always done/been and found out that the others had moved on and no longer had faith in her instincts.
Angel - from a rat eating waste, to a champion, to someone out of control of his life who finally makes the choice to burn down the house with everyone inside (and has people loyal enough to support him).
I love Giles, but I see him as more changed in circumstances than character. The same goes for Xander, Gunn, Dawn, Fred and Anya, IMO. But what they did with Anya was a criminal waste. Tara was wonderful, but not much change there. Joyce became a somewhat better mom.
Spike - from badass slayer of slayers to souled and searching for redemption. I see the Spike who took his people to pig out at the all moron buffet as quite different from the haunted and crazy Spike who draped himself over a cross and asked if he could finally rest .
Willow - had an incredibly organic growth because we could see all the seeds of who she would be. She started out intrigued by dangerous dark magic and really wanting to help. She ended up trying to fix people to her liking, and addicted to dark magic.
Buffy - she learned to trust herself. She went from being uncertain to the one in charge, and everyone followed her lead. Then she died, came back angry and dark and depressed, and finally tried to go back to who and what she had always done/been and found out that the others had moved on and no longer had faith in her instincts.
Angel - from a rat eating waste, to a champion, to someone out of control of his life who finally makes the choice to burn down the house with everyone inside (and has people loyal enough to support him).
I love Giles, but I see him as more changed in circumstances than character. The same goes for Xander, Gunn, Dawn, Fred and Anya, IMO. But what they did with Anya was a criminal waste. Tara was wonderful, but not much change there. Joyce became a somewhat better mom.
Samuel Reyes
Chilling in SunnyD
It's a fairly common occurrence, especially in television shows, as it takes a while for the writers to find the character's voice. If you want proof, check out Buffy, Angel, and Darla in the first couple of episodes. Darla's shrill, incompetent, and somewhat ditzy; Angel is a little mellow, almost cheerful; and Buffy is a perky blonde cheerleader-type.
YummySushiPJs
Scooby
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2011
- Messages
- 543
Hehe, I don't need proof. I've seen TV before, I know it happens 😉😀 Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory is a major example... from a different genre.
But yeah, I agree with the others that character development-wise, Anya was totally wasted, both before and after "Selfless". A great standalone episode for Anya, but she deserved more.
Tara as a character changed slightly in that she became more confident, stuttered less, and spoke up more, but she didn't change to such an extent that it warranted any on-screen focus.
Giles became less "stuffy" over the years. I think he learned a lot from Buffy, without either of them realising it.
But yeah, I agree with the others that character development-wise, Anya was totally wasted, both before and after "Selfless". A great standalone episode for Anya, but she deserved more.
Tara as a character changed slightly in that she became more confident, stuttered less, and spoke up more, but she didn't change to such an extent that it warranted any on-screen focus.
Giles became less "stuffy" over the years. I think he learned a lot from Buffy, without either of them realising it.
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Samuel Reyes
Chilling in SunnyD
Dynamic character: undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude
Ex: Wesley, Faith, Cordelia, Willow, Spike, Buffy
Static character: undergoes little or no inner change and does not grow or develop. Not always a bad thing tho.
Ex: Joyce, Lorne, Oz, Riley
Most characters in the Buffyverse qualify as Round characters, since they get a lot more depth and complexity (some without changing the way the Dynamic characters do).
Ex: Wesley, Faith, Cordelia, Willow, Spike, Buffy
Static character: undergoes little or no inner change and does not grow or develop. Not always a bad thing tho.
Ex: Joyce, Lorne, Oz, Riley
Most characters in the Buffyverse qualify as Round characters, since they get a lot more depth and complexity (some without changing the way the Dynamic characters do).
bespangeled
Scooby
