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Top Fives: Buffy (and Icons) Edition!
I got a ton of requests for Top Fives, so I'm going to break it down into a couple of posts. First up: the Buffy-centric ones!
Hey,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
that_september! Don't read the first two! I don't want you getting spoiled! And...maybe you shouldn't read the one about a certain character you haven't met yet under "Top Five Favorite Characters," either. Just to be safe.
Top Five Favorite Buffy/Spike Moments formolly_may
5. “That was real. I won’t forget it.” – “Intervention”
This is my Buffy/Spike kiss. It’s tender and sweet and signals the beginning for them. It’s the moment where whatever they have—pretty or not—becomes real.
Plus, Spike is very, very pretty when he’s beat up.
4. Post-resurrection. – “After Life”
It’s two scenes, but in my mind they’re extensions of each other. Spike is clearly overwhelmed with awe when he sees her coming down those stairs and realizes it's really her (the look on his face just shatters me every single time). But he's still very, very gentle. I love the way he holds her hands and talks to her so quietly. And he acted in exactly the right way, because when everyone else gets to be too much for her, it's him that she goes to, seeking him out. Again, they're both quiet, and even in his guilt ("Every night I save you"--has there ever been more beautiful writing on this show?), so gentle. This episode was every single thing I could have wanted for their reunion.
3. The back porch. – “Fool for Love”
They. Breathe. In. Sync. What more do you need?
2. “I believe in you, Spike.” - “Never Leave Me”
This is it. This is the big one. The moment where they’re finally both there, finally on the same page. In this scene, Buffy says exactly what both Spike and I have been waiting for her to say for seasons. The thing about Buffy is that she sometimes has a really hard time verbalizing anything deeper than one of her awesome quips. But this time, she comes through. And in a lot of ways, this scene is comparable to Spike’s speech in “Touched.” Because he’s telling her the worst of him, and she’s seeing the best. I think it’s in the subsequent episodes where he’s been kidnapped that she really realizes that she loves him, but this scene is laying the groundwork for that. She’s made her decision. She’s chosen to stand by him no matter what. And that’s the most important development in their relationship since the kiss in “Intervention.”
1. Buffy comes for him. – “Show Time”
I had a discussion withsnickfic a couple of weeks ago about how what I love about Buffy and Spike in S7—which is my Spuffy season, and in which I find their relationship almost perfect—is not what they say to each other. It’s the way they look at each other, the way they touch, the way they’re always just beside each other. There’s a level of perfect understanding and comfort there, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
So number one has to go to this scene. Look at the way they’re looking at each other. Could anything be more beautiful?
Top Five Favorite Buffy&Giles Scenes formolly_may
5. “He can be a good man, Giles. I feel it. But he’s never going to get there if we don’t give him the chance.” – “First Date”
Okay, so maybe this should have fit under the favorite Buffy/Spike moments. Because it isn’t a pleasant conversation and Giles doesn’t come off looking very well. But I love this scene. Love it. Buffy standing up for Spike? Letting the other most important man in her life know how important he is and how far he’s come? I love this scene almost as much as Buffy telling Spike she believes in him. I have a bit of a hangup on Buffy believing in Spike, can you tell?
And Buffy’s in it, and Giles is in it, and that makes it worthy of inclusion on this list. Don’t argue with me.
4. “Giles, you have to come.” – “The Body”
He’s the first person she calls. The one she needs to be there. Of course he is. He’s her father. And this shot:
3. “All you will get from is my support. And my respect.” – “Innocence”
Buffy just made a reckless, very teenage girl decision, and now the worst vampire in history is back and will soon be slaughtering half of Sunnydale because of it. And Giles, who we’ve seen be firm with her in the past, might be expected to either avoid the topic altogether (talking with your dad about sex is never fun for either party) or to blame her and chastise her for what she’s done. But he doesn’t. He refuses to make her feel guilty. That scene makes me cry it’s so lovely. This is the Giles I love.
2. “You cut your hair.” – “Grave”
I don’t know what it is about this moment, but it kills me. The simplicity of it. The way he can’t quite say, “I missed you and I’m sorry I left and I know things are different now.” Instead, he just notices that her hair is different, and that says everything about everything he’s missed and about the way he still cares about her. I love it.
1. The lie. – “Lie to Me”
BUFFY: Does it ever get easy?
(casually stakes Ford who rises from a grave behind her)
GILES: You mean life?
BUFFY: Yeah. Does it get easy?
GILES: What do you want me to say?
BUFFY: Lie to me.
GILES: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
BUFFY: Liar.
Top Five Favorite BtVS Characters forinksplotched
5. Dawn
Sure, the first two seasons she’s around, she can be annoying, but I love Dawn Summers for a number of reasons. A) That beautiful, beautiful metaphor for adoption that is her presence in S5. The one thing the writers really got write in reference to Dawn was Buffy’s very conflicted by absolutely loving feelings for her. B) All her scenes with Spike. That “weird, friendless kids” icon I have? That sums it up. Because they’re both alienated and lonely and they need each other. But more than that, they like each other. C) Have you watched Season 7? The girl grows up to be totally awesome, competent, and fun (her scenes with Andrew are especially a joy). And nothing can convince me that she won’t continue to grow up even awesomer. (And maybe end up in the Impala with the Winchester boys. Or on the Galactica. Or in the TARDIS with the Doctor…)
4. Cordy
The scene from “Earshot” is the one that epitomizes why I love Cordy so much. Because, literally, she thinks it, she says it. It’s her way. Plus, she’s constantly defying the idea of that she's completely shallow. She no doubt sacrifices a lot of her social standing to be with Xander (oh, how I shipped them), she’s gorgeous and snarky and she knows it, and she really does care about things she pretends not to. The scene in “Helpless” when Buffy asks her for a ride never fails to make me fall in love with her all over again. Long live Queen C.
3. Oz
Oz is just about perfect. He doesn’t say much, but when he does it’s either hilarious, heartbreakingly sweet, or very, very insightful. His devotion to Willow makes me think he’d probably be the greatest best boyfriend ever. Especially contrasting with Buffy/Angel’s over-the-top angst in the first couple of seasons, Oz and Willow prove what doing it right looks like. Except when Willow gets stupid and hooks up with Xander! And even then, Oz is perfect, forgiving her, but taking a little bit of time to do it. Plus, Seth Green is made of awesome.
2. Spike
Do I even need to go here?
1. Buffy
Spike’s speech in “Touched” is cheesy and more than a little overrated. But he gets one thing absolutely right: the thing he (and I) love about Buffy is the way she tries. My girl always, always gets up again. She’s my hero.
Top Five Favorite Minor BtVS Characters forradio_silent
5. Ethan
4. Clem
3. The Buffybot (she totally counts!)
2. Principal Snyder
1. Jenny
Top Five Favorite Fannish Icons forsnickfic
5.
It’s the Non-Judging Breakfast Club. It’s Blair and Chuck and Serena and Nate, and they’re on top of the world. No matter what else happens, that city is theirs, and they are unstoppable.
4.
Buffy/Spike/Rocket launcher is my OT3, y’all. That scene in “Him” never, ever gets old. I could watch Buffy and Spike chase each other around and fight over a rocket launcher all day long. I still can't get over my sheer joy at finding this icon. GLEE!
3.
I almost never use this icon. But I’ve had it since literally the day I got my lj, and I probably won’t ever get around to getting rid of it. Because it’s Eric and Jackie and the greatest line on the show. That scene will never stop being awesome.
2.
Out of Gas” is my favorite episode of Firefly. And this icon just epitomizes that show for me: the warm colors that make you feel like you really are home, the quote about the ship being with you for the rest of your life, the way it’s kind of worn and fuzzy around the edges. It’s perfect.
1.
You see number one up there under favorite characters? This icon sums all that up in one image. Buffy is my hero.
Hey,
that_september! Don't read the first two! I don't want you getting spoiled! And...maybe you shouldn't read the one about a certain character you haven't met yet under "Top Five Favorite Characters," either. Just to be safe.Top Five Favorite Buffy/Spike Moments for
molly_may5. “That was real. I won’t forget it.” – “Intervention”
This is my Buffy/Spike kiss. It’s tender and sweet and signals the beginning for them. It’s the moment where whatever they have—pretty or not—becomes real.
4. Post-resurrection. – “After Life”
It’s two scenes, but in my mind they’re extensions of each other. Spike is clearly overwhelmed with awe when he sees her coming down those stairs and realizes it's really her (the look on his face just shatters me every single time). But he's still very, very gentle. I love the way he holds her hands and talks to her so quietly. And he acted in exactly the right way, because when everyone else gets to be too much for her, it's him that she goes to, seeking him out. Again, they're both quiet, and even in his guilt ("Every night I save you"--has there ever been more beautiful writing on this show?), so gentle. This episode was every single thing I could have wanted for their reunion.
3. The back porch. – “Fool for Love”
They. Breathe. In. Sync. What more do you need?
2. “I believe in you, Spike.” - “Never Leave Me”
This is it. This is the big one. The moment where they’re finally both there, finally on the same page. In this scene, Buffy says exactly what both Spike and I have been waiting for her to say for seasons. The thing about Buffy is that she sometimes has a really hard time verbalizing anything deeper than one of her awesome quips. But this time, she comes through. And in a lot of ways, this scene is comparable to Spike’s speech in “Touched.” Because he’s telling her the worst of him, and she’s seeing the best. I think it’s in the subsequent episodes where he’s been kidnapped that she really realizes that she loves him, but this scene is laying the groundwork for that. She’s made her decision. She’s chosen to stand by him no matter what. And that’s the most important development in their relationship since the kiss in “Intervention.”
1. Buffy comes for him. – “Show Time”
I had a discussion with
snickfic a couple of weeks ago about how what I love about Buffy and Spike in S7—which is my Spuffy season, and in which I find their relationship almost perfect—is not what they say to each other. It’s the way they look at each other, the way they touch, the way they’re always just beside each other. There’s a level of perfect understanding and comfort there, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.So number one has to go to this scene. Look at the way they’re looking at each other. Could anything be more beautiful?
Top Five Favorite Buffy&Giles Scenes for
molly_may5. “He can be a good man, Giles. I feel it. But he’s never going to get there if we don’t give him the chance.” – “First Date”
Okay, so maybe this should have fit under the favorite Buffy/Spike moments. Because it isn’t a pleasant conversation and Giles doesn’t come off looking very well. But I love this scene. Love it. Buffy standing up for Spike? Letting the other most important man in her life know how important he is and how far he’s come? I love this scene almost as much as Buffy telling Spike she believes in him. I have a bit of a hangup on Buffy believing in Spike, can you tell?
And Buffy’s in it, and Giles is in it, and that makes it worthy of inclusion on this list. Don’t argue with me.
4. “Giles, you have to come.” – “The Body”
He’s the first person she calls. The one she needs to be there. Of course he is. He’s her father. And this shot:
3. “All you will get from is my support. And my respect.” – “Innocence”
Buffy just made a reckless, very teenage girl decision, and now the worst vampire in history is back and will soon be slaughtering half of Sunnydale because of it. And Giles, who we’ve seen be firm with her in the past, might be expected to either avoid the topic altogether (talking with your dad about sex is never fun for either party) or to blame her and chastise her for what she’s done. But he doesn’t. He refuses to make her feel guilty. That scene makes me cry it’s so lovely. This is the Giles I love.
2. “You cut your hair.” – “Grave”
I don’t know what it is about this moment, but it kills me. The simplicity of it. The way he can’t quite say, “I missed you and I’m sorry I left and I know things are different now.” Instead, he just notices that her hair is different, and that says everything about everything he’s missed and about the way he still cares about her. I love it.
1. The lie. – “Lie to Me”
BUFFY: Does it ever get easy?
(casually stakes Ford who rises from a grave behind her)
GILES: You mean life?
BUFFY: Yeah. Does it get easy?
GILES: What do you want me to say?
BUFFY: Lie to me.
GILES: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
BUFFY: Liar.
Top Five Favorite BtVS Characters for
inksplotched5. Dawn
Sure, the first two seasons she’s around, she can be annoying, but I love Dawn Summers for a number of reasons. A) That beautiful, beautiful metaphor for adoption that is her presence in S5. The one thing the writers really got write in reference to Dawn was Buffy’s very conflicted by absolutely loving feelings for her. B) All her scenes with Spike. That “weird, friendless kids” icon I have? That sums it up. Because they’re both alienated and lonely and they need each other. But more than that, they like each other. C) Have you watched Season 7? The girl grows up to be totally awesome, competent, and fun (her scenes with Andrew are especially a joy). And nothing can convince me that she won’t continue to grow up even awesomer. (And maybe end up in the Impala with the Winchester boys. Or on the Galactica. Or in the TARDIS with the Doctor…)
4. Cordy
The scene from “Earshot” is the one that epitomizes why I love Cordy so much. Because, literally, she thinks it, she says it. It’s her way. Plus, she’s constantly defying the idea of that she's completely shallow. She no doubt sacrifices a lot of her social standing to be with Xander (oh, how I shipped them), she’s gorgeous and snarky and she knows it, and she really does care about things she pretends not to. The scene in “Helpless” when Buffy asks her for a ride never fails to make me fall in love with her all over again. Long live Queen C.
3. Oz
Oz is just about perfect. He doesn’t say much, but when he does it’s either hilarious, heartbreakingly sweet, or very, very insightful. His devotion to Willow makes me think he’d probably be the greatest best boyfriend ever. Especially contrasting with Buffy/Angel’s over-the-top angst in the first couple of seasons, Oz and Willow prove what doing it right looks like. Except when Willow gets stupid and hooks up with Xander! And even then, Oz is perfect, forgiving her, but taking a little bit of time to do it. Plus, Seth Green is made of awesome.
2. Spike
Do I even need to go here?
1. Buffy
Spike’s speech in “Touched” is cheesy and more than a little overrated. But he gets one thing absolutely right: the thing he (and I) love about Buffy is the way she tries. My girl always, always gets up again. She’s my hero.
Top Five Favorite Minor BtVS Characters for
radio_silent5. Ethan
4. Clem
3. The Buffybot (she totally counts!)
2. Principal Snyder
1. Jenny
Top Five Favorite Fannish Icons for
snickfic5.
It’s the Non-Judging Breakfast Club. It’s Blair and Chuck and Serena and Nate, and they’re on top of the world. No matter what else happens, that city is theirs, and they are unstoppable.
4.
Buffy/Spike/Rocket launcher is my OT3, y’all. That scene in “Him” never, ever gets old. I could watch Buffy and Spike chase each other around and fight over a rocket launcher all day long. I still can't get over my sheer joy at finding this icon. GLEE!
3.
I almost never use this icon. But I’ve had it since literally the day I got my lj, and I probably won’t ever get around to getting rid of it. Because it’s Eric and Jackie and the greatest line on the show. That scene will never stop being awesome.
2.
Out of Gas” is my favorite episode of Firefly. And this icon just epitomizes that show for me: the warm colors that make you feel like you really are home, the quote about the ship being with you for the rest of your life, the way it’s kind of worn and fuzzy around the edges. It’s perfect.
1.
You see number one up there under favorite characters? This icon sums all that up in one image. Buffy is my hero.
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I am one of those sticklers for obeying the law--I rarely ever go over the speed limit, no matter how angry it makes people--but I've set aside my guilt about illegal dowloading.
The thing of it is, most of the shows I've watched illegally, I later buy the DVDs for--or plan to at some point. The other shows are ones I would never have paid to watch in the first place, so it's not like they're losing in money from my actions.
And yes, I'm aware that that makes me a bad person.
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