"I may be Love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it", says Spike. His role is often a truth-telling one, but that doesn't stop him from lying to and about himself. And he's not the only one. A lot of characters seem to have their pants on fire at some point or another when they're expressing their feelings, or their motives.
Who do you think is the character most liable to self-deception (and/or trying to convince others of their own particular brand of "truth")? What scenes make you think "oooh, you big fibber you"...or, as Spike shouts at the screen..."Pacey you bloody idiot, can't you see she doesn't love you?" (or words to that effect)?
One of the big self deception moments comes for me in Into the Woods. You may not agree with me on this of course...
When Xander comes back from giving Buffy a pep talk about Riley, that leads to her running after Agent Finn, he tells Anya he is "powerful, painfully in love with" her. He talks to her in the same way Riley talked to Buffy, when he said she made him tingle all over ("my every inch of me"?.eww, Riley, TMI!). But the difference is, when Riley says he's scarily in love with Buffy, I completely believe it. When Xander says it to Anya, I get the impression he's trying to convince himself that he's more in love with her than he is ? that he wants to feel like that, and be that kind of man?almost, to be better at love than Buffy? That's just one interpretation, and I'm not saying that's his reason?but, anyway. The whole scene comes off as if Xander is not just telling Anya how he feels ? he's creating an image of their relationship that Anya wants, and he wants to believe?but none of his behaviour shows him to be "powerfully and painfully" in love. He's often quite dismissive of Anya, and unless he's very different when they're alone (which we don't get to see all that often, admittedly), I haven't seen any signs of "no holds barred need".
With Buffy, I felt Xander could've had that kind of love, but with Anya, I think he just wants to?and realises this in season 6, when he has his moment of clarity. Being with Anya is corrosive to him, because, on one level, he's living a lie. I'm not saying he doesn't love her at all, but it's not a Big Love, if you know what I mean (and no I don't mean the Mormon kind!).
EDIT: I think Buffy's feelings for Riley, and hte way she frames those feelings, runs somewhat parallel to Xander's arc here...when she tells Riley she's given him her heart, body and soul, I'm as full of disbelief as Riley is. Perhaps the main difference is that Riley calls Buffy on it, while Anya lets Xander get away with it.
Who do you think is the character most liable to self-deception (and/or trying to convince others of their own particular brand of "truth")? What scenes make you think "oooh, you big fibber you"...or, as Spike shouts at the screen..."Pacey you bloody idiot, can't you see she doesn't love you?" (or words to that effect)?
One of the big self deception moments comes for me in Into the Woods. You may not agree with me on this of course...
When Xander comes back from giving Buffy a pep talk about Riley, that leads to her running after Agent Finn, he tells Anya he is "powerful, painfully in love with" her. He talks to her in the same way Riley talked to Buffy, when he said she made him tingle all over ("my every inch of me"?.eww, Riley, TMI!). But the difference is, when Riley says he's scarily in love with Buffy, I completely believe it. When Xander says it to Anya, I get the impression he's trying to convince himself that he's more in love with her than he is ? that he wants to feel like that, and be that kind of man?almost, to be better at love than Buffy? That's just one interpretation, and I'm not saying that's his reason?but, anyway. The whole scene comes off as if Xander is not just telling Anya how he feels ? he's creating an image of their relationship that Anya wants, and he wants to believe?but none of his behaviour shows him to be "powerfully and painfully" in love. He's often quite dismissive of Anya, and unless he's very different when they're alone (which we don't get to see all that often, admittedly), I haven't seen any signs of "no holds barred need".
With Buffy, I felt Xander could've had that kind of love, but with Anya, I think he just wants to?and realises this in season 6, when he has his moment of clarity. Being with Anya is corrosive to him, because, on one level, he's living a lie. I'm not saying he doesn't love her at all, but it's not a Big Love, if you know what I mean (and no I don't mean the Mormon kind!).
EDIT: I think Buffy's feelings for Riley, and hte way she frames those feelings, runs somewhat parallel to Xander's arc here...when she tells Riley she's given him her heart, body and soul, I'm as full of disbelief as Riley is. Perhaps the main difference is that Riley calls Buffy on it, while Anya lets Xander get away with it.
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