I was kinda off-put from the beginning by Rilkey-and-Buffy because he had way more chemistry with Willow
Well, yeah. The beginning of Buffy/Riley was the worst written getting-of-two-characters-together in the show's history -- she went from being "Willow's friend" to the girl he was supposedly in love with in about a second and a half, for no other reason than the writers needed to have them be a couple by the middle of the season. (When I started watching the show mid-S4, they were already together, and they seemed fine. But seeing the season from the beginning, it's as if they're missing an episode.)
under the "many personalities of Riley" banner
Wrod. They either should have left him as goofy T.A. guy, or had Buffy dating Forrest instead, but still have Riley be the first one in the Initiative who finds out she's the slayer (this makes sense in my head, I swear).
I actually didn't mind that they wanted to make Riley a bit darker, but the reasons for it (you don't rely on me enough) were lamer than a lame duck in lametown. I think Buffy not loving him could have been more than sufficient reason to send him over to the dark side, but they'd have needed to show a little more build up.
Although, in Riley's defense, I never quite got that he blamed her for the suckjobs - that's something I think Buffy latched on to. However, any slack I'd cut him in that direction he loses because he also gave her an ultimatum - that's just bullshit. Unfortunately, it felt more like the writers giving her an ultimatum than Riley.
There's an article in the Chicago Sun-Times about Sandy Grushow leaving as Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman. It mentions "Buffy."
Grushow made a splash in 2001, selling the 20th-produced WB hit "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to UPN, which came in with more money. Both Grushow and UPN claimed it had nothing to do with the fact that Fox-owned UPN affiliates were weighing whether to renew their agreements with the network. The deal's legacy is that it discouraged networks from buying shows from outside studios.
I know this has been done to death, but ever time I see OMWF and Xander and Anya pester Giles for some way to stop this thing it annoys me. Xander doesn't even look embarrassed.
Xander doesn't even look embarrassed.
Duh, because he didn't do it. I'm sorry, that just makes no sense at all.
Still think he was being gallent and covering for Dawn.
Is that fanwank or canon?
That'd be fan wank.
Canon pretty firmly states it was Xander, and restates it in Selfless.
Pure, unabashed Fanwank™. But it fits his behavior pattern.
Oh, sure it is. But it's the only way I can deal with (what I see as) a glaring flaw in what is otherwise almost a perfectly done piece. So I'ma stay over here in Egypt where I'm happy.
