So it makes sense that when Buffy shows her intellectual mettle in coming up with a truly radical solution to the problem in Chosen, Giles is finally able to accept her as an equal. As an adult.
You just helped me come to terms with the S7 Giles/Buffy arc! I've always wished they had just a little more time together at the end of the season, to work out some of their differences. But I love the connection you've made here between how Giles's intellect has failed him when it comes to dealing with The First, and how he can finally see Buffy as an equal when she changes the rules of what a Slayer is.
this has strong echoes of the ‘Bluebeard’ story as Fred suffers the ultimate punishment for female curiosity.
Oh, wow. I had never thought of it in those terms before.
he treats her like a man, thus completing the long journey from seeing the demon in the girl to bringing out the humanity in the demon.
Interesting though that Wes, who has a tendency to see the women he's involved with in madonna/whore terms, never does really get much chance to learn to relate to an adult woman on equal footing. Faith in S4 of Angel is probably the closest he comes, but she's only around for a short time.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-08-02 01:24 am (UTC)You just helped me come to terms with the S7 Giles/Buffy arc! I've always wished they had just a little more time together at the end of the season, to work out some of their differences. But I love the connection you've made here between how Giles's intellect has failed him when it comes to dealing with The First, and how he can finally see Buffy as an equal when she changes the rules of what a Slayer is.
this has strong echoes of the ‘Bluebeard’ story as Fred suffers the ultimate punishment for female curiosity.
Oh, wow. I had never thought of it in those terms before.
he treats her like a man, thus completing the long journey from seeing the demon in the girl to bringing out the humanity in the demon.
Interesting though that Wes, who has a tendency to see the women he's involved with in madonna/whore terms, never does really get much chance to learn to relate to an adult woman on equal footing. Faith in S4 of Angel is probably the closest he comes, but she's only around for a short time.
This was a fascinating essay!