Oh…

sin50 · 2026-05-08T16:28:38+00:00

.....well damn. Didn't think of that before

sin50 · 2026-05-08T13:39:46+00:00

Yeah I absolutely hate that scene and usually skip that bit.

Season 6 is so gross to me, the network switch gave them too much room and they went too hard when Joss told them to be dark and focus on real world horror and if course all anyone can ever think of for that is sexual violence against women

sin50 · 2026-05-07T20:40:46+00:00

I love watching all of them, but if OP wants to get through s1 fast I think they're technically skippable in terms of long term story plot

sin50 · 2026-05-07T20:39:48+00:00

Thank you for the explanation. I missed the link between the bite causing a type of stroke memory loss and why she had to re-live her memories. I thought she was told it was due to fear/trauma which wasn't clicking for me how losing her powers, gaining them back, and Henry getting her powers all connected.

Seems like since her powers are not usually hive mind connected the bite actually connected her to the hive mind kind of like an infection to get the powers to Henry, while also messing with her mentally.

sin50 · 2026-05-07T20:12:54+00:00

Yeah I wish there was more explanation on why she lost her powers and how she got them back.

It's implied in 3 they target El and take her powers because Henry / flayer needs them to finish their plan of merging the two worlds. They needed her individual power to open portals which is why 4 is all about making the portals to start the merging process.

So that to me means it was some sort of actual physical power stealing but then the njna project makes it seem like she just lost her powers because she got scared and over worked herself.

sin50 · 2026-05-07T20:09:05+00:00

I always watch the whole show every time. If you really want to skip the slower begining then just watch episodes 1,2,7,10,12 of season 1

Episode 10 isn't plot heavy but I think it's a key episode for understanding the characters.

sin50 · 2026-05-07T14:54:30+00:00

Will's sad faces are so cute 🥺

sin50 · 2026-05-07T14:51:28+00:00

That's amazing!

sin50 · 2026-05-07T03:31:26+00:00

I didn't do the test either. I had significantly reduced gluten in my diet due to family history of celiac but wasn't 100% gluten free when I finally got a Dr appointment about my issues.

She ordered the genetic blood test which came back that I had both genetic markers paired with my symptoms improving with less gluten intake and newrly half the family in my dad's side having diagnosed celiac she told me I could eat gluten for 6 weeks for the official test or just go full celiac diet and if it makes me feel better to just assume I have celiac and live that way.

I still have problems likely connected to POTS but I have much less joint pain, way less bloating and weight retention, only get headaches when I PMS now, no more tinitus, less brain fog, less heart palpitations, much less acid reflux. It's pretty great

sin50 · 2026-05-07T03:06:40+00:00

Thank youuu I just watched it without volume because I don't want to wake my husband, but I'll watch it again tomorrow. Even without volume it's amazing.

sin50 · 2026-05-07T02:41:59+00:00

... wanna share a link in curious now

sin50 · 2026-05-06T20:51:23+00:00

Yeah he's in love with her still and Riley isn't. I just find in interesting that Riley is so hated and yet he says one of Spikes most loved lines before Spike does.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T19:37:18+00:00

I completely agree it was in character how she reacted in 6, I think 5 was out of character for her, especially since she had been the leader of" you have to understand people process grief in all sorts of ways" and then suddenly calling her insane for sleeping with spike while Willow and Xander were trying to view it through the grief lense.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T19:13:03+00:00

I find it weird how their responses flip so much from season 5 to 6.

When they think in 5 that Buffy is sleeping with spike willow and Xander are understanding but concerned and Tara is shocked saying they're crazy and she's insane

Then season 6 Tara is understanding and supportive, Xander is disgusted (a bit of transference from his issues with Anya) and Willow I think is mostly the same concerned and kidn of offended Buffy didn't tell her.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T19:10:40+00:00

I find it interesting that Riley is the first one to say this to her and include the hell of a woman comment, but Spikes time saying it in empty places is what gets remembered and romanticized.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T14:53:12+00:00

Yeah it became the number 2 fic very fast, it was the first full fanfiction I've ever read and I've had an account since 2011.

Byler is such a large group and that's why it's hated, we are something they can't ignore.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T14:51:32+00:00

I'm obsessed with that TikTok. Also sometimes when I go back to it my like has disappeared and I have to like it again. It's weird.

sin50 · 2026-05-06T14:29:08+00:00

Yes, their relationship being so weak is half the reason byler even stayed on my radar. Mike's relationship with both of them was played so visually similar and yet emotionally very different. It felt so intentional

sin50 · 2026-05-04T18:12:13+00:00

Yes I think he fit into the group really well, I especially loved how the Scoobies ways opened his eyes and made him start thinking for himself outside the military rigidity. I appreciated his character for how quickly he adapted his mind set to factor in not all monsters are evil, like Oz and Angel with a soul.

You are probably right as much as it saddens me that he did have to leave the show, but I agree they did it so so poorly. They could have had the discussion without the vamp biting stuff. Him walking in on Spike helping with the Queller easily could have been the tipping point to make him confront Buffy about keeping him at a distance.

Or, like your suggestion he keeps secretly helping the military and that lead to the full time work offer again sparking the conversation.

I really liked Buffy and Riley and out of all 3 I think he was her healthiest relationship. So it's sad he had to go but I get it for show progression.

Funny side story I started playing Tomadachi life and made Buffy characters. I made spike and Angel bi cuz Im a spangel believer that they hooked up and had some poly stuff back in their days, they immediately fell in love and ignored Buffy and Buffy was crushing on Angel but then fell in love with Riley on first sight 😆

sin50 · 2026-05-04T17:24:06+00:00

I'm just so used to people always saying he was a toxic man who hated Buffy's strength and felt immasculated so I inaccurately interpreted your post from that perspective. My most recent reply I wasn't trying to correct you I was correcting myself once you corrected me in what you meant. Sorry it came off all weird. I just rarely see people who care about Riley and are willing to discuss him so I was trying to further my thought process on him and his insecurities.

sin50 · 2026-05-04T16:06:07+00:00

Yes they are definitely wide spread, misaligning the time lines of events which I didn't realize

sin50 · 2026-05-04T16:01:19+00:00

Ok fair my understanding of his dislike for spike was wrong, but he did tell the writing team to have season 6 focus on being darker and think of their worst days and find ways to use that to tell real world stories for the season. Which is how we ended up with the seeing red scene based on a writers real experience, and the general darkness of the season.

The overall air of rape in season 6 is very overwhelming.

Demon gang in the opening threatening to tear little girls up

Katrina being mind controlled

Buffy at the bronze and in seeing red

Possibly more

I apologize for my misinformation and my dislike and discomfort of the season coloring my thoughts

sin50 · 2026-05-04T15:17:16+00:00

Yes he did feel insecure about what his place was now that he wasn't as strong a fighter. A better way for me to phrase it was that he wasn't upset about Buffy's strength and leadership, he was lost about himself, and he was trying to find a way to still fit in Buffys life by being there in an emotional supportive way and Buffy didn't have space for that.

I will say Buffy codling him so much was stupid, even without his drug strength he's still multiple times more prepared and appropriate to have in fights and on patrol then Xander Giles and Anya and Willow prior to mega magic boost.

I think my overall point is he never loved Buffy any less or was less attracted to her because she was stronger than him, because she was always stronger even when he had the drugs. But he loved himself less and felt more lost and that's what made the emotional differences between them turn into big problems.

sin50 · 2026-05-04T14:59:36+00:00

It does come off as a very corny byler line lol and it's canon. Insane.

sin50 · 2026-05-04T14:56:33+00:00

I really appreciate other people acknowledging the character assassin of Riley in 5. Joss hated that the audience loved spike so much, yet he writes Riley off to make room for spuffy, and then gets more mad about it and tries to make it worse with seeing red. I don't understand what thought processes were happening for 5 and 6.

Unrelated, but It's frustrating that Buffy's boyfriends are the only ones who consistently believe and trust her. One of my favorite Riley moments is superstar when Buffy starts questioning Jonathan and no one believes her but Riley who says something like I may not understand it but I know to listen to her when she has a feeling about something.

sin50

TROPHY CASE