Buffy - Consequences S3 E15 - Full Reaction

Personally, I think “moving on” is a contemporary psychological myth. We simply learn to deal. As Buffy told Willow, Xander will always have a piece of her heart. There is a lifetime of her having a crush on Xander and him not responding behind it. So, of course, she’s jealous. And she’s jealous about sharing all her friends (Buffy included) with Faith. She admits it. I’m sure Faith has never killed anyone before. Eliza Dushku’s acting is magnificent in these two episodes, showing her going from panic and guilt to self-preservation. It is one of the most realistic presentations I’ve ever seen of going to a life of crime (or doing wrong, from doing right). When Angel says she now has a taste for it, killing, it’s a strange line but what I don’t think a lot of people take into account is that he is talking to a slayer. He says it’s about power. Their relation to supernatural power is not going to be the same, necessarily, as ours. And the way she was with Xander was evidence. Wes is given a bad rap in this episode. Buffy’s line about whether he still has his ticket back to the mother country is actually repulsive. Wes is only doing (as he does this whole season, until the very end) what Giles would have done before he got fired. (Remember Giles was shooting Buffy up with drugs in order to weaken her, just a few episodes back!) Wes is following the council’s directives. The fact that he is not quite as good at it as Giles was is both humorous and not his fault. Great reaction, of course, as always.

The Counsel tried to imprison her so in Faith's eyes everyone she could trust has already turned against her. That would leave the Mayor as a way to not only move forward for her but also get back at all the others for everything they have (and have not) done. No one really cares about her. They have all let her, a teenage girl, struggle in that dirty dingy motel room for how many months now. I want to believe in Faith too but I see plenty of reasons for her to turn away from Buffy and the rest at this point.

Also remember it's usually the most extreme people that have the loudest opinions online. Most of the normal people often stay quiet. You never know when your opinions may actually line up with the average person more than it appears so in the comment section.

It's ok to have differing opinions from the fandom. I actually love when reactors do because it means they are sharing their genuine opinions. Stay awesome Jules!

Yes okay Faith might've tried to pin a murder on Buffy, and assaulted and strangled Xander, but her hair is beautiful so how could I possibly be cross with her?

Faith is compelling as a character because, as Taylor Swift most recently put it, it must be exhausting always rooting for the anti hero. Faith it's Buffy's opposite, but it doesn't mean she isn't fun. And isn't worth investment. It doesn't mean that you're wrong to be outraged by her behaviour, or disappointed, she has her supporters because she's just that little bit different.

I like Faith as a foil for Buffy and as a part of the Slayer lore storytelling and how she contrasts with Buffy. I don't really pull for her as a character, though. So while some will love Faith for their own reasons, don't feel bad for feeling angry at her or disappointed. Mostly, I would just advise to feel however you want to feel while you're watching (that's why we're here!), but always leave room for storytelling.

People can like a character for what they bring to the show without agreeing with their actions. Try not to let Faith's popularity with fans color your impressions of her; after all, we're here for what YOU think!

Edit: There seems to be a little problem at the moment with scheduled Patreon posts as some of you have told me that you're unable to see them when they are there. I usually schedule the posts so I can have them up at a set time but for now, I might just publish them directly. This means that the times might be a little erratic, but they will still be out on the same days, around the same times. Thank you and I'm sorry for the problems 💜