I guess from your arguments, it appeared that you were heavily invested in the B/A romance and didn't like that the show wasn't following through on that relationship and had chosen instead to go in another direction or undercut it?
This is because most discussions of shows require talk of romance, and assume the universes are closed loops. People operate with the fundamental assumptions that (1) characters must eventually be permanently paired up and (2) that these pairings must be limited among those already in the cast. These are very flawed assumptions.
They are particularly flawed when considering pairings of immortal/eternally young characters with mortals - where milennia of human mythology weighs in against that. And particularly in the case of Angel - whose curse - makes any serious, long-term loving relationship a non-starter. Were that barrier removed, it might be quite possible for Angel & Buffy to work on a functional relationship. But again, this is a non-starter.
And indeed, because I know it is a non-starter, I never have to get distracted worrying whether they'll ever make it as a couple or whether the story should or should not have endorsed or rejected them. Who winds up with whom, isn't the point for this viewer.
But I reject the idea that they are fundamentally unsuited for each other, simply because it is not possible to conduct a viable test. The metaphysics of their universe preclude it, and they are unromantic enough to not pursue it.
My real concerns are not "ship" based, but based in character and storytelling. What makes the Buffy & Angel relationship interesting, is that their interactions prompt tests of their value systems. These characters will have compelling internal and external conflict whenever they interact, and that is good for telling a story. The functioning of mundane aspects of their relationship (i.e. everyday stuff) is not of paramount importance to the story, but this should not lead us to assume they either could or could not work.
Fixating on talking about why they are doomed is a distraction to what I consider more interesting storytelling. Just like fixating on why Buffy & Spike should be so great together - which shippers are prone to do - distracted greatly from any valuable analysis of Spike's character.
no subject
This is because most discussions of shows require talk of romance, and assume the universes are closed loops. People operate with the fundamental assumptions that (1) characters must eventually be permanently paired up and (2) that these pairings must be limited among those already in the cast. These are very flawed assumptions.
They are particularly flawed when considering pairings of immortal/eternally young characters with mortals - where milennia of human mythology weighs in against that. And particularly in the case of Angel - whose curse - makes any serious, long-term loving relationship a non-starter. Were that barrier removed, it might be quite possible for Angel & Buffy to work on a functional relationship. But again, this is a non-starter.
And indeed, because I know it is a non-starter, I never have to get distracted worrying whether they'll ever make it as a couple or whether the story should or should not have endorsed or rejected them. Who winds up with whom, isn't the point for this viewer.
But I reject the idea that they are fundamentally unsuited for each other, simply because it is not possible to conduct a viable test. The metaphysics of their universe preclude it, and they are unromantic enough to not pursue it.
My real concerns are not "ship" based, but based in character and storytelling. What makes the Buffy & Angel relationship interesting, is that their interactions prompt tests of their value systems. These characters will have compelling internal and external conflict whenever they interact, and that is good for telling a story. The functioning of mundane aspects of their relationship (i.e. everyday stuff) is not of paramount importance to the story, but this should not lead us to assume they either could or could not work.
Fixating on talking about why they are doomed is a distraction to what I consider more interesting storytelling. Just like fixating on why Buffy & Spike should be so great together - which shippers are prone to do - distracted greatly from any valuable analysis of Spike's character.