I write analytical reviews now, when I'm rewatching the show. But the first time I watched it, it was all about emotion. This is why it's good to rewatch shows like BtVS: they appeal to emotions so much, but there's also a lot of analyze, and you see the story in a very different way when you're able step away and look at it more rationally and analytically. Especially when you know where the story is going and how the characters develop, and you can judge them differently.
For instance, the first time I watched seasons 1 and 2, I was like "Buffy and Angel are so sweet and romantic <3 (although they kind of don't really fit together? Not the way some other couples I ship from other shows do. Hm. Never mind)" Now I'm like "the Buffy/Angel relationship is portrayed as an OTT epic romance, but it can be seen as both romantic and subversive. It was never an ideal romance, they didn't even know each other that well, but makes sense as a teenage romance, because this is the time when people believe in such things as One True Love Forever."
When Angel lost his soul, I was like: "He is so horrible. How can he be so different now from the Angel we knew?" and "UGH I HATE THE BASTARD". Now i analyze the motivations of "Angelus" and why he hates the love he used to feel for Buffy, his rivalry with Spike, his issues that go from Liam to Angelus to Angel, etc.
Or, the first time I used to find Xander incredibly annoying and it was all "SHUT UP XANDER, YOU IMMATURE JERK!" but now I watch and think: Xander has grown in a dysfunctional family and is very insecure about his masculine identity, and he is trying to fit into gender roles he's been taught to follow.
Or, the first time I was like "aw, Spike and Drusilla are so romantic in that Sid and Nancy/Bonnie and Clyde way <3" until I went into the "UGH DRUSILLA HOW CAN YOU ACT LIKE THAT WHILE SPIKE'S IN THE WHEELCHAIR, AND HE WAS SO DEVOTED TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE WEAK - I HATE YOU NOW AND I WANT SPIKE TO FIND HIMSELF SOME OTHER VAMPIRE GIRLFRIEND". Now I'm like "Spike/Dru has this surface romanticism that hides the deep dysfunction underneath. Drusilla is such a fascinating character; she's like a self-centered child, living in a world of her own, and her ideas about love and fidelity are different than the ones we're used to. Spike is very devoted to Drusilla but he also doesn't treat her as an adult, doesn't seem to hold her responsible for her behavior or talk his issues with her, instead he'd focused on removing his rival and getting back Drusilla and dragging her to his cave, err car, whether she likes it or not."
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For instance, the first time I watched seasons 1 and 2, I was like "Buffy and Angel are so sweet and romantic <3 (although they kind of don't really fit together? Not the way some other couples I ship from other shows do. Hm. Never mind)" Now I'm like "the Buffy/Angel relationship is portrayed as an OTT epic romance, but it can be seen as both romantic and subversive. It was never an ideal romance, they didn't even know each other that well, but makes sense as a teenage romance, because this is the time when people believe in such things as One True Love Forever."
When Angel lost his soul, I was like: "He is so horrible. How can he be so different now from the Angel we knew?" and "UGH I HATE THE BASTARD". Now i analyze the motivations of "Angelus" and why he hates the love he used to feel for Buffy, his rivalry with Spike, his issues that go from Liam to Angelus to Angel, etc.
Or, the first time I used to find Xander incredibly annoying and it was all "SHUT UP XANDER, YOU IMMATURE JERK!" but now I watch and think: Xander has grown in a dysfunctional family and is very insecure about his masculine identity, and he is trying to fit into gender roles he's been taught to follow.
Or, the first time I was like "aw, Spike and Drusilla are so romantic in that Sid and Nancy/Bonnie and Clyde way <3" until I went into the "UGH DRUSILLA HOW CAN YOU ACT LIKE THAT WHILE SPIKE'S IN THE WHEELCHAIR, AND HE WAS SO DEVOTED TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE WEAK - I HATE YOU NOW AND I WANT SPIKE TO FIND HIMSELF SOME OTHER VAMPIRE GIRLFRIEND". Now I'm like "Spike/Dru has this surface romanticism that hides the deep dysfunction underneath. Drusilla is such a fascinating character; she's like a self-centered child, living in a world of her own, and her ideas about love and fidelity are different than the ones we're used to. Spike is very devoted to Drusilla but he also doesn't treat her as an adult, doesn't seem to hold her responsible for her behavior or talk his issues with her, instead he'd focused on removing his rival and getting back Drusilla and dragging her to his cave, err car, whether she likes it or not."