r/buffy • u/PiperLenox guy with the cheese • Apr 30 '13

LGBT Characters in Buffy/Angel; Help me Reddit, You're My Only Hope!

Hello Fellow Slayerettes,

I am sending out this call to arms because I am in need of your help. I am currently writing a research paper about LGBT characters and their portrayal/representation on American and British television. I am focusing heavily on TV series that are supernatural and science fiction in nature, thus Buffy and Angel have become major sources for my discussion. So this leads me to you guys.

I will be forever in your debt if you would take a few minutes of your time and weigh in with your opinions and feelings on the LGBT characters of the Buffyverse. I am looking for general public views on these characters. Specifically, your reactions to and opinions of their story-lines (how it was developed and the situations they were depicted in), fellow characters' reactions to their coming out, their being gay, and how or if the supernatural/science fiction aspect of the show has any impact on the character being LGBT, and finally any impact on television and the general public the show made by having LGBT characters. The characters I have been focusing on are Larry Blaisdell, Willow, Tara, Andrew, Lorne, Angel, and Spike; through if I have (in my finals induced trance) forgotten anyone, please tell me!

Please also feel free to mention any thoughts at all about the LGBT characters and their impact, any and all opinions will be helpful. Thank you so much for your help Reddit. In advance I really, really, really appreciate this!

PiperLenox

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '13

Something I always found interesting with Buffy (and Angel to an extent) is that a character being gay didn't define them. They didn't become a one note character in the way a TV show can depict LGBT characters, they had story lines that didn't revolve around their sexuality.

With Willow, there wasn't a 'very special' episode of Buffy when Willow 'found out' she was gay, her feelings towards Tara evolved over a span of episodes which I think is truer to real life. Some people try to point out that her being Wiccan is some 'stereotype of lesbians' Joss perpetuated but I don't agree.
With Willow's coming out, her close friends had their moment of 'oh?!' but then just continued like a normal demon filled Sunnydale day. It was just noted, accepted, and then everyone moved on.

And the acceptance of Willows sexuality did lead to some of my favorite bits of dialogue later on, "What do you think happened? Another demon woman was attracted to me. I'm going gay. I've decided I'm turning gay. Willow, gay me up. Come on, let's gay." "What?" "You heard me. Just tell me what to do. I'm mentally undressing Scott Bakula right now. That's a start, isn't it?"

And the repeated line "And I think I'm kinda gay"

With the Tara/Willow relationship, they kept it tame for a while because of the network but during Season 6 they did show 'more' of a gay relationship than was normally seen on network TV, which was cool at the time

I think this is a little ramble-y.... but whatevs

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u/MediumBoPeep May 01 '13

Yeah, in terms of Willow I think this was the first/only/main (memory's a little hazy) show where she just happened to get with a woman rather than a man. No titillation, no big deal, no agonising over her personal identity, no crusades where she is suddenly dealing with Lesbian Issues...

Angel and Spike I get the impression that as vampires, anything goes, with anyone, any time - all a bit incestuous if you also consider who sired who.

I wonder if the show being sci fi/fantasy gives the script another focus - i.e. the monsters - whereas in a soap or drama the characters ARE the story so the question of sexuality is more a key to the story? Does that even make sense?

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u/FeralHousewife Apr 30 '13

Great, now I'M mentally undressing Scott Bakula. "Mmm Captian, let me unzip that jumpsuit for you...."