Well, if we're looking at the entire run of Buffy, and only one season of SPN, then that doesn't give us a terribly deep look at SPN, I think.
I saw Xander as the constant butt of jokes, of most typically being the one who did nothing that could not be done by some else, who was most constantly in shadow while the others - Buffy, Willow, Faith - were pushed into the spotlight. When he did get his spot, at the end of S6, it was in the same way that Dean opperates on SPN - I'm not going to let you go. And that was after 6 seasons. So I'm fairly satisfied that my read isn't incorrect.
Giles was also played for laughs more often than not, I thought. (Granted, a lot of BtVS was played for laughs. And me and comedy are not the best of buddies. So, put that in the balance, too.) He was also not cast as masculine (tweedy glasses wearing librarian?) although that, too, faded somewhat - in later seasons. Buffy's "need" of him was as a teacher/mother figure, not as man or, I would argue, particularly as father.
In response to what you say below re: the men of SPN taking on female roles, I saw the same thing in BtVS, only with girls taking on the male traits of violence, killing, and casual sex, but, at the same time, rejecting the "female" traits of emotional intimacy, nurturing, and community. I think the trade wasn't a particularly good one.
(And while I say all this, please, this is what *I* got out of Buffy. It didn't work for me, didn't talk to me. Other people, other gals, it told them that they could be the kick-ass heroes of the story, too, and that is *great.* It's like scowling at how Dumbledor is a scheming manipulator and not to be trusted and the HP books are overly simplistic and *ignoring* the fact that kids who never read were gobbling down the books. *waves hands* There are a variety of scales to measure success on.)
What if she had lived and gone on the road with the boys? It would have been a different show, but it would have been pretty interesting.
Yes, that would have been interesting (I'm going to respond to your comment in Mely's post about what sorts of gals I wouldn't mind seeing in the show) and there have been more than a couple brilliant fics running with this idea. But, as you say, it would shift the story from a clan-saga to yet another "found family" drama.
There are thoughts running around in my head about Ponderosa and Dallas, as well as about Everwood, which is another male-heavy family story.
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I saw Xander as the constant butt of jokes, of most typically being the one who did nothing that could not be done by some else, who was most constantly in shadow while the others - Buffy, Willow, Faith - were pushed into the spotlight. When he did get his spot, at the end of S6, it was in the same way that Dean opperates on SPN - I'm not going to let you go. And that was after 6 seasons. So I'm fairly satisfied that my read isn't incorrect.
Giles was also played for laughs more often than not, I thought. (Granted, a lot of BtVS was played for laughs. And me and comedy are not the best of buddies. So, put that in the balance, too.) He was also not cast as masculine (tweedy glasses wearing librarian?) although that, too, faded somewhat - in later seasons. Buffy's "need" of him was as a teacher/mother figure, not as man or, I would argue, particularly as father.
In response to what you say below re: the men of SPN taking on female roles, I saw the same thing in BtVS, only with girls taking on the male traits of violence, killing, and casual sex, but, at the same time, rejecting the "female" traits of emotional intimacy, nurturing, and community. I think the trade wasn't a particularly good one.
(And while I say all this, please, this is what *I* got out of Buffy. It didn't work for me, didn't talk to me. Other people, other gals, it told them that they could be the kick-ass heroes of the story, too, and that is *great.* It's like scowling at how Dumbledor is a scheming manipulator and not to be trusted and the HP books are overly simplistic and *ignoring* the fact that kids who never read were gobbling down the books. *waves hands* There are a variety of scales to measure success on.)
What if she had lived and gone on the road with the boys? It would have been a different show, but it would have been pretty interesting.
Yes, that would have been interesting (I'm going to respond to your comment in Mely's post about what sorts of gals I wouldn't mind seeing in the show) and there have been more than a couple brilliant fics running with this idea. But, as you say, it would shift the story from a clan-saga to yet another "found family" drama.
There are thoughts running around in my head about Ponderosa and Dallas, as well as about Everwood, which is another male-heavy family story.
*sigh* Dean pretty. Guns loud. Sam good.
- hg