Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 6x15 “As You Were” FULL REACTION

Riley is a enjoyable character...when he isn’t with Buffy. Lol He was way too insecure with Buffy and with Sam, his wife he seems confident and sure of himself which makes him way more better as a character. Also his wife was so much better than I initially remembered! Loved her, It is a shame that she couldn’t stay on. ❤️

Ceara Abrahamsz

Very well put! I like how she ended it with a better perspective on herself and with him. Or at least on her perspective, she's letting go of her unhealthy attachment over him and that him allowing her is also not healthy or good for him. He allowed himself to be used and although he's mentioned before that he's okay with it, he's also expressed that he doesn't like being taken for granted or not appreciated much for what he's done. It's like he's willing to be 'used' by her as long as he also feels appreciated for his efforts to please her.

Shierra C Styver

That "I'm sorry William" line always gets me... Poor Spikey. =(

Stephen Mintac

For me, the best thing about this episode is the way it sets up the moment when Buffy says, "I'm sorry... William." Buffy has had negative reasons for feeling that she should end things with Spike. She feels angry with Spike, angry with herself, guilty, and disgusted with herself. So she has felt an obligation: she has felt that she SHOULD end things with Spike -- she has felt that she is being bad. Here she finds a completely different mindset for trying to end things with Spike. She tells Spike, "It's over" out of respect for herself and respect for him. That is a totally different mindset.

UTU49

"This feels kinda like New Moon Rising. It's not just closure, it's hope. It's perspective, it's a new beginning." Really nicely put.

UTU49

But the demon he lost against on Glory's tower was the Doc.. why would Spike name himself after one of his biggest regrets? Not protecting Dawn, being thrown off the tower resulting in her being cut, the portal opening and Buffy's death. He dreamed every night and was plagued by feeling a failure in that.

Holi117

The whole behaviour of Riley and a few other things this episode honestly make zero sense at all. There is this essay (linked below) which perfectly explains in detail all my feelings about this episode. I would advise Liam not to read this until after he finishes s6 though. Its an awesome read (for me at least), but has a couple spoilers for future events this season. https://theohara.livejournal.com/162286.html?fbclid=twAROSTCAJ7K-FhMFontWBgY4kokWUExBQEofJT1bh13TzvOzvf0Y12bMW-5g

Holi117

There should be an "I Hate Riley Club" of which I am the treasurer.

Steve Quast

Glad you like this episode, but I still hate Riley, and this episode where they made his life all perfect and him all Captain America to contrast with Buffy just makes me hate him even more. That being said I think her breaking up with Spike was the right thing. I love Spike but this relationship was toxic to be sure. Did I mention I still hate Riley? lol!

Melissa Murphy

"Ah, he's more interesting because he's got a scar..." I effing howled 😂😂😂😂😂

Bixgirl1

I actually like that you really like this episode even though for me it wasn't my all-time favorite. I didn't really miss Riley but I'm glad that they gave their relationship a closure. I love the bit in the end where Willow tells Buffy "What a b1tch" just to make her feel better even though she actually liked her. One thing I really didn't like in this episode was the first scene with Buffy meeting Sam and how Riley failed to give Buffy the 'important' aspects about their mission besides hunting the demon and trying to contain it. And it's not even the whole "he's married" thing but that they weren't supposed to kill the demon. Way to go, Agent Finn. 🙄 Sure, leave important details about your love life but failing to inform the Slayer what the whole point of tracking the demon was and then have your wife make Buffy look like a tool in the end was... yeah this was why I didn't really miss him. I never hated him as a character but I thought having him back was like putting salt on Buffy's wounded ego. I dunno. Or maybe it was supposed to help Buffy wake up and realise that she's selling herself short and she needs to have more "healthy attachments" as Holland Manners used to say lol Anyway, I can't wait for you to get through the remaining episodes for this season. It's gonna be so wild!

Shierra C Styver

Not my favorite episode. But the way Buffy ended things with Spike? Oh, my heart! THAT'S the Buffy we know and love. She's strong and gentle and lovely and just... This episode, if nothing else, really did the right thing when Buffy broke off their relationship; and that's what makes this episode worth it for me. I mean, I really liked Buffy and Spike together. When they're wholesome it's amazing! But the way things were here? Both of them were going about it wrong. Buffy, as she admitted, was using Spike. And Spike was manipulative. It just wasn't healthy on both ends. So, even though I don't particularly enjoy this episode or Riley, I did find merit in it. Also, I really enjoyed your reaction, Liam!

Abby

I like to think Spike chose the codename The Doctor after his interaction with the trio and their reference to it. He's a secret Whovian too

Inseriousity

I think the Gem of Amara is a good example of Spike having a plan similar to this. He spent months digging for it, leading an entire crew the whole time.

Karissa Edie

I really like Riley's message to Buffy that her circumstances don't define who she is. Angel, Giles and Xander have all said something similar in the past but maybe because of everything she's been through lately or because of the relationship she had with Riley, those words seem to have a bigger impact on her this time.

Bruce Trogdon

I agree with your first paragraph completely. People SO BADLY need to be able to defend him because they think he's funny or hot or whatever... but there is NO reason to legit believe the Doctor was anyone else. I've actually had arguments with people that say "But he said he's holding it for a friend"... as if that isn't the worldwide code for "these drugs are mine and i dont want to admit it". Or "he was doing it to make money for Buffy", which I guess could be true, but there's nothing telling us we should think that... and even if it was true, do we really want to celebrate him trying to find another way to get her to leave the real world even further so she's stuck in the dark with him? I love Spike... but people gotta get their heads outa their asses.

Bisibia

"She wants what Riley has." I...never came up with that myself, but I think it's exactly right.

Steve Maxey

The most aggravating fan response to this episode is conspiracy theories that Spike really wasn't "the Doctor" or otherwise was a patsy in the whole demon eggs thing, despite his tacit admission. Those that believe this believe this religiously even though "the Doctor" and these eggs and this subplot will never be mentioned again in the remaining 29 episodes of the series. I felt badly for Spike when he realized She Is Serious and switched tones completely to "really not complaining here"... but lose it again when I remember how differently he begins behaving toward her starting with realizing his chip situation - not only the violence but the balcony gaslighting stuff. It was after the Musical when he stopped trying to be "better" for/because of Buffy and instead tried to 'darken' her. I contrast all his blah blah darkness blah blah like me bibble in the middle sections of Season 6 with what he thanked Buffy for in S5 - treating him like a man even though he's a monster. It's kinda like my frustration with "Phantom of the Opera", especially 2004 where the gross disfigurement is basically less alarming than Dwight from TWD - she was already into him, he was already "in", all he had to do was not be a psycho killer. All Spike had to do was... keep being who he was being in that range from, say, "Intervention" to "OMWF". Sigh.

Dan H

I love this episode. It provides closure to the Riley storyline and helps Buffy move forward in taking care of herself and finding herself again.

Ashley

The fandom like to hate on this episode just because Riley is in it. I personnally really enjoy this one, it's one of the strongest episodes of second half of season 6. Also that ending was perfect! Spike was very toxic for Buffy.

I loved your response to this episode. I like Riley, and there was so much good in seeing him back. You’re right in that closure WAS a very good thing to have here. The anti-Riley sentiment can be over the top at times (and from some, I wonder at their real motivation) but it makes so much sense for Buffy to get new strength from this guy, who reminds her of what she was, even if it was painful for him to do it when he’s back in town with his cool job and new wife who’s really nice and badass and looks like a supermodel and Buffy’s hat has a cow. I really like this one and you made me like it even more. 👍🏻

Koz

Ok, having actually watched the episode now, it was better than I remembered (and for the record, I wasn't a Riley hater, just thought it was meh, definitely improves in small doses). The only thing that keeps throwing me off is Spike's scheme, doesn't feel like him

Khanach

I'm not a fan of the episode, and I don't like Riley but your reaction made it enjoyable!

Shashank

One of the better episodes of season 6. So many great lines: “my hat has a cow”, “you smelled the smell?” And more.

S144

I'm here exclusively for the "My hat has a cow" line. Ok, maybe for some Liam too :)

Khanach

I can't stand Buffy in this episode, but I really like Riley here. His advice to her that sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down but being down doesn't define you, has always stuck with me and helped me through my own depression.

Rae

Riley is far from my favourite character but I love him in this episode and how he puts things in perspective for Buffy. I wish he was more like this when he was in the show. He was what she needed to see how toxic her relationship with Spike is compared to the relationship she was in just a year ago.

Sarah McKinlay

I'm one of the few who not only doesn't hate Riley, but actually really likes him. He's been one of my favorite characters of the series and my personal favorite Buffy relationship since my first watch, so this episode was amazing the first time I saw it. I kind of reacted the same way you did, except I was grinning from ear-to-ear throughout. Plus, I also loved his wife as well, she was so nice! Glad they didn't pull the "new girlfriend of your ex is a bitch" trope. Only thing I didn't like about this episode was that they didn't stay permanently :'(

Prue

I hated Riley but I love this episode.

Stacey

Okay, let's not act like Spike is the victim in this toxic relationship. He's been extremely manipulative and didn't respect any boundaries she set. Him not having a soul makes no difference.

4Tom4lepus4

Riley seems to grow on me more every time I rewatch the series lol.... I don't know. Somewhere along the way I started really liking the guy :P

Amanda S

Even THIS episode brightened your day? (Sorry, terrible joke, couldn't resist.)

UTU49

I love that you was so happy to see Riley and we definitely needed a proper goodbye.. When I first saw her on The 100 I thought ‘Oh it’s Riley’s wife’ 😂😂😂 I was excited about you seeing her xx

CeNedra

I always thought Spike having those eggs with was so that he could sell them and give the money to Buffy. In Doublemeat Palace he tells her she shouldn’t be working there and he can get money. This is the only way he’s used to getting money.

Corey

Agh I love how much you love this one! It's very underrated, even if you're meh on Riley. If you hate Riley, I get hating this episode. But I love how despite what happened in their relationship, he represents a time and a mindset before either of Buffy's big traumas (dying and Joyce dying) and that provides an anchor for her. It often takes things like that to jolt you into making positive change, especially when you're so overworked that there's literally no time in the day or energy to work on yourself. This feels kinda like New Moon Rising. It's not just closure, it's hope. It's perspective, it's a new beginning. It's so so hard to break out of that cloud that depression creates and to believe that there is something better for you, and no matter what Buffy decides to do with it, it's wonderful seeing that drive again.  Also her coworker is the straight up textbook definition of mansplaining, it's sooo intensely real and kinda funny.

KT

It’s 4am but I gotta watch now 😂

CeNedra

"It's almost like Riley can't communicate well with Buffy." 😂😂🤣🤣💓 As much as I appreciate the darker themes of this season and understand on a very personal level the hell Buffy's been struggling through....as the one with the soul, Buffy's use and abuse and manipulation of Spike--someone she knows is in love with her--is always so disgusting to me, and reaches its height this episode. I always struggle to root for her in the middle of season 6 UNTIL we get to the end of this ep... that's when she starts winning me back......Oh yeah, Riley was there too 😂 Nah, for real, Riley coming back is done fairly well...though still, I always seem to forget it happens 😉

SpikesEcho

As a non Riley hater I really enjoy this episode. The closure it brought to both his character and those he failed to interact with before departing in season 5 felt right. And giving him such an awesome character to move onto, not exactly the antithesis of Buffy but she was tall and brunette so it's different enough to show he didn't just replace her in his life like for like. And when Sam says it took him a year to get over her, and didn't (I assume) even know that she died was just tough to think of as someone who finds it hard to get over lost loves. This was the ending that Riley deserved as compared to the one he got in season 5 and I love this episode.

SweetSummit

I'll echo Patrick's comment. Crappy day here too. This was just what I needed.

SweetSummit

Hooray!

Nick Earl

I've been in a crappy mood so seeing you post this just brightened my day - thank you! :)

Patrick Lyke