Putting the "fun" in dysfunctional

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With our resident Poll Girl temporarily out of commission, there must be some itchy ticky fingers out there! And so, I give you: (dys)functional relationships of the Buffyverse, inspired by ever_neutral's capslocky rage. :)

There are a ton of other pairings I could've included but you only get ten multiple choice slots, so I stuck to the main canon pairings. Feel free to make an argument for some other couple in the comments.

Poll #7543 (Dys)Functional Relationships

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 20

View Respondents

Who had the most functional relationship on BtVS?

View Answers

Buffy/Angel
0 (0.0%)

Giles/Jenny
7 (35.0%)

Xander/Cordelia
0 (0.0%)

Willow/Oz
7 (35.0%)

Xander/Anya
0 (0.0%)

Buffy/Riley
2 (10.0%)

Willow/Tara
1 (5.0%)

Buffy/Spike
0 (0.0%)

Willow/Kennedy
2 (10.0%)

Other - answer in comments
1 (5.0%)

Who had the most dysfunctional relationship on BtVS?

View Answers

Buffy/Angel
6 (30.0%)

Giles/Jenny
0 (0.0%)

Xander/Cordelia
1 (5.0%)

Willow/Oz
1 (5.0%)

Xander/Anya
0 (0.0%)

Buffy/Riley
0 (0.0%)

Willow/Tara
2 (10.0%)

Buffy/Spike
10 (50.0%)

Willow/Kennedy
0 (0.0%)

Other - answer in comments
0 (0.0%)

Who had the most functional relationship on AtS?

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Wes/Virginia
3 (16.7%)

Angel/Darla
2 (11.1%)

Fred/Gunn
8 (44.4%)

Angel/Cordy
1 (5.6%)

Wes/Lilah
0 (0.0%)

Cordy/Connor
0 (0.0%)

Wes/Fred
0 (0.0%)

Angel/Nina
1 (5.6%)

Lindsey/Eve
2 (11.1%)

Other - answer in comments
1 (5.6%)

Who had the most dysfunctional relationship on AtS?

View Answers

Wes/Virginia
0 (0.0%)

Angel/Darla
5 (27.8%)

Fred/Gunn
0 (0.0%)

Angel/Cordy
1 (5.6%)

Wes/Lilah
1 (5.6%)

Cordy/Connor
9 (50.0%)

Wes/Fred
2 (11.1%)

Angel/Nina
0 (0.0%)

Lindsey/Eve
0 (0.0%)

Other - answer in comments
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[lutamira]

Amount study break improved by presence of exciting Buffyverse poll: 1,000%
Level of success at filling out said poll: 100% on everything! (Benefits of going first I guess ;)

I think I should probably explain my vote for Angel/Darla as most functional relationship of AtS, since it is not, I don't think, an obvious choice. :) Basically, I defined the functional to dysfunctional continuum two ways. First by looking at power dynamics where more equality = more functionality, and power imbalances = dysfunction. Second by the amount two people, together, are able to be themselves, to be fully supported as themselves, and to get pleasure from the presence of the other, as they are. Dysfunction is conversely defined by how much posturing, hiding, editing or self-censoring one has to do to remain acceptable to the other partner. Darla/Angel score high on the first bit and they average pretty well on the second bit. (Things worked better, obviously, when they were both evil, but Angel's love and concern for Darla even when she is completely evil are nearly unconditional, at least when we isolate AtS from BtVS.) The two of them have always felt to me like the truly epic love story of the whole 'verse, if one is looking for that sort of thing...

All this is not to say that two psychopaths running loose are functional per se, just that I like their relationship dynamics in ways other relationships on the show bothered me. (Most especially with power imbalances.)

[pocochina]

I was going to go with Wes/Virginia for most functional couple (<3 <3 <3) but I actually think it was Angel/Spike by the end there.

[ever_neutral]

MY CAPSLOCKY RAGE IS AN INSPIRATIONAL THING, LMAO.

yeeeeep.

I went with Oz/Willow for most functional. And Eve/Lindsey, surprisingly. And MAH OTP Buffy/Spike is the best dysfunctional ship evah, obviously. Over on Ats... nothing beats the horror of Connor/Cordy, ha.

Note: LOL, FRED/GUNN IS WINNING. LOL. HOW DID I KNOW. ROTFLLLL.

[goldenusagi]

I chose Willow/Oz for functional, but I could have said Xander/Anya, because they did last a long time. I said Buffy/Spike was the most dysfunctional. Angel/Buffy is bad, too, because they were just wrong for each other, but Buffy/Spike wins for me in terms of sheer loathing. Buffy seemed to be using Spike to work out her own issues, and didn't seem to like herself when she was with him.

[eilowyn1]

Depending on the season, you could argue Buffy/ Spike for most functional and least functional couple. Season six they were definitely the least functional couple in the Buffyverse, but at least they were on an equal standing power-wise, but season seven Spuffy reaches some sort of unseen level of understanding that seems almost incomprehensible in a Jossverse show. Their ability to stand by each other through thick and thin is amazing, and they are able to weather great storms together, sometimes to the detriment of Buffy's relationships with others.

[fenderlove]

First question, I picked Sam and Riley. For their lack of screentime and yet how much of how perfect they are for one another got thrown at the audience, yeah, they seem to function pretty well. Also, Oz and his partner from Season Eight seemed to be doing all right in the functionality department with the commitment and the child-rearing and the sharing of experiences.