the greatest romantic connection ever? Is it the wording? The delivery? The circumstances?
See, I'm going through a spuffy disilusionmet phase so I can't really answer that but in a really superficial way, you know what I like from Spike's delivery? The fact that he's looking up at her and smiling. It's symbolic, he's saying he's probably not going to solve her problems but he's there even when he's surrendering (and yes, I'm seeing way too much in this)and he surrenders to his admiration for her. It's like he's pledging alliance no matter what, and he's aware of how bad thing can get.
A thing I don't like about Riley's speech is what comes before, when he offers to get rid of Spike (no not because he wants to kill my Spike) because is a reminder that he's following her lead despite what he wants and feels he should do. Riley thinks she can take care of things herself and knows that she will do the right thing but that's why he follows her lead because he's certain of Buffy's goodness, not because he knows what she's capable of. He's not compromising anything and, he talks to her as a part of her past, which thankfully she is, but you know it won't go further than that.
I think that the strength of Riley's speech lies in the fact, that a) it reminded her that she is strong and can handle tough decisions and b)came from someone who could expect her to be a hell of a woman, he wasn't involved in her life at that time and from an outsider's perspective straightening out her life is something that doesn't have to be too hard.
Riley makes objective sense is what I'm saying, and Buffy needed something to make sense at that moment.
too long and not all that coherent reply
See, I'm going through a spuffy disilusionmet phase so I can't really answer that but in a really superficial way, you know what I like from Spike's delivery? The fact that he's looking up at her and smiling. It's symbolic, he's saying he's probably not going to solve her problems but he's there even when he's surrendering (and yes, I'm seeing way too much in this)and he surrenders to his admiration for her. It's like he's pledging alliance no matter what, and he's aware of how bad thing can get.
A thing I don't like about Riley's speech is what comes before, when he offers to get rid of Spike (no not because he wants to kill my Spike) because is a reminder that he's following her lead despite what he wants and feels he should do. Riley thinks she can take care of things herself and knows that she will do the right thing but that's why he follows her lead because he's certain of Buffy's goodness, not because he knows what she's capable of. He's not compromising anything and, he talks to her as a part of her past, which thankfully she is, but you know it won't go further than that.
I think that the strength of Riley's speech lies in the fact, that a) it reminded her that she is strong and can handle tough decisions and b)came from someone who could expect her to be a hell of a woman, he wasn't involved in her life at that time and from an outsider's perspective straightening out her life is something that doesn't have to be too hard.
Riley makes objective sense is what I'm saying, and Buffy needed something to make sense at that moment.