BtVS - Redemption Through Violation

[itsnotmymind]

*Warning for discussion of sexual assault*

It occurs to me that both Spike and Faith's redemption arcs involve a violation or attempted violation of Buffy. Of course the big difference is that one is very realistic and the other totally fantastic. But it is still one more thing the two characters have in common.

Comments

[lokifan]

Yep. And both come to a realisation about the terrible thing they've done and leave. Faith still does more terrible things - her torture of Wesley - but my read on that is that it's done in large part because of her death wish by that point.

On the topic of Faith and sexual violence - I wish to God there was more discussion/acknowledgement of what Faith did to Riley. I get that on a storytelling level she doesn't know him, her relationship is with Buffy, but argh. I really don't think the show recognises that as a sexual assault on him, which sucks. I mean, it is completely fantastical and I can imagine him not experiencing it that way (and same for Buffy - could go either way) buuut. It's always difficult when you have the fantastical violations, I guess; Willow/Tara in Once More With Feeling is another one where I think both in-universe and out of it, you can see it either way.

[itsnotmymind]

Yes - I do think the realization they have is different. Faith realizes she doesn't, actually, want to be bad. Spike realizes he hurt Buffy, the one thing he said he would never do.

Yeah, the show isn't always the best at recognizing different kinds of violation/sexual assault.