Canon-related questions for Buffyologists

[red_satin_doll]

There's a couple of items about Buffy Summers that I've seen in several fanfics and wondered if they were "canon" or "fanon" information. I don't trust my memory, especially when I've probably spent more hours at this point reading fanfiction than actually watching the show. (What that says about me I shudder to imagine.)



By "canon", I am of course referring to BtVS, seasons 1-7 only, not the comics (aka Get behind me, Satan!)

1) Is Buffy's given name "Buffy" or "Elizabeth"?  I've read "Elizabeth Anne Summers" used in several fanfics and it feels like it might have been mentioned somewhere in S1-3 on the show, if at all?

Actually, I just wanted an excuse to post this screencap. But while you're here:

2) Does Buffy refer to herself in third person at any other point on the show except for Life Serial: "stupid Buffy" "freak Buffy"?  A lot of stories have her refer to herself in this way, usually when she's berating herself, although generally not while drunk. (For someone who can't hold her liquor she seems to drink quite a lot of it in LS. Slayer metabolism, apparently.) 

Also, she generally does so whilst kicking herself mentally over something regarding Spike, so do early season/Bangel 'ship writers have her referring to herself in this manner as well?

No, no further questions; I just love SMG in this episode so damn much I can hardly stand it. I mean - come on, Giles, how can you resist that face? Buttons and puppies are weeping in envy.  Now do your duty to your Slayer and hand her the check without making her feel like it's an act of charity on your part. 


I love Giles, I do. But damn it, he can be an ass sometimes.

Comments

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

(Also, I kinda picture Buffy covered in vanilla cream and peaches. ME LIKES)

Corrupter of innocent minds, you are. Besides - ice cream would be kind of uncomfortable Strawberries and whipped cream works nicely, even if it's sort of cliche. But, you didn't hear me say that.

[kikimay]

See, I don't like too much ice cream, while I love vanilla artigianal cream. Uh-uh, it's very good! Whipped cream works also well and peaches are juicy and tasty. Strawberries is the official taste of Willow! :D (Season Six) Ehehehe!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

vanilla artigianal cream

That's "homemade" in English, right? I used to make my own whipping cream but starting about ten years ago I noticed my throat would clog up when I ate any so I had to stop using it.

Strawberries is the official taste of Willow!

That was Rack who said it, wasn't it? In Wrecked? Ok, am I the only one who thought that Rack was sort of gross BUT the scene where he moves in on Willow seductively and then the close up when he whispers "you taste of strawberries" was actually kind of scary/sexy?

My partner and I used to use "strawberries" as a codeword/injoke for "making love" when we were first together. (I should be blushing right now. And I am.)

[kikimay]

My partner and I used to use "strawberries" as a codeword/injoke for "making love" when we were first together. (I should be blushing right now. And I am.)

Aaawwhh, that's sweet!
Thanks for the grammar advice! I feel so stupid when I make this mistakes! And, yes, I totally think that the scene with Rack was sexy. I mean, he was a creep, but that particular scene was all kind of sexy.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Aaawwhh, that's sweet!

It was - we were in that honeymoon phase, and we used it with our best friends, another lesbian couple. And then one day several years later my sweetie said "I don't like to combine food and sex." WHAT??? That was the pin that popped my balloon.

Thanks for the grammar advice!
Grammar advice? You mean "homemade"? Oh that's not a mistake, I enjoy looking up unfamiliar words! Don't feel stupid - you enlarged my vocabulary.

that particular scene was all kind of sexy.

I think it was the close-up that did it, but also AH playing Willow as almost trembling, nervous and fascinated; and anyway Ally seems to have effortless chemistry with almost anyone she's onscreen with, even now in How I Met Your Mother, where it's often suggested that Lily is bi-curious if not bisexual. (Maybe she's just something of a free spirit in real life? She did play a character in American Pie, I've read, who used a flute in an *ahem* unconventional manner.)

[kikimay]

I never watched American Pie, so I didn't know. I think she's an incredibly good actress and she manages to make more clear some aspects of the characters. (For example, Willow's excitement for power and for experimenting something totally new and forbitten, which it could be also a sensual thing) I don't know much about her. I really like her role in HIMYM, Lily is incredibly funny and I love the show. I just see the photos of her family on Tumblr sometimes. Seriously, Alyson and Alexis with the little girls are SO FREAKIN' CUTE. It should be illegal to be this cute! Awww!

Oh God, your girlfriend ruined the Foodporn scenario! XD But I think that the strawberries reference was all kind of sweet. Strawberries are cute and tasty!

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

Maybe she's just something of a free spirit in real life?

Jumping in a month later...

This is an interview Aly gave to FHM magazine back in 2003, which may answer your question: :)



The end of season five featured a lesbian love scene between you and Amber Benson. Come clean : Was that your first same-sex experience ?

In college I probably kissed a couple of girls or something.

'Probably'? That means you did.

Well, it wasn’t a life-altering experience. It was more of a party thing and it wasn’t that memorable.
...

When was the last time you watched a dirty movie ?

I got satellite TV and wanted all the movie channels, so I called up DirecTV. They can see what you’re watching, and the service guy was this sweet, polite Southerner. I clicked to a channel and it was a hardcore penetration scene. He was mortified. It was hilarious.


Have you ever had sex on the Buffy set ?

No. Some of the other crew members have, but I’m not saying who.


What is the definition of handfasting ?

Handfasting ? I have no idea. It sounds like something you do with a man’s unit.

Close. It’s a Wiccan wedding ceremony.

Oops.

[mcjulie.livejournal.com]

Ok, am I the only one who thought that Rack was sort of gross BUT the scene where he moves in on Willow seductively and then the close up when he whispers "you taste of strawberries" was actually kind of scary/sexy?

Word.

I do think Buffy probably smells of nice bath products when she's not sweaty, mostly because this fits her character overall and I think she references bath products a few times but I don't remember a specific smell being referenced.

But what does her sweat smell like? Probably good, given the way people react to her positively when she's been dancing or slaying, but we're not given any specifics. The other Buffy smell canon is, of course, Doublemeat Palace-related.

It is canon that Anya thinks Spike smells good. I think that we can infer that vampires have good pheremones or something. If you seduce people by giving them your coat to wear, that's the obvious implication.

Oh, and regarding the main topic, early in Season 5 she asks her mother (following Dawn being called "li'l punkin belly") if she ever had a nickname like that, and her mom says, "no, you were always just 'Buffy.'" I think that makes it pretty clear that Buffy is NOT a nickname, coming straight from the character who would know best.

My partner and I used to use "strawberries" as a codeword/injoke for "making love" when we were first together

I used "watching Doctor Who" with my first boyfriend, but I think I was the only one who thought it was funny. This was pre-Buffy.