That's why I don't understand (and don't like) all the hate that Dawn gets in fandom.
Right? Then again I also don't get all the vitriol thrown at Buffy, Kennedy, Willow, etc. Dislike a character? Sure? Dislike what they do on the show? Absolutely, they all do "unlikeable" things, they are all disagreeable at times.
But outright buckets and buckets of hate? At some point I think it's an expression of the hatred for women we still have in our culture but also, the sometimes lazy "hive mind" of fandom, where it gets very easy to "join the crowd". (This coming from a woman who has been dumping on Riley lately so...I confess to my own hypocrisy. *gulp*) And also, women are expected to "do better and be better", whereas on some level I don't think that guys are held to as high a standard? Boys will be boys and all that. (And aside from valid reasons people have to dislike the direction of the later seasons, I honestly think that the same holds true of Joss vs Marti. Joss is "God", blah blah; Marti is the devil; nothing she did right is noted. FTN.)
My other theory is that the Dawn haters have never had younger sisters. Or maybe they have. IDK.
She is absolutely essential to Buffy's story.
Back to point #1. I've seen "Buffy is nobody's favorite character" on the internet more time than I can count. If people hate Buffy then maybe it's no surprise that they hate Dawn as well? the two sisters actually share a lot of personality characteristics while still being very much their own people. I guess if you dislike the one you'll dislike the other. Or you'll find a way to disconnect Dawn from Buffy and disregard their relationship. That's why I think there is tons of Spike & Dawn fic out there, far more than the amount of Buffy & Dawn fics, even though people "hate Dawn"? But they don't hate Dawn with Spike? I think we're back full circle - people hate Buffy. And, female characters exist only to validate the male characters. Which is what 99% of our media has been about but that is NOT this show.
Plus she's cute as a button! I love her and their sisterly bond.
That's the same phrase I use for Sarah - cute as button. I understand casting Michelle was Sarah's idea and I really think it was a brilliant move on her part; their chemistry is terrific. I actually believe them as sisters, and that's pretty rare.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-06-19 12:45 am (UTC)Right? Then again I also don't get all the vitriol thrown at Buffy, Kennedy, Willow, etc. Dislike a character? Sure? Dislike what they do on the show? Absolutely, they all do "unlikeable" things, they are all disagreeable at times.
But outright buckets and buckets of hate? At some point I think it's an expression of the hatred for women we still have in our culture but also, the sometimes lazy "hive mind" of fandom, where it gets very easy to "join the crowd". (This coming from a woman who has been dumping on Riley lately so...I confess to my own hypocrisy. *gulp*) And also, women are expected to "do better and be better", whereas on some level I don't think that guys are held to as high a standard? Boys will be boys and all that. (And aside from valid reasons people have to dislike the direction of the later seasons, I honestly think that the same holds true of Joss vs Marti. Joss is "God", blah blah; Marti is the devil; nothing she did right is noted. FTN.)
My other theory is that the Dawn haters have never had younger sisters. Or maybe they have. IDK.
She is absolutely essential to Buffy's story.
Back to point #1. I've seen "Buffy is nobody's favorite character" on the internet more time than I can count. If people hate Buffy then maybe it's no surprise that they hate Dawn as well? the two sisters actually share a lot of personality characteristics while still being very much their own people. I guess if you dislike the one you'll dislike the other. Or you'll find a way to disconnect Dawn from Buffy and disregard their relationship. That's why I think there is tons of Spike & Dawn fic out there, far more than the amount of Buffy & Dawn fics, even though people "hate Dawn"? But they don't hate Dawn with Spike? I think we're back full circle - people hate Buffy. And, female characters exist only to validate the male characters. Which is what 99% of our media has been about but that is NOT this show.
Plus she's cute as a button! I love her and their sisterly bond.
That's the same phrase I use for Sarah - cute as button. I understand casting Michelle was Sarah's idea and I really think it was a brilliant move on her part; their chemistry is terrific. I actually believe them as sisters, and that's pretty rare.