I never saw the movie (read the book when I was in middle school for fun) so btvs was my introduction to Michelle. (And pretty much ALL of these other actors actually.)
So I feel bad when people watch the first few episodes of season five and decide to just hate her forever.
I guess if you don't like a character, you don't - but don't write off all their good qualities as well. Dawn's courageous (I will never stop saying this, ever); smart, funny, resourceful. And she handles a huge, terrible existential crisis that none of us can even imagine far far better than Riley "poor me" Finn handles his much lesser issues.
So basically - their loss.
But that's because, when we meet her, we mostly see her through Buffy's eyes.
And I have a theory about this - aside from the fact that I was an eldest sibling to a sister and two brothers and holy hell did we fight a LOT, so Buffy and Dawn getting on each other's nerves seems totally normal to me on that level.
BUT aside from normal sibling rivalries *fanwank ahead* : Buffy has NO "real", physical, kinetic memories of being an older sibling. The body stores memory, and her body has none to build from. Whereas Joyce, who we see slips naturally into a cuddlesome relationship with Dawn, has actual physical experience and memories of being a mother (if not to Dawn herself). She's already played that role; whereas "older sister" is completely new to Buffy.
That's why Family and Blood Ties are important - it's the committment, the choice to love, that trully makes them sisters.
Not in blood (alone) but in bond.
Which is also why Dawn seems more like a ten year old in that first season. She is entirely "self-created" once the monks perform the Spell. see Kwritten's meta on Dawn and Free Will http://kwritten.livejournal.com/122944.html#comments She has no physical memories of being a girl in the world, being a teenager, and must literally create herself.
And what the hell would a bunch of monks know about what modern teenage girls are like, anyway? Where did they get their concept from, 1420 A.D.?
This is aside from the fact that the writers originally conceived her as a ten year old until Sarah insisted on Michelle being cast in the role. (And then they somehow - failed to adjust their characterization of her until Michelle demanded they do so. Which is why Dawn is more mature in S7 and becoming an amazing awesome woman.)
no subject
So I feel bad when people watch the first few episodes of season five and decide to just hate her forever.
I guess if you don't like a character, you don't - but don't write off all their good qualities as well. Dawn's courageous (I will never stop saying this, ever); smart, funny, resourceful. And she handles a huge, terrible existential crisis that none of us can even imagine far far better than Riley "poor me" Finn handles his much lesser issues.
So basically - their loss.
But that's because, when we meet her, we mostly see her through Buffy's eyes.
And I have a theory about this - aside from the fact that I was an eldest sibling to a sister and two brothers and holy hell did we fight a LOT, so Buffy and Dawn getting on each other's nerves seems totally normal to me on that level.
BUT aside from normal sibling rivalries *fanwank ahead* : Buffy has NO "real", physical, kinetic memories of being an older sibling. The body stores memory, and her body has none to build from. Whereas Joyce, who we see slips naturally into a cuddlesome relationship with Dawn, has actual physical experience and memories of being a mother (if not to Dawn herself). She's already played that role; whereas "older sister" is completely new to Buffy.
That's why Family and Blood Ties are important - it's the committment, the choice to love, that trully makes them sisters.
Not in blood (alone) but in bond.
Which is also why Dawn seems more like a ten year old in that first season. She is entirely "self-created" once the monks perform the Spell. see Kwritten's meta on Dawn and Free Will http://kwritten.livejournal.com/122944.html#comments She has no physical memories of being a girl in the world, being a teenager, and must literally create herself.
And what the hell would a bunch of monks know about what modern teenage girls are like, anyway? Where did they get their concept from, 1420 A.D.?
This is aside from the fact that the writers originally conceived her as a ten year old until Sarah insisted on Michelle being cast in the role. (And then they somehow - failed to adjust their characterization of her until Michelle demanded they do so. Which is why Dawn is more mature in S7 and becoming an amazing awesome woman.)