Like I said, I don't think the writers get to comment on whether *anything* any character does is right or wrong. Given Joss's stated philosphical commitments, he shouldn't want to force the audience to conclude with him that something is right or wrong. There just isn't meaning built into the text. Only actions upon which we base all of our judgments.
The writers have obviously given us enough facts to think that Buffy had no business running after Riley. Most of us think that she had no business running after Riley and we only formed that opinion by watching the show they wrote. The writers can think whatever they want. The only gospel they deliver is what the characters say and do.
Even As You Were does not come with any textual claim that Riley was the one who got away. It shows Riley coming back. It shows Buffy reacting to him. Since the show is always POV, the idealization of Riley is how Buffy sees him. And that makes sense because she's in a bad place and as we've already said *she* thinks it was her fault that she lost Riley. Based on the facts that the writers showed, I think Riley is still a the total jerk who said some crappy things to Buffy in order to get an ego boost and who turns out to have had the sort of love for Buffy that would permit him to be married to someone else just one year after leaving. I think Xander is still fanboying Riley because Xander decided to identify with Riley many stations back. I think Willow is getting seduced because Sam and Riley are giving her what she needs and that's pretty much all Willow cares about. I think the episode makes them all look bad. But I believe they'd all behave that way. If Doug Petrie has a jones for Riley bully for him. He was a good enough writer to do a portrait of Riley that includes plenty of facts for me to still think the guy is a douchebag and that Buffy dodged a bullet when he left town.
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Date: 2009-09-29 05:11 am (UTC)The writers have obviously given us enough facts to think that Buffy had no business running after Riley. Most of us think that she had no business running after Riley and we only formed that opinion by watching the show they wrote. The writers can think whatever they want. The only gospel they deliver is what the characters say and do.
Even As You Were does not come with any textual claim that Riley was the one who got away. It shows Riley coming back. It shows Buffy reacting to him. Since the show is always POV, the idealization of Riley is how Buffy sees him. And that makes sense because she's in a bad place and as we've already said *she* thinks it was her fault that she lost Riley. Based on the facts that the writers showed, I think Riley is still a the total jerk who said some crappy things to Buffy in order to get an ego boost and who turns out to have had the sort of love for Buffy that would permit him to be married to someone else just one year after leaving. I think Xander is still fanboying Riley because Xander decided to identify with Riley many stations back. I think Willow is getting seduced because Sam and Riley are giving her what she needs and that's pretty much all Willow cares about. I think the episode makes them all look bad. But I believe they'd all behave that way. If Doug Petrie has a jones for Riley bully for him. He was a good enough writer to do a portrait of Riley that includes plenty of facts for me to still think the guy is a douchebag and that Buffy dodged a bullet when he left town.