Originally Posted by
BulletsAndDoves
Because. The only reason the world sucks is because the people who should be in it, aren't in it. The true heroes are always tender hearted relateable ******s because that's the way it has to be, it doesn't really work any other way, emotionally.
It's not so much they are lazy, it's because of how sensitive they are. So humanely sensitive that it's cringe worthy and creepy and disgusting and real and transformative.
They're making you realize that, by being encouraging and nice and aww-ish, that you have secret power you introverted ******. So like, you can simply live. Because your good-natured ness has a ripple effect that saves all of humanity, not just yourself. In fact, that's sort of what it's about. It's not all about you!
People were touched by Johnathon on Buffy when they were with him in real life, but they disliked him when he was just a hermit in his room all day, idealizing them and stuff. Maybe not as much as he wanted, not in the most ideal amount, but they were touched. In the end, it was enough for him to just be Johnathon, just living in the world- as silly and awkward and geeky he was, because that sort of inspired other people, and tapped into their humanity.
It wouldn't work if an outgoing jock was like this because the world is already built for them, there's really no obstacles for them. The world is made for them and for them to enjoy it, they aren't going to get like....emo over the things a shy fag would. It's not really a challenge or a struggle or effectively emotional for them to simply face the world, and live in it. They still have pain. But, they just do it anyway? Cause they're not bothered by shit. Yeah they ARE naturally tougher. But that's also sort of boring.
There's also no emotional send off, either. It's rewarding in movies when you see the shy ****** that got picked on his whole life finally beating up the bad guys. How is it rewarding to see a strong tough straight man do that? He already could stand up to that stuff easily. He already was a hero and popular with girls and stuff because of that. But when the shy faggy mama's boy finally does it, it feels better because they haven't done it before. It makes you go 'yeaaaah man!'
When Vi said 'these guys are dust' after being empowered with the slayer scythe, that wouldn't be heroic at all if she didn't act so emo and scared for every episode prior. You thought for a moment that she might die, cause other girls who were emo and scared died for real as well.
Okay, it's a cliche you say. You're expecting when it's happening so it's not empowering anymore. Yes, there is a tendency for this to be sort of cheesy and captain planet ish instead of something that actually works. I think that's why you show a diverse view of characters, you show a lot of other geeks and nerds that weren't man enough to get over their emoness and succumb to their dark sides and like, fall completely under and die completely. And then it sort of makes you bitter and hard again, cuz now that's realistic. But then you're saved by the fantasy again.
Of course it's not realistic but that's not the point, it's to give people hope. =D You have to show people that it's worth it, to stand up to shit, that 'they can do it' and to do that you need to sort of play off both worlds. reality and fantasy.