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Learn Lessons on Love From Buffy

While Riley might be a little sickly sweet and shower Buffy with flowers and chocolates, Spike is more likely to offer to decapitate a demon. But what’s the right approach? Valentine’s Day might have come and gone, but in Sunnydale the fifth season of Buffy is bursting with budding romances – and we can all learn something from its citizens.

Anya and Xander
Xander and Anya bicker like an alien and predator arguing over the last After Eight mint. However, Xander finally moves out of his parents’ basement, which scores him brownie points with Anya. Yet, moving into a posh pad isn’t the only thing to be learnt from this couple. Should the apocalypse come don’t ask your bunny-hating girlfriend to marry you, because if the world doesn’t end, then you’re stuck with her until you think of a way out. And my guess is that, with a mind like Xander’s, this brainwave won’t come for at least a year.

Buffy and Spike
Don’t get into a pickle like Spike. Getting a Buffybot is not a good idea. Only if you know a top secret about your love interest, get tortured for information, and still don’t spill the beans is this rectifiable. Then, all could be forgiven. But probably not.

Willow and Tara
Willow and Tara don’t need chemistry to put sparks into their relationship, they’ve got magic instead. However, it’s a testing year for Willow and Tara. First, Tara’s difficult family arrive and lie about her being a demon. Then, after a fight about Willow’s “frightening” strength as a witch, Tara wonders off to a fair alone, Glory attacks her and drains Tara’s mind of sanity. In this scenario, the best advice is to move state.

Spike and Dru
Long term relationships, say ones that last for 120 years, have their difficulties too. Although clearly evil, Spike is an unusually romantic and passionate vampire. However, that’s not what Drusilla had in mind when she sired him. So, you can only imagine how heartbroken she was when she returned to Sunnydale in “Crush” to find Spike to be a different vampire. What’s the lesson? You need to have the same goals, even if you’re in a vampire relationship. If she’s off munching on human ribs and you’re at home with a pig’s blood smoothie, counting the syllables in your latest sonnet, it’s not going to work.

Riley and Buffy
It turns out that life with a military man isn’t all An Officer and a Gentleman. Relieved of his military standing, Riley couldn’t bear to be a normal citizen and pushes his body well past its limits, and even seeks out a vampire nest solo. What’s more, resentful of Buffy’s connection with Angel and Dracula, he starts going to a vampiric brothel, where humans pay vampires to suck their blood. There are many things to be learnt from Buffy and Riley, a prime example is not to compare yourself with an ex. Angel might have been able to patrol with Buffy without her having to look after him, but he still couldn’t take her for an ice-cream on the beach, certainly not without serious sun damage.

Buffy Season 5 continues every weeknight at 7pm on Syfy.

Written by Rhian Owen

Rhian Owen blogs for Syfy and is a features writer for Progressive Digital Media. She has written for What’s On Stage, The Big Issue, Snow, Go Active and Wired. Interests include sci-fi TV and films, gaming and technology. She is on Twitter as @rhiowen.