U is for Charles Gunn

This month I'm participating in A to Z Challenge, where 100's of bloggers around the world challenge themselves to write every day for the month of April, working their way through the alphabet.  I'm stitching the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alphabet cross stitch pattern (available from my Etsy store).  Each day I will share that letter's stitching, as well as a bit about the relevant character.

U is for Charles Gunn (there's a U in his name.  I know, it's a real stretch)

Charles Gunn was born in Los Angeles.  In his teenage years, Gunn rose through the ranks of a local gang to become their leader.  This gang was familiar with the world of vampires, and protected their turf from the undead.  Gunn witnessed Angel fighting and, recognising he was a vampire, attempted to dust him.  Gunn eventually joined forces with Angel, becoming a full-time employee of Angel Investigations, both as a fighter, and as the guru of local knowledge.  

Once again, Gunn is a character who only ever appeared on Angel and so my memory of him is rather vague.  He was a street fighter and leader in his own right, which gave him the ground and strength to stand up to Angel when needed, as well as to fight the forces of evil.  I remember liking Gunn, but not as much as the characters I was more familiar with from Buffy.  I'd like to hear your opinions of him though!

Happy Stitching.

T is for Tara

This month I'm participating in A to Z Challenge, where 100's of bloggers around the world challenge themselves to write every day for the month of April, working their way through the alphabet.  I'm stitching the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alphabet cross stitch pattern (available from my Etsy store).  Each day I will share that letter's stitching, as well as a bit about the relevant character.

T is for Tara Maclay

Tara was born in 1980 to a family familiar with the world of demons and the supernatural.  Her mother was a witch and introduced Tara to spells and magic, however passed away when Tara was 17.  When she was young, her father told Tara she was part demon on her mother's side, and that it would manifest when she turned 20 - this turned out to be a lie used to "control" the women of the family.

Tara attended UC Sunnydale where she joined a wicca coven and met Willow, and subsequently the rest of the Scooby Gang.  Tara helped Willow develop her magical abilities, and the two were soon in a relationship.  Tara was a background character to the Scooby Gang, shy and quiet. She assisted Willow with magical spells, however did not tend to actively participate in the demon fights.  Tara was shot and killed at the end of season 6, the tipping point for Willow becoming Black Willow.

Tara was introduced to the show when the writers needed a new damsel-in-distress - someone you weren't sure would make it through the episode or season.  This role had been filled for the first 3 years by Willow, however as Willow became stronger and more confident, it was harder to see her as a victim.  Tara filled this role perfectly for 3 years - she was quiet, reserved, and although able to do magic, she never grew as powerful as Willow.  Tara remained a member of the supporting cast and only made it to the opening credits for one episode - the episode where she died.  This was something Joss Whedon had wanted to do since the pilot episode, a "you can't trust anything" move.  He achieved it.  Fans were devastated.  Pure Whedon.

Happy Stitching.

S is for Spike

This month I'm participating in A to Z Challenge, where 100's of bloggers around the world challenge themselves to write every day for the month of April, working their way through the alphabet.  I'm stitching the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alphabet cross stitch pattern (available from my Etsy store).  Each day I will share that letter's stitching, as well as a bit about the relevant character.

S is for Spike

Spike in the leather jacket he stole from Nikki Wood

William Pratt was born in 1850 in London, England.  He was a sentimental poet, nicknamed “William the Bloody” because of his “bloody awful poetry”.  In 1880 he was sired by Drusilla, exchanged his posh London accent for a working-class North London one, and spent the 19^th and 20^th centuries terrorising Europe with Drusilla, Angelus and Darla.  He earned the nickname Spike from torturing his victims with railroad spikes, and killed two Slayers – Nikki Wood, and another during the Boxing Rebellion.

Spike and Drusilla arrived in Sunnydale in 1997 and spent nearly a year tormenting Buffy (as Season 2’s Big Bad), later joined by a de-souled Angelus.  Spike eventually betrayed Angel to Buffy and left town with an unconscious Dru.  He reappeared in season 4, having been dumped (again) by Dru, and was captured by The Initiative who put a chip in his head which prevented him from hurting living people.  As he was still able to fight demons, Spike became sort-of ally of the Scooby Gang, briefly having a relationship with Buffy, before his soul was restored at the end of Season 6.  Spike eventually sacrificed himself during the Final Battle at the end of Season 7 in order to permanently close the Hellmouth.  Never fear though – he reappeared at the beginning of the final season of Angel (19 days after the Final Battle) as a ghost, haunting Angel and his team for the remainder of the season.

I love Spike.  He is rude and sarcastic and immoral and evil, but he is also caring and loving (as much as a vampire can) and foolish and flawed and down-right funny.  James Marsters can do a very convincing British accent (his regular American accent sounds wrong to me), looks good blond, and has a great singing voice.  Spike brought much needed conflict to the show, and assisted Anya in pointing out the obvious to Buffy.  He had a great relationship with Joyce and Dawn, and his scenes with Giles always made me laugh.  All that aside, I did not like him with Buffy and am not a “Team Spike” girl.  He was a vampire without a soul, and he tried to rape Buffy.  I am constantly amazed by the number of people who think his relationship with Buffy was something ‘beautiful’ or ‘romantic’.  It wasn’t.  It was abusive – physically, mentally, emotionally abusive.  Yes he got his soul back in season 7, but that doesn’t change or erase what happened in season 6.  He made amends, but there’s a reason Joss Whedon (the creator/writer/everything) didn’t put them back together in season 7.

R is for Willow Rosenburg

Thank you to everyone who's been stopping by and reading my blog and leaving comments.  I really appreciate it.  I'm sorry for the lack of replies and return visits this week - my family went away of the Easter long weekend and didn't have any internet connection (which we hadn't been prepared for). Since I got back, I've been madly getting ready for my stall at Supanova (where I'm planning to meet the gorgeous David Boreanuz) and I haven't had any spare brain power or time!  I have Monday and Tuesday off work next week and am planning a full day of blog catch-ups so I'm looking forward to "chatting" to you all then. xx  On with the #atozchallenge...


This month I'm participating in A to Z Challenge, where 100's of bloggers around the world challenge themselves to write every day for the month of April, working their way through the alphabet.  I'm stitching the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alphabet cross stitch pattern (available from my Etsy store).  Each day I will share that letter's stitching, as well as a bit about the relevant character.

R is for Willow Rosenburg

This outfit is a combination of a few different ones from season 4, which
is why I couldn't find a picture to match!

Willow Rosenberg was born in Sunnydale into a local Jewish family.  She attended the local primary school with her best friend Xander Harris, before enrolling in Sunnydale High.  Willow was a meek, intelligent computer geek when she first met Buffy, wearing tights, plaid dresses/skirts, and fluffy woollen jumpers (‘sweaters’ if you’re American).  Over the time she knew Buffy, Willow grew and developed into an assertive and strong individual.  Despite being accepted to “every university in the country and few overseas” she decided to study at UC Sunnydale where she would be able to focus on her magic.

Willow was first exposed to magic through demon fighting, and her successful attempt to return Angel’s soul.  Willow quickly grew into a very magical individual, until her magic eventually went dark following the death of her girlfriend Tara, and Willow became the Big Bad of season six.  She learnt how to control and reign in her powers, eventually helping Buffy save the world from the hellmouth, turning all Potential Slayers into Slayers, and riding off into the sunset on that big yellow bus.

Willow was one of my favourite characters because I could relate to her so much.  She was intelligent, she was into computers and reading and studying; she came across as shy to outsiders, but once you got to know her she was very strong willed.  Willow had an inner strength that was allowed to shine through and develop.  I found her relationship with Tara to be sweet.  Willow started off the show heterosexual – a long term crush on Xander and a 2 year (ish) relationship with Oz which ended when he left town.  Willow’s relationship with Tara was gradual and developed over the course of season 4.  I liked that it wasn’t an in-your-face, let’s-do-all-the-stereotypes lesbian relationship – it was a friendship that grew and then just… was.  Modern TV shows could take a few notes.

Q is for Quentin Travers

This month I'm participating in A to Z Challenge, where 100's of bloggers around the world challenge themselves to write every day for the month of April, working their way through the alphabet.  I'm stitching the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alphabet cross stitch pattern (available from my Etsy store).  Each day I will share that letter's stitching, as well as a bit about the relevant character.

Q is for Quentin Travers

Quentin Travers was a senior member of the Watcher's Council.  He came over from England to conduct a dangerous rite of passage on Buffy's 18th birthday.  Buffy survived the trial, however Giles' interference resulted in him being fired from the Council.  Quentin reappeared a couple of years later in season 5 to share information on Glory, the Big Bad for that season, and reinstated Giles to the Council.  Quentin was killed two years later when the Council's offices in London were blown up.

Quentin was the face of the Council, Giles' employer. He was the older version of Wesley (before Wesley appeared) - the "this is the way it's always been done, so this is the way we'll continue to do it".  He only appeared a couple of times in the show, so I don't have a strong opinion of him - but he was a character that started with Q so he made it into the alphabet.

Happy Stitching