Summary:
With 82 percent putting this value as being frequently represented by the series, there was a lot of agreement with this question in the comments. Yet, there were some notable objections: Giles and Angelus, Xander and Angelus, and sometimes Spike. (Isn’t it always “sometimes Spike”?) Two specific moments were cited multiple times, Giles' “I Only Have Eyes for You” speech and…
What not going all Dumbledore looks like.[screencap credit: buffyworld.com]
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Willow nearly destroyed the world but was still forgiven by those who cared for her.
Sometimes shown from the reverse perspective--the consequences of unforgiveness and revenge
Everyone on the show goes through a rough patch, Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Willow, Anya, yet they all make it through. Love and forgiveness are are powerful forces. Though it may be hard and take an entire season to happen it is vital to the shows core. Although, as the world is not perfect neither are the characters. I believe the Andrew would be a great example of redemption throughout the later series. Also the rehabilitation of Dark Willow after her escapades in season six are able to be eventually forgiven. Although Spike ultimately redeems himself in my eyes this is not so with many of the other characters on the show. He was trying and isn't that what really matters most. The acknowledgement of past wrongs and working on self improvement?…Sorry, I ramble...
Oz forgiving Willow for cheating with Xander, Giles forgiving Angel for torturing him as Angelus, everyone mostly forgiving Angel for being Angelus, everyone mostly forgiving Spike for everything, Buffy eventually forgiving them for bringing her back from the dead, Anya kind of being okay with Xander after a while...there is tons of this
Hard to say. What counts as forgiveness? Willow's revenge on Warren certainly did not value forgivness. Buffy's forgiveness of Angel and murder of Angelus at the end of season two was a mixed version of forgiveness. This is not a clear value in Buffy.
I'm going to give a 3 on this one because there were times when forgiveness was warranted, times when it wasn't and times when it was given and it should not have been.
Forgiveness over vengeance is a big theme throughout the series. In the words of Giles, "To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's not done because people deserve it; it's done because they need it."
Angel, Andrew, Spike, Willow, etc.
Anya, Andrew, Spike, Willow, Faith and Angel are all characters that through forgiveness have become better people
In the first episode of season 7, Willow is very nervous about returning to Sunnydale; she killed a human and is not sure if her friends will forgive her. They do, of course, but it takes time. It's kind of ironic, because the reason she thinks she won't be forgiven is because she couldn't forgive someone and killed him.
This is an interesting one. Yes, I would say that, for the most part, the show preached forgiveness. However, the show also acknowledged that, sometimes, forgiving those that you know would take advantage of that forgiveness would be a bad thing. Giles accepted this truth when he killed Ben. However, these examples are rare. For the most part, everybody was allowed to be forgiven, including Giles himself on several occasions. Faith, Andrew, Angel, Willow, even Buffy were all able to find forgiveness.
Giles killing Glory/Ben comes to mind.
Or you become Evil Willow.
Giles clearly recognizes the danger of forgiveness, and his killing of Ben is one of the greatest moments of the show, demonstrating that Buffy's forgiveness is a weakness not shared by the pragmatic Giles. …But at other times, forgiveness proves to be useful, as with Angel, Spike, and other instances.
The point of holding on to anger was shown as valid. But, really if people could forgive in Buffy world pretty much all tragedy could be avoided, but then there would also be no show. I think a lot of it is about the process of letting go of anger and how difficult it can be. I also think forgiving is not the same as fighting back when someone attacks you.
After some time- e.g. Giles and Angel, Buffy and Willow after 'Smashed'
very interesting issue in Buffy. I loved Giles' speech about forgiveness early on. The main characters generally forgive (or more correctly chose to forget) major transgressions on the part of those they love (e.g., Xander and Anya, Spike and Buffy, Buffy and Angel). My daughter insists Buffy never forgave Spike for the attempted rape.
"Giles went all Dumbledore on me."
The giving of unconditional love as portrayed in the show makes Buffy one of the most Christian shows ever made. Xander, a carpenter, saved the world with unconditional love at the end of season six.
The show also struggled with the difficulty of forgiveness. It's important, it's needed, but it's not easy.
GILES: To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's, it's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it. - "I Only Have Eyes for You"
Lots of the characters get a second chance - Willow, Spike, Angel, Anya, Faith etc... all have properly evil moments but even when they don't deserve a chance they're given one.
Forgiveness is an important theme in the Buffyverse with good reason - at one point or another every member of the core Scooby Gang has committed a heinous act of one form or another. I'd argue that Giles is the most forgiving member of the core Scooby Gang, perhaps followed by Willow. Xander and Buffy tend to hold onto grudges a little longer than the others (e.g. Xander never truly forgave Angel for his actions as Angelus in season 2, and Buffy brings up Xander's 'lie' in 'Selfless'). At the end of the episode 'I Only Have Eyes for You' Giles also says the following: "To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's, it's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it."
Scoobies get more breaks than others, but forgiveness is important.
Buffy was generally pretty forgiving, with the exception of Selfless. She refused to take a human life, prompting Giles to snuff out Ben. Oz forgave Willow & it seemed like Willow could have forgiven Oz had he not left abruptly. Certainly, Xander's, Giles' & Joyce's inability to forgive Buffy at the end of Season 2 was quite harmful. Buffy's inability to forgive Riley about the vampire biting led to their breakup. Still, Cordelia never explicitly forgave Xander & that seemed like the correct choice.
Not always the most important.
I think that the episode with the crosses in the garage where Giles and the former principal try to assassinate Spike -…and in the end Buffy will let what happens happens….I think it also has to with having a soul - and since numerous characters don't - hard concept.
Absolutely forgiveness is a huge theme in Buffy. All the characters make mistakes that hurt others at some point in the series. Forgiveness and redemption are big themes.
It's definitely a moral theme, but the characters disregard it quite often.
Tara finds happiness after she forgives Willow (until she dies). Buffy forgives Spike….On the other hand, Xander and Giles refuse to forgive Angel. Buffy refuses to forgive Faith until she is virtually forced to in Season 7….And Buffy blames herself for taking Angel's soul in Season 2 and cannot forgive herself until "I Only Have Eyes For You"….Forgiveness is a major theme in Buffy, but I'm not sure if the moral of the story is to forgive or not to forgive.
Otherwise you turn evil (Willow).
only if they were human.
Forgive maybe but not forget and definitely move on.
A central theme of Buffy is the question of what actions - if any - are unforgivable. Giles poisoning Buffy? Buffy running away? Buffy killing Angel? Willow resurrecting Buffy? Anya sleeping with Spike? Spike trying to rape Buffy? Jonathan messing with everyone's reality? Buffy stabbing Faith?…I don't know whether the series advocates forgiveness is all cases, but it certainly asks the question, over and over again.
Seeing Faith being forgiven by the core gang would be awesome especially here the words from Buffy
HUGE theme I believe. Everyone does not so spectacular things...everyone can be redeemed. The show did a great job at this. No matter what mistakes they made, they were always there for each other.
There were times when characters forgave each other, yes. To be forgiving was not reinforced as something a person SHOULD be though, nor was unforgiveness show in a negative light. Forgiveness was simply portrayed as something that usually happens over time, where the people involved really actually care about each other.
Buffy: He wants forgiveness.
Giles: Yes. I imagine he does. But when James possesses people, they act out exactly what happened that night. So he's experiencing a form of purgatory instead. I mean, he's, he's doomed to, to kill his Ms. Newman over and over and over again, and... forgiveness is impossible.
Buffy: Good. He doesn't deserve it.
Giles: To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's, it's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it.
You could questions if some people really ever did forgive others. Willow killed one man, that sure wasn't forgiveness, but because she failed to forgive, Buffy almost had to end her. And did Giles ever REALLY forgive Angel? Did Buffy ever REALLY forgive Jenny?
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