Soulmates: Further thoughts on non-canon relationships

[butterfly]

I've been thinking some more about my reluctance to buy into clear canon relationships, like Buffy/Angel or John/Aeryn.

I don't believe in the concepts of 'soulmates'. I think that falling in love has a lot to do with circumstances and timing. And coincidence and luck. I don't believe that two people are fated to be together No Matter What. I like looking at the 'what if's. If John met Chiana first, would he have fallen for her? Chiana was introduced way after John had begun falling for Aeryn. Buffy fell in love with Big, Dark, and Cryptic. Would she have fallen for Angel if she'd known he was a vampire right off the bat?

I think that the big romantic love stories are interesting but I can't believe in them. I do believe that some people 'match' well, but that doesn't mean that there is only one person out there who is your perfect love. Because no one is perfect, no love is perfect.

And when someone or something (like a tv show) tells me that this is the Only Pairng That Can Fit, I rebel. I like to choose my pairings on who in the show I think will work together well. I could never see Buffy/Angel working out happily, so I couldn't get the big attachment.

Of course, Smallville is different because it's a guaranteed unhappy ending. Which is why I like reading stories that twist that ending. Because if Clark could get past his issues and Lex could get past his, I think that they could work, yeah.

But I get why they like to do the soulmate thing among mostly incompatible people: it makes for good drama. Whereas, I want the characters to be happy, so I try to think of the people who could be happy together, without needing to go through all the dren that tv couples go through.

Oh, and on a totally different note, I'll be leaving for my dad's in a couple of hours. I'll probably go over to jic's around 5. Hey, Jo, if that doesn't work for you, you know my dad's number.

Comments

soulmates

[corngirl-jo.livejournal.com]

I don't believe in the concepts of 'soulmates'.

I believe in it on a romantic level. I believe in it in books, in movies, and I like fantasizing that it exists. But smack-in-my-face reality, or in other words from an objective point of view - I don't. Up till several months ago I usually shipped for those romantic, canon pairings. But then came Spike/Buffy, Sark/Sydney, Snape/Hermione. And I love this new found non-cannonness.

[theamyrlin.livejournal.com]

I think that John and Chiana have that twisted brother/sister relationship a la Leto/Ghanima: where it is obviously so much more than just "siblings." You'll see it in the later episodes. :-)

About soulmates: I think Roswell effectively ruined the concept for me. Now I can't even say the word without shuddering.

[powrhug.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree with you. How is "one perfect person for you" logical? What are the chances that I'd just happen to live in the area this one perfect person does? Let's say on the extremely exaggerated side I'll meet 10,000 people long enough in my life to make an impression. Come pair that to the world's population during my lifespan. *shakes head* So what...others who HAVE found that one perfect person lucked out and lived or traveled where they could find that person but I won't? Damn. I feel cheated! *laugh*

But really. I think people are perfectly capable of loving more than one person and living happily-ever-after with more than one person. It's all a matter of circumstance and timing.

[keenai.livejournal.com]

I believe in soulmates, but I don't think that means because you have a soulmate, you're destined to be together forever and ever, amen. I think tv has really twisted the concept PARTICULARLY when it comes to teens and teen relationships which sucks so very much because, duh, it's unrealistic and not to mention very unrealistic.

Re: soulmates

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Non-canon can be lots of fun. Back when I first got into fandom, I started right away with 'shipping Buffy and Xander (because I think that they'd be good for each other. I still do. They would make sense).

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, from what I've seen, he cares about her, but he is also sexually attracted to her: I mean, he's all over her when he goes paranoid and crazy in Crackers Don't Matter.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

That's exactly how I feel, yeah.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Well, tv is evil.

Re:

[keenai.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I put unrealistic twice. I meant irresponsible.

But, yes, tv is the devil. That's why I'm under its spell. I'm so weak.