Ooo, thank you muchly for the links! Took a ton from snagging (unfortunately, there was only one OT3 icon, so, we'll probably end up being icon twins).
But, anyway, what I really love about Damon is that his affection for Elena doesn't just change his relationship with her - it makes him nicer to /everyone/. I feel like Spike (I don't know if this is the same in True Blood, because I've only seen a few episodes) only ever tried to be good so that he could win Buffy, whereas Damon actually changes into a better person BECAUSE of Elena, not just FOR her.
YES! YES YES YES! This, exactly. I think you've just pinpointed the exact reason why I was never able to fully get behind Spike/Buffy (or Eric/Sookie, for that matter, though I think True Blood is pulling it off a bit better than Buffy did). Damon isn't changing to get the girl, he's just a better person simply by having her in his life. He doesn't expect or demand anything from her, he's content to simply be near her, and he's thrilled to be needed by her. Now, he's still killing people, but it seems like after the tomb incident, he only kills with purpose now as opposed to killing just for the fun of it. But the simple fact that he kills people is what will always keep Elena from loving him (at least, as far as I am into the series at this point, that's what it feels like). But yeah, TVD is definitely the first show to really pull me in with that kind of romance. Spike/Buffy was just a complete mess, and Eric/Sookie is in danger of becoming a repeat of Buffy/Spike (luckily though, Eric has his mind on many more things than just Sookie).
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Date: 2010-08-21 02:49 pm (UTC)But, anyway, what I really love about Damon is that his affection for Elena doesn't just change his relationship with her - it makes him nicer to /everyone/. I feel like Spike (I don't know if this is the same in True Blood, because I've only seen a few episodes) only ever tried to be good so that he could win Buffy, whereas Damon actually changes into a better person BECAUSE of Elena, not just FOR her.
YES! YES YES YES! This, exactly. I think you've just pinpointed the exact reason why I was never able to fully get behind Spike/Buffy (or Eric/Sookie, for that matter, though I think True Blood is pulling it off a bit better than Buffy did). Damon isn't changing to get the girl, he's just a better person simply by having her in his life. He doesn't expect or demand anything from her, he's content to simply be near her, and he's thrilled to be needed by her. Now, he's still killing people, but it seems like after the tomb incident, he only kills with purpose now as opposed to killing just for the fun of it. But the simple fact that he kills people is what will always keep Elena from loving him (at least, as far as I am into the series at this point, that's what it feels like). But yeah, TVD is definitely the first show to really pull me in with that kind of romance. Spike/Buffy was just a complete mess, and Eric/Sookie is in danger of becoming a repeat of Buffy/Spike (luckily though, Eric has his mind on many more things than just Sookie).