Now if Joss could just explain why he chose the name "Buffy"...
Y'know, I've been wondering that myself. Specially now that everything's gotten so dramatic. I mean, there's Joyce with a brain tumor in the hospital, saying "My sweet, brave Buffy." I get yanked out of the moment talaga, because what kind of name is Buffy, anyway?
(Brainflash to the Season 4 ep "Something Blue" where an engaged Spike and Buffy talk about their wedding invitations <paraphrasing>:
B: So, are we going to use William the Bloody or just Spike? Cause either way it's going to look majorly weird.
S: Whereas the name "Buffy" gives it that touch of classic elegance.
B: What's wrong with "Buffy"?
Giles <blinded and horrified at the smoochy Spuffy>: SUUUCH a good question.
B: My mother gave me that name.
S: Your mother. Yeah, she's a genius.
)
That said, pinakabagay sa kanya yung name nung season 1.
Re Riley the Useless: That's because you started in Season 5, when he seemed less contrived and more three-dimensional. I have written about this at length in my review of Out of My Mind at the Pinoyslayer TabRas board, if you'd care to see it. <Welcome to Holly Golightly's House of Mememememe>