Could be 1998 to 2368 and back. Could be 1997 to 2001 and back.
Hmm! That is indeed an interesting point. In the first case the story would be something of a mystery, because neither we nor anyone else would know why Buffy was doing something since we don't know the future. In the second, the nature of the story would be changed.
However, yes, visiting the future wouldn't allow one to know all the small actions that led to the eventual outcome, nor would the person in question (such as Buffy) be as convinced of how their own actions contributed to the unwelcome outcomes. Consider, for example, the issue of climate change. It is different for a Buffy who lived every day and then looked back.
Maybe someone thought that bringing Buffy forward would solve their problems, possibly by grabbing her from a specific point in the past and circumventing the time in between, and things don't work out as planned, so she has to be put back as best they could. (Buffy: What the fuck, people.)
Maybe Buffy herself thought going to the future would give her a solid idea of what not to do next, but it just made things even more difficult. (Buffy: Oh, fuck me.)
Either of those would be pretty interesting, alright.
Season 2 Buffy saying that would be chilling.
Or Doppleganger Buffy anyway.
("I've got a little sister coming, and -" Giles blanches, thinking that he didn't remember condoms on the police car. "Not you, you lusty stevedore" she tells him with a smile.)
no subject
Hmm! That is indeed an interesting point. In the first case the story would be something of a mystery, because neither we nor anyone else would know why Buffy was doing something since we don't know the future. In the second, the nature of the story would be changed.
However, yes, visiting the future wouldn't allow one to know all the small actions that led to the eventual outcome, nor would the person in question (such as Buffy) be as convinced of how their own actions contributed to the unwelcome outcomes. Consider, for example, the issue of climate change. It is different for a Buffy who lived every day and then looked back.
Maybe someone thought that bringing Buffy forward would solve their problems, possibly by grabbing her from a specific point in the past and circumventing the time in between, and things don't work out as planned, so she has to be put back as best they could. (Buffy: What the fuck, people.)
Maybe Buffy herself thought going to the future would give her a solid idea of what not to do next, but it just made things even more difficult. (Buffy: Oh, fuck me.)
Either of those would be pretty interesting, alright.
Season 2 Buffy saying that would be chilling.
Or Doppleganger Buffy anyway.
("I've got a little sister coming, and -" Giles blanches, thinking that he didn't remember condoms on the police car. "Not you, you lusty stevedore" she tells him with a smile.)
Haha!