LETāS TALK ABOUT NARRATIVE FRAMING
Because itās a really important factor in how weāre supposed to view these two scenes.
Weāre supposed to be against Wesley in the first one, and in the second one weāre supposed to empathize with him at the very least, if not outright agree that what heās doing is the right course of action. But the thing is, heās using the exact same rationale both times (he just explains it better in the second instance).
Itās all about the narrative framing.
In the first one, Wesley is an outsider. Heās a character who was brought into the mix for the express purpose of being disliked, both by the Scoobies and by the fandom. And in Choices, he further cements that dislike by advocating taking an action that might result in the death of a beloved character.
Two years later, heās a core part of the group. Heās grown and changed and become a lot more likeable and a lot more liked. Heās a true leader now, and he cements that leadership role by making a hard call, implementing a plan that will definitely result in the deaths of some nameless rebels
When Choices takes place, weāve had nearly three years to get to know Willow and become invested in her story arc, so we care about what happens to her. Meanwhile, Wesleyās been around for all of six episodes at this point, and he hasnāt done much to endear himself to anyone. So when Willowās life is in danger, and Wesley is the one standing in opposition to a surefire plan to rescue her, we feel inclined to side against him.
By the time we get around to Thereās No Place Like Plrtz Glrb, weāve had nearly three years to get to know Wesley and become invested n his story arc, so we care about him a lot. Meanwhile, these rebels have been around for all of two episodes, and we havenāt had any time to become attached to them. We donāt even know most of their names. So when their lives are in danger, and Wesley is the one putting them in that position, we feel inclined to side with him.
But the thing is, what heās doing the second time around is arguably a lot worse.
In Choices, he flat out says he wants to help Willow just as much as the others do, and he means that. He isnāt suggesting they do nothing. He just wants to stop the Scoobies from rushing into the first plan they think of without even trying to find a way to save Willow that doesnāt involve giving up the one thing they have that can prevent the Ascension and save thousands of lives.
Whereas in Plrtz Glrb, he sends an entire group of people into certain death, because he believes itās better than the alternative. Itās better than the rebels losing the battle and being enslaved again. Freedom for all at the expense of a few is worth it to him.
Wesleyās pragmatism is both darkened and strengthened by the passage of time and by the things he experiences, but it has been a constant from the very beginning, informing every decision heās made ever since his early days. The philosophy that he expresses in Pylea when heās sending the rebels to die, the idea that if āyou try not to get anybody killed, you wind up getting everybody killed,ā is the same mindset that prompted him to argue against trading the Box of Gavrok for Willow two years earlier. Itās only the way these narratives are framed that makes us see the two scenes differently.
