Collected Thoughts

It was only when I rewatched the first half of the season that I realized how isolated and marginalized she'd been from the Scoobies in her pre-evil days

This is what I've been seeing as well. I know when Faith first showed up everyone was all Faith! Faith! and Buffy acted jealous and then it turned out her Watcher was viciously killed and Faith was out for revenge and you'd think that everyone would be all supportive of what was going on with Faith but it seemed that didn't happen.

Plus visually there was a huge difference between Buffy and Faith. I was discussing this with the Buffistas--how Buffy looked, almost prim, in her little outfits and matching handbags--compared to Faith. They said that was just after SMG put her foot down and said no more miniskirts and the costumers hadn't figured out to put her in pants (like hot chicks don't wear pants) but still Buffy looked almost--matronly and innocent next to Faith.

There's the one scene I'm not sure which episode, but Buffy is leaving Faith's hotel room and she's walking down the stairs and she looks like a brand new teacher who's just gone to the projects to check on her wayward student. I mean, Buffy looked oldish and prim and disapproving and Faith looked so young and lost.

Anyway, there's Faith...no family, no support, living hand to mouth, with her Watcher murdered in front of her, no one acts like this is any kind of big deal. And then it's all "Faith is evil!" Yes, she killed the guy, but frankly I think Buffy might have made the same mistake, and yes Faith lied and said it was Buffy, but really, Buffy didn't do much to inspire Faith's loyalty.

When I watched the coma dream sequence right before Faith wakes up it just hurt me because Faith is so happy. Then I got so mad because no one stopped to think "You know, Faith's been in a coma for all this time, she woke up disoriented, who knows what she's been told, she's probably confused and upset." It was all "Faith's a psycho killer."

Faith ran into a girl who told her the Mayor---the only person who ever showed love for Faith--killed by Buffy. Of course Faith is going to be freaked out.

Again, it's not a Bitch Buffy thing but just this huge breakdown in empathy on the part of well...everyone.