It's been a long time (like, not since the original airing) since I've seen the finale, but IIRC, Betty wasn't faced with the choice of "which of us do you really love?" although it was heavily implied. She was faced with the choice of "Which of us gets a safe desk job and is guaranteed to survive a bloody war that has already killed half the men in Europe and which guy is gonna go and probably die?"
Even if she didn't have feelings for both of them (and I think she has thoroughly mixed feelings of affection and exasperation for each) it's a hell of a thing to ask her to choose between life and death! I don't think that even Hilary or Cecilia, both far more realistic, cynical, and self-possessed than Betty, could make that call and live with themselves. If Victor/Scott went off to fight and died, whoever sent him from WENN would feel like a murderer. If Victor/Scott went off to fight and came back, how could Betty look him in the eye ever again knowing that she was willing to let him die? Conversely, what if she did "save" Scott, and then the implication that he needed her to "protect" him would eat them both alive.
Personally, I wanted to take a blunt object upside Victor's head the minute he demanded that Betty choose. Because personally, I think Scott -- conniving, lying, opportunistic Scott -- has treated Betty much better and has a purer, more moral love for her than Victor ever did.
My fanfic fantasy was that the mere order from Victor made Betty realize that she'd only been infatuated with him all along. Hearing that she refused to play his game gives me far more respect for her... and I was never that much of a Betty fan.
As for Betty/Jeff/Hilary... there's a short-lived triangle. Didn't she and Jeff finally make their sham marriage legitimate, even though she instantly regretted it? I don't think an official divorce ever went through, so the marriage to Scott would be illegal and therefore void.
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timeasmymeasure
There was no choice Betty could make, really
Date: 2003-05-15 10:16 am (UTC)Even if she didn't have feelings for both of them (and I think she has thoroughly mixed feelings of affection and exasperation for each) it's a hell of a thing to ask her to choose between life and death! I don't think that even Hilary or Cecilia, both far more realistic, cynical, and self-possessed than Betty, could make that call and live with themselves. If Victor/Scott went off to fight and died, whoever sent him from WENN would feel like a murderer. If Victor/Scott went off to fight and came back, how could Betty look him in the eye ever again knowing that she was willing to let him die? Conversely, what if she did "save" Scott, and then the implication that he needed her to "protect" him would eat them both alive.
Personally, I wanted to take a blunt object upside Victor's head the minute he demanded that Betty choose. Because personally, I think Scott -- conniving, lying, opportunistic Scott -- has treated Betty much better and has a purer, more moral love for her than Victor ever did.
My fanfic fantasy was that the mere order from Victor made Betty realize that she'd only been infatuated with him all along. Hearing that she refused to play his game gives me far more respect for her... and I was never that much of a Betty fan.
As for Betty/Jeff/Hilary... there's a short-lived triangle. Didn't she and Jeff finally make their sham marriage legitimate, even though she instantly regretted it? I don't think an official divorce ever went through, so the marriage to Scott would be illegal and therefore void.