I love that he doesn’t ask to be let in Buffy’s home. We were watching S2 recently and Angel asks Willow to let him in. I thought, wait if he is so moral then he should know the risks of letting himself in. Angel would understand the power of gaining entry and he would understand how dangerous he is. I think this shows there is still a bad guy in there making moves. And maybe Angel, or Liam, was not as good a person as Spike, William. That could be part of Angel’s trauma, knowing his nature is more selfish than he would like. Love this show, never get tired of it
William “Spike” Pratt with Drusilla in Season 2 were opposing relationships from the platonic friendship of Xander and Willow. Later in his origins Spike became a foil of Giles in a Entertainment Weekly interview with Marsters and Stewart Head ; Giles is what Spike use to be when he was alive and Spike is what Giles refuses to be from his past.
I love where he starts off before becoming a vampire. He's such a nice guy. We can laugh from modern perspective he was a typical simp and mamma's boy, but so good natured and played so charmingly by James. You can say he needed to grow some teeth to realise his full potential and save the world in the end.
Wow… Spike is the perfect progression to good. Finding desire for something. Then someone - as in to possess them. then desire for them to be happy with you/make them happy. Then happy even if not with you. Then that desire turns into a desire to care for one’s own happiness and to care for oneself which you find out can only happen when those around you are happy. It’s all beautifully selfish. It’s how humans work.
His relationship with Dru and food/human comforts shouldnt be avoided either. And looking at who William was. He was soo good as a human, it wasnt about soul but his nature. Whereas Angel's human natural inclinations were debauchery. Angel is more a recovering addict whereas William's higher nature was always love. Itd be interesting to see a continued analysis of the Angel last season and the comics.
I met James at a Comic-Con and he was so humble. I told him his performance made the show for me and he replied “the writing made it for me.” Also, he had crazy soft hands.
a shame you did not follow his character arc throughout his time on Angel Season 5.... It is is rather amazing how his character's confused search for legitimate retribution, then spurious answers is divinely fought for entirety, and then finally to it's conclusion with the Angel Series Finale (Not Fade Away), actually provides him with a better and more narratively satisfying conclusion to not only the Hero without calling spike, but as well to William being now burdened again with a soul. One would think that him being brought back (as Angel main cast) to the (UN)living right away after his noble sacrifice in the Buffy Finale (Chosen) would have done nothing good for his character, and only saw to his sacrifice becoming both destructive to Buffy's finale, as well as irreparable to Spike's arc. However, they managed the near impossible by not in any way demeaning the value and gesture of Spike's sacrifice to wearing that (wolfram & hart) medallion-light-ray-laser-show-bonanza to close the Hellmouth, but vindicate his return and then add upon his character, and what he is experiencing after making such a supposed "final" action except not so much. Him coming to grips with not actually feeling as though he had finally earned a bit of the respect he was never able to taste in the entire lengths of both his living, and un-living existences... his one chance to "be" someone who really mattered when it counted... was taken from him.... It is really superbly compelling, and I cannot recommend it enough... In my opinon it is the far more conclusively effective, and poignantly emotionally to Spike specifically rapping up personal narrative arc (His own experiences, from pre-vampire => post-resurrection) not just his Buffy obsession. Would love to see you do an update to this video, and try to close out his Analysis by adding his time on Angel as well. It really is quite integral to truly understanding the whole of the great character known as... 'Spike'... However..... in some not quite so well know facts... he was actually was also known as that name, and another prior to being sired by Drusilla... The first was... 'William The Bloody' (on account of his poetry being absolutely bloody awful!) And yes..... finally, 'Spike'... (This moniker is from when one party-goer declares he'd rather drive railroad spikes through his head than listen to any more of the poetry!)
That look of surrendering and being human for Buffy, and then how he treated Joyce and Dawn from then on… this is why Spike is sooo much better than Angel
So I have a thought. Angel never really loved Buffy but spike did. Now before you come for me just hear me out. Angel only loved Buffy when he had a soul and as soon as he didn’t he was going to kill her. Spike loved Buffy when he didn’t have a soul, so much so that went and got himself a soul.
I love the action at 16:20, where Spike reaches for Buffy but when she turns her head away he immediately pulls away, respecting her wish not to be touched. That, coupled with him saying "when I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you, it has nothing to do with me" is the peak of his development, for me. He's respecting her boundaries, and he has developed a selfless love. It's not about doing things to "get the girl," or "to be loved and accepted," he just genuinely wants her to be happy and to feel believed in at a point where she feels no one does.
Which means spike is impotent in other words he can't perform in the basic vampire way he normally would have mingle kill destroy turn vampire sex basically
There are just some characters you love to hate and some you've just dropped right love but my question is why do I love James Morrison's character Spike what is it about him that just goes off this creepy but yet warm glow
What I feel like are underrappreciated moments that show his evolution are the ones where Spike listens. Just like he says, he's not a thinker or a rational person, he's a person acting with his heart, and that's always been the case, even when he was a human. He was a romantic, full of passion type of guy and being a vampire only highlighted that, while also twisting his version of love - if we consider his relationship with Drusilla. But Buffy finds comfort in moments of silence and "silent sharing" with Spike. Yknow, one of the first turning points stated in this video is a moment where Spike "gets it" without Buffy having to say anything. Then there are other moments like when Buffy shares with him first that she was dead in Heaven, peaceful and happy. This is the most intimate thing she's ever told anyone at this point, and she told it to him. These are moments that also provoked Spike's evolution, because they're moments where Buffy lets him in. They're the moments where she truly connects with him and allows him to feel like he's someone worthy of listening to her and comforting her in some ways. Some people tend to forget, that love and trust build themselves on a ground of confidence and intimacy, and I feel like where sometimes Angel wasn't recepient of this intimacy coming from Buffy, neither Giles or her friends, Spike always did the job on that part. Also shallow me really loves the fact that Spike is brought back to life in Angel, even tho it serves to destroy his relationship to Buffy (just like it did with Buffy and Angel) or even Buffy's character to begin with.
Exactly. I'd include the experimental sex they have with that too- how she let him in, even in a self destructive Plutonian kind of way. I mean in the comics she does choose him. And then they part and stay friends. I like that Angel was a vehicle for her relationship with Spike. The one with Spike being more profound and personally evolving. Angel just isn't worthy and Buffy has a hard time accepting her monster side so she keeps rejecting it as a physical person, which is Spike
I'd argue that there were two turning points prior to Becoming. 1. His injury 2. The return of Angelus This marking the beginning of protracted period of humiliation, thus leading to his ultimate redemption.
I think the r scene is coupled with both the fact of not having a soul and him being in abusive relationships in the past and understanding how to act properly.
When buffy was using spike and it was basically killing him how she would use and abuse him, I really felt for him. The show really tried to hammer home that buffy was right to use him because he's a terrible person (which is why I think they made him try and r buffy)(which I really don't think spike would where do at that point as his worst fear was to hurt buffy even when she was treating him like shit). But he's not a bad person and I don't think he really ever was even without his soul.
Spike drove a "1959 Desoto Fireflite" the sign falling down at the end of the last episode is homage to his arrival in Sunnydale in season 2 where he runs over the welcome to Sunnydale sign.
I think even after one becomes a vampire in buffyverse, the most prominent part of their personality is preserved and sometimes accentuated.Angel before being a vampire was a sleazy guy who followed Darla to get laid .Later he goes to extremely cruel means to get Dru. For Dru, she became crazy( or we can say she had visions) before being a vampire and that part stayed and made her paranoid. For Spike though, William was a hopeless romantic, that part remained and at times accentuated to a bit creepy Mr. Nice guy. Spike was better than Angelus coz William was a better man than Liam. ( It's hard to tell if Spike had felt empathy).
Only a minute in and I already see the big mistake. Making it about "good" and "bad" is a losing game. That just leads to pontless arguments where people make blank carpet statements as if they're facts for others when they are not. Making it about "Action. Reaction. How do I benefit" goes further. No one acts without self interest. Angel is a prime example of how worrying about yourself with good intentions backfires. So making it about "good" is a losing argument because it's not that simple. The better question in regards to each and every situation is "why?" From there it's a matter of understanding certain patterns. What might seem unhealthy might be heathly and vice versa. Example: The powerplay between Buffy and Spike is, for the most part, healthy. She abuses him, yes, but they challenge each other and are playful about it. Or at least Spike is which gets Buffy to warm up to him. Every situation is going to go under "selfish" because, as I stated earlier, no one acts without self interst. If I want to do something for you it's because "I" want too. Not because it's an "obligation". What's more if you don't give someone a reason to care... Then they won't. Unless it's an "obligation". At which point it's not "for you". It's for "themselves". Also, being considirate towards another "villain" is still nonetheless being considerate. What I find interesting is that despite going to kill Buffy with the shotgun, he sees her suffering. Death is one thing. But that? The desire for answers outweigh the desire for blood. Even if it boils with intense hate. It's a nice touch. I've learned to be wary of those that act out of good intentions when never asking and taking things at face value. Who so often put on a "nice" act when in reality they will shut down your opinion when they're afraid because of their insecurities. People might not intend to take advantage but that just makes what they do even worse. An honest monster knows what they do. And as Batman once said "We're all monsters". Some are just more aware of it and don't pretend to be self rightious. Spike's always been honest. That's more then many a human would do. He adapts quickly. That's more then Angel can do. I don't view this in terms of "morality". I view this in terms of "strength". When push comes to shove who's making the effort and trying? He might do it because he likes you. But if he likes you then it is for himself. Just happens to benefit you. Being selfish doesn't mean others can't benefit. Nor does being selfless lead to good things. In fact often the reverse, due to coddling people and enabling their flaws without being questioned or challenged. I don't talk sense into suicidal people and get them to care about me by going "It's for you". I do it by going "What's the truth here? At least be honest about the real reasons." They survive and find a partner. It's not about "morals". It's about "honesty". This is what Spike seems to value more then anything else. Being degraded by another person who degrades me Buffy style? Suddenly we form agreements and have good times and love each other. People tell themselves "It's to be a good person". In regards to what exactly? In reality we don't do these things because we "Care about you". We do it because who wants to live a lie? Lies and falshoods cause misunderstandings which leads to the path of destruction. On the flip side a seemingly out of control situation that is misunderstood at a glance may be a situation people involved in are very well informed about who can handle it. In short never take things at face value. People happen to care about each other when it's about the honesty. And that desire to find out? It's what drives us forward. To find an answer. "You wanted this didn't you?" Did Buffy really want Spike to have a soul? The answer itself is less important. It's the question that has to be asked. It's up to you if it's worth the suffering. Looking after others also gets them to focus on you better and be more clear minded about it. It's just easier to focus on others when you don't worry about yourself as much. Which in turn circles back to benefiting yourself. It's a sort of symbiosis in that light. It will never begin that way. It can however end that way even if it means going through hell, earth and heaven until you get there. Angel was never tested like that. Spike was. In the end who endures it all? Perhaps it's even because Spike wants the pain. We all do in some ways. When we know we can do better and improve. It has to hurt. To remind us. To borrow a phrase from Dr Who when he mentions what he does with pain, "You hold it tight." Raiden in Metal Gear Revengeance also fits here. Anything where people face and confront instead of hiding or fleeing. When they "Accept the worst of themselves" instead of being in denial about it. Then and only then do we push barriers and break expectations. This also means that Angel was designed to be inferior. The blind deluded self rightious fool that has yet to truely break and learn from it. For such strength is born from weakness. Something Spike understood that Angel tried to get away from in his desperation to get his soul back. I actually consider Angel even more selfish. Worrying about himself so much and not being able to handle the pressure until he snaps. Spike, for the most part, tends to mantain his self control. Though like anyone else he can have his moments. In contrast to Angel though, Angel loses it more. Operates more on "touchy feely" then being logical. When Spike sees Buffy crying he hits that "logical" switch. He has to know. He's too honest to not find out. It's a NEED for him. For me too actually. Where others would fall victim to their high strung emotions once they've had enough, Spike is instead going "What's the situation". Awareness first and foremost. Honesty fire and foremost. Always. Trust him or don't. But when someone goes that out of the way to find answers and show them to you, that's what makes love happen. It's not that people "Already care". It's that the pursuit for answers leads to the destination. That's why I can face someone closed minded and dismissive but then get them to warm up to me. How do I do it? By calling them a coward when they say they'll never talk to me again. Something just "clicks" for people when they realise they're weak. No one wants to be. At this point you either stand your ground and try (you're at least trying), or... Or you may never be able to forgive yourself for the lack of effort. I can speak from first hand experience on that account. And have seen how people suffer when they never try to do better because no one challenges them enough. Any time someone flees, runs away and can't handle a situation they're probably hating themselves. Their own weakness and inability. It's for this reason I call that into question ASAP the moment it's shown. To immediately defuse a volatile situation before it gets out of hand. People will hate you for doing this. But they'll also love you for it afterwards. Buffy and Spike have always challenged each other. That's what makes them work. The challenge. To improve each other. To get each other to do better. Meanwhile Angel is coddling and doesn't know how to addess situations so he kind of stands there at a loss. In some ways Angel being this flawed is kind of needed to contrast Spike. Some people are just "better" then others. Stronger. More capable. Able to adapt faster. Handle more. And then we have the other side. People that are weaker. Still struggling. At a loss when full of doubt and desperate to be worth something even if they don't earn it. If both of these characters weren't like this then we wouldn't have both sides to balance each other out. Angel is the "bleeding heart that gets walked over". And you know something? That just makes Angel more relatable. Angel represents the person we might be now. Flawed. Selfish. Worrying about ourselves. Spike represents being stronger, faster. More capable when it comes right down to it. Never a coward or a back turner. If we only had one of the characters without the other then it might lose something. So even though Angel kind of becomes the laughing stock... He's needed because at some point that's probably been you. And in all likelihood still may be.
Buffy is the show with most amazing growth of all the characters, the worst in that was Xander and grew as well
I love that he doesn’t ask to be let in Buffy’s home. We were watching S2 recently and Angel asks Willow to let him in. I thought, wait if he is so moral then he should know the risks of letting himself in. Angel would understand the power of gaining entry and he would understand how dangerous he is. I think this shows there is still a bad guy in there making moves. And maybe Angel, or Liam, was not as good a person as Spike, William. That could be part of Angel’s trauma, knowing his nature is more selfish than he would like. Love this show, never get tired of it
William “Spike” Pratt with Drusilla in Season 2 were opposing relationships from the platonic friendship of Xander and Willow. Later in his origins Spike became a foil of Giles in a Entertainment Weekly interview with Marsters and Stewart Head ; Giles is what Spike use to be when he was alive and Spike is what Giles refuses to be from his past.
I love where he starts off before becoming a vampire. He's such a nice guy. We can laugh from modern perspective he was a typical simp and mamma's boy, but so good natured and played so charmingly by James. You can say he needed to grow some teeth to realise his full potential and save the world in the end.
Wow… Spike is the perfect progression to good. Finding desire for something. Then someone - as in to possess them. then desire for them to be happy with you/make them happy. Then happy even if not with you. Then that desire turns into a desire to care for one’s own happiness and to care for oneself which you find out can only happen when those around you are happy. It’s all beautifully selfish. It’s how humans work.
His relationship with Dru and food/human comforts shouldnt be avoided either. And looking at who William was. He was soo good as a human, it wasnt about soul but his nature. Whereas Angel's human natural inclinations were debauchery. Angel is more a recovering addict whereas William's higher nature was always love. Itd be interesting to see a continued analysis of the Angel last season and the comics.
I met James at a Comic-Con and he was so humble. I told him his performance made the show for me and he replied “the writing made it for me.” Also, he had crazy soft hands.
I love his character arc and he’s such a great actor !
🖤
a shame you did not follow his character arc throughout his time on Angel Season 5.... It is is rather amazing how his character's confused search for legitimate retribution, then spurious answers is divinely fought for entirety, and then finally to it's conclusion with the Angel Series Finale (Not Fade Away), actually provides him with a better and more narratively satisfying conclusion to not only the Hero without calling spike, but as well to William being now burdened again with a soul. One would think that him being brought back (as Angel main cast) to the (UN)living right away after his noble sacrifice in the Buffy Finale (Chosen) would have done nothing good for his character, and only saw to his sacrifice becoming both destructive to Buffy's finale, as well as irreparable to Spike's arc. However, they managed the near impossible by not in any way demeaning the value and gesture of Spike's sacrifice to wearing that (wolfram & hart) medallion-light-ray-laser-show-bonanza to close the Hellmouth, but vindicate his return and then add upon his character, and what he is experiencing after making such a supposed "final" action except not so much. Him coming to grips with not actually feeling as though he had finally earned a bit of the respect he was never able to taste in the entire lengths of both his living, and un-living existences... his one chance to "be" someone who really mattered when it counted... was taken from him.... It is really superbly compelling, and I cannot recommend it enough... In my opinon it is the far more conclusively effective, and poignantly emotionally to Spike specifically rapping up personal narrative arc (His own experiences, from pre-vampire => post-resurrection) not just his Buffy obsession. Would love to see you do an update to this video, and try to close out his Analysis by adding his time on Angel as well. It really is quite integral to truly understanding the whole of the great character known as... 'Spike'... However..... in some not quite so well know facts... he was actually was also known as that name, and another prior to being sired by Drusilla... The first was... 'William The Bloody' (on account of his poetry being absolutely bloody awful!) And yes..... finally, 'Spike'... (This moniker is from when one party-goer declares he'd rather drive railroad spikes through his head than listen to any more of the poetry!)
Ive ALWAYS been Team Spike. Him saying "No you Dont was the most Gangsta/Metal thing Spike could say😎
Spike should have deserved a total Spin-off, not Angel. Angel is dull, boring and drooling.
SPIKE is my all time favorite fictional vampire
Fuck Angel
How do you deal with the "ALL actions are selfish" argument?!
i honestly thought him english lol
I know this is late, but I wanted to say that this is the best spike retrospective I have ever seen
That look of surrendering and being human for Buffy, and then how he treated Joyce and Dawn from then on… this is why Spike is sooo much better than Angel
Spike was the best, buffy wouldn'y be the same without him❤
So I have a thought. Angel never really loved Buffy but spike did. Now before you come for me just hear me out. Angel only loved Buffy when he had a soul and as soon as he didn’t he was going to kill her. Spike loved Buffy when he didn’t have a soul, so much so that went and got himself a soul.
I love the action at 16:20, where Spike reaches for Buffy but when she turns her head away he immediately pulls away, respecting her wish not to be touched. That, coupled with him saying "when I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you, it has nothing to do with me" is the peak of his development, for me. He's respecting her boundaries, and he has developed a selfless love. It's not about doing things to "get the girl," or "to be loved and accepted," he just genuinely wants her to be happy and to feel believed in at a point where she feels no one does.
Love this character analysis
William Pratt was knocking around in there, always.
I literally cried the first time I watched spike try to rape Buffy. That scene makes my stomach hurt. I hate it so much
Which means spike is impotent in other words he can't perform in the basic vampire way he normally would have mingle kill destroy turn vampire sex basically
There are just some characters you love to hate and some you've just dropped right love but my question is why do I love James Morrison's character Spike what is it about him that just goes off this creepy but yet warm glow
We learned that in real life and in movies and in TV shows men will always sacrifice everything and women will sacrifice nothing
What I feel like are underrappreciated moments that show his evolution are the ones where Spike listens. Just like he says, he's not a thinker or a rational person, he's a person acting with his heart, and that's always been the case, even when he was a human. He was a romantic, full of passion type of guy and being a vampire only highlighted that, while also twisting his version of love - if we consider his relationship with Drusilla. But Buffy finds comfort in moments of silence and "silent sharing" with Spike. Yknow, one of the first turning points stated in this video is a moment where Spike "gets it" without Buffy having to say anything. Then there are other moments like when Buffy shares with him first that she was dead in Heaven, peaceful and happy. This is the most intimate thing she's ever told anyone at this point, and she told it to him. These are moments that also provoked Spike's evolution, because they're moments where Buffy lets him in. They're the moments where she truly connects with him and allows him to feel like he's someone worthy of listening to her and comforting her in some ways. Some people tend to forget, that love and trust build themselves on a ground of confidence and intimacy, and I feel like where sometimes Angel wasn't recepient of this intimacy coming from Buffy, neither Giles or her friends, Spike always did the job on that part. Also shallow me really loves the fact that Spike is brought back to life in Angel, even tho it serves to destroy his relationship to Buffy (just like it did with Buffy and Angel) or even Buffy's character to begin with.
Exactly. I'd include the experimental sex they have with that too- how she let him in, even in a self destructive Plutonian kind of way. I mean in the comics she does choose him. And then they part and stay friends. I like that Angel was a vehicle for her relationship with Spike. The one with Spike being more profound and personally evolving. Angel just isn't worthy and Buffy has a hard time accepting her monster side so she keeps rejecting it as a physical person, which is Spike
This show made me feel way too many emotions at a young age
I'd argue that there were two turning points prior to Becoming. 1. His injury 2. The return of Angelus This marking the beginning of protracted period of humiliation, thus leading to his ultimate redemption.
Oh come-on - over analyse do we?
Am I really the only one with a Buffy dance? Like... when the theme song plays you dance continuously until your almost... ummm... dead? lol
He returned for the final season of Angel and possibly died stopping another apocalypse
Spike would never of been a Manchester United fan 😂
Well he was soulless when he said that
I think the r scene is coupled with both the fact of not having a soul and him being in abusive relationships in the past and understanding how to act properly.
Spike was a better person with more depth than angel ever was with a soul
When buffy was using spike and it was basically killing him how she would use and abuse him, I really felt for him. The show really tried to hammer home that buffy was right to use him because he's a terrible person (which is why I think they made him try and r buffy)(which I really don't think spike would where do at that point as his worst fear was to hurt buffy even when she was treating him like shit). But he's not a bad person and I don't think he really ever was even without his soul.
Conclusion, to quote Terminator 2: if Spike, a Vampire can learn to become a hero, maybe we can too.
His devotion to her is so attractive he’s loyal and loving even when they were at odds
Great video
Spike drove a "1959 Desoto Fireflite" the sign falling down at the end of the last episode is homage to his arrival in Sunnydale in season 2 where he runs over the welcome to Sunnydale sign.
Spike was the most sexiest vampire in history 😍
Why
I think even after one becomes a vampire in buffyverse, the most prominent part of their personality is preserved and sometimes accentuated.Angel before being a vampire was a sleazy guy who followed Darla to get laid .Later he goes to extremely cruel means to get Dru. For Dru, she became crazy( or we can say she had visions) before being a vampire and that part stayed and made her paranoid. For Spike though, William was a hopeless romantic, that part remained and at times accentuated to a bit creepy Mr. Nice guy. Spike was better than Angelus coz William was a better man than Liam. ( It's hard to tell if Spike had felt empathy).
I love spike
Do more like Angel and other Buffys shows great video than you
This was an amazing analysis.
Only a minute in and I already see the big mistake. Making it about "good" and "bad" is a losing game. That just leads to pontless arguments where people make blank carpet statements as if they're facts for others when they are not. Making it about "Action. Reaction. How do I benefit" goes further. No one acts without self interest. Angel is a prime example of how worrying about yourself with good intentions backfires. So making it about "good" is a losing argument because it's not that simple. The better question in regards to each and every situation is "why?" From there it's a matter of understanding certain patterns. What might seem unhealthy might be heathly and vice versa. Example: The powerplay between Buffy and Spike is, for the most part, healthy. She abuses him, yes, but they challenge each other and are playful about it. Or at least Spike is which gets Buffy to warm up to him. Every situation is going to go under "selfish" because, as I stated earlier, no one acts without self interst. If I want to do something for you it's because "I" want too. Not because it's an "obligation". What's more if you don't give someone a reason to care... Then they won't. Unless it's an "obligation". At which point it's not "for you". It's for "themselves". Also, being considirate towards another "villain" is still nonetheless being considerate. What I find interesting is that despite going to kill Buffy with the shotgun, he sees her suffering. Death is one thing. But that? The desire for answers outweigh the desire for blood. Even if it boils with intense hate. It's a nice touch. I've learned to be wary of those that act out of good intentions when never asking and taking things at face value. Who so often put on a "nice" act when in reality they will shut down your opinion when they're afraid because of their insecurities. People might not intend to take advantage but that just makes what they do even worse. An honest monster knows what they do. And as Batman once said "We're all monsters". Some are just more aware of it and don't pretend to be self rightious. Spike's always been honest. That's more then many a human would do. He adapts quickly. That's more then Angel can do. I don't view this in terms of "morality". I view this in terms of "strength". When push comes to shove who's making the effort and trying? He might do it because he likes you. But if he likes you then it is for himself. Just happens to benefit you. Being selfish doesn't mean others can't benefit. Nor does being selfless lead to good things. In fact often the reverse, due to coddling people and enabling their flaws without being questioned or challenged. I don't talk sense into suicidal people and get them to care about me by going "It's for you". I do it by going "What's the truth here? At least be honest about the real reasons." They survive and find a partner. It's not about "morals". It's about "honesty". This is what Spike seems to value more then anything else. Being degraded by another person who degrades me Buffy style? Suddenly we form agreements and have good times and love each other. People tell themselves "It's to be a good person". In regards to what exactly? In reality we don't do these things because we "Care about you". We do it because who wants to live a lie? Lies and falshoods cause misunderstandings which leads to the path of destruction. On the flip side a seemingly out of control situation that is misunderstood at a glance may be a situation people involved in are very well informed about who can handle it. In short never take things at face value. People happen to care about each other when it's about the honesty. And that desire to find out? It's what drives us forward. To find an answer. "You wanted this didn't you?" Did Buffy really want Spike to have a soul? The answer itself is less important. It's the question that has to be asked. It's up to you if it's worth the suffering. Looking after others also gets them to focus on you better and be more clear minded about it. It's just easier to focus on others when you don't worry about yourself as much. Which in turn circles back to benefiting yourself. It's a sort of symbiosis in that light. It will never begin that way. It can however end that way even if it means going through hell, earth and heaven until you get there. Angel was never tested like that. Spike was. In the end who endures it all? Perhaps it's even because Spike wants the pain. We all do in some ways. When we know we can do better and improve. It has to hurt. To remind us. To borrow a phrase from Dr Who when he mentions what he does with pain, "You hold it tight." Raiden in Metal Gear Revengeance also fits here. Anything where people face and confront instead of hiding or fleeing. When they "Accept the worst of themselves" instead of being in denial about it. Then and only then do we push barriers and break expectations. This also means that Angel was designed to be inferior. The blind deluded self rightious fool that has yet to truely break and learn from it. For such strength is born from weakness. Something Spike understood that Angel tried to get away from in his desperation to get his soul back. I actually consider Angel even more selfish. Worrying about himself so much and not being able to handle the pressure until he snaps. Spike, for the most part, tends to mantain his self control. Though like anyone else he can have his moments. In contrast to Angel though, Angel loses it more. Operates more on "touchy feely" then being logical. When Spike sees Buffy crying he hits that "logical" switch. He has to know. He's too honest to not find out. It's a NEED for him. For me too actually. Where others would fall victim to their high strung emotions once they've had enough, Spike is instead going "What's the situation". Awareness first and foremost. Honesty fire and foremost. Always. Trust him or don't. But when someone goes that out of the way to find answers and show them to you, that's what makes love happen. It's not that people "Already care". It's that the pursuit for answers leads to the destination. That's why I can face someone closed minded and dismissive but then get them to warm up to me. How do I do it? By calling them a coward when they say they'll never talk to me again. Something just "clicks" for people when they realise they're weak. No one wants to be. At this point you either stand your ground and try (you're at least trying), or... Or you may never be able to forgive yourself for the lack of effort. I can speak from first hand experience on that account. And have seen how people suffer when they never try to do better because no one challenges them enough. Any time someone flees, runs away and can't handle a situation they're probably hating themselves. Their own weakness and inability. It's for this reason I call that into question ASAP the moment it's shown. To immediately defuse a volatile situation before it gets out of hand. People will hate you for doing this. But they'll also love you for it afterwards. Buffy and Spike have always challenged each other. That's what makes them work. The challenge. To improve each other. To get each other to do better. Meanwhile Angel is coddling and doesn't know how to addess situations so he kind of stands there at a loss. In some ways Angel being this flawed is kind of needed to contrast Spike. Some people are just "better" then others. Stronger. More capable. Able to adapt faster. Handle more. And then we have the other side. People that are weaker. Still struggling. At a loss when full of doubt and desperate to be worth something even if they don't earn it. If both of these characters weren't like this then we wouldn't have both sides to balance each other out. Angel is the "bleeding heart that gets walked over". And you know something? That just makes Angel more relatable. Angel represents the person we might be now. Flawed. Selfish. Worrying about ourselves. Spike represents being stronger, faster. More capable when it comes right down to it. Never a coward or a back turner. If we only had one of the characters without the other then it might lose something. So even though Angel kind of becomes the laughing stock... He's needed because at some point that's probably been you. And in all likelihood still may be.
17:08 omg! I can’t believe he just said that. 😂Even in series scenes he always throws in some humor
Why has the algorithm decided now to bring me back to this show I grew up with.