Re: OT: Buffy & EVW #22...

[JDMeans@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 12/15/01 12:07:48 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
danspector@xxxxxxxxx writes:


> As to those who thought Spike dusting seemed extreme, I guess, on show,
> I wouldn't want him dusted because he used to be a quality character.
> But, IMO, he's gone seriously downhill since the Buffy-lust started,
> losing his trademark edge and insight. Sure, it was fun seeing him zing
> Riley, but it's not like Spike's a step up, or anything.

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.

Spike used to be the Mack Daddy Vamp, occasionally siding with the enemy, 
occasionally siding with Buffy, but always working for his own purposes. 
Spike was in it for Spike, and the rest of the world could fend for itself. 
And that self-centered-ness, coupled with a punk attitude, made him one of 
the best villains on television.

Ever since last season, when he fell in love (in as much as he is capable of 
loving) with Buffy, he's lost that snarkiness, that edge that made him Spike. 
For a while, it was actually looking like they were trying to make him into 
Angel II, which would have been a death knell for the show. The good news 
from the most recent eps is that he's still a first class sleaze, but he 
still needs to get that edge back. To paraphrase Buffy from the episode 
'Pangs', I like my Spike like I like my evil. Evil. 

A good first step would be for Spike to reestablish the form of relationship 
that he and Buffy should have. He's a vampire, she's a vampire slayer. 
Mortal enemies and all that. An even better second step is for his chip to 
short out. The chip has served its purpose, it's time to get rid of it.

The way I see it, Joss and crew have two choices. The better choice would be 
to get Spike back to his roots and make him the classic big bad we all know 
and love. The second (and less preferential) choice is to simply stake the 
sod and put him out of our misery.

Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Kirayoshi

"Once, years ago, I saved the life of a wise old priest. 
Grateful, he made a gift to me of these few precious words: 
If you find yourself on a cliffside, trapped, 
with a hungry tiger waiting above 
and a hungry tiger waiting below, 
and by chance you spy a single strawberry 
growing from the cliffside... 
pluck the strawberry... 
and bite into it... 
and taste it." 
--Frank Miller 
"Ronin"