"Intervention" and Resurrection

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Hey all, 

I wrote this in response to a posting on anti_buffyspike, where someone
was getting a headache from having been on a general discussion board
and seeing B/S 'shippers say that those lines from "Intervention" ("Love
is Pain, and the Slayer forges strength from pain") explained why Spike
could hit her in "Smashed". (The silly B/S theory was she loved him and
therefore her pain didn't qualify as him hurting her, hence no chip
attack.)

In calming down my fellow anti-B/Ser, I delved into my current
interpretation of the "Intervention" speech by the Guide on love, and,
not unnaturally, discussed what's in there that I think points to an
eventual B/W union. Then I thought I'd put it here. I could have
edited it, because I also consider other possibilities (B/A,
B/R)--after all, that's not a B/W list per se, just anti-B/S--but I
thought I'd leave it in, since a general consideration includes all
possibilities. And besides, I already told you that I reached the
inevitable B/W conclusion.

Thanks to James and Kirayoshi for their contributions on this subject
back when we discussed here in October/November. Here's my letter to
the other list:

"Hey, tvjunkie, don't have an aneurysm.

The B/S crowd have all their little theories, that's why we have our
places to counter-vent. But the idea that, in "Intevention", the Guide
(not the first Slayer, the Guide just used her form, like it used the
form of the mountain lion earlier in the ep) meant by saying "love is
pain, and the Slayer forges strength from pain" that Buffy is a
masochist (and therefore Spike can whomp her with impunity if she loves
him) is just cockeyed. Just before that, the Guide told Buffy "you love
with all of your soul"--you know, that thing Spike doesn't have. This
is one of two times where love is defined as being a function of a soul,
by a higher power whose purpose it is to reveal truths. It's a very
anti-B/S quote.

Spike and Dru may think they can love without a soul (they told Buffy
that in "Crush"), but in "Surprise", The Judge, whose sole immortal
purpose is detect traces of humanity and destroy them, said they shared
"affection and jealousy". Close. but no love, kids. The S/Dr
relationship was less offensive to The Judge than Dalton's enjoyment of
reading. 

The most interesting part of the Guide's speech is the end: "Risk the
pain. Love, give, forgive. Love will lead you to your gift. Death is
your gift." So Buffy is being urged to take a risky course for love,
and finding love will apparently involve forgiving and have something to
do with her death (and resurrection). Well, Spike's out, because Buffy
doesn't have to forgive him, since he never was in her life and thus
could never have trespassed against her. You can't forgive someone
unless they've hurt you, and every murderous demonic thing Spike has
ever done is nothing less that just what she's expected of him. He may
need her acceptance (if he's really become a good guy), but not her
forgiveness. And while he's certainly taken advantage of her
post-resurrection blues, he really wasn't involved with the death or the
resurrection itself. And Buffy "love[s] with all of [her] soul", so
he's out.

Who is the Guide speaking of? Angel? Well, she does love him, she may
feel she has to forgive him, and he blamed himself for her death (in
"Heartthrob") because he wasn't there. And he has a soul. So he's a
good candidate, but the network-enforced separation may have led Joss to
think in other directions. And there's that whole thing of Angel having
a "greater purpose" than just being Buffy's boyfriend.

Riley? While she never told him she loved him (although she threw it in
Angel's face in "Sanctuary"), that could mean that she was unable to
"risk the pain" and that's why she treated him like "rebound guy" when
"he's the one that comes along once in a lifetime". She may need to
forgive him for leaving her like he did. And her loss of him was the
start of the downward spiral, of things getting "stripped away", that
led to her death. But, despite rumors of Riley's return, I don't think
Blucas is going to sign up full-time again.

No, helpless prisoner of my 'ship that I am, I think the Guide means
Willow. She's the one whom Buffy has to forgive for something
specifically to do with her death--the resurrection, which has been
defined (in "After Life") as all Willow's work, and which she says (in
"Tabula Rasa") she did because she was selfish. Meaning because she
loves Buffy, which Aly Hannigan's been playing all year (just look at
"Bargaining"). Buffy needs to risk the pain, to stop hiding behind the
safe little idea that her frequently-declared love for Willow is just a
"best friend" thing, to face the fact that "it's brighter than the fire;
that's why you pull away." Only then will she be able to love (with all
her soul), give (Willow the love she needs to beat the magic addiction),
forgive (Willow for the resurrection), and forge strength (a new-found
sense of identity and purpose) from pain (the past several years).

And besides, when Buffy asked the Guide about her ability to love, she
said "not just boyfriend love". Plus this is the one possibility that
wouldn't run into actor-availability problems, and it would break new
dramatic ground.

So that's my personal favorite possibility, but I admit Angel and Riley
may also qualify. But as for Spike, well, Buffy's right about him.
He's just "convenient". All she's doing is scratching an itch,
satisfying her basest urges because she's afraid to "risk the pain" of
the deeper emotions that are "brighter than the fire". It'll be over
soon, I bet. At least before the end of the season.

Cheer up,

Dan"

Please let me know what you think.