Season 8: The Status of Being Beneath Her and Not Being Invited In

[2maggie2]

Two of the iconic ways Buffy asserted her position in the relationship at Spike's expense was when she said he was beneath her and when she revoked his invitation.  Both of those moments have been invoked in the comics.  Below an argument about why this isn't a callous repeat of some hurtful moments, but rather an upending of then.

Comments

[2maggie2]

Thanks! And I totally agree about the come on that is veiled as a not come on. It's so exactly how Buffy would do that, btw. And I agree that Spike almost certainly does have feelings -- but he's a master of them now and Buffy surely doesn't see that they are there. Or at least she's terrified that they're not, which is why she's so very coy about trying to get him to tip his hand.

[angearia]

Rebcake notes below how Spike had started guarding his feelings even back in Season 7. Which makes me think that it does naturally extend from there. Since in Season 7, Buffy was the pursuer, imo.

what a turn-on it is for Buffy (and anyone else) to hear that her suitor is his own person and doesn't need her around.

In Season 7, Spike says he thinks he should go. Buffy's the one who says she needs him around. Hmm.

[angearia]

His reticence is different in nature, but I was more noting the commonality of his non-pursuit. That's the common thread as I see it. And how in both cases, it prompts Buffy to go to him.

When Spike stops chasing Buffy, she turns around and chases after him asking, "Why'd you stop?"

I think their conversation in Sleeper is like that. Spike goes out to spend time with other women (turns out he's hunting) and Buffy ends up probing him about his feelings for her. And while his existence is an emblem of his love, I think Buffy's so insecure of being worthy of love that the slightest hint of other interest has her worrying.