Long answers to follow ... two parts actually pfeifferpackApril 19 2016, 23:00:44 UTC
I had this answered to my complete satisfaction only to press God only knows what and wipe out my replies! Going to try again and hope I say it just as well. This is in two parts because I exceeded character max.
1. Why do Buffy and Spike belong together rather than Buffy and Angel? Bangel was not a real relationship. It was not built upon anything. If you watch the episodes or read the transcripts you see that it suddenly became "love" in episode 7, Angel. Just two episodes prior (Never Kill a Boy on a First Date) Buffy was actively lusting after and pursuing Owen. She even gushed about the boy in front of Angel (and not to make Angel jealous...she just didn't even note his presence in any important way). The next episode didn't have Angel in it at all and suddenly Buffy is "in love" with Angel in that 7th episode. No building attraction or courtship rituals...nothing. After they were "in love" several things to note...they had little to nothing in common being one of them. They rarely talked or laughed or did anything together. I seriously doubt Buffy could tell you Angel's favorite color or song and Angel in The Girl in Question didn't even remember the color of Buffy's eyes!
This is the kind of relationship in teens that can lead to an early marriage and an early divorce.
I could go on for pages about why this wasn't anything more than a teenage crush/lust on Buffy's side and something else (more sinister even if subconsciously, on Angel's part). Angel IMHO was attracted to the fact that Buffy was the Slayer, the PTB's own Chosen...the embodiment of good. Yeah he was also attracted to the cute YOUNG package (her licking that lolly when he first saw her said a LOT. Whistler even noted that Buffy must be cuter than the previous Slayers that led to Angel accepting his assignment). His pursuit of Buffy was like a mirror to his hunting of prey without his soul. The end game wasn't draining her but he still did massive damage to her emotionally. Had he no soul he would have also stalked and "courted" her with the intent of totally corrupting the innocent embodiment of good he saw her as being. With the soul he saw (IMHO) her as the ultimate reward for all his "suffering" with the soul. She was his just reward for being a good boy. He wanted her this way long after he stopped wanting her in any other way. He never even liked Buffy the GIRL, didn't even really know her or wish to.
Buffy and Spike had a relationship that BUILT over the years. They knew each other amazingly well. They saw the best and worst of each other and pretty much accepted it all in the end. Spike was the guy who stayed, the loyal love who didn't stray or leave and that was exactly what Buffy needed to satisfy her damaged psyche. He let her take the lead without feeling diminished but could take control if needed/wanted. He loved and understood both the Slayer and the girl. Buffy saw (wasn't always kind to but saw) his inner sensitive self but also his strength. They had a relationship that grew with them and could last the distance. It was real and built on real shared events and memories.
2. Do you miss the villain side of Spike? As a Spuffy FF writer or Fan - how do you reconcile the history of Spike as the evil Big Bad with his transformation journey due to falling in love with Buffy? I do not miss the villain. He is strong and powerful without being a villain. He is interesting and three dimensional without being full out evil (unlike Angel/Angelus).
I don't have any trouble with his transformation because it fits his character IMHO. William/Spike always became what was wanted or needed by the object of his love. William was the man his mother wanted and would have been the husband his eventual wife required as well. Spike became the Big Bad, the most evil/powerful vampire save Angelus to be what Dru wanted and needed. He also became the fierce fighter and lover that Buffy wanted and needed. He was a natural nurturer and caregiver as William and as Spike. In order to properly care for his loved one he would be whatever they need. This comes from his character.
1. Why do Buffy and Spike belong together rather than Buffy and Angel? Bangel was not a real relationship. It was not built upon anything. If you watch the episodes or read the transcripts you see that it suddenly became "love" in episode 7, Angel. Just two episodes prior (Never Kill a Boy on a First Date) Buffy was actively lusting after and pursuing Owen. She even gushed about the boy in front of Angel (and not to make Angel jealous...she just didn't even note his presence in any important way). The next episode didn't have Angel in it at all and suddenly Buffy is "in love" with Angel in that 7th episode. No building attraction or courtship rituals...nothing. After they were "in love" several things to note...they had little to nothing in common being one of them. They rarely talked or laughed or did anything together. I seriously doubt Buffy could tell you Angel's favorite color or song and Angel in The Girl in Question didn't even remember the color of Buffy's eyes!
This is the kind of relationship in teens that can lead to an early marriage and an early divorce.
I could go on for pages about why this wasn't anything more than a teenage crush/lust on Buffy's side and something else (more sinister even if subconsciously, on Angel's part). Angel IMHO was attracted to the fact that Buffy was the Slayer, the PTB's own Chosen...the embodiment of good. Yeah he was also attracted to the cute YOUNG package (her licking that lolly when he first saw her said a LOT. Whistler even noted that Buffy must be cuter than the previous Slayers that led to Angel accepting his assignment). His pursuit of Buffy was like a mirror to his hunting of prey without his soul. The end game wasn't draining her but he still did massive damage to her emotionally. Had he no soul he would have also stalked and "courted" her with the intent of totally corrupting the innocent embodiment of good he saw her as being. With the soul he saw (IMHO) her as the ultimate reward for all his "suffering" with the soul. She was his just reward for being a good boy. He wanted her this way long after he stopped wanting her in any other way. He never even liked Buffy the GIRL, didn't even really know her or wish to.
Buffy and Spike had a relationship that BUILT over the years. They knew each other amazingly well. They saw the best and worst of each other and pretty much accepted it all in the end. Spike was the guy who stayed, the loyal love who didn't stray or leave and that was exactly what Buffy needed to satisfy her damaged psyche. He let her take the lead without feeling diminished but could take control if needed/wanted. He loved and understood both the Slayer and the girl. Buffy saw (wasn't always kind to but saw) his inner sensitive self but also his strength. They had a relationship that grew with them and could last the distance. It was real and built on real shared events and memories.
2. Do you miss the villain side of Spike? As a Spuffy FF writer or Fan - how do you reconcile the history of Spike as the evil Big Bad with his transformation journey due to falling in love with Buffy? I do not miss the villain. He is strong and powerful without being a villain. He is interesting and three dimensional without being full out evil (unlike Angel/Angelus).
I don't have any trouble with his transformation because it fits his character IMHO. William/Spike always became what was wanted or needed by the object of his love. William was the man his mother wanted and would have been the husband his eventual wife required as well. Spike became the Big Bad, the most evil/powerful vampire save Angelus to be what Dru wanted and needed. He also became the fierce fighter and lover that Buffy wanted and needed. He was a natural nurturer and caregiver as William and as Spike. In order to properly care for his loved one he would be whatever they need. This comes from his character.
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