Sides of Spike
After the latest comic fail concerning Spike, I realized that I'm getting a bit sick of it all. I hate it how Spike is mutilated on IDW at the moment and what all the comic discussion is doing to my squee. I love the Buffyverse, and I want to have fun with it instead of having to complain about it all the time, because it's turned into something I can't connect with.
When I find myself reading about Bizarro Spike on IDW, I think that despite how OOC the character is written there, if you look very closely you can find some of those aspects in canon Spike. Only that canon Spike has tons more to offer. Over the seasons he became an insanely multilayered complex person, so what I'm attempting here is a little sum up of all the different things we learn about Spike's personality during the seasons of the tv show, almost all of which are sadly amiss in the comics.
This turned out a lot longer than I had anticipated, so I decided to split it in readable chunks, starting out with
Season 2
School hard
The very first thing we see about Spike on the show is that he's a poser, he loves to put on an act, he loves brag, he loves to appear cool. But the moment he's introduced as the cool punk vampire there's immideately a second layer added, when Dru wanders in. Because for all his pretense he is obviously an extremely commited lover. In front of all those toughass vampires that he just outmachoed he has no problem turning into Dru's lapdog.
From the first minute on it's clear that Spike is not going to play by the rules. He refuses the rules of the boys club, for Spike it's never going to be "bros before hos" , as far as he's concerned the bros can all stake themselves as long as he gets to be with Dru. He might play at being macho, but most of the time he views it ironically "Weapons, they make me feel all manly."
Later in the episode he also refuses Angel's authority as well as that of the classical vampire society, represented by the annointed one. Being a rebel is a central motive that get's drawn out for him throughout the show. Superficially because of the punk get up and attitude, but in a more subversive way, because he mostly sets his own standards and the greater evil matters a lot less to him than his emotions do.
Of course Spike is also introduced as a brit (which nicely counters Angel being Irish) and a ruthless killer, who leaves nothing but distruction in his wake. It all fits very well into the initial intention to create an undead Sid & Nancy with Spike and Dru.
Lie to me
This episode gives us the first hint that maybe Spike isn't the dominant one in his relationship, though he comes off a lot as Dru's caretaker. He displays a soft spot for damaged people that also runs through the series (with Drusilla, heartbroken Willow, Dawn, depressive Buffy, Andrew, Illyria).
It's also the first time Spike's loyalty is dispayed. So far we never met a vampire who cared about another to the point where he can be pressured with it, but Spike instantly gives in the moment Buffy threatens to stake Dru.
Another thing that turns into a pattern later on is that Spike keeps his promises. He turns Ford, despite his plan failing, though I assume that Spike was aware that his vampire existence would not be lasting.
What's my line
Spike is of course a remorseless killer by nature, but in this episode there are more hints that imply that what he likes best about the killing is the fight. He likes the blood, he likes to kill, but he doesn't like to torture the way Dru and Angelus do (though there is the story about the railroad spikes and it's fairly obvious he's done it, but it remains that he's not much one for the preshow).
Spike's love for fighting always has an erotic component too and he states already in this episode that he prefers to fight Buffy. Then she churches him and we see Drusilla carry him from the rumble. Buffy later states that "Spike loves to be in pain" but I think it's more that Spike loves to be in a struggle. He falls for people, who are stronger than him, because they pose a challenge and they give him a thrill.
Now that Dru is healed and Spike is injured, their roles are exchanged.
Innocence
Angelus comes into the mix and suddenly Spike is no longer the biggest bad on the block, doesn't even stand a chance due to his injuries. Through the judge we find out that Angelus outevils Spike and Dru completely and Spike, who already has a problem with authority is confronted with someone who is bigger and badder and threatens his relationship. Unable to win a fight, he turns to deceit. Bides his time until he sees a chance to defeat Angel for real.
In the episodes before Spike already shows that he can cook up a plan, but more often than not he gets bored sticking to it. Not here, though it drives him crazy to see Angelus with Dru, he simmers along until he sees his chance to bite.
Becoming
And of course the moment comes, when he can team up with Buffy against Angelus. Spike's attachment to Dru as well as his hatred for authority run a lot deeper than whatever connects him to the greater evil. He helps a bit with saving the world for the first time, maybe a little bit for Manchester United and Happy Meals on legs, but mostly because of his personal connections, because he loves Dru and hates Angelus for stealing her from him.
Season 3
Lover's walk
New Spike. Heartbroken this time. Since Dru left him and he's got no one to motivate him, which makes him drown his sorrow in alcohol and generally act pretty eratically. He's not good at keeping his emotions in and in his current state his sorrow is the most important thing in the world. Not really an introvert, he might like the cool pretense, but the moment his emotions really take over he's defenseless. He yammers to everybody from Buffy to Joyce. He decides to abduct Willow, to do some love magic for him. This is the first time it becomes pretty clear that Spike doesn't mind rape anymore than he minds murder.
At the same time this is the first episode where he really shows how much insights he has into other people's emotional lives, when he drukenly analyzes Angel and Buffy. He's sensitive, yet another subversion of every macho clichee he ever had going, moreso because he embraces this.
Finally it's the thrill of the fight that get's him back on track. He's love's bitch, but he takes a pride in the fact and cheerily sets off to bang his head at Dru's wall once again.
The cool thing about early season Spike is that all the groundword that is later used to turn him around is pretty much already there. Back then he doesn't waste a thought on becoming a good guy, but being evil for the sake of being evil is not first his priority list either. He wants to be with Dru, no matter really what needs to be done for that.
He also is fun to have on a feminist show, because he messes with the guy code so much.
( On to Part II)
When I find myself reading about Bizarro Spike on IDW, I think that despite how OOC the character is written there, if you look very closely you can find some of those aspects in canon Spike. Only that canon Spike has tons more to offer. Over the seasons he became an insanely multilayered complex person, so what I'm attempting here is a little sum up of all the different things we learn about Spike's personality during the seasons of the tv show, almost all of which are sadly amiss in the comics.
This turned out a lot longer than I had anticipated, so I decided to split it in readable chunks, starting out with
Season 2
School hard
The very first thing we see about Spike on the show is that he's a poser, he loves to put on an act, he loves brag, he loves to appear cool. But the moment he's introduced as the cool punk vampire there's immideately a second layer added, when Dru wanders in. Because for all his pretense he is obviously an extremely commited lover. In front of all those toughass vampires that he just outmachoed he has no problem turning into Dru's lapdog.
From the first minute on it's clear that Spike is not going to play by the rules. He refuses the rules of the boys club, for Spike it's never going to be "bros before hos" , as far as he's concerned the bros can all stake themselves as long as he gets to be with Dru. He might play at being macho, but most of the time he views it ironically "Weapons, they make me feel all manly."
Later in the episode he also refuses Angel's authority as well as that of the classical vampire society, represented by the annointed one. Being a rebel is a central motive that get's drawn out for him throughout the show. Superficially because of the punk get up and attitude, but in a more subversive way, because he mostly sets his own standards and the greater evil matters a lot less to him than his emotions do.
Of course Spike is also introduced as a brit (which nicely counters Angel being Irish) and a ruthless killer, who leaves nothing but distruction in his wake. It all fits very well into the initial intention to create an undead Sid & Nancy with Spike and Dru.
Lie to me
This episode gives us the first hint that maybe Spike isn't the dominant one in his relationship, though he comes off a lot as Dru's caretaker. He displays a soft spot for damaged people that also runs through the series (with Drusilla, heartbroken Willow, Dawn, depressive Buffy, Andrew, Illyria).
It's also the first time Spike's loyalty is dispayed. So far we never met a vampire who cared about another to the point where he can be pressured with it, but Spike instantly gives in the moment Buffy threatens to stake Dru.
Another thing that turns into a pattern later on is that Spike keeps his promises. He turns Ford, despite his plan failing, though I assume that Spike was aware that his vampire existence would not be lasting.
What's my line
Spike is of course a remorseless killer by nature, but in this episode there are more hints that imply that what he likes best about the killing is the fight. He likes the blood, he likes to kill, but he doesn't like to torture the way Dru and Angelus do (though there is the story about the railroad spikes and it's fairly obvious he's done it, but it remains that he's not much one for the preshow).
Spike's love for fighting always has an erotic component too and he states already in this episode that he prefers to fight Buffy. Then she churches him and we see Drusilla carry him from the rumble. Buffy later states that "Spike loves to be in pain" but I think it's more that Spike loves to be in a struggle. He falls for people, who are stronger than him, because they pose a challenge and they give him a thrill.
Now that Dru is healed and Spike is injured, their roles are exchanged.
Innocence
Angelus comes into the mix and suddenly Spike is no longer the biggest bad on the block, doesn't even stand a chance due to his injuries. Through the judge we find out that Angelus outevils Spike and Dru completely and Spike, who already has a problem with authority is confronted with someone who is bigger and badder and threatens his relationship. Unable to win a fight, he turns to deceit. Bides his time until he sees a chance to defeat Angel for real.
In the episodes before Spike already shows that he can cook up a plan, but more often than not he gets bored sticking to it. Not here, though it drives him crazy to see Angelus with Dru, he simmers along until he sees his chance to bite.
Becoming
And of course the moment comes, when he can team up with Buffy against Angelus. Spike's attachment to Dru as well as his hatred for authority run a lot deeper than whatever connects him to the greater evil. He helps a bit with saving the world for the first time, maybe a little bit for Manchester United and Happy Meals on legs, but mostly because of his personal connections, because he loves Dru and hates Angelus for stealing her from him.
Season 3
Lover's walk
New Spike. Heartbroken this time. Since Dru left him and he's got no one to motivate him, which makes him drown his sorrow in alcohol and generally act pretty eratically. He's not good at keeping his emotions in and in his current state his sorrow is the most important thing in the world. Not really an introvert, he might like the cool pretense, but the moment his emotions really take over he's defenseless. He yammers to everybody from Buffy to Joyce. He decides to abduct Willow, to do some love magic for him. This is the first time it becomes pretty clear that Spike doesn't mind rape anymore than he minds murder.
At the same time this is the first episode where he really shows how much insights he has into other people's emotional lives, when he drukenly analyzes Angel and Buffy. He's sensitive, yet another subversion of every macho clichee he ever had going, moreso because he embraces this.
Finally it's the thrill of the fight that get's him back on track. He's love's bitch, but he takes a pride in the fact and cheerily sets off to bang his head at Dru's wall once again.
The cool thing about early season Spike is that all the groundword that is later used to turn him around is pretty much already there. Back then he doesn't waste a thought on becoming a good guy, but being evil for the sake of being evil is not first his priority list either. He wants to be with Dru, no matter really what needs to be done for that.
He also is fun to have on a feminist show, because he messes with the guy code so much.
( On to Part II)