A tale of two Spikes: Who's the bigger dummy?
Okay, I know I'm biased when it comes to Spike, but some of the comments I got regarding the last chapter of FtTP have me a little confused. Not that I don't appreciate all reviews, and I am grateful when people tell me what they did and didn't enjoy about a particular chapter. But these comments make me worry that maybe my characterization of Spike didn't come off as intended. Here are a couple of examples. WARNING: Spoilers for Chapter Fifty-Nine ahead.
Pam, at BSV writes: I know angst is part of the story and I have loved reading its development. But wasn't ready for Spike as Buffy's puppy dog that hasn't quite learned his manners yet.. or Spike the dolt. Got that in As You Were and didn't know we would revisit it.. So be it. Waiting to see what will happen with the eggs and Giles and more importantly Buffy and Spike's relationship..
Bridget, of SR, has a similar opinion: It is really interesting how you write Spike. You have to love him because he feels things so intensely but I also feel like hitting him because he is so stupid.
As does Nichbuket: I get money's a problem, but he can be a f****** idiot a large portion of the time.
Now, as I said, I appreciate all reviews and I don't think there is a single thing wrong with these three. They just got me thinking. Is Spike being portrayed as dumb in this chapter? I understand that his actions are incredibly misguided, but that was what I was hoping to show: that they were misguided. I never intended for him to come off as thoughtless or stupid. To the contrary, I think he is merely desperate. He knows that what he's doing is something Buffy would never approve of, but at the same time he also realizes that it is the only way he could obtain enough money to help her. She was crying in his arms, worrying about money, and as Spike said in "Dead Things," he did what he had to.
Come to think of it - were his actions in "Dead Things" perceived as stupid by most fans? Dumping Katrina's body into the river struck me as an act of profound love. No, it probably wasn't the moral thing to do, and it definitely wasn't well thought out ... but somehow I can excuse that because his intent was good.
And what about "As You Were?" Canon Spike might or might not have been the Doctor. He was shown with the eggs, yet he claimed they belonged to a friend. Either one is plausible, but what I don't understand is why he didn't keep them cold. If he was going to get so much money for the eggs, why on earth didn't he research what was necessary to maintain them? And if he was holding them for a friend (presumably, the Doctor) why wouldn't he have been warned about it? No money would be made if the hatchlings had to be killed. This is one of the many things that confuse me about this episode. It seems to me to be filled with one large plot hole after another, and if anyone can offer me insight into why it wouldn't be, please come forward!
I'm wondering if it's possible that the disgruntled readers are judging FtTP Spike on the actions of canon Spike. If so, I'm assuming there will be little I can do to fix it.
Pam, at BSV writes: I know angst is part of the story and I have loved reading its development. But wasn't ready for Spike as Buffy's puppy dog that hasn't quite learned his manners yet.. or Spike the dolt. Got that in As You Were and didn't know we would revisit it.. So be it. Waiting to see what will happen with the eggs and Giles and more importantly Buffy and Spike's relationship..
Bridget, of SR, has a similar opinion: It is really interesting how you write Spike. You have to love him because he feels things so intensely but I also feel like hitting him because he is so stupid.
As does Nichbuket: I get money's a problem, but he can be a f****** idiot a large portion of the time.
Now, as I said, I appreciate all reviews and I don't think there is a single thing wrong with these three. They just got me thinking. Is Spike being portrayed as dumb in this chapter? I understand that his actions are incredibly misguided, but that was what I was hoping to show: that they were misguided. I never intended for him to come off as thoughtless or stupid. To the contrary, I think he is merely desperate. He knows that what he's doing is something Buffy would never approve of, but at the same time he also realizes that it is the only way he could obtain enough money to help her. She was crying in his arms, worrying about money, and as Spike said in "Dead Things," he did what he had to.
Come to think of it - were his actions in "Dead Things" perceived as stupid by most fans? Dumping Katrina's body into the river struck me as an act of profound love. No, it probably wasn't the moral thing to do, and it definitely wasn't well thought out ... but somehow I can excuse that because his intent was good.
And what about "As You Were?" Canon Spike might or might not have been the Doctor. He was shown with the eggs, yet he claimed they belonged to a friend. Either one is plausible, but what I don't understand is why he didn't keep them cold. If he was going to get so much money for the eggs, why on earth didn't he research what was necessary to maintain them? And if he was holding them for a friend (presumably, the Doctor) why wouldn't he have been warned about it? No money would be made if the hatchlings had to be killed. This is one of the many things that confuse me about this episode. It seems to me to be filled with one large plot hole after another, and if anyone can offer me insight into why it wouldn't be, please come forward!
I'm wondering if it's possible that the disgruntled readers are judging FtTP Spike on the actions of canon Spike. If so, I'm assuming there will be little I can do to fix it.