The mystery of Spike/JM
James Masters won the zap2it.com showdown. Ok, no surprise there but what, to me, is extrodinary is the amount he won by - 22,550 - 4,300. here and it got me thinking, just what is the appeal of JM/Spike?
I think it's probably true to say that the vast majority of his fan base are female and while I can see how JM could be considered attractive (although he doesn't do it for me) I don't think it's just that. I've come to the conclusion that it's because Spike (and to an extent JM) is safe. Even in his most evil un-souled state, Spike just doesn't have the menace of souled-Angel, even at his most benign and dorkey. Perhaps more importantly, he gives the impression (and is pretty much borne out by canon), that all he needs is the love of a good woman and he could be saved from his bad ways. That's something thats very appealing to a lot of women, it might even have appealed to me 15-20 years ago.
Angel doesn't have that. Although the depth of his lonliness is very obvious, he's also pretty self-contained. He doesn't need to be in a relationship with a woman and who he is isn't bound up with the woman he's with. Yes, the women in his life (Darla,Buffy,Cordy) have been very important to him and have done a lot to shape who he is, but he doesn't need them to have a sense of self. I think Spike, to a large extent, does. Again, for a lot of women, that's very appealing.
I think it's probably true to say that the vast majority of his fan base are female and while I can see how JM could be considered attractive (although he doesn't do it for me) I don't think it's just that. I've come to the conclusion that it's because Spike (and to an extent JM) is safe. Even in his most evil un-souled state, Spike just doesn't have the menace of souled-Angel, even at his most benign and dorkey. Perhaps more importantly, he gives the impression (and is pretty much borne out by canon), that all he needs is the love of a good woman and he could be saved from his bad ways. That's something thats very appealing to a lot of women, it might even have appealed to me 15-20 years ago.
Angel doesn't have that. Although the depth of his lonliness is very obvious, he's also pretty self-contained. He doesn't need to be in a relationship with a woman and who he is isn't bound up with the woman he's with. Yes, the women in his life (Darla,Buffy,Cordy) have been very important to him and have done a lot to shape who he is, but he doesn't need them to have a sense of self. I think Spike, to a large extent, does. Again, for a lot of women, that's very appealing.