Spike, the Buffybot and the meaning of "Human".

[gillo]

After some discussion on EF about Spike and the Buffybot I found myself thinking about the thematic importance of Warren's short-lived creation. This is the result - comments would be welcome, especially if you want to engage with or rebut my ideas, but if meta isn't your thing, feel free to pass on by.

Comments

[trepkos]

I was always bemused by how polite Spike was to the Buffybot during "Intervention." Thanks for this essay!

[gillo]

Thank you for reading it! I think he's polite to her because he so desperately wants her to be Buffy.

[trepkos]

But he isn't always polite to Buffy!

[gillo]

No, because his relationship with her is always about the violence, as we see in Smashed. But the Buffybot is his idealised, "perfect" Buffy, with whom he wants the perfect relationship, so he's bound to treat her more gently than he has Buffy.

[sparrow2000]

Interesting, thoughtful essay and a lot to think about!

[gillo]

Thank you for reading! I've added some pretty pics now!

[kathyh]

I really like this interpretation. Thanks :)

[gillo]

Thank you for reading! (I was worried nobody would.)

[enigmaticblues]

This is such an interesting meta. I'll be thinking about it for a while.

[gillo]

Thank you - I really enjoyed writing it.

[oxfordia]

I've read your beautifully written piece and now thinks I need to watch it all again very closely so I can see what you've described, which I'm pretty sure is all in there.

Those questions of individuality, agency, reality, etc. are also in Dollhouse and that's exactly what made me want to watch it again. I was interested by the artful way in which it is orchestrated and all the thinking it triggered in my head. I know this particular show didn't appeal to everyone and the more recent events - about which I know very little, as I've only heard about them through reading your LJ - mean it's unlikely most people will watch it again, but I saw a lot of what you describe and explain in there.

One day, I'll have the time to watch Buffy from beginning to end again. It might even be with G who is growing up so much at the moment. I'm happy to know that there is someone I know who will be able to teach me loads when that happens.

[gillo]

I have a bunch of academic and semi-academic books about the show, and those MAs have got me into certain habits of writing!

Dollhouse is often undervalued by people who see the initial premise as creepy and find it hard to see past that. It is absolutely about humanity, agency and moral responsibility.

I suspect G would really enjoy the show - F wasn't much older than she is now when we started watching it as a family, and R significantly younger, though admittedly she did sit on a parental lap quite often in case of monsters! t is so much about the process of growing up; we found it triggered some really useful conversations on occasion!

I hope the return to school has gone smoothly.