On Spike And Angel And Souls Versus Being Special

[owenthurman]

Last week herself_nyc asked about Spike,

We see other vampires in the Jossverse who love other vampires, but apart from Spike, we see no examples of unsouled vampires who love humans. This capacity for loving humans seems to be what makes Spike unique, and is obviously what sets him on the path that eventually leads him to fight for the restoration of his

Comments

[morgantree]

Fascinating meta. Thanks. Your insights are helping me sift through issues emerging in a story I'm working on, in which qualities already inherent to Spike as an unsouled vampire are challenged and honed by chance magical events... hmmmmm. He really is an amazing character, isn't he? Between your meta and Jane Espenson's blog, I just might get this thing written.

[owenthurman]

Fascinating meta

Thank you. Jane Espenson's blog is great isn't it? I'll look forward to reading.

[rahirah]

Wordy mcWord.

[owenthurman]

Thanks.

[beer_good_foamy]

Agreed completely. In the Jossverse, vampires were people too; they might be evil, but as soon as they were given more screen time than simply "growl and get slayed", they usually proved to be just as complex individuals as any humans - just, y'know, evil. And the fanged four got more screentime than any others.

[owenthurman]

just as complex individuals as any humans - just, y'know, evil

Yes. Thanks.

fanged four got more screentime

And Harmony. Which just goes to show for diversity.

[shapinglight]

Makes sense to me. They're extraordinariness (is that a word?) comes from their innate personality and a combination of outside circumstances, like it does for most people.

[owenthurman]

like it does for most people.

Yes. Thank you.

[woman_of_]

Makes perfect sense. That the vampires picked to give screentime to have to have other qualities than just "Evil Vampire", to make them interesting to watch. Totally agree!

[owenthurman]

screentime to have to have other qualities than just "Evil Vampire"

Thanks.