Spike's a Flexible Kind of Guy

Having participated in a few different conversations today and last week regarding the character of Spike, I've been struck yet again by the fact that Spike is/was a multi-faceted character. A lot of people love that character ... and yet, it's not always the same character that we love. Even those of us who count ourselves as his fans can see him in some fairly substantially different ways. And the things we value about the character or consider sacrosanct in the characterization can vary somewhat wildly.

( rambling musing on varying perspectives on Spike )

I haven't finished with the character yet. I'm not yet ready to let go (even though I seem to be lagging behind most as they drift away). Spike still hits too many of my own personal kinks for me to let go. Hell, Spuffy still hits too many of my personal kinks to really let go -- even though I hate canon Buffy quite intensely. As long as I don't have to see Miss Pinch Face's emotionally constipated acting, Buffy the character is salvageable to me (but not without a hell of a lot of work. But then the appeal is the challenge).

Spuffy still has too many of my own kinks that I can see so easily worked into fanfics for me to wholly abandon (even though I have quite a bit of resentment for what was on screen. And my amenability to fanfic Spuffy doesn't lessen my anger with the one that was on screen). I've yet to find a ship to replace it, even though there are ships that I've watched that I think were better executed (John/Aeryn, I'm looking at you). Still, Spuffy is the relationship that went unresolved in a way that I cannot seem to accept (or in fact do not accept), so I fight it by continuing to wrest it into some semblance of order in my own head. My very disatisfaction with it is what fuels my continued fascination with it. If I had a sense of satisfaction and closure I would probably be content (as I am with Farscape). And new fandoms where many of the Spuffy authors are gravitating (VMars and Battlestar Galactica) really don't hit my kinks. I can't transfer. I have no desire to watch another teen series or teen ship, and while I find Galactica intellectually interesting, it hits none of my gut level visceral buttons. I just don't care that much. It doesn't inspire me. I'm not the least bit in love... and I sort of have to be in order to obsess.

So, I stay with the Spike fandom. Unhappy, contentious, fractious, difficult, bastard, demonized, orphaned stepchild of the Whedonverse that it is. It's the character that still hits me in a place where I'm left feeling there's more to say.

And sorry to ramble for so long. It just sort of hit me on the drive home today.

Spike's a Flexible Kind of Guy

Having participated in a few different conversations today and last week regarding the character of Spike, I've been struck yet again by the fact that Spike is/was a multi-faceted character. A lot of people love that character ... and yet, it's not always the same character that we love. Even those of us who count ourselves as his fans can see him in some fairly substantially different ways. And the things we value about the character or consider sacrosanct in the characterization can vary somewhat wildly.

( rambling musing on varying perspectives on Spike )

I haven't finished with the character yet. I'm not yet ready to let go (even though I seem to be lagging behind most as they drift away). Spike still hits too many of my own personal kinks for me to let go. Hell, Spuffy still hits too many of my personal kinks to really let go -- even though I hate canon Buffy quite intensely. As long as I don't have to see Miss Pinch Face's emotionally constipated acting, Buffy the character is salvageable to me (but not without a hell of a lot of work. But then the appeal is the challenge).

Spuffy still has too many of my own kinks that I can see so easily worked into fanfics for me to wholly abandon (even though I have quite a bit of resentment for what was on screen. And my amenability to fanfic Spuffy doesn't lessen my anger with the one that was on screen). I've yet to find a ship to replace it, even though there are ships that I've watched that I think were better executed (John/Aeryn, I'm looking at you). Still, Spuffy is the relationship that went unresolved in a way that I cannot seem to accept (or in fact do not accept), so I fight it by continuing to wrest it into some semblance of order in my own head. My very disatisfaction with it is what fuels my continued fascination with it. If I had a sense of satisfaction and closure I would probably be content (as I am with Farscape). And new fandoms where many of the Spuffy authors are gravitating (VMars and Battlestar Galactica) really don't hit my kinks. I can't transfer. I have no desire to watch another teen series or teen ship, and while I find Galactica intellectually interesting, it hits none of my gut level visceral buttons. I just don't care that much. It doesn't inspire me. I'm not the least bit in love... and I sort of have to be in order to obsess.

So, I stay with the Spike fandom. Unhappy, contentious, fractious, difficult, bastard, demonized, orphaned stepchild of the Whedonverse that it is. It's the character that still hits me in a place where I'm left feeling there's more to say.

And sorry to ramble for so long. It just sort of hit me on the drive home today.

Spike's a Flexible Kind of Guy

Having participated in a few different conversations today and last week regarding the character of Spike, I've been struck yet again by the fact that Spike is/was a multi-faceted character. A lot of people love that character ... and yet, it's not always the same character that we love. Even those of us who count ourselves as his fans can see him in some fairly substantially different ways. And the things we value about the character or consider sacrosanct in the characterization can vary somewhat wildly.

( rambling musing on varying perspectives on Spike )

I haven't finished with the character yet. I'm not yet ready to let go (even though I seem to be lagging behind most as they drift away). Spike still hits too many of my own personal kinks for me to let go. Hell, Spuffy still hits too many of my personal kinks to really let go -- even though I hate canon Buffy quite intensely. As long as I don't have to see Miss Pinch Face's emotionally constipated acting, Buffy the character is salvageable to me (but not without a hell of a lot of work. But then the appeal is the challenge).

Spuffy still has too many of my own kinks that I can see so easily worked into fanfics for me to wholly abandon (even though I have quite a bit of resentment for what was on screen. And my amenability to fanfic Spuffy doesn't lessen my anger with the one that was on screen). I've yet to find a ship to replace it, even though there are ships that I've watched that I think were better executed (John/Aeryn, I'm looking at you). Still, Spuffy is the relationship that went unresolved in a way that I cannot seem to accept (or in fact do not accept), so I fight it by continuing to wrest it into some semblance of order in my own head. My very disatisfaction with it is what fuels my continued fascination with it. If I had a sense of satisfaction and closure I would probably be content (as I am with Farscape). And new fandoms where many of the Spuffy authors are gravitating (VMars and Battlestar Galactica) really don't hit my kinks. I can't transfer. I have no desire to watch another teen series or teen ship, and while I find Galactica intellectually interesting, it hits none of my gut level visceral buttons. I just don't care that much. It doesn't inspire me. I'm not the least bit in love... and I sort of have to be in order to obsess.

So, I stay with the Spike fandom. Unhappy, contentious, fractious, difficult, bastard, demonized, orphaned stepchild of the Whedonverse that it is. It's the character that still hits me in a place where I'm left feeling there's more to say.

And sorry to ramble for so long. It just sort of hit me on the drive home today.

I Saw Jesus on the Street Today

No joke. Okay, it's funny, but it's not a joke.

A co-worker was in my office talking to me about a project we're working on together. He stopped talking in mid-conversation, squinted, and then looked out of my office window.

He leaned back and said to me, "Do you see Jesus walking down the street?"

I gave him a "WTF?!" look.

"No," he protested. "Look out the window. Do you see Jesus?" He sounded a little worried about his own sanity.

So, I looked out the window... and saw Jesus...just casually walking down the street. White robe, sandals, the whole bit.

"OMG! I see Jesus, too!"

We both totally cracked up laughing at that point.

Our office is next door to a Catholic church and a Catholic elementary school, so we could only assume some sort of assembly or play or something going on at the school. But I can say that it's a very strange sight to peer out your window, and see Jesus strolling down the street...

I Saw Jesus on the Street Today

No joke. Okay, it's funny, but it's not a joke.

A co-worker was in my office talking to me about a project we're working on together. He stopped talking in mid-conversation, squinted, and then looked out of my office window.

He leaned back and said to me, "Do you see Jesus walking down the street?"

I gave him a "WTF?!" look.

"No," he protested. "Look out the window. Do you see Jesus?" He sounded a little worried about his own sanity.

So, I looked out the window... and saw Jesus...just casually walking down the street. White robe, sandals, the whole bit.

"OMG! I see Jesus, too!"

We both totally cracked up laughing at that point.

Our office is next door to a Catholic church and a Catholic elementary school, so we could only assume some sort of assembly or play or something going on at the school. But I can say that it's a very strange sight to peer out your window, and see Jesus strolling down the street...

I Saw Jesus on the Street Today

No joke. Okay, it's funny, but it's not a joke.

A co-worker was in my office talking to me about a project we're working on together. He stopped talking in mid-conversation, squinted, and then looked out of my office window.

He leaned back and said to me, "Do you see Jesus walking down the street?"

I gave him a "WTF?!" look.

"No," he protested. "Look out the window. Do you see Jesus?" He sounded a little worried about his own sanity.

So, I looked out the window... and saw Jesus...just casually walking down the street. White robe, sandals, the whole bit.

"OMG! I see Jesus, too!"

We both totally cracked up laughing at that point.

Our office is next door to a Catholic church and a Catholic elementary school, so we could only assume some sort of assembly or play or something going on at the school. But I can say that it's a very strange sight to peer out your window, and see Jesus strolling down the street...