But then, after thinking about it some more, I realized that Spike's characterization was completely natural.
I agree. I mean, I still have problems with some instances (such as being somewhat cavalier regarding his mother's death), but for the most part I think the majority of Spike's actions and attitude are explained if one takes him at his word in Chosen that he didn't believe Buffy's ILY.
Spike is a bit untethered. For years Buffy was his mooring. He was her backup, her sounding board, and she was his goal. Without her there (and no longer having much hope of her) he's a loose ends.
Add in that he did the big hero sacrifice thing only to be brought back in a rather demoralizing way. Spike, who was such a tactile and physical creature, is reduced to what amounts to sensory deprivation hell, unable to touch, to feel, to do much of anything except observe. Lindsey plays him for a fool and then he discovers that the reason he was brought back...well there was no reason. Not about him. It was just a way for Lindsey to yank Angel's chain.
So Spike is rudderless, deprived, and insulted all at once. Of course he's in a terrible mood and of course he's going to be more cynical and with some lingering anger going on.
Spike really didn't find a raison d'etre until Fred was dying. That gave him purpose that prior to that he had lacked, and that was when he became much closer to the Spike we had known before. 'Our' Spike had been there all along. He had just been going through a rough patch. (Which when compared to Buffy's recovery from resurrection, wasn't nearly as rough by comparison).
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-12-17 06:33 pm (UTC)I agree. I mean, I still have problems with some instances (such as being somewhat cavalier regarding his mother's death), but for the most part I think the majority of Spike's actions and attitude are explained if one takes him at his word in Chosen that he didn't believe Buffy's ILY.
Spike is a bit untethered. For years Buffy was his mooring. He was her backup, her sounding board, and she was his goal. Without her there (and no longer having much hope of her) he's a loose ends.
Add in that he did the big hero sacrifice thing only to be brought back in a rather demoralizing way. Spike, who was such a tactile and physical creature, is reduced to what amounts to sensory deprivation hell, unable to touch, to feel, to do much of anything except observe. Lindsey plays him for a fool and then he discovers that the reason he was brought back...well there was no reason. Not about him. It was just a way for Lindsey to yank Angel's chain.
So Spike is rudderless, deprived, and insulted all at once. Of course he's in a terrible mood and of course he's going to be more cynical and with some lingering anger going on.
Spike really didn't find a raison d'etre until Fred was dying. That gave him purpose that prior to that he had lacked, and that was when he became much closer to the Spike we had known before. 'Our' Spike had been there all along. He had just been going through a rough patch. (Which when compared to Buffy's recovery from resurrection, wasn't nearly as rough by comparison).