Second Thoughts on "Soul Purpose"
Jan. 22nd, 2004 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shipperxA lot of people (including myself) have complained about Spike's characterization this year. And, I will no doubt complain again and complain often. However as "Soul Purpose" sinks in, I have fewer complaints about this episode than most of the season and here's why:
Honestly, I think last night's ep showed, that not even Spike knows what he wants or where he's going any more. I've been complaining about that as a writing thing, but by making it text it makes it more than bad characterization. Admitting up front that Spike is lost with no raison d'etre was actually one of the good things about the ep. At least now it's text and not just a fan complaint.
Spike has no purpose, no direction. He's like early Season 5 Spike who is floundering in the sense that, what in the hell is he supposed to do with himself? While this is a problem, admitting that it is a problem is the first step toward realizing that there needs to be a solution. So, in as much as they've at least admitted there is a problem, they've done something right (of course, whether they do anything with it is another issue, and one I fear to address because like so many other things with potential, ME usually just pisses it away. However, at this juncture it remains a good thing that it was at least acknowledged.)
Spike has no purpose and, despite himself, he sorta-kinda needs one, perhaps even --though he would deny it--WANTS one.
Plot holes and ME issues aside (be assured I have MANY and that I'm still utterly convinced that Spike is screwed in oh-so-many ways).
I think last night's ep was actually better than what ME has regularly produced in recent times. Oh, I'm not going to say that the lighting was even half decent or that DB's direction was inspired (though it is to be noted that my casual viewing friend says this is the first time all season she has actually recognized the *real* Spike in the AtS characterization), but I give the ep a couple of stars for at least bringing to the fore things that have been percolating. Basically, I think it's hinted toward a few
interesting things and pulled a few things together that (though I
dare not hope) has some potential (that I'm sure ME will squander).
First off, yeah, like I said, this ep at least admitted up front that Spike is lost. It's actually a bit reassuring in a way to actually have it in cannon that Spike is rudderless rather than it just being happenstance. This ep solidified that Spike really doesn't know what to do with himself. He may know what he doesn't want (W&H) but at the moment he's a man
without a nation or a raison d'etre. He's given the hell up on Buffy accepting that the bitch never loved him and nothing he could do
would change that. So he can't search her out. He's not going to join W&H. And being "Champion" is just *so* Angel. So. . .what the hell is he supposed to do? The only thing he was ever actually good at was kicking butt. . .and the truth is Spike *is* a romantic. He really wouldn't mind the whole Don Quioxte bit nearly as much as he reflexively denies it. . . and that's what Lindsay is playing on.
If Spike wasn't hungry for. . .something. . .then Lindsay wouldn't be able to goad him into these Batman exploits. The fact is, despite himself, Spike years for. . . something.
Hey, that's a least better than the vacuousness we've been shown thus far.
Spike is suspicious and disbeliving of Lindsay and the whole Destiny
schtick. . .but he's still lurable that, you know, maybe he could sorta, kinda matter. . .maybe. Well, hell, at least it's something to do.
At the very least, I did think this ep clarified somewhat what's going on with Spike. He has no freaking idea what to do with himself. His old quest is gone, so what the hell IS he supposed to do with himself? (And being Angel's minion isn't an option). So, at least this ep took all of this into text. (He's still screwed on this show, however).
Second of all, more is going on with Wesley and Gunn than first appeared. . .finally. Now, I'm not saying we got jack shit view of what's going on in either of Wes's or Gunn's heads. We didn't. I complain like hell that we aren't allowed into Spike's emotional life, but they've done even worse with Wesley. I have no freaking CLUE what's going on inside him these days. . .but at least "Soul Purpose" brought one thing out, whatever is going on with Wes, be afraid. Be suspicious and afraid, because it's more than the bland exterior/story he's had thus far this season.
I rewatched "Soul Purpose" last night and on second viewing, there's something very subtly WRONG with Gunn and Wes. And it's stuff that's actually been going on all season. In Ep 1 when Harm was referring to the "boss", Wesley considered himself "the boss." And then we had the completely NOT subtle Gunn peeing all over Angel's
furniture. In this ep we're actually getting Wes and Gunn as lieutenants beginning to take things into their own hands. . .and not in a good way. Time and time again in this ep Wes is saying "don't bother Angel with that." "We don't need to tell Angel that." If not for the mindwipe I would say it's unexplained character regression. Well, it's still regression but it's not completely unexplained. This is the same thing that led Wesley to take Connor. This is what was hinted at in Lineage when it became clear to Angel that Wes would go above and beyond on what Wes sees as "right." I think Wes is being set up to make a grievous error in judgment. . .again. And he's going to (again) 'do it for Angel's own good' (which, honestly serves Angel right because that's the shit ANGEL always does). Look at the way that Wes and Gunn are discussing what to do about the warlock. They had already made a decision before even discussing it with Angel, and it really didn't matter to them what Angel said about the situation. They pretty much ignored Angel and kept planning on their own. And that wasn't the hallucination. That was what was REALLY going on. Then you had Gunn and Wes's scene with Spike. . .which had Gunn and Wes really posed rather mafia-like. Don't move in on OUR turf. Come and work for us. But even more upsetting than that is the fact that they were making this offer without ever once checking with Angel/the boss. More than that, they really restructured in a rather fictional way what had happened between themselves and Spike when they returned to W&H. The story they gave Fred wasn't the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It was revised and edited truth.
JAR is right. Gunn isn't behaving like Gunn any longer. Gunn who was always supicious of demons, et al, is now looking for the economically efficient solution. Don't take out the bad guys, we need them as clients. Essentially, how are Gunn's and Wes's actions any different that W&H's have been for years now? Not a lot. In fact their words to Spike are damn similar to Lilah's words to them last year.
I don't really subscribe to the concept of Gunn and Wes "going evil" but I think they *are* going to be led down a path to hell paved with good intentions. That was also what was implied in Angel's guilt-ridden dream where he's feeling empty, that he's led his friends into W&H and Wes is complaining about the show, "Remember we paid BLOOD for this."
Naturally Angelkins will save the day and his friends from corruption, yadda, yadda, fishcakes. I'm not saying that this is going to go anywhere particularly new or different for ME. I think we're looking at a future "Empty Spaces" ep in Angel's future (let's only hope it's better than the first one on BtVS). But while we may not have any view into Gunn and Wes any longer, last night was the first time I even got a feeling that there actually WAS an actual plan for those two.
Fred... still has no story. Harm is window dressing.
Eve? I just hate Eve and don't want to analyze her, but I'm kind of unsure what the real power balance between Eve and Lindsay actually IS. Is he in charge. . .or is she? At first I thought it was firmly in his hands, but on rewatching I'm less certain. Frankly, I could look at it turning out either way (well, except that she's damn near unwatchable. Gad, could they have cast someone worse for this plot).
Then there was some repetition of theme with the whole needing to matter thing. That's coming up a lot this year. But, this is ME so I don't really expect a rational solution.
Still, there was actually more to think about in this ep than most anything they've done in a while, so warts and all (and extremely weak earring denouement), I think that this was one of the better eps because it's the first time I've actually believed that ME has an idea where in the hell they are actually taking this.
There were some interesting points so despite it being draggy in execution, I found it more interesting than most of the eps thus far. Problem is, ME sucks at follow through, so we'll see if this potential arc has any future or whether it evaporates with Lindsay in Ep 12.
Honestly, I think last night's ep showed, that not even Spike knows what he wants or where he's going any more. I've been complaining about that as a writing thing, but by making it text it makes it more than bad characterization. Admitting up front that Spike is lost with no raison d'etre was actually one of the good things about the ep. At least now it's text and not just a fan complaint.
Spike has no purpose, no direction. He's like early Season 5 Spike who is floundering in the sense that, what in the hell is he supposed to do with himself? While this is a problem, admitting that it is a problem is the first step toward realizing that there needs to be a solution. So, in as much as they've at least admitted there is a problem, they've done something right (of course, whether they do anything with it is another issue, and one I fear to address because like so many other things with potential, ME usually just pisses it away. However, at this juncture it remains a good thing that it was at least acknowledged.)
Spike has no purpose and, despite himself, he sorta-kinda needs one, perhaps even --though he would deny it--WANTS one.
Plot holes and ME issues aside (be assured I have MANY and that I'm still utterly convinced that Spike is screwed in oh-so-many ways).
I think last night's ep was actually better than what ME has regularly produced in recent times. Oh, I'm not going to say that the lighting was even half decent or that DB's direction was inspired (though it is to be noted that my casual viewing friend says this is the first time all season she has actually recognized the *real* Spike in the AtS characterization), but I give the ep a couple of stars for at least bringing to the fore things that have been percolating. Basically, I think it's hinted toward a few
interesting things and pulled a few things together that (though I
dare not hope) has some potential (that I'm sure ME will squander).
First off, yeah, like I said, this ep at least admitted up front that Spike is lost. It's actually a bit reassuring in a way to actually have it in cannon that Spike is rudderless rather than it just being happenstance. This ep solidified that Spike really doesn't know what to do with himself. He may know what he doesn't want (W&H) but at the moment he's a man
without a nation or a raison d'etre. He's given the hell up on Buffy accepting that the bitch never loved him and nothing he could do
would change that. So he can't search her out. He's not going to join W&H. And being "Champion" is just *so* Angel. So. . .what the hell is he supposed to do? The only thing he was ever actually good at was kicking butt. . .and the truth is Spike *is* a romantic. He really wouldn't mind the whole Don Quioxte bit nearly as much as he reflexively denies it. . . and that's what Lindsay is playing on.
If Spike wasn't hungry for. . .something. . .then Lindsay wouldn't be able to goad him into these Batman exploits. The fact is, despite himself, Spike years for. . . something.
Hey, that's a least better than the vacuousness we've been shown thus far.
Spike is suspicious and disbeliving of Lindsay and the whole Destiny
schtick. . .but he's still lurable that, you know, maybe he could sorta, kinda matter. . .maybe. Well, hell, at least it's something to do.
At the very least, I did think this ep clarified somewhat what's going on with Spike. He has no freaking idea what to do with himself. His old quest is gone, so what the hell IS he supposed to do with himself? (And being Angel's minion isn't an option). So, at least this ep took all of this into text. (He's still screwed on this show, however).
Second of all, more is going on with Wesley and Gunn than first appeared. . .finally. Now, I'm not saying we got jack shit view of what's going on in either of Wes's or Gunn's heads. We didn't. I complain like hell that we aren't allowed into Spike's emotional life, but they've done even worse with Wesley. I have no freaking CLUE what's going on inside him these days. . .but at least "Soul Purpose" brought one thing out, whatever is going on with Wes, be afraid. Be suspicious and afraid, because it's more than the bland exterior/story he's had thus far this season.
I rewatched "Soul Purpose" last night and on second viewing, there's something very subtly WRONG with Gunn and Wes. And it's stuff that's actually been going on all season. In Ep 1 when Harm was referring to the "boss", Wesley considered himself "the boss." And then we had the completely NOT subtle Gunn peeing all over Angel's
furniture. In this ep we're actually getting Wes and Gunn as lieutenants beginning to take things into their own hands. . .and not in a good way. Time and time again in this ep Wes is saying "don't bother Angel with that." "We don't need to tell Angel that." If not for the mindwipe I would say it's unexplained character regression. Well, it's still regression but it's not completely unexplained. This is the same thing that led Wesley to take Connor. This is what was hinted at in Lineage when it became clear to Angel that Wes would go above and beyond on what Wes sees as "right." I think Wes is being set up to make a grievous error in judgment. . .again. And he's going to (again) 'do it for Angel's own good' (which, honestly serves Angel right because that's the shit ANGEL always does). Look at the way that Wes and Gunn are discussing what to do about the warlock. They had already made a decision before even discussing it with Angel, and it really didn't matter to them what Angel said about the situation. They pretty much ignored Angel and kept planning on their own. And that wasn't the hallucination. That was what was REALLY going on. Then you had Gunn and Wes's scene with Spike. . .which had Gunn and Wes really posed rather mafia-like. Don't move in on OUR turf. Come and work for us. But even more upsetting than that is the fact that they were making this offer without ever once checking with Angel/the boss. More than that, they really restructured in a rather fictional way what had happened between themselves and Spike when they returned to W&H. The story they gave Fred wasn't the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It was revised and edited truth.
JAR is right. Gunn isn't behaving like Gunn any longer. Gunn who was always supicious of demons, et al, is now looking for the economically efficient solution. Don't take out the bad guys, we need them as clients. Essentially, how are Gunn's and Wes's actions any different that W&H's have been for years now? Not a lot. In fact their words to Spike are damn similar to Lilah's words to them last year.
I don't really subscribe to the concept of Gunn and Wes "going evil" but I think they *are* going to be led down a path to hell paved with good intentions. That was also what was implied in Angel's guilt-ridden dream where he's feeling empty, that he's led his friends into W&H and Wes is complaining about the show, "Remember we paid BLOOD for this."
Naturally Angelkins will save the day and his friends from corruption, yadda, yadda, fishcakes. I'm not saying that this is going to go anywhere particularly new or different for ME. I think we're looking at a future "Empty Spaces" ep in Angel's future (let's only hope it's better than the first one on BtVS). But while we may not have any view into Gunn and Wes any longer, last night was the first time I even got a feeling that there actually WAS an actual plan for those two.
Fred... still has no story. Harm is window dressing.
Eve? I just hate Eve and don't want to analyze her, but I'm kind of unsure what the real power balance between Eve and Lindsay actually IS. Is he in charge. . .or is she? At first I thought it was firmly in his hands, but on rewatching I'm less certain. Frankly, I could look at it turning out either way (well, except that she's damn near unwatchable. Gad, could they have cast someone worse for this plot).
Then there was some repetition of theme with the whole needing to matter thing. That's coming up a lot this year. But, this is ME so I don't really expect a rational solution.
Still, there was actually more to think about in this ep than most anything they've done in a while, so warts and all (and extremely weak earring denouement), I think that this was one of the better eps because it's the first time I've actually believed that ME has an idea where in the hell they are actually taking this.
There were some interesting points so despite it being draggy in execution, I found it more interesting than most of the eps thus far. Problem is, ME sucks at follow through, so we'll see if this potential arc has any future or whether it evaporates with Lindsay in Ep 12.
