elisi | A few stray thoughts...

Watching VM last night ('Hot Dog'? The one with dogs anyway) I was reminded of one of the most fundamental laws of TV-shows: Anything bad you ever did (or secret you kept, lie you told, etc) will come back and bite you on the @$$ sooner or later, usually at the worst time possible!

And I've been idly wondering - do the names on VM have any significance? Logan = Logan's Run?, Kane = Citizen Kane? Planets: Mars, Netune. Anything? Or is my brain just overthinking again?

For the Buffy fans:
So, why doesn't anyone go 'Oooh' and 'Aaaah' over Spike's soul in S7? Why doesn't Giles sit him down for long indepth interviews before starting to write a thesis? Why do the Scoobies not fall over themselves to be Spike's new BFF? Pardon the sarcasm, but having given it some thought...

1. I'm not sure how much they knew. Until 'Never Leave Me' not even Buffy knew anything except "I got back my soul for you". And it's not clear that she told the Scoobies even that much. In 'Him' she says: 'He has a soul now!' - and since we didn't see the scene when she told them in the first place, they were quite likely in the dark as to how he came by the soul.

2. They never really liked Angel much. In 'What's My Line' Xander says Angel is his friend, only he doesn't like him. Later, when Buffy wants to try the soul curse, Xander points out that she just want to forget about Miss Calender's murder and get her boyfriend back. They don't warm to Angel in S3, either. So enter Souled!Spike in S7, they say 'OK so he's a good guy, we'll be nice to him." But underneath it all I think they're all wondering what'll happen - Buffy already slept with him *without* a soul, so it's very likely that Buffy might gravitate towards him again. ("Why does everyone think I'm still in love with Spike?", "Buffy - I want more for you...")

3. As for Giles, he mostly sees Spike as a threat. Because of the trigger, because of Spike's attatchment to Buffy, because of Buffy's feelings 'clouding her judgment'. The world nearly ended because of Angelus and Jenny was murdered because Buffy couldn't kill him. I think that any admiration Giles might have had for Spike's feat (presuming he knew about it) would be completely overshadowed by all the potential disasters he could envisage!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1. You said it. :)

2. I like friendship fics too, but I do get annoyed with a certain type of post-Chosen/NFA fic where the Scoobies are all falling over each other to make amends. It just doesn't ring true.

3. Having given this some thought, Giles arrives just after they've found out that Spike is being controlled by The First (which has just destroyed the Council), has been siring people and is now kidnapped. And Buffy is completely focussed on getting him back. I think any interest in the soulquest would have been overshadowed by these facts.

2. Agreed. There is no satisfaction for me if the relationships feel "unearned."

3. My issues with Giles' characterization have more to do with things like conspiring with Wood and then keeping Buffy occupied so Wood could kill Spike. We certainly know that Giles can be ruthless, but I think he would be more forthright about it. ;-) I understand that there was some dialogue written for Giles in LMPTM (IIRC) which shed some light on his motivation, but never made it to the final cut. A shame. I find the darker side of Giles' character is fascinating.

Re. #3, then I believe he would have told Buffy about killing Ben. And yes that would have been very, very nice to see! Oh and apparently they also had to cut a scene with Wood and Spike sharing a bottle of whiskey, whilst exchanging thinly veiled threats. *sigh*

That scene just shows how conniving Wood was.

INT. SUMMERS' HOME - KITCHEN/HALLWAY - AFTERNOON

Wood crosses into frame outside the kitchen. He glances into the kitchen and sees Spike rummaging through the freezer.

He turns to look down the hallway to where Giles is talking to Buffy in the foyer. We can't hear them, but Buffy is clearly skeptical of whatever Giles is telling her.

Wood watches for a moment, then casually walks into the kitchen. Spike pulls a bottle of whiskey from deep in the back.

WOOD
After this afternoon, I could use a
drink myself. And I didn't have
insects rummaging around in my brain.

Spike takes a long drink straight from the bottle and then offers it to Wood, who accepts. He takes a small drink. The two pass it back and forth for the duration of the scene.

WOOD (cont'd)
Been talking to Giles. He has some
things he needs to talk to Buffy
about -- Slayer/Watcher-type things,
I guess...

SPIKE
And?

WOOD
Well, there's concern about stepping
out -- even for a bit -- as you're
not exactly stable enough to leave...

SPIKE
(exhausted, annoyed)
Yeah, okay, I get it. Look, that
leech-thing did a number on me but...
I'll be fine.

WOOD
Sure...
(beat)
It just strikes me that there may be
better places than a house full of
young, potential victims for you
to... work through your issues.

SPIKE
What'd you got in mind?

WOOD
Got stacks and stacks of occult books
on mind-control back at my house that
may help us speed this along.
Besides, if anything... bad does
happen there's only me to injure,
and, well, I'm willing to take the
chance.

SPIKE
You sure about that?

WOOD
(affable)
I'll keep a close eye on you.

Jerk.

Ooooh! *Thank you*!!!!!

And btw did you see my Essay on The First Evil?

A few stray thoughts...

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