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Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- Marie, 17:14:49 05/09/02 Thu

Having finally watched Seeing Red, and thinking about what on earth ME have planned for Spike, I started musing and came up with this – they have to make him human. Why? Well, simply because I don’t think they’ll make him lose the chip, by whatever means, just to become the old ‘Big Bad’ Spike, much as I loved him. And that darn chip issue has to be resolved, as even Spike seems at long last to have come to realise. So, we’ve had bad-Spike, impotent- Spike, lovelorn-Spike – and thoroughly enjoyed his journey. Where can this journey possibly take him next? After all, ME have to be more inventive than to give us another vampire- with-a-soul, don’t you agree?

I think that something is going to happen to Spike in Africa – through magical means, naturally, which not only gives him a soul, but transforms him entirely – from Spike back to William. And I don’t think it’ll be the William of old, but a William with Spike’s memories, and everything that goes with them – the strength, the attitude, the black leather coat… the Slayer-love?

After all, she couldn’t love a vampire, but a vampire-turned- man?

Marie

[> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- Dariel, 17:48:07 05/09/02 Thu

You could be right about the turning him human thing. Spike's plan to get rid of the chip, like most of his plans, won't quite work the way he expects...

Or the way we do. If they do this, remember--ME never gives us the fantasy version. Which a badass, but human Spike would be. My guess is we'd get a very confused, unhappy Spike, at least for awhile. Greatly appalled by his burgeoning humanity and "weak" Williamesque feelings. And forget about the sexual self confidence--out the door.

Yep, that's what they'll do to him. The bastards!

[> [> Uh oh, also includes spoilers for upcoming S6 episodes! -- Dyna, 18:20:37 05/09/02 Thu


[> [> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- Dochawk, 19:08:33 05/09/02 Thu

Remember when Angel became human (I Will Remember You) he lost his vamp strength. Spike suddenly human, with human aches and pains and conscience, but without the vamp strength. I fear he would be Wimpy William, not William the Bloody, but I agree we will see a different Spike (and we've seen Vamp with a soul and we've also seen Buffy's lover gone evil so it doesn't leave many new options). ohh we could see Spike the Friendly Ghost (I'm hoping for tara the friendly ghost though)

[> [> [> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- wiscoboy, 08:48:04 05/10/02 Fri

What I see happenning is that the chip is made non- functional, but Spike finds he really has changed, and can no longer bring himself to harm humanity. Remember, in past eps he has said there has been a change in him. Now we get to see if ME allows the change to occur.

[> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- Ishkabibble, 19:09:39 05/09/02 Thu

A long time ago I remember posting an hypothesis that Spike would eventually become William once again. I believe there is some connection between Buffy having withdrawn from college where she enjoyed poetry with a Professor Lillian and a future Spike/William. Not only do Lillian and William both have an affinity for poetry, but their names even rhyme. And why was this class and instructor the only one that was shown when Buffy withdrew? Also, remember she received a letter during season 6 saying she had missed the deadline for re-enrolling. Well, next September will be a new semester; perfect time for Buffy to re-enroll.

What do others think?

[> [> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- dream of the consortium, 06:31:21 05/10/02 Fri

I've always believed the same. Though, maybe I just have a soft spot for poets - I'm dating one at the moment! (Full- time poet, yes.)

[> Re: Some Spike speculation for Series 7 (Spoilery for Seeing Red, natch) -- redcat, 19:10:54 05/09/02 Thu

And I don’t think it’ll be the William of old, but a William with Spike’s memories...."

I have the same sneaking suspicion, especially given the acting/camera work at the very end
of the bathroom scene. James Marsters brilliantly plays that face, William's face, and the
lighting and camera work capture the luminescence of his stark desperation as it breaks into
startled self-consciousness. But the face we see at this point is that of a William who has lived
more than a hundred years as a vampire, most of them with his insane sire/lover and the
twisted "family" into which he was re-born-as-dead. I don't think we're ever going to see him
curled up on the ground in psychic and physical pain over his past, as we've seen Angel at the
moment he was first cursed by the Romany, but I suspect we'll see some embodied metaphor
of him having to do that "hardest thing in life" –simply "live in it."

No matter what happens, like yourself and several others on the board, I trust that Joss and
ME will conspire to take us on a difficult and mesmerizing journey. Since I also have a pretty
clear sense that, by now, the characters control the writers in about equal proportion to the
writers controlling the characters, I'm content to keep sitting forward, analysis gears at
fully-caffeined throttle, and wait for what happens next.

[> Weren't we kinda already warned? ;-) (spoilers for Forever) -- Solitude1056, 20:07:24 05/09/02 Thu

Keeping in mind that it took anywhere from two episodes to two years before we found out the multiple levels in Graduation Day and Restless - "little miss muffet," and "be back before Dawn," anyone? - it wouldn't surprise me that the strange commentary from our favorite visiting broadway star (not the singing demon, but the other singing demon), Joel Grey... might finally have a purpose, and prove to have been there for a reason?

From Forever:

DOC
(sees Spike)
I know you.

SPIKE
Don't think so, mate.

DOC
(confused)
No, you're that guy. That guy always hangs around down at the corner mart. Big into dominos, aren't you?

SPIKE
Can't say that I am. Look, we came because-

DOC
That's crazy, isn't it? I'd swear you were him. I mean, your hair's a different color and you're a vampire, but other than that… (then) What day is it, anyway?

DAWN
Monday.

DOC
No kidding? Would have sworn it was Wednesday… see, that's the brain - first thing to go.
(back to Spike)
Guy's name is Rocko. That's not your name, is it?



Hmmmmm...

[> [> oh and don't forget... (spoilers for WotW) -- Solitude1056, 20:11:44 05/09/02 Thu

The even more peculiar commentary from Doc (Joel Grey), in Weight of the World, when he shouts at Spike and Xander:
You think only underworld bottom feeders worship the Beast? ... Her day is coming, boys. And when
she returns
[emphasis added] - then you're gonna see something.

all together now: hmmmmm.

[> Another (Horrible) Possibility -- West, 00:38:28 05/10/02 Fri

There's also the possibility I've heard rumored that Spike will return sans chip and still a vamp, but will make a conscious choice to stay on the side of the Scoobies, thus proving his love for Buffy is true. Of course, I really, REALLY hope this isn't true because it would completely humanize vampires (which they've been gradually doing all season with the whole chip/Good Spike thing), and if we find that vampires are capable of repemption, then it means that Buffy's pretty much been comitting murder all these years.

I really hope this isn't what's gonna happen, but the whole 'Spike with a soul' thing really seems like a lame attempt to replace Angel on the show.

[> [> Re: Another (Horrible) Possibility -- Ishkabibble, 08:11:23 05/10/02 Fri

I woke up this morning with the thought of ME resolving the S/B relationship with their usual twisted sense of humor. Envision Spike coming back as William and Buffy eventually growing to love him. But as William, Spike’s superior strength would be gone and so would Spike’s ability to watch Buffy’s back. In other words, Buffy gets a lover with William or a protector with Spike, but not both. Then imagine ME setting up a scenario where Spike/William has to choose between these two roles. Oh, the agony…the irony. If he chooses to remain William, he places Buffy’s life at risk. If he chooses to be revamped as Spike, he can again protect her back, but knows that as a soulless demon, he will loose her love. Which would he choose? My guess is that he would do the noble thing and forgo her love in order to provide with her protection. Such a sacrifice seems in character with loving someone; we willingly put the other person’s needs ahead of our own. Dang…I hate it when I ruin my own fantasy. I’m going back to sleep in order to dream a happier ending.

[> [> [> Hasn't that already been done, though? I'm thinking Angel, here... -- Marie, 08:49:17 05/10/02 Fri

...and ME are more inventive than that - which is why I'd imagine him as someone Buffy actually can love, in a way she couldn't love Angel or Riley. Someone her equal, who wasn't immortal. Would she allow herself to do so?

Marie

[> Not Meaning to Rain On Your Parade -- Spike Lover, 08:43:45 05/10/02 Fri

First, could Buffy love Spike if he had his soul back or if he bec