I Love Spike!!

             Ok, we are still talking Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but let's discuss Spike. Played by American actor James Marsters. He comes to Sunnydale originally with vampire Drusilla (Juliet Landau).  Drusilla turned Spike.  Spike's human name was William Pratt.  He lived in 19th century England with his mother Anne (Caroline Lagerfelt).  He was  a very mild, well mannered upper middle class young man.  He was also awkward and innocent to the ways of women and the world in general.  He wrote poetry and Spike (then William) was a momma's boy.  Good thing for her, because he eventually turned his mother too. She lost about 30 years off her life and became vital, and cured her tuberculosis.  I swore if anyone were going to turn me into a vampire, they had to do it before 38.  Who wants to live hundreds of years old?  Well after seeing his mother, I changed my mind, I am up for it anytime in the future. Anyway off topic.  He then staked his mother and ran off with Drusilla.

            William was a passionate vampire. He was originally called "William the Bloody" for the bad poetry he wrote.  It was mentioned in season 2 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  He got his nickname (Spike) because of how he tortured people, with railroad spikes.  He also killed 2 vampire slayers.  In his vampire meets punk rock look, he walked around Buffy like the conquering demon. He actually came to Sunnydale to kill Buffy, to add to his count. Along the way the journey changed. Angel or Angelus (David Boreanaz) as he was originially called, was his grandsire.  Sire is the term the series uses to explain the vampire turning a human. There are scenes of the 2 of them roaming the country side wreaking havoc on the people.  Spike said, "Drusilla sired me, but you made me a monster."  

              Now lets talk about that weird co-dependent relationship with the crazy Drusilla.  Before she comes to Sunnydale, I guess she is attacked by an angry mob in Prague and is weakened, I say insane.  Spike takes care of her to the point of stupidity. Whats worse is that after Angel sleeps with Buffy and becomes Angelus again (evil), he takes Drusilla for his own.  Spike and Angel then are rivals.  Spike then forms an alliance with Buffy. This eventually offends Drusilla and she runs off with a demon. Talk about a relationship ripe with bad karma.  After losing Drusilla, he kidnaps Willow (Alyson Hannigan).  He wants Willow to put a spell on Drusilla, so she will love him again.  When that doesn't work, he decides to torture people again to win her back. Strutting around arrogantly he takes a lover in Harmony (Kendall McNab), cheerleader of  Sunnydale high, and turns her.  She is loyal, scatterbrained and needy. Of course, Spike really could care less.

               Spike discovers this ring called the gem of Amarra, that can make a vampire indestructible. He decides he must have it, and goes after Angel (who has the ring) to get it.  He loses and is temporarily implanted with a chip that basically makes him impotent in regard to harming anyone. Every time he goes to hurt someone, human or demon, it zaps him, creating great pain.  He goes to Buffy for protection during this period.  Now Spike becomes pathetic, taking bits of money for information. He is like a snitch to the Scooby Gang, with loyalty toward none.  At this point he is repulsive to Buffy and the gang.

               Now lets talk Buffy.  In season 5 he discovers he has fallen in love with Buffy, much to his dismay. He tries to get closer to her, much to her chagrin.  He becomes obsessed with Buffy, so much so,  that he has Warren Mears (Adam Busch) create a Buffy robot that responds to him with love and loyalty. Spike is the anti poster child for mental health.  Buffy is grossed out by this when she finds out. He continues to fight with Buffy to show loyalty to her, and frankly just to be near her. Buffy is killed off at the end of season five, or I should say she sacrifices herself to save Dawn (Michele Trachtenberg).  When Willow makes a spell to bring Buffy back, for a time Buffy is disconnected from her friends and her life. It is during this time she starts sleeping with Spike. When Buffy dumps him, he goes through these trials and obtains a soul.  He loves Buffy the rest of the show, so much so he sacrifices himself to save the world, and I think in part to show Buffy he is a better man.

               Spike comes back and shows up in Los Angeles in Angel.  He is resurrected by an amulet. He still has a soul, but he also has that smart mouth, punk attitude a long with it. Except for Buffy, Spike is my favorite character.  In part because he is very flawed, therefore very human (in theory).  He is a romantic too, as evidenced from his mother to Buffy. Every women he loves, he really is devoted to. He again becomes a rival for Angel, who has always been the vampire with a heart of gold, helping the helpless.  Spike now has a soul, and Spike sacrificed himself to save the world. So who is the real vampire for the good?   For a time in Angel he is a ghost that only Fred (Amy Acker) can see. Once she is killed, he joins Team Angel.  He joins with them in battle bringing on the apocalypse at the end of Angel, again, losing his life.

               Though losing his life a few times Spike keeps coming back, and slowly redeems his selfish, destructive ways as a vampire. I love that he is smart mouthed, arrogant, insecure, and vulnerable. . His looks are severe, and the punk look with the white blond hair against the black wardrobe and duster coat is very attractive.  He is a paradox in character, which makes him interesting.  I like him much more than Angel.  Watch Spike and you will agree that Buffy without Spike is like eating nothing but white bread.  James Marsters does a great job with the accent and his portrayal of spike.