Wow. You really stripped away all the layers of civilization from Spike. He goes from being entirely self-reliant to completely helpless in--from Buffy's perspective--a few minutes. Spike's down to the most primitive, essential needs at this point: safety, food and companionship.
Buffy is the only person who can provide these things, and with no incentive other than that Spike's survival depends on them. Clearly she is willing to do whatever she can, but will she really be able to offer what is necessary without the hope of reward (e.g., Spike's gratitude and renewed affections)? Will her actions convince Spike that she's capable of a relationship that's not just about what she wants? Would it matter anymore if she were? (I could ask myself if that's even the point, but I'll assume it's important until I learn otherwise.)
Ironically, Buffy had a chance to offer Spike these same essential things when he needed them in season 7, but she was able to justify her help as a strategy to keep Spike safe where they could watch him (still in a basement as he pointed out in the current tale), to give him human blood to keep him from attacking someone else, and to include him in the group because they needed him to fight. Perhaps this justification was simply a tool to get the Scoobies on board, or perhaps Buffy was trying to avoid admitting to herself that she had a more personal motive for her actions.
[In contrast, almost everything Spike has done for someone else since "The Gift" has been offered freely, IMO. At the same time, everything he's done that's good --or that required him to avoid evil-- has been attributed by the Scoobies to the chip or to his desire for Buffy. But I digress.]
Either way, her help at that time had at least the appearance of coming with strings attached. This time, she must act without expectation of any benefit other than Spike's well-being. It looks to me as if you're giving the "hurt-comfort" genre a long-overdue turn on its ear.
(Keep in mind, I'm writing these comments immediately after reading this chapter and before going on to Chapter 8, so I may be Jossed DeadlyHooked right away. In any case, I'm looking forward to see where you're taking this.)
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Date: 2004-11-15 04:07 am (UTC)Wow. You really stripped away all the layers of civilization from Spike. He goes from being entirely self-reliant to completely helpless in--from Buffy's perspective--a few minutes. Spike's down to the most primitive, essential needs at this point: safety, food and companionship.
Buffy is the only person who can provide these things, and with no incentive other than that Spike's survival depends on them. Clearly she is willing to do whatever she can, but will she really be able to offer what is necessary without the hope of reward (e.g., Spike's gratitude and renewed affections)? Will her actions convince Spike that she's capable of a relationship that's not just about what she wants? Would it matter anymore if she were? (I could ask myself if that's even the point, but I'll assume it's important until I learn otherwise.)
Ironically, Buffy had a chance to offer Spike these same essential things when he needed them in season 7, but she was able to justify her help as a strategy to keep Spike safe where they could watch him (still in a basement as he pointed out in the current tale), to give him human blood to keep him from attacking someone else, and to include him in the group because they needed him to fight. Perhaps this justification was simply a tool to get the Scoobies on board, or perhaps Buffy was trying to avoid admitting to herself that she had a more personal motive for her actions.
[In contrast, almost everything Spike has done for someone else since "The Gift" has been offered freely, IMO. At the same time, everything he's done that's good --or that required him to avoid evil-- has been attributed by the Scoobies to the chip or to his desire for Buffy. But I digress.]
Either way, her help at that time had at least the appearance of coming with strings attached. This time, she must act without expectation of any benefit other than Spike's well-being. It looks to me as if you're giving the "hurt-comfort" genre a long-overdue turn on its ear.
(Keep in mind, I'm writing these comments immediately after reading this chapter and before going on to Chapter 8, so I may be
JossedDeadlyHooked right away. In any case, I'm looking forward to see where you're taking this.)