In this piece, we look back at Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Spike and what made him such a fascinating, entertaining character. More at Wicked Horror.
Wow - best analysis met I have read in a while - this one is actually worthy of discussion!
There’s been a lot written about him in the Buffy academic circles and the thing that gets harped on the most is the clear fact that Spike is the most perceptive character on the show. He immediately sees what’s going on with each member of the gang, usually things they haven’t revealed to anyone. Not even themselves. This goes all the way back to the very beginning. We’re introduced to him via his relationship with Drusilla, a character that nobody understands but him.
***That relates back to what might ultimately be the most interesting thing about Spike, both with and without a soul. And that’s the fact that he’s amazingly perceptive of every single character except himself. It takes him years to realize that the reason he’s been unable to kill Buffy is because he’s been in love with her the whole time. It takes him forever to realize that declaring you’re a good person does not make you one and that you actually need to seek out ways to be better instead of just declaring that you are.
