Buffy the Vampire Slayer s7e2

May 3, 2024

This is ripped straight from my tumblr @neros-very-first-fiddle

I've been reeling over Spike's speech in s7e2 all day, so here's my shitty attempt at an obsessive analysis:

"Why does a man do what he mustn't? For her. To be hers. To be the kind of man who would nev- To be a kind of man."

Something that really grated me about Riley and his departure from the show is how good of a reason he had to leave Buffy, but how poorly he explained it to her. Xander literally had to come in and re-explain it to Buffy, so she could understand. But, that reason was that he felt like she could never love a human. She was crazy about Angel the vampire, completely in love with him, body and soul. She wasn't the same about Riley. And maybe she couldn't be. Because how can a normal living guy ever compare to the flame and thrill of a centuries-old vampire?

The point I'm getting at is that I find it interesting how Riley didn't work out with Buffy because he was human, while Spike hasn't worked out with Buffy because he's not human.

I don't think Riley understood Buffy. Not on any deep, intrinsic level. He was jealous of her past and assumed she would see him as boring because of it.

Spike's different. He understands (eventually) that flame and thrill isn't actually what Buffy wants. She wants someone she can trust and rely on. She wanted Riley so badly because he was supposed to be normal, reliable, trustworthy. But inevitably, she couldn't give him her all because she also wanted the flame and thrill that farmboy just couldn't give her. But spike can. He endures hell to get his soul back because he wants to be someone Buffy could love- a man.

"She shall look on him with forgiveness, and everybody will forgive and love. He will be loved."

Spike saying this while staring intently at the crucifix leaves a heavy implication of death/suicide. It almost sounds like something he's repeated before, possibly to comfort himself. Because maybe no one will ever forgive him. Maybe he will go to hell like the voices tell him to. At least there, he will be loved.

"Can we rest now? Buffy, can we rest?"

I'm just using this to add on to what I said above. In death, there is love and a final repose. Spike's so tired. Everything he's done is eating him dead alive and all he wants is to rest with Buffy.

I also really like how he uses we instead of I because no matter how insane or sick he is, he wants to be with Buffy.

anyways, I'm done rambling now. I will be rewatching this scene a million times.