We’ve been mixing it up the past few weeks on Immortal Monday. As a result, I thought we’d take it back to its roots this week and throw around a little gossip coffee talk about a fan favorite, the swoon worthy immortals of Sunnydale.
We have the ever amazing slayer, Buffy Summers, to thank for our introduction to these unique individuals. After all, it’s not every day you get to meet a vampire with a soul. And that’s what we are talking about here, the famous Angel (Angelus) and Spike (William the Bloody).
Fun and quirky, Buffy brought girl power to the screen as she reluctantly took on her role as the one and only slayer. Always a young girl chosen to fight the forces of dark and evil, and also slay vampires, the life was traditionally a lonely one. But this particular slayer managed to land herself some friends and several special friends along the way. And it’s these special friends (aka lovers) that we are going to take a closer look at, I mean talk about today.
The first immortal to stalk onto the scene with staying power is the dark and
mysterious Angel, or Angelus as he is called by his given name when he turns bad. We’re left wondering what his motives are as he steps in from the sidelines trying to help Buffy for he is clearly a monster, and as the slayer she is meant to fight monsters. Here is a vampire of all things, a creature of evil, helping the slayer? There had to be a catch. Oh, and as if that wasn’t bad enough! They made him tall, dark, sexy, and clearly overloaded with super-human strength. As if his mysterious brooding nature wasn’t catching us like flying in a web already!
By episode seven we come to find out that he had been cursed by gypsies long ago and thereby has his soul, making him an internally tortured individual. Oh no! He’s hurting. Doesn’t that make you want to nurture him like you’re his own private nurse? You bad girl you! Because his demon past is soaked in so much rotten business he feels he can never atone for all that he has done. The result: a broody kind of hero who leans towards the side of over compensating when it comes to being good.
It’s this side of him that has him pull away from his true-love, Buffy, and walk away. Removing himself from Sunnydale and her life, it tears the slayer apart, but shows the audience that his love runs so deep that he is willing to do anything for her, including walk away. He even endures watching her with others, the pain it causes him – unmistakable. But their past is so littered with bad outcomes that he is willing to step aside and give her that chance.
But we did get three years of them in what seemed like a meant-to-be relationship. She was the reason he had dragged himself out of the trenches and cleaned himself up. He’d made himself a better man because of her. It wrapped up in a lot of tears for many who did not want to see it end. They were the Han and Leah of nighttime television.
You know, they say opposites attract. What better example than Buffy and Spike. In contrast to Angel, the vampire with a soul, there is Spike. The “Big Bad” who rolls into town with a thundering crash as the enemy whom Buffy must fight for many seasons before we come to find that he has fallen in love with her in the end. I know it sounds crazy, and it is, a little bit. Buffy will eventually return the affection, although Spike will assume she is only using him. But is she?
He is 100% demon vampire unlike Angel. Spike has no excuses why he stops trying to kill Buffy, other than he now wants to protect her till the end of days. These feelings didn’t happen overnight and they take Spike by complete surprise. It goes against his nature to feel for the slayer. He has killed slayer after slayer. To now fall for one was completely emasculating. But it was the truth of his situation and he comes to accept it because he gets tired of fighting and hiding it.
Willing to do anything to be worthy of her, he seeks out the ultimate power that restores his soul. We now have two souled vampires! That leaves Angel feeling a little less special now. Boohoo. Spike returns to Sunnydale not as the demon persona Spike, but as a very crazy and tortured version of his human self – William the Bloody; so named for his butchery of poetry. It’s with Buffy’s help that he finds his way back to himself.
We see a man who is able to love even more whole heartedly now that he has his soul intact. He becomes our champion and is willing to go all the way, meaning to the death, for the woman he has fallen in love with. And that is exactly the cost for our immortal in the end. For Buffy and her friends, he puts his life on the line to save them all.
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Buffy and Spike understand each other on a deeper level and she really comes to rely on him, treating him as an equal. Had her love for him really blossomed to that place where they would stand on equal ground? It would never be the same as Buffy and Angel but one built up together through collaboration, hard work, and many mountains and valleys of emotions and experiences. Had the show continued another season I believe their relationship would have deepened considerably. But we will never know since Angel and Spike are now stuck in a hell dimension in the comics. Nowhere near the slayer they both love.
I could go on at great length talking about these two particular immortals, but it is my goal to keep this post at a reasonable length so let me conclude by asking you: If you were a slayer pumped up with massive amounts of super powered strength which monster would be your weakness?
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Angel and Buffy all the way. I just wonder if he’ll make her a vampire, too. Hmmm.
Interesting. As Angel I don’t think he’d allow himself. He plays the good card. But as Angelus… http://www.lucidfanart.com/gallery/tv-shows/tv-crossovers/vampire-buffy-angelus.jpg.php =>The “What if” scenario.
I’m all about Spike. He supported her when her friends deserted her. He’s honest, no matter what part of the series you’re talking about, and he’s certainly not polished – but he gave up everything for Buffy. Angel just gave up Buffy herself – not quite the same thing.
When I need to wallow in the series, I watch the last four episodes. The emotion between Spike and Buffy is totally awesome. It’s nice to see Angel there, but ultimately he’s not who she turns to for comfort.
My guess? You’ll get an even 50/50 split in the poll between Angel and Spike.
Great post!
Thank you Christine! There are a lot of hard-core Angel and Buffy fans. I used to be one of them. But my eyes were open and I saw what both men did for her. I won’t belittle what Angel did, it wasn’t easy walking away, but Spike clearly went above and beyond. Plus, Buffy and Angel may have been meant-to-be, but she died. When Willow and the Scoobies brought her back she was broken, different. Angel isn’t what or who she needs anymore. I agree with you, Spike is the guy for her. I think she saw the light there at the end.
The last four episodes are an excellent choice. Scott bought me the entire series and I love him for it. Well, I love him for many reasons – that was a bonus. 🙂
Can’t we all just SHARE? 😉
That’s what we would all like! But alas, I don’t think the boys play well together. The first video shows us how jealous Angel gets over Buffy’s “other” men. :O
Buffy and Spike! They were hot together. Angel walked away from her and therefore blew his chance. Silly vampire with a soul man (shaking my head) 🙂
Oh, I know! I had to refrain from writing that in the post. LOL It’s important to give Angel an unbiased overview. He really did believe he was doing the right thing for whatever reason, messed up as it was. But I want a man that’s going to stand up and fight for what he wants – for us!
I think the I’m-so-tortured routine would get pretty annoying after a while. I’m Spike all the way – you know exactly where you stand with Spike, he doesn’t pretend. I’m rewatching the series starting with season 1…
I, too, like knowing where I stand. I’ve done the other and am SO over it. Watching the series from the start sounds like a great girl’s night! My friend and I tried to plan that, but it never really worked out with the kid’s various schedules. She wanted to introduce her older daughter to girl power of The Vampire Slayer!
SPIKE! I have been in love with him since I was in high school, and it is a love that will never, ever die. 😀
I see you like your men a little on the bad side. 😉 Very nice.
Angel. I’m a sucker for the first true love. Hey, I remember reading somewhere about a Buffy movie in the making, but only three from the series were going to be in it.
I read an article too. Maybe it’s the same one? It was in November of 2010 about the movie getting the green light w/o Whedon on-board. Rumors first began a year yearlier. Do we want to see Buffy written and directed by another? This is what the cast had to say then and now. http://www.endofshow.com/2010/11/23/buffy-cast-react-to-joss-whedon-less-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-movie-remake/
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/gellar-new-buffy-movie-is-dumbest-idea-ever/
Love David’s picture in the first one. 🙂
Buffy & Spike!!
I miss that show. 🙂
Yay! Spuffy! I miss that show too.
Excellent post, Debra. I vote for Angel!
Aw, first loves got your vote. 🙂 They were so sweet together before he went evil and messed it all up. 🙁
Can you believe, I never watched the series. LOL! But now…hmmm…I may have to download it and find out what all this talk is about! 🙂
I don’t know what your taste in television is Natalie, but if you liked some of the CW stuff now – this is better. It’s girl power baby! Woot woot! Before anyone was using that term.
I have been waiting to read this all day! Darn day-job. I have to say that I would pick Angel for two very important reasons. I don’t like the blond hair/black eyebrow combo on Spike and I do not find English accents sexy on a man. On the show I loved them both in their own turn. I even loved Riley, although he turned out to be crazy and leave her for someone else. Now I love Angel as Booth on Bones, so that gives me three reasons. Great post! Thanks for helping me enjoy Monday.
Those day jobs – I’ll tell you. I was tied up all day with mine! Oh wait, mine never ends. They follow me e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. *laughs hysterically* You’re very welcome Emma! I’m so glad you enjoy Immortal Mondays. 😀 David/Angel made a wonderful transition from Buffy to Bones! I watched it for a couple of years before my schedule became too complicated for much television time.
I was never an Angel fan. He was too brooding for me. I didn’t start watching the show until Spike showed up. Now he was interesting and fun to watch. When he and Buffy started moving toward each other…the show had me completely hooked. I think the hottest “sex” scene I’ve ever watched is when those two came together for the first time! (now that sentence could have a double meaning! lol) Spike always went above and beyond for Buffy, much more so than Angel ever thought of doing. I always thought Angel was full of himself. lol. Good post!
Welcome back Deborah! Thank you. 🙂 Spike was definitely fun to watch. Makes me wonder if his character was originally intended to run so long, or if his popularity and the conflict he created kept him on. Food for thought. And yes, when Spike and Buffy came together for the first time it surely brought the house down (pun intended). Hot hot hot!
He wasn’t intended to stay on the show. I think they had him initially scheduled for only 5 episodes but his charisma went over so well…he brought so much angst to the show and sparks flying with Buffy that they signed him for more. And then, of course, he ended up staying. James said when they hired him, he had every intension of staying on the show and did his best to interact with Buffy in such a way that fans would be intrigued with him. His strategy worked. Thank goodness or that show may have ended before it did. As to that…I was really sad to see it end. Not as sad as I was to see Moonlight end after only one great season!! Mick St. John replaced Spike in my heart. lol
I missed that interview. He’s a smart man. So glad he did it. Made the show more interesting. Mick, we might need to talk about him some Monday in the future. I know a few people that have a soft spot for him. That show was before it’s time. If Twilight had hit sooner it would have had better success.
Oh, how much I agree with Deborah about that scene when Buffy and Spike actually tear down the abandoned building with their fierce sexual abandon. Whew! Still leaves me breathless.
But I have a big ol’ soft spot for the Prom scene where she dances with Angel to Wild Horses.
Yeah, I just love that show, and I vote for the girl having both! Okay, I know that’s not fair, so it has to be Spike because he understood.
Thanks for this fun post.
You’re very welcome Patricia. That was a sweet scene, but if I recall he left her right after that. What a way to pull a black cloud over the entire experience. I say Boo! LOL Although I honestly believe he loved her and their love was just in a horrible place plagued by horrible circumstance. I still have to go with Spike too. He fought like hell for Buffy. Thanks so much for stopping in! Come back sometime. Monday’s are Immortal!
Definitely Spike. 🙂
Spike 🙂
Wow! Angela and Elisa have jumped on the Spike bandwagon. Poor Angel needs to find himself some more groupies to compete with this crowd. LOL