Yes, that's the explanation in the real world. But that's irrelevant in the story world, where neither James Marsters nor his contract exist.
Well for me it's *obvious* that he knows it. From as far back as 'Lovers Walk' Buffy admitted that she couldn't hide her feelings from Spike. It's quite simply not conceivable that he didn't know.
See, I think he believed that she loved him for some period in S6. Because he thought he knew what kind of girl she was--the kind of girl who wouldn't sleep with a guy unless she loved him or was about to love him. But I think Seeing Red and then getting his soul broke that. Once Spike got his soul, he couldn't believe Buffy ever loved him--because he was an evil disgusting thing. I mean, he SAYS in NLM that in getting his soul, he finally realized that she was just using him and that she didn't spare him from staking out of love. All during S7, he's interpreting everything she does in light of his conviction that she doesn't love him.
Now, his conviction may be wrong, but that's what he's acting on. If you assume that Spike believes Buffy does not love him, and doesn't even need him as muscle any longer (because there are a jillion other Slayers now), then his refusal to contact her in any way after his deghosting makes sense. He's being kind of a coward, because even if she really doesn't love him, she cared for him in some way, and deserves the courtesy of a phone call.
But if you assume that he knows she loves him and is still refusing to let her know he's alive, well, then, he's not a coward, he's a jerk, and she's better off without him.
And you're right, even if Spike is convinced that Buffy loves him in Chosen, he would have chosen to burn up to save the world anyway. But if that's the case, then there's absolutely no reason for him to deny that she loves him--what is the point? Even if you see it as a reflection of the alley scene, in the alley scene Buffy was desperately trying to deny the reality of Spike's love, not for Spike's own good, but because it upset her. If Spike is trying to do the same to her, then again, he's a jerk.
That's what it comes down to: either the last thing Spike said to Buffy was a pretty lie, however well-meant, or it was the truth. Painful as it may be, I would rather believe that two heroes who had been through everything they had together could tell one another the truth at they saw it, there at the end of things.
no subject
Yes, that's the explanation in the real world. But that's irrelevant in the story world, where neither James Marsters nor his contract exist.
Well for me it's *obvious* that he knows it. From as far back as 'Lovers Walk' Buffy admitted that she couldn't hide her feelings from Spike. It's quite simply not conceivable that he didn't know.
See, I think he believed that she loved him for some period in S6. Because he thought he knew what kind of girl she was--the kind of girl who wouldn't sleep with a guy unless she loved him or was about to love him. But I think Seeing Red and then getting his soul broke that. Once Spike got his soul, he couldn't believe Buffy ever loved him--because he was an evil disgusting thing. I mean, he SAYS in NLM that in getting his soul, he finally realized that she was just using him and that she didn't spare him from staking out of love. All during S7, he's interpreting everything she does in light of his conviction that she doesn't love him.
Now, his conviction may be wrong, but that's what he's acting on. If you assume that Spike believes Buffy does not love him, and doesn't even need him as muscle any longer (because there are a jillion other Slayers now), then his refusal to contact her in any way after his deghosting makes sense. He's being kind of a coward, because even if she really doesn't love him, she cared for him in some way, and deserves the courtesy of a phone call.
But if you assume that he knows she loves him and is still refusing to let her know he's alive, well, then, he's not a coward, he's a jerk, and she's better off without him.
And you're right, even if Spike is convinced that Buffy loves him in Chosen, he would have chosen to burn up to save the world anyway. But if that's the case, then there's absolutely no reason for him to deny that she loves him--what is the point? Even if you see it as a reflection of the alley scene, in the alley scene Buffy was desperately trying to deny the reality of Spike's love, not for Spike's own good, but because it upset her. If Spike is trying to do the same to her, then again, he's a jerk.
That's what it comes down to: either the last thing Spike said to Buffy was a pretty lie, however well-meant, or it was the truth. Painful as it may be, I would rather believe that two heroes who had been through everything they had together could tell one another the truth at they saw it, there at the end of things.