The more I think about things, and the more I watch, the more I’m sure that The First’s plan re. Spike was to set him up against Wood.
I’ve always thought this and been slightly confused when people complain that the First’s ability to sow discontent and be a psychological rather than a physical threat was under used. They could have tried to make every other episode a CWDP but it would have worn thin pretty quickly. Striking at Buffy indirectly through those most vulnerable to its devices such as Chloe and Wood was a lot more effective and ultimately more revealing. That scene where Wood tempts Giles for instance is all the more powerful because Wood is a flesh and blood person with his own, very understandable intentions. And he manages to hit every button Giles has almost inadvertently. The sympathy for a fellow Watcher and victim of the long war - if Buffy hadn’t been resurrected Dawn would have been in the same position as Wood. The danger to Buffy –I assume Giles knows about the rape attempt. And last but not least the greater good.
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I’ve always thought this and been slightly confused when people complain that the First’s ability to sow discontent and be a psychological rather than a physical threat was under used. They could have tried to make every other episode a CWDP but it would have worn thin pretty quickly. Striking at Buffy indirectly through those most vulnerable to its devices such as Chloe and Wood was a lot more effective and ultimately more revealing. That scene where Wood tempts Giles for instance is all the more powerful because Wood is a flesh and blood person with his own, very understandable intentions. And he manages to hit every button Giles has almost inadvertently. The sympathy for a fellow Watcher and victim of the long war - if Buffy hadn’t been resurrected Dawn would have been in the same position as Wood. The danger to Buffy –I assume Giles knows about the rape attempt. And last but not least the greater good.