Spike Essay

[elisi]

It seemed like a few people would like to read this, so I've dug it out, blown off the cobwebs and polished it off! I hope you find it interesting:



Essay: Why Spike stayed in LA and what role he filled in Angel's life

Most people I think see Spike on AtS as a replacement for Cordy - the one who tells Angel where to get off. Which is true to some extent, but I don’t think that’s how it feels to Angel.

So this is my theory as to how Spike replaced Connor in Angel’s world.

To start with Connor, I think that Angel (subconsciously at least) wanted Connor to become a Champion (that dream all fathers have of their son saying “I want to be just like you dad!”). From Deep Down:

Angel: "Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. - It's harsh, and cruel. - But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world was what it should be, to show it what it can be. - You're not a part of that yet. - I hope you will be."

And of course in Awakening it's part of the 'Perfect Day':

Connor: “... Is this what it feels like, being a champion?”
Angel: “Pretty much.”

Angel continually tries to reach out to Connor and explain to him the meaning of being a champion, but I think Connor is too damaged to go down that path. He has been so messed around (by Holtz and Evil!Cordy/Jasmine) that he cannot recognise real love, and does not understand that Angel loves him. From Home:

Angel: “Ok, look, let me say this. I love you, son.”
Connor: “It's a lie.”
Angel: “It's not.”
Connor: “It's always a lie.”

Post-mindwipe-Connor does however understand love. And, after getting his memories back, is able to look at what happened and see Angel’s love. But, understanding what Angel did for him, he chooses to take his new life and live. From Origin:

Connor: “Hey, can we... get outta here? I'd like to go back... see my parents. (puts down the axe) This whole fighting thing, I'm not... I'm not really sure it's for me.”

Of course in Not Fade Away, he comes back to help his father with Hamilton, but Angel sends him away to live the life that he gave him:

Angel: “Go home...now.”
Connor: “They'll destroy you.”
Angel: “As long as you're OK, they can't... Go!”

--------------------------------------------

Spike on the other hand is not a damaged child, and he has always understood love. He might blame Angel(us) for making him what he became. From Destiny:

Spike: “Drusilla sired me... but you... you made me a monster.”

But he doesn’t need Angel to fix him. Spike had no prophecies, no higher powers telling him what to do - he chose his own destiny. And (as I’ve come to see it) during the course of AtS s5 - he chose to be a champion! That was of course not the original intention when getting the soul. That was an extraordinary venture, but I don't think he ever had time to think about what it meant. First he was crazy, and then he had to help Buffy fight The First Evil. What the soul made him, was not something he contemplated. And then Buffy chose him as her Champion - he found a greater purpose!

But then he came back - as a ghost - and had many months to observe and ponder. He could see Angel struggle with his decision to take over W&H and he heard about the Shashu prophecy. He probably found out a great deal about what Angel Investigations did prior to taking on the lawfirm.

So when he chooses not to go to Buffy after he is re-corporealised, he is trying to find out who he is. He saved the world and died as a champion, but is that really who he is? Is it what he wants to be? From Harm's Way:

Spike: “I was on my way. Had a boat ticket and all. Then I put a little thinking into it. A man can't go out in a bloody blaze of glory, savin' the world, and then show up 3 months later, tumbling off a cruise ship in the south of France. I mean, I'd love to, don't get me wrong, but, uh, it's hard to top an exit like that.”

And I don't think it's really about Buffy - I think it's about him. Can you be a Champion and Love's Bitch? I don't think so - it's a matter of focus, and where your heart lies. Of course these two meshed for Spike in 'Chosen', but do they still? What does it mean to be a souled vampire?

So when ‘Doyle’ comes, Spike goes along with him, since he has nothing better to do, but he never trusts him completely.

In ‘Soul Purpose’ Angel has the magically-induced nightmares of Spike usurping him. And he wakes up to find the dream coming true - Spike is the Peoples Champion, he helps the helpless. (I’ve seen Spike described as ‘Spike, the Vampire Slayer’ at this point.)

Now looking at this from a story-arch point of view, at the exact time ‘Doyle’ gets taken away, Spike gets something much more important - Angel’s respect! From You're Welcome:

Cordelia: “And you called this guy the big hero?”
Spike (to Angel): “You called me a hero?”
Angel: “I didn't know you were eating people.”
Spike: “It was a taste test, you git.”

He obviously gets a bit unsettled by the fact that he has been played by Lindsey, but from then on, he helps people anyway - no more sitting around in stripjoints. And a lot of that probably has to do with Angel calling him a hero, since this was one of the disputed points in Destiny:

Spike: “Here we are, then. Two vampire heroes... competing to wet our whistle with a drink of light, refreshing torment.”
Angel: “Is that what you think you are—a hero?”

So I think, that Spike slowly comes to understand, that what he wants to be - what he is - is a champion. And this is made clear, IMHO, after Fred dies, and he stays in LA (rather than become a 'rouge demonhunter'), and starts working with Angel (more or less).

SPIKE: This is what she would have wanted. It's what *I* want. I don't really like you. Suppose I never will. But this is important, what's happening here. Fred gave her life for it. The least I can do is give what's left of mine. The fight's comin', Angel. We both feel it... and it's gonna be a hell of a lot bigger than Illyria. Things are gonna get ugly. That's where I live.

ETA: And Angel at this point sees him as an equal. From A Hole In The World:

Drogyn: "The power to draw back Illyria lies in there. It requires a champion who has traveled from where it lies to where it belongs."

Angel: "You got two of those right here."

-----------

Now Angel sold out. He gave up the world (and his redemption?) to save Connor. But I think this in the end makes it easier for Angel. When Cordy gives him the visions (or vision, as it turns out), he understands that he can’t concern himself with the small stuff anymore. He has too much power.

But Spike doesn’t. Spike never really becomes a part of W&H. He intuitively rejects it when Wesley and Gunn ask him to join (behind Angel’s back). And I think this is important to Angel. On some level Spike becomes the champion-child that Connor could never be. Because Spike wants to be a champion. He beats Angel to the Cup of Torment. He has always wanted things, and his ties to the world are much stronger than Angel’s. Even as a ghost, he is at times closer to the group than Angel.

And yes, I think Angel signs away the Shanshu. (Or at least he believes he does, which is what matters). Partly because it's part of the ruse, partly because this will re-stabilise the universe (the Senior Partners only fixed it temporarily), but maybe also because this way he gives Spike the chance for a normal life, that he gave Connor. And it's possible that he thinks that Spike deserves it more (although he’ll never admit it). Spike after all sought out a soul, rather than being cursed. Spike automatically started fighting the good fight, rather than sit around for a century brooding. And Spike is family - more younger brother than son, maybe - but the one who knows Angel best. And probably the only one who really understands him. They have so much in common, that it pulls them together. There might be a bit of the same vibe that Buffy-Spike had. Angel knows he can trust Spike, and that he doesn’t have to hold back with him. (And family is clearly a very important thing for Angel - he even goes back to Darla, Dru and Spike after the soul, so the ties must be very strong. And he was ready to die to give Darla another shot at life). And Angel has also had part of the Shanshu - he has a child!
So I think, that in the end Angel sees Spike as a successor, and not a usurper.

Also, just to finish, Spike gave Buffy the normal life she always wanted ('Death is your gift') and maybe he doesn't want to interfere. Because the reasons for the breakup with Angel also apply to Spike - he can't give her children. She will age, he won't. I think he might have his eyes on that Shanshu, and if he gets it, he can be 'the longhaul guy'!

ETA: Another factor for staying might be that for the first time in his life, Spike has actual friends. Angel's team accept him as he is and treat him as an equal, and I think that must be very important to him!

Comments

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I disgree with the reasons for staying. I think they link directly back to End of Days and that 'terrified' line. I don't think he trusts Buffy emotionally anymore and he's too scared to risk rejection.

[elisi]

I think he might be scared, but he's not usually one to run away. The fact that he can't see a future for them might be the main reason - and really Buffy needs to do that whole baking thing she was on about. I don't think she's at all ready for a long term relationship. So I'm quite happy that the shows kept them apart. They both need to do a lot of maturing.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Not usually, no. But I see End of Days using up the last of his hope.

I agree they need to mature, I don't think he's ever planned ahead any future togther. At first it wasn't a vampiric trait, then after the soul I think he saw how unrealistic it was. I don't buy that he thinks she needs to be normal though. He never has, so I can't see he'd start now.

[fishsanwitt]

How lovely is this? Thank you so much! It's going straight into my memories :)

I think it makes a lot of sense. Spike (when he wasn't being *eeeeeeevvvvvvviiiiiiillllllll*) was always the guy who'd 'watch your back'. He was loyal and steadfast.

My God, I love Spuffy so much!

Thanks again :)

[elisi]

It's going in your memories? Wow - and to think I hadn't really thought about posting this at all until I remembered about it yesterday...

My God, I love Spuffy so much!

Me too! ::clings to fellow Spuffy-lover::

[kathyh]

“I was on my way. Had a boat ticket and all. Then I put a little thinking into it. A man can't go out in a bloody blaze of glory, savin' the world, and then show up 3 months later, tumbling off a cruise ship in the south of France. I mean, I'd love to, don't get me wrong, but, uh, it's hard to top an exit like that.”

I think that's Spike the Poet speaking there, the guy who loves the great dramatic gestures and the huge romantic moments. I think his reasons for not going to Buffy were varied - fear, wanting to keep the memory of a romantic love untouched by disillusionment and most importantly finding out that he could achieve things on his own. If you look at William/Spike's life, first he was dominated (not sure that's the right word but I can't think of a better one at the moment) by his mother, then Drusilla, then with only a very brief break by Buffy. Season 5 of Angel is about the only time when we see Spike without a woman or without yearning after a woman and I suspect that leading his own life for once and finding out who *he* was undefined by a woman was something that he found he valued. I'm sure you're right that he had replaced Connor in Angel's life and it's a little ironic that Angel's despised younger brother/son was the one who eventually followed Angel's own path rather than the son for whom he'd had such hopes.

Fascinating essay. Thanks.

[elisi]

Oh, so many good points that I now wish I had incorporated... many, many thanks for commenting!

Another thing about Spike in S5, is that he has friends - possibly for the first time in his life! People who just accept him and treat him like an equal! And that might have been a very important factor in staying... hm, will have to edit essay now!

[jamalov29.livejournal.com]

Another wonderful essay , and I put it into my memories.
Nodding at every word.

I think Buffy and spike needed to 'mature' , each of them in their own way. I like to think that they would come to each other , in the end .
fer1214 shows this in a truly believable way in her last wip , "Third chances " , but I'm sure you already know this ! ;)

As spuffy shippers , we have to cling fiercely to each other. Some people can be so depressing , in their hate for Buffy.

[elisi]

Oh, yes I'm reading 'Third Chances'! I'm also reading 'Does It Have To Mean Something?' by thedeadlyhook and have just had two other post-NFA fics recommended to me... I'll never have enough time!

As spuffy shippers , we have to cling fiercely to each other. Some people can be so depressing , in their hate for Buffy.

Nodding at every word! :)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

I think you're right that there was a bit of a father-son vibe going in S5, especially after Destiny ("You made me a monster"), Damage and Why We Fight (which really could have been subtitled All My Sons). I'm not sure that it's ever more than a vibe, though - and in WWF I think we're supposed to be seeing Connor through the mirror of Spike (and Lawson) rather than seeing Spike through the mirror of Connor. The big brother/little brother relationship definitely got a lot more screen time than the father-son one(as did the slashy incestuous relationship, whether one sees that as subtext or a series of jokes).

I agree that over the course of S5 Spike finally developed a sense of self that was less dependent on other people than it had been before, and that it was an enormous step forward for him to decide to stay at W&H because *he* wanted to, but I also think that's something that only developed over time. He clearly would have headed straight back to Buffy when he was "resurrected" had he not been confined within the city limits, and for a long time after he's recorporealised, it's cowardice that keeps him in LA - he's afraid of rejection if he turns up on Buffy's doorstep now, afraid that he'll be a big anti-climax after his magnificent exit.

I'm not sure how imnportant the "actual friends" are. We never see any great intimacy between Spike and the MoG (I don't regard wanting to go to the pub with Gunn as a sign of intimacy). I really think Spike pretty much divides the world into people he cares passionately about (Drusilla, Angel, Buffy, possibly Dawn) and everyone else - he got on great with Faith when he first met her but had no compuction at all about turning on her when he thought she'd led the mutiny against Buffy (and there was no sign that he was remotely conflicted about it). He *likes* Gunn, he *likes* Fred, but I can't imagine him leaving anyone he really cared about in a hell dimension, having their heart ripped out daily, nor can I imagine him choosing to let someone he loved die the way he let Fred die.

[elisi]

Oh I agree that it's definitely more of a brotherly bond (and that's what it was written as)!

I can't imagine him leaving anyone he really cared about in a hell dimension, having their heart ripped out daily, nor can I imagine him choosing to let someone he loved die the way he let Fred die.

Well, it was Gunn's decision to stay and Angel agreed to it - I don't think there was anything Spike could have done. And what choice did they have with Fred?

I'm not saying that the MoG were that close, but compared to the Scoobies, his minions or 'society' when he was human, they were probably on their way to being very important to him.

[yourlibrarian]

maybe also because this way he gives Spike the chance for a normal life, that he gave Connor.

Hmm, haven't heard it put quite that way before. That's an interesting perspective. I'm not sure I actually agree, if for no other reason than it's never been clear that the Shansu will bring someone back from the dead, rather than make the undead alive. And Angel clearly feels it's unlikely he OR Spike will survive their battle. It's very different from the way he clearly is trying to shelter Connor. I think storywise this could be the end effect but I'm not convinced that it's in any way Angel's intention.

There seem to have been quite a few family themes in AtS S5, "Lineage" and "Destiny" being obvious ones, but I would agree that "WWF" had strains of it as did "Hole in the World" and of course the episodes with Connor. Kind of interesting that at the end it's Spike who saves the baby. I've always wondered what deeper meaning it had since Gunn, Wes and Angel all fought antagonists who had personal meanings for them. (Illyria, whose opponents had no connection to her that I can see is the one whose battle we also don't watch).

[elisi]

I should never have posted this - people write terribly long and complicated responses! ;)

this way he gives Spike the chance for a normal life, that he gave Connor.

That bit - pure speculation... it just seemed like a nice idea! And Angel's definitely not protective of Spike - I think once they get over their main differences that Angel likes having someone around who understands. And because Spike understands, Angel needn't be gentle.

Here's the quote about the Shanshu:

Wesley: "Shanshu has roots in so many different languages. The most ancient source is the Proto-Bantu and they consider life and death the same thing, part of a cycle, only a thing that's not alive never dies. It's- it's saying - that you get to live until you die. - It's saying - it's saying you become human."
Cordy: "That's the prophecy?"
Wesley: "Ah, the vampire with a soul, once he fulfills his destiny, will Shanshu. Become human. - It's his reward."

It just says 'once he fulfills his destiny' - and death may be part of that - a prophecy isn't going to go unfulfilled just because someone dies. The PTB are perfectly capable of bringing someone back to life.

And I love the fact that Spike saves the baby... although I have no idea what it means!

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

love your essay, have too many thoughts, will come back later (if not forget)

[elisi]

Oh, thoughts more than welcome! Will wait happily! :)

[spikefan.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed your essay and the discussion it sparked. I did want to comment on some things:

Spike on the other hand is not a damaged child, and he has always understood love. [...]
Spike: “Drusilla sired me... but you... you made me a monster.”

I'd argue that Spike is, in fact, a damaged child. At the time he was turned, he behaved like a precocious but socially awkward child. Spike's later comment that dying made him feel alive for the first time is almost literally true. As a new vampire, everything was a fresh experience, as a newborn would see it, and the new circumstances helped him decide how to behave and who will be his companions (virtually his family). I'd imagine that much of what Spike learned came from Angel's obvious disapproval of eveything Spike did. I also get the feeling that a pre-souled Angelus would be a brutal proponent of the "school of hard knocks".

In any case, Spike did (IMO) have longstanding hurts that affected most of his "adult" relationships, but these issues became more apparent when Spike was dealing with de-souled Angelus or with Buffy.

As an example, remember how happy Spike was when Angelus showed up soulless, and yet how quickly that turned to misery as Angelus took Spike's place as alpha male? I'd guess that Spike caught on early in unlife that he'd always be second-best to Angelus, and anything he valued (including Dru and his self-image as the Big Bad) could be taken away on a whim. Even with Buffy, Spike suspected that he could be thrown over in a minute for Angel, and if he needed more evidence of not being part of the group, Buffy's refusal to acknowledge their relationship meant that Spike would always be the outsider looking in.

I think that Spike doesn't need Angel to "fix" him in the same way that an adult no longer looks to a parent to make things right. He still has issues only he can deal with, however. The one I'm thinking of here is that he can't stand to be left out or ignored. He needs to matter to people, despite his history of posturing as the rebel loner. I think his decision not to pursue Buffy after his return had to do with the prospect of finding himself on the margins of Buffy's day-to-day life again. He talks as if his reappearance would somehow negate his noble self-sacrifice (making staying away another noble act), but I think it's a cover for his fear that he will never be able to live up to that standard again, both in saving the world and in earning Buffy's declaration of love. As a dead hero, he gets much more respect than he thinks he will ever get as his old self. It's also a lot easier to be a glorious hero once than to be heroic day after day, and I think Spike fears he won't be up to the task, whether he returns to Buffy or joins Angel's team.

Nevertheless, he has little to lose as far as Angel's group are concerned. What he gains is perhaps more healing than Buffy's love. He is going straight to the source of his earliest hurts - his dealings with Angel himself. In becoming a colleague, rather than just the target of cheap shots, Spike can come to terms with that "never good enough" feeling. In becoming a member of the team, he gets to regain a kind of family so he's no longer the perennial outsider.

As far as what might happen beyond NFA, I doubt that the issue of not giving Buffy a "normal life", (e.g., children) would keep Spike away indefinitely. He's too curious and too much of a romantic to leave that alone. Angel's position on that issue was based on a very young Buffy, her protective mother, and the assumption that Buffy really had a shot at normal life. I think if Spike resolved some of his self-esteem issues, he would be ready to try one last time with Buffy.

I should add the disclaimer that my comments on AtS season 5 are primarily based on reading so I could be completely talking out of my ass. Be kind.

[elisi]

Oh, such an interesting comment!

Well - about the 'damaged child'. What I meant was, that Connor had a completely messed up childhood and then he was screwed around by everyone, so he became unable to deal with the world in a normal way. William had a 'normal' childhood with a loving mother - after his turning of course he got majorly messed up - by his mother after he turned her, by Angelus, by Dru... but because he had that stable base to build on when everything else fell apart, he was able to pick himself up again. Does that make sense?

And yes, Spike is very insecure when it comes down to it. And I liked this whole paragraph:
Nevertheless, he has little to lose as far as Angel's group are concerned. What he gains is perhaps more healing than Buffy's love. He is going straight to the source of his earliest hurts - his dealings with Angel himself. In becoming a colleague, rather than just the target of cheap shots, Spike can come to terms with that "never good enough" feeling. In becoming a member of the team, he gets to regain a kind of family so he's no longer the perennial outsider.

That's exactly what I was trying to say!

And yes, I firmly believe that some day they'll run into each other and make a life together! I believe in Spuffy!

(Can I also just add that 'The Summer After' is now up to part 5? I'd love to know what you think of it!)

And lastly - thank you SO MUCH for the pressie! I swear Christmas has come early this year! ::Does the Numfar Dance of Joy::

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

As ever, this is rich, entertaining and extremely thought-provoking. Congrats!
I always had a very hard time reconciling the fact that Spike never at least tried to go after Buffy (especially if you start thinking about it in terms of show politics). I think you've gone a little bit of the way to ease this!
kathyh made a good point about Spike always being dominated by women, but I would agree in the spirit of what spikefan was saying above that Spike is also dominated not only by women, but by Angel/us. Spike is motivated in what he does by Angel's domination over him.
The funny thing I always found was the complete change in focus AtS 5 brought between these 2 characters; fanfic had for a long time hinted at the close bond and the way it manifested itself (domination/submission; power; desire; father/son; older brother/younger) between Angel and Spike, yet the show seemed to leap all over this without much in the way of previous plotlines.
I accepted it, though, because I intrinsically knew about their bond, but I'm still not sure if the show did. If that makes any sense.
I'm not sure too if AtS 5 was about Spike and his soul, but more about how this complemented/augmented/played off against Angel. thedeadlyhook has a really good review of AtS 5 http://www.livejournal.com/users/thedeadlyhook/53661.html
One last thing (sorry for the inordinately long ramble) the Cup of Torment. I really saw this more about Angel than Spike. It's like Angel needs to be beaten in order for later events to happen, in order for him to have a kind of motivation for how he proceeds in future. I know the writers had long and intensive arguments about who would win.

[elisi]

As ever, this is rich, entertaining and extremely thought-provoking. Congrats!

::preens::

No, really - thank you!

Oh, I'm not really sure what to say about all this... very good points, but I don't really have a lot to say (also I'm all replied out). I loved how Angel and Spike's 'relationship' was portrayed in s5 - of course there was a lot of snark etc, but now and again we'd get these very poignant scenes, where all the underlying stuff came to the surface.

about how this complemented/augmented/played off against Angel

Oh, yes! And I have read that post by thedeadlyhook - it's very good!

And 'The cup of Torment' - it highlights all of Angel's problems for him (a bit like Groo did when he showed up in LA: 'Here's someone who can do all that I can do - and more!'). Do you know a good post/essay on this episode - it fascinates me! (Although the_royal_anna has promised an essay on Spike and Angel, so maybe I'll just wait for that!).

(Also note icon! ;))

[mikeygs.livejournal.com]

Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I've been rather busy. Apparently there's this thing called 'Christmas' in a couple weeks. I hear it's a big deal. :) I can't believe how close it is!

Anyway, I agree with most of what you have to say for Spike's reasons to stay in LA. He really needed to find himself and bury any of those inferiority issues that he still had before he could hope to have a successful relationship with Buffy (or anyone else, but Shhh!! We'll not speak of such things!) If Buffy was cookie dough then Spike wasn't even mixed up yet. He was just a bunch of eggs, flour and milk, because he didn't even realize that he needed to, well, mature.

This is why I think his reading poetry about Cecily in NFA was so significant. He faces most of his long-harbored insecurities, puts them to rest, and finally gets recognition. To me, he's saying "I'm Spike, and I'm bloody well good enough."

Then, of course, he survived (or shanshued) and went to Rome. :)

[elisi]

It's nice to 'see' you - and yes, this Christmas thing is beginning to loom on the horizon isn't it?

If Buffy was cookie dough then Spike wasn't even mixed up yet.

Oh, I love that! Hee! But you're so right!

he's saying "I'm Spike, and I'm bloody well good enough."

Definitely! I love, love, love that scene - I love the whole episode from start to finish - but that scene was so perfect it just knocked me out! *sigh* He is a bad poet, but a good man!

Then, of course, he survived (or shanshued) and went to Rome... And he and Buffy had lots of beautiful little babies!

Speaking of shanshu: Are you reading jenjojen's post-NFA fic btw? It's called Falling Debris and is shanshued Spike (well, William since he can't remember anything). Very good - especially since it's her first fic!

(Using my cookie-Buffy icon! I'm forever indebted to mrmonkeybottoms for making it!) (Not that she made it for me, I was just thrilled to find it!)

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

As always - fascinating and insightful.

[elisi]

Thanks. And this was just the forerunner for the big one... *g* My head needs to learn to shut up!

[kikimay]

Your point of view is always fashinating!
It's provocative, I think, the way you analyze Spike's role in Season 5. Like most of the viewers I've always made the "Spike is like Cordy" thing. And, for me, is still works on a narrative level (Spike is sort a comic relief in many episodes, like Cordy in the first seasons. Makes smile the audience, while Angel is still brooding)
But your comparison between Connor and Spike is interesting and works!
Spike is a "childe", a granchilde however, for Angel/us, is a son for the patriarch. (Yes, I think that Angelus is sort of the patriarch for the fanged four, even with Darla-matriarch. I express a similar point of view in your other essay about School Hard, if I remember right)
Angel/us has this sort of patriarchy-style. He wants to shape the others in the ways he thinks right.
Spike is an example and he still blames him for that, consider him the maker of William The Bloody, while Dru was his real sire.
So, it's really for this that I hope that this:

but maybe also because this way he gives Spike the chance for a normal life

Is not true. :)
I explain myself.
Considering Spike as equal, not teaching him anything but learning from him, gives him the chance to stand by his side ... all this things, for me, leads to a direct consequence: Angel realize that he can choose anything for Spike, not even a "good thing". And this because Spike isn't a childe, a son, but he's an equal a partner. So, maybe, he still wants the best for him, but doesn't think anymore that he can gives him some kind of life or destiny.
Except that, you know, if he asks Spike to marry him. ù_ù

[elisi]

Your point of view is always fashinating!
:)

And, for me, is still works on a narrative level (Spike is sort a comic relief in many episodes, like Cordy in the first seasons. Makes smile the audience, while Angel is still brooding)
But your comparison between Connor and Spike is interesting and works!
Oh but both readings are definitely valid and true. Spike fulfills many roles. (This is one of the things I love about the show - there are so many different layers to filter everything through.)

Angel/us has this sort of patriarchy-style. He wants to shape the others in the ways he thinks right.
Oh absolutely. It's what attracted Darla to him, I think - that big Alpha-male thing.

Spike is an example and he still blames him for that, consider him the maker of William The Bloody, while Dru was his real sire.
Oh yes. Dru made a play-mate. Angelus made a legend. (Go read Shanshu Blue, omg. One of the best fics EVER!)

And this because Spike isn't a childe, a son, but he's an equal a partner. So, maybe, he still wants the best for him, but doesn't think anymore that he can gives him some kind of life or destiny.
Oooooh, I'm right there with you. (Remember, this essay was written a looong time ago!)