ITA Fred -- the Spike-writing issues went way back. By S6, he was being used entirely as Buffy's emotional flobatnum, and character continuity went out the window.

I also agree with Cindy that Buffy's repetition of "He has a soul now, it's different" and "I have feelings for him" were problems. That kind of writerly hand-waving can work with sticky plot points, but not the title character's emotions.

I think what's key for me, Cindy, is that I don't see a reunion. They're not doing what they were doing before the attempt, nor are they doing what they were each pretending to do.

They have something very different.

Another bad Spike point ... the fuzziness about the soul reclamation. Clean up those three points for me, and I'm pretty much all good.

I think what's key for me, Cindy, is that I don't see a reunion. They're not doing what they were doing before the attempt, nor are they doing what they were each pretending to do.

They have something very different.

That's why I'm not unhappy with it. I just think the execution, or revelation of Buffy's feelings could have been better. I think LMPTM probably came close for me, but not quite.

Perhaps, early on, had Spike said, "I can't help you fight this monster, because I can't bear to face you, because I know what I did to you," maybe not even to Buffy (because that could be interpreted as laying a guilt trip, perhaps to Xander, because he wasn't going to buy any bull from Spike, it would have helped. And had Buffy made some kind of explanation to him of their ground rules, or how she got past it enough to not want him to leave, I'd have been satisfied. I don't know.

Another bad Spike point ... the fuzziness about the soul reclamation. Clean up those three points for me, and I'm pretty much all good.

That misdirection really wasn't even misdirection - it is the perfect example to use to demonstrate almost everyone's complaints about the handling of Spike since season 4 (even though I don't usually mind what other people mind). That was disappointing. The demon eggs didn't bother me. That did. And it wasted the emotional impact of the great journey he was making (I mean REALLY! Can you imagine Angelus seeking a soul for ANY reason?), for a piddly, little surprise. Feh.

cereal...

When I say the misdirection wasn't misdirection, I mean it wasn't clever. It didn't misdirect, it faked. After the revelation of the surprise that follows a well done misdirect, the audience's reaction should be, "Wow. That fooled me. But I can't believe I didn't see the truth all along." This one? It still has people refusing to accept that they were writing Spike to get a soul all along. It's another (maybe the biggest) example of Plei's critique that they told us when they should have showed us.

Not to interrupt -- does anyone have recommendations for where I can find screencaps of The Wish? Google is a little disappointing.

[link]

Try there. You may have to copy and paste the URL into your browser's address bar.

They mention "The Wish" three times on that page. Good luck, Teppy.

Later, gators.

Believe it or not, I found that page, and it doesn't have exactly the one I wanted. I'm fussy.

Cindy, pretty much, speaks for me in all things.

ita, this is of course, very subjective on my part, but in trying to think of a way in which one could resume a romantic relationship with someone who tried to rape/raped, i came up with this scenario:

I think if the rapist was someone that the person was in love with, married to, in a mutually loving relationship, and the rapist fell down a drug well, was under the influence of some mind-altering substance for some time, that sort of thing, and then took the steps needed for change, to get back to the person he once was,

I don't know if this has been mentioned already, or if this is the best place for it, but ASH is going to be in the MI-5 episode airing on Aug. 11. I'll be having to convince my housemate that we have to tape the episode of Queer Eye airing opposite and watch it the next day.