Nice article in the LA Times about AH here.

She has some awfully nice words for BTVS fans:

" 'Buffy' fans know my name and are really sincere and articulate in how they talk about the show. You can feel the work has touched them in some way or that my character has helped them in their life. You walk away from a fan experience like that and just feel so proud to have been a part of something that could have been such a part of people's lives."

Buffy's way of getting her power back from Spike seemed to be to simply ignore that they had ever had an unhealthy relationship that culminated in a rape. That's a cop-out.

Yes. Yes it is.

but isn't better that they tackle these things head on?

But they didn't tackle anything.

Attempted Rape.

Mystical Magical Sunblocking Flying Motorcycle to Africa to Get a Soul

Gee Buffy, Spike Tried to Rape You

Yeah, but it was no Big. 'Sides, he went and Soulified, Dawnie!

He has a soul.

He has a soul.

He has a soul.

Crazy Basement Spike.

Annoyed Buffy.

Too Many Potentials.

Spike turns water into wine and dies for our sins.

Everything at Mutant Enemy seems to have fallen apart in 6-7. Folks confuse the word "dark" with the word, "crap."

S7 was well dodgy, but I still think S6 was one of the best.

Did you watch from Season one, on? Or did you become a fan later in the series?

I watched from season one, and I flat disagree with your readig of the last two seasons. Sure, they were messy (although I don't object to them just dumping the AR when they realised what a sore point it was) but they were the most inventive and unconventional seasons.

Watched from S1.

I guess the only mitigating factor that the writers could pull out for the attempted rape seem to be that "Spike was drunk, alcohol is a depressant, remember what happened to Angel when he got drugged? Angelus came out to play."

It wouldn't make it alright, but they didn't even try to play that card. At least if it had been brought up, it could have been discussed as a possible attempt at explaination.

But that only worked with Angel because the drug was some sort of agent that made him feel euphoric (not a depressant), thereby I dunno - sorta tricking him into feeling like his soul was gone.

(IOW - that one took a lot of wankery, too)

I guess the only mitigating factor that the writers could pull out for the attempted rape seem to be that "Spike was drunk, alcohol is a depressant, remember what happened to Angel when he got drugged? Angelus came out to play."

Except that Angel's soul was restored by a curse that would steal the soul away again if Angel experienced true happiness. (Hence the euphoria drug.) As far as we know, Spike's soul was simply restored, without the "true happiness" clause. So happy pills wouldn't work on him like that.

(IOW - that one took a lot of wankery, too)

ITA. It did.