Saying Goodbye To Joyce

[Kean]

Whatever he did or didn't do with the BuffyBot two episodes later had nothing whatsoever to do with Xander's reasons unless he could see into the future. Use whatever argument that you might care to, the fact remains that Spike was Joyce's friend, and he was Dawn's friend, and he could have helped her cope with what was happening. But if we are going to condemn him for "comshucking" the BuffyBot two episodes later, we should also give him credit for not betraying Buffy and Dawn to Glory. I would think that resisting that kind of torture should cut him a little slack on the comshucking matter.

The status of Spike's friendship with Joyce and Dawn was rather contentious at this point, in fact, they trusted him about as much as they trusted Angelus. Buffy and her family had de-invited Spike from her home, I think that speaks volumes about where he stood with them.


Joyce was clearly uncomfortable with Spike's feelings for her daughter and didn't trust him, even after Buffy says that he can't physically hurt them. Joyce and Willow recognise the still present danger of Spike's obssession, chip or no chip.

WILLOW: Buffy, um ... I'm really worried.
JOYCE: So am I. He could become dangerous.
BUFFY: Not really. As long as it's still chips ahoy in Spike's head he can't hurt me, or any of us. You know, besides, this'll probably just blow over. You know? It's just some weird Spike thing. He'll have the hots for some gak demon before we know it.
WILLOW: I don't know. Uh, these things can, can become pretty twisted.
JOYCE: (comes back to sit down again) Yeah, and Spike, I mean, he's...
BUFFY: Pretty twisted.
JOYCE: Yeah.

Later on in the episode when Spike has told Buffy that he loves her and chained her up, Buffy makes her feelings on Spike and her family abundantly clear.

SPIKE: You can't just walk away from this.
BUFFY: What part of punching you in the face do you not understand?
SPIKE: So we had a fight. It's not our first, love, and it doesn't change anything.
BUFFY: (stops walking, turns to him angrily) It changes everything, Spike! I want you out. I want you out of this town, I want you off this planet! You don't come near me, my friends, or my family again ever! Understand?

Crush - Buffy Episode 92 Transcript

Dawn and Buffy's friends shared the same sentiment: they didn't trust him and they didn't want him around.

XANDER: Buffy's busy tracking down the guy that made her, (puts hand on the doorknob) so I'll drop you off at school, and if she's not finished, then-
SPIKE: (OS) Coming through! Coming through.

As Xander opens the door, Spike runs in, holding a blanket over himself. The blanket is on fire. The others jump back. We see Giles and Anya in the background. Spike drops the blanket on the floor and stomps out the fire.
SPIKE: Fire! Fire!

The others stare at him. Giles comes forward. We see Anya in the background. We can see that Spike still has a bunch of small cuts on his face and neck from being thrown through the window.

SPIKE: Hello, all. What's going on then?
GILES: Spike, you're not welcome here.
WILLOW: Yeah, and by the way, we're working on a way to de-invite you from here. (Spike looks surprised) Even if it is a public place.
XANDER: Nah, forget it. Letting him in is good, 'cause then we get to toss him out.
ANYA: Ooh, can we throw him out the window like the robot did? 'Cause that was neat.
SPIKE: Robot? That's what she was? (scoffs) Knew something wasn't right. (looks over at Dawn, who's standing behind Tara) Hey. Someone's glad to see me, aren't you, little bit?
DAWN: Stay away from me.
TARA: I think you better go. (steps in front of Dawn and folds her arms)
SPIKE: Okay, now, I was afraid of this. Misrepresentations, misunderstandings, slurs and allegations. I don't know what Buffy told you, but the thing is, the Slayer and I worked together, side by side, to get rid of Dru. Who was up to no good. And I don't mind telling you-
GILES: (takes off his glasses, moves closer to Spike) Spike ... listen to me.
SPIKE: It's just ... I'm trying to explain. She might have said some things that sounded like I expressed some kind of feeling-

Giles shoves Spike backward. He stumbles into a bookshelf. Giles walks slowly up to him, glaring angrily.

GILES: (softly) We are not your friends. We are not your way to Buffy. (Spike stares at him) There is no way to Buffy.

Giles leans over, picks up the blanket and slams it into Spike's chest. He leans in close and looks Spike in the eye.

GILES: Clear out of here. And Spike, this thing ... get over it.
SPIKE: (small smile) I don't know what you mean.
GILES: Yes, you do. Move the hell on.

I Was Made To Love You - Buffy Episode 93 Transcript

Any small measure of trust Spike held with the Scoobies and the Summers women had been utterly lost. He had no claim of friendship with them anymore, any right he had in paying respects to Joyce had been lost when he aggressively pursued her daughter. The fact that he was genuine is totally irrelavent to the fact they did not want him around. Xander was just following through on the protocol that Buffy and her family had already established with Spike in the previous two episodes.

 

[white avenger]

Okay, lets consider the facts here. Spike had a chip in his head, so he couldn't hurt anyone physically. He had been disinvited from Buffy's home, so he couldn't enter, with or without Xander's permission. Neither Buffy nor Dawn liked him anymore, if either one ever actually had in the first place. None of Buffy's friends liked, trusted, or even tolerated him. Just about the most harmful thing that he could possibly do would have been to yell abusive language from outside, but only as long as it would have taken for Xander and Willow to drag him away before Buffy even had time to come outside and stake him.

And, despite all of that, as nearly completely helpless as he was, he wasn't even allowed the opportunity to pay his last respects to a woman who he still liked and respected, regardless of what her feelings might have been for him, or to express his sympathy to her surviving family.

I guess you're right. He got exactly what he deserved.

 

[Allie]

I agree with Xander. I think Xander, is one of the best guys in the whole 'verse, and he didn't need any superpowers to do that. He went with heart, and did what he thought he needed to do to protect Buffy. Whether she needed protecting or not is beside the point. Whether Spike could physically hurt Buffy or not, he could hurt mentally. She was in a horrible state, she just lost her mother, andything that could possibly upset her wasn't good. Xander was just trying to protect her, and I think that is great.