Season Six And Seven Spuffy

[white avenger]

This is just something that occurred to me that I thought might be interesting to get someone else's view on. It's not really a ship question in the romantic sense, but I think that it does, just the same, belong in the Spuffy category.

How would you compare the trauma that Buffy experienced with her resurrection at the beginning of Season 6 with the shock that Spike endured with the regaining of his soul, the majority of which we see in the beginning of Season 7?

In Season 6, Spike seemed to be the ont to whom Buffy turned for the most understanding and comfort, whereas in Season 7, Buffy performed a similar service for him, praising what he did and encouraging his resolve to "become a better man."

So, are there enough parallels or similarities to warrant a discussion here, or is my feeble old mind just grasping for things to distract me from the real world?

 

[jamtammie]

Yeah they both have issues and think ther are simlarity's

 

[Gum Gnome33]

Great discussion topic!
I think in many ways the situations are quite similar in terms of how the support is presented; it's the difference in how the companionship/support is sought out (or isn't) that always fascinates me.
In season 6, the initial magic between the two characters comes from the fact that Buffy could have sought out the support of any one of her trusted friends but chose Spike. She saw something in him that she recognized in herself--darkness, death, loneliness. She, the traumatized, actively turned to him and his willingness to listen and to act as a (however dysfunctional) companion encouraged her to continue doing so.
In season 7, however, I don't think Spike actively seeks Buffy's support. I've always been a big believer that he truly wants her to know that he's received his soul no matter how coy he is about it, (and despite the fact that he actually tries to make it look like he hasn't by punching Anya when she figures it out), but I think he is carrying around too much shame to actually lean on her--to ask her for anything. Circumstances bring him under Buffy's close supervision of course but I think Buffy actively takes it upon herself to comfort him. I think she's a bit callous about it at times, (he probably could have used a hug, lol), but it's clear to me that her kind words are genuine and unsolicited.
What I take away from this is that while Spike is big on the verbal declarations, ("I love you," "You belong here in the dark with me,") Buffy is the one actively doing the seeking and the supporting in both seasons. I think this is one of the major indications that what she feels for him is real.

Hope this makes sense btw, had a long night and am tiiiired! 😱

 

[Doppelgang]

A difference is that Spike sympathises with Buffy in season 6 because he's been in that position before, which is why Buffy turns to him over the other scoobies, as he has died and had to claw himself out of a grave in the past just like Buffy had to in season 6. Whereas with Spike in season 7, its not so much that Buffy can sympathise because she's already been through that herself, the reason she sympathises is because he chose to do this for her sake and to redeem himself for what he did to her in season 6.

So they do help each other over the two seasons, but for different reasons.

As for the trauma experienced by each of them I think in one aspect its for parallel, but opposite, reasons: Spike's trauma is because he went from being bad to being good, and so suddenly had all his past deeds on his conscience, whilst Buffy's trauma is because she went from being good (in heaven), to effectively being bad trapped in a human body again with all the weaknesses that entails.

Buffy's is a struggle to find a purpose in life again with her childish illusions gone, and you could say similar for Spike in season 7, so another parallel seems to be that for both their trauma is based on having to let go of childish illusions of purpose in life, (Buffy's purpose was her altruistic act in the gift, Spikes was to go around hurting people without thinking about the consequences). They both had to reassess their whole view of their place in the world, and they could sympathise for each other in having to go through that process.

In sum, there are parallels, but I think alot of them are accidental, and in essence it comes down to the fact that they help each other out because they care for each other