Spike’s Resurrection

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I was wondering how people felt about Spike's resurrection for season 5 of Angel. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm reading Reading Angel right now, and it mentions that the main reason for Spike's resurrection was not for artistic or plot purposes - but because it was a condition of the network to commission another season. They wanted to reintroduce a popular Buffy character in hopes of inflating ratings.

What do you all think about this? Obviously, I'm glad Angel was given a 5th season but now I see why Spike seems so out of place in the series at that point. The only other time we see him in Angel, if I recall correctly, is in the Buffy crossover "In The Dark" when he arrives in L.A. to try to steal the Gem of Amarra (sp?) from Angel.

I love Spike. No doubt about that. I love him on "Angel". I love him in general. But, I don't think "Angel" needed him back to be a good show. "ngel" can stand on it's own two feet as an original show with it's own memorable characters, themes, and plots without Spike. I'm probably the last person you'd think to be saying this (since I'm such a Spuffy shipper) but I've thought about this and I've desided I am anti Spike-resurrection.

I've said this before, but I think it cheapens Spike's self-sacrifice to save the world (at the end of "Chosen") to just resurrect him like that. Spike is a more central character (or should be) then just functioning as a comic-relief reluctant sidekick for Angel.

Now that I've said my piece"¦What do you all think?

 

[Urgent Power]

Firstly, if they hadn't resurrected Spike, Spike would be dead, obviously. So It's a good thing they brought him in. I think he spiced up Angel, now that Cordy is gone. I think the season wouldn't be as funny without them. Besides, I really enjoy Spike annoying Angel, he's so annoying it's funny. And it did raise up the ratings a little. When I heard that Spike would die, I almost died. So when I found out he'll be back... it has ressurected me.

 

[VisionGuy]

I like Spike but he felt out of place there for me. They should brought Cordelia back for another season.

 

[palabravampiress]

I am torn. I hear you on the cheapening his death thing. I kinda thing he should have been allowed to go out -- and stay out -- on a high note.

That said, I also found the Angel/Spike interaction insanely funny, so I kinda wish I could just lock them in a room and watch them annoy each other forever. It's a great relationship dynamic and one we wouldn't really have seen if not for the obvious ratings ploy.

So yeah. I'm torn. On the one hand, I like the Angel/Spike relationship. On the other, I do feel that Spike's return cheapened his sacrifice. Ultimately, I think the problem here is timing. Angel and Spike should have had more of an opportunity to play out their relationship before Spike's death in Chosen.

 

[Perny]

. So It's a good thing they brought him in. I think he spiced up Angel, now that Cordy is gone. .

And yet again Spike was chosen to fill in for Cordy 😀 just like in Buffy

 

[Tranquillity]

I don't find him out of place in Season five - he is absolutely necessary for one of the main themes of the season which is Angel losing confidence in himself, his role as champion and the 'destiny' he used to be sure of. Spike is not the cause of all this self-doubt (the move to wolfram and hart and everything that led up to that is) but Spike's presence is the thing that brings it to the surface. Spike himself feels out of place in Angel's world for the first part of the season while a ghost, and again once he is re-corporialised. I think it is meant to seem that way. And he is certainly of the opinion that his unasked for return has cheapened his sacrifice too. I think a lot of spike's role in season five was in preparation for the season six that never happened. The cast and crew were genuinely shocked when it got cancelled by the WB and foundations for the following season were certainly being laid. Also, interesting side note, the Angel people had been wanting to get Spike over onto Angel for some time, There was some talk of him being the Big Bad in Angel season three. How different his story might have been!

 

[white avenger]

As much as I enjoyed the Spike/Angel interaction of Season 5, I think that I would have liked even more at the end of "Chosen" for Buffy to smile, put her hand on his cheek again, and say something like, "Wanta help me build an army?" then fade to black. (I know, it was broad daylight, with no shade anywhere, but they could have worked it out somehow. Maybe Andrew standing to the side, shielding Spike under a huge beach umbrella.)

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Come on, people, without Spike on Angel we would have never heard the question Astronaut or Caveman. Spike was perfect for Angel. Season 2 of Buffy they got along great (the characters, dont know about the actors), so of course his being on Angel was a good thing. The Spike character brought a richness to Angel, and to the Angel character.

 

[Mandie]

I love Spike, so when he was resurrected I was ecstatic! He brought comedy back into the show since Cordy was basically dead. I would like to know how Lindsey found the amulet because Sunnydale was a huge mess in the finale of Buffy, but I just accepted it for what it was.

 

[Blair Waldorf-Bass]

I'm 50/50 about this. Spike is my favorite character and probably always will be, but it's just that it did make him seem a little cheapened by resurrecting him that soon. But when I found out about it I was jumping up and down in glee and I was screaming for about an entire day. 😛 At the same time, Spike brought so much comedy and lots of great moments in season 5 happened because of him. The entire Spike and Angel interaction was hilarious, but it would've been great to see Cordy come back as a regular as well.

 

[AgentX7k]

I'm 50/50. It really cheapened his death in the end of Buffy plus it seemed like the show was a parasite, sucking on Spikes coolness and popularity to stay alive. Seemed like a cheap trick to get people interested. I do like Spike and he was a good addition and to be honest that season had way bigger problems and Spikes absence would have probably made it even more boring.

 

[Shadow Angel]

I love Spike. No doubt about that. I love him on "Angel". I love him in general. But, I don't think "Angel" needed him back to be a good show.

I love Spike very much, but you´re right, bringing him back was really unnecessary.

I´m sorry, but I think he should have stayed dead after "Chosen", I mean couldn´t they have brought Anya back instead? That would have been interesting XD

 

[hannahfngrl26]

I loved Angel without Spike and I am definitely not a huge Spike fan however I loved what he contributed to season 5. I was totally okay with the ressurecting and quite frankly I was super excited when I found out he was being brought to Angel.

 

[Spuffy78]

I see how it cheapens his ressurection but it doesn't at the same time. I think with Angel and company moving into Wolfram and Hart Angel needed more help with stuff like grunt work and we also got comedic relief. It doesn't cheapen is sacfrice at the same time because he helps everybody save the world. I think with how S7 ended Joss wanted to go more deeper into how Spike had changed thus putting him on Angel.

 

[Urgent Power]

3 Reasons why Anya woulnd't have been any good.

1. Emma didn't want to continue as Anya.
2. Anya has no connection or interaction with any of the Angel cast.
3. One of the reasons they brought Spike over to Angel, is the ratings. Emma woulnd't have done this job better than James, who is the most popular person on Buffy.

I just LOVED the so-annoying-Spike, it was so fun and funny!

 

[Sweetescape]

I love spike in either Buffy or Angle i didn't really have a problem with him fitting in either. Spike and Angel were very funny together and brought a lighter note to season 5. Plus he's not dead ;D

 

[Spirit_Of_Fred]

i see what you guys mean about cheapening his death, but i also loved him on angel. hm...............im on the fence.

well, actually, there is one key reason i support this. i started watching angel before buffy, so this is where i first discovered the awesomeness of spike! 😀 never woulda happened if he'd stayed dead.

 

[Wishing Oceans]

I'm glad he's back. I agree that it was nice that Spike, the person who was repeatedly disrespected and used to be evil, was the one who saved the world and died a heroic death. But I just like the fact that he's not dead-gone. Afterall, since he's back if he finds Buffy, then hopefully they will get back together. Anya would have been fun, too, but considering Spike's and Angel's history, I think that Spike would still be the winning party.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I loved seeing Spike back but I also hated having Spike back. Having someone from Buffy cross over permantly to Angel was exciting but I was tired of Spike by mid S6 of Buffy. But he was a lot better in Angel then he was during S6-7 of Buffy.

They should have brought in Willow to join the group for a year or two.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Julie Benz [Darla] had that enviable quality to bring out the best in people, the only other person who could do the same was James Marsters, that was probably why Spike was brought back. The actors were always good but in the scenes with Julie or Spike they crossed over into very good. Except for Amy, she was/is always very good.