Question Spikes "Corporeal-ness"?

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Ok, So I'm not finished watching Angel yet (I'm on 5) but I have a question:

How the hell can Spike walk through elevator doors BUT sit on couches? Wouldn't he fall through the couch as well? Through the floor? I'm confused.

Also
When he refers to his mom trying to "shag him" is he referring to the events of "Lies my Parents Told Me?" Or is he referring to a un-shown event after he sired his mother?

Thanks guys!

 

[white avenger]

Spike can sit, or walk on the floor, without falling through for a simple reason: the plot requires it. Granted, if vertical walls can't contain him, horizontal floors shouldn't be able to, either, but there have to be some limits, otherwise Spike would have just sunk into oblivion as soon as he was released from the amulet, and if that happened, there would be no chance for the eventual Spike/Buffy reunion that we all know is inevitable.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Let's see, the second question first, was there any scenes of Spike having sex with his mum? next question.
The first question, a lot of ghosts walk on the ground. I'd guess that Spike is like them just a bit cleverer than the ones that don't know how to, they just keep going to the middle of the world. I wonder how crowded it is down there?

 

[Blondie Bear]

Maybe it's about expectations? He expects the floor/chairs to hold him so they do? But he knows he can pass through walls so they don't stop him? It's the best I can come up with.

 

[angelchick182]

As for the couches/chairs thing...ya got me there. As for your question about his mum - I'm sure he was referencing the events of "Lies My Parents Told Me".

 

[Kana]

How can Spike sit in chairs? The same reason he can pick up cups can punch cyborgs. It's a case that some things he can't do without thinking about about it and others are so instinctual that his mind makes it real. Technically, if Spike wanted to, he could have flew to the top floor without using a lift.

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

How can Spike sit in chairs? The same reason he can pick up cups can punch cyborgs. It's a case that some things he can't do without thinking about about it and others are so instinctual that his mind makes it real. Technically, if Spike wanted to, he could have flew to the top floor without using a lift.

Exactly. He has to concentrate at things that he actually has to do to actually be able to do them. Things that he doesn't conciously do, like standing and sitting, his mind already realised for him. He's so used to standing on the ground that he already subconciously is concentrating on doing it, if you know what I mean.

 

[clemsgirlfriend]

Blondie Bear's comment about expectations made me think of the road runner cartoons. When the coyote runs off a cliff he can remain suspended in mid-air, until he looks down and realizes that he has run off the cliff, at which point he falls. Seems like in this case the Whedonverse has similar physics to the road runner cartoon-verse. ;-)

 

[EvilWillow77]

I think that some things are just insticntual, and Spike could not exist if he were unable to stand on the ground/floor. He knows that he is a "ghost" so he expects to be able to walk through walls, desks, etc. because just like the rest of us, he has been influenced by all the "ghost story" type movies we've all seen. Essentually, it's integral to the plot that he at least be able to walk so, he walks therefore he is...that's the best I can do. I would just rather not question the basic stuff and concentrate on the fact that he's falling into Hell at irregular intervals, and say, "Rock on!!!!" rather than question the basic physics of the show. Angel has more than enough forces working against him/it(as a series as a whole) than he can shake a stick at without me saying....ooooh oooh why can Spike walk on the floor???? I just choose to trust the Jossverse physics as they are and enjoy the ride, man!

 

[Big Damn Hero]

Exactly. He has to concentrate at things that he actually has to do to actually be able to do them. Things that he doesn't conciously do, like standing and sitting, his mind already realised for him. He's so used to standing on the ground that he already subconciously is concentrating on doing it, if you know what I mean.

Quoted for the truth. Or, the truth as far as my opinion of it goes...

 

[itsxpaperdoll]

It has basically already been said, but I would like to give another example: I think it is like in that one episode where he was sort of haunted, you know? In that episode, he learned how to hold things, if he really wanted. I think with sitting and walking on the floor, it's the same. He wants to or expects he can walk and sit, so he can.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I am just now watching S5 and I noticed the same thing and it bugged the armpit out of me. I was like "How is he making an impression on the couch?"

 

[Perny]

Spike learned how to concentrate his enegery and therefor he can do things such as sitting, lifting stuff, and make punches.