Spike's lucidity

B

Bungle Jerry

Orthopedic Pants
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
309
Age
51
Location
Toronto
I'm watching S7 for the one millionth time. And I'm asking myself the same question for the one millionth time...

Why is Spike so lucid in 'Beneath You'? Or rather I guess that's not my question - he's not in the basement anymore, so the crazy goes away. Fine. But then immediately after that in 'Same Time Same Place' and 'Help' he's gback to Crazy!Spike. Why? Why is his journey to normalcy so slow with the sole exception of Episode Two?

It seems so wildly inconsistent that I sometimes wonder if it wasn't a last-minute change in the episode running order - or something involving how to move the 'STSP' plot along, having both Willow and Buffy talking to Spike at the same time, but if he's lucid, he'll just say 'hey, Buffy, Willow's stadning right here' - so let's make him crazy again?
 
I decided it was probably the First messing with him, so he went in and out. I think that actually happens to people who have mental issues - moments of lucidity broken up by being detached from reality.
 
Fair enough. And that would make sense.

I think it's also a bit confusing the extent to which Spike's 'madness' is the result of the First messing with him and the extent to which it's his soul/conscience eating away at him for all his years of killing.
 
It seemed to me like it was his conscience that the First used to torment him. But after Lies My Parents Told Me he seemed to not have issues with either anymore. That didn't seem out of character to me, though. I know Angel had to brood for like, 200 years over his past deeds, but Spike is more a live in the moment kind of guy. Also, I'm really, really good at suspension of disbelief 😛
 
Bungle Jerry said:
Why is Spike so lucid in 'Beneath You'? Or rather I guess that's not my question - he's not in the basement anymore, so the crazy goes away. Fine. But then immediately after that in 'Same Time Same Place' and 'Help' he's gback to Crazy!Spike. Why? Why is his journey to normalcy so slow with the sole exception of Episode Two?
Click to expand...

In "Beneath You," Spike tries to come out of hiding. He tries to go back to the way things were, which was helping out Buffy if she wanted his help. But, as seen in the church scene, it wasn't that simple. He couldn't cover up his secret: that he had a soul. "It didn't work. Costume. Didn't help. Couldn't hide." The fact was he had a soul, which made him still feel guilty over everything he did. So, the crazy comes back, along with all the guilt. That's my two cents anyways. 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom