Vampires and Souls

[Tranquillity]

I would have to agree with White avenger and say that Buffy Summers was the big difference in the speed with which they adapted to the soul. I think what everyone had said is pretty much valid re; chosen vs curse, first vs second but i wonder how long Spike would have sat around being crazy if Buffy hadn't gone down to the school basement and got angry with him - "You have a soul? Fine. Show me." - that's what got him on the path of making effective use of the soul, not so much actually having it. Same as Angel, who couldn't make his soul "work" properly until inspired by the novice Slayer.

 

[Spike Angelus]

I would have to agree with White avenger and say that Buffy Summers was the big difference in the speed with which they adapted to the soul. I think what everyone had said is pretty much valid re; chosen vs curse, first vs second but i wonder how long Spike would have sat around being crazy if Buffy hadn't gone down to the school basement and got angry with him - "You have a soul? Fine. Show me." - that's what got him on the path of making effective use of the soul, not so much actually having it. Same as Angel, who couldn't make his soul "work" properly until inspired by the novice Slayer.

Maybe the factor is coming to terms is love? angel didn't love until he saw Buffy, and spike got his soul because he loved Buffy.

 

[Kana]

I do think Buffy Summers had a lot to do with it but I also think it's to do with their personalities. Spike is a very outward personality even when he was a shy poet. He was a people person who kept his own company by default but Angel/Liam/Angelus was actually a lot more inwardly focused.

Angel tended to look at the past and future and his very complicated life. He valued meaning. At first, it was the meaning of evil then he struggled with purpose as a soulled vampire. Even when he met Buffy isn't just about her, it was about finally becoming someone.

Spike was about being what he thought Buffy wanted, even after he got a soul, he admitted he thought his change in personality was what Buffy wanted.

Would give some quotes to back this up but I'm feeling a little lazy. Anyway, most people made all the other points I would have made.