Was Buffy in love with Spike?

[xaphania]

I think that she only realised it herself the moment their hands clasped, but had been feeling it for a lot longer before that.

It was when she was down in the Hellmouth and knew that he was going to die that she finally understood all that she had been feeling towards him - and that was love.

The moment we as viewers see that she's in love with Spike comes at the end of Showtime, IMO. But at this point, she's not ready to admit to herself or anyone else (least of all Spike) that she loves him.

So for me, that statement still stands true.

Buffy was in love with Spike the moment their hands clasped.

She was in love with him before then, but she only realised it at this moment.

 

[white avenger]

So I'm the only one who sees something wrong with that statement? I mean it says that Buffy was in love with Spike the moment their hands clasped. Not before, I mean, after everything, I just don't get Spuffy. I mean, Spike loved Buffy so much more than Buffy loved Spike, throughout their relationship.

As you point out, Joss' statement only verifies that Buffy was in love with Spike "the moment" that she took his hand in the hellmouth. That could be taken as meaning that, suddenly. like a bolt out of the blue, with no prior feelings of that sort whatsoever, Cupid's arrow pierced Buffy's heart at that particular moment, and she was in love with Spike. It could also be taken as meaning that Buffy was in love with Spike at that moment, having fallen in love with him at some earlier time.

Once more, as in several times in the past, Joss' words here are ambiguous. Was Buffy SUDDENLY "in love with Spike the moment that she took his hand," or does it mean that Buffy was "in love with Spike the moment that she took his hand," BECAUSE SHE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM AT SOME EARLIER TIME? The statement could be interpreted either way. We could just as accurately say that Buffy was in love with Angel "the moment that she kissed him in the Guardian's chamber." That in and of itself neither confirms nor denies any previous feelings that she might have had. It's all in the interpretation.

Quite a few of us tend to believe that Buffy actually fell in love with Spike prior to that moment.

 

[discereaude]

As you point out, Joss' statement only verifies that Buffy was in love with Spike "the moment" that she took his hand in the hellmouth.

Once more, as in several times in the past, Joss' words here are ambiguous. It's all in the interpretation.

Quite a few of us tend to believe that Buffy actually fell in love with Spike prior to that moment.

It does only verify that Buffy was in love with Spike in that moment.

Him being ambiguous is a cause for alarm for me.

See the reason that I can't say that Buffy was in love with Spike before is cause none of Buffy's action that I can remember prove that without a doubt. Buffy taking care of Spike is what I expected, Buffy protects people she cares about and she does care about Spike. Plus, Spike had that whole innocent (and maybe helpless) thing working for him because he just got his soul back, and a soul is huge thing for Buffy. It makes him human, therefore he is on her protect list.

All those things she says and the looks she gives are completely undercut with her kissing Angel in the finale, after Spike telling her what that night meant to him. She never kissed Angel when she was dating Riley, I think in "The Yoko Factor" she says she couldn't do that because she was in love with Riley. And if memory serves, they never admitted that to each other before that. So, how was she in love with Spike before that moment?

 

[thevikingsgirl]

I think she never kissed Angel when she was with Riley because it was too soon after Angel left. By season 7 it's been awhile since she saw him and the anger and pain had had a chance to fade. It was too fresh and raw still when she was with Riley. Plus she was in a relationship with Riley, so kissing Angel would have been cheating. She was never in that kind of relationship with Spike (though IMO it would have gone in that direction if they'd had another season).

 

[EveryNiteISaveU]

To go off of what White Avenger says - I think that Buffy was in love w/ Spike beginning really in season 7. I would probably say around the time of "Conversations with Dead People" was when it started (the 'love' part. not the 'feelings' part which we all know started at the end of season 5). For Buffy, love = trust. Even though he was under the control of The First at that time, which was causing him to kill, she still new that he had changed because he now had a soul.. I think at the very last episode of season 7 (Chosen) when she told Spike that she loved him, she truly meant it. She was IN love with him, and trusted him at that point.

 

[dan k]

I'd have to agree on Buffy loving Spike before Chosen. The way she looks at him and her jealousy when he is sitting down with Faith is clear to see. It is remarkable how her feelings change from him.

 

[GrrArghx]

No, I don't think she did. I just can't see it.
I've tried to for the sake of the argument, but I just can't.

I think she meant it when she said he's in her heart, but I find that to mean an entirely different thing than being in love. Do I think she lied to Spike? No. But, I don't think she meant it in the way other people think. And, Spike knew that, IMO.

---------- Post added at 03:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:05 PM ----------

Joan the Vampire Slayer agrees: Maybe you're seeing that you want to see? Fandom eyewear, baby. See Dan's post above. He gives some good examples.

That's not it. lol I can accept it if Buffy fell in love with someone else. I have faith in my 'ship that no matter who they date or fall in love with, they'll find each other in the end, because I believe they're meant to be.

We all have different perceptions on the show, and I can totally respect anyone who believes she is in love with him, but me thinking she's not has nothing to do with what I want, Bangel, or anything. It's how I view and percieve the show.

Like I'll take Cangel for example; If I had my way, they would've never had anything more than platonic love for one another. If I tried to say I thought they weren't in love, I'd just be flat out lying because it was established more than once the way they felt about each other. Do I like it? No, but I can't deny it.

However, as for Buffy loving Spike, there's many reasons I don't believe she meant it as being 'in love', which I've stated a lot of times in many of the other threads like this.

And, I'm sure someone else who also believes she's not in love with him could explain this better because I've said before I can't word things right 😛

 

[Kana]

Ok I just wanted to know something...

Many Spuffy fans are at home with the idea that Buffy loved Angel and many contend that she loved both men romantically, but are there any Bangel fans who believe that although she may end up with Angel, that she also loved Spike romantically? Just curious...

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Ok I just wanted to know something...

Many Spuffy fans are at home with the idea that Buffy loved Angel and many contend that she loved both men romantically, but are there any Bangel fans who believe that although she may end up with Angel, that she also loved Spike romantically? Just curious...

Not many Bangels that I've talked too will admit that Buffy loved Spike as well.

 

[discereaude]

She was never in that kind of relationship with Spike (though IMO it would have gone in that direction if they'd had another season).

I thought they agreed on what their feelings were in End of Days? When she was saying that she has Faith for mixed signals.

If you take that into consideration, why would Buffy hurt Spike by kissing Angel when she was in love with him? Because she wasn't until the end, the hand holding moment. Also if Buffy was in love with Spike prior why does Joss never confirm that and hides everything under ambiguity.

I think Buffy loved Spike before the moment but she wasn't in love with him. Part of the reason that maybe B/A shippers can't see Buffy being in love with Spike prior to the moment is because it would ruin Buffy further than she was already ruining herself in S7, you know being a cold hearted general. If Buffy was in love with Spike and kissed Angel, she wouldn't be Buffy, Buffy doesn't hurt the people she loves, especially the people she is in love with. She protects them and cares for them and thinks of their feelings.

Although, maybe the whole Spuffy relationship ruined Buffy, actually it ruined both of them. Spike was much better in S5 of Angel. Which is why I would ship Spangel before Spuffy. ~sorry rant, I just don't like Spike with Buffy, Spike deserves a girl who loves him just as much as he loves her. Spuffy was unbalanced to me.

Plus this scene rubs me the wrong way and it has nothing to do with B/A.

Also, JoanTheVampireSlayer, I just want to say that belief is stronger than fact, so no matter how much rationalizing everyone does, you will have to do more and in the end, people will believe what they want to believe.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Also, JoanTheVampireSlayer, I just want to say that belief is stronger than fact, so no matter how much rationalizing everyone does, you will have to do more and in the end, people will believe what they want to believe.

You're right. Belief is different than fact. I believe Buffy loved Spike. Period. That's not going to change.

 

[Wishing Oceans]

For those of you who have read the comics, well, guess what? (Those of you who read know what I'm talking about. 😉 This isn't actually an argument anymore, whoo hoo! 😀 )

 

[LadyLavinia]

For those of you who have read the comics, well, guess what? (Those of you who read know what I'm talking about. 😉 This isn't actually an argument anymore, whoo hoo! 😀 )

You mean that Buffy admitted (at least to herself or someone else) that she was in love with both Spike and Angel?


Just because Buffy didn't behave in the same manner toward Spike, as she did toward Angel does not mean that she was never in love with him. She had changed a great deal by Seasons 5-7 . . . and that includes that she had grown older. And I never understood why Buffy and Spike had acted as if they were in love with one another in Season 4's "Something Blue". Willow's spell merely forced them to become engage. That's it. A lot of people get married for reasons other than love.

 

[GrrArghx]

For those of you who have read the comics, well, guess what? (Those of you who read know what I'm talking about. 😉 This isn't actually an argument anymore, whoo hoo! 😀 )

Just because Willow says Spike and Angel are her 'truest' loves doesn't make it true.

YES, I am undeniably stubborn 😀

 

[Wishing Oceans]

Just because Willow says Spike and Angel are her 'truest' loves doesn't make it true.

YES, I am undeniably stubborn 😀

Just because EVERYONE says that Buffy and Angel were in love doesn't make it true. (And please use spoiler tags, sweetheart.)

You're just in da Nile, honey. :biggrin3:

GrrArghx3 agrees: I didn't think that was considered a spoiler, sorry.

Oh, you're probably fine, it's just that some people might not have read the comic yet. 🙂

 

[InsaneMystic]

Just because EVERYONE says that Buffy and Angel were in love doesn't make it true.

Not exactly everyone. *puts up my "Lonely Crusader" hat* :army:

Seriously, I'm really fuzzy about what "being in love with" is supposed to mean and why such a big deal is made of the term. ::dk::

If it's to mean "going beyond 'mere' friendship", then I'm certain Buffy "was in love with" Spike pretty much all through S7... while she never "was in love with" Angel, as they never managed a solid base of being friends in the first place.

Oh, and for what it's worth, of course, I'm also dead sure Buffy and Spike loved each other, while I never saw love between Buffy and Angel, so again, the point of the whole "love but not being-in-love" debate remains lost on me... 🙂

 

[Misty]

I actually don't know if she was. But she didn't hate him even if she said she did, because she couldn't stake him when she could if she wanted too.