Were the trials enough?

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xaphania

Spike/Buffy
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I was browsing screencaps for artwork, and ended up looking at some of the last episodes of season six - in particular the scenes where Spike is undergoing the trials in Africa.

And it got me thinking - were those trials enough to warrant getting his soul back?

He fought the guy with the flaming hands...

buffy611.jpg


Then there were the beetles...

buffy612.jpg


And that was it, soul returned.

buffy613.jpg


Of course it's possible that there were more, off-screen trials. But I'd imagine they'd be in a similar vein to the ones we did see, and while Spike is pretty beat up, we've seen worse (post-Glory torture, for example).

Why were those trials enough for the cave demon to return his soul?

If not something fighty, then what else could he have done?

What is the return of a soul worth?

I love that Spike got his soul back, but when the soul is made out to be such a huge deal in the Buffyverse, I think that earning it back would cost more than a couple of fights.

Thoughts?
 
He just had to prove he wanted it. He fought to obtain it and he endured the pain of the Beetles burrowing into his skin for the mere possibility of getting his soul. It wasn't about earning his soul but rather showing he wanted his soul. It meant something to him.
 
T
ToShanshuInLA
Hey, I didn't see Ringo, George, Paul or John on him. =p
How long was he supposedly there? Like you said, there could have been a lot more we didn't see. I think we're just meant to leave it at that.

If not something fighty, then what else could he have done?
Click to expand...

Talent, swimsuit...I have no idea.
 
caitaintdead
caitaintdead
Beatles... lol.
What else did he have to do would be the question i would ask? Here was a person who was willing to become a better man for the woman he loved. He made a conscience decision to get his soul back, something most Vampires wouldn't dream of doing, this showed tremendous character.

The Trials included him going through severe pain and torture and i think it was enough to warrant his soul being returned.
 
I always just assumed that there was quite a bit that we didn't see, like the fight with the demon whose head he apparently ripped off, but ultimately Spike was tested on his worthiness to have his soul returned, not his fighting ability. I figured that the cave demon was somehow reading Spike's mind while his attention was distracted by the trials that he was facing. If he was totally focused on beating an opponent or withstanding some torture, he would be much less apt to be able to shield his true thoughts.

(And before anyone brings up that B S that Angel fed Buffy when she became telepathic, we're talking about demons whose mental powers are almost certainly much more powerful and highly developed than Buffy's were after just a few hours. Besides which, maybe Buffy couldn't read Angel's mind because there wasn't anything there to read in the first place)

Basically, I've always thought that, ultimately, Spike was rewarded with his soul because his motives weren't selfish or insincere. Also, maybe the cave demons knew something about Spike's ultimate fate as a hero and a Champion, and they were only helping him to prepare for some ultimate act of heroism.
 
Tome
Tome
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T
ToShanshuInLA
I figure she'd hear a lot of static or perhaps big top music if there wasn't anything in Angel's mind.
"ToShanshuInLA agrees: I figure she'd hear a lot of static or perhaps big top music if there wasn't anything else in Angel's mind."



Darn it.
 
I think there were more trials we haven't got to see.

Spike was strong, he got his soul and it was deserved. But in my opinion, his body strenght doesn't have anything with his soul. But if Joss imagined it like that, who am I to say otherwise?
 
Yeah pretty much agree with the lot. It was a total unselfish act by Spike. He went to fight a bunch of demons in Africa risking his life for the women he loved. It was either he went through the trials or died right? That just shows the dedication that Spike had. The bugs were a pretty funny addition to the trials though. Seeing them go through his nose and he then started to scream. By the end of all the trials though, you could see that his butt has totally been kicked and that he had been put through a lot.

So yeah, I would yeah the trials were enough.
 
It seems to me Spike's trials were quite a bit tougher than the ones Angel went through in "The Trial." And the reward was basically the same: a soul for Spike, a life for Angel (supposed to be Darla's, wound up being Connor's).

It seems those two sets of trials were the same kind of deal... prove your worth to the Powers and get a wish granted. I think the purpose was for the Powers to test the worthiness of their Champions or potential Champions.
 
G
GrrArghx
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