What Is It About Spike?

[white avenger]

It's common knowledge that Spike was brought in in Season 2 with the intention that he would be staked before the year was out. Instead, the character became so popular that he not only survived, but became a recurring character and then a regular who lasted through the rest of the series and then another year on "Angel." What do you think accounts for the character's popularity?

 

[zobothehobo]

His awesomeness! haha

Nah, I think the theory James had was the best... the problem with making Spike be a disposable character was that he was the outcast of the outcasts. Even when he was a villain in season 2, he was different... the other villains didn't like him... he was an outcast of the outcasts... then when he came back in Lovers Walk (which I read/heard somewhere was supposed to be a trial run for Spike to come back) he was so adorable with his running on and on and on about losing Dru... then in season 4 he was again the outcast of the outcasts. He didn't fit in with the Scoobies (the outcasts) and he didn't fit in with the villains. The show is about outcasts for outcasts which is what makes Spike so lovable. He's the epitome of who the show is for and who it's about.

 

[prophecygrrl]

I was watching the Special Features for BtVS Season 2 last night, and Joss, Juliet, Anthony Head (and a few other people, I can't remember everybody lol) talked a lot about how well James played the role. They all really liked him and felt that Spike (especially with how James played him) elevated everyone else's performance, so I wouldn't say they kept him around solely because of fan response. Anthony even says in the Special Features that they chose not to kill Spike/James off because they all loved him too much for that. I think Joss even mentioned that all the actors would always want a scene with Spike just cause it was so much fun.

ETA: whoops, i kinda misunderstood your question lol. I was talking about why Spike was kept around, not just why he was popular, hee. So, why is he so popular? Honestly, I think it's cause people can identify with him. A lot. He's kind of this quirky evil guy who gets really good lines, but yeah, he's also kind of a freak. And sometimes he's a badass too, so can't argue with that lol.

 

[Willow My Love]

He's a sexy Brit. American women swoon for them. That's why. 😛

(Yes, I know James Marsters is American. I loved him in PS I Love You.)

 

[StarSlayer]

I can't really speak for those who watched the show during the original run. But, for me, the character became popular from the moment he appeared in "School Hard." His look was striking. His attitude had a superiority complex. He threw the Anointed One in a cage instead of graveling at his feet when he didn't kill Buffy. He was a bad-ass vampire that I wanted to see more of. IMO, Spike and Drusilla changed the pace from s1, which I absolutely loved (I was really getting bored with the rituals). Overtime, James just made me love the character even more. I loved him when he was a villain and I loved him when he fell in love with Buffy.

And didn't SMG say to Joss (maybe it was in s2, I don't remember) that he needed to keep James around or else someone else might grab him? I don't remember where I heard or read that, but I think she said something like that.

 

[white avenger]

And didn't SMG say to Joss (maybe it was in s2, I don't remember) that he needed to keep James around or else someone else might grab him? I don't remember where I heard or read that, but I think she said something like that.

I think that I remember hearing or reading somewhere that he and Sarah "hit it off" right from the start, but I've tried to find that quote all over the web, and can't find it now. I also remember him saying that Sarah was the only person with whom he had ever worked who could learn her lines as fast as he could. Plus, they always, in the outtakes on Youtube just seemed to have so much FUN together. So, yeah, she probably used her influence to get Spike on the show more.

 

[LadyLavinia]

They all really liked him and felt that Spike (especially with how James played him) elevated everyone else's performance, so I wouldn't say they kept him around solely because of fan response.

Both Marc Blucas and D.B. Woodside have commented on how much they enjoyed doing scenes with James Marsters.

 

[Litheran]

Can't fault them for fancying a little rough and tumble time with Spike; can you now?

(I wish someone would pay me to talk with an accent.)

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

His accent. When women hear british accent, they have to take their clothes of.

 

[The Unspoken]

James also had his roles on Torchwood and Smallville expanded... Although never even close to the extent of Spike.

 

[Tammarie]

I really agree with zobothehobo (nice name btw)
I see Spike as being like a kitten or a puppy. When he's sad and sort of pathetic like a lost puppy you just want to hug him , and when he's trying to be all 'big bad', he reminds me of that picture with the kitten looking in the mirror and seeing a lion.
He's also a lot more open and blunt than a lot of other characters, which just creates a good connection because you know what he's thinking or how he feels

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I think that I remember hearing or reading somewhere that he and Sarah "hit it off" right from the start, but I've tried to find that quote all over the web, and can't find it now. I also remember him saying that Sarah was the only person with whom he had ever worked who could learn her lines as fast as he could. Plus, they always, in the outtakes on Youtube just seemed to have so much FUN together. So, yeah, she probably used her influence to get Spike on the show more.

I remember that interview, but I also remember him saying they were never friends, and that Sarah was such a professional that she didn't really mix work and friendship.



I think Spike started awesome, he was a brilliant character when he first came in he was funny and evil, and had allot of character.

Then he got crappy.

 

[WakingNightmare]

Spike has... an actor like James Marsters portraying him 😉

When he first shows up in S2, Spike is a big ball of charisma. When you see his opening scene with the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign, you know he's not going away very fast at all. He won't just be staked by the end of the episode. He's funny, he's tough, he's interesting, he's got the sex appeal down, he's very different from the boring traditional vampires we see in S1 and he's a real opponent for Buffy. Other than the Master (who was a bit lame anyway) Buffy's always kept on top of things with the vamps, knowing that they'd never have a chance at her. Now, I'd hate it if, when Buffy dies, it's just some vampire that gets lucky. I'd really hate it but when Spike shows up you get a really strange feeling that he may be able to hurt her. Then you get a bit more behind the scenes, of when he's not making chaos, some even start to like him as a person. The way he's very sensitive when he's around his girl, the way he'd do anything to protect her. He's just charm all around.

Plus, he aint hard on the eyes either.

 

[Flannen]

lol, when you don't like a character its hard to see how he was popular enough to stick around 😉

But really, I can see why he was brought back for season 4, I liked the comic element he brought to that series and still had some of the old villainous Spike of the earlier seasons but when he lost that edge I don't actually see why he remained so popular and being of the minority with that makes no difference whatsoever! 😛

And the comments about his accent puzzle me. Cos it sucks! Lol. It's always bugged me for some reason and I recall ASH saying how he was given the task of helping him to sound English and there were just some words he couldn't grasp at all. But yeah, I don't find it to be authentic at all and the older I get, the more I'm aware of it.

 

[sylvanscribe]

Well ... British accents and masculine abs are lost on me. But I liked Spike nonetheless.

Basically, The Master and his henchmen, while enjoyable in some sense, were kind of hokey. All that pretentious "vampire aristocracy" stuff, mysticism and tradition and hatred of the human world.

Spike was the rebel who had no use for that. Wise cracking, sarcastic, innovative in methods. A vampire who actually liked the human world. That is what the show needed. I think the character might have been less effective in the hands of another actor, but Marsters nailed it.

Of course, some of us will say that by the 7th season, Spike's character was ruined by making him more like Angelus. And he and Spuffy sex were overexposed. But at the time, he was a perfect villain for Season 2.

 

[mayfever]

And the comments about his accent puzzle me. Cos it sucks! Lol. It's always bugged me for some reason and I recall ASH saying how he was given the task of helping him to sound English and there were just some words he couldn't grasp at all. But yeah, I don't find it to be authentic at all and the older I get, the more I'm aware of it.

This is actually the first time I hear an English person say that, thanks for confirming a suspicion I always had since watching BtVS for the first time! I think he's supposed to speak some sort of working-class London dialect, but he just... doesn't, lol. I always thought he sounded off, but as a non-native speaker I never knew for sure.

It doesn't really bother me much though, I guess I just accepted it along with Angel's horrible "Irish" "accent".

 

[Flannen]

Lol, yeah. Angel's Irish accent is terrible too.

Some Brits may think it's okay but I find it really cringeworthy, especially when you hear it next to ASH who actually is British! I suppose I could choose to ignore it if I really tried...

 

[fly on the wall]

The charisma, the accent, the attitude, the sarcasm, the depth of his character (tough Slayer-killer, but incredibly sweet with Dru), the humor...I think it all worked in his favor.

 

[white avenger]

All these great answers, comments, and criticisms, and nobody's mentioned the blond hair, the blue eyes, or the cool trench coat even once. I thought sure that SOMEBODY would like that.

 

[zobothehobo]

And the cheekbones
Posted via Mobile Device

---------- Post added at 02:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 PM ----------

Tillow4ever agrees: How did I know you'd be the first to comment on this! hahahaha

Cause I love Spike the most!!!! hahaha 🙂