Which season do you think of as the real "Spuffy"?

[Robb Stark]

What I mean is, when you think of the Buffy/Spike relationship in your head, do you think of it primarily in the context of S5, S6, S7, S5 of AtS, the comics or everything rolled into one package? I know for me, when I think of Spuffy, when I think of the best parts of the relationship, I think mainly of S7, even though there's very little physical interaction between Buffy and Spike. Spike obsesses over her in S5 and they sleep together frequently in S6, but I never really consider them to be "together" until they understand one another in S7. There's always a line of distinguishing Spuffy for me, between S7 and what transpired before.

What do you guys think?

 

[Blaze]

Definitely s7! For me prior to that season there was no real Spuffy, there was just this very unhealthy crazy relationship between them. To me, Spike becomes who he should be in s7, getting the soul changes everything and enables me to enjoy their relationship and if you could say, rule for them to get together.

Although, when people talk about Spike and Buffy, s6 probably comes to mind the most, but as a couple, it's definitely s7 that takes the cake for me.

 

[white avenger]

For me, Spuffy started with "School Hard" in Season 2 and just slowly developed from there. Those less sensitive probably didn't notice, though, until about halfway through Season 5, when Captain Cardboard left town, and didn't see the totally developed thing until Season 7.

Not my fault that I'm just so much more insightful about things like this.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

In season 6,when they are actually sleeping together, their relationship is obviously 90% toxic and that's never what I think of when I think of "Spuffy."

But I do think of the moments in that same season which helped to cement their friendship later on. After Life, Life Serial, Hell's Bells, Flooded.

There are moments in season 5 as well which, again, help to lay a certain foundation which carries over to season 7 when Spike is souled and they can have an actual friendship. The end of Fool for Love, end of Intervention, and of course one of my favorite scenes: "I know you'll never love me. I know I'm just a monster. But treat me like a man, and that's..."

Anyway, when season 7 comes along and Buffy is able to forgive Spike because he has a soul, I think that those moments above are the ones that make her feel more than just pity for him. Then it's of course season 7 that takes their friendship to a place where she can declare that he's in her heart, and finally, that she loves him. (Whether you think it's romantic love or not, it's love.)

But it's really important to me to point out that if season 7 didn't exist, I wouldn't actually ship Spuffy.

And now? I've sort of dropped out of the comics thing and don't know what's going on but certainly when she told Spike that she'd considered asking him to run away with her when she thought she was pregnant, I think of that as a nice Spuffy moment.

 

[OFAWB]

I haven't seen Season 7 yet, but I've enjoyed almost every Spuffy interaction I've seen. Whether it was Buffy and Spike pretending to be "in a band" together at the end of Season 2, Spike wearing khakis for Buffy in Season 5, the duo's passionate sex scenes in Season 6, or the bickering and distrust in Season 4...It's all "the real Spuffy" to me, and it's almost completely enjoyable.

Season 5 is my favorite, though, because the anticipation is there without being acted upon.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

For me, Spike and Buffy are still evolving, their relationship is always changing and defies definition. It started in School Hard when he first saw her, and hasn't ended yet.

If you're asking what my favorite period was, it's probably those last days before Chosen.

 

[EVIL UU]

None of them. Spike/Buffy doesn't exist as a romantic relationship, first it's a joke, then it's a loveless, obsessive, abusive mess on the same level as Malcolm/Willow, then it's something I could probably call friendship.

 

[Taake]

None of them. Spike/Buffy doesn't exist as a romantic relationship, first it's a joke, then it's a loveless, obsessive, abusive mess on the same level as Malcolm/Willow, then it's something I could probably call friendship.

This is a rather unnecessary post to make in the "Spuffy fanclub" section. This is more or less supposed to be a sanctuary from ship-wars and having to defend your ship - see forum description; "So take your seat at the Back Steps of the Summers' house to chat about your favorite couple: Spike and Buffy. For Spike-Buffy Fans Only"

 

[EVIL UU]

[MENTION=9799]Taake[/MENTION]
As a huge Spike/Buffy fan I simply believe that the "real Spuffy" is yet to happen.

 

[Moscow Watcher]

It's hard to single out a season. To me, their relationship is always interesting and real, whether they're frenemies (season 2-3), reluctant allies (season 4), on the verge of discovering their true feelings (season 5), lovers (season 6), partners and friends (season 7). I agree with Robb Stark, season 7 is a great Spuffy season, oozing with unresolved sexual tension. Season 7 was a great experience for me, because it was the only season I watched in real time, along with the rest of the world, so I couldn't check online what happens next and had to wait until the episode airs. It was sweet, sweet torture. 🙂

 

[Doppelgang]

For me Spuffy is all about the dynamic of their interaction and how it makes for an interesting story, rather than specifically about an exclusive "one true love" relationship between them. For me belief in this kind of thing anyway is childish and outdated. And so I can see parts in season 4 also that I find to be good Spuffy moments, not just the seasons when they begin to have some sort of actual relationship.

All in all, for me the real Spuffy was season 5 and season 6 probably up to Tabula Rasa. After that, as soon as the relationship is consummated, Spike turns into a completely different character, gloating and taking for granted Buffy, and abusing her sexual need for him. In season 7 the relationship takes a Platonic turn. The only possible direction due to how the sexual side of things corrupted their relationship immediately. I don't like this as much as season 5, and 6 up to tabula rasa, but it is preferable to what happens in season 6 after tabula rasa, or certainly after the episode after tabula rasa, smashed.

My reason for choosing this section of the Spuffy arc is that it simply was the part I could identify with most. And it was where I still believed the relationship between them could be primarily a good and loving thing. I know season 7 begins a path of redemption, but it is only just begun and not given the chance to develop properly due to the program being cut short at 7 seasons. I saw in an interview online James Marsters said he reckoned Buffy had another 4 or 5 seasons in it at least if it was given the chance as a whole load of storylines were intitally just being started in season 7 until they had to be wrapped up artificially soon to give some closure for the fans when they knew season 7 would have to be the last.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I think of it as season 6, I guess, but I think the interaction leading up to it is much more interesting.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I think of it as season 6, I guess, but I think the interaction leading up to it is much more interesting.

Me too. I loved the dynamic we saw between them in Season 5, with Buffy trying so hard to fight her feelings for Spike, and Spike trying so hard to fight the monster in him in order to make Buffy feel something for him.
When I think of Spuffy, I definitely think of the hot, twisted sexual relationship they had in Season 6. Anything after that point never felt like the real Spike, to me.

 

[thetopher]

I'm gonna take my cue from Buffy herself- S6.

That's what she references as her 'relationship' with Spike in the comics, everything else (specifically S7) is just friendship/bonding/ connection and trust building- at least from her point of view.

I think if Spike hadn't died at the end of S7 Spuffy could've been a much bigger thing, but we'll never know.

 

[buffy1987]

Definitely s7! For me prior to that season there was no real Spuffy, there was just this very unhealthy crazy relationship between them. To me, Spike becomes who he should be in s7, getting the soul changes everything and enables me to enjoy their relationship and if you could say, rule for them to get together.

 

[Yosso]

My favourite Spuffy season is S5, with Spike's obsession but as the season goes along he becomes more and more noble due to his desire to protect Buffy and Dawn. Though S6 is where Spuffy becomes eve more real as the attraction is mutual rather than just one sided.

I don't like Spuffy in S7, she continues to alienate her friends and side with Spike for no good reason. I find S7 Spuffy nearly as toxic as S6, just less enjoyable to watch.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

After S7 I can really get behind the idea of something more between the two finally, but I'm still partial to the dynamic that Spike and Buffy had when trust hadn't been established yet, or when they were enemies but it was a little personal (S4-S5).

 

[bespangeled]

I tend toward season 5 because that's when Spike began to act against his won interests for the sake of helping Buffy. Season 6, he acted on his own interests and convinced himself he was helping Buffy - demon love, not healthy for humans. Season 7 is best of all, but you need the other two to realize how far he has come.

 

[Mr Trick]

S6 is a strong statement for what their relationship stands for because of the theme of Buffy embracing her darkside through Spike, and that Spike really does understand her on that level. Then again I can see how some of the sex is a bit too cheesy or cringe worthy for others. I'm sticking with S5 because of those reasons. There are so many great moments and episodes involving the two during that season.

 

[cryptwarmer]

Starts in School Hard. They have a relationship.
I don't think it only becomes real or note worthy when it becomes romantic/sexual. Though if we're talking sexual..there were sexual overtones to it way early on as well.

When I was younger I would probably have chosen S5 and S6, and been pouty about S7 because they weren't making with the nookie anymore, but I've gotten to a place in my own life where I can follow the trail of relationships back decades, and I see things differently.

That says more about where I am today than where Spuffy is though. 😉

Buffy was sexually aware enough by mid S2 that it was going to affect her interactions with males. She wasn't unaware of how her actions affected them and would be interpreted.

Her teasing Spike in Something Blue with her neck was an open admission of her awareness of his attraction to her, and the fact that she enjoyed it. She was turned on by the idea that he had the hots for her. Usually that only happens when there is some level of attraction back. I'm speaking of physical attraction. It's possible to find someone sexy even if we don't like them personally.

When she kissed him after Glory wrecked him, she knew what she was doing. She knew how he felt. She knew what a kiss would mean to him. There is no way that she simply forgot all the context and was giving him some meaningless little pat on the head. As Spike would say...bollocks!

Not sure if she exactly knew what she felt for him at that point, but there was something there.