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Essays
Welcome to a listing of essays on topics concerning "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and especially the character Spike or the Spike/Buffy relationship. I plan to continue to add essays (or links to offsite essays) to this page as I find them and write more of my own. If you would like to suggest an essay which you want to see archived or listed here, please do email me!
Nothing Like the Sun by Kimberly A
A relatively brief essay explaining the thinking behind my choice of name for this website.
Spike's Soul as a Metaphor by Kimberly A
My thoughts on whether or not Spike needed to regain his soul in order to find redemption.
Joss and Marti Pull A Fast One: The Mutant Enemy Crew Slips Spike's Soul Past Their Viewers by Kimberly A
There's been a lot of debate since we all watched those final moments of "Grave." Some viewers are convinced that Spike intended to get the chip out, and will be upset that he instead received his soul. Others are convinced that the soul was Spike's objective from the beginning. This essay explores the question of Spike's intention in going to Africa, and how the Buffy writers purposely clouded the issue. (Much thanks to Nadine and Alanna for the screencaps that illustrate this essay! All images used with their permission.)
Redemption and Outcasts, or Why I Like Spike by Kimberly A
Why is it that I am so drawn to Spike's storylines in BTVS? What is it that makes his character so compelling? Here is my theory about what interests me, personally.
Spike Gives "Buffy" a Darker, Sexier Tone by Richard Harrington
This article from the 11 August 2002 Washington Post explores the Spike/Buffy relationship in Season 6 a bit, and I found it quite interesting. It's primarily an interview with James Marsters, and includes just a smidge of slightly spoilerish stuff about Season 7. The amount of spoileriness is minimal, though, since I mostly try to stay spoiler-free ... because I got addicted last season, the way addicts do. ;-)
Domestic Abuse and Gender Role Reversal in Season 6: My Letter to Mutant Enemy by Kristen Smirnov
Off-Site Essay. Personally, I found Season 6's double standard regarding abusive relationships highly disturbing. To see Willow repeatedly violate Tara, to see Buffy repeatedly violate Spike, to see them show no remorse, and to see them excused so easily for these actions -- while Spike was lumped in with Warren as an attempted rapist -- bothered me not as a Spike fan, but as a fair and compassionate person. I've been planning on writing an essay about the concept of rape/violation in Season 6 -- planning to compare and contrast the intentions, actions, and reactions of Spike, Buffy, Willow, and Warren -- but then I found this wonderful essay by Kristen Smirnov. I may still write my own essay, but I think this one is well worth a read. Warning: The sensitive subject matter of this essay may be disturbing to some readers, as it does deal with domestic abuse and rape. This is, however, an important social issue that needs attention.
Ain't Love Grand? Spike & Courtly Love by Vrya
Off-Site Essay. This excellent and learned essay (posted at the wonderful Buffy Dialogue Database, a searchable database of BTVS dialogue and more) explores the similarities between Spike's changes in Season Five and the medieval romantic conventions of "courtly love." To quote the first paragraph of the essay, "The echoes of old stories of lovelorn Knights and of the fair ladies to which they devote their lives and their swords add depth and weight to the story of Spike's love of Buffy." I couldn't agree more!
Redemption Is Happening Now! A Redemptionista Reacts to "Entropy" and "Seeing Red" by Cissy Hartley
Off-Site Essay. Yet another essay from the Bloody Awful Poet Society website. This one's title is fairly self-explanatory (though a tad bit sensationalistic), since the essay explores Spike's behavior late in Season Six from a redemptionist stand-point.
Pages with Great Spike-Relevant Essays
Relevant Books
- Reading the Vampire Slayer: An Unofficial Critical Companion to "Buffy" and "Angel" by Roz Kaveney
I've only read the first chapter of this book thus far, but I thought I'd let you know my first impressions. Ms. Kaveney has a lot of very interesting insights into the Buffyverse, but the writing is rather overblown ... as if she's trying to prove that this is a topic worthy of intellectual analysis by using unnecessarily long words and complicated sentences. The ideas are worth reading, as long as you're willing to slog through the pretentious language.
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