brief comments post-episode, a slightly longer thought about who can get redemption and who can't

[timepiececlock]

Okay, so I got Jossed. I'm glad. I guess I'm just sensitive to my boy getting the proverbial shorter stick for no obvious reason.

I hope that was the first and last time though. We're NOT going to do that every.single.episode are we?

Other Thoughts

I love how Spike immediately asked about Buffy, and his obvious disorientation, and that she was what he first wanted to see. So many summer fics had him not wanting to see her at first, but this reaction felt more true to the character to me. This is Spike, ultimate archetype of "the lover." Of course his first clear thoughts are going to be about the person he loves, demanding for her or information about her.

Which makes me wonder... if Angel was so tight-lipped about Spike's saving the world (and from his reaction I'd guess that either Buffy or one of the others told him ALL about it) and his soul, will he be willing to help Spike try to contact Buffy now, even though he's only half in this world? Angel might not have to do anything overt, but he could certainly sabatoge or undermine Spike's efforts, since Spike essentially can't do anything without another's help. Is Angel that selfish and that controlling of things regarding the Buffy/Angel/Spike triangle? I ask, because I don't know Angel's post-Sunnyhell character that well. But I'd tentatively guess yes.

Spike/Fred? I don't think love will blossom there. Can we say human Drusilla, anyone? But I might like to see friendship, and Spike certainly chose well in asking for help. Not only did he go to the smartest one, but he went to the one most likely to sympathize with his situation.

It's weirdly deja vu-ish to see him saying the same thing he said so many times in season 7.

Angel's rant about Spike having it easy because he asked for what he got put things into an interesting perspective.

I loved Ange's crew (do they have a name, like Scooby Gang? I'll call them "the crew") 's reaction to Spike's soul and love for Buffy and his saving the world. It was the 'first reaction' that we didn't get shown on BtVS. And I could just see the little wheels turning in Wesley's hot little head.

This 'going to hell' thing? Not really a surprise (given the evil he's done in his existence), but it is sad. I'd say unfair, but I'm not sure. Well, yes, it IS kind of unfair, giving that he saved XX many more times the amount of people he's ever killed. But then again, like Buffy said in season 6, it's not about "tipping the scales." So maybe Hell is a just end for William the Bloody. Still sad though. A quiet, scary kind of sad. Sad for Angel too. Because if what Spike did wasn't enough to save him from hell, then it's not likely that anything Angel could ever do would save -him- either. Even if Angel did what Buffy did in season 5 and saved all dimensions, all universes, EVERYWHERE-- if it's not about tipping the scales, then it's not about tipping the scales.

Then what would it take-- a state of mind? He repents, and is thus saved? Well, Spike repented, and he gave penitence, and when he gave his sacrifice he did it for the right reasons-- not only love of Buffy, but because it was the right thing to do. Is the word 'philanthropic', or 'altruistic' ? Or maybe 'jesusy', I don't know. But Spike died in the right way doing the right thing for all the right reasons, with the right state of mind and heart, or at least the idea of 'right' in the Judeo-Christian sense.

And remember, as an evil vampire, Spike is "second only to Angel." Second.to.Angel. In.evilness.

So if Spike is doomed to Hell, how can Angel ever be redeemed?


And while we're at it, what is the air-speed velocity of an unladen African swallow?

Also, lordshiva, that "free will" you talked about? Way to prophecize, chica.

EDIT:

"http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary" Describes altruism as: unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.

I think that's an ok description for Spike's sacrifice in Chosen. "jesusy" is still in the running though.

Comments

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

::raises eyebrows:: That is an interesting thought. I'm not quite sold on it, but it definitely has merits. Even Wesley reaffirmed in this episode that they got the amulet from W&H.

which was later defined as one of many heavenly dimensions.

I don't remember that. ?

[evemac.livejournal.com]

which was later defined as one of many heavenly dimensions.

I don't remember that. ?

From 6.08 "Tabula Rasa":

TARA: It's totally not stupid to wonder what it was like for Buffy. But it could have been any one of a zillion heavenly dimensions. All we know is that ... it was a good place and she was happy there.

And from 4.22 "Home":

LILAH
While you've been namby-pambying around for the past 90 seconds, 6 innocent people have died. Oh, but don't worry. There's always 6,000 more just around the corner or up the coast. (hands Angel a file)

ANGEL
(opens the file, reads) Sunnydale. (takes out an amulet from the file)

LILAH
That nifty, little bauble comes with the file. Apparently, it's crucial for some kind of final battle. Guess they're in short supply up Sunnydale way. A bit gauche for my taste, but, hey, not a slayer.

So Wolfram and Hart, by way of Lilah, gave the amulet to Angel. They may have known that it would end up with Spike, or they may have assumed that Angel would keep it. Either way, whatever is happening to Spike is connected to the amulet. He IS connected to the amulet. He can't leave LA because that's where the amulet is. And ever so slowly, it's sucking him down.

And keep in mind, I'm not spoiled for this season, so I know just about as much as you do. This is just my theory and I could be incredibly wrong. ;)

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the TR bit. I'd forgotten.

I did get to watch Home. I was actually kinda baffled by watching Angel go from Home to Chosen, and completely change his attitude. He just killed his own son and the person he loves is in a coma and he'd moping because his ex is doing someone he disapproves of.