Brief Note on Buffy, "Fool For Love" (Season 5, Episode 7)

[thalia_seawood]

I made the mistake of rewatching Fool For Love yesterday evening.

It's a season five episode, but selenak had showed it to me when introducing me to Buffy. I rewatched it in order to be improve my background knowledge for Wesley- and Spike watching.

This episode was good the first time I watched it, but now that I know so much more about all the characters involved it's way more powerful. The problem with rewatching it was that I was depressed afterwards: What happens in this episode is amazingly painful.


One reason is, of course, that Buffy's mother has to go to the hospital.
What happens between Buffy and Spike is just as bad. To me, their "you are beneath me" scene is so far the most painful scene in Buffy: The worst thing that can happen to you is that you really care for someone, you share some information about your life that you'd rather forget - and then the other person uses this information against you. That's what happens in this scene. Not one of Buffy's proudest moments. Spike doesn't make it easy for her, in fact, he always works on his image that nothing can affect him - but wow, her comment packs quite a punch.

Apart from that I was fascinated by the complex relationship between Spike and Angel(us):
Even early on, Spike is not afraid to challenge Angelus. What's even more surprising is that Angelus doesn't kill him despite Spike's unwillingness to accept his authority.

The moment after Spike has killed the Slayer and seeks Angelus's approval is also fascinating. Angelus is not intrigued - he seems more depressed than anything else. Which makes sense when you know that he's already Angel by this point.

I will post more of my thoughts when the episode really comes up on my LJ with special focus on Spike and Drusilla.
Only so much: Spike yelling 'ow' when Drusilla bites him would be perfectly in character for Wesley as well.

Question: Do Spike and Wesley ever meet? If yes, do they get along? I'm wondering how Spike would react to Wesley. You don't necessarily care for people who are too much like you used to be and didn't want to be...

Comments

[reposoir.livejournal.com]

Um, yes, Spike and Wes do meet. But...it's later, unless it's earlier. I forget.

Spike yelling Ow...well, his character is explored even more in S5/6/7, so...*leers*

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

He's a fascinating character. I like it that you can't just pack him into the bad guy or good guy drawer.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Beneath me: you're assuming that Buffy deliberately quotes Cecily here, which I really don't think is the case. Because what we, the audience see, and what Buffy hears Spike telling her are two different things, as evidenced by "I've always been bad" (Spike to Buffy) juxtaposed to the flashback to William, who of course is anything but. And "I needed to get myself a gang" - juxtaposed to the flashback where Spike is the young turk and lowest member in the Fanged Four hacking order. I think the Chinese flashback is the first one where what Buffy hears and what the audience sees actually is the same thing, and of course by the time we're in New York it is criss-crossed and melting into each other.

In summation: I think Buffy using the exact same phrase is coincidence. Of course, she wants to hurt Spike and push him back, but it's not that kind of calculated insult. It's a retaliation to him telling her basically that she longs for death and that since he's death, she wants to have sex with him.

Wesley and Spike: no, they don't get along, but yes, they meet, in season 5 of Angel. Spike calls Wesley "Percy" (as in Percy Weasley). Wesley isn't enamored of Spike, either.

Wesley:...whoever goes in there will be hurt.
Angel: We'll make Spike do it.
Wesley: Excellent.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Beneath me: you're assuming that Buffy deliberately quotes Cecily here, which I really don't think is the case.

You're, of course, absolutely right.
I knew in the beginning of the episode that we get to see things Spike does not tell Buffy - but by the end of the episode, I was so drawn in I had forgotten all about it. :-) Not something that happens to me often.

In summation: I think Buffy using the exact same phrase is coincidence. Of course, she wants to hurt Spike and push him back, but it's not that kind of calculated insult. It's a retaliation to him telling her basically that she longs for death and that since he's death, she wants to have sex with him.

Seems like the two have a talent for causing one another a tremendous amount of pain.

Spike calls Wesley "Percy" (as in Percy Weasley). Wesley isn't enamored of Spike, either.

Cool. I would have been very surprised if they had hit it off.