Warren's appearance as the First really is a pretty small detail. And I don't think his ultimate non-death does anything to mitigate Willow's ethical/emotional situation vis a vis Warren. How Buffy views Spike, on the other hand, matters. He was really important in her life, and how she sorts that importance tells us things about her.
As for my reaction to Buffy robbing banks -- I have been known to complain about Buffy's handling of Spike in season 6, but have still generally thought that the one sentence description of their relationship is that Buffy inspires Spike to become a champion of the good. How does that work if Buffy herself is now much greyer than she was even in season 6? What would Spike think if he learned that Buffy was robbing banks? Would his love for her trump his own moral compass? Or would his moral compass cause him to see her in a different, more realistic light? That was a live issue in Spike's relationship to Angel (Spike followed Angel into a VERY morally ambiguous action at the end). I just find it interesting, and I want to know more.
Buffy's moral standing vis a vis the "questionable" figures of both Spike and Faith has been interesting. Season 8 has directly tackled the moral inversion between Faith and Buffy. It makes me want to know how the issue would play out between Spike and Buffy.
no subject
As for my reaction to Buffy robbing banks -- I have been known to complain about Buffy's handling of Spike in season 6, but have still generally thought that the one sentence description of their relationship is that Buffy inspires Spike to become a champion of the good. How does that work if Buffy herself is now much greyer than she was even in season 6? What would Spike think if he learned that Buffy was robbing banks? Would his love for her trump his own moral compass? Or would his moral compass cause him to see her in a different, more realistic light? That was a live issue in Spike's relationship to Angel (Spike followed Angel into a VERY morally ambiguous action at the end). I just find it interesting, and I want to know more.
Buffy's moral standing vis a vis the "questionable" figures of both Spike and Faith has been interesting. Season 8 has directly tackled the moral inversion between Faith and Buffy. It makes me want to know how the issue would play out between Spike and Buffy.