I think, and I don't know if you've been following Lynch's Angel and Spike series, but Whedon may be waiting until that story is completed before bringing Spike or Angel into Buffy. Because to do so before that, would spoil readers of the Angel and Spike series. Spike: After the Fall has been completed and answers a couple of questions regarding Spike - one, he's still somewhat tortured by his past, but working as a hero, two - he's heavily involved with Fred/Illyria - who in a way has a lot in common with him, she's a demon that is infused with a human personality that is making her crazy, and she is mourning the man that loved her human side, but not the demon. Spike loved the human side of this demon, but mostly as a friend. So he has sort of moved on, partly because he had to. But as with Buffy, he can't have Fred/Illyria - she's hung up on Wes and she's not really Fred.
He's also resolved to a degree his relationship with Angel. And he knows quite a bit more about what has been going on with Angel than Buffy. Such as the fact that Angel has a son.
All of this does to a degree affect how Angel or Spike would be reintroduced. Since Whedon is co-plotting the Angel series and had a hand in the Spike series - it is not far-fetched that the two series are being plotted to a degree simulatneously.
Another piece of information - that is important, from a plotting perspective - Whedon is writing this story partly to lead up to how the Fray universe was created. What happened to seal off magic from the world. To cause the slayers to go dorment and the vampires to largely disappear. We are told in Fray that the last slayer, Buffy, found a way to push the demons and magic into another dimension and seal the door on that. In the picture explaining it - we see an image of someone who looks like Buffy disappearing into that dimension with the demons. Or possibly doing so. DarkWillow - grief-stricken, manipulates events in Time of Life to get Buffy to kill her, but we are never told why. Or what happened to Buffy and the slayers, it is only Buffy who is mentioned in the history books - the others aren't.
We are not told if Angel and Spike make it to this future universe, my guess is they don't. So what happened to them when the demons got sealed off? Angel - in the Angel series got his shanshu and is at the moment human. So that also must be addressed. And Spike has been alive for I'm guessing at least a year in the Buffyverse and I'm guessing she doesn't know. I'm also guessing that only Andrew and Giles know he's alive. I don't think anyone else does. Since he's in another dimension at the moment - hell-LA, he might as well be dead. Same with Angel.
So yes, I think you are right. Spike's absence speaks loudly than words in the Season 8 comic. He's not even mentioned by name, outside of the fantasy. Almost as if the lead character is deliberately NOT thinking about him. But her relationship with Satsu and how she's closed herself off does say something about how she dealt with his death. Also the fact that she dressed up for Riley, speaks to that, I think.
I'm not sure what Whedon plans here. He's a story-teller who is fascinated with the psychological/emotional journey of his characters - so it is possible you are right. But I also know that he is mainly interested in a much larger theme here...and it may not be one that answers the questions we want answered.
no subject
two - he's heavily involved with Fred/Illyria - who in a way has a lot in common with him, she's a demon that is infused with a human personality that is making her crazy, and she is mourning the man that loved her human side, but not the demon. Spike loved the human side of this demon, but mostly as a friend. So he has sort of moved on, partly because he had to. But as with Buffy, he can't have Fred/Illyria - she's hung up on Wes and she's not really Fred.
He's also resolved to a degree his relationship with Angel. And he knows quite a bit more about what has been going on with Angel than Buffy. Such as the fact that Angel has a son.
All of this does to a degree affect how Angel or Spike would be reintroduced. Since Whedon is co-plotting the Angel series and had a hand in the Spike series - it is not far-fetched that the two series are being plotted to a degree simulatneously.
Another piece of information - that is important, from a plotting perspective - Whedon is writing this story partly to lead up to how the Fray universe was created. What happened to seal off magic from the world. To cause the slayers to go dorment and the vampires to largely disappear. We are told in Fray that the last slayer, Buffy, found a way to push the demons and magic into another dimension and seal the door on that. In the picture explaining it - we see an image of someone who looks like Buffy disappearing into that dimension with the demons. Or possibly doing so. DarkWillow - grief-stricken, manipulates events in Time of Life to get Buffy to kill her, but we are never told why. Or what happened to Buffy and the slayers, it is only Buffy who is mentioned in the history books - the others aren't.
We are not told if Angel and Spike make it to this future universe, my guess is they don't. So what happened to them when the demons got sealed off? Angel - in the Angel series got his shanshu and is at the moment human. So that also must be addressed. And Spike has been alive for I'm guessing at least a year in the Buffyverse and I'm guessing she doesn't know. I'm also guessing that only Andrew and Giles know he's alive. I don't think anyone else does. Since he's in another dimension at the moment - hell-LA, he might as well be dead. Same with Angel.
So yes, I think you are right. Spike's absence speaks loudly than words in the Season 8 comic. He's not even mentioned by name, outside of the fantasy. Almost as if the lead character is deliberately NOT thinking about him. But her relationship with Satsu and how she's closed herself off does say something about how she dealt with his death. Also the fact that she dressed up for Riley, speaks to that, I think.
I'm not sure what Whedon plans here. He's a story-teller who is fascinated with the psychological/emotional journey of his characters - so it is possible you are right. But I also know that he is mainly interested in a much larger theme here...and it may not be one that answers the questions we want answered.