Yeah, I had that same complaint before using the same examples. How Spike was so clearly certain Illyria wasn't Fred in AtS and that Spike treated Illyria differently than he treated Fred.
#15 makes a nice explanation of this regarding Spike's perspective. He basically says he knew that Illyria wasn't Fred, but he had been hoping he could guide her to being good. Give her the chance to change the way he changed during Season 5 and Season 6.
*goes to find quote*
Spike: I've seen it act up before. Not to this scale, mind you. But I figured, even if Fred's gone and only the monster is left...Well, we all know that just because it's a monster doesn't mean we should ready the pitchforks and torches...but after this, all these people [Illyria has killed]
Wes: It's hard, I know-
Spike: I didn't say it was hard. I'm dealing with it. We're all clear, that's not Fred, Fred's not homicidal, Fred's shorter.
I think we can view the way Spike treats Illyria in the earlier issues as the way Buffy treated Spike "like a man". He was trying to get Illyria to rise up to his expectations of human behavior, so he treated her like Fred.
Re: Thank you for the clarification
#15 makes a nice explanation of this regarding Spike's perspective. He basically says he knew that Illyria wasn't Fred, but he had been hoping he could guide her to being good. Give her the chance to change the way he changed during Season 5 and Season 6.
*goes to find quote*
Spike: I've seen it act up before. Not to this scale, mind you. But I figured, even if Fred's gone and only the monster is left...Well, we all know that just because it's a monster doesn't mean we should ready the pitchforks and torches...but after this, all these people [Illyria has killed]
Wes: It's hard, I know-
Spike: I didn't say it was hard. I'm dealing with it. We're all clear, that's not Fred, Fred's not homicidal, Fred's shorter.
I think we can view the way Spike treats Illyria in the earlier issues as the way Buffy treated Spike "like a man". He was trying to get Illyria to rise up to his expectations of human behavior, so he treated her like Fred.