3 fanon things confirmed

[maggie2]

Needless to say (!) I'm really happy about the preview pages.  It could get me to revert to being a Spuffy.

But aside from wanting (like crazy) to speculate about Buffy's smile and Spike's not-made bed, here are three things that Dark Horse has delivered us about Spike:

1.  It's now text that Spike has a more sizeable package than the other vampire.  Proof?  You don't boast to your ex about your package when she's in a position to make a direct comparison with your rival unless you think that comparison works for you.

2. Spike went to college.  OK, this was pretty much a given -- but now it's unmistakeable.

3.  He's got some sophisticated tastes underneath that bad rude exterior.

How many ways can I possibly say how happy I am that he's back at DH and being written by folks who know that there's more to Spike that womanizing and brawls?

Allie deserves a shout out on this.  So here's me, shouting out.

Finally: does that scene not reek of "Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy"?  I'll take it over space boinking and bestest day ever shenanigans any day of the week.

Comments

[elisi]

Oh I've talked to those people too! (Or ones that hold similar views.) Makes me want to punch things. I like my heroes COMPLICATED!

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I didn't spot the significance of the unmade bed (or I just assumed Spike is messy) but I did wonder, "Is there only the one bathroom on the ship, or else why did Buffy choose to use Spike's personal one?" :-)

And yes, the line about higher education hit me as well. The other big thing I noticed was Buffy's comment to him "Like Dawn is a Key?" - I think that lays to rest the idea that Dawn's Keyness is a long-forgotten and abandoned storyline. They're reminding us of it too often. Also, Xander just talked about the two of them getting a place together, which is a sure sign her death is imminent. I just hope it's not permanent...

Finally, notice how Angel is all heroic and noble, saving the Japanese Slayers from the monster - but when he throws the head down, they get all splashed and messed up by its blood. I spy a metaphor there. :-)

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I suppose you're right that you don't boast about that unless you're certain your ex won't blow away the wind in your sails.

And it's a detail about Angel that Spike is in a position, canonically, to know. :-)

[ubi4soft.livejournal.com]

Spike is good and Buffy is dumber than any ditzie blond Harmony ever was!

Suckydale is where your mother died but if you still think the universe set you up my dear Buffy you really deserve your faith.

Sorry Maggie, I see no positive out coming of this.

[local-max.livejournal.com]

1. It sounds silly, but (perhaps this is me being male that leads me down this road) I would have liked it the other way around--Angel is the one who is given great things, Spike is the one who does great things with what he has. Still, that dynamic doesn't have to show up everywhere!

2. Spike has more higher education than Willow does! Note also that Xander wants Dawn to go to college right after the reference to how Buffy never did. *sighs*

3. The cork thing is so great.

And yep. Old marrieds. Spike couldn't understand the appeal in SR. But now he can. And so can she. Sigh. I'm not heavily into any ship but yeah, this is pretty sweet.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

The other big thing I noticed was Buffy's comment to him "Like Dawn is a Key?" - I think that lays to rest the idea that Dawn's Keyness is a long-forgotten and abandoned storyline. They're reminding us of it too often.

They're reminding us of it too often for it to be a brilliant twist. I rather think it's a red herring--Dawn is the Key, she's going to die--and that it's Xander who's going to die. I expect Dawn's role will more hinge upon Dawn being unmade if the magic goes out.

Also note how Buffy says "Like how Dawn is a Key" and Spike then changes the metaphor: "Forget 'key', thinks 'cork'." And last time I thought of what a cork would do, it reminds me of doll!Dawn smashing and her soul spilling out. I think it again fits with this idea of Dawn being unmade and what danger that entails. And Xander is the one who will fight the hardest to keep her safe. And possibly die protecting her. Finally, he'll get to save the woman he loves. Though he might die doing it. :(

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you can't enjoy it. What do you mean by Buffy's faith?

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

#2 True! But somehow undereducation doesn't seem like Willow's problem!

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

I didn't spot the significance of the unmade bed (or I just assumed Spike is messy) but I did wonder, "Is there only the one bathroom on the ship, or else why did Buffy choose to use Spike's personal one?"
I guess all the other bathrooms are optimised for exoskeletons but she's tellingly comfortable with using the one that isn't.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Why is Buffy making up a name for Sunnydale somehow worse than Spike calling it Sunnyhell when he also views it as home? Calling it Suckydale really doesn't strike me as having anything to do with not loving her mom anymore or not wanting to honor her memory, but that quite simply Sunnydale sucked. A lot. Just like how the high school sucked. A lot. Sure, there were good times (the Prom and a shiny umbrella) but it doesn't change the fact that it sucked. A lot.

I don't see why that's to read too much into what it means--I don't think it at all reflects on Buffy's love for Joyce.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, and yes. I like that the first is at least a possibility. I'm shallow enough to like my readings being vindicated on the other two. (Though at this point the latter is so OTT that it's making me feel itchy).

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

Lynch's Spike would set my teeth on edge even if he wouldn't keep writing him in fanboy voiceover.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Lynch writes a Spike who thinks Angel is more evolved than he is--nobler than the noblest noble.
He wrote a Spike that believes that Angel tries so hard to be noble that he's pretty much become ineffectual and might as well be in a coma. And hey, Twilight so we're already there. Lynch's Spike would rather be a chaotic 8.5 on the goodness meter than be completely useless in the longer run after worrying if he is "good enough." Nothing to do with evolution.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

So Sunnydale was Lost's Island now? That whole cork analogy was a direct lift. And I am curious about Xander's question of how does Spike know all of this. But, then, I'm paranoid.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Sorry neither did I. That preview just convinced me even further that Whedon has just lot the plot. If there ever was one of course. *g*

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

They're reminding us of it too often for it to be a brilliant twist.

Maybe - I think there's a difference between the normal casual reader and people (like us) who analyse every single word of every issue for its potential significance. I don't know that the Key thing has been pushed that hard... just, you know, mentioned casually and in passing approximately once every arc. :-) It might still be a surprise twist to most of the audiene if her Keyness saves the day. Or, as you say, it might equally be a misdirect or red herring.

The idea of Xander finally saving the woman he loves instead of seeing her die - but at the cost of his own life - has a certain horrible brilliance to it.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

I like William the B's take about the Lost reference -- acknowledgement that this is a bunch of plotty mcplot hoo ha. (Lots of things to like about Lost, but the plot stuff was not on my list of those things).

[angearia.livejournal.com]

The idea of Xander finally saving the woman he loves instead of seeing her die - but at the cost of his own life - has a certain horrible brilliance to it.

Yeah, I'm placing my bets on this now. It is indeed horrible brilliance. And even knowing this is coming, it's not like it'll soften the blow. Xander. :(

Has Xander been mentioned at all in talks regarding Season 9?

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Talk about Xander and season 9? Not so much. And it doees have a certain sort of horrible brilliance, doesn't it. #39 talks about deaths. Maybe they both go out.

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

Remember that nowadays, Willow can just rest her hands on a book and suck all the information right out of it... Although S8 Willow probably doesn't actually do it (except in emergencies) because it would be wrong...


PROFESSOR: What am I gonna say? "No, I don't want my best student back in my class?" Well, of course I noticed that drop-off in your grades at mid-term last year, and I was concerned—
WILLOW: Yeah, that was—
PROFESSOR: But then— voila! You turned it around and aced all your finals like—boom! Magic!
WILLOW (nervous laugh): Yeah, similar to, but, um...
('Selfless')

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

I'm still squealing over the Spander, but yeah, the Spuffy scene was great, and there'll be more to come. Yay! :)

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ♥ I've always wondered how it's done, and someone had told me before, but I forgot.

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard any talks about Xander and S9, which is why I think it's Xander who's gonna die. We heard that Buffy, Angel, Spike, Willow, Giles and Faith are gonna be in S9. But nothing about Xander or Dawn, and since they're hinting too much to Dawn dying, it's obvious that it's gonna be Xander.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Oh god, this is gonna hurt. :(