#whereas spike has humanity even as a vampire before he's chipped
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invisible-pink-toast · 8 months ago
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#to answer my own question: nobody talks about it because it happened in season five of angel#and nobody watched that far
why does nobody ever talk about angel and spike fighting over the shanshu prophecy?
when spike points out that angel views his soul as a curse, as punishment, as being forced to live with the guilt of everything he's done, whereas spike fought for his soul. nearly died for it. the demon with no soul still wanted to do the right thing, to be a good man, so desperately he would destroy himself for the chance.
and then angel says something VERY interesting to spike. spike says he thinks angel hates him because he's a living reminder of his evil. "cause every time you look at me, you see every dirty little thing i've done. all the lives i've taken. because of you. drusilla sired me, but you made me a monster."
and angel, the man who, without his soul, tortures and kills people sadistically for fun and feasting, the man who insists he is not angelus, says, "i didn’t make you, spike. i just opened up the door and let the real you out."
SUCH an interesting thing to say, angel! let's talk about this. no, please—go on. explain how you are better than spike in any way. i'm fascinated. i'd love to hear how you and angelus are different people but the demon who possessed william the poet is somehow the same as the man.
you can't have it both ways, you horrifically catholic man. you aren't a better person just because you've suffered more.
#had to add those tags because they are true#i honestly don't care what happened in ats post s3#but this scene is really interesting!!#because the og btvs lore that a vampire is a demon that sets up in a dead human is proven wrong over and over again#(why would drusilla be furious at angel for killing her Human family / why would spike be so affected by a song his Human mum used to sing#even on such a basic level like why would that vampire in conversations with dead people be like: hey! buffy! it's me! from highschool?)#and liam and angel and angelus ARE THE SAME PERSON#but liam and angelus have no guilt - liam and angel have a soul - angelus and angel have a demon#and that's what makes angel such an interesting character#because he was Cursed because he was the worst of the worst - the Most Evil vampire#and angel's soul means that his humanity comes back out but also that he is drenched in guilt and he walks a fine line#(seen when he is drugged and lacks inhibition and his cruelty and violence comes out - and in s2 in his dark!angel arc)#whereas spike has humanity even as a vampire before he's chipped#he wants to protect his mum (but the demon in him damns her) he loves drusilla (but their relationship is still twisted) etc.#and the chip shackled spike and made it harder for the demon to come out but also unintentionally allowed his humanity to come out#hanging out with anya and protecting dawn and being forced to confront the nature of his feelings for buffy#and he's not cursed with a soul - he Chooses it#chooses to fight and nearly die for it to become a better Man#and of course that would fucking infuriate angel#because he has a superiority complex and because it's a reminder that to him his curse IS HIS SOUL#that no matter what monster he let out of spike - spike was the one to choose to be good and angel is doing penance#(angel didn't even fight for anything for like 100 years he just lived in guilt. and i get that like ats 2x02 is such a great episode and#shows Why but that's a part of his history too. inaction)#sorry op if this makes no sense but buffyverse vampire lore has me in a GRIP and angel and spike are such fascinating characters#btvs#ats
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