It’s a trying time to be in a couple on “Buffy." First Tara and Willow split up after
Willow gets addicted to dark magic. Then Buffy and Spike hook up, knock down a few
buildings together (it’s called superhero foreplay), and finally break up in a shocking
way.
Typical Buffy/Spike love talk? Buffy walks into Spike’s vampire crypt.
Buffy: Tell me you love me.
Spike: I love you. You know I do.
Buffy: Tell me you want me.
Spike: I always want you. As point of fact…
Buffy: Shut up!
Buffy and Spike land on the nearest piece of furniture.
And now, Xander and Anya are headed down the aisle this week with a sense of dread. And
why not? Her family is demons (literally), and his are monsters (the drunken human kind).
The reception at the Bison Lodge will be errr… lively?
So if I was a betting kind of girl, I would predict disaster for our three sets of
lovebirds. But since the show’s producers Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon love to shock and
surprise, doom and gloom would be too easy guess. Whedon and Noxon rarely do what you can
guess.
So I’ll play Las Vegas odds maker and rank the chances for reconciliation, while being
fully aware that this crafty show could do the exact opposite.
Willow/Tara: (Even) Willow has managed to control her addiction and find self-esteem
doing things the old fashioned way. Tara and Willow were a very happy couple before the
addiction thing. If Willow can stay clean, they should have a real shot at happiness. Of
course, they’re currently separated, but have been moving closer together after seeing
each other at Buffy’s birthday, Xander and Anya’s wedding, etc. However, I do worry that
we may be misdirected and Willow will fall off the wagon in a big way.
Xander/Anya: (2-1) There has been a sense of foreboding hanging over this couple all
season. There is that prickly uncomfortable feeling that they are not totally sure of
each other. This could add up to big trouble later in the season, but they have a
wonderful track record of digging in and doing the hard work of understanding each other
which all successful couples do. If they can take a risk with each other and respect the
fear they are experiencing, this story could have a happy ending.
Buffy/Spike: (3-1) The chemistry between these two has been thermonuclear from the start.
He: the evil blood sucking fiend. She: the vampire slayer, the chosen one to stand
against the forces of darkness. And the two of them? They’ve been uncomfortable allies
since he was implanted with a chip that prevents him from harming humans. However, he’s
still a vampire: a dead human with a demon inside him, which the producers love to remind
us. Spike is supposed to represent all that is evil and dysfunctional in a relationship,
yet he’s shown unwavering loyalty towards Buffy, Dawn and Buffy’s friends. He also has
the most realistic perspective on life and his advice has been critical in saving more
than one of the Scoob’s (Buffy’s friends).
While the show’s producers say he is evil and will always be wrong for Buffy, I feel they
still have a big chance for happiness. I think Spike will be redeemed somehow from the
demon inside him, or Buffy will develop a mature respect for his ability to hold onto his
humanness despite the demon inside him. Too much time has been invested in this relationship for it to deteriorate into black and white thinking: people good, vampires
bad.
Since the show’s producers say the theme of this year’s show is “Oh, grow up!" Spike and
Buffy could have a chance if redemption happens or a new understanding develops inside
Buffy.
At the alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer newsgroup, Morgenna had an interesting perspective, “As far
as Buffy continuing to insist ‘I can't love you’ to Spike, methinks the lady doth protest
too much. I think deep inside she knows quite well that she loves Spike and doesn't
understand how it's possible."
We have about a half dozen episode left before the season wraps. So here’s wishing
everyone “love and monsters."
"Love and Monsters"
