I've seen it wanked that she knew Spike was going to die (how?) and was only saying it knowing she'd never have to deal with it, same as ILY.
Oooh, let's really get started on one of my WTF??? pet peeves. (or, lets not and say we did.)
Something I've never seen stated (have I bored you with this theory already?) - the period in which William was born and raised, the Arts & Crafts movement was in full flower, as well as the Aesthetic movement and of course the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The reaction to the rise of industrialism was a nostalgic look backward at a fantasy of the Middle Ages, "the Romance of the Rose", "Childe Roland", the Gothic Revival, fantasies of Chivalry and bold knights who received gifts from the women they loved (but could never be with in reality) and risked their lives to prove their worthiness of the "beloved" Lady. I think these sorts of things would have appealed deeply to William, the would-be romantic poet, and still exists in Spike. (He's very much the chivalrous lover - as much as a vampire can be - to Dru in S2; and he's playing the "black knight" to save his ladylove - Buffy - in the alley in DT.) So when Buffy calls him a Champion, and gives him the amulet? That's a big deal, and I think he'd recognize it as such, not just on the "in the now" level with Buffy.
And when had Buffy ever asked anyone else to take on the work that she feels is her responsibility? She fucking died twice to save the world. She sacrificed herself in Dawn's stead, she refused to let Giles go in her place in PG. "This is the work I have to do...tell Giles, I figured it out." (The Gift) / "I have to do this" (Chosen). She knows exactly what he's doing, understands his choice in a way no one else could, and completely honors that. One champion to another.
If anything, learning how to delegate, to share power and not take on the entire weight of the world is explicitly her arc. *spits at S8* (See what you started? Virtual spitting is fun and - bonus - doesn't mess up the 'puter screen.)
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branchandroot
Re: Long reply is pretty damn long, pt 1
Date: 2013-06-14 04:33 pm (UTC)Absolutely.
I've seen it wanked that she knew Spike was going to die (how?) and was only saying it knowing she'd never have to deal with it, same as ILY.
Oooh, let's really get started on one of my WTF??? pet peeves. (or, lets not and say we did.)
Something I've never seen stated (have I bored you with this theory already?) - the period in which William was born and raised, the Arts & Crafts movement was in full flower, as well as the Aesthetic movement and of course the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The reaction to the rise of industrialism was a nostalgic look backward at a fantasy of the Middle Ages, "the Romance of the Rose", "Childe Roland", the Gothic Revival, fantasies of Chivalry and bold knights who received gifts from the women they loved (but could never be with in reality) and risked their lives to prove their worthiness of the "beloved" Lady. I think these sorts of things would have appealed deeply to William, the would-be romantic poet, and still exists in Spike. (He's very much the chivalrous lover - as much as a vampire can be - to Dru in S2; and he's playing the "black knight" to save his ladylove - Buffy - in the alley in DT.) So when Buffy calls him a Champion, and gives him the amulet? That's a big deal, and I think he'd recognize it as such, not just on the "in the now" level with Buffy.
And when had Buffy ever asked anyone else to take on the work that she feels is her responsibility? She fucking died twice to save the world. She sacrificed herself in Dawn's stead, she refused to let Giles go in her place in PG. "This is the work I have to do...tell Giles, I figured it out." (The Gift) / "I have to do this" (Chosen). She knows exactly what he's doing, understands his choice in a way no one else could, and completely honors that. One champion to another.
If anything, learning how to delegate, to share power and not take on the entire weight of the world is explicitly her arc. *spits at S8* (See what you started? Virtual spitting is fun and - bonus - doesn't mess up the 'puter screen.)