BEST EVER ‼️Buffy The Vampire Slayer S05E07|Fool For Love ♡Reaction & Review♡

[@SoFieReactsTV]

BTVS 5x22 and Angel 2x19 are now up on Patreon. For full reactions + more: www.patreon.com/SoFieReacts

[@ernesthakey3396]

Congrats on surviving the season 5 finale. Hugs for that. 2 more seasons! Hmmm...

[@jeromehoarau7460]

@@ernesthakey3396 d

[@somedudeontwitterstalkedme3829]

Spike to Angel in Season 2x3: You were my sire man, my Yoda! It was a mixup, but they stated that Spike didn't know the term for the Sire, who Sired his Sire. Darla - sired - Angel - sired- Drusilla- sired -Spike That is why he followed it up with "my yoda".... his mentor. It was a mistake, they hid in a clever lie... hahaha

[@w33d533d]

Spike didn't have himself a real good day like he had anticipated after all, huh?

[@UTU49]

Loved, loved, loved your video, SoFie. Every once in a while, a Buffy episode has a huge impact on the viewer. This episode seemed like one of those episodes for you.

[@ernesthakey3396]

The quote from Spike: "Love isn't brains, children, it's blood. Blood screaming inside you to work its will... I may be love's bitch but at least I'm man enough to admit it."

[@t.s3994]

I always loved that even when he knew she was with riley he was never ashamed to admit when he was in love. Love is usually seen as weakness, especially with guys, but instead he's willing to admit it and do all that. He is man enough to admit his feelings

[@Riya-of6wj]

One of my fav monologues from spike. That, and S7’s “you’re the one Buffy”

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@Riya-of6wj Spike, even for a soulless vampire, is very good at picking up emotions and seeing to the heart of things, and he isn't afraid to call people out when they are lying to themselves or being oblivious. That doesn't change when he gets a soul, only now he might feel bad about someone else's pain. Another of my favorites is when everyone is just assuming Willow is dealing with Oz's departure, and he's like "Are you all blind? She hanging on by a thread!"

[@Riya-of6wj]

@@ernesthakey3396 absolutely, he always points out the obvious truth no matter the situation, whether it’s in a comedic way or something surprisingly heartfelt. That’s what I love, he doesn’t have a filter. That’s why Angel always bugged me. He always looked like he was holding words back, even though he probably had some good wisdom but he always looked uncomfortable and awkward when he did speak the truth, like he had no trust in his own words. People found Angel mysterious but honestly he was one of the most boring characters in my opinion. Also spike was a poet when he was human so he had a way with words and his overall outlook was poetic. I think if spike had his own spinoff and it was done well, it would have been spectacular.

[@asthajindal5275]

​@@Riya-of6wj I kind of think both BTVS and Angel final season were Spike's show themselves, they were both afloat because of that character.

[@DanielOrme]

Whenever I think of Buffy and Spike, the image I always have is the last shot of this episode, the two of them sitting quietly side by side. Compare it to the image I mostly have of Buffy and Angel: the two of them facing each other in profile. It's the classic lovers pose (think Rhett and Scarlett, or Tracy and Hepburn), but it's also a battle image, of two people in conflict with each other. But sitting side by side is an image of companionship, of friendship between equals. To me, it's more touching, more real.

[@dylanleff373]

James Marsters killed this episode, wow.

[@rfresa]

And also was killed

[@rfresa]

I'm sure many English speakers learned the word "effulgent" from this episode. 😂

[@sueg3650]

"Effulgent" is a fancy word that people use when they're trying to be classy...what we Americans call a "$20 word"...

[@CL_442]

"Are they fucking breathing in sync?" LOL You're one of the only reactors I've seen react to that moment. I love it so much. Great reaction to one of my all-time favorite episodes!

[@maidden]

Plus: vampires don't even breathe.

[@theelderworm9134]

​@@maiddendon't NEED to, but they still do. It's still comfortable to them, even if it doesn't do anything

[@itsonlysound]

Spike is kind of a miracle vampire. Soulless but at times there was still enough residue of the man he used to be, which speaks to the kind of man he was when he was alive I guess - ALOT of love and compassion.

[@HansMuneEnBy]

I think it's more likely becoming a vampire already amplifies everything that's already inside... Yes vampires like demons have more violent tendencies... but still.

[@trevor3013]

I disagree. Angel is the outlier. All vampires we met were close to their original selves without morality. Angel is the one who changed beyond recognition.

[@JhadeSagrav]

@@trevor3013 i always saw it as ... that _is_ who he was. Everyone hides their dark side. Maybe Angel would've become a good person with violent kinks, or who knows, maybe he would've become an abuser. I know we always say he's good, but people say that about me too and i know i'm only good because i try my cussing darndest not to be the true unimaginable horror that i could be if i lost the last remaining fox i have. 🤷‍♀ So yeah, i always see Angelus as "What Angel Tries Hard To Hide."

[@trevor3013]

@JhadeSagrav I agree. I think a soul is just our moral compass. The outlier part of my point was that Angelus was truly so opposing to Angel in terms of actions, empathy, etc. Whereas other vampires are not all that opposing. I also don't think vampires are demons in flesh bags. I think the soul is just replaced with demonic essence. An inverted sense of self. Bad is good. Hurt is pleasure. Etc. I think Joss said something like that once at a comic con

[@ferrisulf]

"What the actual fuck just happened?" A masterpiece. That's what happened. Spike has always had a wider range of emotions than most vampires. We saw it in how far he was willing to go to protect and care for Dru. He also has a hard time being on his own. He's not a loner--and now we see why. YES! Hats off to James! Spike goes through such a transformation through this series. And consider how many different versions of the character he had to play in this one episode! It's incredible! I agree, he feels something for her. I feel like, whether he realizes it or not, she has become the moral compass in his life. First he realized he had a crush, but that just makes him want to be around her. Hence the stalking. But now look at him. He's actually trying to comfort her. Also, I didn't try this show until my mid-twenties. Hell, it's my favorite show as well. :)

[@edwardthorne9875]

This episode is just a total jaw dropper. That final scene had me in tears. When I think of my favorite scenes, it is right up there. It showed how amazing a TV series could be. Victorian class awareness was very real... when Cecily told him he was beneath her, she was referring more to her upper class status than personal superiority. Buffy, however, thinks of herself as being a better person. The tenderness shown by Spike here, his first show of real compassion, is a breakthough moment. The poet is strong in him.

[@scottrabie]

You are correct. Buffy IS the best show you've ever seen.

[@elphabarichardson607]

One of the best episodes ever! It feels wrong to love Spike, but I have loved his character for 20 years. I agree that Spike's poetic heart translates through his vampire nature and permits him to feel love even without a soul. Angel needs a soul not to be a monster, Spike does not.

[@martophrenia]

Yeah, he needed a chip

[@Kayjee17]

Angel said it back in season 2 - when you become a vampire your soul is gone and a demon sets up shop in your body, and it has all of your memories. Liam (Angel) was a garbage person which gave his demon (Angelus) a wealth of negativity to work evil, with emphasis on how to torment people because he'd been doing that to his father most of his life. William was a person obsessed with love and belonging which gave his demon (Spike) a wealth of positivity and a bit of embarrassment, which he turned into being obsessed with belonging in Angelus' group and being obsessed with his lover Drusilla. I believe part of the allure Drusilla had was she appeared powerful and strong to him... Until he met Buffy and saw what real power and strength was. That's why Drusilla said Buffy was all over Spike after they left Sunnydale; she could see that his obsession had turned from her to Buffy before Spike realized it: maybe seeing the future again? So my theory is that the vampire's personality is heavily influenced by the person they were in life, because the demon has to work with a body that is ingrained in the habits of the life it had when living.

[@rfresa]

Yes. I find it so fascinating how the show portrays this! I think the demon part of a vampire has it's own innate awareness of what it is, and an "anti-conscience" of a sort, driving it to be evil.

[@nicoleb1581]

@@rfresa 100% yes! It’s hard to comment on your assessment without spoilers. All I’m going to say is the best example of this is revealed when Spike makes his first meaningful sire that we’ll see in a final season flashback sequence 🤯

[@rfresa]

@@nicoleb1581 definitely spoilers: There are a couple of episodes where a vampire's memory is magically erased and they don't know they're a vampire. But vampires know what they are as soon as they rise from the dead, ready to kill and feed right away. So those memory spells actually affected the demon as well as the human, leaving the vampire with no innate drive to kill, at least at first. Still without a soul, though. It's pretty fascinating, and makes me wonder if anyone ever tried subjecting a vampire to a memory spell in order to get the human back in some fashion.

[@JayceMaxwell]

@@rfresa Makes you sort of wonder what vampire you would be like, doesn't it? I've wondered what mine would be like often.

[@LokiTricksterG]

"So my theory is that the vampire's personality is heavily influenced by the person they were in life" Yep, Angel actually confirms this in the Season 3 episode "Dopplegangland". There's some dialogue where Buffy tries to comfort Willow by telling her that a vampire's personality has nothing to do with who they were as a person, but Angel quickly corrects her by saying, "Actually..."

[@Stuman57]

When Spike said that Angel was his Sire, his Yoda, he meant he was his teacher, his mentor. This episode shows how Angel helped Spike "figure things out". This has caused confusion for years among fans and new fans. But its finally out.

[@sebastianwittmeier1274]

It is similar, as if Buffy would say to Giles: "You were my teacher, my father" - and both would know the word father not being meant biologically.

[@samrobotsin]

I've heard the writers explain the sire sline was just about predecessors along the same vampire lineage. So Dru, Angel, Darla can all be considered Spike's sire.

[@BlackDerek]

@@samrobotsin Makes sense since 'Sire' is also a synonym for 'Forefather'

[@danielvezina5521]

Dru drains Spike, but Angel gave him the Kiss of life.

[@TigerNightmare]

Fool For Love just might be the best single character backstory episode of all time. This episode is what every episode of Lost wished it was. James Marsters already had an idea of who Spike was as a human, but not even he was prepared for this. And it makes perfect sense. William wanted to be loved and accepted more than anything, and that is the basis of what makes him Spike. It's not that Spike has no compassion or empathy, we're introduced to him trying to nurse Dru back to health, and we've seen him recognize the pain and struggles others are going through. His lack of a soul only means he can hurt others without remorse or restraint. Him trying to boomstick his way through Buffy's rejection, that was the lack of a soul driving. Him making Xander and Willow feel inadequate and driving a wedge between the Scoobies, that's something he might hesitate to do if he had a soul. He's still an absolute monster, but maybe it isn't so bad to have him on your side.

[@Tantalus010]

There _is_ actually some wisdom in seeking out the one thing that can kill you, if done properly and not recklessly. If all you ever do is run from it in fear, the one time it backs you into a corner, you will be wholly unprepared to defend yourself. On the other hand, if you've faced it before, you'll have some idea what you're up against and you stand a better chance of surviving. Despite the way he likes to portray himself, Spike isn't (always) reckless. The first time he came to Sunnydale, he didn't just mindlessly walk up to Buffy and pick a fight with her. He sent other vampires to fight her and watched from a distance. He learned. He played it smart. Unfortunately for him, she was simply better.

[@beniyashasama8327]

Although it's late I have to say, Spike has never really had a proper fight with Buffy, the first time Buffy's mother intervened in the fight by hitting him with an ax when he was about to finish off Buffy. The next fight was when Spike had that ring that protected him from the sun or stabs, he dominated most of the fight but in the end he lost it more due to his lack of concentration and playing around than anything else. The next fights were brief encounters but because of the chip he couldn't get serious and fight properly. In fact, for a long period Spike couldn't fight anyone because of the chip. Over time he found a way to stop it from activating, but the attack was weak and he couldn't put murderous intentions on it. Spike is a fighter with great instincts and experience, maybe he wouldn't have been able to kill Buffy even if he had really tried, or maybe he could, we will never know. What I can say is that for different reasons Spike has never fought properly against Buffy, as if he did with the other slayers.

[@apulrang]

The final scene is obviously the best. But my favorite in terms of brilliant writing and plotting is the scene between Spike and Dru with the Chaos demon standing there awkwardly. The way they picked up on the details when Spike was telling Joyce what happened was perfect … “all slime and antlers.” And of course they took an otherwise throwaway bit of earlier exposition about the breakup and made it central to the current plot - Spike was falling for Buffy in some fashion and Dru could “see” it before even Spike was fully aware of it.

[@plottwisted172]

There's a reason Angelus never killed a slayer. He was too focused on control. Spike's chaotic nature may be less disciplined but it leads to greater risks/rewards.

[@jossland1628]

Angelus never killed a slayer because he was scared of them. His threats to spike about slayers, and then the framing of the 'I smell fear', pretty much indicates that Angelus was scared of slayers and then spike for killing one of them.

[@donemu9096]

@@jossland1628 No, it was about control. Angelus was the kind who didn't take risks at all. If he thought there was a 10% chance he'd lose, he would either work it out till he felt it was 100% or he would bail. The difference was Spike didn't care. So when Spike succeeded, it ticked Angel off because he would never take that risk. Angelus was never scared of Spike, he was jealous/envious that Spike would do things he couldn't bring himself to. Spike and Angelus/Angel's relationship isn't about fear, it's about jealousy/envy towards each other for the things the other is good at.

[@ms_scribbles]

Angelus was always too busy playing mind games with little girls to bother taking a slayer.

[@keshaponso536]

Back in season two I wouldn't have wanted The Judge to touch Spike.. coz he always was sensitive and felt emotions more than other vampires.

[@joeboucher695]

What a phenomenal night of television. This is one of the greatest Buffy episodes followed by an Angel that I think is even better (the emotional resonances hit me harder.) I was lucky enough to be part of a fabulous chat group that somehow attracted the attention and occasional participation of Tim Minear, my favorite Angel writer. It was so surreal to watch some of the best tv ever, jump on line to talk about it with an amazing collection of fellow travelers, and have one of the creators of the greatness there. "So did you guys enjoy me tormenting you?" Yes, sir, indeed we did. Shout out to Doug Petrie, who didn't chat with us but did write "Fool for Love."

[@phueal]

I’ve noticed Tim Minear watching other reactions too (he commented on Liam Duke’s reaction to Out Of Gas for example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYWZqnyFhbJqiqM), I think he enjoys seeing people enjoy his art!

[@MartinGonzalez-ke9uy]

@@phueal thats pretty cool

[@Nexusofgeek]

was it the Bronze chat on the website by any chance?

[@kirstenstewart5758]

I’m late to comment here, but with all the excellent tv series I’ve watched over the years, Buffy is forever and always my favourite show - the writing, directing, acting, choreography, cinematography and character development are all so exceptional. I never tire of it, which is why I’m loving witnessing reactors fall in love with this show and realise how truly magical the Buffyverse is!

[@lexterminate]

The way this episode changes lives…

[@anapaulamatosferreira4344]

Spike carries with him souvenirs from the Slayers he killed: the scar and the jacket. And when Dru bites him, that’s when mixes pain, sex and love…

[@transmatized]

buffy is definitely one of the best shows, if not THE best show, ever created. and it’s later seasons are honestly it’s strongest in my opinion, especially this season. the fact that it only won emmys for makeup and music is still insane to me.

[@liteflightify]

I can’t place it in the same level of The Sopranos or The Wire. And there’s a handful of other shows I’d place in front of it. But it is one of the best shows ever, one of the most influential and distinct shows ever, and it deserved way more awards rec than it got. The fact that Gellar got no Emmys nods at all, especially for seasons 2 and 5 and when there was such limited competition back then, is really irritating. But it was on the WB/UPN, was considered a “teen show” and was a genre/supernatural show. So, it was never gonna get its due awards wise.

[@guilainefeutchine886]

For me Buffy is a brillant shows and is in my top 5 alongside with The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men , And Breaking Bad​@@liteflightify

[@ijustsmokedwhatsup3217]

AHH girl YES Buffy really IS superior to all shows. This ep is art. There's SO much to unpack. I love Spike SO much. He’s so layered and interesting. He tries so hard to separate himself from William, but I LOVE that he still manages to bleed through his persona (James is such an incredible actor) Spike is Buffy's shadow self. They're the same person tbh. Both had their lives completely altered by a destiny per say (she becoming a slayer, he a vamp) and became reinvented versions of themselves. Both went against the norm of what was expected of them. Both have style and flair and revel in the fight. They relate in so many ways. When Spike is saying Buffy has a death wish, honestly I think he’s projecting. HE’S the one with the death wish, he’s the one who seeks out the very thing supposed to kill him. The end scene kills me. They way they breathe in sync, even just the fact that Buffy is so emotionally vulnerable in front of him and he just lets her BE and offers her comfort in silence. The two of them have more chemistry in this ep than Buffy and Riley’s entire relationship LOL Also yeah Dru knew Spike was into Buffy way before he himself even realized it. Poor dru

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

It's a stonker isn't it?

[@UTU49]

I could probably write 5000 words about what makes Buffy a special show. Here's a short version. EVERY season tells an interesting, satisfying story that is different from the other seasons. EVERY character grows and changes with almost every season. A viewer can "grow up" with Buffy just like they can "grow up" with Harry Potter. If you are anywhere in the Buffy series (for example, 3, 4, or 5 seasons in), whatever is the "next season" for you... will probably shock you. It won't shock you by pulling off a "shock stunt" like killing off a whole bunch of characters. No. It will shock you with the richness of the character development. It is impossible to describe this series to someone who has never seen it. How many other shows could you say these things about? If you exclude specialty sources like HBO (that make far fewer episodes per season), there are almost none. [I'm going to repost this comment on its own.]

[@theokojak2183]

@@UTU49 Babylon 5 and Xena Warrior Princess I could name for a start. If you haven't watched those, please do so because they also contain some amazing character development and growth across their seasons. Babylon 5 has some of the greatest writing for television ever. I would definitely recommend both shows for Sofie's future reactions list.

[@ninjanibba4259]

Angel is better but Buffy is great too

[@WSK9002]

But here's the difference Buffy has changed since became a Slayer and Spike is still William The Poet deep down as much as he has convinced himself he isn't any longer.

[@UTU49]

Buffy is just a light, fun supernatural comedy... ... until it isn't. Any viewer who has just started this series will not understand the above statement... but one day they will.

[@UTU49]

Here's the thought I had while watching your reaction. --> The best possible thing I can say about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is this: EVERY season does things that you don't see in ANY previous season. Every season does things that are fresh and new and original.

[@hardybryan]

Always remember, sex and violence are the same thing to Spike. There really isn't a line between them anymore. But as for the sympathy he shows at the end, he's in love with Buffy. He used to comfort Dru too. Spike is a little different from most vampires. And yes, this is a truly outstanding episode. One of my favorites of the season.

[@amysavannah1110]

One of the very best episodes of Buffy hands down. And the episode most people really started to believe Spike and Buffy as a couple wasn't completely crazy, and thought Angel who?

[@rosshall6475]

Who is Angel?

[@simom931]

Liam as a human being was a scum, so when turned into Angelus he became the restless monster we know. While William was a decent man, a poet, a little bit 'obsessed' with love (remember what Spike told Angel and Buffy in 'Lovers walk'?). So as a vampire, Spike is rather different from Angelus, even without a soul. Plus the chip helped him to experience life among other human beings during S4 and S5. This ep is pur gold! The way they filmed the fight in the tube is amazing, with parallels between 1977 and present time. And that final scene when he tries to comfort Buffy: 'Is there anything I can do?' For the first time we can feel a real emotional bond between them, also undelined by the fact that they're dressed alike (those little huge details in BTVS)

[@adgato75]

This is probably the single best episode of tv i have ever seen. Even after all this time, i can't think of anything that passes it.

[@breezybree1999]

you keeping that shot of spike and buffy up throughout your review is a big mood 🥺🥺

[@holi117]

For spike, the “dance” is a number of things - fighting, bantering and arguing, passion and sex, death and victory. The dance is life and death, love and hate… him and buffy have “danced” for years - always fighting and nobody ever actually making the last move to kill the other; somehow teaming up instead… him with his feelings for her and sensing the tensions between them… “you think we’re dancing?!” “Thats all we’ve ever done.”

[@annapurna4054]

Your reaction was perfect, and so were your observations. So insightful. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite episodes. Easily top five. Buffy is an incredible show, no doubt about it. And I agree. The onscreen chemistry between Sarah and James is through the roof. Don't worry about not knowing "effulgent." It's a rarely used word and most English speakers aren't familiar with it either. It's a funny-sounding word that isn't normally used in regular conversation-that's why the others were making fun of him and laughing at him for using it.

[@OscarWild333]

This episode is total perfection. A game changer.

[@Philbert-s2c]

It's a masterpiece of acting, writing and editing.

[@Nicamon]

@@Philbert-s2c A masterpiece?Yes. Total perfection?A Spikecentric episode?Nah.Not for me!X-P

[@martamaszkiewicz341]

Oh my, I was waiting for this one! Spike is one of my favourite characters of all fiction, as he can be anything.He can be effortlessly charismatic and cool,but also embarrasingly pathetic.Terryfying but also funny.Poetic but also a voice of reson.Cruel and soulless,but also empathic and compasionate.Cringy disgusting stalker and hot bad boy fantasy. A villain and a hero. A threat and a comic relief. Sometimes all of these in one episode. And despite being this caleidoscope of contradicting traits he felt consistent and real to me. A very complex character, and yet he can be described with one word, and this word is PASSIONS. Also, your squealing reaction for the flashbacks make me laugh out loud!

[@ernesthakey3396]

Should maybe edit out that last sentence? Referring to future episodes is a bit spoilerish.

[@martamaszkiewicz341]

@@ernesthakey3396 done:)

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@martamaszkiewicz341 ♡

[@jenhalbert3001]

i agree, this is a really good video. the subway fight is brilliantly shot and edited, and all the flashbacks are wonderful. I've always loved Spike and this ia definitely one of his best.

[@ernesthakey3396]

This could have been Spike's "one good day." But Spike, despite not having a soul, does have empathy, somehow. James Marsters is freaking amazing... The last scene always gets me too - especially after how she treated him. ♡

[@Nicamon]

"But Spike, despite not having a soul, does have empathy, somehow."SOMEHOW...the way *every single damn person* tries to justify this for 2 full decades it's honestly driving me *INSANE!!!* 😵 IT'S CALLED A PLOT HOLE,PEOPLE!!!>O

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@Nicamon the show's watcher also claims that the original person's personality, memories, etc., are all gone, replaced by the demon. Which is patently incorrect throughout many a vampire across the entire show. Obviously at some point early in the show they changed their own rules. Less a plot hole than outright revisionism.

[@Nicamon]

@@ernesthakey3396 Whatever you wanna call it,it's something that makes the show inconsistent.Therefore,I'm just unable to go along with it.ù___U

[@michaelchampion936]

​@Nicamon except even back with the judge in season two he says he can feel love within Spike, yet when Angelus turns up there is none. Also when willow says she thinks vamp willow is slightly gay, Angel let's slip that the watchers are wrong and some of the person dies stay with the vamp. Angelus kept his sadistic part, Dru kept her visions, and spike kept his hopeless romanticism.

[@danwiesdamageinc]

20:37 In the episode 'Lover's Walk', Spike gave the speech about love. He also told Willow about the chaos demon Dru was cheating with. "They're all slime and antlers. They're disgusting!".

[@terpcj]

Don't worry about "effulgent". It's not exactly near the top of the most-used-words list.

[@UTU49]

Agreed. I very very rarely see the word "effulgent" used. My guess is that a pretty small percentage of native English speakers would know it. 10%? 15%?

[@Sesheyan101]

I think Spike being a poet in life translates well for him as a vampire, sure he's evil cause all vamps are without a soul, but the fact he was tied to emotions when he was alive shows in interesting scenes like this. He loves Buffy but it's still more of an obsession cause of his lack of a soul, without a soul you can't truly love in a healthy way, hence why his emotions "spike" up and down constantly through the show. As for slayers having a death-wish, I think he's right... I mean they have to deal with death day in and day out killing things and i think it's a subconscious thing where they are just tired of it but keep fighting. Sure they are protecting people, but most slayers get so tired of it depleting their lives of all the happy moments.

[@peterwright6721]

Wasn't expecting that little scream when you saw normal Spike LOL

[@godmagnus]

He wasn't just jealous, he was... ANgelous. *runs away*

[@allocat5867]

Classic, great episode! This is where I first appreciated Spike for more than just comedy relief (and as a cool antagonist early on).

[@danielsalazar112]

This is 1 of my favorite and best episodes not only in buffyverse but out of all the shows I watch. Buffy is tied for my 2nd favorite character with 3 other characters of other shows. After rewatching this episode spike joined that list. I'm all for girl power but I'm glad spike"s character evolved so much. He is awesome. Truly underated.

[@annlin6766]

This is without a doubt my favourite episode of Buffy, and there are many great ones to choose from. There's great backstory and so much heart! I still get goosebumps watching the end scene.

[@michaelstanley5575]

Angel sired drusilla who sired spike. So you could say Angel was Spikes grandsire (which is a sire of sorts). But more likely they just changed the story of who his sire was. The episode where they said that was the parent teacher night at the school. You know... the same one where Joyce hit Spike with an axe.

[@lenr112]

I think Sire can mean 2 things. The person that turned you. Or the vampire that mentored you . Spike also said Angel was his Yoda .

[@michaelstanley5575]

@@lenr112 That is certainly a possible explanation. Certainly there was plenty of opprtunity for mentoring by Angel. The little we saw showed Angel mostly hostile to Spike, but that doesn't mean it was always like that. And the Yoda point is a good one.

[@juho1891]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they simply changed the story of who sired who. That, or they forgot what they'd written. I think we have to remember that as good as Buffy was for its time and regardless of its status now as a classic, it was still a network TV show, made in the 90s and early 00s with what was by today's standards clearly a modest budget. I think they just had a great idea for a show and a surprisingly excellent cast and crew, and even though, I suspect, they were winging it most of the time, the results were magic--most of the time. I don't know what actually happened in the writers' room, of course, but I'd guess they had maybe a rough outline for the overarching plot of the season they were working on, and then they made the rest up as they wrote each episode. Continuity of lore was probably a tertiary concern at best, and they were working with a schedule that didn't allow for the kind of systematic planning of each storyline that you may get with some shows today that have massive budgets and maybe 8 episodes in a season that drops on streaming services every other year. It's honestly pretty amazing how well it was all put together in the case of Buffy. Of Whedon's shows, only Firefly somewhat resembles a modern "prestige" TV show, and that's probably an accident, due to its one and only truncated season, and an idea and outline that was probably more thought out than most, because it felt like such a passion project.

[@colettepot7350]

I understood they wanted to kill Spike off quite soon, so they probably wanted to keep the story simple. I think looking at the character developement it does not make sense for Angel to turn a guy like William. But it would exactly be the thing Drusilla might do, because he’s really cute and makes the perfect pet:-)

[@Henrik_Holst]

@@juho1891 I don't think that they forgot, I think that they identified that the Yoda part gave them leeway to change his sire to Dru.

[@odinthorson1830]

Love isn't brains children, it's blood, blood screaming inside you to work it's will. I may be Love's Bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.

[@itsjezzer]

Drusilla actually sired Spike, but Spike referred to Angel as his sire because he was his actual mentor and leader of their group.

[@peggin169]

In School Hard, Spike told Angel "You were my sire, my Yoda" so, yeah, without additional information, it makes sense to assume that Angel was the one who turned Spike. But unless you want to argue that Spike meant the "Yoda" part literally, I think it's easy to see that Spike was just saying "You're the one who taught me everything I know" and not that Angel was the one who had literally turned him.

[@katiewhite190]

Also, Angel is like his grandsire since Angelus turned Drusilla.

[@DaveVampireSlayer]

Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Masters are perfects in their role in every scene and aspect

[@sgcastle8389]

Buffy never had a death wish, But now that i think about it, Faith had one. As a slayer Buffy at some point would want to die, that's what Spike is saying

[@Carabas72]

Buffy had a death wish in this very episode. She really was just going to let him shoot her there at the end. When she looked at him there was no anger, no fear, no attempt to defend herself, just acceptance.

[@witchy.business]

@@Carabas72 I interpreted that as her not really taking him seriously. She’s dealing with her own stuff and Spike is just there being ridiculous. I don’t think she sees him as a threat at all at this point, even with a gun. I don’t think she has a death wish at all- I think Spike is just projecting his own fascination with death and violence.

[@MrMoneyKlip]

The siring of Spike is transitive property. Darla sired Angelus, Angelus sired Dru, and Dru sired Spike. In the Buffy universe, anyone in your vampiric bloodline before you is your 'sire'

[@Daelyas]

So this reaction had some great "SoFie-exe stopped working" moments :D

[@ernesthakey3396]

Darla sired Angel, Angel sired Drusilla, Drusilla sired Spike. Angel was actually Spike's grandsire, Spike was being loose with the terminology in that early episode. Or, alternative explanation, the writers hadn't decided to have Drusilla be his sire at that point. :)

[@Nicamon]

*Angelus.

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@Nicamon yes, but the show itself is inconsistent at times in naming him one vs the other. It is a sad hill to die on, I gave up that fight myself a while back.

[@Nicamon]

@@ernesthakey3396 "Yes, but the show itself is inconsistent at times in naming him one vs the other."I know..and it makes me *so mad!X-(((*

[@DanielOrme]

Before adding my voice to the Spike commentary, can I just say that the Giles/Buffy exchange at 3:00 - 3:11 was beautiful. Buffy's expression after Giles says "painful, I was going to say" was especially touching.

[@Philbert-s2c]

Yeah, she asked him out to a club, bought him wings and beer. It's a date. Nor surprising in retrospect though. She's been actively flirting with him since season four. "What's effulgent? My English isn't that good." I'm a native English speaker. When this episode aired we were all running for the dictionary. This episode is on most people's top ten lists for this show and for good reason. In 42 minutes they managed to completely change everybody's perception of Spike. From ruthless villain, to comedy relief to tragic victim of circumstance. When the writing of this show was on point....it was on POINT. And yeah, to Spike, sex and death are very closely related.

[@thomasfnmitchell1988]

Yes, best show ever. It's hard to realize you actually realized. Formed my being.

[@xandi4770]

Spike is the most human vampire

[@raymondgilbert1341]

Yeah, the sire thing. In School Hard, when you first meet Spike, he mentions to Angel that he (Angel) was his sire. That is the only time I recall hearing that. Then they just quietly change that and the fans have just glossed over it in time. It is now known that Darla sired Angel, Angel sired Dru, and Dru sired Spike. I guess this would make Angel his "grandsire".

[@argo1221]

You can also add that the Master sired Darla.

[@caterinacatina]

Your squeal when the flashback started was amazing hahaha, exactly how I felt first watching this too. I've been so excited to see your reaction to this episode! One of my faves of S5!

[@samsonau8205]

Love your reaction to this! I've been around a long while and watched lots of TV and Buffy is still one of the best ever, IMO. It's so rewatchable and it's great to follow along with you (and other reactors). I patiently wait for future reactions on KZbin even though I know you're way ahead in Patreon.

[@jonathonbell8258]

The woman the human spike loved was the same person who became Anya's vengeance demon friend Halfrek later. When spike and her meet again, you can see on spikes face he recognised her.

[@salamandertoast]

You sum up my feelings on this episode so well! It's one of my favorites and it made me so happy to see you love it too! Oh, and about the word "effulgent": it's not that your English isn't good, it's just a VERY uncommon word. I'd guess most native English speakers wouldn't know it either. I think that was the joke-it's a very odd, old-fashioned word, so his use of it in his poem sounds silly (especially rhymed with the line "'tis grown a bulge in it").

[@knowledge-girl]

Slayers have no real lives of their own, most of them are probably trained from birth like Kendra. They have no friends, no family; the only person in the world they have is their Watcher. They spend their lives fighting and killing and being hurt. Death is their gift; they make it with their hands, and it's really the only thing they know. After spending their entire lives fighting and killing, it makes sense that they'd be curious about what it would be like to die since it's really the only thing they know. It's a release from the constant fear and pain so what Spike says makes sense.

[@Blackpaco]

"I think Buffy is the best show I've ever watched. At first I had doubts, but..." Yeah, that's all of us. Yes, in School Hard Spike said that Angel was his aire (and Whedon admitted they screwed that one up), but since Angel sired Dru and Dru sired Spike, we can say that is and honest confusion. Also, The speech Spike gave in Lover's Walk is iconic. Actually, this episode's first title was Love's Bitch, because of the quote from that episode: "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it". But the network got it changed. I love your reactions!

[@rakyachad9490]

Thank you for a wonderful reaction. This ep is poetry worthy of the amazing character that is Spike. My own theory is that beacuase human Spike was such a heartfelt person that part of his character and traits remained , even with a demon inside. Spike is truly a giant , just like Dru saw. Fool for love is my absolute favorite ep and i agree Buffy is the best show ever.:))

[@VerMaarte]

It's possible to get a deathwish when you always have to keep fighting almost hopeless odds. Once you get tired of fighting, then it'll happen. Slayers always had to do everything themselves and carry the burden. Buffy has the support of family and friends and therefore something to live for. I think that's what Spike meant

[@JoeLaveau]

Buffy has been my favorite show for decades. Always delighted to hear someone vindicate my opinion.

[@planetwatch0000]

Buffy leaves all other shows standing helpless in its wake. Even the weakest episode is better than any other show. The greatest episodes are art. Masterpieces.

[@darkdg4106]

When Spike said to Angel, "You were my sire man, you were my Yoda," I think he was talking more metaphorically as a mentor rather than meaning it more in a literal sense.

[@snappapop3277]

he wasn't. this was just a bad rewrite.

[@darkdg4106]

@@snappapop3277 Don't believe so, but possibly.

[@fenixjpb]

I always cry at the end. Its the best episode ever !!

[@blacktronlego]

'Effulgent' is not a word often used and it is poor rhyme for 'bulge in it'. 9:50 Spike claimed Angel was his sire in 'School Hard' but Drusilla actually turned him, but she was part of Angelus and Darla's gang at the time. Angelus taught Spike, so he was his 'Yoda'.

[@alicequinn505]

Also they made fun of "effulgent" but not 'a bulge in it'??? I heard that Angelus was meant to be Spike's sire, but they changed it.

[@FireflyMALcontent]

YAY for your love of this show, you have joined SO many other Buffy fans that just love this show. And I have told SO many people that start to watch it, that when you are in Season 5, you will look back and say, I had zero idea that what I watched in season 1 could ever turn in to this-

[@Nellynox]

I'm so happy to see your reaction to this episode and glad to hear your praise for the show. Your open reflections during the episode are so good and its very clear that you understand the characters on a deeper level, love it!

[@constanzaruiz9273]

Do you remember season 2 with the Judge, the vampires have some humanity, he even tells Spike and Drusilla that they are full of feelings, it is only Angel who is clean.

[@constanzaruiz9273]

@@MrSupertallblackman I think he applies the logic of the demons, not all of them are bad at all, with Anya's boss and others that I don't remember, Spike was always different, he cares about Down and Buffy's mom, and as he says to Angel, Drusilla I turned him into a vampire but you turned me into a monster

[@Nicamon]

@@constanzaruiz9273 *Angelus Anyway,Spike being"always different"still doesn't make sense to me.They really needed to clarify better what parts souless vampires from souled humans,otherwise the Slayers being vampire mass murderers becomes much,much shadier than the show wants us to believe!X-/

[@ofirarg]

i just realized that spike was in love with a vengeance demon when he was human

[@notoriouslybratty]

Drusilla: You taste like ash. Glance at Dru’s new slime lover Sofie: And what does he taste like? 🤣

[@marresjepie1887]

In 'the days' I watched this episode with my BFF.. We both ended-up with our mouths agape, all teary-eyed.. This WHOLE season is one, serious trip.. Magnificently confusing. AFA we were concerned, Buffy suddenly grew-up as a series.

[@robinschicha4712]

This Episode turns everyone into a giggling Child 😍😂😜 Spike‘s Origin Story. We love it! 💗

[@michaelstanley5575]

I think he wants her to hit him because that plays into his dreams about her. And her rejection takes him back to his original rejection which leads to hurt, betrayal, and potentially anger.

[@samrobotsin]

"I would watch a show about Angel, Spike, Dru & Darla" CW's The Originals: We were thinking the exact same thing

[@qrsx66]

Spike did say to Angel "you were my sire, my Yoda," and we should understand this as him being in his ancestry line (Angel -> Drusilla -> Spike) - and a mentor.

[@NPA1001]

The way this tied into the following episode of Angel was absolutely peak Buffyverse.

[@davidterhune8277]

I would love to see a spinoff featuring that Slayer from the 70's

[@shadowjewel]

Spike's empathy is so unusual for a vamp! My fan theory is someone with a soul feels empathy automatically (unless they are a psychopath I guess, but that's rl problems), but someone without a soul does not (which also breaks their sense of right and wrong). Spike I think has so much imagination and impulsive passion that if it's someone he likes and is therefor focused on, he just imagines what he thinks they are feeling, a kind of elective empathy with an extra step. So he can be brutal towards someone he cares nothing for thanks to not having that automatic empathy, but tender with someone he does, even if he might miss the mark.

[@boqndimitrov8693]

An exceptional episode. Loaded to the top with emotions and facts. And, unfortunately, we will never see a series dedicated to Angel's gang! Too late! Damn late. But at least we will always have Buffy! The best!

[@lilywong9672]

Finally a reactor watched this first before the Angel episode. The PROPER way to watch it. Also, I don't think slayers have a death wish. That's just Spike messing with Buffy's head. Buffy has everything to live for, so does Xin Rong and Nikki Wood. None of those slayers want to die.

[@spikesecho724]

I disagree....I totally believe sooner or later slayers have a death wish. Just takes one day. He's right on point and hits close to home/something deep down in Buffy. That's why she responds so angrily and is shook.

[@alooncnej4696]

I think they have because they are feeling lonely and because the weight of the world

[@Buffy8Fan]

I was always disappointed the slayer in New York didn't beg for her life like Spike claimed in _School Hard._ When Spike said Angel sired him he was referencing Angelus as his teacher by also saying, "My Yoda" just after You were my sire."

[@transmatized]

I’ve been waiting for you to get to this episode 😁 it’s one of my favorites

[@theokojak2183]

Seriously my favourite ever episode of the series and I always love to watch reactors view it :-)

[@AdzPower]

The thing with a slayer is, from the moment they are "called" they know they have an expiration date. Spike is right, all it takes is one and at some point one will get lucky. Its why slayers are curious about dying - they know they are headed towards it sooner than most. Its why Kendra died - she was like the Chinese slayer - all duty all the time, taken away from her family at a young age, she didn't have any emotional ties to keep her grounded like Buffy. Same with Faith - so hellbent on burning herself out she alienated any friends and her family were gone. Its why Buffy survives longer than the others - she has family and friends. If she had been found at a young age and taken away for training - she'd have ended up like Kendra.

[@terpcj]

I'm always impressed how Spike can spar with Buffy and not have a chip reaction. At what point just having a "good ol' time of it" shift into "intent"? Seems a very fine line at times for our Spikey.

[@lewlew873]

told you when you started this "you weren't ready for this." welcome to the fever.

[@DanielOrme]

The stark contrast between the impulsively violent Spike and the calculatingly sadistic Angelus is made explicit here. Both shows will explore it in more depth in episodes to come.

[@alicequinn505]

I don't think they really explore it, but I guess you pay attention to it more after this episode.

[@menachemsalomon]

I think by now you well understand why us gentle viewers were so excited when you got to meet Spike, and had such strong opinions on what you should feel about him. Because William the Bloody is not bound by the rules of society, even those rules that say a vampire is a cruel, heartless demon with no soul and no desire for anything but the kill. As for _effulgent,_ it may be in the dictionary, but I doubt any of us have ever heard it used in any context other than Spike's poem. It's archaic, and nothing rhymes with it, besides "bulge in't."

[@Victoria-xf8sh]

I LOVE YOUR REACTION! I thoroughly enjoyed this. I’m a HUGE Spike and Buffy fan, they are my two favorite characters and favorite couple. And Fool for Love is my favorite episode too! Thanks for doing this.

[@mj6866]

Buffy is the best show I have ever seen too. Fantastic reaction. BTW, I had to look up effulgent too :-)

[@ashlielove6513]

This is the episode that made me go from interested to a fan for life of this show at 11 years old. It's just...perfection.

[@gemmaxox8698]

Girl you and I have the same question, how can spike as a vampire without a soul love? God I love this show😂

[@LyrictheFilthyCasual]

The joke with "Effulgent" is that it's a VERY uncommon word. I'm a native English speaker absolutely obsessed with books, and I was reading at a college level in primary school. I had to look up what that word means. And despite having a beautiful meaning ,it's a very ugly-sounding word. If, prior to looking up the word, I head someone use it to describe a mound of garbage, I would just assume that it means "offensive, odorous, disgusting." Wouldn't even bother to look it up. Hearing the word for the first time in a love poemm, I'm like "Wait WTF? What is this words, I need to look it up."