Spike's soul and change

[double_dutchess]

Via a link in the su_herald, today I came across this great post by pfeifferpack about Spike and whether or not he needed a soul and why. I like this post, because it largely reflects how I've always felt about Spike and his soul. It's also a good excuse to post an old vid of mine, in which I tried to express a similar view in my own preferred medium.

Watch on YouTube

"Things change."
"They do. If you make them."

It's not my best vid, but it's important to me because I love soulless Spike's journey so much. To quote from pfeifferpack's post, I think he did not need the soul for redemption. He was on the road to that already with each baby step, each choice.

Comments

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I like this vid.

[double_dutchess]

Thanks, glad to hear that! I struggled a lot with this one, and I'm not completely satisfied with it, but I still have a soft spot for it anyway.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I think it's an absolutely swell vid!


Gabrielle

[double_dutchess]

Thanks, glad you like it! I'm always a bit in doubt about its merits, but that's probably because I can't watch it objectively.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I really like the vid! And I also enjoyed the meta you pointed out. I agree with most of the points made. I think Spike lost some part of him when he got a soul. But I also think without a soul he would have always been just one step away from "falling off the wagon". Nevertheless, I would have preferred him to stay soulless.

[double_dutchess]

Thanks, glad you like it! I agree about him being at risk of falling off the wagon. And I'm not sure I can say I would have preferred Spike to stay soulless. It would have been great to see him change and grow further without his soul. But on the other hand, I like souled Spike a whole lot too.

[tei-lj.livejournal.com]

OMG so i probably forgot to report this back but after watching your Spike/Angel vid I went on a but of a Stranglers kick (and, uh, may be doing a floor routine to an instrumental version of Golden Brown at an adult gymnastics competition next week) so needless to say I found this post thrilling :D

I really like the Wizard of Oz analogy in that post-- that strikes me as completely accurate that what happened.

[double_dutchess]

OMG so i probably forgot to report this back but after watching your Spike/Angel vid I went on a but of a Stranglers kick (and, uh, may be doing a floor routine to an instrumental version of Golden Brown at an adult gymnastics competition next week) so needless to say I found this post thrilling :D

Oh, that's great! I'm a huge Stranglers fan, so it makes me really happy to hear I've infected you with it. About half of my vids are set to Stranglers songs, and I have loads more planned -- I know it's predictable, but I don't care :-) Good luck with that floor routine!

And yeah, it's a great post I think. I like the WOz analogy a lot too.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

Lovely vid! Very nice job!!

Re:

[double_dutchess]

Thank you. I struggled a lot with this vid, and in the end I was no longer convinced it was any good. So it's nice to know that you think it is!

[shapinglight]

I think it's a very good vid, and perfect for soulless Spike. I agree that he was changing before he got the soul, but it was something he was forced into for the most part by the chip.

On the other hand, I think he had realised that he had to change before he got the soul, so to me, yes, that counts as redemption.

[double_dutchess]

Thank you. This is one of my most "message-y" vids, and I find it difficult to judge for myself if I did a good job with it or not. So I'm really glad that you think I did!

I agree that the chip was essential; without it, Spike would probably never have changed the way he did. I'm not sure I'd use the word 'forced' though. Just imagine Angelus with a chip; I'm sure that would have gone very differently...

Love your icon btw!

[shapinglight]

You're right. It was a combination of his base personality and the chip.

[desdemonaspace]

You made this?!? It's great, and yet you say it's not your best? Your others must be something.

This was a lovely affirmation of why I love Spike so much. I enjoyed muchly!

[double_dutchess]

Thank you; I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed it. This is one of my vids I have most emotional investment in, because I love Spike so much, and in particular how he changed himself. It's nice to have a new friend who feels the same way!

[thenewbuzwuzz.livejournal.com]

Cool vid. :) The way Spike changes is one of my favorite things about him! And he started long, long before getting the soul. Which he also sought out himself, so.

[double_dutchess]

Cool vid. :) The way Spike changes is one of my favorite things about him!

Thanks, and same here. Spike deciding to get his soul is just so monumental, but also the logical culmination of everything that went before, in my opinion.

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Great vid! Thanks!

[double_dutchess]

Thank you, glad you like it!