So in my opinion the only times we saw the "true" Spike is BTVS early season 4 and ATS season 5. And you can see a strong similarity between them both.
I think that season 7 Spike was still basing a lot of his actions on love, but with his own identity behind them. If that makes sense.
He had been trying to build the identity he thought the women in his life wanted for him. But I think the main reason for that was because a lack of soul did not give him the opportunity to make moral choices and think about what he wanted to be for himself.
With season 4 Spike and Ats season 5 Spike you seem to be leaning towards the view that it's about Spike needing to be his own man away from the females he wants to impress. And while I think that can be seen as a factor, IMO it was the lack of a soul that was his biggest problem in his search for self.
It was without the soul, when he really was emotionally stunted and had no hope of true change.
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rosecarmine
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Date: 2005-05-09 10:41 pm (UTC)I think that season 7 Spike was still basing a lot of his actions on love, but with his own identity behind them. If that makes sense.
He had been trying to build the identity he thought the women in his life wanted for him. But I think the main reason for that was because a lack of soul did not give him the opportunity to make moral choices and think about what he wanted to be for himself.
With season 4 Spike and Ats season 5 Spike you seem to be leaning towards the view that it's about Spike needing to be his own man away from the females he wants to impress. And while I think that can be seen as a factor, IMO it was the lack of a soul that was his biggest problem in his search for self.
It was without the soul, when he really was emotionally stunted and had no hope of true change.