diva_stardust on January 23, 2004 4:00 am | Link

Well, I’m glad you decided to post this since you summed up a lot of feelings I’d been having about Spike for awhile, but hadn’t been able to articulate besides thinking “Shut up, Spike” in my head every time he opened his mouth.

I especially agreed with you on all of this:

The tough-guy exterior hid how vulnerable he was inside.
Now, he *is* the tough-guy exterior. I like tough-guy Spike. But it needs balance. It’s like, he was such a boring wuss in S7 that they decided to erase that aspect of his personality entirely, which is going way too far. Spike was interesting because of that complex mix of love and vulnerability and tenderness with snarkiness and selfishness. Like, I think it was ck594us who pointed out how wonderful Spike was in “Spiral,” how he could make that “shrimp” comment to upset Xander, but then a short while later he was genuinely reassuring Tara after she hurt him. That’s complex, layered Spike–snarky and cruel and tender and vulnerable. Take away either side and you’re left with a character who is so much less interesting — S7 wuss Spike or AtS S5 asshole Spike.

He was snarky, but in doing so he pointed out the harsh truths that no one else wanted to face.
He’s snarky in a buffonish way. He doesn’t point out truths, he just whines and bitches about nothing. (I did like him telling off the girl in the alley in “Soul Purpose,” but that’s the first time his snark has been perceptive all season, and IMO it crossed the line from snarky truth-telling to a sort of bullying, especially because of the sexist nature of his comments. I really wish they’d kept the part where he invited himself to dinner with the couple, because that would have been my Spike. Instead they threw in the stuff about him coming on to some women, which wouldn’t bother me on its own, but in context is just one more example of the rude crude buffonish misogynist Spike that Fury wants us to see.)

Season 7 Spike bored me most of the time and now this Spike is just annoying the hell out of me. I feel like we’re watching a toy version of Spike where the writers pull the string and out comes some sort of cliched Spikeism either in what he says or what he does. His character seems flat to me, like a cartoon character.

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deadsoul820 on January 23, 2004 4:21 am | Link

I agreed with a lot of what you said, disagreed with some of it, but found the whole of your post entertaining (in the sense that it was interesting and thought-provoking) and your points clearly and coherently stated.

I thoroughly applauded Spike for scolding the girl in the alley and even for calling her a stupid cow, a term which, I think, although I hope someone will correct me if I’m wrong, is far more common and slightly less offensive in the UK. And really, now that the word “bitch” has taken on a more (buzword warning) empowering and in your face usage (like the word “queer” has), that another epithet was needed. Well, if not needed, at least inevitable. And they certainly couldn’t have gotten away with using the other C-word.

I watched BtVS for just a few characters – the Fanged Four, Giles, sometimes Willow, etc. (and watched it in spite of Buffy), but I’ve always watched Angel for the entire ensemble and the story. I’m not watching Angel any differently now that Spike’s there.

But biggest Amen you’ll get from me is your point about ME always putting the message before the story and the characterization. In my perfect show, you’d start with characterization, throw the perfected (but not perfect and not unchangeable) characters into wild stories, unbelievable situations, incredible dilemmas, absurdist vignettes, Restoration Drama, what have you, and let the message come out as it may, but driven by the characters and the story, rather than the other way around. You know what? I’m sick to death of the good guy always winning (and having to be pretty to be good, but that’s whole ‘nother rant).

Well, I started out intending to complement you and reassure you that at least *I* won’t unfriend you and along the line decided to have a little rant of my own. Apologies, but, like I said earlier, yours was a very thought-provoking post.

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onetwomany on January 23, 2004 4:50 am | Link

No chance of defriending here. I did disagree, sometimes quite strongly, with most of what you said, but it’s all a matter of opinion, no wrongs and rights, and I’m appreciative of you taking the time to write this up. Can’t have been easy. I’ve been trying for a long time to work out why so many of my friends were drifting away from a show and a character I still love, and I you definitely through some light on the issue in your usual articulate and entertaining way. I can see we’re your coming from. So, thank you for this post.

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the_royal_anna on January 23, 2004 4:58 am | Link

What a wonderful post! Thank you immensely for sharing this. You’ve expressed all sorts of things I loved about Spike with such astounding clarity and beauty and right-ness. This is an incredibly moving and very clearly argued list of points and I think you might be surprised at the number of people who are, for want of a better way of putting it, “not minding” Spike this season who will still wholeheartedly agree with everything you’ve written here.

I watch Spike on Angel and enjoy him well enough, but I have to put aside an enormous weight of doubt and regret to do that.

I enjoyed Season 7 in a lot of ways, and I know you didn’t from a lot you’ve written in the past – but I can understand even more why you didn’t from what you’ve written here.

I guess there are two ways of making a point about something you don’t like – I come across a lot of tired, bitter comments and while I appreciate why people make them I’m tempted sometimes to think that it seems a bit trivial to get so down over a TV show. But what you’ve written here is the other way of doing it – to explain your perspective in a rational and passionate way that shows your thoughts to be important beyond the fact that it is a TV show, if that makes sense. In doing that, you’ve shared a vision for Spike that you had that, even though it has failed to be realised on the show, is inspiring and uplifting and something I know I will want to come back to.

Thank you so much for this. I’m just so sorry the show has let you down, because it’s very clear you deserved better.

Now it’s all about the Destiny.

I cling to th hope that Spike is going through a fucked up sort of learning curve at the moment and this is just some delusional notion that is going to come back and slap both him and Angel in the face. I like to think all is not what it seems, but I guess only time will tell.

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zyrya on January 23, 2004 5:16 am | Link

Thanks for putting all of this into words for us. I don’t know how you can be so passionate and so articulate at the same time.

I agree with almost everything you’ve written. So many missed opportunities … so many flaws. I read somewhere that Whedon prohibits ME staff from looking at BtVS/AtS internet stuff … maybe they ought to have a squiz so they can see how other writers take the characters and make them richer and deeper and altogether more coherent.

I’m completely unspoiled, so I’m trying to avoid making much of a judgement about the show as it’s the season is only halfway through and seems too early to tell where they’re going with some of the arcs. But I’m not expecting to be leaping about for joy in May.

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shapinglight on January 23, 2004 5:58 am | Link

After reading this, I can see quite clearly why you are so out of love with Spike. I’m so sorry. Although I don’t share your views – or at least only in part, let me join you for the Fury hatred – I understand perfectly where you’re coming from and why you feel the way you do, because you have explained it so well. I’ve no intention of unfriending you because you feel this way, and I hope you won’t feel you have to unfriend me because I feel differently.

Whatever – I hope that you’ll at least turn this post into a letter and send it to ME. I just feel that they can’t be told too many times how much they’ve fucked up their characters and pissed off their fans. As you know, in spite of my continued Spike-love, I love him in spite of what is done to him in the show, and will never, ever forgive Joss and co for the attempted rape and its consequences, not just for Spike but for all the characters.

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bogwitch on January 23, 2004 6:27 am | Link

You can add me to the list of agreers. I too have felt for a long time that the Spike I loved died in Grave. I disagree in one point though, I do still like him, but there is a lot of disappointment in the direction he been taken. His personality seems flat and all that sexuality has been stripped away. I sometimes wish they’d gone the route of developing the William personality we saw in Lessons and Beneath You, at least he rang true.

And JM’s make up is atrocious. Why can’t he wear more of those nice shirts from season 6?

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wickedgillie on January 23, 2004 8:52 am | Link

and I really don’t appreciate the insinuation that I’m only dissatisfied with the character because I’m not as attracted to him.

actually, this part IS true for me, but not in the way that most people would intend it. i really didn’t find spike “attractive” until i really started to care about him and his inner life, with the advent of spuffy. it was only after i became invested in the character that he became attractive to me.

i think your character assessment is bang on the nose. spike has ceased to be spike. i am not drawn into the story, nor do  care about what happens in the same way anymore. there are days i strongly feel that BtVS really should have ended at the end of season 5, despite some gems from season 6. and i think that ME has squandered pretty much every truly rich opportunity that has presented itself, plot-wise, and character-wise in the past 2.5 years on buffy and now with the re-imagining of angel.

yes, there were things to like in soul purpose, and yes, there were some few hints of spike lurking under that pasty exterior, but i too feel so little faith in ME that i don’t expect to see anything good or meaningful or complex come out of it.

sigh.

thanks for putting into words something that i strongly felt, but wouldn’t be able to articulate nearly as well!

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soundingsea on January 23, 2004 9:04 am | Link

You’ve got well-articulated and absolutely valid opinions. They are not exactly the same as my own, but that hardly matters. I see Spike as a chameleon who adjusts to his environment. While I do like Post-Grave Spike through to the present day. I fully acknowledge that he’s very different from how he was in the “Intervention” to “Afterlife” era. We don’t have to agree for me to appreciate your point of view, and I’m certainly not interested in defriending you and missing out on your insights. :)

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kellyhk on January 23, 2004 11:13 am | Link

This is why I friended you in the first place. You speak you mind and express your opinions so eloquently. We agree sometimes, we disagree sometimes.

As for Spike, I keep hoping we get glimmers of the Spike we have come to love. Not the wuss, not the asshole. The snarky and passionate one. Is that too much to ask?

And yes, the makeup sucks. Too thick, too pasty. Too pale. Grrr. Whatever happened to the less is more philosophy?

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spikewriter on January 23, 2004 11:29 am | Link

No defriending here because your post is intelligent and well-thought out. You state specific points and identify precisely why you’re unhappy.

This Spike bores me. There’s nothing about his story that I find interesting or intriguing or meaningful. He’s just another character, and kind of an irritating one.

So clearly you’re not as attracted to Spike as you once were — and by that I mean the character, not the physicality. If we were only attracted to the physical, there should have been overwhelming love for the last half of S6 when he was naked half the time he was on-screen. But we were attracted to a complex character on an interesting journey…and the journey and path they’ve put him on doesn’t appeal to you.

It’s a perfectly valid viewpoint. For all that I’m enjoying the season, I’m also finding myself more distanced from the characters. BtVS always provoked a well-spring of ideas and plot lines, only a fraction of which I’ve managed to put on paper. AtS does not do the same. I’m eager to see a new episode, but when it’s over, I’m back to what I was doing and wondering what twist L&O is going to have this week.

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aea on January 23, 2004 11:34 am | Link

I friended you a little while back after coming across your Spike views. I agree with a lot of what you’ve written here; you’ve articulated exactly what makes me squirm about souled Spike. I don’t know, maybe no one knows how to write him anymore. Really excellent post.

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roquelaure on January 23, 2004 11:39 am | Link

I agree with just about everything you said exceptthis:

This makes zero sense; it’s like saying you’re responsible for what you do if someone drugs you and you lose all inhibition.

But we’ve already had that conversation, so I’m not going to beat a dead horse. :)

I just wanted to add a complaint that occurred to me while watching Soul Purpose. I was reminded by your thoughts on the Spike-of-old’s Gray Area Morality.

Right now one of the conflicts on Angel is that Angel wants things to be black and white, while Wes, Gunn, Fred, etc… find the “gray” morality of Wolfram & Hart acceptable, right? And yet, it seems clear, for reasons I don’t feel like enumerating, that we’re supposed to sympathize with Angel. That we’re supposed to crave the black and white morality of early seasons of BtVS and Angel.

Now that Spike is all bound and determined to find his Big Destiny as a Hero, he’s shucking off the gray area that is Wolfram and Hart, and embracing the lifestyle of Angel’s humble beginnings as a hero. I find it particularly ironic that Spike, Questionable Morality Posterboy of the Century – of all people – is probably the only character on the show that suspects or believes, along with Angel, that W&H is a slippery, evil slope that can never be used to do Real Good.

And I wonder if this is just a big ‘Fuck You’ from the writers of the show (a la the AR scene which, as far as I can gather, was engineered specifically to show Spike fans that all vampires, including Spike, are evil – and consequently flush two years of character development down the toilet). It’s like they’re bent on proving to us that gray just ain’t good enough. That real heroes and hero-wannabes all see things in black and white (Buffy, Angel, and now Spike), and FU if you don’t agree. How boring. Angel fears he’s no longer a real hero because he’s involved himself in “corporate good” and envies the vigilante, do-gooding lifestyle that Spike can now embrace. Because as we all know, there’s no such thing as compromise when you’re working for the greater good. What a load of horseshit. And what an insult to the fans to illustrate Angel’s moral struggle with Spike, who’s always played by his own rules.

Makes me mad. *takes deep breath* Sorry for venting in your journal. :)

/rant

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anniesj on January 23, 2004 12:16 pm | Link

Yup — I agree with you on every. Single. Item on that list. Seriously. Every item. All those problems that you’re having with this season’s Spike? Same here. I started having those issues towards the end of S7, and now, on ATS … that’s just not my Spike. Not at all.

The tricky part is, I still love BTVS. I still love Spike. But I don’t see the current Spike or the current storyline as something I want to watch. I don’t care about that Spike, or his stupid destiny. The Spike I loved didn’t have a destiny, and if he did, then he was hellbent on proving said destiny wrong. And maybe *that’s* one reason why I can’t get into ATS this year — to me, Spike was always the unique one, the outsider, the rebel. Now, with this whole new “quest” of his, he’s just the establishment all over again, and that’s just not appealing to me. I liked the thought of Spike as a wholly unique creature — now, he’s just like everyone else. Meh.

I’m also sick and tired of people who say that the only reason why we’re losing interest in Spike is because he’s “less attractive” this season. Whatever. That just pisses me off. I do not give two figs how he looks. Yeah, the man is pretty. Yeah, he attracted a lot of fans that way. But you know, it takes more than just good looks to get people to invest themselves in a character the way people used to invest themselves in Spike and his story.

Take Arvin Sloane from &t;i>Alias, for example. That cast is a world of pretty, but my favorite character, the one I lust after and adore, is a balding man in his fifties with a hairy belly and man-titties. Why? Because the character is *that* fucking good. I honestly do not care what the character looks like — if I like the character, I’ll invest myself in him.

So, anyway, yeah — not defriending you anytime soon. ;)

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cindergal on January 23, 2004 12:41 pm | Link

I think it was ck594us who pointed out how wonderful Spike was in “Spiral,” how he could make that “shrimp” comment to upset Xander, but then a short while later he was genuinely reassuring Tara after she hurt him. That’s complex, layered Spike

Yup, he’s been flat and one dimensional on AtS IMO, and watching BtVS season 5 makes the contrast very apparent. ::hugs season 5::

I did enjoy “Soul Purpose,” and Spike in it, much more than I have in most other episodes. That said, I sort of have to separate this version of Spike from “my” version, if that makes sense. The fact that I have always been an AtS fan probably helps in that regard, but the show has never affected me or inspired me (to write fanfic) in the same way that BtVS did. I enjoy it, but on a completely different level.

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wickedprincess3 on January 23, 2004 1:49 pm | Link

I understand what you’re saying. It’s really all about what draws a person to the character and with Spike there’s a lot of diffent parts and stories that can draw people in. This season of Ats definately could combust in a massive train wreck of S7 proportions and ME has very little cred to stand on these days. So I do understand I just don’t feel the same way. :) Though I do feel that my Spike died somewhere around “Grave” cause my Spike really wouldn’t have gotten the soul anyway *sigh*

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ladyforash on January 23, 2004 2:02 pm | Link

I really enjoy your insights into Buffy and Angel. I can’t say I agree with everything, but it is all thought provoking. I hope you don’t mind that I “friended” you. I’m curious and anxious to read more of your thoughts.

Just so you know, I’m not a type of person that will comment much, whether I disagree or agree. I am like you when it comes to forming an opinion. It has to soak into me for awhile before I can process it and then communicate it. Mostly I’ll just read what you write, and smile or frown.

Lastly, not that it matters, but I’m a Giles fan. I miss him! I have always been sympathetic to Spike, however. James Marsters does an excellent job. I first empathized with the character while watching Fool For Love. How can you not feel for him after that episode?

:)

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rockgoddes on January 23, 2004 2:59 pm | Link

It’ll take a lot more than a difference of opinion about a fictional TV character to make me unfriend you, you know that, so I read what you write and again boggle at how articulate you are, how much you’ve thought about this stuff, and how passionate you are about it. I think your intelligence and thoughtfulness are two of the things I admire most about you.

I look at AtS this year this way: Spike isn’t the main character on this show and everyone – including JM, I think, ’cause he’s smart like that – is very very wary of having him outshine or in any way get in the way of Angel and his story. So they’ve changed the character to make him less stand-out-ish and more part of the ensemble-ish. Does that make sense? (And yes, those are technical terms.)

Personally that makes sense to me. They brought JM to AtS to bring his following and their buying power to the show, not because he’s any kind of amazing talent (which we all know he is) or because he had any kind of pivotal stories to tell. Those are things we as fans would love to see but it really comes down to economics for everyone involved, JM included, so I’m very much not surprised that he’s very different on the show, not being used as much, changed to be far a far less positive character on the show.

‘Cause let’s face it: if he were the Spike so many of us fell in love with, he’d lay to waste every other person on that cast, and I’m saying this, a person who watched Angel before she watched Buffy. There’s no way they’re going to let that happen, so he’s not what he was. And he probably won’t be either.

Sucks.

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ozfan on January 23, 2004 3:04 pm | Link

Laura, I agree with you in so many ways its scary. So many people I know are thhiiiiss close to not even bothering watching AtS this season anymore. It’s a kind of torture, hoping the real Spike will please show up.

I feel lik we’re watching a toy version of Spike where the writers pull the string and out comes some sort of cliched Spikeism either in what he says or what he does.

That sums it up perfectly. I even find myself getting irked when he says “bloody” anymore, because for some reason it just doesn’t FEEL right anymore.

I still watch, but I also still mourn the loss of what made this character so amazing for me. Whatever it was, it was elusive, and I think it’s gone. (Although there were moments this past week when I saw a glimmer of things I once loved about the guy.)

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kita0610 on January 23, 2004 4:13 pm | Link

Don’t agree with a damn thing, but sure as hell not about to defriend you for it.

The one thing you really ought to try to see differently, though, because as a long time Angel the Series fan, I can assure you of? It’s not about Angel being a better guy or hero than Spike. Not ever. Angel is NOT a good guy. Not a White Hat. He’s an asshole. I love him anyway, but he is. He is NEVER held up as the paragon of goodness.

And the Spike we see on AtS is a reflection of Angel- in Soul Purpose it was what Angel feared he could never be, for example- more than just what Spike is. Just like on BtVS, all the characters were seen through Buffy’s lense. Spike will either be a hero or fail miserably in his own right. But it won’t have anything to do with uplifting Angel. Angel is the tragic hero guy. He’s never ever gonna win. And that’s the point.

Also…stripper bars are mysoginistic? Hunh. I need to rethink my weekends. *wink*

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kita0610 on January 23, 2004 4:13 pm | Link

Don’t agree with a damn thing, but sure as hell not about to defriend you for it.

The one thing you really ought to try to see differently, though, because as a long time Angel the Series fan, I can assure you of? It’s not about Angel being a better guy or hero than Spike. Not ever. Angel is NOT a good guy. Not a White Hat. He’s an asshole. I love him anyway, but he is. He is NEVER held up as the paragon of goodness.

And the Spike we see on AtS is a reflection of Angel- in Soul Purpose it was what Angel feared he could never be, for example- more than just what Spike is. Just like on BtVS, all the characters were seen through Buffy’s lense. Spike will either be a hero or fail miserably in his own right. But it won’t have anything to do with uplifting Angel. Angel is the tragic hero guy. He’s never ever gonna win. And that’s the point.

Also…stripper bars are mysoginistic? Hunh. I need to rethink my weekends. *wink*

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buffyx on January 23, 2004 5:21 pm | Link

I completely, completely agree with all of your reasoning here, and am so glad someone articulated it so well. My only disagreement really is on season seven Spike– yes, there were times when I really wished he’d take his balls back from Buffy and superglue them back on, overall I loved his story. Though everything has paled in comparison to the perfection that was season five Spike. In fact, season five itself was perfection. Ah, the good old days, when I didn’t feel bland about most of the characters and actually trusted the writers to tell a good story.

I’ve been spending my Wednesdays taping AtS and watching the OC instead. I’ve never been this ambivalent toward the show before. I adored season four of AtS and looked forward to seeing Spike come on, but so far, I’m not happy. I don’t need a lot– just decent characterization and a little imagination. It shouldn’t be so hard to tell a good story; the potential is there.

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mrmonkeybottoms on January 23, 2004 6:35 pm | Link

I totally agree.

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queenofattolia on January 23, 2004 6:52 pm | Link

You can tell me a million perfectly sensible reasons why Spike is acting like this, but the fact remains that I find it irritating and boring. I can also see a million reasons why Buffy turned into a vicious self-obsessed abusive bitch post-resurrection, but I sure as hell am never going to like her for it.

I think maybe what it comes down to is that Spike — the character, and his story — doesn’t effect me emotonally anymore (for all the reasons I’ve attempted to articulate above). Back when I first got into the show — Intervention era, Afterlife era — it was the strangest thing ever to find myself entranced by this TV character , and I completely embraced the character and the show. Now, I’m not able to do that — I don’t trust the writers to tell the story well, and I’m just not interested or emotionally effected by the character.

Thank you, Laura, for this entire entry, but particularly this last bit above. As usual, you’ve expressed clearly and thoughtfully why I no longer watch Spike on “Angel.” Actually, even if Spike weren’t on AtS I probably wouldn’t watch it as it’s turned into a muddled, boring mess highly reminiscent of S6-S7 BtVS, but that’s another issue altogether.

Um, yeah, and last thing: my dislike of Spike this season has absolutely nothing to do with the fact I think JM’s makeup sucks. Just to clarify that. The crappy makeup annoys me, but I would love a well-written Spike no matter how JM looked. They’re two completely separate issues, and I really don’t appreciate the insinuation that I’m only dissatisfied with the character because I’m not as attracted to him.

My problem is that the crappy makeup, horrendous lighting AND JM’s advancing age make it difficult for me to still believe that Spike is forever frozen at age 27. If ME wasn’t going to continue giving him the most flattering makeup and lighting to mitigate his wrinkles and somewhat approximate the age he was at his turning, they bloody well should have addressed his appearance somehow (as they should for DB and his ever-expanding waistline). It’s their fucking story, as we’ve all been told ad nauseam — couldn’t they come up with some sort of explanation for JM’s crow’s feet and frown lines, and DB’s gut and jowls? Jesus Christ…

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fishsanwitt on January 24, 2004 12:39 am | Link

I think people respect you for having strong opinions and stating them. That takes guts :)

I read your 20 points – and, although you have a very large list of ‘friends’, I’d like to add you to mine.

I look forward to more of your posts – they are very enjoyable and thought-provoking.

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fishsanwitt on January 24, 2004 1:02 am | Link

I didn’t realize you host (is that the right word?) ‘All About Spike’. I *love* that site – it is wonderful. You have such great authors there – that and the ‘Sandlot’ are my favs!

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anonymous on January 24, 2004 9:07 pm | Link

I aree with alot if not all of your points, but probably with less intensity. I get irritated, but I try to remind myself that it won’t be as good as what was before and it is better than any reality t.v. And while I think JM is very talented I think part of what is making me a bit squeamish about watching him is that he seems to have trouble inhabiting the character (if the writers would give him the right one) and keeping his accent (although I thought that was changed wierdly after he got his soul.

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arielastar on January 25, 2004 6:54 pm | Link

hey did u hear about the law and order reunion haha

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kassto on February 14, 2004 8:28 am | Link

Hi Laura — I haven’t commented in your LJ before but have been reading bits of it lately and wanted to say how completely and utterly I agree with what you have written here. I haven’t ben able to recognise Spike since the end of BtVS season 6 and it’s been extremely painful to me to see what they have done with his character (and with Buffy’s character as well). So although I have watched ever since, I have given up on the show as actually representing the characters I loved. Spike was so much more interesting without a soul. I’ve never understood why JM has the attitude he has about Spike, either. I find that very sad.

Have always been very grateful for your website which has been the main source of my fic reading. Was very interested to read how much you loathe the Spuffy fic since that is mainly what I read. I can appreciate your feelings, given how awful Buffy became (I loathed her by the end of season 7 — when she said to Spike near the end “does it have to mean anything?” I wanted to kick my TV set in). But to me, the possibilities of that relationship, which they wrecked after Wrecked, were so powerful, if they had had the guts to pursue them in that morally grey way you talk about, that I find it one of the most potentially compelling relationships I have ever come across in fiction. I guess it’s good in a way that you don’t like Spuffy fic because it has meant you have obviously only archived the best. All my favourite writers do extremely good Spuffy fic — Herself, Barb C, Ginmar, Nan Dibble, Gwyn R etc (and Barb of course wrote the absolutely definitive review of season 6 which I will forever be grateful to her for). Whereas on some devoted Spuffy sites, the quality is pretty dire.

Anyway, I see you are upset about AtS ending, even though you’ve hated what it’s done. To me the upset is more about the end of an era and the worry that this intensely enjoyable fic/LJ fandom might start to disintegrate. Well, I don’t intend to let it go, even though the show lost me a while back. THe way the characters exist in the minds of fans like yourself and the best fic writers is plenty good enough for me. And I’ll always be grateful to ME for creating them even if after a while they lost their ability to use them properly.

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