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selenakAs we all know, in the ever raging battle for ratings, the WB told ME they ought to attract new viewers with this fifth season of AtS, and the return to the season 1 more episodic format, as well as the cast shake-up, is a part of the response. It occurs to me, though, that these new viewers, provided they make it to the message boards and livejournals, might fight themselves hopelessly bewildered by all the raging battles about a certain person in the cast. Relax, people. Your trusty guide is here to explain all.
Here are the most dominant species sighted in this corner of genre fandom, the crucial factions. Do not be confused if they strangely resemble each other.
I. a) Spikista Catholica - it's all. About. Spike. Only his time on screen makes living worthwile. The merit of other characters depends on whether they interact with Spike, and if so, if they value him enough. Since the later is virtually impossible, the Spikista Catholica often is more properly called Spikista Evangelista or Calvinista. The difference? The Catholica allows some fellow saints; for the Calvinista, there are only demons who don't value Spike enough. These don't have to be on the screen; quite often, they are to be found in the writers' department. The writers should all be erased from the face of the earth and the fanfic authors should be put in charge.
I. b) The Scourge - Spike is worse than the plague. He never contributed anything worth while to BTVS and of course he can't possible contribute anything worthwhile to AtS. Even when he's just on screen for two minutes in an episode and a character Scourge members prefer is on screen for 20, Spike is still stealing screen time from the later. Everything The Scourge doesn't like is Spike's fault. Except that it's also the writers' fault. They are his fellow demons. They should all be erased from the face of the earth. And the fanfic writers should be put in charge.
II. a) Redemptionista Appassionata - Spike's redemption is the best storyline ME ever came up with, and they had to be dragged to the truth kicking and screaming. The RA of course knew it all along. At the very latest when Spike brought flowers to Joyce's funeral. (Who wrote that episode again? Can it be…?) The toughest period for the RA was the AR, which led to much cursing of ME in general and Marti Noxon in particular. Since Marti is not involved in the production of AtS in any official capacity, one wonders who the new target will be as soon as Spike does something remotely questionable.
II. b) Evilista Furiosa - the only acceptable Spike is the second season BTVS version. Possibly also lovelorn drunken Spike of season 3's Lovers' Walk, though this fan favourite became tainted in hindsight since the opposition can quote it as proof that Spike has always been love's bitch quite often. Season 4 Spike is somewhat acceptable in his unrepentant inclinations but the chip is clearly a sign of doom. Any later Spike is just proof ME lost it and managed to ruin a good character. Look out for Marti Noxon voodoo dolls among the EF s; she is blamed for Spike going soft. (Do not bother to reconcile this with the RA attitude; opposite camps, remember?) Also, the AR briefly returned hope to the EF camp only for ME to cruelly crush it by giving Spike a soul.
III. a) Spikista Universalista - not to be confused with the Catholica or Evangilista. True, this version of the Spike Fan enjoys any Spike as well, good, bad, ambigiuous, unsouled, souled, human, ghostly…whatever ME came up with in past and present. However, the Universalistas have been known to enjoy characters who either don't like Spike or don't interact with him; they might even write whole essays without mentioning him more than once. It is not that they love others less, but Spike more.
III. b) Humanista Apathica - bad Spike, good Spike, whatever. This fan never cared much for Captain Peroxide but doesn't have the time or energy to devote endless diatribes against him or ME, either. HA s are very mildly worried he got resurrected but enjoy other characters and storylines too much to let this stop their viewing pleasure. In their spare time, they have been known to visit their pals, the Yeti.
Disclaimer: No Spike lovers or Spike haters were hurt in the production of this guide. Also, the author of same is prepared to endure mocking of her fannish inclinations, which include love of Rygel, Londo, Buffy Summers, Connor and Anakin Skywalker. Also extreme dislike of Fanon!Draco, Obidala 'shippers and Fred bashers. Lastly, touch Quark and you're a dead man/woman/genderless entity!
Here are the most dominant species sighted in this corner of genre fandom, the crucial factions. Do not be confused if they strangely resemble each other.
I. a) Spikista Catholica - it's all. About. Spike. Only his time on screen makes living worthwile. The merit of other characters depends on whether they interact with Spike, and if so, if they value him enough. Since the later is virtually impossible, the Spikista Catholica often is more properly called Spikista Evangelista or Calvinista. The difference? The Catholica allows some fellow saints; for the Calvinista, there are only demons who don't value Spike enough. These don't have to be on the screen; quite often, they are to be found in the writers' department. The writers should all be erased from the face of the earth and the fanfic authors should be put in charge.
I. b) The Scourge - Spike is worse than the plague. He never contributed anything worth while to BTVS and of course he can't possible contribute anything worthwhile to AtS. Even when he's just on screen for two minutes in an episode and a character Scourge members prefer is on screen for 20, Spike is still stealing screen time from the later. Everything The Scourge doesn't like is Spike's fault. Except that it's also the writers' fault. They are his fellow demons. They should all be erased from the face of the earth. And the fanfic writers should be put in charge.
II. a) Redemptionista Appassionata - Spike's redemption is the best storyline ME ever came up with, and they had to be dragged to the truth kicking and screaming. The RA of course knew it all along. At the very latest when Spike brought flowers to Joyce's funeral. (Who wrote that episode again? Can it be…?) The toughest period for the RA was the AR, which led to much cursing of ME in general and Marti Noxon in particular. Since Marti is not involved in the production of AtS in any official capacity, one wonders who the new target will be as soon as Spike does something remotely questionable.
II. b) Evilista Furiosa - the only acceptable Spike is the second season BTVS version. Possibly also lovelorn drunken Spike of season 3's Lovers' Walk, though this fan favourite became tainted in hindsight since the opposition can quote it as proof that Spike has always been love's bitch quite often. Season 4 Spike is somewhat acceptable in his unrepentant inclinations but the chip is clearly a sign of doom. Any later Spike is just proof ME lost it and managed to ruin a good character. Look out for Marti Noxon voodoo dolls among the EF s; she is blamed for Spike going soft. (Do not bother to reconcile this with the RA attitude; opposite camps, remember?) Also, the AR briefly returned hope to the EF camp only for ME to cruelly crush it by giving Spike a soul.
III. a) Spikista Universalista - not to be confused with the Catholica or Evangilista. True, this version of the Spike Fan enjoys any Spike as well, good, bad, ambigiuous, unsouled, souled, human, ghostly…whatever ME came up with in past and present. However, the Universalistas have been known to enjoy characters who either don't like Spike or don't interact with him; they might even write whole essays without mentioning him more than once. It is not that they love others less, but Spike more.
III. b) Humanista Apathica - bad Spike, good Spike, whatever. This fan never cared much for Captain Peroxide but doesn't have the time or energy to devote endless diatribes against him or ME, either. HA s are very mildly worried he got resurrected but enjoy other characters and storylines too much to let this stop their viewing pleasure. In their spare time, they have been known to visit their pals, the Yeti.
Disclaimer: No Spike lovers or Spike haters were hurt in the production of this guide. Also, the author of same is prepared to endure mocking of her fannish inclinations, which include love of Rygel, Londo, Buffy Summers, Connor and Anakin Skywalker. Also extreme dislike of Fanon!Draco, Obidala 'shippers and Fred bashers. Lastly, touch Quark and you're a dead man/woman/genderless entity!
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no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 10:10 pm (UTC)Quite accurate categories you've got here. :) Me, I'm somewhere between III a and III b. Sometime I like him, sometimes I don't care, but he's not worth the foam at the mouth either way. Poor Marti.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 10:32 pm (UTC)The Spikista Catholica one cracks me up the most, however ;)
no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 10:52 pm (UTC)*snerk*
Yep, sounds about right.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 11:25 pm (UTC)And I *like* my Marti voodoo dolls dammit!
Yes, I am 12.
We all have our inner child, as I recall.*g*
Date: 2003-10-17 07:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 11:49 pm (UTC)This needs to be put in any and all guide-books and FAQs about BtVS and AtS. Truly. :)
ETA: By the by, I can safely assure you that some Redemptionista Appassionata actually have blamed Marti Noxon for some things that happened on AtS -- though to be fair, it was for things that happened last season. (Though, again, never mind the fact that Mari hasne't written for ATS since season one.)
And I'm placing my bet now for David Fury to be the target de regular on the writing staff. :D
You're welcome!
Date: 2003-10-17 12:35 am (UTC)And yes, David Fury would be my guess for next target de regular as well. Though with AtS Joss himself has been on the firing line as well for quite a while, because didn't you know, the greatness of AtS in seasons past is only due to Tim Minear (and possibly Jeff Bell and David Greenwalt pre-St.Cordy), and anything Tim M. said in interviews in praise of Joss and his input on AtS storylines and characters was clearly fibbing for the boss...
Re: You're welcome!
From:Re: You're welcome!
From:Re: You're welcome!
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-16 11:58 pm (UTC)*blinks*
Sorry, right. Was won over by his performance. There we go. Must have been a glitch earlier... er, not glitch. Mistake. Honest mistake.
Also -
*mocks selenak for the Anakin love*
Feel free to mock me for falling prey to the hotness of the idea of Obidala.
Consider yourself mocked.
Date: 2003-10-17 12:36 am (UTC)*blinks*
This invitation to mock was a mistake. It releases my inner crusader and thus shatters my aura of ironic detachment.
At least I'm sure Quark is safe from any assaults...
Re: Consider yourself mocked.
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 12:14 am (UTC)Bimo (Custodis Consectatrix Tweedamans)
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 01:02 am (UTC)Lastly, touch Quark and you're a dead man/woman/genderless entity!
WORD! Niners represent.
Hail, fellow Niner!
Date: 2003-10-17 09:52 am (UTC)Re: Hail, fellow Niner!
From:Had a quick look.
From:Re: Had a quick look.
From:Cool icon!
From:Re: Cool icon!
From:Re: Cool icon!
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 01:47 am (UTC)I clearly have a split personality, or maybe I'm just a mixed breed, a fandom mutt. Or perhaps I started out as one type and am gradually morphing into something else, and am in one of those inconvenient in-between stages, like when you're growing your hair out from short to long and have to endure a few weeks of looking like utter crap. Hmm, must ponder.
Anyway, thanks for this.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 01:59 am (UTC)The answer to your question in IIa) is an easy one - it's David Fury.
I won't mock you on your love of Rygel, Londo, Buffy Summers and Connor, but I'm suspending judgement on Anakin Skywalker. I wouldn't dare touch Quark *g*.
Kathyh
You're a redeemed Universalista, then?
Date: 2003-10-17 09:54 am (UTC)What's wrong with Anakin? Aside from him turning evil and becoming the second most feared man in the galaxy in the near future, I mean.
Re: You're a redeemed Universalista, then?
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 06:56 am (UTC)Poor Marti - next thing she'll be blamed for the failure of peace in the middle east.
you mean Marti...
Date: 2003-10-18 07:34 am (UTC)Also, thanks for the compliment and for directing people here!
Re: you mean Marti...
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 08:03 am (UTC). The writers should all be erased from the face of the earth and the fanfic authors should be put in charge.
MUWAHAHAHAA! Thank you for that in particular. That is one of my big pet peeves - fic writers who set out to 'fix' all ME's 'mistakes'.
I'd say I'd fit into the category of Spikista Universalista. I actually love most of the characters and I never hated any, it's just that I'd be lying if I didn't admit Spike was my main interest. Though, Wes has gained on him in the past couple of years. ;)
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 08:21 am (UTC)Dies laughing!
There needs to be a subspecies section just to deal with how the various types deal with each other....
Bloody Brilliant!
Date: 2003-10-17 08:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 09:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 09:37 am (UTC)**click!**
Which brings to mind the following question:
Date: 2003-10-17 09:57 am (UTC)Also, let me use the opportunity to declare my utter and complete admiration for every single one of your vids, from your HL day onwards.
Re: Which brings to mind the following question:
From:Thank you!
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 10:35 am (UTC)Yours, a devoted III a.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 10:44 am (UTC)There is another type
Date: 2003-10-17 11:15 am (UTC)People who loved Spike until he got his soul, and then started loathing him when it became apparent that he was the same vicious piece of **** with a soul as without, and that to satisfy faction IIa all the other characters were expected to put up with it and love him.
Latin for that? Redemptionista (what's the Latin for disappointed?)
You go, KdS!
Date: 2003-10-17 11:40 am (UTC)Redemptionista disenchanta?
Me, I'm a IIIb.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 11:20 am (UTC)Thank you for pointing out that...
Date: 2003-10-17 11:28 am (UTC)Some of us just don't care. You'd think, hearing the Spikista Catholica and Redemptionista Appassionata go on, that everyone who doesn't love Spike hates Spike. They just don't get the notion that Spike doesn't enflame everybody's passion to one extreme or the other.
Some of us tune in to see Angel, Wesley, Willow, Fred, Gunn, Giles, and other characters now forgotten (*sob*). And that's who we want to talk about.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 12:31 pm (UTC)And Fury is definitely the next target of ire -- I've seen it already.
Also, the author of same is prepared to endure mocking of her fannish inclinations, which include love of Rygel, Londo, Buffy Summers, Connor and Anakin Skywalker. Also extreme dislike of Fanon!Draco, Obidala 'shippers and Fred bashers.
I find I agree with you on most of those (especially Londo), but I gotta ask -- Obidala 'shippers?
Lastly, touch Quark and you're a dead man/woman/genderless entity!
And may I get an Amen!
Hail, fellow Quark fan
Date: 2003-10-17 02:38 pm (UTC)My loathing for Obidala (= Obi-Wan/ Padmé Amidala) is based on the fact that the pairing demands out of characterness for both of them. It's also usually combined with Anakin bashing. And it ruins the tragedy, imo.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 12:35 pm (UTC)Our numbers are growing.
Date: 2003-10-17 02:44 pm (UTC)Incidentally, I loved Connor from the moment he showed up in teenage form. Fascinating character. Also made me finally emotionally reconnect with Angel, something I hadn't managed to do since Epiphany in season 2. And moved me to write a story about him and Darla, which you can find through the link "my fanfiction" at this lj.
Re: Our numbers are growing.
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2003-10-17 01:01 pm (UTC)I would mock you about Londo, but I'm similarly afflicted. Feel free, however, to mock me on my squeeing fangirlish love for Vir.
And speaking of Quark, your birthday gift should be up this weekend. *g*
How can I mock you when...
Date: 2003-10-17 02:46 pm (UTC)and
b) I love Vir as well, but I had to limit myself to just a few names.