Feature: Buffy's Spike James Marsters
talks
Demon lover
 He was once meant to be a
here-today, staked-tomorrow villain. But four years on, Spike is Buffy's latest
squeeze, and a mark of the show's maturity, as much-loved star James
Marsters explains...
Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't the show it was. As the sixth season
goes on, it's increasingly clear that it's grown up. Buffy's no longer a
carefree teenager in the throes of first love, and that change is reflected by
her distinctly physical connection with the neutered vampire Spike – as
the man behind his bleach-blond crop explains...
Why does Buffy The Vampire Slayer work so
well?
The metaphor of demons and vampires has come to represent the troubles we all
go through in our lives as we try to become our best selves. We use that for
more adult themes. At the same time Joss Whedon is letting (producer) Marti
Noxon come more into the fore with this story. And her crucible of experience
– one she'll always go back to as a writer – is in issues that relate
to people in their mid-twenties. It's brilliant that although Joss is still
very much in charge of the show, there's another voice that's coming in, using
the metaphor to her own ends.
How did you feel about being doing a nude love
scene?
It was so weird. I'd known these guys for five years and they're just staring
at my socks in embarrassment! No, seriously, it was totally cool. I don't have
a big problem with being naked. In fact, I made my professional debut naked, so
that burned it right out of me. In Shakespeare's The Tempest, at the
Goodman Theatre in Chicago. I was strapped naked to a big metal hoop!
Don't you think these scenes are a little racy for
Buffy?
No, not really. All the sexuality is implied, we're not doing anything graphic,
or that hasn't been done elsewhere on TV. I also think it's a responsible
exploration of a young person's sexuality. It's not just titillation. The thing
that's happening between Spike and Buffy has a purpose. It's going to say
something very painful and truthful about Buffy and her journey towards
adulthood. As usual Joss Whedon is wanting to unsettle you: if he's going to
put sex on the screen he'll do it in the least comfortable way possible.
What's going to happen between Spike and Buffy
next?
Buffy's on the ropes. She's gone as low down as it's possible to go. Now she's
sleeping with someone who's basically an evil person. Whether she's making the
right choice or not is hard to say. I felt Spike was redeemed a little, as
though he was being transformed by his love for her, but then immediately after
they get together he leaves her in the lurch with a shark demon he owes money
to, a fight breaks out and Spike exits stage left... Now, I don't know any
boyfriend that lasted long pulling a stunt like that!
Were you shocked when Buffy died to save the
world?
That was the 100th episode of the show, the last episode where Joss Whedon was
going to be on the set every day. At that moment Buffy became a true, mature
adult. She sacrificed herself for her sister. I thought it was beautiful that
Joss was able to wrap up the initial premise so that we could get on with the
new one. But then how do you top that? Will we have another apocalypse? Who
knows!
by Rupert Laight
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