You've just summed up my issues with the pairing as well.
Especially the point that ultimately, they can't do justice to one another; with the exception of season six and I guess the beginning of early season seven, Spike wasn't this mysterious lover Buffy screwed her friends over for. In season three, Angelus had destroyed Giles in so many ways, and yet when Angel came back Buffy went right back to where she left off with him.
I actually did like them on Buffy, but something about their romance didn't seem quite right, and when I watched AtS I realized why. Without Buffy, Angel actually possessed a personality. A brooding, often controlling personality, but nonetheless, he did more than give Buffy information and make out with her in assorted graveyards.
The other thing is that Angel was always just... there. Spike better fit the personality of the show; he was dark, he was witty, he interacted with characters other than Buffy. Besides seeming to have an odd sort of near-friendship with Giles (who could have held a far worse grudge on the guy than he did), Angel never did any of those things. The reason he was given his own show was that he just didn't fit into the same one as Buffy.
My biggest issue with Spike is his actions in season six. Even taking part in the S&M, IMHO, was wrong on some level, because he knew the only reason Buffy was getting all submissive with him was because she was trying to feel something. You're right, she did have clinical depression, and he took advantage of that. Then he tried to rape her. That killed the pairing for me, even if he did get a soul.
Honestly, I think had the show taken different directions, I can see Buffy with either. But between Angel and Buffy's tendency to turn into a soap opera couple and the things Spike put Buffy through, I'm not sure I think either vampire is Mr. Right.
(Sorry, I know you're a huge Spuffy shipper.)
Oh, and I agree, Cordy/Angel would've worked. I wish Joss Whedon had at least given them a few episodes as a true couple. But we all know how much the man loves happy couples.
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Especially the point that ultimately, they can't do justice to one another; with the exception of season six and I guess the beginning of early season seven, Spike wasn't this mysterious lover Buffy screwed her friends over for. In season three, Angelus had destroyed Giles in so many ways, and yet when Angel came back Buffy went right back to where she left off with him.
I actually did like them on Buffy, but something about their romance didn't seem quite right, and when I watched AtS I realized why. Without Buffy, Angel actually possessed a personality. A brooding, often controlling personality, but nonetheless, he did more than give Buffy information and make out with her in assorted graveyards.
The other thing is that Angel was always just... there. Spike better fit the personality of the show; he was dark, he was witty, he interacted with characters other than Buffy. Besides seeming to have an odd sort of near-friendship with Giles (who could have held a far worse grudge on the guy than he did), Angel never did any of those things. The reason he was given his own show was that he just didn't fit into the same one as Buffy.
My biggest issue with Spike is his actions in season six. Even taking part in the S&M, IMHO, was wrong on some level, because he knew the only reason Buffy was getting all submissive with him was because she was trying to feel something. You're right, she did have clinical depression, and he took advantage of that. Then he tried to rape her. That killed the pairing for me, even if he did get a soul.
Honestly, I think had the show taken different directions, I can see Buffy with either. But between Angel and Buffy's tendency to turn into a soap opera couple and the things Spike put Buffy through, I'm not sure I think either vampire is Mr. Right.
(Sorry, I know you're a huge Spuffy shipper.)
Oh, and I agree, Cordy/Angel would've worked. I wish Joss Whedon had at least given them a few episodes as a true couple. But we all know how much the man loves happy couples.