Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Angel Vs. Spike

Cross posted at The Page Flipper

Just so you all know, Chelsea at The Page Flipper is doing a Buffy week on her blog. A BUFFY week! (Picture me dancing in joy) So, when she asked for guest posters, I immediately jumped up and down and flapped my arms. Below you will find my contribution to the Week of Awesomeness, where I talk about my two favorite characters in the series. Of course, I'm talking about Angel and Spike. (Hm, a dark brooding anit-hero and a smart-ass; why does that sound so familiar?)

WARNING: HUGE SPOILERS BELOW

Angel Vs. Spike



















I adore the Buffy series. Love it. I don’t think there is another series that could make me laugh, cry, scream, giggle hysterically, or drive me crazy like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of course, for me, the characters made the show. And two of my favorite characters were the two awesome, testosterone-filled vampires in Buffy’s life: Angel and Spike.

So, who is the best vampire?

Well, let’s examine the questions and answers below. A reminder, these are only my opinions. With such a volatile subject as this, I’m sure there will be many who violently disagree with me. And that’s cool. I’m certainly not the guru of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But please refrain from breaking out the torches and pitchforks. ;)

Who is more bad-ass?

Tough question. I think it depends on where they are in the series. For instance, in season 5, when Spike was captured and had that chip stuck in his head, he was pretty much a pansy through the whole season. Both vamps have their bad-ass moments, but I think I have to give it to Angel. Yes, Spike is a great fighter and could give Angel a run for his money, but Angel doesn’t need to show off his bad-assiness; he just is. The only exception to this is when Angel becomes Angelus. There is no bigger bad-ass in Buffy history then when Angelus comes sauntering in. Now that is one scary vampire. Gives me shivers.


Who is nobler?

Spike, hands down. Does that surprise you? Let me explain. Angel may have that tortured, seeking redemption thing down pat, but his soul was forced on him because of the curse. He had no choice but to become moral. Spike, on the other hand, went looking for his soul and fought to get it back. He showed genuine remorse even before he found his soul. He truly comes to love Buffy, and in the end, it’s Spike, not Angel, who does the Ultimate Noble Sacrifice thing, giving his own life to save everyone. There is nothing nobler then that.

Who is the better fighter?

It might be a contradiction, considering the first question, but I think Spike is the better fighter, simply because he enjoys it. He’s the one I’d rather have guarding my back, because he isn’t at all hesitant about hurting people, whereas Angel might balk at hitting a girl, ect. While Angel fights because he has to, Spike joyfully flings himself into a fray, making him the better fighter.


















Who is more evil?


This one goes to Angel. Or, more accurately, Angelus. Yes, when evil Spike blows into town, its bad news, but when Angelus makes an appearance, people die. Who can forget that scene with Giles girlfriend? (I forgot her name, bad Buffy fan!) Spike will beat you up and bite you and maybe kill you, but Angelus tortures people, mentally as well as physically, and he enjoys it. A true sadist, which is why the title of Most Evil Buffy Vampire goes to Angelus.

Who is sexier?

Another tough question. And one that can’t really be answered. Both boys are sexy in different ways. The dark, tortured, brooding Angel, and Spike with his smart-ass, bad boy persona. Spike can sing, and Angel looks amazing without a shirt. I think personal preference wins this one. And personally, I’d take them both. ;)

Who has the best moment?

They both have so many awesome moments. Spike singing (my favorite episode!), Angel turning evil, but for me, I think Spike’s final moment in the last season will forever stand out in my mind. His last words: “I get to see the end,” made me sob, and completed his awesome, touching character arc. (Though I will say, I was delighted to see him return in Angel.)














So who is the best vampire?

I don’t think there’s an answer to this. This is one of those questions that will have fans splitting into Team Angel and Team Spike (Ahhhh, more teams!). So I will simply leave you to answer/debate this on your own. Who do YOU think is the best vampire? (I have my favorite, but I’m not saying. :P )

20 comments:

  1. Angel is, most definitely. Let's face it: Spike was made into the "good guy" only because Angel got his own series. Buffy needed a good vampire and that vampire-slayer romance it lost when Angel got his own series.

    Angel dedicated his time to helping others, and did not search for a soul so he could keep banging Buffy. Angel left and went on to work for good. Also, Angel also went into battle knowing he and his team were probably going to die in the series finale of his show.

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  2. I hate to do it but I have to agree with Lisa above. ";-) I was a MAJOR Buffy fan...almost neurotic at times. Great questions and so hard to answer.

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  3. OMG. I had no idea there was a BTVS week going on - and it's WEDNESDAY! I'm currently re-watching the entire series, and Spike still has a chip in his head, and still a pansy.

    I have to say, while Angel is hotter, Spike is, was, and will always be my favorite vampire. I can't ride a subway without remembering his slayer fight - that was bad-ass!

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  4. I love Buffy too! It is one of those shows that every time I see a re-run on TV I have to watch it. Except the episode called "Hush" when no one can speak and those crazy freaky guys float around, omg, it freaks me out just thinking about it.

    Ok, back to the point, I think Angel is my favorite. I understand why Spike is appealing, he did fight to get back his soul and become more moral, but I am still die hard Angel fan. He is just too hot!

    About Spike though, does anyone read the books that have Cat and Bones in it? The Vampire Huntress books? Anyone else picture a version of Spike when the think about what Bones looks like? Yes/No? Maybe I am just crazy...

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  5. Yeah, I'm an Angel fan! When he left town in...whatever season it was, LOL, I lost my "need" to watch the seasons, LOL. Sorry Buffy :P But Spike was hilarious from memory :D ;) They're both pretty cool!

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  6. We are rewatching the shows as well, the last season of Buffy and Spike is all crazy like...so right now Angel has my vote, but I love me my Spike. They are great for so many different reasons. Drusilla is my fave vampire though - her craziness tops them all!
    - Jessica

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  7. Awesome post! I love Buffy, and then Angel. I think I liked Angel at first, but then I fell for Spike. It's a tie, but Spike's barely winning.
    While Angel is really hot, Spike learns to love Buffy in the end, and like you said, makes the ultimate sacrifice.
    Then it's not so much of a tie. :P
    Spike's my man.

    Angel (the show) is a whole other world.

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  8. I love this show!

    I really liked Angel at first but as when Buffy forgave the whole Angelus thing, I couldn't get over it. So, Spike stole my heart with his smart-ass comments and badass ways.

    ~Allison

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  9. I agree with all of your points. But I have to emphasize this point while Angel and Spike are a tie in my book, NOBODY and The Rock means NOBODY is more evil, more bad-ass, more threatening without any hope for redemption than Angelus.

    Forgive me, I'm late to this Buffy business. I've seen every episode of "Angel" I've only started to watch Buffy and I'm only up to the second season. But the difference between Angel and Angelus is remarkable.

    Angel is a tortured guy, you know he's done wrong in the past and he's trying to atone for it. He's a good man who takes care of his friends and family and would die for them in a heartbeat.

    Angelus loves to mentally torture everyone in his immediate vicinity (that comment he made about raping Fred to death and when Faith says "Screw You" during their fight he says "Maybe after. I like my girls to lie still." really put me over the edge. I was like "WHAT?"
    He'll kill anybody that he sees fit and everyone is disposable to him. Truly a demon with the face of a Angel.

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  10. I agree with all of your points. But I have to emphasize this point while Angel and Spike are a tie in my book, NOBODY and The Rock means NOBODY is more evil, more bad-ass, more threatening without any hope for redemption than Angelus.

    Forgive me, I'm late to this Buffy business. I've seen every episode of "Angel" I've only started to watch Buffy and I'm only up to the second season. But the difference between Angel and Angelus is remarkable.

    Angel is a tortured guy, you know he's done wrong in the past and he's trying to atone for it. He's a good man who takes care of his friends and family and would die for them in a heartbeat.

    Angelus loves to mentally torture everyone in his immediate vicinity (that comment he made about raping Fred to death and when Faith says "Screw You" during their fight he says "Maybe after. I like my girls to lie still." really put me over the edge. I was like "WHAT?"
    He'll kill anybody that he sees fit and everyone is disposable to him. Truly a demon with the face of a Angel

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  11. Sorry about the double post.

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  12. ANGEL ANGEL ANGEL, MINE MINE MINE!!!! :D

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  13. Spike no doubt about it.he's the best.love that guy;p

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  14. i love angel and spike but if i HAD to choose i would choose Spike i mean angel's just to innocent spike's evil and HOTT!!! if it was a desision between spike and angelus i would SOOOO pick angelus hes so evil and would kill for anything

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  15. Spike for sure. don't get me wrong. I love Angel, but Spike actually loved Buffy before he had a soul..and then fought for a soul so she could possibly love him back. Angel's soul was forced upon him. And the second he loses it he has no humanity. However i do LOVE Angelus. no way around it..the shows are incredible..i love all the characters. Dru is amazing!!!

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  16. This is a little late comment but i love BTVS so much anyway. I have no clue which of them is the best vampire, Spike and Angel are both the best vampire in different ways. But i do love spike the most : ) But as the person that commented right over me said: i love all the characters that's in the show and Dru is amazing!! : P

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  17. This is very late, but just to put my two cents in I think Spike is my favorite. Angelus was certainly more "badass" in that evil i-torture-you kind of way, but as anonymous mentioned 2 comments up Spike loved Buffy when he was still a vampire. Angel, in his vampire form, hated Buffy. I think it all comes down to Spike sacrificing himself in the end. Angel got scared and ran off breaking Buffy's heart, etc, etc, but Spike died to save everyone. Maybe Angel and Buffy's relationship was stronger, but all in all Spike was better. <3
    ~daisy

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  18. Spike !!! he is the best looking vampire in the world :D I LOVE HIM

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