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Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Why Buffy & Spike's Relationship Was Always Doomed
One of Buffy Summers' (Sarah Michelle Gellar) three major relationships on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Slayer's relationship with vampire Spike (James Marsters) was doomed from the start — here's why.
Joss Whedon's iconic cult classic series skillfully incorporated supernatural elements with a coming-of-age story for the Slayer and her friends, lovingly referred to as the Scooby Gang. Because the primary story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was centralized around Buffy's story, her romantic relationships were often a focal point of the series. Buffy is most well-known for her relationship with the vampire Angel (David Boreanaz), who was a core cast member on the show until Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3, after which Boreanaz went on to helm the spin-off show, Angel. After Boreanaz's departure from the show, his relationship with Buffy was never the same. Buffy eventually went to college in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4 and entered into a romantic relationship with a human, Riley (Marc Blucas), but it didn't last, either.
Buffy's relationship with Spike began gradually in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5, but didn't culminate in anything substantial until season 6, when the two shared a kiss after the acclaimed musical episode, "Once More With Feeling". From there, Buffy conducted her relationship with Spike—which was mostly sexual, at first—in secret. However, this wasn't the only red flag that was teased by the series that the couple wouldn't last and, furthermore, shouldn't last. Despite fans liking the pairing, especially after Spike showed more tenderness toward Buffy and went on a quest to reacquire his soul, it was too toxic to be viable. Both Buffy and Spike reached what could be considered a point of no return with the other, and while the relationship had its good moments, it was clearly meant more to be a lesson for Buffy—and Spike—rather than a way to achieve any long-term happiness.
Most obviously, Spike is a vampire, and not an ensouled one. At least, not at first. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4, he's given a chip by members of The Initiative to keep him compliant and unable to harm people. Because of this, he becomes a reluctant member of the Scooby Gang, and while they don't trust him at first, they eventually learn that he can be a valuable resource given his contacts with other evildoers. Because he's no longer a direct threat to Buffy, she takes to learning from him directly, especially since he's killed two Slayers before.
Buffy is drawn to the danger he presents, which is intoxicating to her in a different way than her relationship with Angel was. Angel was always on a redemptive path, trying to establish himself as a force of good in the world, where Spike became saddled as part of the good guy team as a means of survival. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6, episode 13, "Dead Things", Buffy loses control and savagely beats Spike, who refuses to retaliate even though it appears that his chip is "tricked" by the fact that she was dead and resurrected; it doesn't register her as a mortal that he's not allowed to harm anymore, which causes Buffy to think something is "wrong" with her. This loss of control on Buffy's part shows not only her unchecked rage and anger, but highlights that she is too ashamed of herself to ever truly care for him — to her, he's dirty and evil; in her mind, there's no saving or redeeming him.
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6, episode 19, "Seeing Red", Spike sexually assaults Buffy, which is a shocking moment for them both that proves just how dangerous their relationship is. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7 brings them both to a reluctant sort of middle ground, their actions during season 6 prove that there's no way they can ever be healthy for each other, and though there's clearly feelings between them, it was never meant to last. They'll always hurt each other, whether they mean to or not, because their history as enemies overshadowed any good that could develop with time and understanding. There's no trust, therefore, there can never be any real love.
