h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Following a conversation with Staker_Boi about Marster's performances, I thought I'd ask all you what you think is his finest episode in terms of his acting. Obviously, he has a lot of great moments being the fine actor he is, but for me, his finest is Lover's Walk. The ability to switch between being hilarous and terrifying so easily is amazing. And the speech on love he delivers to Angel and Buffy - what amazing delivery.

So, what are your thoughts?

Incidentally, once this conversation has exhausted itself, I may move on to doing a similar one for other performers on the show, if this porves to be of any interst to anyone.

I must admit that I am one of a few that never really warmed to Spike. It wasn't until 'Intervention' that I finally grew to like Spike, showing his utter devotion and love for Buffy.

His speech to Buffy in 'Touched', left me in tears. Spike was indeed another one of Joss' works of genius, taking absolute evil and turning it around to good, then having him paying the ultimate sacrifice at the end was just beautiful.

Xander

Good idea Bud! Especially creating one thread per actor - looking forward to it.

In Beneath You he had to play so many different types of Spike, whether it was the glimpse of Season 2 Spike in The Bronze, helpful Spike or The-First-is-playing-with-my-brain Spike that this episode was the one for me. The best was saved until last, though, with that scene in the church. I had to rewind that a few times just to savour the performance.

I am the same. I never really liked Spike and certainly did not like his season six relationship with Buffy. Slowly began to warm to him in season 7 and actually wanted him to beat the bejasus out of Wood in the garage in Lies My Parents Told Me.
It was not until the whole thing was over that I realised I had been beautifully manipulated by Joss Whedon and James Marsters for four years.I was meant not to like Spike and not like his relationship with Buffy etc etc.
I have to say that he was brilliant in school Hard as a straight killer vampire, no depth at all. He was arevelation in Fool for Love, all depth. He played the fool in Tabula Rasa. The nutsack in Beneath You. The hero in Chosen. The spurned lover in Entropy. The protector in Forever and of course, singer in OMWF.
So why would anyone want to employ James Marsters?
I have to go with the scene in the church, pure Shakespeare. Both Sarah and James nailed it. A lot of people thought it was a bit OTT but I loved it.

He has indeed had so many great moments. Every time I watch him in a different season (with the exception of s.7) I realise anew how gereat he was at doing that. Such a great straight-up villain in s.2/3, such a great clown/joker in s.4 (probably my favourite), and such great pathos in s.5/6. He is a master of so many different styles.

Difficult but I think his finest performance was in Intervention, going from his comic slanging match with Glory, which included some of the funniest Buffy quotes ever, to his heart-rending honesty about being unable to betray Buffy. In Touched James has an amazing soliliquy, as he does in Lover's Walk but in Intervention he is superb the whole episode

Wow, I hadn't even thought of Intervention, but know you mention it, HonestIago, he is great in it. I'm still sticking with Lover's Walk, though, not just for the admittedly amazing soliloquy, but for his performance throughout the epiosde - he plays the clown brilliantly at moments, particularly outside Angel's mansion, and yet I don't think he's ever been scarier than when threatening Willow with the bottle (though, of course, some credit goes to to the magnificent AH in that scene for enhancing the effect).

I liked him in Dead Things, he was really trying to help Buffy even if it didn't work too well.

Poor guys gets shafted every time... I likes OMWF because his singing is great (if not the songs themselves) decides to go help buffy while everyone is all "we can't halp her! It's her mission!" and then they all change their minds and take credit for the idea in the first place.

In terms of comedy, I really liked Fool For Love (the bit where he steals the ball off the pool table and the bit where he lights a cigarette while buffy's clearly turned on). The guy plays a great idiot (when he makes that huge speech about bathing in buffy's blood and them promptly gets taken down by the Initiative)...

My favourite, though, is when he's mocking Angel (s2 or 3, don't remember). "now I'm just a big fluffy puppy with bad teeth... no, not the hair! never the hair! ... saving those in need's my job, and working a up load of sexual tension and prancing away like a magnificent pouf is truly thanks enough!...evil's still afoot, and I'm almost out of that nancyboy hair gel I like so much! quickly, to the angel-mobile!"

can you tell I'm a little obsessive?

yeah...

not a fan-girl though... never a fan-girl...

My english teacher would be mortified by that last post.

Hello, Whirlwind, welcome to Slayerville. Make yourself at home (there's quite a few empty houses here!), and enjoy your stay.

Nite Owl

I rather like the Spike against Faith scene in S7 Touched Spikes defence of Buffy and his belittling of the others is a classic.

out for a walk... bitch