Buffy 7.2 - Spike on the cross

[tefnut]

I've watched the first two episodes of the seventh season of Buffy for the first time tonight.

James Marsters was already my favourite actor. His performance in this episode floored me. It felt like watching a great performance of a  Shakespearean play.

It may sound silly, but... I'm shaking. I was so moved, I had to sit on the ground for a minute.
First time I experienced anything like that through this media.

Comments

[gabrielleabelle.livejournal.com]

That scene always makes me cry. It's just so powerful. It is my favorite scene in the entire series, and that's saying quite a lot.

*Non-too-subtly pimps her meta about the scene* :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/tefnut_/]

Loved the meta!
It gave me an excuse to rewatch the scene.

But what about "the other"? The thing "beneath you"? That's William. It's the William who was beneath Cecily in Fool for Love and it was the William in Spike that was below Buffy in the very same episode. Indeed, Spike remained "below" Buffy throughout S6. His own self is in him, telling him to go to hell. Instead or reconciling himself and piecing himself back together, he's turned against himself in his guilt.
I think the thing "beneath you" is the demon. William was beneath Cecily. The evil, soulless thing was beneath Buffy. So, I believe it's what he's referring about (as well as to the "Beneath you, it devours" mantra).

[http://users.livejournal.com/tefnut_/]

Btw, I just copy-pasted that as a comment to your post. That's where it should be. :)