Ah, did 2maggie2 do more of her Lie to Me meta? I read Part I, which was quite brilliant.
While part of me admittedly would have preferred your take - I don't think it works within the context of the series nor would it have made sense in regards to the characters. Spike still is an amoral, opportunistic, manipulative creature (Riley isn't wrong about that nor does Spike disagree with Riley, he more or less looks at Buffy as if she is nuts). The thing about AYW - is Riley isn't exposing Spike's monster to Buffy, so much as reminding her of it. Unfortunately, Older and Far Away and As You Were are too poorly written to demonstrate that well - the point gets a bit defused. Dead Things does a better job.
In Older and Far Away - the writers are attempting to show us how Spike as he currently is does not fit in Buffy's life. Nor does Spike particularly want to fit in it. He wants Buffy to join him in his life. Their disagreement in Older is partly about that. In which she says, I was insane to think you could be with my friends, and he states and I was insane..then breaks off and says no you are. He still believes that she can and should join him. The fact it is daylight and he can't physically leave her house when she first attempts it - more or less emphasizes the point. Also at the end of Older, he leaves, and she stays with Dawn. The push me/pull me in Older through AYW is partly between Dawn and Spike. "I have to go see to Dawn" Spike - "no stay here." She comes in and Dawn asks what kept her so long. And why is the sandwich all smushed.
Spike is not offering to be the father to Dawn or join her. Not that she would accept it. He's pulling Buffy away from her friends, aways from that. Granted that is partly her fault. But it is also what makes it difficult for them to change the relationship and heal it - at least at this point. Plus, both characters in this season are at war with themselves. Buffy is at war with herself, and so is Spike. So the tug of war is internal as well as external. Neither is capable emotionally or pyschologically of doing what you suggest. None of the characters are.
no subject
Ah, did
While part of me admittedly would have preferred your take - I don't think it works within the context of the series nor would it have made sense in regards to the characters. Spike still is an amoral, opportunistic, manipulative creature (Riley isn't wrong about that nor does Spike disagree with Riley, he more or less looks at Buffy as if she is nuts). The thing about AYW - is Riley isn't exposing Spike's monster to Buffy, so much as reminding her of it. Unfortunately, Older and Far Away and As You Were are too poorly written to demonstrate that well - the point gets a bit defused. Dead Things does a better job.
In Older and Far Away - the writers are attempting to show us how Spike as he currently is does not fit in Buffy's life. Nor does Spike particularly want to fit in it. He wants Buffy to join him in his life. Their disagreement in Older is partly about that. In which she says, I was insane to think you could be with my friends, and he states and I was insane..then breaks off and says no you are. He still believes that she can and should join him. The fact it is daylight and he can't physically leave her house when she first attempts it - more or less emphasizes the point. Also at the end of Older, he leaves, and she stays with Dawn. The push me/pull me in Older through AYW is partly between Dawn and Spike. "I have to go see to Dawn"
Spike - "no stay here." She comes in and Dawn asks what kept her so long. And why is the sandwich all smushed.
Spike is not offering to be the father to Dawn or join her. Not that she would accept it. He's pulling Buffy away from her friends, aways from that. Granted that is partly her fault.
But it is also what makes it difficult for them to change the relationship and heal it - at least at this point. Plus, both characters in this season are at war with themselves. Buffy is at war with herself, and so is Spike. So the tug of war is internal as well as external. Neither is capable emotionally or pyschologically of doing what you suggest. None of the characters are.