The Soulful Spike Society Part 18

[Dalton]

Welcome to the unhallowed ground of the Soulful Spike Society (SSS or 'S' cubed). Topic area devoted to Spikaholics, Spuffyites, Spike shippers of all types, plus any James Marsters information. Share your knowledge, insights, observations, speculations, or other information on our favorite character/actor in or out of any episode.

Straying off topic not a problem here. We welcome posts on any other aspect of the BtVS series also, but please, no spoilers. See also "The Soulful Spike Society" and/or "All Things Spike/James Marsters" (Parts 1-17) farther down the Miscellaneous Board. Visit our web site for the Soulful Spike Society at www.soulfulspike.com

Again, welcome!

Alexandra K.
4/19/2003

[Dalton]

I've never been first. I'm honored to inaugurate the 18th section of the Soulful Spike Society.

Golly, gee.

Nan

[Dalton]

I found this in an interview with JM where he talks about SMG and sheds a bit of light on our discussion:

"As the fourth season of Buffy begins, Marsters is fascinated to see how his character will challenge the Slayer this time - he's also looking forward to working once again with Sarah Michelle Gellar. "She is so cool. She's the best. On the set if you don't have a director's chair with your name on it you end up sitting on the floor and being in everyone's way, which just causes more stress. Neither Juliet nor I had chairs.

"Sarah finally went up to the producers and said, 'Look, these guys have done seven episodes so far, they are going to be in it until the end of the season, can we get them some chairs? I'll pay for them.' I thought that was so classy. She's very intelligent, very strong, very articulate. Basically, she makes 22 one-hour movies a year and she always knows her lines. She's in almost every shot. I can't say enough about her. I like her a lot as a person and as a co-worker. To some people she has a bit of a boundary because she's a big star and people will take from her as much as she's willing to give, so she protects herself because she needs to."



Alexandra K.

[Dalton]

I was last here last night(thursday) very late... in about 24 hours you guys hit 500 and started a new area. I still have like 60 posts to read! And I haven't even checked the S'cubie mailbag yet... and I know you folks submitted stuff *sighs* I will plug away, but know that I cant stay up forever as I have commitments to meet tomorrow and its already almost 5 am.

To those of you that submitted things, for those of you clamoring for HTML instruction, to those of you...to everyone! *L* I'll get to it as soon as possible. BTW, I do like the idea of an HTML refernce area and almost did it on my own once before. Nan, you did some wonderful explanations back there in part 17 and I will probably crib them, if it's okay, once I give them a better look over. I am trying to get all caught up here and technical posts about things I know don't need read right now. Also, I am interested in checking out hte site that I believe Patti suggested on HTML. It might make a nice addition ot a couple links I have.

Anyway, I jsut wanted you all to know that your tp isn't lying face up in a gutter somewhere with the sun about ready to rise. *wink*

Vlad, TA, tp

Edited By Vlad I at 4/19/2003 6:32:00 AM.

[Dalton]

THE "I USED TO WATCH" LIST

Law and Order (not hte spin-off's tho' those are okay) I used to watch it sporadically in the first few years it was on, and then when A&E becmae the L&O channel, I saw them alllll..some many times...I loved about hte first 6 years? Up until Claire got killed off. I kinda lost interest after that, tho still will occasionally watch it if on. The whole show seems jsut a little too pat anymore tho'. I think it's time is over. I missed Noth as Mike Logan when he left the series and I positively loved the idea of him doing a spin off series (the one stand alone movie they made was pretty good!)

Babylon 5: Loved it till the Shadow War was over and they moved the series to TNT who allowed it to be butchered, far as I am concerned. I would have rather had a nice epilogue episode and ended it at season 4.

Highlander the Series: I think it's one of the better series of it's type to have been aired and adrian paul was perfectly cast. I figure he had as many women swooning over him as JM ever has.

Dark Angel: Loved the first season, didn't hate the second but they dumbed it down waaay too much. I did like the "rogue" mutant (cant think of his name for the life of me)[Ed. I jsut rememembered! It was Alex..or Alec..I tihnk Alex] they introduced in the second season tho, to play off Max's morals. I hated Joshua... He was a poor man's Beast from B&B.

Ally McBeal: First two seasons and the stretch with Robert Downey, jr....after that...yechhh.

THE "I WATCH" LIST

Buffy: Duh!

Angel: What needs to be said? As far as I am concerned it's the other half of Buffy. I love it.

Alias: I preferred Season 1, tho' with the changes they made in the show from the superbowl episode on, the second season really improved. It's a "must tape" (I run and play in role-playing games on Sunday so I have to, if I want to see it.)

The Practice: Loved the first two and a half seasons or so, then it jsut got ...BAD. Watch it occasionally when I think to tape it and the last 6 eps have been better. I doubt it will be around next season.

Boston PUblic: Liked the first season fairly well, now jsut watch it if I remember its on. It really got bad. I guess it won a Peabody award or something....unbelievable! The show stinks!

24: I really enjoyed the first season, tho' there were parts that drug and parts that made me throw things and go "Oh geez! Come on!" Still, it was good tv.

The second season started slow, I hated the whole storyline with the daughter (Puh LEEEZ! She jsut HAPPENS to be babysitting for a guy who kills his wife and the damn situation explodes on the very day her father is off to save the world...again? I coulda written her into the story better'n that! *groans* That would be like.. ohhh....killing Buffy and bringing her back...err.. they did that..twice!) Howevever, I haven't missed an episode and the last 4-5 maybe have been pretty taut. I am enjoying it more now than I did for the first half of S2.

The Shield: I LOVED this show... both seasons. It is truly one of the best things on tv. MUST SEE TV lives!

Lucky: Started watching it ... it's ...hmmmm..I'll keep watching it for a while. It's different.

Firefly: Unlike what the rest of you have seem to have said, I LOVED this show. I am buying the DVD when it comes out, I wish to God I had taped all of it. The entire cast was perfect. (Take note you "fans" of Caleb, Nathan was even better as the Captain, in my opinion. He was growing into that role. It's a shame they had to segregate his second in command over there on Angel as Jasmine.) The stories were that marvelous blend of Whedon humor and drama...jsut every single thing worked for me. It was intelligent, fun tv. It IS THE REASON I WOUND UP POSTING ON SCOOPME! ORIGINALLY! So, for that fact alone, you guys should appreciate it. *L* It gave you all me, and it helped form the S'cubie Website!

Sports: I also watch the Colts and the Pacers during their respective seasons and rarely miss any games, even if I have to tape them and threaten the world with mutilation should they tell me the score. *L*

That's about it for regular broacast tv. I am sure I am leaving out stuff.. *L* Like Enterprise ...duh! Just thought of it... it's "okay" The first season was better and it jsut lacks something. Anyway... if I think of anythign else I'll post. I gotta go read another 60 posts. *Trudges back to the salt mines*

Vlad

Edited By Vlad I at 4/19/2003 6:37:00 AM.

[Dalton]

OKay folks, this one's gonna be short and sweet as I have to skeedaddle off to bed.

Kerrie D. humbly submitted her very first essay to the site, entitled Can People Love Witout Souls?, it can be found at hte bottom of the Assay an Essay section. (And yes, I am preparing to move the completed essays to another page where they will be easier to see very soon!) Go take a look and let her know what you think.

Next up...

Diane Ullman has also submitted a first...her very first fiction posted to the site. It's called The Last and it can be found in the Fanfictional! area, at the very bottom. (Authors are listed in the order to which they submitted their first fiction. I will be changing htis process in the near future and also moving "chaptered" pieces like Rob's onto their individual own pages leaving only a "link" behind to "clean" the Fanfictional area up some.) Please read Diane's tale. I really truly enjoyed it. I would say more to you Diane, but I dont want to ruin it for anyone else. You did a great job and we can talk about it as soon as the majority get a chance to read it.

So, for all the above-mentioned fiction and non-fiction and plenty other stuff to boot, head yourself over to the S'cubie Website.

Anyway folks, that's it for now. I am off to bed before a stray beam of sunlight causes me to burst into flame. See you all soon!

Vlad, TA, tp

ps. Dave, I read your email, adjsuted the webpage concerning #2 and sent you a reply in your email.

V.

[Dalton]

And I missed it! It has taken me the better part of 2 days to catch up! And I missed all the fur flying! RATS!

Okay, I feel better now...

What does the Watergal watch?

Let's do this by day of the week shall we?

Sunday:

Alias: girl power rules! And that Michael Vartan! At last a man in Hollywood who can speak French!

DaVinci's Inquest: Best, true to life, most intelligent Coroner/police drama ever! If a US network ever buys the rights to this great Canadian drama you should all set your VCRs. (All except Kerrie, she'll have to wait for the Australian networks to get the rights =))

All Creatures Great and Small: Still a classic!

The Shield: Can't wait to see season 2.

Monday:

Third Watch: Enough said.

Miracles: Up until it was cancelled. *sniff*

Veritas: The Quest; see Miracles above.

CSI: Criminal Intent: Who was it who said they couldn't stand Vincent D'Onofrio? He is the entire reason I watch. That man can act! He alone made Men in Black the movie it was. Long live the BugMan!

Tuesday:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Of course, it goes without saying.

Angel: Okay, we used to be a day ahead of all you Americans, but I am now 6 days behind. *sob* However shall they defeat Jasmine?

Wednesday:

Enterprise: When I remember that it is on. Can't be that fond of it can I?

The West Wing: If the American president were more like Jed Bartlett, I dare say that the US would get more respect internationally. Josh makes me laugh. He deserves Lee's Laugh Song.

Thursday:

CSI: It's about time the rest of you learned that science is cool! Some of us have known that all along.

ER: Yes indeedy, Goran Visnic (Luka Kovac) is adorable, if messed up.

Friday:

CBC comedy night: Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour has 22 Minutes.

I hear that Rick Mercer's, Talking to Americans has caused a bit of a stir south of the 49th parallel, but I can't imagine why. If some people chose to believe that Toronto has just recently commisioned it's first television station, or that the great Ottawa polar bear hunt has been extended this season, who are we to mock?

Saturday:

Monarch of the Glen: Very funny!

Trading Spaces: Pretty good, too bad they don't count money like normal people. Too bad paint brushes, nails, painters tape etc. are free in their world, the rest of us could never acomplsh that much on a thousand dollars US, because it our world, these things cost money.

Shows I watch when I catch them throughout the week:

Changing Rooms: The original BBC show that started it all.

The Painted House: Amazing what can be done with a little paint.

Trading Places: Whould you like to live someone elses life for 2 days? An East Coast fisher in the Calgary Stampede, and a Calgary stampeder running a whale watching tour. Precious!

Dogs with Jobs: Smart canines. Enough said.

Zoo Diaries: The Toronto Zoo and its inhabitants, both human and otherwise. I quite like Stevie the Bat.

What Not to Wear: Just because.

Ballykisangel: And you folks are only just discovering how good an actor Colin Farrel is?

Okay, I think that is quite long enough for now, although I'm certain I'll remember many other shows as soon as I post this.

Watergal

Edited By Watergal =^..^= at 4/19/2003 9:05:00 AM.

[Dalton]

I see that my return has scared everyone away. I am feeling a little like a leper. Then again, maybe some of you are sleeping in. I can't imagine why anyone would want to do that.

Watergal

[Dalton]

Hey Watergal-

good morning- just checked in- am off to read diane's tale-

cool- colin and goran- and vartan- - do I sense a community of guy watching ( oh- right this is the Spikecentricity board) - you are probably gone by now anyway and I am really going to get some serious biking in today- will check back in a few minutes if you want to chat-

[Dalton]

(This is an historic post.)
Sometime before the end of BtVS, we need to think of something VERY nice to do for Vlad. He's set up the website and maintained it and encouraged people to send things there and led the cheering section when they did. Without him we wouldn't have the poetry, or the fiction, or the weetabix, or the episode analyses, or the codification of the VHISN, or the essays, or....

Vlad, I hope that if I'd still had Front Page and the means to do it, I would have volunteered myself to do what you have. Watching you do it, I'm impressed, humbled, and gratified. It's you and Alexandra who have been the chief enablers here--Alexandra in thinking up, setting up, and staying with the S3 topic thread all these months, and you in providing the independent outlet for the ephemeral that otherwise would have been lost or forgotten or not happened at all.

I know you probably won't see this until tomorrow, and the image of you getting out of your coffin at something like 3 in the morning is one that keeps giving me giggles. But know WE know we are all in your debt; and I hope there's time before series end--when things will inevitably change in ways I can't yet foresee--to tell you so.

I expect others will voice this differently and maybe better than I have, and I invite them to do so. I want to celebrate a CELEBRATE VLAD'S AWESOMENESS party on the S3 thread, and please, everybody, come and play

[Dalton]

Diane-

Wow- that story is just...amazing.

I have already printed it for my daughter and son- my husband says I should start a career as professional appreciator. Let me say here and now- no salary needed this week.

Please tell me you are going to submit that story for publication- it floored me.

Kerrie-

As I told posted previously- I love reading stuff that clarifies Buffy's actions for me b/c I am truly uncomfortable with being unhappy with her behavior.

Your essay depicting the dynamics of love in a relationship (as it applies to Buffy and her men (particularly but not exclusively Spike) is a thoughtful,exciting and sympathetic examination. Thank you.

Vlad- you have made it possible for our site members to participate in what is,to me, arguably the best Buffysite I have had the privilege of visiting.... "other than this one, of course"...*bows -winks and exits side left*

biking now-

[Dalton]

//To some people she has a bit of a boundary because she's a big star and people will take from her as much as she's willing to give, so she protects herself because she needs to.//

That's what I was trying to say last night. Also, that some actors seem to need/crave fan interaction more than she does. I simultaneously admire her for NOT needing it so much, but regret that she doesn't seem to expend much energy on "giving back to the fans" either. From whatI've seen of her on talk shows (very extrovertist and bubbly) a few appearances at fan events would bowl folks over.

Moving on: Watergal--was wondering where you were. Keep hearing more and more SARS reports out of Canada, although that will probably stop now that there are cases in Kentucky. Honestly, front page headline in the Nashville paper yesterday was: "Arrest in dog rescue riles pet lovers" (some guy ignore firemen and went back into his burning apt to get the family--photo with dog, man and 4 yr old daughter). It's not as if there might be any international news going on (very heavy sarcasm).

Ellie-- Where in NY, NY do you bike? My sister lives on Roosevelt Island.

[Dalton]

(This is an historic post.)

dear s'cubies, i can't begin to tell you how awful i feel about dumping that ton of bricks on david for what turned out to be a misunderstanding about a reference to a movie i've never seen, one patti understood immediately when she saw it. david accepted the misguided chastisement with more good humor than i deserve and more people rallied to support me in what i meant to do, rather than what i did, in stronger terms, than i ever expected.

david is not to blame for the ep board unpleasantness that was my mental context for reacting as i did. i hope that if ever the real thing comes along, i (and others) will shoot the offender down in messy, memorable flames. but this turned out to be the wrong time and the wrong reaction and the wrong person and i apologize to everyone for committing such egregious overkill against an undeserving and inoffensive target.

i meant well. i always mean well. that is no excuse.

i'm very sorry and i'll try very hard never to do it again without good reason and somebody other than me, that's actually been HURT, leading off before i go into attack mode.

i feel really dumb and i'm glad everybody seems to have shrugged and gone on to business as usual. i can't because it's probably the worst thing i've ever done on ScoopMe, which is saying something. no sympathy required or even appropriate. i messed up. i'll kinda lurk awhile until i'm less ashamed and embarrassed and sorry.

Nan Dibble

[Dalton]

Yes - ellie - I agree with all you say on these two works.

DIANE: It is hard to say much without saying too much and telling people what the story is about. It will have to suffice to say I believe it succeeds in all its intentions.

KERRIE: I like your succinct, clear, thoughtful style.

And of course, none of this would be possible without Vlad! Yes, we should have a "Vlad-day" or something like that.

[Dalton]

Vlad makes us proud, Vlad makes us proud

(Lee, I defer to you to write Vlad a song)

Thanks, Vlad. I appreciate all the time and effort (I also know I can't know the half of it) you put into the website. It would be very sad if everyone's marvelous essays and poems were littered throughout all of the posting sessions. I propose that when several of you move on to lucrative literary careers, have gotten your start on the S'cubie site, you send a percentage to Vlad. (Even though we all know you are not in it for the high pay). Really: thanks, kudos, and thanks.