Buffy Action Figures: Spotlight Spike

I couldn't help but like Spike from the very beginning. What's not to love about a Billy Idol wannabe vampire? He was a hero, sort of, for killing that snot-nosed kid "The Anointed One." He certainly ushers in a new era in Sunnydale. He and Drusilla were more interesting villains than the Master and the back story with Angel added some spice.

I love the scene of Spike battling the Slayer Nikki Wood on the subway. He looks like a coiled snake, ready to strike. Since I love the scene, I was doubly pleased that this figure is so great. It's an excellent representation of James Marsters. And I like the accessories. I'll pause to add my vote for a Nikki Wood doll. She was awesome in that fight scene and she deserves her own doll.

Spike's story arc is fascinating, so it's not just his "hottie" status that has me interested. At the end of Season Six, (spoiler alert!) Spike takes off for remote parts and we find out later he's sought out a legendary demon. He survives all these fights and trials and in the end he gets his soul back. It's a pivotal moment in his life and I'm glad it got commemorated with an action figure.

The events that lead up to that (literally) soul searching journey are among the most heart wrenching for me. I can't help but love Spike and to see him try to rape Buffy and then come to his senses and realize his mistake.....

It was just hard to watch. It was, however, the best motivation for his quest. Life or death, either would be fine because living with the knowledge of what he'd done was too hard. You'd have to be at that sort of crossroads in order to even attempt the trials set forth by the demon.

I'll always have a soft spot for "bad" Spike. He's just so gleefully bad and also just inept enough that he's fun to watch. There was something inhuman about the Master (and some of the other Big Bads) whereas Spike is very human. His reactions to the ups and downs of being an evil overlord, his love and exasperation with Drusilla make him very human and sympathetic.

There are certainly other men in Buffy's life, but Spike holds a special place. He's seen her at her worst, in ways that Angel never did. He brought out her worst, in ways that no villain ever did. And really when it comes down to it, who would you rather hang out with: Spike or Angel?

Buffy Figure: The Woman Behind the Figurine

I think it's interesting that there could be so many action figures for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I mean, I get the outfits and all, but even positionable figurines versus the painted metal ones versus sculptures.....

I know I'm not alone in thinking that the figurine "Prophecy Girl" is the best Buffy figure out there. She's got that gorgeous dress, real (instead of plastic) hair, her special cross necklace, stake, and crossbow. It's a wonderful episode and it's great to have a figurine of this caliber to commemorate it.

There are many opinions about which figurines give the best likeness to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Ha, probably as many opinions as there are figurines. Obviously I really like the Clayburn Moore figures. He's kinda old school, I know. But there's something really wonderful about them. I don't think that all the Moore figures necessarily look just like Sarah Michelle Gellar, but eh, that's OK with me. There's artistry there.

I like to think that one of these days I'll have all of the Buffy figurines. The show means so much to me. Even so, a Buffy figure like "Primeval" is not my taste. It looks like some middle-aged woman in some sort of smock. Not a whole lot going on there.

I just got the "Vampire" Buffy from the First Season episode "Nightmares." That's a fun departure for me. I've not delved into the alternate versions much. No Dark Willow or Demon Giles. One of these days, maybe. I'll need a bigger house!

For me, the reason to even have these figurines is because the show, the story and the actors are so great. So what's behind my Buffy action figure craze? I love the show and having these figurines brings those stories closer to home for me. I can't describe it any better than that.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Girl Power Activate!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, both the series and the character, are all about girl power. I guess that's why I love the show and why I'm looking forward to sharing it with my daughter, Shannon, in a few years. She's still a little young, I think for the violence. And the sex. But in a couple of years, we'll sit down and watch the complete series together. I hope, anyway, that she'll want to do that. By the time she's old enough to appreciate the show, it might be too painful to have to hang out with mom.

I remember reading that Joss Whedon purposefully wanted to have this strong feminine hero in Buffy and these days it's hard to believe that the network would balk at that idea! But he had to sell the heck out of it. And it seemed like every season, it was a question of whether it would be back.

Looking back at all of that now, the stereotype of the sexy woman sold the show. I mean once Sarah Michelle Geller was a little older, it was nothing to see her in tight dresses or that famous red leather bustier on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. So it's like sex object and hero all at the same time. And I guess, what ca you do about that right? It's partly just the way the world is and partly I think -- it's OK. Because I think I'm strong and sexy and Shannon can be too. I want that for her. You lose a part of yourself if you're only one or the other. So women who get mad about the sexy side of Buffy are missing something important about the idea of Girl Power -- it becomes Woman Power.

Each of the female characters in BtVS is strong -- but of course Buffy and Willow are the main characters, so they get the spotlight often. Looking at supporting characters from Cordelia all the way to Kennedy, the women are strong and independent. Maybe they follow the cultural norms, makeup and high heels, but they seem to decide for themselves that this is what they want. I don't care if my daughter wears makeup and skirts. She can dress however makes her happy. Because her strength isn't in the clothes she wears -- it's what is inside her heart.