As a gamer and a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I can’t help but reflect on the series with a mix of admiration and dismay. The show was groundbreaking in many ways, but it also had its dark moments that left lasting impacts on some of its cast members. James Marsters, who brought Spike to life, shared his experience of acting out the controversial “Seeing Red” scene, which sent him into therapy.
Although Buffy the Vampire Slayer is known for its strong feminist themes, it’s important to note that one particular episode caused problems severe enough to impact some of its cast members. Actor James Marsters, who portrayed Spike on the show, sought therapy following the highly controversial Spike and Buffy (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) scene in “Seeing Red,” which many found troubling due to its depiction of near-rape.
During an appearance on the podcast “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum,” Marsters reminisced about his time on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, stating that his character, Spike, was severely defeated by Buffy. He elaborated on the scene where Spike tried to assault a character without justifying or praising Spike’s actions. Marsters admitted that this scene has been troubling for many fans of the show and marked the darkest day of his professional career. Sexual assault is a sensitive subject for Marsters, and he openly declared during the interview that he shuns roles requiring him to portray rape scenes and avoids movies and shows dealing with the topic. Acting out Spike’s aggressive behavior left Marsters in a fetal position on the floor, but he was compelled to perform it due to his contractual obligations.
Marsters acknowledged that it was difficult for the audience because they connected with Buffy, which is why he had previously supported Spike’s death. However, it appears his primary focus was on Gellar. “It was just subjecting Sarah to that, it was making her endure that,” he shared with Rosenbaum. On set, she showed the same level of care for him. As an actor, he felt compelled to give his best performance. “You don’t want to shoot a scene like that and deliver a mediocre result on top of it.” Interestingly, the reason for the episode’s creation was rooted in a therapeutic process within the writers’ room.
Seeing Red came about from a writer’s room excercise
James Marsters shared that Buffy and Spike’s narrative originated from a female writer who drew inspiration from a team exercise where they wrote about their most distressing experiences. When asked to pen down a tale of her darkest hour, she described the incident where she pursued a college boyfriend after he broke up with her. In the script, she reversed the genders and infused magic. The writer remains anonymous; Rebecca Kirshner is the only female credited as a story editor on that episode’s writing credits.
Seeing Red” isn’t just a challenging “Buffy” episode due to Spike attacking Buffy Summers, but because Tara Maclay (played by Amber Benson) is fatally shot at the end. The episode primarily focuses on Tara enjoying a romantic moment with Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), making it a notable instance of the “Bury Your Gays” trope and a questionable representation of the show’s sexual and gender dynamics. It has sparked considerable discussion among fans and scholars of the series.
Looking back now, I can’t help but smile as I reminisce about my time in the Buffyverse. There’s a corner of my mind that remains forever Sunnydale, with a Spike and Buffy that feel just as vibrant and alive as they did then. “Even today,” I said, “there’s a piece of Sunnydale in me, and there’s a piece of Spike who loves a piece of Buffy.” It still feels authentic. And whenever the reality of it all became too much for me, I knew exactly who to turn to.
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2024-09-08 22:00