For Xander, the soul equals no big whoop, apparently.
You know, I was thinking about this yesterday, and I think it goes back to an inherent difference between Angel and Spike, and the way Xander views them.
Xander definitely doesn't give much credence to the soul when it's about Angel, and I think it's because Angel (or rather, Buffy on behalf of Angel) tries to make the distinction between souled and unsouled as two different people. But Xander sees Angel and Angelus as more alike than different, so he's pretty much calling bullshit on that one.
But then souled Spike comes along. Spike never tries to escape the blame, he never tries to say he's not responsible for what he did while soulless. He actually tries to pretend that he's the same as he was before, even though it's clear (both when he's crazy and when he's sane) that he's not the same. And I think Xander sees that, and he understands the difference.
I'm sure some people have different views of the soul thing, but I'm of the opinion that it does make a difference - not in a split personality Angel/Angelus kind of way, but it changes you. Xander's been skeptical of the soul's influence because he's been force-fed the split personality explanation (and he should be skeptical, because it is bullshit), but living with Spike, he's got a firsthand look at what the soul really does. It only takes about five minutes with Spike to realize that he's not "Stalking-Buffy-Guy" anymore. He's not going to be attacking anyone, soulfully or not (er, except under the influence of the First). It's not Buffy saying "he has a soul now" that does it, but actually seeing the influence of the soul.
The world does not hang in the balance on this issue. Probably.
You never know! Someday, it could be as vital as "cavemen vs. astronauts"! ;)
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You know, I was thinking about this yesterday, and I think it goes back to an inherent difference between Angel and Spike, and the way Xander views them.
Xander definitely doesn't give much credence to the soul when it's about Angel, and I think it's because Angel (or rather, Buffy on behalf of Angel) tries to make the distinction between souled and unsouled as two different people. But Xander sees Angel and Angelus as more alike than different, so he's pretty much calling bullshit on that one.
But then souled Spike comes along. Spike never tries to escape the blame, he never tries to say he's not responsible for what he did while soulless. He actually tries to pretend that he's the same as he was before, even though it's clear (both when he's crazy and when he's sane) that he's not the same. And I think Xander sees that, and he understands the difference.
I'm sure some people have different views of the soul thing, but I'm of the opinion that it does make a difference - not in a split personality Angel/Angelus kind of way, but it changes you. Xander's been skeptical of the soul's influence because he's been force-fed the split personality explanation (and he should be skeptical, because it is bullshit), but living with Spike, he's got a firsthand look at what the soul really does. It only takes about five minutes with Spike to realize that he's not "Stalking-Buffy-Guy" anymore. He's not going to be attacking anyone, soulfully or not (er, except under the influence of the First). It's not Buffy saying "he has a soul now" that does it, but actually seeing the influence of the soul.
The world does not hang in the balance on this issue. Probably.
You never know! Someday, it could be as vital as "cavemen vs. astronauts"! ;)