Spike's Original Nickname Better Explains His Buffy Ending
Spike's original moniker, «William the Bloody,» in some ways foreshadowed and justified the character's significant transformation throughout his run on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though Spike's former name is mentioned early on in the series, it is finally revealed in season 5 episode 7, «Fool For Love,» that he was dubbed «William the Bloody» by his peers because of his «bloody awful» romantic poetry. However, there's actually much more significance behind the nickname than a jibe at Spike's lack of lyricism.
Before he gained his fearsome reputation as a vampire, Spike had been a meek, lovelorn Englishman with a passion for words and a dislike for confrontation and violence. That all changed when he met the vampire Drusilla, the first person to truly understand him and treat him kindly. Once Spike had turned, all his anger towards the people who mocked and belittled him was unleashed on the rest of humanity. After a lifetime of feeling invisible and helpless, Spike's heady newfound power almost absorbed him completely. Played by James Marsters, Spike quickly became a fan favorite on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, especially as he began to transition from a featured villain to an aspiring hero and potential love interest for Buffy. While Spike and Buffy's relationship is tumultuous to say the least, the growth of his feelings for her is a huge turning point for his character. As a result, Spike struggles throughout the later seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to reconcile the warring sides of himself: the insecure romantic versus the vengeful misanthrope.
Related: How Spike's BTVS Debut Setup His Hero Turn & Buffy Romance
In the end, Spike's romantic nature wins out, which is proven beyond doubt when he sacrifices himself to
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