Really nice interview. I don't think I'd heard that thing about School Hard before so had to quickly check that John Kretchmer's career was ok (it is!).

I appreciate that James has clearly thought a lot about BtVS and Spike since being in it (and answered a lot of questions about it too) but his answers are never rote.

Love the compliments to ASH and his overall thoughts on the writing/storytelling process.

Leaf | March 09, 22:19 CET

In all the years and all the interviews with James I have read, he has never changed his tune on the difficulties of doing that scene, and here so many years later it still affects him.

Dana5140 | March 09, 23:22 CET

I still can't read an interview with him without imagining him using his Spike accent, though.

AndrewCrossett | March 10, 00:14 CET

I'm not sure I had ever heard this explanation for the writer's rationale on that scene. It makes much, much more sense now—and JM's reservations were well-founded, I think.

His insights into the show are always grand. I loved his answer to the "Spike or Angel?" question.

ManEnoughToAdmitIt | March 10, 05:50 CET

@ManEnoughToAdmitIt - he's told that story many times before in interviews.

TimeTravellingBunny | March 10, 07:51 CET

I've indeed often read James commenting on that scene, but I think this is the first time where I also read the following:

"But again I’m glad we did it. Spike was evil, and I think a lot of people forgot about that."

I always got the impression that he regretted everything about the scene, including the fact that this was his character's development. But I'm happy to read that, despite his extreme (understandable!) difficulties with those scenes in general & with filming it, he does acknowledge the crucial role of it in Spike's story.

The interview's a great read.

Valentijn | March 10, 11:35 CET