Was JAMES MARSTERS Aware of the JOSS WHEDON Toxic Workplace on BUFFY?!? #insideofyou #buffy

James Marsters gives his first-hand account of what it was like working with the controversial director Joss Whedon on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

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Making a return this week, James Marsters (Buffy, Angel) joins us for a discussion on the darker side of his method acting of the fan beloved character Spike, and exactly how it affected his relationships with others on set. James opens up more this time on the hostile working conditions on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and what it was like to work with creator Joss Whedon. We talk about secret crushes on set, playing dark characters, and the possibility of a Buffy reunion.

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Was JAMES MARSTERS Aware of the JOSS WHEDON Toxic Workplace on BUFFY?!? #insideofyou #buffy

[LaurenHayley]

I couldn’t imagine the show without Spike staying in it. He was 100% my favorite character in Buffy.

[Theyluv_evess]

As an English person, he fooled me into thinking he was English. Like the accent was so convincing it’s weird to see him speaking in his normal accent 😂

[anne-sophieletourneau-hudo]

In many ways Spike’s arrival on the show helped it turn into less of a metaphor of just adolescence and into something more complex that reflects becoming an adult: not all the bad is avoidable and if that’s the case, how do you maneuver around it? How do you affect change? How do you adapt?

Seriously, thank god for Spike.

[thomasmount]

Spike was just too charismatic not to be a winner. The scene where he meets Buffy's mum for the second time. 'Have we met?' 'One time you hit me with an axe'. ...And they eventually bond over the soap opera, James Marsters had me DYING!!!

[JeshuaSquirrel]

I respect James for saying "Everyone has their own experience and I'm not going to say they didn't."

[thomasinajones]

The minute James stepped in front of the camera we were captivated. There was simply no way the fans could let that brilliance fade away after a couple of episodes.

[Jaytecx]

This guy’s English accent was exceptional in it’s execution. Us Brits can usually spot a fake English accent, but Spike’s was very convincing even to us!

[tech-bore]

While I understand the whole "overcoming bad things as an adolescent" angle, having Spike continue in the show makes more sense because more often than not those things continue to follow you even into adulthood. The fact that Spike was more honest about things, where everyone else was in denial or trying to sugarcoat it, was refreshing. Plus, I like to think Spike eventually joining the good guys is similar to making peace with your faults/past.

[everyoneash]

Such irony then how the arch of spike...and his redemption into a good guy...was one of the greatest overcoming evil of the whole series

[SNoVa]

I love how he explains that HIS experience of Joss was different without dismissing everyone elses.

[dskay]

You know what…I love him as an actor & person—no matter what the accent. I was going through a tough spot & my daughter ran into him at a ComicCon. After she took her pic she asked if he would please record a brief message for her mom who’s not feeling well & that she’d happily pay extra. He smiled, asked for her phone & my name & recorded me an almost 2 minute message. That’s longer than many people spend taking their pictures with him.

It was quite the surprise & makes me smile to this day. I was so touched & you best believe I’ve backed it up onto a thumb drive in case the cloud ever explodes or I lose my phone.

[shanedisposable]

Spike's cross over to Angel was awesome as well. It really upped the show in the last season.

[James_Smith]

I worked on a show years ago called Without a Trace. James did a short run of episodes for us. He was the most humble and amazing guest star we ever had. He spoke to me at length about his time on Buffy and really made me feel welcomed into his world while he was there. Wonderful Wonderful guy and I wish him all the best in the world. He deserves it.

[retrogameslover]

They definitely made the right call to keep Spike on. He was one of the best and interesting characters of the series!! And love James as an actor, very talented and well-respected person.

[darkonc]

I think that what people loved about spike wasn't that he was evil, but rather that he represented *frustrated* evil. _Every_ brilliant plan that Spike came up with died a horrible death, and he always showed that frustration *brilliantly* .

[notsure]

Spike added a new dynamic to the series that was starting to stagnate. To his credit Joss rose to the challenge and wrote a redemption of evil arc that gave us one of the most memorable villains in fiction.

[OhLanie]

I love the fact that Spike was supposed to be killed off but became the hero of the finale. I loved Spike.

[RadicalValkyrie]

Spike is one of TV's greatest stand out characters. He really injected a fresh boost into the series and definitely got us through the Riley episodes each week. 😅

[mlite]

I got to meet James when I worked at a coffee shop and he truly couldn’t have been a nicer guy. So polite and down to earth. It was really an awesome experience.

[ravenwalker]

It's funny how Joss didn't like Evil, but was an absolute villain to women on set far too often.