Spike and Angel: Friends, enemies or brothers?

[jeanvic]

Now, I have always wondered this. Watching Season 5 really intrigued me about the relationship between our two souled vamps.
Could they possibly be closer to each other, need each other and like each other more than they let on?
There are scenes between them that make me question their "hate" for each other. Scenes such as cavemen vs astronauts, the end of why we fight, a hole in the world and my favourite Spike calling Angel big guy in 'Smile Time.'

My personal view is that they liked and depended on each other more than they let on. I think, after Cordelia, Spike could be Angel's biggest help in the fight and I think that Spike could learn a lot from Angel as they continue on down the years. Also, they are the only two vamps with souls in the world and their knowledge of how it feels could help each other through it daily.

So, what do you all think? I might come back to this discussion if someone else jogs my memory with something.

Have fun.

[Allan]

I'd say brothers. Very very dysfunctional brothers. They have a begrudging respect for each other, and they bring out each others' pettiness.

With or without souls, they've tried to one-up each other constantly. It's bordering on enemies, but after season 5, I'd say that they're more dysfnctional brothers.

[Nico]

I always thought Lovers , not like "I love you" lovers, but yes lovers,Not much more to add to this, dysfnctional is a very good word for them !

[Beck]

I think they're like brothers. They have a begrudging respect for each other and sibling rivalry.

[Lizzie]

Yeah. Love/hate relationship I think.

[Glenn]

I wouldnt class them as brothers. Brothers in the same cause perhaps. I think what the basis of their relationship is, is mutual respect, hatred and a willingness to help each other for the greater good.

[Allan]

I'd agree with the mutual respect, hatred and wilingness to help each other, but also think that in many ways, that's brotherly.

I'd also go a bit further and say that in many ways, Spike is the younger bother and also the black sheep of the family. Everyone considers Angel a champion, and doesn't give much thought to Spike and his purpose. In many ways, he's stuck in Angel's shadow, trying to escape it assert himself on his own merits.

[jeanvic]

Yeah but have you noticed that only Angel gives him the credit he deserves. e.g. You're Welcome. Look how happy Spike is that Angel calls him a hero.

I personally think that they hated each other at the start of the season but as the year went on they got to see the good and bad. Spike saw that Angel was different to Angelus and that he truly anted to help and Angel saw that Spike was in it to help as well, not just to be with Buffy.

I think the beginning of all this was in that scene in Damage. The one person who vists Spike? Angel. That says it all.

[Kana]

I think they are two people who didn't know how to relate one another except as rivals. In Angel Spike sees the debasement he suffered at the hands of Angelus and of course Spike loathes the fact that Angel is automatically considered THE vampire with a soul and of course there is the little matter of Buffy. In Spike, like in the 1800s Angel is threatened by Spike's arrival and fears his place and purpose will be compromised. Let us not forget that the two are thrown togther in unfavourable circumstances. Angel is working for W&H and Spike is incorporeal and both a very different in a manner of ways but both of them are lessed focused on each other (as been said by other posters) and are more focused on the fight itself.